As the hard months turned into years, Heather remembers lying in bed admitting she was tired of feeling fragile. Her next thought was very clear; that like labor pains, she needed to lean into her pain because something new would be birthed. She was reminded that even as her heart and flesh fail, God’s purposes were bigger.
Read More“I remember feeling this was an impossible task. But God said it wasn’t. If we will give God our hands, he will give us what we need to do his work.”
I recently had the privilege to meet Faye. Faye has been a member of Church at the Cross for 44 years and has led a Life Group for 23 years, from age 50-73 called the Grace Class
Read MoreIn order to gain approval from his new college friends, Josh threw himself into moral ambiguity, following their path to pleasure. In a difficult moment, Josh found himself at the mercy of God. He fell to his knees in prayer for the first time in several years.
Read MoreMike and Laurie Heath already had two children when their son, Kevin was born. Their son, Jason, was about six, and their daughter, Bethany, was about four. They thought they knew what to expect. However, a short time after Kevin’s birth, they got unexpected news.
Read MoreMike would typically get up, have his morning coffee, and have a devotional time with his Bible. When Kevin got up early, he would get a cup of hot chocolate, grab his beloved Bible, and sit reading near Mike. The Heaths knew that Kevin was mimicking Mike’s behavior just like any child would, but deep in their hearts, they wondered if more was going on. They prayed that Kevin would know, understand, and accept the gospel. They also prayed that when he did, God would allow them to know about it.
Read MoreSEND Relief (part of North American Mission Board) has a significant presence on the island of Puerto Rico. CATC sent a nine-person team to be a part of the remarkable work that is happening there. Our team served alongside a NAMB supported Puerto Rican church as well as an adoption agency known as Adoptando en Puerto Rico.
Read MoreSome of us know have felt the frustration of the airlines losing our luggage. Whether on vacation or a business trip, this can be a major setback and leave us annoyed at best. But how many of us know what it’s like when an airline loses your luggage upon landing in an unfamiliar country across the world where you plan to be living for several months?
Read MoreThat evening, a person who had graduated from Compassion’s program spoke to the campers about how she was “released from poverty in Jesus' name.” Amy’s heart was touched. For $30 a month, she could support the needs of a child in poverty across the world. Amy just started a job at the local theater, making little more than minimum wage. She decided this was how she would spend her money. After all, it wasn’t hers, it was God’s. And there was Lucy’s picture, calling her name.
Read MoreShe thought about how often she seeks to keep peace and avoid making presumptions. She felt the Holy Spirit telling her, “You are free. Buy a study Bible for your friend and give it to her.” As she tuned back into the sermon, she remembers JR asking, “Are we going to be obedient to what God has us to do? When the opinion of the one who matters most, matters most to you, then you’re unlocking your prison of everyone else’s approval.” She confessed to God, “Your approval matters most to me and what you asked me to do matters.” She felt the Lord responded with, “Yes, I want you to buy her the Bible, but it’s from me, not from you.”
Read MoreSarah, the matriarch of this refugee family, told me over dinner one evening that she loves the Lord so much and she prays all the time. Like her Biblical namesake, Sarah is a mother of many and a woman of great faith. Although she has witnessed great suffering firsthand, she has also witnessed God’s faithfulness to her family. Out of the many prayers that Sarah has prayed for provision, God has used the people of CATC through CarePortal to answer a few of them.
Read More“Fine, I will learn this book called the Bible, and I will use it to defend myself against these ‘Christians’. I will know it better than them and prove that they are wrong.”
Read MoreAlthough meeting digitally was not the same as in-person, Jason continued to pursue people under his care regularly with intentionality until they felt comfortable to gather in person. When that Sunday finally came, there was much anticipation. The group dearly missed each other's presence.
Read More“It was about three years ago now that I was sent to a place called Cenikor, a long-term rehab program. Charlyn, my girlfriend at the time, dropped me off. When we were saying goodbye, I honestly thought it was our last. Making the long 100ft walk to the doors is when it hit me. It’s just me now.”
Read More“It really wasn’t a decision we had to weigh. There was a need and we were able to meet it, so we offered,” said Gayle and Duane when asked what compelled them to open their homes. “It is our responsibility to care for our community and we are thrilled that God has blessed us with a home where we are easily able to do this. It’s certainly no five-star hotel, but it’s warm and filled with love and care for each other.”
Read More“My mom told me that I had a chance to share some of my toys with kids in foster care.” Reece had a pair of skates that he dearly loved. This was a possession that meant a great deal to him, it was something he owned. This is the item that the Holy Spirit honed in on, possibly the greatest sacrifice for Reece at the time.
Read MoreOur God is one of the intimate details. He uses his people to accomplish his care for the vulnerable, the weary, and the lost. Every step of the work had disruptions, but God was using these diversions to form relationships, to show people his love through his Church, and to carry out his plan. God is not far away. He is near to the brokenhearted. He may not be working in a way that seems obvious to you or to me, but he is working none the less, and his work is perfect.
Read MoreIn less than a month, our family has the privilege of being sent out as Church at the Cross missionaries to Utah with the hopes of planting a church in Farmington within the next few years (God willing). We will also be in partnership with Flourishing Grace Church, where I will serve the people of that area joining their staff as a minister to North Davis County. Ultimately, our hope is to see God transforming lives with the hope of the Gospel, and bringing renewal to a pre-Christian state through Jesus.
Read MoreThrough this experience, God is exposing my self-centeredness. I can be so possessive of my time, schedule, and personal priorities. He is teaching me to consider someone else's needs first. God is conforming me to the fruit of the Spirit and teaching me the loving way of Jesus. Any inconveniences we have experienced are small in comparison to what God has shown us. We are serving him by loving his children, and we have greatly benefited from new, lifelong friendships.
Read MoreSlavery still exists today.
Human trafficking is a global slavery that starts by means of abuse, coercion, grooming, false promises, exploiting the vulnerable, and forcing them into a life of slavery usually through forced sex work or forced, unpaid labor. Those in the foster care system, minority populations, LGBTQ youth, refugees, and their children, homeless youth, and runaways are at the highest risk of being trafficked. Those who have suffered physical, emotional, sexual, and spiritual abuse are also at the highest risk of being trafficked. These populations are all people, all a part of this world just like you and I, yet they remain unseen and unheard in day-to-day life.
Read MoreOur church had the joyful opportunity of celebrating Shalee's baptism as a new creation in Christ! She has an incredible story of how Jesus conquered the overwhelming struggles in her life to adopt her into his family as his daughter.
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