Tag: true stories

The Sower: Helping You Share Your Faith1 Comment

Helping Your Children Share Their Faith

mikeandsus

“Your kids are so good!”

I was finished seeing the doctor, having left our three children (ages six to twelve at the time) in the waiting room unattended. The two women at the front desk were amazed how they had quietly read and occupied themselves during my appointment.

“They have all been Christians since they were three and four-years-old,” I explained. “It makes my job easier because Jesus lives inside them.” Continue reading “Helping Your Children Share Their Faith”

Cru, NewslettersLeave a comment

Mattie: A Student’s Changed Life

mikeandsus

 Mattie’s Story

In high school Mattie was involved with drinking and drugs. Raised in an agnostic Muslim home, she hated herself for her rebellious lifestyle, especially when her mother died of cancer in Mattie’s senior year.

Mattie started attending church with some friends and gave her life to Christ that same year, but she still struggled. Mattie explains:

“My relationship with my boyfriend eventually ended…. My entire sense of worth came from him… so at that point my only option was to turn back to God.  I had to figure out God’s love for me as well as how to love him back.  But I didn’t know where to start.”

Mattie joined a Bible study with Cru at Boston University in her freshman year.  This past spring break she attended our Big Break Conference in Panama City, Florida. While there Mattie heard a speaker describe God’s love: “He spoke of Jesus [washing] his followers’ feet. That picture made so much sense to me…They didn’t deserve this or earn it.  Rather, this was how much he loved them.”

“We woke up the next morning, and went to talk with people on the beach. … I saw a girl [who] was hopelessly drunk and … had cuts on her hands, sand all over her face, and vomit streaked throughout her hair. Her name was Sydney. Continue reading “Mattie: A Student’s Changed Life”

The Sower: Helping You Share Your FaithLeave a comment

Taking New Steps at the Fitness Center

mikeandsus

I forgot that it was Wednesday.

Point A: schools let out an hour earlier on Wednesdays. Point B: my fitness center is next door to a Middle School.

Normally, I try to go workout when I don’t have to deal with school bus convoys and packs of teenagers hanging around the fitness center parking lot. I missed the buses and most of the huddles of  teens, except for when I was ready to go home.  One group of six boys talked animatedly about twenty feet from my parked van

I stood with the car door open, debating with myself.  I had evangelistic “business cards” in my purse on purpose… because of all the kids at the fitness center. I didn’t hear their conversation, but a few colorful words got my attention. I glanced over at them, feeling a bit intimidated. Continue reading “Taking New Steps at the Fitness Center”

The Sower: Helping You Share Your FaithLeave a comment
The Sower by Vincent Van Gogh

Nothing Can Hinder the Lord from Saving

mikeandsus

The Sower by Vincent Van Gogh

“In a city in Egypt, a Christian woman we will call Eman received an invitation around November 1994 that made her tremble with fear.

“‘Is this a trap?’ she wondered.

“She had been asked to pray for a sick woman at the home of a devout and influential Muslim leader. The ill woman knew Eman to be a Christian, and Eman knew that most Muslims recognize Isa (Jesus) as a healer. But Eman had no idea what she was getting into.

“Feeling a little like Ananias being sent by God to pray for Saul, the enemy of the early Church, Eman drove to the home of the Muslim leader, whom we will call Mohammed Ibrahim. After a short time at the house praying for the woman, Eman hurried back to her car, eager to make her escape. To her horror, Ibrahim followed her out. He forced himself into her car and shut the door. Continue reading “Nothing Can Hinder the Lord from Saving”