THIS IS WHO WE ARE...
Ashley - I want to be baptized because I want to be part of Jesus' spiritual family. I want a new life in Jesus and I want to show others that I believe in Jesus by having good actions. My favorite Bible verse is John 3:16 which says, "Because God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son so that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." I have asked Jesus into my heart several times now and I want to live for Him the rest of my life.
Michael - First of all, all I do is for Jesus, for it is all about Him and for Him and not about me.
Second, the only way I can tell you about my past, is that I broke every commandment that God wrote. By the grace of God and Jesus dying on the cross, giving His life for our sins so that we can be saved, I praise Jesus in His Holy name that He has forgiven me of all my sins. That is why I want to be baptized: so I can be like Jesus and follow in His footsteps.
In my past, it was all about me and for me and no one else. But now, it is all about Jesus and for Jesus. I changed my priorities, the people I associate with, my language and my work schedule just for Jesus, so that, I may glorify His Holy name.
I thank Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit for sending my wife to me. For if it was not for her, I would still be lost in sin. I also want to thank You, Jesus, for giving us Parker and Katelyn to take care of while we are on this earth, especially Parker, for if I could only be like him, for he wants to be just like me and follow my every foot step.
For instance, when I used to drink beer, he wanted one. When I smoked a cigarette, he wanted one. He watched me kick my truck tires, checking to see if they were flat, now he goes around kicking the car tires. I could go on and on. I just want to be like my son for when it come to Jesus, I just want to follow Him and make every move that Jesus wants me to make, so that I can glorify His name and when I am done here on this earth, He can say, "Well done my Son, let's go home to the place I prepared for you".
Now about my job, I bury people for a living. It???s not as bad as it seems for now I am not afraid of dying. What I am afraid of is not fulfilling Jesus??? purpose for putting me here on this earth before I die. I even asked God to save me and to forgive me of my sins in the cemetery two weeks before Thanksgiving and praise the Lord he did. I know He is real because on Thanksgiving Day He answered a prayer for me through my wife and the computer. I had been trying to get in contact with my other sons and daughter for about ten years and my wife told me to start a "My Page" on the internet. On Thanksgiving Day I was blessed to get in contact with my children. I even called my mother after twenty years of not speaking to her or even seeing her. Thank You, Jesus. You can even ask Stan and Terry, my in-laws, who mean a whole lot to me.
So, if I ever get discouraged and think He isn't with me or He doesn't answer my prayers, I just choose to think that He is helping someone in more trouble than me. Besides, He is testing me to see if I will still have faith in Him and do His work and glorify and worship His name until the end of time. God bless all of you. Are you ready for Him?
Michael - A Jesus Jumpstart - I just want to start off with praise. I thank God for being so patient with me. I want to thank Him for always being there. He has been so good to me throughout my whole life. He has blessed me with so many wonderful things and I am now ready to truly give it all to Him.
I have been baptized once before but I was very young. I honestly believe I accepted Jesus into my heart for the wrong reason. I wanted to feel accepted. I wanted it to be my turn to be in the light. I wanted to be noticed. And as I have grown in my faith and grown in age, I have found that I have been missing something.
I lack something important in my walk with Christ. I have way too much control of my life. I have felt every bounce and dip in my walk through life. I have felt pain and hurt. And I have found that the hardest thing for me to do is give it all - giving God my all. And every time I try to give it all, I take it all right back. But God has really pulled on my heart strings and He has shown me that you can't just do things half way. It's got to be for real. Let your yes be yes and your no be no.
God has taken me for a ride that I will never forget. He has truly shown me the light. He has shown me that there is nothing impossible when you have Jesus Christ on your side. I want to restart my walk. I want it to be a new walk - with each step being a new adventure. That nothing will be standing in my way. With Gods hand on my shoulder I won't go astray.
So here it is, I'm putting all my chips in the middle. I'm ready to be born again with a fresh path to walk on, a clean slate, and the weight of the world off my shoulders.
I give Him my life, my heart, and my soul.
Valerie - I remember there being a time when my mom, dad, brother and I attended a Free Will Baptist Church. During out time attending that church, I remember asking Jesus to come into my life and forgive me of my sins. I also remember being baptized but what I do not remember is how old I was nor do I remember the actual baptism. With everything I know now, I feel as through that should be something that I should remember.
We did not attend that church but for maybe a couple of years max and after my parents divorced, I was invited to go to Southside Church of the Nazarene by some wonderful neighbors. I was in the 6th grade at the time. So, I would go off and on with them. Finally, the summer before I started 7th grade, I had mentioned to my mom that I wanted to join the teen choir. Shortly thereafter, I went to New York City on a mission???s trip. I remember when we first got there we did not want to be there because some of the arrangements that had been made for us as far as where we would stay and things like that had been changed. So, when we first walked into our hotel rooms, they were not that great looking and I believe we had to do some cleaning up. I remember being scared that first night but by the end of the week, with all the renovating of a building we did, and handing out toiletries to those who may not have had much, just doing things to help others, made us not want to leave but of course, we had to.
