How Everyday People Live Out Their Christian Faith

Illustrating how men and women display their love for Jesus in their day-to-day lives.
Little things that may have an eternal impact. Might these stories motivate you to use your talents?
  • Children Mission Work Unique Ministries

    BRINGING HOPE TO A SLUM IN AFRICA

    I’ve always felt a pull toward Africa. In my twenties, I was so moved by God’s love for the poor that I felt compelled to act. I intended to start a children’s home in Nairobi, Kenya. Kibera is the largest slum in Africa. The one-room homes have corrugated metal roofs, cardboard walls and dirt floors. Surveys report 98% of residents have witnessed a violent crime in the last year, and 66% of girls prostitute themselves for food before age 16. While there, a team of us went door-to-door and asked hundreds of mothers, “If you could change one thing for your child,… Read More

    November 28, 2023
  • Children Prayer

    PRAYER BABY

    I was beyond excited when we found out we were going to have a second child. Having dealt with infertility issues and other medical problems, I was considered extremely high risk. My obstetrics doctor had scheduled an ultrasound right away so the baby could be monitored carefully. When I went in for the appointment, I was looking forward to getting ultrasound pictures and anxious to hear the baby's heartbeat. As the tech did the tests, he had a look of concern on his face. Normally, there's friendly chatting during the procedure, but not this time. I expected to meet with the… Read More

    November 21, 2023
  • Labor Verbalizing the Gospel

    A STAR THAT SHINES FOR JESUS

    Candace Cameron Bure rose to fame as a child actor in the late 1980s as D.J. Tanner on Full House. As an adult, she has appeared in countless Hallmark and Great American Family movies, as well as Dancing with the Stars, The View and Fuller House. She's a wife, a mother of three, a producer and a best-selling author. But she’s also become very well known for her love for Jesus. “While I am thankful for all of those opportunities and titles, I feel that the most life changing one I identify with is ‘Christian.’” writes Candace on her website. “I am… Read More

    November 15, 2023
  • Labor Mission Work

    TRAINING NURSES IN ETHIOPIA

    God used the Covid pandemic to prepare me to do something I never imagined. At the beginning of the pandemic, I was an orthopedic surgery nurse practitioner. The world was on lock-down, so surgery follow-up appointments were virtual and all elective surgeries were on hold. I sat in our empty clinic doing telemedicine visits primarily for knee and shoulder pain. Meanwhile, I heard reports from the hospital of countless Covid patients dying each week. The work I was doing was important, but the hospital desperately needed help, so I offered to go to the ICU. In those early days of Covid, we didn’t… Read More

    November 8, 2023
  • Food Prayer

    GOD ALWAYS PROVIDES

    As a young girl in 1979, my family packed up and moved from a very small town in Hamilton, Ohio to a rural part of the state called Morrow. Our previous home was quite small but this house was three stories and was built before the civil war. With three children under the age of ten, no running water, and no electricity at first, my parents had their hands full. Our nearest neighbors were over a mile away in any direction and our house was located on a busy highway called State Route 22. Until the water and electricity was working,… Read More

    November 1, 2023
  • Mission Work

    SHOWING CHRIST’S LOVE IN HONDURAS

    I needed an interpreter to speak to my patients. I always looked my patients directly in the eyes when I spoke with them, communicating as much through my eyes and body language as I could; then my interpreter would tell them exactly what I said. In turn, I’d listen as my patients spoke back to me, absorbing as much as I could through their gaze, facial expressions, and hand gestures, and then get the rest of the story back from the interpreter. On my first mission trip to the mountains of Honduras, our bus and truck were loaded up with a… Read More

    October 25, 2023

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Adoption/Foster Care 34
Children 145
Church Activities 57
Financial Help 18
Food 38
Homeless 30
Hospital 34
Labor 153
Loss Of Loved One 28
Loving Your Neighbor 62
Mentoring 47
Mission Work 46
Other 12
Overcoming Obstacles 80
Prayer 49
Prison Ministry 9
Recovery 31
Senior Citizens 21
Special Needs 44
Unique Ministries 153
Verbalizing the Gospel 66
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  • Loss Of Loved One Recovery Unique Ministries

    HEALING FROM A DEVASTATING LOSS

    On March 17, 2017, the unthinkable happened. We lost our only son, Justin, to suicide. This after battling a 10-year addiction problem. I can’t even begin to describe the pain, grief, hurt, anger, and depression that followed. I lost my faith in God. Though raised a Christian, I questioned everything I once believed. I’d been praying for God to help Justin, to take away the pain from the addiction, to take away the addiction all together. When we lost Justin, I felt as if my prayers were just ignored. I felt God apparently favored some people over others. I say this because all my life, I had seen prayers… Read More

    October 18, 2023
  • Labor

    GET MOVIN’ CHURCH

    Growing up in rural Indiana, I spent my childhood riding bikes and climbing trees. It’s not a surprise that I chose a career in corporate wellness. My job was to encourage employees to eat healthy and move more regularly. But after three decades and innumerable fitness campaigns, it became clear I’d been remiss in proffering the most important ingredient: surrender to the Spirit. After earnestly petitioning God about His plan for my life’s “third 1/3”, I felt Him calling me to bring the message of physical hope and healing to His Church. But how? I wanted to put my faith into… Read More

    October 4, 2023
  • Labor Overcoming Obstacles Unique Ministries

    A FISHER OF MEN

    I was born with no legs, no left arm and only a partial right arm. My whole life I've been told what I can't do, but I'm here to tell you what I can do. I’m a professional fisherman competing in the Bassmaster Open Series. And I’m a motivational speaker. When I’m fishing, I attach lures using his mouth. To cast my line, I wedge my fishing rod between my neck and shoulder. And once I cast the line, it's just fishing, like anyone else. As a kid, I always wanted to be a pro athlete. I wasn’t going to let my… Read More

    September 27, 2023
  • Adoption/Foster Care Children Labor

    RUNNING ORPHANAGES IN PAKISTAN

    In light of recent Christian persecution in Pakistan, it is important to recognize and honor those doing the work of Jesus Christ in a mostly Muslim country. Only about 1% of the population openly identifies as Christians. On August 16, 2023, several hundred people were brutally attacked on a Christian settlement in Pakistan in the Punjab district, hitting too close to home for Rimsha Kamran, Sawera Shahbaz, and Faisal Masih. Together, these three believers in Jesus are running orphanages in Punjab, Pakistan, under the name of “Life Saving Ministries.” They have come together to serve children through Christ, and have combined… Read More

    September 20, 2023
  • Adoption/Foster Care Children Labor

    ADOPTING ONE OF MY STUDENTS

    As a teacher, I never thought I would adopt one of my students, but you never know what the Lord has as His will for your life. I work at a school located in a very urban area. It’s a fairly rough school and there are a number of students who, unfortunately, are part of the Department of Children and Families. I’m used to seeing kids who come from difficult backgrounds. I felt nudged to get personally involved with one of my students several years ago. I discovered one of my first graders was not allowed to go back home. It broke… Read More

    September 13, 2023
  • Children Church Activities Mission Work

    BUILDING THE CHURCH IN KENYA

    The effects of HIV and AIDS have ravaged many families in Africa, and for Eldady Onkware, this is no exception. Though he was raised in a happy Christian family, at 6 years old, his mother passed away due to the progression of AIDS. From that point on, his life changed forever, as he was raised by relatives, while his father worked away from home. Unfortunately, he was overworked by his stepmother and injured badly by his brother. To add to his despair, his father also passed away due to HIV/AIDs at 14. His childhood was tumultuous, as he was thrown… Read More

    September 6, 2023
  • Children Labor

    TEACHING AT A CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

    “Mr. Granger, what’s the difference between the Old Testament and the New Testament?”, a young student of mine asked. Following my simple and concise explanation, it registered in my mind that this young student didn’t own a Bible. “Would you like me to get you your own Bible?” I asked. Long story short, this young student is now reciting Old Testament stories in flying colors and perhaps ready to answer the same questions other students once asked. Teaching at a Christian private school is an incredible opportunity to positively influence the next generation of believers at the moment that they first find… Read More

    August 30, 2023
  • Homeless Loving Your Neighbor Mentoring

    MENTORING A YOUNG HOMELESS MAN

    I own God Body Gym in Memphis. One day, I found a young homeless man asleep in my car behind our building. I didn’t know at the time that God’s plan would be for me to mentor that young man, and my gym would become his home for the last nine months…and counting. And it’s clear that God was preparing me for this for almost a decade. About ten years ago, God got my attention. I owned a small company but I was getting into a little trouble, doing some things that weren’t right. My company experienced some turmoil, and I… Read More

