| |
Looking beyond the Crusades
Sebastian McClintock’s story by Nancy Mairs
Sebastian McClintock was born and raised in East Germany, thousands of miles away from his future wife, Lindsey McClintock (who currently serves as Resident for FBC’s Formation & Compassion Ministries). The distance between them as they grew up was not only a geographic one. Lindsey’s family was always involved in church activities and at a young age she accepted Jesus as her Savior. Conversely, Sebastian’s family did not participate in any type of church activity, nor did most of the folks in his town. “In most European cities the church is found in the center of the town, with the rest of the town growing outward from that center. However, in East Germany, the government viewed religion somewhat as a threat to its power, and even though churches and religious activities were tolerated, the government made it somewhat difficult to be a part of church,” Sebastian explained. This was fine with Sebastian since he learned at an early age about the Crusades – a particularly cruel period of history in the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries when military campaigns were carried out in the name of religion.
|
Even though Sebastian had a negative view of the church, he had always felt that he received help when making important decisions. “While I was not a Christian in the early part of my life, I always felt that I had help. When I needed guidance most, I would get a feeling in my stomach that showed me the right decision that needed to be made. I always listened to what my stomach was telling me.”
|
"While I was not a Christian in the early part of my life, I always felt that I had help." |
Fast forward to 2006. Not long after Sebastian joined a volleyball team that was playing in a church gym, Lindsey traveled to Germany to work as an intern at that church. “Of course I noticed this beautiful new woman, so we started talking and getting to know one another. It wasn’t long before Linds started telling me about Jesus Christ. In fact, she was the first person that could explain what the feeling in my stomach meant. She helped me make the connection between what my stomach had been telling me all these years and that Christ had been leading me all the time.” Sebastian invited Jesus into his life and began the adventure of coming to know Him in a deeper way. Today Sebastian knows that because of Jesus, he values relationships over anything else – his relationship to Christ first and then to Lindsey. “Christ gives me the strength and power in weak times, and supports me in all times,” states Sebastian.
How has his family in East Germany reacted to his acceptance of Christ as his Lord and Savior? “They really don’t know how to deal with it, and even sometimes make fun of my belief in Christ because they don’t know how else to deal with it,” says Sebastian. Fortunately, even if they don’t know how to handle his faith, they love both Lindsey and Sebastian, with Sebastian’s mom telling him that “Linds was the best thing that ever happened to me,” laughs Sebastian.
What does he like most about Richmond, specifically about First Baptist? “I like the diversity of types of individuals that come to this church. And I like the fact that the church is in the center of the city, with the neighborhoods and restaurants close by, just like in Europe.”
Quite a journey from East Germany to Richmond, and from viewing Christianity from the perspective of the Crusades to beginning the adventure of knowing Christ personally!
Editor’s note: In Germany the custom is for couples to pick which last name to use. Sebastian and Lindsey chose hers, because it is easier to use/pronounce in the USA than his (Ullrich) and it sounds more international, should they find themselves living in Europe in the future. Above: Sebastian sits on the stairs leading up to the church Sanctuary.
|