So from 7th grade until my senior year of high school, I was attending church on a regular basis. During that time frame, I had come to meet some of the most wonderful people that I could have ever met. Some of those people are attending this church today who use to go to Southside. The main influences in my life were and still are, Rolf & Debbie Kleinfeld. I learned so much during that time but after I graduated from high school, I started going to church less and less until it came to a point where I went several years without going at all. When I did start going to church again, it was here at Hanover.
On March 30, 2008, my husband, Michael and I started reading the book, Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. I have come to realize that while I have learned a lot of things over the years, it was just that I was learning and being fed but there was no personal relationship with God like there should have been. So, I am standing here today to rededicate my life to God for Him to use me to fulfill the purposes He has for my life and to have that relationship that has been lacking for so many years.
I hope and pray that I can be the wife and mother that He would have me to be, so that I could be a constant inspiration to my husband as well as our children so that we, as a family, united together can be a light to others so they may come to know Jesus Christ as their own personal Savior.
Thank you Jesus for dying on the cross for our sins!
Vicky - This might sound strange or hard to believe but my God story has been evolving for 5 years. I met this special person in my life when I was just a sophomore in high school. She was not like any of my other friends. I felt like I didn't have to try to be like someone I am not when I was around her. She always accepted me for who I was.
I stayed kind of distant from her because I was scared for her to find out who I really was and only talked to her when I was lonely or had no one else around. During my senior year of High School, I decided it was time to open a new chapter in my life and let her in completely. She knew that the past few years had been the hardest time in my life and I was headed down the wrong path. She brought Jesus Christ back in to my life and showed me it was ok to let Him in. She was going to help me find out who I really was and to let me live my life through Him.
As temptation took over I made some mistakes and got caught up in my bad habits once again. She told me if I was not willing to help myself get through this time then she was not going to help me do it until I knew what was right. I let almost two years go by just going to her when I was lonely. I had to know that when I realized what I was doing was not right, she would still be there
This past Dec I was driving down the street praying to God to let this day get better and the phone rings. I look down wondering who was trying to bug me now, and it was her. I felt all my problems lift away and a burst of joy came over me, I was ecstatic that she was thinking of me. She called to see how I was doing and to let me know her Grandfather was passing away. I know we sat there and talked for at least two hours about anything and everything with me knowing during that time, I was probably on my way to do something I should never have even thought about. From that moment on, I knew this was my second chance. Jesus was coming full force at me and telling me to let Him in. He had brought her back into my life and I had let Him and her down. Jesus brought her back to show me the light He has to offer and I can not let it go this time. After all this time of fighting with myself, trying to find out who I am, I know I am ready to live for Him and know that He is in my heart and loves me for who I am and always will. If it were not for my Very Best Friend, Katie Grambo, I might have passed up my chance of letting the Lord in my life. She has helped me see a whole new world and life, and I am ready to accept Jesus Christ.
Daniel - God has done many things for me. He has been with me in bad and good times. I have trusted Him and He has answered my prayers. God has done many amazing things in my life. For instance, I have been in a bad mood and when I pray, I am in a good mood again! When I am sick and I pray, GOD heals me. To me there is no way God cannot exist. He loves everyone because he created us. And he cares for you just because you are you. My mom, my dad, and my children's church teacher have all helped me. My mom has read the bible with me. My dad has been meeting with Pastor Greg and when he comes home, he teaches me a lot. And my children's church teacher, Mr. Golding has helped me by teaching me about baptism. Jesus showed more love than anyone could ever show by dying on the cross. And if you really believe that, then you won't have to have every little thing I the world. Material things are not important. We don't need things. We need God.
Tony - By God's grace and love I have been saved. I want to praise Him and give Him all the glory for everything and everyone in my life. My eyes have been opened and I now understand the way I was living my life before was just an existence only working God in when it was convenient for me. My relationship with God consisted of going to church on Sunday and sometimes Wednesday and leaving Him there. I never understood that He wanted to always be with me. I got caught up in doing what felt good and was only thinking of myself and what I was getting out of the routine I had in place. I always wanted to have control over my life and thought I had all the answers. Boy was I wrong. I now understand that there is nobody that knows me or my needs better than God and that all I have to do is ask for His help. The discovery has led me to a happier more confident life with less frustration and stress. Every concern and problem has gotten smaller and who would have thought...even my priorities have changed drastically. My job that once ruled my life and played a huge role in any decision i had to make has moved to the bottom of the list. God has taken that spot, and I hunger for Him more and more every day. Thank you Pastor Greg for helping me see what truly matters. Your dedication and love that you have shown tome is amazing and I will always call you my brother in Christ. Without your obedience to God who knows where I would be now. I would also like to thank my wife of ten years for never giving up on me and for always being a good example for me; and more importantly, to our children. I praise God for sending me such a wonderful woman to be my wife. My oldest son Daniel has been extremely instrumental with my walk with the Lord. Thank you Daniel for helping me maintain my focus and see God through the eyes of a child. I love you and I am very proud of you and your growth through the Lord. I stand before you all and proclaim my love for Jesus Christ and thank Him for not only creating me but for doing so just so he could love me. I will praise Him for the rest of my days and give Him control over my life. To GOD be the glory for it is through Him that we all may have eternal life and without God in your life; you are not really living.
