I am a recovering alcoholic. I've been sober now for 27 years and that's truly by the power and grace of God. Alcohol almost killed me. It destroyed my first marriage and I got in a horrible car accident when I was under the influence, breaking my hip. But fortunately I got into a 12-step program, and it was there that I established a true relationship with the Lord. My life has never been the same. Being part of a fellowship of other alcoholics is like taking your medicine if you're a diabetic---it's vital for your health. And I feel led to help… Read More
Mentoring
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When I was 12 years old, my parents sat me down and told me we were moving. They were becoming house parents at Big Oak Ranch, a Christian home for children needing a chance. It’s one thing to talk the talk, but another thing to actually commit your life to making a difference, and that’s what my parents decided we were going to do. My parents showed me through this sacrifice that life is all about what you do to serve others using the gifts God has given you. We stepped out of our “comfort zone” as a… Read More
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The challenges of caring for a child with special needs can be overwhelming. Care must be provided at all times. Our son, Aaron, had cerebral palsy, and we took loving care of him for 27 years until he passed away in 2009. Our loss devastated us, and we searched for how to make sense of it. We knew God had a plan, we just didn't understand it during that period. We didn't know what to do next, but from our personal experience, we always knew there needed to be some relief for the parents of children with special needs. While we were… Read More
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I fought off becoming a Young Life leader most of college, but after graduating and returning home, my heart changed; I began to appreciate that Young Life truly goes where the teens are. Young Life teaches its leaders to listen, invest time, and hopefully earn the right to speak about Jesus' love and the truth of God's Word. I'll never forget my very first meeting as a volunteer---this young girl marched right up to me and introduced herself. I could see right away that though she was young, she had an old soul, and in that moment, I knew our relationship… Read More
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I volunteer for a youth development program that helps girls of all backgrounds build self esteem, learn how to encourage others, combat bullying, and make healthy choices---all while training to run a 5K. As a pediatric ICU nurse, I'm around kids who can't go outside and play games or practice for a 5K. Being involved in this program allows me to be a part of young girls' lives as they learn and grow as a team, build lasting friendships and work with each other to achieve the day's goals. At the end of the season, the girls aren't the same… Read More
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Together, we volunteer with a boy's 8th grade class at an inner city school. We've been going there every other week for three years. We know the value of a male in a young man's life. And so many of these young men don't have fathers that are very active. If you don't have an interested dad, then there will always be something missing. It's important for them to have role models that might be different than what they see in their everyday world. We invest in these kids. We care about each one individually and take time to hear whatever they want… Read More