Stories of Transformation
We believe that what the Lord has done in your life He wants to do through your life. Our stories prophesy to the earth what the Lord can do. We’ve created a space to share what the Lord has done in lives of those in our community.
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Faith & Holy Spirit
There are many aspects of our faith and our relationship with the Holy Spirit. For some of our best posts that address this topic, click below.
There Is Freedom
The first time I saw pornography I was in middle school. It instantly became a vice to me and followed me through high school and eventually into Bible college. I was riding a constant roller coaster. I wanted to be free. But no matter how hard I would try to break my addiction, my sobriety would only last a few days until I would be back to searching for explicit content and downloading all the dating apps to talk with girls. I felt so much shame…
Redemptive Grace
Many people can affirm the phrase Black Lives Matter but are quick to hate on the organization that made this phrase popular.
… instead of searching for and magnifying what we don’t agree on, what would be the worst that would happen if we identify and magnify elements we can agree on in the name of redemption?
Canceling Cancel-Culture
Cancel-culture is counter-productive to racial reconciliation. In the fight for justice, we need to learn to preserve our relationships through hard conversations and grace.
My Introduction and Response to Discrimination
My story starts pre-Civil Rights (in the ‘40s and ‘50s), as I was raised in a middle-class white household, fairly standard, though my dad was a tavern owner (a bit of an unusual job in our suburb). I was raised around more Black people than most because my dad employed them.
Building Generational Foundations to Break Down Racial Bias
As children, we do not have a choice about whom we grow up around and what influences we are exposed to. Around the globe, personal experiences related to other races and cultures are not only varied but are also vastly different. We can look upon our differences as dividing factors, or we can listen, learn, and begin to appreciate and acknowledge both the beauty and the pain that comes from them. While moving from point A to Z is not a simple feat, perhaps we can start by recognizing one thing we all have in common: we have yet to experience sustained harmony among all people groups.
Pastoring in the Pandemic
It’s been interesting to watch our government leaders continue to lead through the situation and observe how different people process and react to that leadership. In the midst of all of that, I’m having a number of pastors reach out to me and ask me how I would suggest responding (as someone who understands both the pastoral and scientific worlds).
Pandemic Reflections
I’m writing this one week into what promises to be one of the most bizarre seasons of our lives. One week ago here in Illinois, the governor’s stay-at-home order went active, and since then the majority of us have been acclimating to new rhythms of working from home. For those of us who spent our days at work in the church, suddenly our lives have become full of Zoom meetings and wrestling with what ministry looks like when you cannot be with people in person.
Infidelity & the Church: How We Healed
We left off with Cord coming home to me after his deliverance experience to confess the full extent of his infidelity. I was extremely guarded when the conversation started that night. I was fully prepared for him to come home and try to fill me with more BS and to try to minimize his actions — that was all I had ever seen from him. But what happened that night was very different from what I expected.
Infidelity & the Church: “Why I Cheated”
Up until this point in our story, you have only heard my (Cassie’s) perspective. But today, we want to share Cord’s perspective. His side of this story is really where the power of our testimony lies. We have been writing these blog posts in partnership with each other, and we see great value in bringing Cord’s voice into all of this, creating the space for him to share why he cheated in the first place and what brought him to “rock bottom”.
Infidelity & the Church: Living an Interruptible Life
It’s now the morning of August 17th, 2018. I haven’t slept at all. I am counting down the minutes until my phone says it’s 7 AM. And then I promptly call my friend Ashton Harwood. She picks up right away, and the second I hear her voice it sends me into sobs. I can barely pull myself together to stutter the words, “I caught Cord cheating on me last night.”
Infidelity & the Church: The Night I Caught My Husband Cheating
If one day you find yourself walking a similar journey, I want you to know who to reach out to. And if you find that you have a friend or someone in your church walking this road, I want you to be equipped on how to minister to them effectively. And I want you to know that no one is ever too far gone.
The Kingdom & Money Part 6: Not Developing Leaders
The Kingdom of God has been spreading and expanding for the last 2,000 years. Its expansion is always based on the development of more disciples every year. Disciples are those who learn the disciplines; one of those disciplines is giving. Remember, Jesus said it’s more blessed to give than receive. Our topic today has to do with the development of disciples who understand God’s plan and are generous in their giving.
The Kingdom & Money Part 5: Not Financially Aware
Money and life are inseparable! The Bible freely talks about money, its use, and its dangers. I’m sure the Bible does this because of its great importance in daily activity and our overall wellbeing. In fact, money is so inseparable from our lives that we can’t function without it. Churches can’t exist and the Kingdom would not even move ahead. Being aware of God’s thoughts on money is absolutely essential for a fruitful life.
The Kingdom & Money Part 4: Not Financially Oriented?
Understandably, many just don’t have financial thinking as a significant gift in their lives. While this, in and of itself, is not sin, it does lead to some particular problems. Men frequently believe they should be good with finances. They are quickly embarrassed when they are not highly functional in this aspect. Some are even afraid to allow their spouses to take charge. (By the way, many women are outstanding with finances and may need to lead in a family setting.)
The Kingdom & Money Part 3: Not Personally Generous
Our God has promised us an abundant life (John 10:10). Yet the vast majority of Christians live no differently than the people of the world who have no such promise. Surprisingly, many Christians do not believe God wants to prosper them and therefore have never become generous.
The Kingdom & Money Part 2: Uncomfortable with Money
To those who are uncomfortable with the topic of money, it has a habit of seeming to be right in front of them at all times. From the extreme of outrageously high salaries to the crushing poverty of those who live in great need and desperate situations, we are bombarded with money and its importance.
The Kingdom & Money Part 1: Money Matters
Money is a big deal! It’s certainly a big deal to all of us who are still working. We give roughly one-fourth of our lives to our jobs because we all know it takes money to survive at any level. From a Kingdom perspective, money is also important. Did you know that there are over 2,000 references to money in the Bible?
Science & Faith: An In-Depth Look
“How does your scientific understanding mesh with your journey of faith? Do you see those conflicting at all?
If I’ve heard that question once, I’ve probably heard it a thousand times–and it’s a good question…
Building Holy Spirit Fireplaces
This summer at our Vineyard National Conference, I shared that I’ve found it helpful to think of cultivating Holy Spirit ministry with the analogy of building fireplaces within our local churches. It’s easy, at times, for charismatics to pray and ask for God to send more power, believing that if we just had more anointing flowing, that would take care of whatever problems we’re facing…
Cultivating a Kingdom Family at Home
“OK, everyone! Don’t forget family devotions tonight at 7 PM. Make sure you get your homework done early. No one is allowed to miss.“ A chorus of groans rose in the household. Disgruntled faces surrounded me. I could feel the tension. No one liked family devotions. No one ever looked forward to our attempts to have a corporate ‘quiet time’ with our children.
Infidelity & The Church Series
Nobody likes to acknowledge that Christians can find themselves in this place, but it happens. Engage with this series as Cassie vulnerably shares the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to walking this stuff out in the church.
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Doris had a rare retinal disease since she was a child. This disease made her vision very cloudy and blurry, and would also put a web-like structure over her vision. She recently had Covid and everything got worse and she developed arthritis throughout her body, which is actually linked to her rare disease. This day at the conference, she could barely see.