Love is Found
When Marion speaks about Redeemer Episcopal Church, the word that rises again and again is love.
Marion’s faith journey has been long and faithful, shaped across denominations and decades. She first came to know Jesus as her Savior at fourteen in the Baptist church, later serving alongside her husband as ordained elders in the Presbyterian Church. In 2010, they became Episcopalians— and for the first time, Marion says, they truly found their spiritual home.
After moving to Jacksonville in 2018, Marion and her husband discovered Redeemer online and attended when they were able. His illness made regular worship difficult, but Redeemer met them with grace anyway. Just before her husband passed away in 2019, Father Wiley came to offer last rites—even though he barely knew them at the time. “That meant a lot to me and my family,” Marion shares, “He is a true servant of God and a wonderful friend.”
From the very beginning, Redeemer felt like home.
What keeps Marion coming back is both simple and profound: the warmth of the people, the depth of worship, and the unmistakable presence of the Holy Spirit. After her husband’s death, Redeemer became a place not only of comfort but of renewed life. Through Mending Hearts, a grief group begun in 2019, Marion found companionship and healing. Through worship rooted in the liturgy and the Word, she encountered Christ again and again in ways that strengthened her faith.
“At the top of the list is always feeling the Holy Spirit during worship,” she says. “And how authentic Father Wiley is at all times. He is truly a spiritual leader.”
In the years since, Marion has allowed herself to be open to the Spirit’s calling in new ways. She has served on the vestry, led a monthly women’s group, participated in Bible study, and sung in the choir. Each step deeper into the life of Redeemer has helped her understand more fully how deeply God loves her and how that love shapes her life.
“I feel so supported here,” Marion says, especially through worship and small groups. “Having like-minded friends to study and fellowship with, and supporting each other in our daily lives—that kind of support means the world to me.” She hopes every member of Redeemer will find that same connection, knowing firsthand how life-giving it can be to walk together in faith.
Redeemer’s impact doesn’t stay within its walls. Marion notices how her faith now shows up everywhere she goes: in her neighborhood, the grocery store, restaurants, and daily encounters. “If we say we are Christians,” she reflects, “how we act means so much more than what we say.”
For Marion, Redeemer is something rare and precious. “It feels like one of the best-kept secrets in Jacksonville,” she says. “And it shouldn’t be a secret.” She believes God has richly blessed this community with love, care, and authenticity—and she longs for others to experience that same blessing.
When asked what would be lost if Redeemer disappeared, her answer is immediate and heartfelt. “I would be devastated,” she says. “I would miss the care, comfort, love, and blessings I receive every time I am here. Redeemer means the world to me. God surely led me to this place, and I am grateful.”
At Redeemer, Marion has found what so many are searching for: a place where she is loved, where she matters, and where the Holy Spirit is truly at work.