My story is very brief and to the point, but definitely needs to be heard. In 2003 I was an addict, I later got pregnant by my dealer and got clean. I have been 100% clean of everything including cigarettes and alcohol for more than 9 years. I had my son in 2006 and named him Zackariah meaning the Lord remembers you. I needed to know at that time that he was there because that was when the abuse started. Fifteen months later I had my son Isaiah. I wasn’t allowed friends or contact with my family, so I was hopeless and saw no way out.
I lived to take care of and protect my children from this inescapable monster, it was truly a miserable existence. When I reached the point of suicide feeling like I would rather die than live this life of daily mental,emotional, and physical devastation I reached out to my mother. We devised a plan for me not to give any inclination that I was leaving,get the kids ready for daycare, get ready for work, and leave everything, just run.
The morning came I was a fanatic, sat up all night feverishly praying. I will never forget these words. Because I meant them. “Lord if you just get me out of here safely with my kids I will lead a different life, we will live for you. ” Still makes me cry. I was in panic mode when I got up. I had tunnel vision, all I could see was my babies and the door. I stumbled,panic thick in my breath as I just kept praying the same thing over and over. “If you just get me out safely with my kids.” We made it here because I had a friend near by. My mother was supposed to meet me but fell ill and was hospitalized, but I was ready. The lord heard my prayers and lit me on fire. I was a woman on a mission. I got a great job, found a place to live, got my kids in school. So many doors of opportunity were opened for me because I finally let them. I am so very thankful for this gift that God has given me and my kids. I will be forever grateful to get this new life for him. I will also be forever grateful for the healed relationship with my mother and I and that I git to spend her final days loving her, and she passed knowing that I am safe, and I live for the lord now. She had cancer and passed March 24th. But now she is with Jesus of that I have no doubt because she was the most amazing person ever. I strive one day to be half the Christian and woman she was. Thanks for reading.

As LifeBridge gets ready to embrace our neighborhoods throughout Longmont and the surrounding areas, our son Daniel, who is 8 years old, came up with this ingenious idea. While I pondered how I was going to approach my neighbors during this project my questions were answered by our awesome little boy.
Daniel is still in search of his faith however he is the most empathetic, caring and spiritual little soul one would ever meet. He hears me speak of scripture at home, he hears me listening to Christian music, he knows I attend church each Sunday and extend my hand to those in need. I think he “gets it”. But I remain patient. Soon he will find Jesus and open his heart to Him. Little do each of us realize is that he may already have.

We were at Hobby Lobby today picking out some Valentine’s Day items. Daniel ran off to look at candy and I was just about to say, “honey, stay close!” and he excitedly said, “Mommy! Look! Lollipops with scripture on each wrapper! We can hand them out to our neighbors for Valentine’s Day and get to know them better!” I was stunned! He wasn’t aware of the “Get to Know Your Neighbor” mission. I think he’s ready to take…that leap of faith. I believe he has found his faith but if not, I will be there to help him understand the glory and overwhelming peace that will overcome him when he accepts Jesus.

So, that being said, we have marked our calendar to take an early Saturday afternoon, walk the neighborhood and hand out lollipops with scripture for Valentine’s Day.

I couldn’t be more thankful for Daniel. We love him dearly. He is an amazing soul.

Growing up I was a fan of our church and of God. I served as an altar boy and it was an amazing experience in my life. As I grew older, I became more of a follower and was comfortable with my life and did not attend church, but if asked, I followed God. After going through a divorce, and my ex-wife being murdered, I was at a low point in my life. I met a wonderful person while going through all of this, and we became very close and fell in love with each other. Melissa has always been involved in her church and with God, and helped me through all of this. Once again, I felt complete and comfortable in my life, but still did not follow God or attend church.

Several months ago, I became jealous of another man that Melissa worked with, and made some very bad accusations that hurt our relationship. I was clearly at my lowest point, and that’s when I needed God in my life and the forgivness of Jesus. I started attending LifeBridge with her mother and friend. I believe God put Missy in my life for a reason, and I am truly greatfull to him for that. I know that without prayer and God I would fail. I have failed Missy and hope one day we can be strong again.