    August 23, 2023
  • Overcoming Obstacles Recovery

    A JOURNEY OF REDEMPTION

    In the depths of my darkest days, consumed by addiction and despair, I found solace in the unwavering love and guidance of Jesus Christ. His divine intervention ignited a transformative journey that rescued me from the clutches of addiction and instilled within me a profound sense of purpose and a burning desire to serve others. Through my recovery and subsequent community advocacy work, I strive to demonstrate my unwavering love for Jesus Christ by embodying His teachings and spreading His message of hope and redemption. One of the ways I put my faith into action is by volunteering at a drive-thru… Read More

    August 16, 2023
  • Children Senior Citizens Unique Ministries

    HELPING SENIORS WITH TECHNOLOGY

    We are high school students in Ft. Myers who volunteer our time to teach computer literacy skills to senior citizens in local retirement homes. It was originally our way of getting community service hours, but we’ve now developed some special bonds and amazing friendships with these seniors. We’ve also had the opportunity to help these seniors stay connected with loved ones, engage in online activities and gain a sense of independence and self-confidence in a technology-driven society. We named our high school group, CLEO, Computer Literacy Education Outreach. We tell people that our goal is to bridge the digital divide between generations… Read More

    August 9, 2023
  • Children Church Activities Mentoring

    THE PURPOSE PROJECT

    In 2011, God gave me a heart and vision for middle and high schoolers. I wanted to open a center for youth that met them just where they were. So with only five teen interns and only a few hundred dollars to work with, the Catalyst Teen Center was born. In the beginning, Catalyst appeared like a regular youth group, but it quickly transformed into something never seen before. We began offering classes, everything from Forensic Science, guitar lessons, home economics, Japanese and more. The Teen Center provided a community the teens were starving for. All of them had gifts and… Read More

    August 2, 2023
  • Labor Loving Your Neighbor

    WHEN DISASTER STRIKES

    When natural disaster inevitably strikes, my job takes me into the chaos and destruction that most people choose to evacuate and avoid. I’ve been working for a federal disaster relief agency for six years now and the crushing reality of disaster still devastates me. Somedays, I wonder why God called me into a job that’s physically, emotionally, and spiritually so hard and heavy. I live in hotels for months at a time, which keeps me away from my family for most of the year. I stay prepared to go wherever disaster strikes with little to no warning in advance. I work… Read More

    July 26, 2023
  • Labor Mission Work Verbalizing the Gospel

    A NOMAD FOR THE GOSPEL

    My childhood was far from normal and tainted with abuse, poverty, and dysfunction. Having never known a father’s love, I gave my heart away to the first boy who treated me nicely. As a result, I got pregnant at sixteen. The relationship became toxic, so after splitting up, I went back to school and started working. I graduated high school and a few years later, I graduated from Nursing School. Working and studying gave me a sense of pride. I had a business, my degree, money, my son, and a new boyfriend, I had everything. And yet,… Read More

    July 19, 2023
  • Children Hospital Loss Of Loved One

    Jessie’s JoyJars

    Our daughter, Jessica Joy Rees, was 11 when doctors discovered she had an inoperable and incurable brain tumor. They told us we would have 12-18 months with her. We were all devastated. We entered her into a very difficult clinical trial where she was subjected to 30 rounds of radiation and a daily dose of chemotherapy. Despite this grueling regimen, Jessie maintained an incredibly positive attitude. After her treatment one day, we were driving away from Children’s Hospital Orange County and she asked about all the sick children in the hospital that didn’t get to go home each day like she did.… Read More

    July 12, 2023
  • Unique Ministries Verbalizing the Gospel

    NO LONGER CHASING THE WIND

    Chasing after the wind, I was a high schooler who longed for ‘the moment,’ whether it be a concert, sporting event, or school dance. Underneath it all, I knew I was living in the shadows; distracting myself from the consequences of my sin. I was addicted to my lusts, which were distracting me and only adding to the tab of consequences. The pandemic in 2020 was a shelter to the wind I was chasing. I had no wind to chase, and as a result, I longed for renewal with the God I was distracting myself from. I ended up giving my life… Read More

    July 5, 2023
  • Adoption/Foster Care Children

    THE SINGLE FOSTER MOM

    In the depths of my heart, a fire burned—a calling that could not be ignored. As a single mom, life had dealt its blows, but my faith in Christ remained my anchor. With trepidation and trust, I opened my home to foster children, answering God's whispered invitation. Jamal and La' Velle were the first, their laughter filling my once-empty rooms. Together, we journeyed—a dance of laughter, tears, and victories. In doubt, I turned to prayer, finding solace in God's unchanging love and His call to care for the vulnerable. More children came, each carrying their own stories of shattered dreams. In our… Read More

    June 28, 2023
  • Financial Help Loving Your Neighbor

    AN AMAZING LEGACY OF GIVING

    My dad did something every month for nearly 10 years that impacted countless people in our community. And he kept it totally quiet until a few weeks before he passed away. He gave a $100 bill every month to our local pharmacist, Brooke Walker, to help people in our small town of Geraldine, Alabama that needed assistance in paying for their critical prescriptions. He never wanted anyone to know where the money came from or how it was used. He just asked Brooke to use her judgment and to tell the recipient that “this is from someone that felt led by God… Read More

    June 21, 2023
  • Children Labor

    HELPING PREVENT CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE

    After teaching personal body safety to over 1,000 kids, I was inspired to write the Say NO! and TELL! books. Child sexual abuse is prevalent and increasing nationwide. I know too many friends and family who have experienced this trauma. The intervention, sharing a survivor story and recovery parts are growing strong in this movement, although I saw a gap in prevention education. Almost instantly, I had a vision about the butterfly telling her story plus scenarios to role-play. I wanted to create something light, bright, colorful and positive with an animal character delivering this prevention message. I realized that children… Read More

    June 14, 2023
  • Church Activities Labor

    REPAIRING AND RENOVATING CHURCHES

    In a bustling city filled with skyscrapers and noise, I’m a construction worker. My life was once marked by emptiness and uncertainty, but amidst the chaos, an unexpected encounter with Christ brought solace and purpose to my existence. During my early years, I wandered through life, desperately searching for meaning. Addiction and the weight of my past mistakes burdened me. Deep inside, I yearned for something more substantial than the hollow pleasures offered by the daily grind. One fateful day, as I took a break from my construction work, I stumbled upon a small, weathered church hidden in a forgotten corner of… Read More

    June 7, 2023
  • Food Homeless

    A MUSTARD SEED OF FAITH

    Through walking this life with Christ, I’ve had the chance to witness the miracles that come with having faith, but it still doesn't change the shock and warmth one feels when experiencing one of these miracles first hand. I'm very passionate about charity. Little did I know, that passion would make me worthy of feeling the miracles of Christianity on a day where a miracle was greatly needed. I was given the chance to orchestrate an incredible act of kindness, to be a part of an effort that provides the homeless with food and other basic necessities. We reached out to a… Read More

    May 31, 2023
  • Children Labor Special Needs

    GIVING MORE THAN A HAIRCUT

    What an incredible blessing it is for me to open up my barber shop once a month and spend my day off giving children with special needs a free haircut. This has become the day I always look forward to! And I can certainly see God's hand in how this all started. I’ve been cutting hair for 20 years and am now fortunate enough to have my own shop. I've always tried to provide a supportive environment for my clients, where they feel comfortable sharing stories of struggle and triumph, stories about good days and bad. We’ve been blessed to have… Read More

    May 24, 2023
  • Hospital Overcoming Obstacles Recovery

    FROM CANCER’S GRIP TO GOD’S GRACE

    Arriving home on my 21st birthday to a house filled with my beloved family, the air buzzed with anticipation of a joyous celebration. Little did I know that this day would forever be etched in my memory as a pivotal one. With a heavy heart and trembling voice, my dad mustered the courage to utter the words that had consumed our thoughts for the past hour, "She has cancer." The atmosphere instantly shifted from jubilation to a profound silence, punctuated only by the collective tears and anguished expressions of my loved ones. What was to be a celebration turned into a… Read More

    May 17, 2023
  • Overcoming Obstacles

    A COMPLETE SURRENDER

    Rock bottom was the place I called home at the age of 25. I was well loved and well taught as a child. But by 19, I was birthing the beautiful, blonde-headed boy I would come to find as my temporary saving grace. Yet, I couldn’t seem to see past my own insecurities. Instead of celebrating when 21 came around,  I was fighting off an abusive husband who’d turn to aggression, force, and violence to control me. I mistook this as love. As I turned 23, I had brought another life into the world with curls that even Shirley Temple would revere. As… Read More

    May 10, 2023
  • Labor Senior Citizens Unique Ministries

    BEAUTIFUL HAND-PAINTED BOOKMARKS

    I believe God can use anyone to fulfill His plans no matter how old you are. I’m 100 years old, and I paint freehand bookmarks with artwork on the front and “God Loves You” on the back. They’re distributed randomly to people we meet to remind them of God’s love. It's a simple way of getting out the most important message anyone can see. I truly think that if you're breathing, God can use you. Everyone has some type of gift that can be used for The Lord. Our gifts are all different. There is no point to just sitting on… Read More