Emily - To tell you the truth, for the longest time I thought I didn't have a story, and at the very least it wasn't much of one. Certainly not how I came to God, anyway. Like many I was raised in the Church, and both my parents encouraged me by their complete confidence in God as well as their living out their faith in front of me. Either way, I, as I would have put it then, "gave my heart to Jesus" when I was around three, in that total dependency and trust that only a child can have long-term. This, however, is not really what I'm here to talk about. I feel that God is really teaching me. Slowly but surely, even when sometimes he has to shove things in my face due to my inherited denseness (which, as most things, I blame on my dad), God perseveres. It's just little things, really. Just stupid stuff that leads me to over thought as always. But I know that God knows my thoughts well, and he has anticipated where they would lead me. So revelation to revelation passes through my mind. Sometimes God uses some of the classics I'm reading, sometimes just comments from people around me. For instance, there is this girl in school who has hated me since eighth grade. Why? Well, until a few weeks ago, even I didn't know! I'm not sure if even she knows. Either way, to fill you in with my life, I walk with one of my best friends (I have many good friends, fortunately) Devyn, to a locker that we share every morning after first block. Well, as it so happens, that very girl who has hated me for so long (she is always trying to insult me without actually insulting me, it's hard to explain) goes to a locker that is directly beside ours. She hasn't done this for the entire year, mind you, I believe she must have had a semester class or something, and switched because of that. Anyway, there she was with her friend, and we were beside her. Devyn always teases me (and I mean always) about taking infinitely long to open the locker (which is partly true, but it's not like I'm going to admit that). No-name-who-hates-me starts doing the same thing. She starts talking to her friend loudly, "Hurry up, you're going to get it wrong! It's not going to open!" Just stuff like that repeated over and over again. Now it occurred to me that her friend had never had trouble opening his locker before; and he came every time we did, and still does. Just guess where this leads me: over thought! I sit there half-listening to Devyn (now I say half, but it wasn't even that much, poor Devyn) as I turn what she had said over in my mind. What could be a motive to words like that? Her friend didn't ever have trouble opening his locker, and in truth I found the fact that Devyn did the same to me too coincidental to be coincidental. Eventually, though, I was able to work it out. She is jealous of me! She seems to realize how close my friends and I really are, and maybe she wishes she had some friends like that. I've never understood, her kind, if that's a fair term, those who try their best to be someone they're not, exactly like everyone else, just to fit in with people who would never stick with them through the trials. I've always felt sort of sorry for those people, though you can't be overly sorry when they treat you the way No-name treats me. To conclude, this was a revelation that I'm sure God led me to. It makes it easier to deal with No-name's not-so-hidden taunts when I know why she directs them at me, and at my friends as well. And this is just one of the things God has shown me. There are many more. As I said, slowly but surely. He teaches me through mistakes (both mine, which definitely happen a lot, and others) and seemingly meaningless comments, which, of course, through my overthought, leads to deeper reflection. Anyway, sorry about the 100 word limit. I'm pretty sure I just threw that out the window.
Terry - I don't have a "burning bush" testimony. I grew up attending church every Sunday. When I was real small it was me, my grandmother, and my sister who went to church. My father would drive us up and drop us off; then come back and pick us up. My mom died when I was 21 months old. My father's mother moved in with us and raised me and my older sister. My grandmother was a Christian woman and raised us and made sure we attended church as children. I have always attended church even after I got married and had children. My dad was an alcoholic and I grew up in that atmosphere. I must say it was not an easy childhood for me. I always loved my father and never held the disease against him. I found solace in my relationship with God. I spend much time speaking to God when I was growing up. I had a lot of alone time that I spent with him especially in relation with my dad and his drinking. I always found a comfort in God's presence dealing with an alcoholic father. I never have had a problem with any form of addictions such as smoking, drugs or drinking. I have always believed in God and took great comfort in His presence in my life. I have had many things to deal with but God was always there for me. I have never been close to my sister from our early childhood but wish we had a closer relationship. My grandmother and a woman close to my dad were my 2 mother role models. I must say, I am truly blessed. I have 2 beautiful children by my first husband but unfortunately we divorced. I am very happily married now to a wonderful husband who is the love of my life. God has provided in so many wonderful ways for me and my family. I cannot even begin to imagine my life without God in it. I believe our trials and circumstances draw us closer to God.
Katy - There was a prison and I lived there. It didn't look that way, but I did. Sadness, loneliness, depression and fear lived there, too. I struggled to get out. I knew all about Jesus and He was my Savior; I had a great husband and a wonderful daughter, but still my world was shades of gray and black. On November 5, 2004, God started me on a path toward freedom and life with the help of Pastor Anne. (I didn't know it was just the beginning then.) With her help and the love and encouragement of many on the ministry team and others, God began to peel away layers of pain and fear and unforgiveness that I had let imprison me. I began to feel less and less fearful. I began to enjoy; not just exist. I started to experience God and hear Him talking to me. Sometimes about me, giving me better understanding so that I could experience more freedom, but sometimes about other people so that I would be better able to help them. I am amazed at what life is like for me now. That prison? I can see it, but I don't live there any more. Pain and fear call to me, but when they do I hear God explaining what I'm thinking and feeling and telling me what is really true. God really does want abundant life for all of us; we must pursue it though. When we do He proves Himself to be faithful and true. It is good to live in freedom. Ask me and I'll tell you more.
