Stories - The Christian Heart

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?

Homeless Overcoming Obstacles Unique Ministries
FROM NEEDING TO LENDING A HELPING HAND

Useless. Sad. Worthless. Those were my emotions when I experienced homelessness for the first time in 2006. Addicted. Uneducated. Criminal. That wasn’t me. I was just a mom who couldn’t afford permanent housing for me and my three children. Unfortunately, I’ve experienced homelessness three times in life because daycare costs for children are expensive, and I wasn’t receiving child support from their father. I also couldn’t afford to pay rent even though I was employed because I made too much money to qualify for government assistance. When I felt useless, sad, and worthless, I had to shield my emotions to protect my children’s mental state and emotions. Experiencing homelessness and not having stability while raising children put me in a vulnerable state. Although vulnerable, I never let my relationship with God waver. I couldn’t afford to pull away from Him. I needed Him more than ever. I needed God’s total protection to trust strangers to help us get out of this situation. I held onto Psalm 91: “The Lord is my refuge”. That’s what He was to me. I’m so blessed He put programs in my life like Love INC and Charlotte Family Housing to be a blessing to me. Love INC blessed me with a 1999 Jeep Cherokee. They were aware of me not having a vehicle, but I didn’t complain. I rode the city bus and did what I had to do. God placed them in my life to help me with transportation. Charlotte Family Housing provided shelter for us so we wouldn’t live on the streets. I’m forever grateful. There were so many… Read More

March 5, 2025
Labor Overcoming Obstacles
RECOVERING FROM TRAUMA

Growing up, my life was filled with instability and pain. My family was trapped in a cycle of generational trauma: alcoholism, domestic abuse, and emotional scars. Chaos and danger were constant companions, and the trauma became the theme of my existence. When I was 18, I found my oldest brother after he had taken his own life. That experience left an indelible mark on my soul. As I got older, I held on to the hope that life could offer something more. This search led me to God, and while faith didn’t immediately erase my PTSD and depression, it gave me a sense of purpose. In 2019, another traumatic event nearly broke me, but I was determined to heal. I threw myself into prayer, counseling, conversations, worship, and a life-changing trip to Israel. Slowly, I began to heal, believing that God had a purpose for my pain. This journey led me to become a Certified Trauma Recovery Coach. My own struggles gave me a deep understanding of trauma and a compassion for others. I am now dedicated to helping people confront their pain head-on, using my experiences and faith to support them. I know firsthand how isolating trauma can be, and I want to remind others that their pain matters. I am passionate about helping people find healing and purpose, guiding them from trauma to freedom.

February 26, 2025
Food Labor Unique Ministries
MAMA SUE’S SOUTHERN KITCHEN

Sue Garrett never set out to make her cooking a business. But God had other plans for her. She had always shared pictures of what she was serving for dinner on her personal Facebook page. Being from the South, she loved to cook and share meal ideas with her friends. In July 2020 and in the middle of the pandemic, some owners of a vegetable farm came to her and asked if they could make a video of Sue preparing some dishes with their vegetables. She did and they put it on their Facebook page. And she put it on her page. To everyone’s amazement, the videos went viral. Thousands of people started following her. Sue's daughter convinced her to make a separate Facebook page where she could share her recipes and cooking tips. And Mama Sue's Southern Kitchen was born. Sue's popularity exploded and people started asking if she had a cookbook. She had made one for her church so she called the company which had published that cookbook. She wanted to order 200 but the publisher told her it would be a more attractive cost per book if she ordered 1,000. So she did. She posted something about the cookbook on Facebook, and she was shocked when she sold 680 in 24 hours. She placed a second order the very next day. She now has four volumes of her cookbook. Mama Sue’s Southern Kitchen isn’t about cooking. This is her ministry. Her social media sites on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and others now have over one million followers. Not just in the South, but all over… Read More

February 19, 2025
Labor Overcoming Obstacles Unique Ministries
THE CHRISTIAN COMEDIAN