    May 3, 2023
  • Other

    A NEW WAY OF LIVING

    As an Old Order Mennonite, I grew up with a strong and firm commitment to the traditions of my culture. From a young age, dressing modestly, abstaining from particular technologies, and yes, even using a horse and buggy to get around! Adhering to other moral codes of our religion were a way of life. However, as I got older, my faith and perspective toward the world around me drastically changed. I began to question my devotion to the religious customs and beliefs I had known my whole life. It wasn’t that I had lost my faith, but instead it was more… Read More

    April 26, 2023
  • Labor Overcoming Obstacles

    EPILEPSY CHANGED HER LIFE

    My life changed dramatically five years ago. I woke up in the middle of the night to a room filled with emergency medical personnel. My husband lovingly told me that I had a seizure and we were going to the hospital. After being admitted, doctors determined I had experienced a grand mal seizure, or what is medically known as a tonic-clonic seizure. Over the next few months, I had some recurring impaired awareness seizures, and I was diagnosed with epilepsy. I was the mom of a six-month old baby and worked full time in a career that I loved. Now because of… Read More

    April 19, 2023
  • Loving Your Neighbor Overcoming Obstacles

    MINISTERING TO WOMEN

    I was raised Catholic but became a believer in the 1970s. I then became distracted by the world and married a nonbeliever. However, God’s grace brought me back to Him when my first child was born. Becoming a mom pushed me to seek God’s help. Unfortunately as our family grew, my husband struggled with prescription drug addiction and abuse. Due to that and my upbringing, I strived to be perfect and attempted to fix and enable people. The more I did for my husband, the less he did for us. I lost myself being both mom and dad to our… Read More

    April 12, 2023
  • Children Hospital Overcoming Obstacles

    OUR CHERISHED GIFT FROM GOD

    “Your baby is missing his left eye.” With that one sentence, my life was forever changed. This was supposed to be a routine ultrasound where I would have the chance to finally see my precious baby and perhaps take home a picture. My husband and I had previously welcomed a little boy into our life and were looking forward to our second child. This news completely blindsided us but we prayed. Our family prayed. Our friends and their friends prayed for a miracle, that God would heal our baby, but sometimes God’s answer is “no” as it was for us. Our… Read More

    April 5, 2023
  • Children Overcoming Obstacles

    OUR MIRACLE DAUGHTERS

    When my former husband left me and the church to pursue what he thought to be higher truth, I could never imagine God redeeming that low point of my life and the shame that my former husband had heaped upon me. My God didn’t just bring me out of that dark place to the life I had wanted. He brought me to a life I never knew I could have asked for. I met a man whose whole family left Cuba as refugees. They immigrated to America to worship God freely and serve Him with their whole lives; not just in… Read More

    March 29, 2023
  • Overcoming Obstacles Recovery

    BATTLING LYME DISEASE

    This is the story of how God brought me through a difficult Lyme diagnosis. I had an ideal childhood, it was wonderful. But life was difficult, too. I experienced migraines, digestive issues, and more. I didn’t know what was wrong, but the Lord did. Finally, I took a Lyme test, which showed that I tested positive for Lyme. Lyme disease is a bacterial infection either from a tick which invades your body, or it’s passed down from one of your parents. It takes over your body and causes severe symptoms such as numbness, fatigue, joint pain, and headaches. Following my diagnosis… Read More

    March 22, 2023
  • Homeless Loss Of Loved One Mission Work

    HONORING OUR SON’S MEMORY

    To honor the memory of our six-year-old son who passed away, we started a ministry that builds houses for the impoverished and homeless in Honduras. How we became involved in this is truly the work of the Lord. In March 2020, our son, John Luke had an ATV accident. He was a healthy, happy, beautiful boy. My husband, a paramedic, worked on him and got his heart beating, and we were able to med flight him to Children’s Hospital in Birmingham. He was put on a ventilator to sustain him, but the doctors prepared us for what was to come. He… Read More

    March 15, 2023
  • Church Activities Overcoming Obstacles

    ON A TOTALLY DIFFERENT STAGE

    I always had a vision of fame and my life’s purpose was music. I loved performing; if a stage was available, I wanted to be on it. I spent my high school years honing my craft in drama, chorus, and music class. I was good and the applause felt great. I knew that I wanted more of it. After graduating, I left home to start a band. I played bass and had a few talented friends that convinced me that we could make it on the big stage. I was sure we’d be discovered in no time and I’d achieve my… Read More

    March 7, 2023
  • Hospital Overcoming Obstacles Recovery

    BRAVELY FACING MY HEART ISSUES

    I am often known as “the girl who has heart issues”. I have a rare heart condition that led me to have open heart surgery at age 17. Several years later, I had to undergo two more open heart surgeries in just a three-week period. And last year, I was about to undergo a fourth heart procedure, but doctors were concerned about my blood count and discovered that I have leukemia. So, I'm currently in the midst of some very difficult chemotherapy treatments. I believe everyone has struggles and a story to tell. Some may look different than others; my struggles… Read More

    March 1, 2023
  • Labor Mission Work Verbalizing the Gospel

    A WORKPLACE MISSIONARY

    Before my feet hit the floor each day, I always thank God for the new day, telling Him He is Holy and righteous in all of His ways. This is the day the Lord has made and it is time to rejoice in it. Before work each day, I begin with prayer, a devotional, and listening to God’s Word through a sermon. In my time with God, I ponder with the expectation that my workplace is indeed God’s plan for my life. I hold in high regard that God has chosen me for this time… Read More

    February 22, 2023
  • Children Overcoming Obstacles Unique Ministries

    COPING WITH MY INFERTILITY

    I thought I was broken. “I am a worthless wife if I can’t give my husband children.” This is one of the lies I was tempted to believe as I experienced my second miscarriage followed by the news that I had both genetic and blood clotting disorders. Both would not only increase my chances for another miscarriage but could also lead to my carrying a baby with a severe life-ending syndrome. Feelings of anger, isolation, low esteem, guilt, and anxiety were considered normal by the specialists treating me but there was more at work here than just feelings. I realized that there… Read More

    February 15, 2023
  • Homeless Verbalizing the Gospel

    FINDING LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS

    Though I often live in darkness with no electricity, Jesus is my light. Though I may not have a fancy building or riches, Jesus dwells in my temple daily. I was born in Nigeria, but my parents both passed when I was young and I never received a proper education. I ended up spending much of my childhood sleeping on the streets, waiting for food, hope, and love. During my teen years, I was involved in a severe accident, where the bus I was traveling in rolled over six times. The details are blurry, but I remember a young girl placing a… Read More

    February 8, 2023
  • Overcoming Obstacles Recovery

    AN AMAZING TRANSFORMATION

    I grew up in a very secular home, I didn't go to church, and I never saw my parents read the Bible. I thought that if I just did whatever I wanted, without any rules or restrictions, then I would be happy. That's what my friends did, and they seemed to be having a lot of fun. I saw no point in God, and instead of going to church, I would go to the local tattoo shop. The money I earned went towards my tattoos, alcohol and pot. By the time I was 22, my parents had disowned me and I was… Read More

    February 1, 2023
  • Unique Ministries Verbalizing the Gospel

    RANDOM NOTES OF ENCOURAGEMENT

    I could not stop wasting time. It was crazy. I wanted to do something with my life. I wanted to help people, but instead, I went to sleep, sang in the shower, or sat and stared at the wall. I didn't talk to anybody. I was introverted from the moment I was born, it seemed. I wanted to reach people and show them the light of Jesus I had been shown as a young child, but I never had the right words to say. I felt there was no way to overcome my fear of talking and telling others about God's… Read More

    January 25, 2023
  • Adoption/Foster Care Children Special Needs

    THE DOUGHERTY DOZEN

    Be careful what you pray for. We went through nine years of infertility and had at least 11 miscarriages. But I kept praying to become a mother. And God certainly answered my prayers—and then some—because now we have 12 children! When you have a dozen children, life is a little hectic. We do five loads of laundry every day. We spend over $1,000 each week on groceries and have four full-size freezers in our garage to store food. We recently purchased 12 lockers so the kids have their own space for their coats, backpacks and all their shoes. We need a 15-seat… Read More

    January 18, 2023
  • Overcoming Obstacles Unique Ministries

    OUT OF THE DUST

    “I don't think I believe in God anymore and I no longer want to be married." What happens when the life you've built turns to complete dust? These are the devastating words I heard from my high school sweetheart and husband. He had been wrestling with his faith and had finally told me. Even though we were in ministry, he had been on his own quiet journey through addiction, doubts, and deconstruction. It is normal to wrestle with faith and fight to find truth, but his journey took him down a path that nearly destroyed us. After our painful divorce, he continued… Read More