Ron - I had thought God had left me, I didn't know God, but didn't want Him to leave. That was the start of the Holy Spirit convicting me of sin, seeing what the eternal separation from God was like. All day I was a basket case (depressed) because I thought my life was over, because God had left me. During the evening hours, a book from Billy Graham had come in the mail titled "Peace with God". As I read this book, I called on Christ to save me. I could see a black wall that was crumpling and there was God. He had not left me. He gave me a taste of eternal separation from him. Today my life has changed dramatically. I still have issues but Christ can take care of those.
Jay - As a young child I grew up in a Christian home with two loving God-fearing parents who taught me right from wrong. They instilled me at a very young age a desire to seek truth in every situation and to be kind and good to my fellow man. Each week we packed in the car and headed for church because it was the right thing to do. And each week we could set our watches by the events that took place during the morning. Although the church was filled with many smiling happy people, there was something missing in their worship-life. So needless to say, it was easy to be a Christian: go to church on Sundays, try to be good the rest of the time; you got it made! Only later did I realize that there was more, much more to it than that. Later, after singing with a gospel group in college, several realities began to overtake me about Christ..
* He wanted a relationship with me; a relationship that did not happen once a week. Like a best friend, He wanted to be with me all the time and in every situation.
* Worship was not always contained and neat and timed to the second hand of the preacher's watch.
* "Good" was and is never enough. God desires us to be holy.
Since holiness is not a natural choice for most, I would have to say that I dwell in the land of faith and God-possibilities where holiness can be achieved and where God is pleased with my offerings of praise. I am being continually challenged by God's definition of worship and His design for my life. I want to be the type of Christ-follower who loves others unconditionally, seeks God with his whole heart, and knows exactly when the time is to stand boldly before the God of the universe and praise loudly and when the time comes to fall on my face before Him and worship in humility. To find that balance of extremes is my heart's desire.
D. Patrick - My Testimony to Young People...I was brought up in a small church when I was very young. My brother and I would walk to church every Sunday. I have always believed in God but unfortunately did not always follow the straight and narrow path. I became more involved in church when I was in High School and was baptized at New Bridge Baptist Church. I came out of high school and went to work in the electrical construction field. Unfortunately my church visits became less and sporadic. I started teaching electricity full time in 1990. February 2006, I was asked by one of my Electricity students if I would be interested in going on a "Mission Trip" with his church to Slidell, Louisiana to help the Katrina victims. I was not sure he was serious so I told him I would have to check my schedule. I asked that he get me more information. He came back with the information right away and told me of the first meeting. The more I thought about it the more HONORED I felt that one of MY students would ask me to go on such a trip. I had not been a regular visitor to church in quite a while. It was my first mission trip to New Orleans, July 1, 2006 and what an awesome experience. It was a LIFE CHANGING experience for me because a young person believed enough to step out of his comfort zone and reached out to me. This past year I went on another mission trip to Mississippi. I talk about my mission trips all the time right to this day. I say to ALL young people, you can make the difference. It has been awesome for me, as I have been the one truly blessed and I thank you, Ben Matthews, for stepping out of your "Comfort Zone" which has brought me closer to God!
Allison - Before and After...Before I asked Jesus into my life as Lord and Savior at the age of 21, I was held bondage to the lies of the enemy. I believed that I wasn't good enough "as is" that my value was in my accomplishments, and that I needed to conform to the opinions of man. In the years since, God has shown me the depth of His love when He mercifully forgave me. He showed me that my value is as His child and has freed me to live for Him. He is teaching me to listen to His voice and bring all my actions, words, and thoughts into obedience to Him.
Adrian - While my story truly began during my freshmen year in high school. MY world came crashing down as my mom began a battle with depression that nearly cost her life. I had grown up in church, I loved the Lord with all my heart and was doing everything I knew to follow Him...it didn't matter. My world crumbled. Watching my mom fight every day for a reason to live made everything I thought I knew about God irrelevant. While I believe God was there, I struggled to see how anything good could come out of it. I believe that it was during those darkest years of my life that I learned what real faith looked like. Ultimately, everything I knew about the sacrificial love of God was totally redefined by my dad. I watched as he hurt and felt the loss of his wife and friend, and then I watched him fight to keep his marriage and our family intact. I know that God is real because I saw him every day in my dad. God truly was his strength and his portion. He never wavered in his commitment to God and to our family. Years later, I am here to proclaim that the God we serve is faithful! He has not only sustained me and my family during those difficult days, He overcame all of that. God placed a calling in my life to live the Gospel out just like my father did...first in my family, and then to the rest of world. I can't imagine doing anything else with my life than giving back to God a life of worship (Romans 12:1). God has blessed me with an amazing wife, a beautiful daughter, and a chance to live out my story. What more could I ask for? "Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him." Lamentations 3:22-25
Lauren - Even as I sit to write down my story, I'm amazed by the power and might of our God, who lifted me "out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire"and set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand" (Psalm 40:2). Although I grew up in a loving home, my stability and comfort were shattered when I was in 8th grade. My father entered into a deep depression as the result of the passing of a very close relative, & that depression drove him to drugs to numb his pain. When he was offered a job in California a year later, the whole family gladly excepted, enticed by the change of scenery, more money, and, most of all, the chance for a fresh start after the hell we'd lived in for the past year. But the addiction that had entangled him in Massachusetts did not relent in California. After four short months, he was out of work and we were forced to move back to Massachusetts, our dreams and hopes of a new beginning crushed. Little did I know at that point, in the desperation and loneliness of those years, that God's dreams for me were "immeasurably more than all I could ask or imagine." Through the move back, I ended up at yet another new school, where one girl, Megan Wijas, reached out to me in love, invited me to her home, and then to her church. That very Sunday, my mom, sister, & I went to church with Megan, and, sitting in that place, heard a sermon on how God can take the opposition and trials in our lives to bring us to Him. We all knew God had purposed us to be in that place on that day. The pain of the past years washed away in those moments, & I sensed that somehow, what Satan had planned for our destruction, God was going to use now to bring wholeness.
