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 Special Needs Unique Ministries

    HELPING CHANGE SOMEONE’S LIFE

    When you spend a few hours helping build a wheelchair ramp for someone who is homebound, you play a part in changing someone's life. That's what struck me when I was part of a Kiwanis club that built a ramp about 30 years ago. It was amazing to see the new-found freedom the person in the wheelchair enjoyed. In the following months, I felt the Lord leading me to get more involved. I discovered many people who need a ramp don't have the money or the knowledge of what it takes to make it happen. So they are stuck in their house for much of their lives. It was hard to imagine. So my club started building more ramps for people. We went from building a couple a year to 25 per month. We received referrals from hospitals, rehab facilities and dialysis centers who knew clients that needed ramps. People would hear what we were doing and come volunteer their time. The project just kept growing. These ramps were donated to the homeowner, so we needed funds to make this happen. We became a 501(c)(3) so we could solicit grant money to help fund these ramps. It was obvious the Lord was in this because everything kept falling into place. We became the Texas Ramp Project. We now have over 3,500 volunteers that have provided 16,000 free ramps throughout our state. Most of these residents don't have a lot and the majority are over 60, but there are a good number of children suffering from spina bifida. The Texas Ramp Project… Read More

    January 8, 2019
  • Children Labor Unique Ministries

    FREE MUSIC LESSONS FOR THESE KIDS

    Every Monday evening, the practice rooms in our Fine Arts hall are filled with university student music instructors and pupils eager to learn piano, guitar or drums. However, this isn't just another music school. This is a Christian ministry called WOVEN: With One Voice Energizing Neighborhoods. It all started 16 years ago when another faculty member and I decided to begin giving piano lessons to the neighborhood kids surrounding our inner-city campus. Our mission is to provide opportunities for success through music literacy and performance for the children of downtown Minneapolis through mentoring and teaching music. We work on theory, understanding the instrument, and how to read notes and rhythms. An additional goal is to build relationships and help each child feel special through one-on-one attention. Music is a powerful gift to help people express themselves. The children come ready with big smiles on their faces. The program offers the lessons free of charge to families in the neighborhoods near campus. At the end of the semester, we hold a performance celebration, where the music students and instructors alike beam with pride for all that has been accomplished. Making a child feel cared for is one of the greatest impacts we can have on a life. I love that I get to do this through this music ministry.

    December 31, 2018
  • Loving Your Neighbor Other Verbalizing the Gospel

    I AM NOW A CHRISTIAN

    My wife and I came to this country a few years ago from the Middle East. We were Muslims living in the Midwest, and spoke only a little English. Life was very difficult. Thankfully, I met an American who had lived in a Muslim country for a long time. He understood me and my struggles in our new home. He and his wife patiently taught us about American food and how to navigate life in the United States. They were kind and warm, even inviting us over regularly for meals. They are truly our best friends in America. They had invited us to their church a number of times. But we are Muslims, so we always declined. They never pressured us to follow Jesus; they just shared their beliefs and kept inviting us to special events at their church. Finally, my wife encouraged me to say yes to an invitation. And we are so thankful we did. We met Jesus for the first time; we now follow Him and attend church regularly. Recently, a young Syrian Muslim man came to the United States. He was blinded by a bomb that went off near his home. A specialized doctor resides in our town and was willing to do the surgery. I was asked if I would host him during his time here. At first, I was a bit afraid. I'm no longer a Muslim. But I am still Arab and my name is still Muslim. But, again, at the encouragement of my wife, I said yes. We welcomed this man into… Read More

    December 26, 2018
  • Church Activities Food Prayer Special Needs

    WORKING WITH THE FOOD MINISTRY

    When people meet me, the first thing they notice is that I have Down Syndrome. What they can’t see, though, is that I am strong and brave, and I love Jesus with my whole heart. I’m very proud of myself because I earned a black belt in karate and can take on just about anyone, even though I’m pretty short. I love when my friends and family watch me at a meet because everyone knows I will do my very best. But I’m most proud of my work every Wednesday. My mom drops me off at my church on her way to work. My grandmother is usually already there helping to set things up for the day. I join some retired people in a Bible study where we read God's Word, talk about it and pray for everyone’s needs. Then we begin setting out all the food in the church gym. Each week, there is so much food that people and restaurants have given to the church to hand out to people who are struggling. We bag it up so everyone who comes gets a little bit of everything. Then, at 1:00, someone opens the door and the people start coming in. I smile and give hugs to the people I know who come every week to get food. I love it when they have children. I take a few minutes to play with the little kids while the grown-ups talk with the people and pray with them. Sometimes I talk with the grown-ups when there aren’t children around, and ask… Read More

    December 17, 2018
  • Church Activities Labor Verbalizing the Gospel

    HELPING PEOPLE MEET JESUS

    I was born in Brazil and moved to North Carolina with my family when I was 11. During high school, I was an agnostic or maybe an atheist. But, after wrestling with my thoughts about God, I came to faith during my freshman year of college when a friend introduced me to Jesus. I spent my college years falling more in love with the God, learning how to study His Word, and sharing my grace story with others. After graduating, I worked for four years with a college ministry, where I helped launch a new chapter of Campus Outreach in Virginia. There, I was able to share with students the love of God in sending us His Son. I was also able to train college students on how to live out their faith no matter their location or context. In 2010, I came to the Hamptons to visit my brother for a month. But I never left. I fell in love with the vision of Grace Presbyterian Church in Water Mill. In fact, in 2012, I accepted the position of Director of Spiritual Formation. This job is a great fit for me. I get to minister to women, teach the Bible, lead a mercy ministry team, and work alongside our pastor to develop a discipleship program for our church. I love seeing people meet Jesus and be transformed by His grace. It never gets old!

    December 10, 2018
  • Children Mentoring Unique Ministries

    MENTORING YOUNG MOTHERS

    When I had my first son, I stopped working and stayed home. I loved it, but after nine months, I started to go a little stir crazy and missed the socialization. That's when a friend told me about MOPS---Mothers of Preschoolers. I found one nearby and went to my first meeting, scared to death. But once I got there, I loved it! I was suddenly surrounded by other moms like me, craving connection during that season of motherhood. I saw firsthand how they encouraged young moms, all while incorporating God's word. At MOPS, I spent time with a table leader and a mentor mom. My mentor mom was great. She would invite us over for tea and just pour into us. For moms with little ones dripping off of us and feeling exhausted, it was wonderful to have a more experienced mom remind us that "it'll all be okay." The next year, I felt led to be a table leader and continued in the program until the youngest of our seven children graduated from the program. Then, I was approached to be a mentor mom. I was humbled. It hit me that I was now at the point where I could pour into new moms the same way my mentor did for me. God had used MOPS to bless me, and now I get to be on the other end, serving Him and blessing others. Many years later, I am still serving as a MOPS mentor because He isn't yet done with me there. God still has something else for… Read More

    December 3, 2018

Browse all categories

Adoption/Foster Care 38
Children 160
Church Activities 60
Financial Help 18
Food 42
Homeless 35
Hospital 45
Labor 170
Loss Of Loved One 40
Loving Your Neighbor 67
Mentoring 50
Mission Work 52
Other 13
Overcoming Obstacles 120
Prayer 58
Prison Ministry 12
Recovery 46
Senior Citizens 22
Special Needs 47
Unique Ministries 171
Verbalizing the Gospel 77
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