    January 11, 2023
  • Overcoming Obstacles Prayer

    A GRANDFATHER’S ANSWERED PRAYER

    My life has been in shambles on a number of occasions. But Jesus, and my grandfather, have rescued me from the depths of depravity to make me the Christ follower that I am today. My father was a truck driver who fell asleep at the wheel and died in a collision when I was four, and my mom was eight months pregnant with my little sister. That was the first time my maternal grandfather stepped in to help guide my life and become our surrogate father. He was a solid Christian who became the anchor in our lives. From time to time,… Read More

    January 4, 2023
  • Children Homeless Loving Your Neighbor

    THE CIRCLE OF LOVE

    The Circle of Love is not just a toy drive where we supply Christmas presents each year to 700 children in need. It is a way to give forgotten children a sense of worth and value, a way to give them an ability to dream. We started The Circle of Love in 2004, and over these 19 years, we have touched over 8,000 children who live in shelters and in impoverished areas. You can never fully explain to a child why Santa Claus will not come to visit him and his family. For children in transitional housing, having gifts to open… Read More

    December 21, 2022
  • Church Activities Senior Citizens

    SERVING THE SENIOR ADULTS

    Although I grew up going to church, I didn't take God seriously until I was 20 years old. There were always things that I let get in the way of my relationship with God. In my teen years, I never really decided to give my life to Him. My sister and I are the third generation of my family to attend the Salvation Army church in our city. Our mother and grandmother set the example for us as women of God. Even though I attended church three times a week growing up, I still held my full heart back from the… Read More

    December 12, 2022
  • Labor Overcoming Obstacles Recovery

    A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE

    I had a heart attack at age 39 and doctors in the hospital told me my heart stopped beating for 45 minutes. I was dead. But those amazing doctors worked hard to bring me back to life by performing CPR for that entire time. Doctors placed me in an induced coma for nine days. When I was awakened, my life was substantially different. I now have to live with a pacemaker that keeps my heart beating properly. A lot of my memories were gone. But fortunately, I remembered my beautiful wife, Tanya, who never left my hospital bedside for the entire… Read More

    December 7, 2022
  • Church Activities Overcoming Obstacles

    A CHANGED LIFE

    When I was 16, I lived a life full of alcohol and drugs. I went through physical and sexual abuse, dealt drugs, faced self-harm, and honestly have no idea how I made it through alive. The year I turned 19, I was put in jail for the possession of multiple narcotics, and my mom put her house deed on the line to get me out of jail. I was only there for three days, but it was enough to shake me and show me what I needed to do to get out of this spiral. When I turned 20, I left my… Read More

    November 30, 2022
  • Hospital Labor Unique Ministries

    THE NICU BEAUTY BAR

    My daughter, Amelia, was born three months prematurely, and weighed only 1 pound 11 ounces. She was in the NICU for 125 days. It was tortuous, exhausting and scary. My husband and I were simply in survival mode for those four months. We totally relied on our faith to get us through. People surrounded us with prayer. I learned that the power of prayer is remarkable--there was a feeling of peace and calm that I can’t describe. I felt like the Lord was there with us throughout the entire ordeal. Remarkably, and by the grace of God, Amelia survived and is now… Read More

    November 22, 2022
  • Children Food Labor

    DELJEN’S SHAVED ICE

    I never would have thought our family would start a Shaved Ice business out of a food truck, especially when it was our six-year-old daughter’s idea. But it shows what we all can do if we just follow God’s prompting. When our daughter, Della, was 6, we found ourselves doing virtual school due to the pandemic. One day, I looked at her daily journal they had to compose for school, and it said, "I'm going to have a shaved ice business one day and my family is going to help me run it." I was more than taken back by this,… Read More

    November 16, 2022
  • Labor Special Needs

    UNLESS U

    My brother, Jordan, inspired us to start Unless U, a faith-based continuing education program in a college-like environment for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Jordan was my best friend throughout my childhood. We had so much fun together. But other children did not understand his needs, so I learned at an early age to be his advocate. I also noticed that Jordan's disability doesn't limit his desire to have the same opportunities as others. He always wanted to be like everyone else. He did not understand it when my brother and I got to drive a car, and he couldn't; or… Read More

    November 9, 2022
  • Labor Overcoming Obstacles Recovery

    TAKING BACK MY VOICE

    I had a secret that I hid for almost two decades. It was awful and I was ashamed. But I learned that what the enemy intended for evil, God can use for His glory. I had graduated from college and wanted to be an occupational therapist. I was working in a rehab facility and praying that God would help me get into graduate school. But I’m a person that does not do well on standardized tests. I took the GRE six different times and could never get the necessary score. My dream was shattered and I was left without a plan. What… Read More

    November 2, 2022
  • Loss Of Loved One Overcoming Obstacles Unique Ministries

    TURNING MY PAIN INTO PURPOSE

    On this particular morning, I felt led to pray for my husband before I left for the day. I don’t remember the words that came out of my mouth, but I knew he was stressed at work. Normally, I would check in with him by text throughout the day and get a quick response. But I didn't hear back from him all day long. When I got home and he wasn't there, but his car was, I knew something was going on and immediately called the police. After two days of searching and praying, there was a knock at the… Read More

    October 26, 2022
  • Children Labor Overcoming Obstacles

    THE CHILDREN’S BURN CAMP

    God has blessed me to be the shepherd of some of His hurting children who have survived life-altering burn injuries. He’s allowed me to become the Executive Director of the Connecticut Burns Care Foundation. We put on a Children's Burn Camp every summer: about half of our campers have minor burns, but the other half have very serious burns over parts or all of their body. Our week-long camp in July is free to any child who has suffered a burn. The camp allows these burn survivors to have fun and just be kids. It's a beautiful location on 176 acres… Read More

    October 19, 2022
  • Homeless Prayer Verbalizing the Gospel

    TAKING JESUS TO THE STREETS

    I am a man who has a strong passion for the less fortunate. What I prefer to call it is a God-given burden for people. The city in which I live is one of the most impoverished and crime-ridden cities in the country. For the past 39 years, I have given my time and efforts to the homeless people of Flint and Detroit, Michigan. I donate whatever I can to them. More than clothes or food though, the most important thing we can give is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There are so many in this world that feel hopeless. But we… Read More

    October 12, 2022
  • Adoption/Foster Care Children Homeless

    FROM THE TRASH TO A TREASURE

    When I woke up that day, I was completely unaware that my life was about to change forever. I was in college at Texas State University and was visiting my hometown in Haiti on New Year’s Eve of 2017. I was on my way to help in an orphanage where I had been a volunteer for several years when I saw a crowd of about 20 people around a trash can. There was an infant child crying hysterically and lying naked in the trash, covered with fire ants. The people around the trash were just staring at the child. There is a… Read More

    October 5, 2022
  • Overcoming Obstacles Prayer

    A TRUE FRIENDSHIP

    When I was 13, I started going to a new church. I was hesitant to get involved. Like most teens, I didn't enjoy being the new kid. As time passed, I began making a few acquaintances. One day, I overheard a girl inviting everyone over to her house for a sleepover. I noticed that I wasn't included, so I jokingly interjected. As much as she apologized and begged me to come, I couldn't help but feel it was a forced invitation on my behalf. But I went, and it was a night filled with typical girly activities. We had a blast! Yet, I couldn't shake the feeling… Read More

    September 28, 2022
  • Labor Loving Your Neighbor Mission Work

    HOPE HEALTH CENTER

    Every part of your life depends on you having good health. When most people think of health, they consider only their physical condition, but as a doctor, I repeatedly see that our spiritual condition is also a huge factor. Hope Health Center was started so that, like Jesus’ examples in the Gospels, we could address both the physical and spiritual needs of those who come to us. Our mission is to share the hope found in Jesus Christ while providing excellent whole-person healthcare to a very medically underserved community. That’s why we placed our medical clinic in the… Read More

    September 21, 2022
  • Overcoming Obstacles Unique Ministries

    MISS OVERCOMER

    With all I have gone through I should be a statistic! Thankfully, the Lord had another plan. Between 2013 and 2015, my previous three decades of hardship culminated into a trifecta of even more heartache. My mother died prematurely. Six months later, I realized my 25-year marriage was coming to an end. A few months later, my father also passed away.  The back-to-back devastation felt like a tsunami on my soul. All I could think about was the pain and shock of losing so many things that meant the most to me. My family was gone. My… Read More

    September 14, 2022
  • Overcoming Obstacles Verbalizing the Gospel

    DISCOVERING JESUS AGAIN AFTER 9/11

    We were awakened by an explosion that shook our building. We ran to our terrace on the 24th floor, just six blocks from the World Trade Center. Above us was thick, black smoke coming from the North Tower. Right from our terrace, we watched as a second plane came roaring overhead and struck the South Tower. The impact hurled us backward into our living room and knocked us unconscious. When we came to, we ran down the stairs, barefoot and wearing pajamas. Soon after, the towers fell, covering us with dust as we desperately searched for a clear air pocket. We were… Read More