Jesus continues to show me that his dreams & plans for my life far exceed all I can imagine. I remember the wonder I felt when I sensed God leading me to a relationship with Adrian Mills, a man called to the ministry. "You couldn't want me to marry a pastor, God. You must be mistaken. I'm not good enough for that!" Yet, continually, gently, God has reaffirmed that yes; He thinks I'm good enough. He thinks I'm worth it. Who am I that the very Creator of the Universe should care about me!? Yet not only does He care, He is passionately in love with me! He has brought unspeakable joy and companionship where there was only pain and loneliness. He has delivered me from the fear of rejection and abandonment that had taken root as a result of my family situation, and replaced it with the assurance that He is my Heavenly Father and He will never leave me nor forsake me. He has set this captive free and bound up my broken heart! He has bestowed me with a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair! He has rebuilt the ruins of my life and restored me to walk in the fullness of His joy! (Isaiah 61). Praise God for His loving kindness!
Jenny - As I think about "my story" and I think about this new creation God did, I am amazed over and over again. Jesus freed from so many things in my life. He freed me from profanity, from the desire to drink or do drugs. He freed me from bulimia; He helped me to forgive others. He helped me to love others when hate was ruler of my life. He tells me over and over how much He loves me when growing up I never heard it. He healed my marriage when it was close to not being saved. He healed my broken heart when I miscarried. He helps me to be a better mother, a better wife and a person worth being around. He disciplines me when I need it, challenges me, and strengthens me all the time. His love for me is never ending. He proves himself to be real in my life daily. I don't understand why the Creator of the Universe, the Almighty God would want to have a relationship with me but I am so glad He does. As I look back and give only a glimpse of what Christ has done for me the only words I can think of is Amazing Grace and such Amazing Love.
Martha - Part 2 - It was the year that Steve and I would have been married two years. I had a horrible headache and told Steve that if he did not take me to the hospital I was going to die. Steve was fixing dinner for us and both of my girls and asked if we could wait until after dinner but I insisted that I was going to die so he and Betty took me to the hospital. I really don't remember much of the next 11 days. I know that I had a seizure that Sunday while Steve was with me and they had me in ICU with my arms strapped to the table since I kept pulling out the IV's. The bleed was on the outside of my brain and did not cause any damage except to whatever controls my temperature. That is why I sweat all the time. They never were able to determine what caused the bleed and it healed itself so I did not have to have surgery. I developed a lot of other problems that they were not able to pinpoint and I thought I was never getting out of Chippenham since I had like 5 sets of specialists trying to figure it all out. I had not been living for the Lord for the last several years that I was married to Tracy and during that time I knew that if Jesus came back I would not be ready. Our next door neighbors were members of Southside and had invited us to church several times. Steve had gone one time on a Sunday night when I was with a bunch of women from Philip Morris at a (male striper's bar). I was a bit of a "wild child" when Steve and I first got married. I had gone with Steve once to church with the Simons at Southside on Cogbill. When I realized how close I came to dying that was when I asked Steve to get someone from the church to visit me. Pat Self was a lay pastor that came to visit me along with Rev. Holloway. I rededicated my life to Jesus that day and after I finally got out of the hospital and was able to attend church Southside was where I went. Steve would go with me part of the time and that summer when Kelly and Kim came down for their visit. I asked Steve if we could go as a family. That was the start of our journey. As I think you know Steve was brought up in the Episcopal Church. I did not even know when Steve got saved at first since Steve was so private and did not talk much about his feelings. I remember a revival that Stephen Manley was preaching when Steve went to the alter and told me he had to go not because of Stephen Manley but in spite of the fact that he was the evangelist since Steve did not like his style. Anyway the first year at Southside when we first got really serious we were giving an offering of $50.00 or there about and Steve said he thought that we should tithe but we did not have faith enough to tithe on the gross so we did net income. That of course only lasted a few months and we both agreed that we had to tithe on the gross. Well we have been in the Nazarene Church ever since. Went through 3 building programs since at the time we first started in 1982 we were in what was called the old Weir Building. We have never been sorry that we got things nailed down back then but it has been the years that we have been at Hanover that the most spiritual growth has taken place for both of us.
