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?
  • 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 from the Lord. I truly feel the Lord needed that relationship to end and when it did, my decision was clear. I decided that placing my daughter for adoption into a loving Christian home would be what's best for her. In Mississippi, a woman cannot place her child for adoption without the consent of the birth father. So I was advised to move to Alabama, so he would have to jump through some hoops to receive visitation rights. I figured if this was really important to him, he would make that effort. But he didn't, and I was cleared to place my daughter for adoption. I moved into a Lifeline home for unwed mothers. In many ways, this was difficult since I was away from the comfort of my family, and surrounded by a number of other hormonal teenage girls. But in looking back, I can see the Lord stripped away my worldly support and He made me rely on Him. I… 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. How could God have allowed this? Two weeks after Liam’s passing, I got very sick. I contracted meningitis and my kidneys started to shut down. I found myself in the hospital fighting for my own life. And ironically, that is where my life totally changed. While sedated, I had an incredibly vivid dream where I was holding Liam in my arms and we were in the most beautiful place I’d ever seen, where there was a stream of water that glistened like a collection of diamonds. We sat down on a log under a magnificent tree, and a man walked up, sat down, and told me that Liam had a bigger purpose; that he was put on earth to help other kids. This man told me that I needed to trust him, and that I was to immediately start a nonprofit organization to help children battling major illness. He told me all of the needs to do this would be met. When I… 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, going to other disaster-affected areas. As much as possible, I volunteered around my work schedule. Yet, I wanted more time and ability to serve. In mid-2019, I took a financial leap of faith and stepped away from 30 years in pathology. I downsized my home and as a single woman, yielded my desire for a ministry partner. But God knew my heart and within a short time, I met my husband, a fellow volunteer, and we were married within a year. We find such joy in going where needed and in doing whatever we’re asked. We’ve logged hundreds of days and thousands of miles. Serving can look like organizing the many volunteers, coordinating with churches to reach their communities, organizing building supplies, hauling debris and tree limbs, hanging sheetrock, operating a laundry trailer, or serving food to volunteers and residents. We’ve also been involved in setting up safe houses for human trafficking survivors. Even amidst terrible disaster, we’ve often witnessed God’s mercy. Recently… 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 and he loved it. And we kept going a couple times each week. After a while, I noticed a huge change in him. He was happier, started treating his mom with respect and began doing better in school. I was amazed at the difference. So it became my life’s calling to help other kids that may not have a father in their lives. I started reaching out to foster homes and taking out groups of 20 kids fishing on a Saturday. We take them out on a boat for the day, feed them lunch, and just let them have a good time. We teach them how to fish, how to tie knots, and all about the different species. And since we are fishing, they learn patience, teamwork, how to relax, and not make hasty decisions. We mentor them and show them that someone cares. Most importantly, we pray with them about their needs. We share Christ with them. We tell them they may… 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 in our community to encourage them and let them know they are not alone. One lady who was so blessed by my mom is even making a book of all the things she’s given her through the years. We’ll usually always help people who ask for any kind of assistance: getting gas, a hotel room or a meal to eat. If we see a first responder, law enforcement officer or trucker who looks like they could use a good meal, we will go ahead and buy it for them. Right now, I am also building a house for my 38-year-old daughter who has Down Syndrome so that she could be close by, but also have her independence. We love helping others because God says to love Him first and then to love your neighbor. There’s nothing better than giving a helping hand to others in whatever way you can. You never know the impact you can make through even small acts of kindness!… 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 news, we quickly took as many bucket-list trips as we could. But the quick progression of John's disease halted plans for more trips. In fact, for the last seven months of John’s life, he was confined to one large room in our house. Caring for an ALS patient puts the entire family’s life on hold. The disease not only affects the patient, it envelops the entire family. I could see John’s personality changing because he had to ask for help with every task, no matter how small--like turning channels with the remote, holding his "big Coke" or brushing his teeth. He became extremely frustrated and began feeling like a burden to his family. And as the caregiver, I would often be the subject of his frustration and let my emotions get the best of me. It’s excruciating to see the person you love deteriorate and become trapped in his own body. There is no winning or happy ending, and everyone knows… Read More

    February 23, 2022

Browse all categories

Adoption/Foster Care 38
Children 158
Church Activities 60
Financial Help 18
Food 41
Homeless 34
Hospital 44
Labor 167
Loss Of Loved One 38
Loving Your Neighbor 67
Mentoring 49
Mission Work 52
Other 12
Overcoming Obstacles 116
Prayer 57
Prison Ministry 12
Recovery 46
Senior Citizens 22
Special Needs 47
Unique Ministries 166
Verbalizing the Gospel 76
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