    September 7, 2022
  • Loving Your Neighbor Overcoming Obstacles

    LOVING AND SERVING OTHERS

    I live with pain every day of my life, and yet my schedule is packed full. If I’m not helping a young mom, I’m running errands with a vision impaired friend, or sending cards of encouragement. People ask, “How do you keep going when you have so much pain?” I tell them if I stop, I will give up. I do fight discouragement because of my pain and limitations. Some days, I feel useless. But God gives me strength to press on. Any good I do or happiness I give to others is only because of God’s grace. I suffer from severe arthritis… Read More

    August 31, 2022
  • Labor Loving Your Neighbor Verbalizing the Gospel

    CROSSES IN MY POCKET

    For more than 10 years, I have enjoyed making small wooden crosses and giving them away to random people. We all run into people from time to time that seem distressed, troubled or overwhelmed. I try to find a way to give them a cross. As I offer the crosses, I usually say, “The cross reminds me that God is good.” I seek opportunities to give them away as often as possible. I hand them to anybody I run into during the course of the day. It might be my waiter at the restaurant or the receptionist at the doctor’s office.… Read More

    August 24, 2022
  • Adoption/Foster Care Children Unique Ministries

    STAND UP GIRL

    When a young single girl gets a positive pregnancy test, she is scared and confused. A lot of times, she doesn’t know what to do with the baby or where to turn, and usually ends up frantically searching for information on the Internet. And that is the reason StandUpGirl.com was created. Our online Christian ministry is a virtual pregnancy resource center that is available to these girls anytime and anywhere in the world. StandUpGirl.com helps these girls find life-affirming information that we hope helps them to choose life for their baby. On the website and social media, she'll find thousands of personal… Read More

    August 17, 2022
  • Labor Loving Your Neighbor Unique Ministries

    GEEZER MOWING

    Geezer Mowing is a group of old guys who cut grass for free for people in our community going through a difficult time. It began several years ago when our friend's daughter went to Duke University for a double lung transplant. Both parents stayed with her for months, so a couple of us started cutting their grass on the weekends. We didn’t tell anybody but someone saw us mowing and mentioned it to one of our church's pastors. He worked with the senior adults, and would hear of older people that had become ill and unable to take care of their yard.… Read More

    August 10, 2022
  • Labor Mission Work Unique Ministries

    SAFE WATER AFRICA

    Access to safe, clean drinking water is one of the world’s most serious humanitarian problems. Worldwide, unsafe water and lack of sanitation kill over 30,000 people each month, with children affected the most. Safe water can transform an entire community suffering from waterborne sickness and disease to a much healthier one where people can focus on education, opportunity and faith. Several of us took a mission trip to Tanzania and saw first-hand the critical need for safe clean water. As a result, we launched a nonprofit called Safe Water Africa eight years ago to address this need. Our basic mission… Read More

    August 3, 2022
  • Unique Ministries

    HELPING COMBAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING

    I am consistently amazed by the ways God works to extend His mercy and grace when we as Christians stay open to His leading. In my life, a change in plans for a business venture thwarted sex trafficking in my community and resulted in a local refuge for women escaping such trauma. Neither outcome was envisioned when I and a Christian brother partnered in a rental real estate business with the goal of giving to Kingdom work from the profits. I run a structural metal manufacturing company and I have a heart for missions, so I was excited by the opportunity.… Read More

    July 27, 2022
  • Loving Your Neighbor Unique Ministries

    TRYING TO ERADICATE POVERTY

    I grew up with a single mother and four siblings. Hardship was no stranger. Sometimes, we had no place to call home, and as a kid, I thought my circumstances meant I should dream small. God gracefully proved me wrong. In 2010, He gave me an ambition that destroyed the box I once dreamed in: a dream to eradicate poverty through community outreach and free acts of service. God showed me what once disqualified me in some places now qualifies me in others. He brought me out of poverty so I could tell others, “You can make it.” In 2012, I put… Read More

    July 20, 2022
  • Children Mentoring Overcoming Obstacles

    MENTORING GIRLS IN YOUTH HOMES

    Life can be very difficult and challenging for any child that doesn’t have a secure home environment. And I certainly did not. My father wasn’t in my life and my mom was an alcoholic. She went to rehab and thought she was better, but relapsed and was unable to care for me. At age 10, I was taken to Big Oak Ranch, a Christian home for children needing to find a loving, stable environment. Most every child that lives in a home like this is riddled with doubts, no matter how good the children’s home may be. Are we loved? Why are… Read More

    July 13, 2022
  • Hospital Overcoming Obstacles

    MY BLESSED CHARIOT TO HEAVEN

    When the neurologist told me with tears in his eyes that I had ALS and there is no known cure, the room grew silent. But my mind focused on a beautiful image: this disease will be my Blessed Chariot that will carry me home to be with Jesus forever. Typically, there is a three to five-year life expectancy for a person with ALS, but my symptoms started in my mouth, so research says my life may be even shorter. I really don’t know how much time I have but I know that God is in charge. And I plan to live… Read More

    July 6, 2022
  • Other

    BRINGING HOPE AND HEALING TO WOMEN

    Feeling trapped and scared with an unplanned pregnancy, I entered the abortion clinic resolute in my decision that it was not the right time for me to have a baby. Just weeks away from graduating with a nursing degree, I was eager to start my career and decided to “fix” my problem secretly without disappointing my Catholic parents. I left the clinic feeling relief. Now I could get on with my life. But that abortion wrecked me. Scarred emotionally and spiritually, I was wounded internally by a sin that changed my whole identity. Efforts to continue suppressing my shame and guilt failed… Read More

    June 29, 2022
  • Adoption/Foster Care Special Needs

    ADOPTING CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

    I was a single mother of two when I answered God’s clear call to adopt and foster children with Down syndrome and other life-threatening medical conditions. It has been quite a wild and demanding ride but it has brought me so much closer to the Lord, and, in looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing. How I got to this point requires some explanation: I got divorced when I was pregnant with my second child. It was right around the holidays, and I was devastated. I cried out to God that this was not how I ever imagined my life when… Read More

    June 22, 2022
  • Labor Overcoming Obstacles

    INSPIRING BLOOMS

    I was serving at an orphanage in El Salvador when my life started unraveling. Hearing the stories of trauma triggered my own childhood wounds and memories. I was able to hold it together until my term finished, but back in the United States, I had a complete breakdown. I became deeply depressed and developed out of control OCD. For several years I only tried to deal with my anxiety and depression spiritually—pray more, read the Word more. I didn’t start improving until I was finally willing to look at the physiological aspects. I started going to extensive therapy and taking medicine.… Read More

    June 15, 2022
  • Labor Loving Your Neighbor Unique Ministries

    REPAIRING CARS, ALTERING LIVES

    I take donated, broken-down cars, fix them up and then give them to low-income families in rural South Carolina that are in desperate need of transportation. It can totally transform that person's life. It is an absolute blessing to do this and I can see the Lord’s hand in how all this got started. I love to barbecue, especially ribs made from my great grandmother’s recipe that has been passed down in my family since 1898. My friends love them, and they convinced me to enter a rib cooking competition in September 2019. I’d never done anything like that but I… Read More

    June 8, 2022
  • Overcoming Obstacles Unique Ministries

    SANCTUARY IN TRAUMA

    My world blew up nine years ago because a loved one’s secret sin, when exposed, led to his imprisonment. I was suddenly left to provide for and protect my four children. The challenge was enormous as a stay-at-home who had been in ministry for 20-plus years. I lacked emotional, physical, and spiritual strength as a broken person searching for dignity and solutions in the midst of devastation. While the Lord had been my rock and salvation since childhood, I was shaken to my core. Christian friends and family carried me through the darkest of days, as well as a complete stranger who… Read More

    June 1, 2022
  • Children Overcoming Obstacles

    CUDDLES FOR CLEFTS

    When I was pregnant with my second child, I went in for a routine doctor’s appointment at 19 weeks. I was stunned when the doctor came back and told me our son would be born with a cleft lip and possibly a cleft palate. I instantly became a pool of tears. The doctor really didn’t know how to handle such a diagnosis. He told me to pick a strong name for my son and then hurried me out the door. Our family was shocked. I felt alone and desperate. I could only focus on the television images I’d seen where… Read More

    May 25, 2022
  • Adoption/Foster Care Children

    ASSISTING FOSTER FAMILIES

    I understand how important a loving, stable environment is to the well-being of a child. I grew up with parents who were continually trying to figure out their marriage and careers. Because of that, I was often left alone. Except during summer! The excitement and anticipation grew throughout the end of the school year, knowing that I would soon board the plane that connected me to my grandmother’s world; a world of consistency, encouragement, and fun! As I grew older each year, the excitement of those months never diminished. I still cannot wait for the time to come to visit Grammy… Read More