Karen - I was sitting outside the worship center waiting for the doors to open for service, listening to my ipod and just thinking about things. To my left sat 2 older girls and 2 younger boys, now these older girls were not being very nice to the boys at all, yelling at them when they were just trying to tell a story or pulling them to the ground just to stand up, yelling "shut up" in their faces when they had not even said anything. I began to think and wonder if this girl had something in her past that made her act like this toward these boys, or if it had to do with the environment that she grew up in, or anything else. I had no idea. All I knew was that God could take it all, to me God was clearly not in her heart, and I wasn't judging her at all, I just wanted so badly for her to think about the words she was saying to these little boys, I prayed to God to move in her heart, and to bind up any pain and suffering that she may have gone through or was going through, any anger or sadness or anything! I wholeheartedly wanted her to know and LOVE God, it was the only way, then I began to think about all the other millions of people who also didn't know God, it broke my heart. As I'm sitting there surrounded by a bunch of people standing around waiting for those doors to be opened. Tears came to my eyes. Then all of the sudden the doors opened, it was Michael coming to get me to help with something in the worship center. So I did, and then I hung out in there until service but I still had that feeling of sadness as the doors opened and hundreds of teens piled onto the beanbags I sat there lifeless. Mike Cowart began to lead worship, as I stood with my hands tucked in my pockets and sung as best I could. I began to realize that through my entire walk with Christ, I had not been bold enough. Yes I knew God and I wanted to share his love, but as much as I knew that and wanted to do that, I was not being bold enough. Even being surrounded by Christians I found myself thinking over and over every action I would take in worship, I didn' t understand why I even cared about what everyone would think of me, I knew that in the long run it was only God's opinion that mattered, but that didn't stop the self-conscious thoughts from coming to my head. There I stood in worship, hands still planted in the pockets of my pants, singing every word but not even thinking about them. So many thoughts running through my head, about the people who don't know God, about my self-consciousness and fear of rejection, and about wanting to just let all of it go. After an hour of worship, the speaker went up and gave a very short sermon then invited us to spend some time with God, and if we wanted to we could do one of 3 stations they had set up. At one of the stations you could go up to this table and they had these special paper tablets that you could paint on with water and then whatever you wrote would disappear, it was like God was taking away whatever burden you wrote on it. I went up and wrote "SIN & FEAR" and walked back and sat down and began to pray. I prayed for God's lost children, and I prayed for God to work through me to lead them to him and to let me be bold in my walk, and to be unashamed of anything that was of his glory. As I'm still sitting there praying, Mike Cowart began to play again. Then I just felt my hands get really tingly so I stood up, and put my hands in my pockets again, I heard the speaker on stage telling us that Mike was going to start singing again and I remember the exact words he said after that, If you got your hands tucked in your pants pockets, cut your pants pockets off, cause you don't get moments like this! "I felt like he was talking directly to me. As mike began to play I took my hands out of my pockets and held them at about waist level and sang. My hands kept getting even more tingly and I just stood there singing my heart out to God, then it happened. I felt two hands, one on each of mine take them from the bottom side and push them up into the air. Wow, what an amazing feeling. It was as if God was saying, "Don't be ashamed of Me, just let go and praise Me! I was overwhelmed; all I remember is not being able to stand up anymore, I sat on the beanbag and stared at my palms smiling. I looked up at Christina Norwood and smiled, she smiled back, I knew she understood. I was so overwhelmed with joy that I started to cry. It was the most amazing thing you could ever experience on earth. And all I could do was sit there and stare at my hands in awe of what had just happened to me. After all of this happened, ENC was giving away an ipod nano, and Morgan Randolph really wanted to win, so I looked down at my palms, then over at her, and I poked her in the arm. Still aware of the miracle god had just performed on my hands, I had no doubt before they even read the name of the winner that it was Morgan. The announcer said "Well it's an 11th grader from Hanover, and she's interested in art." We all knew it was Morgan. And I knew exactly how she won.
David - Once upon a time, there was a 26 year old young man who felt that he was on top of the world. He was a Naval Officer, romantically pursuing a career of service to country and enjoying a life of adventure. He had thrived on and graduated from the rigorous and challenging military environment of The Citadel, with academic distinction and having served as a cadre sergeant and platoon leader. As a young midshipman he had flown in helicopters, planes, and jets, sailed on ships and submarines, force-marched, rappelled, and fired weapons with the Marines. As a professional sailor he had seen the fiords and glaciers of Norway, had sailed the rough gray winter seas of the North Atlantic, and had walked the ancient streets of Messina and Naples. He had stood on a sidewalk in Hamburg, Germany and reflected on the remains of a cathedral that had been damaged by the bombs of World War II. He participated in rescuing grateful Cuban refugees from their small, over crowded, sinking boats on the Caribbean Sea. He had walked in the warm sands on the beautiful beaches of St. Thomas, Nassau, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico. He was responsible for leading teams of young men and women, for handling hundreds of thousands of dollars of cash, and for managing millions of dollars of military inventory. And he had married the woman of his dreams, a girl that he had had a crush on since 7th grade and had pursued and won during their senior year in college. She was bright and attractive and everything that he imagined he wanted in someone to spend the rest of his life with. He loved her with all of his heart. He thought he had stormed the castles of his youth, and won the beauty.
