Stories - Page 48 of 83 - 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?

Recovery Senior Citizens Special Needs
FINDING LOVE AND FORGIVENESS

At a very young age, I had to move in with my grandparents. I was little, and of course I missed living with my parents. But deep down, I knew it was for the best. However, my papaw wasn't too keen on his new living situation. From day one, I felt unwanted by him. His words really hurt me, and at a young age, I didn't like him. But when I was 11 yrs old, my papaw fell. He hit his head on the pavement, which led to severe damage and bleeding on his brain. I remember watching my mamaw pray over him every day. I really love my mamaw, so anytime she needed me to do something, I did it. I wanted to help her, even if it meant caring for him. Shortly after his fall, I was helping a lot. I would help him back and forth to the restroom, I was proactive in making sure he took all his medication on time, I helped feed him, and at times I had to lift him. It was hard. A lot of times, I found myself remembering the past, and the hurtful things he used to say to me. But as I matured, I felt something inside me change. I started to really care about my papaw, and a love for him started to grow. It's been four years since his accident and his health improves each day. Unfortunately, he still suffers from apraxia and aphasia---the inability to understand or form speech. I still help him walk, feed him,… Read More

August 19, 2019
Financial Help Labor Mission Work
VICTORY HEALTH PARTNERS

It was 1998 when my wife and I went on our first medical mission trip to Venezuela. I had been a surgeon and in practice with my brother for 17 years. As we worked in a make-shift clinic on a rooftop, we felt God speaking to us and asking us to begin a new adventure with Him. We said yes and when we returned home, we began contacting hospitals, physicians, and leaders in the community to determine where the greatest need was. We found out that there was an overwhelmingly large group of low income and uninsured adults who fall within the "gap" that needed affordable and quality healthcare. We knew what God wanted us to do. In 2003, we opened up Victory Health Partners. On the very first day, we had 12 patients come in. By 2018, we had over 19,000 patients come in. Our building, which is 11,000 square feet, was provided for us with a lease of $1 a year. We meet the needs of patients who are age 19 to 64 with low to moderate income levels that cannot afford private insurance, government funded insurance, or cannot get health coverage through their employer. Many of our patients suffer from chronic diseases such as diabetes, COPD, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Besides primary medical care, we offer other specialty healthcare like dental, optometry, neurology, urology, wound care, MRIs and minor surgeries. Our medication dispensary makes it possible for patients to receive all or most of their medications at no charge. We have over 150 specialty partnerships… Read More

August 12, 2019
Food Loving Your Neighbor Unique Ministries
THE NEIGHBOR BRIGADE

When people are going through a crisis, friends need to come alongside of them and lend their support. That is the mission of Neighbor Brigade, a nonprofit started by my childhood friend, Pam Manikas Washek. She was diagnosed with cancer and fought the disease for a decade before losing her battle in 2012. But two years before she passed away, she decided to turn her pain into purpose by helping others experiencing similar crises. So she launched Neighbor Brigade. Volunteers sign up to bring a meal to someone struggling with a medical crisis or a death in the family. They simply drop it off in a cooler by the door. Recipients could be someone going through chemo, recovering from surgery or even just trying to find a ride to a doctor's appointment. Neighbor Brigade has chapters around the United States, and I decided to start one in my town with another friend, Nancy, to honor Pam's legacy. And it has brought both of us a tremendous amount of fulfillment. Nancy and I are amazed to see the wonderful work God does with this organization. The feeling of giving back to the community is an immeasurable one. The feedback we receive from the recipients truly warms our hearts. We consistently hear the same message that they don't know what they would have done without Neighbor Brigade. One family in particular said the Neighbor Brigade cooler at their front door was like a "magic box" and they couldn't wait to see what was in it. Another consistent message is that we have… Read More