    May 18, 2022
  • Adoption/Foster Care Hospital Loss Of Loved One

    FULFILLING HER PATIENT’S DYING WISH

    I was a nurse in the oncology unit of a hospital when one of my cancer patients asked me a question that took me completely off-guard. She asked if I would take care of her eight-year-old son, Wesley, if she passed away. We had only known each other for 10 days. Tricia had some stomach pains and a CT scan revealed she had an extremely rare form of vascular cancer. She had undergone a number of difficult chemotherapy treatments which had some devastating side effects. She got extremely sick very quickly, and had to be hospitalized. As her nurse on her first… Read More

    May 11, 2022
  • Overcoming Obstacles Prison Ministry

    MALACHI DADS

    My husband Jimmy and I have been working with a prison ministry called “Malachi Dads” for the last five years. It is different from other prison ministries in that we meet as couples with men in the prisons who have children. Our weekly discipleship program starts with the salvation message, and then focuses on the verse in Malachi 4:6: He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers. We teach the men about healthy marriages and how to be good fathers to their children, encouraging them to write to them… Read More

    May 4, 2022
  • Overcoming Obstacles Unique Ministries

    FIGHTING WITH HOPE

    Unfortunately, I have become an expert on the side effects of chemotherapy since I’ve had 35 brutal rounds. I know firsthand what this does to your body. I’m now trying to use this knowledge to help my fellow cancer patients and make Jesus known in a unique way. I was a healthy 27-year-old when I was first diagnosed with colon cancer. Then the wonderful world my husband and I had built was suddenly rocked to its core. Surgeons removed a foot of my colon and all of the nearby lymph nodes after a colonoscopy revealed a “mass” blocking most of my transverse colon. When… Read More

    April 27, 2022
  • Loving Your Neighbor Mission Work Verbalizing the Gospel

    VISION BEYOND BORDERS

    Vision Beyond Borders grew behind the desire to bring the hope of Jesus Christ to those who have no hope. We go into oppressed or impoverished areas all over the world and simply ask them what they need. We then try to help and serve them in any way we can which opens up the door for us to share the good news of the Gospel. Our ministry started 30 years ago by providing Bibles in native languages to people around the globe who were persecuted for their faith. I was in southeast Asia and met a pastor… Read More

    April 20, 2022
  • Labor Overcoming Obstacles Special Needs

    FITNESS CLASSES FOR THE DIFFERENTLY-ABLED

    We started teaching fitness classes designed for individuals with developmental disabilities such as autism, cerebral palsy or Down syndrome. Our goal is to help them increase strength, motor coordination, social skills and overall wellness. And we can surely see God’s hand in all this, especially how He brought us together and made this happen so seamlessly. We worked in the same school district as contract speech-language pathologists. We were frequently moved from school to school and didn’t really come in contact with one another, but in August of 2020, we ended up assigned to the same school. We found ourselves bonding… Read More

    April 13, 2022
  • Children Loving Your Neighbor Overcoming Obstacles

    HOPE LIVES HERE

    On December 30, 2021, the Marshall Fire ripped through my neighborhood in Boulder County, Colorado, with winds recorded at 115 miles per hour. The devastation was catastrophic, with over 1,000 of my community’s homes completely destroyed. My husband and I were watching the news, and it grieved me to see what had happened to our neighbors. We had previously lived in an area where friends had lost their homes, so we knew how devastating this was for a family. I prayed right then, asking God how I could help, how to make a real impact in this disaster. And I got a… Read More

    April 6, 2022
  • Adoption/Foster Care Children

    PLACING MY DAUGHTER FOR ADOPTION

    I got pregnant when I was 19 years old and single. When I first found out, I was in shock and wondered what I would do. My family was very supportive of me raising my daughter or placing her for adoption, whatever I desired. I prayed constantly for a sign. And I got it a few weeks into the pregnancy. My boyfriend broke up with me but he still wanted to be in our daughter's life. I was not comfortable with him and his tumultuous family situation being part of our child's world. So I took this break-up as a clear sign… Read More

    March 30, 2022
  • Children Financial Help Unique Ministries

    LIAM CHANGED THE WORLD

    I lost my son when he was just six weeks old. Liam was born prematurely at 29 weeks due to a placental abruption. His lungs were never fully developed and he battled RSV and bacterial pneumonia in the NICU for nearly five weeks. We were thrilled when he was finally released. But three nights later, he stopped breathing while he was in my arms. I cannot describe the depths of my hurt and despair. I have to admit, I got mad and blamed God when Liam died. I’d been a good Christian all my life, and couldn’t understand how this was happening.… Read More

    March 23, 2022
  • Loving Your Neighbor Recovery Unique Ministries

    THE JOY OF SERVING

    Who knew pulling nails, serving food, or doing numerous loads of laundry could bring so much joy? But my “second career” has brought incredible satisfaction to my soul! In the past, I was involved in prison ministry and a regular homeless outreach. But a 2016 radio announcement changed my life and opened the door to full-time service. Flooding had affected 40,000 Louisiana homes and Eight Days of Hope, a disaster relief non-profit, was inviting volunteers to serve. I went over a long weekend and was among nearly 700 people to respond. For the next three years, I continued with the same organization,… Read More

    March 16, 2022
  • Children Mentoring Overcoming Obstacles

    CATCHING FISH, CHANGING LIVES

    Seeing children without a father in their life absolutely breaks my heart. I wanted to do something to help those kids in my area. So I started an organization that takes underprivileged kids on all-day fishing trips out in the Gulf. And we’ve now touched the lives of 2,500 kids during the past 11 years. It all started with my 8-year-old neighbor. I noticed he was an angry, frustrated kid. I didn’t know why until I found out he didn’t have a father in his life. So I asked his mom if I could take him fishing one Saturday. We went… Read More

    March 9, 2022
  • Loving Your Neighbor Unique Ministries

    RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS

    For the last five years, my 95-year-old mother and I have been helping people throughout our community by doing random acts of kindness. It’s our way of showing our love for Jesus. We make gift bags for widows, people who are home bound, or just simply living alone. Sometimes we help people in practical ways, like helping a new mom clean her home. We make survival bags filled with snacks, water, clean socks, toothbrushes and deodorant for people in the community or on the streets that have needs. My mother writes poems and letters and makes phone calls to the older folks… Read More

    March 2, 2022
  • Loss Of Loved One Overcoming Obstacles Special Needs

    JOHN-BOY’S PLACE

    I lost my husband, John, after a relatively quick two-year battle with ALS. It is a devastating disease that destroys the patient's physical abilities due to muscle and nerve degeneration. It also attacks the health and mental wellness of both patient and family as the days begin to run together. John began losing his balance, and his falls resulted in several broken bones and chipped teeth. The balance issues continued to get worse and after months of testing, we received the dreaded diagnosis: John had ALS. It would lead to a very difficult death, since there is no cure. Upon hearing this… Read More

    February 23, 2022
  • Financial Help Food Labor Unique Ministries

    ROOTS FOR BOOTS

    God led me to walk away from a 17- year career in education as both a classroom teacher and school principal in order to bring to fruition Roots for Boots, a grassroots organization that aims to meet the needs and challenges of military heroes and their families. God is the CEO of the non-profit. I’m the Chief Enthusiasm Officer. I have always had a passion for serving and helping others. When I reflect on my life, I can clearly see how God was preparing me for this opportunity as well as see His hands move through all we do with Roots for… Read More

    February 16, 2022
  • Mission Work Verbalizing the Gospel

    SERVING THE LORD IN UGANDA

    I didn’t anticipate serving across the world would lead to my healing. But my God restores the broken by His abundant grace. When I first visited Africa in 2006, I was trying to put my life back together after a difficult 26-year marriage. I had emotional wounds due to physical abuse and my ex’s pornography addiction. But God began healing me in Northern Uganda as I served with a missionary friend. As a therapist, she helped those traumatized by the terrorist group, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), which has wreaked havoc for 35 years in four African countries. As a nurse, I… Read More

    February 9, 2022
  • Adoption/Foster Care Children Special Needs

    ADOPTING 10 CHILDREN FROM CHINA

    How we came about adopting 10 children from China, all with special needs, shows what can happen if you are open to listening to God’s calling for your life. It has made me realize that my life is not all about me but rather living out God’s will. And it has made me, and my entire family, a much more Christ-centered person. My husband, Rob, and I had never even thought about adoption. We already had a houseful of biological kids: two boys and two girls. But when our youngest was five, the Lord started laying it on our hearts in… Read More

    February 1, 2022
  • Loving Your Neighbor Unique Ministries

    LOVING THROUGH LITTLE THINGS

    To some Christians, how we are to go about loving like Jesus is a mystery. It seems like a massive task that we will never perfect. Some are worried they don’t do it right and others are concerned they won’t do it enough. As for me, a thirty-year Christian, I agree on both counts. We will never get it completely right and we will never do it enough this side of Heaven. As Matthew 5:16 reminds us, we are to let our good deeds shine so that those around us see it and glorify God as a result. While I am not perfect,… Read More

