I never thought I'd quit my job as a fire fighter and go into full time ministry, teaching unemployed young men the art of wordworking. But I felt the Lord's calling and you don't say no when you hear that voice. I planned on being a fire fighter my entire career but my life changed once I got saved by a friend at the station. I started reading my Bible every day. I got to Matthew 4:19, and I felt like the Lord was speaking to me directly. He was calling me to share the Gospel with… Read More
We lost our son in 2005. He was just 20 years old. He was shot by his roommate as he was coming over to our house to celebrate Father's Day. He had recently graduated from a drug rehab program. But like so many young people afflicted with this disease, he couldn't break away from his old "friends." We have no idea why he was killed, and we still struggle, every day. You're never the same once you lose a child. It changes the way you live, it changes everything. But seeing how God has worked in our lives and in the life of… Read More
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
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
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
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
