What's God been doing in the lives of our people?
Sep 2nd | Sue Groves
About 20 years ago I began trading at a business one block from Boomerangs. I would go there regularly to purchase water for our water dispenser. I always took warm cookies, pies or fresh cake to bless the people who so helpfully loaded the heavy bottles of water into my vehicle for me. While paying for the product I would cajole, encourage, attempt to brighten and lift spirits. It was a slow process. There was profanity in the replies and conversations, negativity, general unhappiness (hmmm...Who do you suppose was missing?) Anyway, I continued my routine for years and years. Before long, when I would walk in, the guys would call women from back offices and announce that I was there and they would come out to meet and greet me. Conversations deepened with time. Eventually one of the women hit rock bottom in her marriage, her personal struggle with sin and other avenues of her journey. I invited her to Door Creek and into my Bible study. She was very apprehensive, but after many months attended DCC. She has now been coming regularly for four years. For a long while she only came with a friend. Now she feels confident and has definite ownership of DCC as her church. She is fighting some huge personal and family battles at the present.
Last Sunday she brought her grandson to church, put him in God's Garden and afterward they attended the celebration together. When I called her on Tuesday here is what I got:
She is over the moon with elation and so impressed with God's Garden. She is thrilled with how wonderful the program is and how much her grandson enjoyed it. She went completely insane with delight about the details of the celebration fun outdoors for the kids after church. She knows her grandson will come easily to church with her going forward and this has helped her heart enormously! She is so excited!!!! Next she shared the huge trouble her son is in. I told her who to contact and the ministries in place to offer her son help. She started to cry. She has been a supporter of Boomerangs since its opening and just learned Sunday in the thorough reports offered that we have the second chance apts. and other ministries going on, which she knew nothing about. She has NEVER signed up to receive mailings or notices, etc....very private and shy. So, after all these years, here is how she sized up the situation to me. She announced following all of her strong accolades that she needs and wants to get more involved at Door Creek because she realizes what a profound difference it is making. Based on how excellent and divine the picnic and fun was she wants to get on board with serving. Of course now it was my turn for tears. I heard the definite change in her spirit, her attitude and her understanding. It was her day for all the details to fall into place and Door Creek to become her new pillow top mattress (my own metaphor for an outstanding place of comfort and refreshment). It's been real interesting to consider how God takes us from our places of seeming comfort into struggle and the discomfort sponsored by our sins and disobedience, back to comfort in finding Christ and then to moving FROM that level of comfort outside the box to serving and often being what we may term uncomfortable for the sake of the kingdom of grace. Oops...bunny trail...sorry!
I am so grateful to God for bringing my friend successfully into this revelation. I can't begin to thank you and the strategic planners for their role in making DCC a place that is truly impacting lives one heart at a time. The excellence with which Children's Ministry does every single move is making a huge difference in the lives of SO many families and individuals. I am amazed at how many people God leads into our family by way of the children and teens finding a place of trust, comfort and acceptance.
I will remain forever grateful for the time, talents, and prayer that have brought us to this juncture in our church history where new doors have been flung wide to receive our passage to a brave future in Christ, our all and all.
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We came to Door Creek gradually. Several years ago my husband wanted to be involved in a men’s group and we found Door Creek’s group. He started going to the early morning group and loved it. He found there a group of men who loved the Word and challenged one another to be better Christ followers.
I’ll be the first to admit that the transition to Door Creek was not easy for me. My heart was truly not at DC. I did however, believe that God had moved us there but just did not understand why. Frankly, I didn’t feel like I fit into my “normal” areas of service at Door Creek. I have always been involved in the music ministry of churches where I attended and Door Creek’s music was outside of my comfort zone. I kept telling myself that music was a preference and not something to stress over. (By the way, I have come to love the music at Door Creek.)
My confirmation of God’s moving us to DC came through an avenue I would have never predicted. When Petaks moved and asked our small group to pray about someone to take over providing a ride for several international students, we volunteered. This was way outside of our normal ministry, but we felt God placing this on our hearts. Wow, were we ever in for a surprise. We have been so blessed as we have come to know and love some very special women from China, but the most exciting thing was seeing them come to faith in Christ. We are so blessed to have been a small part of this.