    January 26, 2022
  • Overcoming Obstacles Prayer Unique Ministries

    MY NEW LIFE AFTER GOING BLIND

    “What happens now? What am I going to do?” I found myself constantly asking these questions. It had been a year of painful recovery and harsh reality. After an extensive series of unsuccessful eye surgeries, I was blind. A wife, mother of three, a classroom teacher. In a matter of weeks, my life had drastically changed forever. I chose to spend the endless days sitting and praying for my family and friends, my former students, those at church, missionaries. This became my ministry when it seemed to me, at the time, I could do nothing else.  It was extremely difficult to find… Read More

    January 19, 2022
  • Labor Unique Ministries Verbalizing the Gospel

    THROWING THE JAVELIN FOR HIM

    God gave me an unusual platform and I intend to use it for Him as much as I can. I throw the javelin, a gift I didn’t even know I had until college. And I’ve been blessed to compete in two different Olympic Games. I’ve worked incredibly hard on refining my skills and I practice every day to the best of my ability. Yet my identity is not attached to a number on a scoreboard; rather, it is found in Christ. I just do the best that I can and glorify God in that. When people see me, I want them… Read More

    January 12, 2022
  • Loving Your Neighbor

    REALLY SEEING AND HEARING PEOPLE

    Recently, someone asked me, “How do you show the love of Jesus on a daily basis?” I said I take the time to really see and hear people. They are not obstacles to overcome or items to check off. I stop to really see people. Like last night, at my place of employment, a woman came to me angry and frustrated. I stopped and heard her. I couldn't change the outcome of the situation, but I could hear and validate her frustration. It ended in me hugging and holding her. Nothing changed in her circumstance, but everything changed in her because she… Read More

    January 5, 2022
  • Hospital Overcoming Obstacles Unique Ministries

    SAY I WON’T

    Life is not easy as a quadruple amputee. But I have never doubted God and if I can be an inspiration to just one person and lead them to a relationship with Jesus, then this has all been worth it. On New Year’s Eve of 2019, I came down with the flu. Over the next few days, my health worsened and I was rushed to the hospital. I developed a blood infection; then went into cardiac arrest and septic shock which started to cause organ failure. I actually flatlined for over seven minutes. By the grace of God, a cardiac surgeon… Read More

    December 28, 2021
  • Children Mentoring Overcoming Obstacles

    ON RIVER TIME

    I was sexually abused multiple times as a six-year-old child. As a young boy, I was confused, shameful and guilt ridden. I didn't say anything to anyone. Even as an 11 year old kid, I recalled standing at the doorway of my mom and dad's room, determined to say something, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. I was overcome by shame, guilt, and a fear that often comes with abuse. I bottled it up. For decades. But as an adult, I kept having the same recurring nightmare and finally got myself into counseling. For the first time,… Read More

    December 21, 2021
  • Children Overcoming Obstacles

    SPIRITUALLY GUIDING MY FAMILY

    I grew up in a household where my father worked hard to provide for our household because he grew up with that value of being financially stable. My father would come home tired from work, so I have just a handful of memories when my father interacted with me. When I was 11, my parents told me and my siblings that they were separating, and my dad wouldn't be around anymore. I remember going up to my room, crying and praying that God would fix this. God never brought my parents back together, but my dad still tried to connect with… Read More

    December 14, 2021
  • Labor Loving Your Neighbor Special Needs

    A SIMPLE ACT OF KINDNESS

    I never thought a simple act of kindness would have such an amazing impact. It really showed me how much God can use any situation or anybody for His glory. I’ve been a UPS driver in Vermont for 29 years, and really gotten to know a lot of the people on my route. Especially during the pandemic where we’ve been making so many more deliveries. I love my customers and try to show Jesus’ love to them any chance I get. That's what I did with Max. He’s a 14-year-old boy with autism who rarely speaks or smiles. I try to say… Read More

    December 7, 2021
  • Children Loss Of Loved One Unique Ministries

    CARRYING A BROKEN HEART

    “I’m sorry, there is no heartbeat.” I remember that fateful moment like it was yesterday, but it was Father’s Day of 2018 when the doctor spoke those words. I was pregnant with our son, and it was his due date. Nothing could’ve prepared me for that life-changing moment. Three months before this event, I visualized Jesus was holding one of my hands, with His other hand over my heart. I had no idea the comfort God was preparing for me, until this moment where pain and supernatural peace would collide. The next day, I gave birth to our stillborn baby,… Read More

    November 30, 2021
  • Church Activities

    TRULY MAKING SOMEONE’S DAY

    The staff members at the church where I work often go to lunch together at a local restaurant. The wait staff has gotten to know us pretty well. One waiter in particular has stood out to me. Jim was one of those people who always had a smile on his face. He made you feel like an old friend he was happy to see. No matter what issues might arise, his demeanor never changed. He was pleasant and upbeat. So, when we came into the restaurant one Tuesday and he didn’t greet us with his usual smile, I knew something must… Read More

    November 23, 2021
  • Children Loss Of Loved One Overcoming Obstacles

    THE SOLO PARENT SOCIETY

    I was devastated when my wife walked out on our marriage, leaving me on my own to raise our three young girls. It was, by far, the darkest season of my life. I found myself just trying to survive and keep things afloat. We had been married 13 years and our girls were 9, 7 and 4. You lose so much of your world when you go from being a couple to being on your own. God made us for community and our community had been ripped apart. Now I found myself flying solo. I turned to my church for help. Surprisingly, I… Read More

    November 16, 2021
  • Mission Work

    MISSION WORK IN A FARAWAY LAND

    Sometimes I’m amazed I ended up as a missionary with a wife and three kids in Southeast Asia. But we both felt a calling to bring the Gospel to some remote places of the world. I was raised in a Christian home and my family had some financial hardships. So my goal was to make as much money as possible and gain financial security. I worked hard in high school to earn a scholarship and wound up at Vanderbilt, majoring in economics and engineering. While at Vandy, I felt my first big nudge from the Lord. I worked with Reformed University… Read More

    November 9, 2021
  • Children Hospital Senior Citizens

    MAKING HATS FOR NEWBORNS

    I may be 90 years old but I can still serve the Lord. So I’ve been making hats for newborn babies for 15 years. I’ve made over 11,000, and hope to continue making them until I’m 100! Jesus told us that we are to love and help one another, and this is one thing I can do at my age to demonstrate that love. I think they look cute on the babies but they also serve an important medical purpose: the hats help stabilize a baby’s body temperature and keep the child warm as they adapt to life outside the womb. This… Read More

    November 2, 2021
  • Labor Special Needs

    BREW GOOD. DO GOOD

    Purpose over profit. That is the mission behind The Red Porch. I was working at an organization that runs programs for developmentally disabled adults when they partnered with the owners of an old office building to create a very unique coffee house. This café would be used as a training facility for developmentally disabled adults. The project heads knew I had coffee knowledge, so they pulled me onto the project as manager. In the initial planning stages, I discovered how much God’s hand was involved in the project. The staff and I set aside a day to taste pastries and coffee drinks to… Read More

    October 26, 2021
  • Hospital Overcoming Obstacles Unique Ministries

    HOPE HEALS

    Katherine and Jay Wolf had, what many would consider, a perfect life. They had a wonderful marriage, he was in law school, she was a model and they had just welcomed their son six months earlier. But everything changed on April 21, 2008. While preparing food for some people at their church, Katherine felt her hands, arms, and legs go numb and fell to the floor, as their infant son napped in his crib. Jay just happened to come home for lunch that day, and found his wife on the floor. She was rushed to the hospital and surgeons determined… Read More

    October 19, 2021
  • Labor Loving Your Neighbor Verbalizing the Gospel

    A VERY DIFFERENT MISSION FIELD

    My mission field is rather unique: it's my auto repair shop that I opened 17 years ago. Since it was God that blessed me with this business, I made a commitment that I wanted Him to be honored there. I needed it to be a place of worship and blessings. Many would say that working on cars and worshiping Jesus don't really go hand-in-hand, but Jesus was a carpenter and I wanted His presence there throughout the day. My goal was to have all my customers and suppliers also feel the anointing spirit of the Lord. I had trouble finding a… Read More

    October 12, 2021
  • Labor Loss Of Loved One Unique Ministries

    DONATING MY CLEANING SERVICES

    “Cleanliness is next to Godliness” they say and for me, it’s true. I believe that the Lord calls us to be servants unto one another, using our abilities for Him. Although I own a cleaning company, I volunteer my services to help those who are in need. I live in a very small community so word gets around quickly when someone is sick, injured, or there’s a death in the family. Some bring food and others send flowers. I head over and bring my mop, broom, and cleaning supplies. I’ve cleaned free of charge for many elderly people who were just not… Read More