And then, in the relative flash of an eye, the world that he thought he was on top of came crashing down on top of him. What seemingly started out as an innocent and innocuous marital spat led to the revelation that his marriage had unraveled without his even noticing it. The love of his life decided that she did not love him anymore, if she ever really had. Ultimately over the next six months she had a relationship with another man, something that was not hidden from him, and which stabbed like a hot knife into his already wounded heart. He clung to hope against hope that she would "repent" if only she could see that he still loved her and was committed to her. He turned to the Lord for mercy and strength, knowing that He could "fix" all things and believing that it must be His will to preserve this marriage relationship. He clung to the promise of Romans 8:28, that God works in all things for the good of those who love him. He chose to abandon his naval career, deciding to resign his commission in the midst of his personal heartache. He denied this action was intended to save his marriage, but it was based on a desire to settle down and raise a family with the woman who had now told him that she did not love him. He refused to abandon or reject her, even after his separation from military service. But she convinced him that she would join him elsewhere in a few weeks, after she tied up her loose ends, and so he left her and struck out to plant new roots, find a new career and start a new life. With her, he still believed. It did not take long to discover that she had lied to him only to get him to leave her alone to pursue her own choices and desires. She had not had the courage to tell him the truth, or even to say she wanted a divorce. But she never had any intention of rejoining him or trying to make the marriage work.
Finally crushed, disillusioned, abandoned, utterly defeated, without a job and with no apparent meaning in his life, he had fallen all the way from the top to the bottom in 9 short months. Where was God in all this? The young man did not deny His existence, but doubted His presence or His support. How could He allow this to happen? Why? He could not imagine anything worse, anything more devastating then what had happened to him. It was a fast spiral down from there to a deep, black, hopeless depression. In the middle of one dark night a few months later he drove down the interstate to the ocean front. He was drawn to the shore in part because that was where they had lived when they first married. But he was also thinking of trying to end his unbearable pain if the Lord wasn't going to do it for him. When he arrived at the waterfront he quickly realized that he could not make that decision and take that action for himself. He begged his God to do it, to end his pain and suffering, to take him home. He was so ready, he thought, not realizing through the pain how selfish that solution would be. But the pain of a severely broken heart continued. If she did not love him, who did? Who could? He came to be overwhelmed with a fear that he was unlovable.
For the next 18 months he went through repeated counseling, medication, group therapy, the whole program. After the worst of several suicidal episodes he spent several weeks in the psychiatric ward at a local hospital, which cost him most of his life savings at the time. Following that, though still struggling, he got a job and tried to start putting his life back together. The job lasted 6 months before the emotional pain was again more than he could function through. He had another suicidal flight, getting on his bicycle and riding blindly into the countryside, ending up some 30 miles from home. Again he didn't know how to end it, only feeling that he had to do something to escape the pain. But still he could not take what God had created. Now he spent more weeks as a psychiatric inpatient, this time at the Veterans Hospital. That was now his only option since he was out of money. This was a new and eye opening experience for the young man because most of the other patients there were Vietnam vets who were dealing with post-traumatic stress. Yet somehow he continued to mostly feel sorry for himself. It was now late November of 1985. He wasn't sure why they decided that he was ready to go home. He didn't fell any better about facing life through his pain. But the fact was that at some point during that time, shortly before Christmas, he finally just "gave up" the pain because he couldn't deal with it anymore. It was if he just couldn't hurt anymore because he didn't have the energy, or the feeling, left in him. The emotional well was at last dry. The blackness was gone, but instead there was just nothing, a lingering emptiness. And it was at that point that the Lord picked him up and carried him, when the young man finally gave up struggling and let Him.
All those months during counseling and therapy they were convinced that he could be "cured" with the right therapy, the right medication, the right dosage. At one point he was on so much anti-depressant medication that his muscles were affected with a symptom similar to cerebral palsy. He sometimes had real physical difficulty just walking to his car after work in the evenings (this was during the six months that he had had a job). But his condition was never medical or psychological in the sense of something that could be cured. It was a wound, a deep wound like many of us experience in our lives, a wound to his soul, and a blow to his spirit. And in a way, for him, the wound was kept open by a willful sense of hopelessness, related to the false belief that he was unlovable. Only God could transcend this deep deception. This young man had known Christ since he was 10 years old. He had a real faith in who the Lord was, and never doubted His existence throughout this trial. He was angry with God throughout his suffering. He didn't understand why God would let such a terrible thing happen to him. For a long time he failed to acknowledge or recognize that he had married a woman who was not a Christ follower, and that he had not continued to pursue, or even honor, a relationship with Christ during the marriage. Who abandoned whom? Many years later the now older man can see so many things revealed, all of them with God's hand in it. He gave his life back to him that December in 1985 and he found his feet moving forward again, one step at a time. Make no mistake, this was not by any strength of his own, because he had none left.