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This past year, God has continually reminded me of how He wants to communicate with me through His Word and prayer. When you challenged us in your sermon on Daniel to fast from something and ask God what I feared, I did and discovered it was fear of the unknown, especially in regards to Boomerangs. So I asked the advisory team to start praying for more volunteers and more sales. God has been so gracious and is continuing to call more volunteers and grow sales. I love hearing people say they are being drawn to volunteer at Boomerangs. It is exciting to see God at work. I've learned that God wants us to bring things to Him in prayer so that we know who is doing the work and to give Him the glory.
In praying, I even took to Him our dilemna of needing a different car (our old car had over 196,000 miles on it) and asked specifically for what our family needed. He provided the exact car at just the right time. I believe He was just waiting for me to ask:-)
More than anything God is teaching me to "Be still and know that He is God." (Ps 46:10) I am to sit at His feet, listen and follow His directions through His Word each day. It's an exciting adventure.
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"After 5 yrs of trying to get pregnant & failed adoptions, God has blessed my family with a baby girl due November 23. He has kept me strong through all of the extra tests due to my age & blood disorder. By nature I am a worrier, but earlier on in my pregnancy I decided to put my faith in God. Thanks to God, all of the test results came back normal. Now, my pregnancy is no longer labeled as high risk."
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"My 4 year old looks forward to Sunday School each and every week and is so eager to learn about God and Jesus. At every meal, he does the Open and Close Them Prayer and then says with excitement, 'I LOVE GOD AND JESUS!'"
"My marriage is stronger than ever. Back in Sept 2008, my husband had moved out for a month and we weren't sure of our future. But with prayer, determination, respect, love, and a Marriage Retreat Weekend we are now closer than ever."
"We now do family time each week and both kids are so excited to share favorite parts of their day."
"My husband and I have always believed in saving for a rainy day. However, the Holy Spirit is working in us to put faith in the Lord that He will provide what we need, when we need it. We are very blessed to earn good money. In the past, it always seemed like 10% was too much to give up each week, but now we've had a change of heart and feel blessed that we are able to contribute financially toward clean drinking water, mission trips, etc. Last week, we gave our biggest contribution ever and it felt absolutely wonderful."
"Advent Conspiracy was an awesome message that will forever be etched in our hearts and minds."
"During services, I often become very overwhelmed with emotion and thankfulness that we are there. When not in KidJam, my daughter attends church with us and during the songs, she sings (very loudly) and gets really into it. I just feel so happy to be there as a family praising God together."
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"God has shown me time and again how we stand on the shoulders of the saints who have gone before us. These saints made decisions which didn't feed their personal preferences. They set vision and made sacrifices that pleased God by reaching others for Him. God has challenged me to grow by turning that appreciation into service--to pray for and work toward expanding His kingdom for the generations coming up behind us. I am changed in that I am more patient to set aside my own needs and preferences for those with particular needs or wishes for things like worship, communication and service."
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"God has really done a lot of work in my life the past year but really spreads out over 2 years. 2 years ago my husband's job transferred us to Madison. We were nervous and excited, we didn't know anyone who lived in Madison so we really supported each other with the help of God. We got involved in a small group 2 months after moving here and we met one couple that changed our lives. If there is one thing I know for sure, it's God timing! God brought this family into our lives to show us what a Christian marriage and friendship is suppose to be. We have been challenged by this couple to grow and become stronger Christians and we are forever grateful for their open arms to us and forever blessed by what great friends God had given us. Through that couple we met another couple...family to them actually, and we have formed a friendship with them that has been just as powerful! Since then that couple moved away and still keep in touch but my husband and I felt lead to start a bible study through the church. We have had 4 married couples in our study for the past year and things are great! We all continue to grow and become stronger in our faith together. To sum everything up I would not be the person I am today if God had not placed certain people in mine and my husbands life within the past 2 years! We have friendships we never thought were possible and a marriage we thought was near impossible to reach. Our marriage is unbreakable and our friendships are eternal. We are forever grateful and honored to have God watching over and protecting us with every step!"
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