The sound of a basketball swishing through the hoop is like music to a shooter’s ear. For a comedian, it’s the sound of laughter. It’s the ultimate feedback, the confirmation that the audience “gets you” and enjoys what you’re doing. Growing up in a middle-class home, I craved acceptance and recognition, though I often felt lost in a large family and school. Bullied and overlooked, I struggled with feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt. But there was one thing that always helped: laughter. It could lift my spirits, no matter how bad I felt. In high school, I began using humor to connect with others. Making people laugh became my way of standing out. But as graduation approached, I had no clear direction for my future. I ended up in trade school and, during a difficult time at home, discovered Jesus and began to immerse myself in His Word. I was invited to speak in the school chapel, where I combined lessons about Christianity with humor, making people laugh and also feel loved. After school, I was mentored by comedian Julie DeJohn, who helped me get my start in comedy. I eventually made it to Hollywood, but my heart called me to ministry. I spent 20 years serving in the ministry field until a comedy opportunity opened up. This led to a career in “Christian comedy,” with a chance to speak at conferences and appear on TV. But then, tragedy struck. An elbow to my throat during a basketball game shattered my voice box, leaving me unable to speak for over two years. I gave up on… Read More

February 12, 2025
Mission Work Unique Ministries Verbalizing the Gospel
SHARING JESUS ON A PARK BENCH

Wales Goebel is an example of how God can use someone to do great things, no matter how old you are. At the age of 39, Wales left a successful residential construction business, feeling God’s calling to begin a Christian ministry for students in high school and college. He worked tirelessly preaching The Word to these kids, and over the next few years, he saw several thousand students give their lives to Jesus. During these years, he discovered that some students would share very personal problems with him. Young girls would confide they had an unwanted pregnancy, and were looking for a place they could go to receive help. Their need was so great that it burdened his heart as to what he could do to help them. After talking to a number of Christian friends, Wales prayed that God might lead him to bring some peace to the lives of these young ladies. And God led him to open a Christian ministry called Sav-A-Life, a faith-based pregnancy resource center which provided wonderful counseling to girls with unwanted pregnancies who were considering abortion. The ministry grew and in the next few years, expanded to other cities. There are now 67 Sav-A-Life centers in six states. There are also two in the country of Ecuador. A year later, Wales was approached by two unmarried girls who wanted to place their babies for adoption. They asked him to make sure their babies would be raised in a Christian home but he couldn’t find any adoption agency that would guarantee that request. He began to pray that God would… Read More

January 29, 2025
Church Activities Labor Unique Ministries
JAMMIN’ FOR JESUS

I could’ve gone to Nashville. I could’ve made it “big” by the world’s standards. But nothing is quite as fulfilling as playing for God. My personal convictions and His guidance led me to a place where I find solace in “Jammin’ for Jesus”. I come from a family of God-fearing men and women who show their love for Him through worship and praise. Some were even traveling Gospel singers, so I was more than humbled to follow along in their steps, knowing that’s what God wanted for me. Somewhere along the way though, I became distant from my personal calling. I chased what felt “fun” instead of what felt right, and it led me down a dark path for about five years. Once I realized that I was using the gifts that God gave me in vain and incorrectly, I felt such shame that I couldn’t even pick up my guitar for another few years. Though everyone has their own personal convictions, my biggest was with music. I stopped listening to and playing other genres that promoted worldly behavior, and began to play for Him and Him alone. The peace He has given me doesn’t result in me searching for worldly comforts anymore. I don’t need to play to become rich or famous. I play to worship the Lord. In my personal career as a tattoo artist, I listen to worship music while I work and constantly pour Him and His word into my life, letting it radiate out from me in hopes that it will reach others. I even get to mentor other young artists… Read More

January 22, 2025

Browse all categories

Adoption/Foster Care 38

Church Activities 60

Financial Help 18

Loss Of Loved One 38

Loving Your Neighbor 66

Mission Work 52

Overcoming Obstacles 115

Prison Ministry 11

Senior Citizens 22

Special Needs 47

Unique Ministries 165

Verbalizing the Gospel 74

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