Just a few short months following that pivotal December he met the beautiful woman who is now his wife of 21 years, and the "rest is history." And they have a beautiful daughter, a gift from God, named Hope. For her parents she represents the fact that there is hope where there can seem to be none. That young man was me. And I still often think about how if I had not gone through what I did then I would have missed experiencing and accepting the reality of His strength, His love, His forgiveness, His patience, and His works; and I realize how my relationship with Him would not be what it is. I also think about how my relationship with my wife would never have existed; how our daughter Hope would never have existed; how I would not likely have ever become involved in the Upward youth sports ministry and had that opportunity to see lives changed and miracles worked. It was painful but He corrected my course, healed my wounded heart, and eventually revealed to me His real purpose and design for my life.
Greg - My journey with Jesus is all about His Amazing Grace. My life with Jesus began where I was born, in Denver Colorado. I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior when I was eleven years old. I remember the long walk to the altar and the youth worker that met me there. She wrote in a Gospel of John, "Greg became a son of God on November 24, 1963". That settled it; I knew I was a forgiven Christian. Not long after that, my family relocated to Richmond and we found a new church in which we became very active. It was there I met my life partner, Lynn. Lynn and I attended Bryan College (a Christian college) where we first felt God's call to some kind of ministry, but we did not know exactly what that meant at the time. After serving in the Navy for three years, we returned to Richmond. When Lynn and I had been married seven year, Lynn's mother was diagnosed with cancer and within nine months, God took her home. Everyone has a different way of dealing with pain and loss. Mine, unfortunately, was to rebel against God. How could a good God allow someone as wonderful as my mother-in-law to suffer and die so young (she was only 50 when Jesus took her home)? And so I foolishly left my wife and little boy to be as "big and bad" as possible, totally ignoring God, His Love and His Laws. This led to a downward spiral of my life: in my relationships, my career, and with God. But I had a praying mother and along with her pastor, they never gave up on me. In 1984, I finally "came to my senses" (like the Prodigal Son) and heard God calling to me. I will never forget His words to me "You know the way, walk in it!" (Isaiah 30:21). I immediately responded to the Holy Spirit and with the help of a pastor, gave my totally messed-up life to Christ. Since that day, He has restored my marriage (after almost five years of separation and divorce!) HALELLUA, restored my family by giving me my son back and a daughter to boot, and gave Lynn and I a fresh call to full-time ministry. God is truly the God of Forgiveness, Love, and Restoration. But most of all, for me, Jesus Christ IS Amazing Grace! Amen.
David - Let me first start off by saying all that I am NOW is because of Jesus Christ. He alone has transformed my life from someone that you didn't want to be around to the man that stands before you. He came into my life at a time when others couldn't help or wouldn't. How I didn't deserve his love, but he gave it to me freely. All I had to do is ask for it. When I was on a self destructing path and didn't care who I hurt or the consequences; he forgave me when I couldn't forgive others or myself. He brought my strained relationship with my daughter and her boyfriend to a new beginning. How he touched my heart to go and talk to my father at his grave site and forgive him of all his wrong doings over the years. How he touched my heart where no one else had access. Not even my wife or family. I am amazed at how much he loves me to get me out of Satan's grasp. How he would put people like Ken and Eunice Salyers into my life. How he is walking and talking beside me and getting me to talk and help others. How he touched my heart at Christmas to show my wife that I want a new beginning and renewed our wedding vows after 22 years of marriage. Showing me that my life isn't over, but just beginning. Through Jesus Christ there is nothing that can't be overcome.
Martha - Hospitals seem to have played a big part of my God story. Thirty seven days in Chippenham 27 years ago began my journey when I recommitted my life to Jesus. My most recent trip to MCV only reinforced what Jesus can do in my life. The spiritual blessings that he has given me since my surgery far outweigh the physical blessings. Life has given me many hard knocks in these years but Jesus has been there every step of the way. I can truly say that true happiness comes from: Serving, Giving, and Honoring God above all else. Praise God!!
Dave - I am 49 years old, and 26 years ago, I asked Jesus Christ into my heart. At that point in my life, God convicted me of my sin problem. I learned that he also made provision for my sin through Jesus Christ. I confessed my sins to him, repented, and declared his promise of everlasting life as it applied to me personally. Since the day Jesus saved me, I have experienced lots of trials, but God has been faithful to bring me through them. For example:
*At age 32, my wife of ten years divorced me to remarry, leaving me as a single parent with custody of my two children. But God fulfilled the promise He made to me in Psalm 37:4, Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. He brought me to my wife of 15 years now, and he blessed our marriage immeasurably.
*I have experienced both job loss and financial ruin, but God fulfilled the promise He made me in Malachi 3:10, Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. Today, God has given me financial freedom through teaching me to be a good steward of his resources.
*Eight years ago, we lost our first child during a tragic medical accident. There are few words of comfort to a parent survivor, but the Holy Spirit comforted us then and now. I believe His promise of Romans 8:39 for my little girl, that "neither life, nor death" shall separate {Rebecca} from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Each day, I realize God's love, his concern for me, his grace, his mercy and his tendency to be slow to anger, and I thank him for reaching down and offering his friendship to me.
