Monday, October 13, 2008
By Mike Pagel, age 53.
I’ve always
been very uneasy praying out loud. My wife and I became members of Christ The
Rock 10 years ago, and got involved right away with classes, small groups,
ministries and other events. Still, I’ve hung back in the weeds so to speak in
classes and small group when it comes to prayer.
That changed late one night
when I received a phone call that Carol, a friend from High School had a major
stroke and was in a nursing home. I had always meant to...
Posted by
communications@christtherock.org at
11:41:27 AM | 1 comments
Saturday, October 11, 2008
By Gloria Kuhar, age 68
Last spring I entered a “season” of tough breaks—literally! In just an eight-week period of time, I sprained my ankle, canceled our vacation, caught a severe cough from our grandchildren, had to take medicine that made me violently ill, and learned that my husband Jim needed triple-bypass surgery. When my parked car got dented from a hit-and-run driver, I was downhearted to say the least. But God did not leave me in that place for long.
The day of Jim’s surgery...
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communications@christtherock.org at
12:00:02 PM | 0 comments
Saturday, October 11, 2008
By Kacey Campbell, Age 13
A lot of people my age have pressure. We feel worried even when the problem isn’t our own. Last year in 7th grade I had a friend who was troubled and he was cutting himself. I tried everything I knew to help him, and I took his problems into myself and felt very low for a long time. I cried a lot and was worried. My friends and family asked if something was wrong with me, and they noticed that I didn’t eat very much. Eventually I came out of that and...
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communications@christtherock.org at
11:58:50 AM | 0 comments
Saturday, October 11, 2008
By Patricia Van Gysel, age 57
Last February I lost my job after working there for 15 years. I was angry and upset. We did not know where we where going to live and where are next meal was going to come from. It seemed like things where crashing down on us. My Bible study family showed me that I needed to let go of anger and fear and trust Him. That is exactly what my husband Bruce and I decided to do.
Soon after, we took my mother to the doctor. While we waited for her, we...
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communications@christtherock.org at
11:57:30 AM | 0 comments
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Last July a group of teens from Christ The Rock’s high school group, Narrow Path, journeyed to the inner city of Musquiz, Mexico. Niko Thompson and Katie Pynenberg were among the teens who met and worked with that city’s poorest residents. As they reached out to others in Jesus’ name, their own lives were touched forever.
One specific memory that really touched me on this trip was a baby shower we threw for a young mother in the church. Our entire team collected money...
Posted by
communications@christtherock.org at
11:52:48 AM | 0 comments
Saturday, October 11, 2008
By Heather Zander, age 35
After a lifetime of church upbringing and five years of
regularly attending Christ the Rock, My husband Mike accepted our Lord as his
personal Savior. It happened last October at the men's retreat in Green Lake. He was baptized that day,
and our lives have been in a whirlwind ever since.
Through this miracle, we've felt conviction to move to the
next step, although at that time, we didn't know what that step...
Posted by
communications@christtherock.org at
11:47:33 AM | 0 comments
Monday, August 11, 2008
By Sarah Marnocha, age 40
I want to tell the story of the people you see tending to the gardens in the fields behind Christ The Rock. In a way, it is my story as much as it is theirs.
The Hmong people have held a special place in my heart for almost 20 years. During college I went to Thailand with Campus Crusade for Christ for 2 summer mission trips. This is where my eyes were first really opened to people who were lost with out Him and my responsibility and privilege to tell them...
Monday, August 11, 2008
By Tammy Weyenberg, age 40
Two years ago my husband Lyle and I were eagerly picking out names as we anticipated the birth of our fourth child. The day we went in for our 20th-week ultrasound, we were shocked to hear our baby boy had a half-formed heart and other abnormalities. As we waited for answers from a genetic counselor in Milwaukee, our small group came and prayed over the baby for a miracle.
The news was so hard to hear. Our baby had Trisomy18, a third chromosome in the 18th...
Monday, August 11, 2008
By Christopher Rohan, age 24
I have never felt comfortable sharing my story. Just like anybody else, I entertained the fears of accidentally sharing something too revealing or too personal. It was not until recently that I actually shared a little bit of my story. The response amazed me.
I have been working with Amped, the Junior High ministry, for the last several months. Like most of the small group leaders, I felt like I had to be wise and have all the answers. I ended up tripping...
Monday, August 11, 2008
By Beth Leao, age 25
As I think about my teen years, I remember the fighting between divorced parents, visiting dad every other weekend, and trying to be the mature, oldest child. To get away from that life, I defined myself with sports, extra-curriculars, and of course, a boyfriend. I spent my first year and a half of college trying to fit in; I got into the drinking scene for the first time, and I tried to fill the emptiness with guys. It never worked.
My dorm neighbors roped me...
Monday, August 11, 2008
By Julie Hartjes, age 55
My husband Les was diagnosed with dementia 3 years ago at age 56. The form of dementia he has is called “Pick’s Disease,” which is a rare form— generally affecting 35-55 year olds. His condition worsens with each passing day.
For the past several years, the Lord has been repeatedly leading me to Scriptures that exhort me to be holy as He is holy—and that I am to die daily so that He increases and I decrease. My prayer has been for God to show me areas of sin...
Monday, August 11, 2008
By Forrest Micke, age 26
It was seven years since I turned my back to God in search of answers elsewhere. I thought I was doing okay on my own. I was well-liked, had more friends than most, graduated from college with honors and was pursuing my graduate degree. I had a great job, financial stability and an eagerness for life. And yet I had the feeling something was missing.
On a beautiful day in early May I went hiking and canoeing with a new friend I had recently met. Being the...
Monday, August 11, 2008
By Kelly VerBust, age 36
I thought my perfect life was all planned out. I married Steve, my high school sweetheart, and we had two little children and a third on the way. Then Steve confessed that he was having an affair. I thought I would die! I left him immediately and went into hiding. With no one else to talk to, I called Christ The Rock and cried with a counselor for hours.
I didn’t know it, but right after I had walked out on him, Steve turned his life over to Christ.
After...
Monday, August 11, 2008
By Joel Swokowski, age 27
I was the third of four brothers. My first memory of my dad—a pastor of a small Ohio church—was of him leaving my mom when I was three. I really don’t remember him being around much.
My mom remarried, and my step-dad was wonderful to us. We all went to church but I never did give my life to God. I guess I always thought someday I would but I was never ready.
I joined the Marines after high school and started drinking pretty heavily. After I got out I...
Monday, August 11, 2008
Ever since joining my company four years ago, I have been trying to figure out ways to “politely” share God with my co-workers. It’s never worked out the way I thought it should. You’d think after all this time, I should have brought at least one or two people to Christ. But God has shown me a different approach to bearing His image in the workplace.
No one’s walk is perfect, and I’ve been praying for wisdom in controlling my tongue- specifically in the area of gossip. Let’s face it; gossip is...
Posted by
dcrow@christtherock.org at
9:25:48 AM