Stories - Page 14 of 82 - 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?

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 talents they longed to pursue, and these classes finally provided a way for them to harness those talents. It truly began to show them the unique design God had built into all of them. What made this even more incredible was we saw it provided a bridge from the unchurched to Church. We saw students came because the classes met an immediate need, but they stayed because of the relationships they built with our volunteers and youth leaders, which led to the Gospel. Additionally, in the past several years, we opened our “Purpose Project,” which is a nationwide mentoring program designed to help troubled youth clearly see their unique design and purpose in a matter of hours instead of years. Today, we have over 100 certified Purpose Project Guides (aka Mentors) across seven states who commit one hour a week for six weeks to students all over the United States in an effort to show them who God… 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 with complex logistics in high stakes, timely situations. Making a mistake is not an option, as lives depend on the work I do. I serve people who are suffering, grieving what’s been lost, and facing the future without hope. In those moments I ask God, “why?,” He reminds me of Jesus’ command in Matthew 16:24: “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” Following Jesus’ example encourages and challenges me on the hard days. Jesus pursued the people that most avoided, like the demon-possessed man in Mark 5, and the woman with the issue of blood in Luke 8. Jesus traveled from city to village, leaving His family and hometown, to love, serve, teach, and heal. He was the ultimate disaster relief plan, through His death on the Cross that defeated the grave, and His resurrection three days later that offered salvation to all who believe. From an… 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, I lived with an annoying emptiness that would not go away. One day, a woman walked into my business and invited me to her small group. I had no idea what that was but agreed to go because I was desperate for more than all I’d known. That first night is all it took. Jesus took hold of my heart and filled me with the peace I had been longing for. I began my walk with the Lord and one day, He asked me to leave it all behind to serve Him. Much like Abraham, I obeyed without really knowing where to go, but I had peace and a purpose. For the last eight years, I have been a nomad for the Gospel in my city of Bogota, Columbia. God has always provided a bed to sleep in and food to eat. I am always ready to share the love of Jesus with others. We only have… 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. And then she asked something that would change our lives forever: “How can we help them?” My wife and I didn’t really give her a good answer to her question since we were so focused on helping her through this battle. But later that day, we found Jessie in the kitchen with five paper bags. She was decorating them with stickers and positive messages, and filling them with toys, colored markers and her beanie babies. She asked if she could give them out to kids like her who were going through cancer treatments, but were unable to leave the hospital. During our next visit, I talked with members of her care team and they gave her the approval, as long as the items were new, age appropriate, and were not sharp or edible. They also asked that we replace the paper bags with something else. Over the weekend, Jessie asked about using a “jar” to put her toys in. We loved… 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 to Jesus; only to discover his unimaginable grace that was nothing short of a miracle. Not only was I a new creation in Him (and He in me), but the Lord began to sanctify me of my sin. He led me across my own Jordan River, overcoming a previous harmful addiction that I had struggled with for over four years. Three years later, I am now a student ministry leader with Cru, where I lead campus evangelism and an apologetics study group. While studying Human Communication Studies, I utilize the curriculum to converse and build relationships with students where I share the Gospel with them, and answer their questions to the faith we have good reason to fight for. It is a nerve-racking step out of my comfort zone, considering my campus is increasingly hostile toward God’s Word. I also lead an apologetics study group, which is an outlet for the students in our ministry to continue to learn to provide a… 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 togetherness, love became our tapestry of healing. Weariness threatened, but Christ renewed my spirit, reminding me of His purpose in my labor of love. My home became a sanctuary, where laughter mingled with tears. Some found permanence through adoption, forever etching themselves upon my heart. In reflection, I am humbled by the transformative journey, a testament to Christ's love and the power of redemption. As I continue, I carry the torch of love, blessed beyond measure. Each life touched is a recipient of grace. In our shared space, they find healing and a glimpse of the Divine. In the symphony of life, my role as a foster parent is but a verse, a melody harmonizing with the grand symphony of creation. Driven by my soul's whispers and guided by Christ's love, I trust that my labor makes a difference—one child, one heart at a time.

June 28, 2023

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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