    October 5, 2021
  • Labor Unique Ministries Verbalizing the Gospel

    EXTREME ADVENTURES WITH GOD

    “Why live on the edge when you can jump off?” is my motto. I’ve always been up for a challenge. I love the Lord and enjoy using my athletic abilities as an opportunity to share His love. I grew up in  church and planned to be in the ministry in a physically active area working with young people. I wanted to be a youth pastor or start a youth camp. After college I received a Master of Religious Education. Then I met and married my Godly husband. We adopted an amazing son so I became a stay-at-home mom, teaching Karate from… Read More

    September 28, 2021
  • Adoption/Foster Care Children

    ISAIAH 117 HOUSE

    I am in a wheelchair living with a disability called spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia, which is a rare genetic disorder that results in body framing abnormalities and dwarfism. I have had it since birth. Over my lifetime, I have slowly lost my mobility. But God gave me a heart for children who are hurting. About five years ago, my four great nieces and nephews entered the foster care system as a result of parental substance abuse. I was not able to physically take care of the small ones but Riley, a nine-year-old, is one I could try to help. So he and I started our adoption journey… Read More

    September 21, 2021
  • Church Activities Food Loving Your Neighbor

    THE LOVE IN ACTION FOOD BANK

    My wife and I have run a local food bank for over 20 years. We are both 80 years old and I’m on oxygen, but the Lord hasn’t told us to stop, so we just keep going. The Love In Action food bank is not just about the food; it’s really about showing and spreading the love of Jesus. It’s become a pretty big operation that is all a labor of love since no one takes a dime. Our food bank helps people going through a difficult stretch in their lives—someone that lost a job or came down with an illness.… Read More

    September 14, 2021
  • Church Activities Unique Ministries

    ENCOURAGING MINISTRY STUDENTS

    To me, it didn’t seem like I was doing very much, but even the littlest things can make a big difference if we rely on God’s timing. The idea came to me when I saw their photos in the back of church. Our pastor had laid out vocation prayer cards with pictures of people studying for the ministry. I thought to myself: these are people giving their lives over to God as ministers. That couldn’t be an easy choice and required real sacrifice on their part, so I pondered how I could support them on their journey. My house was… Read More

    September 7, 2021
  • Adoption/Foster Care Overcoming Obstacles Special Needs

    MY INJURY WILL NOT DEFINE ME

    I was a college football player. As a freshman, I was on the kickoff team. I sprinted downfield and saw the opening for a tackle, but I mistimed my jump by a split second. My head collided with the ball carrier’s legs. In an instant, I lost all feeling and movement from my neck down. At first, I thought it was stinger, but it turned out to be a spinal cord injury that left me a quadriplegic. I was told I would never be able to walk again and given just a 3% chance of ever regaining any movement in… Read More

    August 31, 2021
  • Children Church Activities Labor

    TEACHING THE PARABLES OF JESUS

    I never dreamed I’d go from delivering the U.S. mail to delivering boxes of miniature, wooden parables of Jesus to the doorstep of families at my church. I retired from the post office and began serving at my church. I work with children who learn about Jesus using a Montessori-style of learning. Everything is hands-on, and experiential. For example, through the use of a hand-painted, wooden Jesus figurine, a dozen sheep, and a green pasture with a fence, the Bible story of Jesus as the Good Shepherd is discovered by children through play manipulation of the materials. Many other parable… Read More

    August 24, 2021
  • Labor Loss Of Loved One Loving Your Neighbor

    PUTTING COMPETITION ASIDE

    Television news is an extremely competitive business, with stations trying to capture as many viewers as possible, each and every night. But sometimes even the biggest competitors in business can show a heart like Jesus to one another. On June 12, 2021, Christopher Sign, the news anchor for WBMA in Birmingham, Alabama died in an apparent suicide. It shocked the entire community and was especially traumatic on his co-workers. It was almost impossible for them to do their jobs, but the news had to go on. The day of his funeral was especially difficult since they all wanted to show their… Read More

    August 17, 2021
  • Children Overcoming Obstacles Recovery

    GOD’S GOT THIS

    God has blessed me with a burning desire to help people, especially the bruised and broken-hearted who feel unworthy and unlovable. Maybe it’s because I used to be standing in their shoes. Although I was saved when I was young and grew up in a Christian home, college happened. In an attempt to study longer hours and drop a few pounds, I tried meth. Over the course of eight years, I found myself not only addicted, but pregnant too. Desperate, I tried to contact an abortion clinic but got no answer so I went to a counseling center that turned… Read More

    August 10, 2021
  • Adoption/Foster Care Children Hospital Overcoming Obstacles

    CARRYING MY SISTER’S BABY

    A twin sister’s love is like no other. There may be no greater example than the bond between twins Sarah Sharp and Cathey Stoner. After all, how many ladies would offer to carry a baby for their sister who is unable to have more children due to a brutal battle with cancer and a hysterectomy? Sarah and her husband had a baby girl in 2018, but a few months later, she experienced something unusual: a prolonged period lasting over 30 days. Doctors were concerned and performed a D&C on Sarah, sending her tissue to be tested. The results showed she had choriocarcinoma,… Read More

    August 3, 2021
  • Adoption/Foster Care Children Overcoming Obstacles Special Needs

    COMPLETELY TRUSTING PSALM 139

    Morgan Cheek is a mother that has experienced the grief of losing her twin girls at ages 6 and 7 to a very rare neurological disease. The pain has been excruciating but through it all, she felt God’s amazing love and grace. Morgan and her husband, Hugh, found out she was pregnant with twins a little over a year into their marriage. Hugh had just started medical school so they were a little overwhelmed and wondered how they’d juggle his school with the demands of having two babies. So Hugh started memorizing Psalm 139 which underscores how God knows our future… Read More

    July 27, 2021
  • Prayer

    THE PAIN HAD A PURPOSE

    In 2011, I desperately needed a word from God. You see, I was dying---at least that's what I thought. My wife and I had been in our new apartment for about a year. I had recently started a new job, and as a young married couple, we were happy. Yet, suddenly things took a turn for the worse; my stomach began to feel bloated and tight every time I ate. I developed anxiety, fear, and unbearable weakness. I lost 20 pounds and became skin and bones. I was virtually bedridden for three months. I sought help from both traditional and holistic… Read More

    July 20, 2021
  • Labor Loss Of Loved One Mentoring

    REMEMBERING ONE OF OUR OWN

    The Christian Heart takes a break from our usual stories to tell you about one of our own who went to be with The Lord on June 23, 2021. Lenora Pate served on the Board of Directors of The Christian Heart and AllWorship ministries for 23 years. She truly exemplified what The Christian Heart is all about. Our ministry tells what everyday people do to show their love for Jesus. Lenora displayed her love for Him in every aspect of her life, but she was far from “everyday.” Professionally, she was one of the top lawyers in the state of Alabama, ranking… Read More

    July 13, 2021
  • Children Food Homeless Labor

    FEEDING THE HUNGRY

    It hurts my heart to see needs unmet and people in pain. And I see a lot of hurting people. As the Executive Director of Our Daily Bread Soup Kitchen, I come in contact with so many people in our community that don’t know when their next meal is coming. Food insecurity is real. There are countless families that encounter this each day. To be able to fill such a vital need brings joy to my heart. I’ve also learned that many of these people often need a listening ear, an encouraging word and sometimes just a hug. Growing up… Read More

    July 6, 2021
  • Adoption/Foster Care Children

    FOSTER THE TEENS

    I am a foster mom to teenage girls who need an emergency placement. These girls are usually very confused and scared. So many times, they just don’t understand what is going to happen to them. They may only be with me for a day or two. But I want to ease their transition and help them feel as comfortable and as loved as possible during that time. The Bible says we are to take care of the orphans and the widows, and I felt called to do this. I first became interested in this when I worked as a Court Appointed Special… Read More

    June 29, 2021
  • Church Activities Labor Recovery

    BRINGING BALANCE TO MY LIFE

    How do we become workaholics? The roots are many but mostly from our early identity formation. My workaholic journey began in my teens. Just before entering high school, my family moved from an urban industrial multiracial working-class city to a laid-back middle class suburban community. The cultural shock knocked my identity off its foundation. To fit in, I unwittingly became a people pleasing overachiever. There are upsides to hard work and high achievements. But my story reveals the toxic side of this trait when it forms our identity. As an insecure adolescent, I just wanted to be accepted but did not understand… Read More

    June 22, 2021

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Adoption/Foster Care 34
Children 145
Church Activities 57
Financial Help 18
Food 38
Homeless 30
Hospital 34
Labor 153
Loss Of Loved One 28
Loving Your Neighbor 62
Mentoring 47
Mission Work 46
Other 12
Overcoming Obstacles 80
Prayer 49
Prison Ministry 9
Recovery 31
Senior Citizens 21
Special Needs 44
Unique Ministries 153
Verbalizing the Gospel 66
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