Stories - Page 50 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?

Labor Mission Work Other
MEDICAL HELP FOR THOSE IN NEED

I always knew I wanted to work in the medical field but seeing severe poverty changed my life. Like most young people, I didn't realize how good I had it; I took a lot of things in life for granted. Then, in 2016, I was accepted into a Medical Practicum program conducted by my university, where they send a team of medical professionals and volunteers into a remote region of Nicaragua. This kind of aide is much needed, as these remote regions lack the medical resources to care for their villagers. Our team made the long trip to Nicaragua. In less than a month, we traveled to three different villages, providing dental care, pain medication, and basic family medicine to the indigenous locals. We interacted with them, attended their church services, and saw firsthand the severity of their poverty. Upon living in the same conditions, which the locals inhabited everyday, my outlook on life changed forever. A new passion grew in me to help and serve others as much as I can. Once I returned home--and after a nice long hot shower--I decided to change my career to Nurse Practitioner, so that I can work one-on-one with patients and do all I can to help them. I returned to Nicaragua, and it only deepened my desire to help those who need it the most. The Bible says, "Share with the Lord's people who are in need." I live in the United States where I have access to clean, running water and modern facilities that provide medical care. But I know for certain that… Read More

May 28, 2019
Hospital Mentoring Prayer Recovery
FACING THE STORMS OF LIFE

We all face storms---some we see brewing months before they hit, and others blindside us when the massive waves strike. On Sunday, March 11, 2018, our storm made landfall as my husband, Chris, developed gall stone-induced pancreatitis and was admitted to the hospital. Chris's pancreatitis worsened faster than any of us realized when imaging results showed he had "acute, infectious, hemorrhagic, necrotizing pancreatitis." This new diagnosis led to an urgent transfer to the Medical Intensive Care Unit where he was put into a medically-induced coma. As doctors began the intubation procedure, Chris aspirated on his own vomit. His lungs rapidly filled with fluid, causing Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. We watched helplessly as his oxygen levels hovered around 40%, and he had less than a 10% chance of surviving the day. Early the next morning, Chris's attending physician told me Chris was sicker than the previous day, and he warned me that I would likely need to turn off life support and let him pass peacefully. But Chris's body refused to quit. Then, the next squall hit. On March 21, Chris went into cardiac arrest. I watched as his medical team performed chest compressions for the longest six minutes of my life before his heart began to beat again. Over the past 394 days in this hospital, we have experienced organ failure, paralysis, infections and setback after setback. Yet through it all, I've found one thing to be true: who and where I'm rooted in the storm determines my ability to peacefully weather each challenge, while finding hope along the way. During this storm, without… Read More

May 21, 2019
Labor Prison Ministry Unique Ministries
HELPING TRANSITION OUT OF PRISON

Have you ever had a desire to help an organization but didn't know what you could do? That was my situation when I became aware of the Angels Charge Ministry, a faith-based non-profit helping women coming out of prisons or detention centers to transition successfully back into society. I started by simply providing the women with transportation, as many of the women did not have cars or licenses after leaving prison. I would drive them to work or appointments. After some time, God also opened my eyes to the overall needs of the ministry. I noticed those leading the nonprofit were so busy serving the women and helping them overcome challenges that they simply did not have time to do any of the back-office work that has to be done. And, those are things I know well since I used to be the executive director of an art museum. So I started writing grants and doing fundraising while working behind the scenes. The grant writing and fundraising helps us build assets, so we can open more transitional houses for more women. By the end of the summer, we will open our third home and will be serving fourteen to fifteen women. While God is using me behind-the-scenes, I am still able to see the difference my work is making in the lives of these women. I've seen them grow in faith, learn skills, and get their children back. I see how God is using us to help these women get back on their feet. He is using us to remind these… Read More

May 13, 2019
Loving Your Neighbor Overcoming Obstacles Unique Ministries
THE SIGN GUY

A year ago, I was extremely depressed. I was without a job and feeling totally worthless. It seemed I had lost everything that I loved. I was thinking seriously about suicide. But as I was driving home one day, I had this strong feeling inside, telling me to stand at a certain intersection with a sign that read "You Are Loved". I thought, "Really? You want me to do what?" But I felt like this was God talking to me, so I decided to be obedient. I made a sign and stood on that corner. Every day for a week. After that week, God changed my heart and I didn't long for death. By holding this sign, I received healing. And I was amazed at the response to the sign. People would honk with approval; they'd yell encouragement to me. One day, a lady got out of her car and said her son had committed suicide. She had prayed that if God didn't send her some type of message that He cared for her, she too was going to end her life. And then she saw me with this sign. I feel I'm bringing some encouragement to people that may be going through a rough time. There are a lot of people filled with anxiety and depression. Seeing an encouraging sign may give them the little bit of hope they need. So now, I'm out at different intersections about three times a week for several hours. I call it the #YouAreLoved movement. Someone heard what I was doing, and started holding up signs in another… Read More

April 30, 2019
Mission Work Senior Citizens Verbalizing the Gospel
A FAMILY SHARING HIS LOVE & GRACE

I've learned our world is truly beautiful and sometimes we need to leave our comfort zone to appreciate everything around us. The love I have for God's word and the teachings of Jesus Christ started generations ago when my grandmother placed her faith in God, and traveled with my grandfather to Tanzania to begin their missionary career. That decision to step outside her comfort zone set our family down on a path that would transcend generations. From one woman to another, my family has a passion for God, wanting to ensure others hear the good news of Jesus Christ. She instilled in our family the tradition of fulfilling God's calling when asked to share His love and grace. When I was four, my aunt and mother took all their children to Tanzania to assist my grandparents in their day-to-day mission work. Mom then provided a way for me to serve with my grandparents in each of their mission fields--Alaska, Israel, El Salvador, Burkina Faso, and Zambia--to make a tangible difference in the people that I now call my brothers and sisters in Christ. Our work has allowed us to receive blessings for eternity. The book of Philippians teaches, "As long as I'm alive in this body, there is good work for me to do." My life in America is pretty easy. I have seen first hand that being poor in America is better than being rich in most any other countries. I'm grateful to be surrounded by strong examples of Christian women that serve as my sounding board through my journey… Read More

April 22, 2019
Financial Help Homeless Mentoring Unique Ministries
TOTALLY CHANGING THEIR LIVES

As a teenager, I was in and out of homeless shelters. By the time I was 17, I was a single mom. But in looking back, I think God was preparing me to do some wonderful things to glorify Him. God blessed me with initiative and eventually, I became a real estate broker. I started selling commercial properties. I worked long hours and built my business. It started to take off. One day, I closed on a sale, took my $10,000 check and hurried to my next appointment. But somehow, I dropped the check in the street. Someone found it and called me. I was touched that he was returning it and not asking for anything. I arranged to meet him, and to my surprise, he was a guy who was down on his luck and had been homeless for a year. But he had the integrity to return my check. I felt God's nudge to help this man. I sensed God put this man in my life at that time to do something big. Instead of temporarily solving his problem with a check as a reward, I wanted to change his situation. And maybe change it for some others. He was a smart guy and I set him up in an apartment and sent him to school to be a real estate agent. The more I got to know him, the more impressed I became. He had a unique perspective on how to help the homeless. So we started working on a plan to build a transitional home for homeless… Read More

April 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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