August 5, 2019
Labor Verbalizing the Gospel
GETTING LOST IN THE MUSIC

Who am I riding in the car with? He's cursing, doing drugs and has a gun. He pulled up to visit a friend, leaving me in the passenger seat, puzzled. The music was blasting, it lacked compassion, promoted drugs, violence, and promiscuity. The beat may have appealed to the flesh, but the words corrupted the soul. While I listened to the music and watched this unfamiliar man from the car, I realized he became a reflection of the music he enjoyed listening to. In that moment, my heart hurt, witnessing a once-close relative become a total stranger. He got lost in the music. Music has a powerful influence, and in order to make a difference, I had to fight fire with fire. I picked up a mic and became "SA" The Christian rapper from the Bronx. I had no experience and was a skinny little kid afraid to get laughed off stage. In 2004, using my fear as motivation, I became the CEO and founder of "D2S Records", formerly known as "Death2Self Records", a Christian record label for all music artists of every genre. The ideology behind the name and mission of our label comes from Luke 9:23: "Then he said to them all: 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.'" For our listeners, we provide an annual music festival, online radio broadcast, and coaching tools for new ministries on our website. All this started from sitting in the car, experiencing my relative's drastic change of… Read More

July 30, 2019
Labor Unique Ministries
A UNIQUE WAY TO ENCOURAGE

When I was in 6th grade, I failed my school state test, and self-doubt started invading my thoughts. As a 22-year-old, I felt overwhelmed, having to quickly transform into my mother's care giver, all while trying to survive being a college student with no job. For several months, I performed fasts and prayed for my purpose and the deeper reason on why I felt inadequate. I realized I was my own worst enemy; I gave my past failures the power to constantly hinder my thoughts. So I decided to make a change and stopped being so self-critical, and practice self-love by giving myself credit for my accomplishments. During this time, I felt God repositioning my heart to be selfless and give back to others. My pastor strongly pushed me to start encouraging others through my own YouTube channel. Initially, the idea was intimidating, but I remembered 2Corinthians 4:18, "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." With these inspiring words, I created my YouTube channel: "The Leah Show". The intent of the show is to encourage and uplift everyone in whatever situation they are in. Every Tuesday, I release a new show. Each topic discussed on the show is something I've gone through personally, and tips on how to bypass negative thoughts. Beforehand, I could only text or email encouraging words and scriptures to my loved ones; now I have a platform that allows me to reach more people. Although… Read More

July 22, 2019
Hospital Mentoring Prayer Verbalizing the Gospel
GOD CAN. GOD WILL

My life changed forever on May 10, 2016 when an oncologist's diagnosis of PNET Brain Tumor was spoken about my precious, two-year old daughter, Emma Beth. Just one day earlier, Emma Beth had been healthy and happily playing with friends when she suddenly began displaying signs of paralysis on the right side of her body. The doctor's diagnosis meant that Emma Beth would have less than a 20% chance of surviving and would be facing a possibly unsuccessful surgery to remove the egg-sized tumor growing in her brain. Immediately, I walked out of the room and headed straight to the hospital's garden where I wept and prayed. As I felt God's presence meet me on bended knees, the words of Philippians 4:6 swept over me, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with Thanksgiving, present your requests to God." It was in this moment I felt a peace that God would fight for me and Emma Beth. And I sensed a calling to minister to others that I would encounter through Emma Beth's diagnosis. I did this through bracelets I made that were inscribed with "God can. God will." I handed out thousands of them. I prayed with and over babies and their families, trusting no prayer returns void. God opened doors for me to share verses of encouragement with others, including the mom of a little boy fighting the same brain cancer as Emma Beth. I initially stood silent as this mom struggled with hope, believing that her baby would die. Then God granted me… Read More

July 16, 2019

Browse all categories

Adoption/Foster Care 38

Church Activities 60

Financial Help 18

Loss Of Loved One 39

Loving Your Neighbor 67

Mission Work 52

Overcoming Obstacles 118

Prison Ministry 12

Senior Citizens 22

Special Needs 47

Unique Ministries 169

Verbalizing the Gospel 77

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