The tongue is a deadly evil that I have used in so many wrong ways, even when I thought I was right Ishould have bit down on it. I am glad I have a place to go and pray, and I have no problem putting my relationship in God’s hands and pray that Jesus will forgive me of my sins.

I have the privilege of getting to meet with people who are baptized or become members here at Lifebridge. Because I’m new to the position, Susan was my first call. She’d recently worked up enough courage to approach Brian Mavis after he’d finished teaching a class on the book of Revelation, and ask how someone becomes a member here at church. See, Susan had already made several calls to the church office and somehow had slipped through the cracks. So, when she met Brian they talked and she became a member of our community. When I finally connected with Susan she was gracious and excited to get involved at LifeBridge!

The lesson with Susan is that she was persistent towards God. Susan showed her willingness when she asked someone her questions and sought answers. Susan knew this is where she wanted to belong and we are glad she made that choice.

Susan is now taking more steps within our community and starting to serve within and outside our church. Susan has taught me how great it is to declare that you want to belong to the family of God and how awesome it is to play a part at Lifebridge. Susan’s faithfulness encourages me to always be willing to step out in faith. I hope you feel the same encouragement from her story.

Jay

I became a living corpse from then. I was a living dead. I was cold. I was just an entity in a body. Nights on end I cried myself to sleep from my demise. I felt dirty. Constantly bathing, trying to cleanse off their touch from my body. I felt like someone poured acid on me; it was eating me away daily, bit by bit, piece by piece. I was full of hurt, pain, anger and rage. Years past, and the pains grew stronger. Nothing quelled the raging inferno burning inside me. Day by day I was becoming less human. I tried everything and nothing worked such as different religious prayers etc. Suicide was the only way out, the only solution to ease my pain. It would all soon go away I thought.

One night I put a tape around my neck, and I was going to strangle myself, but something pulled me back. My teacher had told me about Jesus. I had nothing to lose, I had already lost the will to live, was too tired fighting to survive and too weak from daily battling. So I closed my eyes and prayed to Jesus. When I closed my eyes……I saw Jesus himself and He was holding a door ledge. He grasped it tightly and was looking towards the sky praying. I said “Jesus, I need u in my life, I cannot carry these burdens again for they are too heavy, come into my life and take them and wash me from my sins.” Then I saw him kneel down in front of me and said “If you had called me earlier, I would have come.” I looked into His eyes and I cannot describe what I saw. It was so full of compassion, love, peace, joy and reassurance and most of all care. He touched me, and everything just vanished. All the pain, anger, hurt, broken heartedness, everything just vanished immediately, li
ke it never happened! What I was searching for all these years, Jesus came and did it in seconds.

I don’t know what about some of the pains that you in the congregation have gone through, but I know what it is to be broken hearted, abused, alone and rejected. The thought of getting up after this sounds impossible. But I did it; I found my strength in Jesus. I encourage you, if there is any one here, whose burdens are too heavy and whose legs have given up, give your life to Christ and He will come and heal you and make you complete. I once thought that God had forgotten about me because he allowed this to happen but when Jesus came to me Himself and I looked into those precious eyes saw His undying love for me, I understood that He had to wait until I invited him. His love is unconditional, it is eternal.

He taught me how to love myself first when I hated what I saw in the mirror, how to forgive my transgressors when I only had hate for them and how to love His people, just as He loves me. This is my testimony, my testimony of truth of the great works that Jesus did in my life. He can do the same for you. Invite him in and accept Him as your savior if you haven’t yet. He is all too willing to come and carry ALL your burdens as He always care for ALL HIS PEOPLE. Accept God’s gift of redemption today before it is too late. I have a reason to live now…………….his name is JESUS.

Your brother in Christ.  God Bless You always. Peace be with You in the name of Jesus.

Throughout my life I have struggled to feel whole. I grew up in a non-religious house. I had nothing to fear but my parents. Over the years I kept finding myself meeting Christian people and I would feel a strong urge to become closer to them. It was a feeling I could not control.

Just when I started to feel a little comfort and hope I would stray away because of the negativity and abuse in my home. I questioned how God could ever let my parents treat me the way that they did. I was angry for many years.

After graduating I thought moving 2,000 miles away from my parents would make me feel whole because they couldn’t hurt me anymore.

After being gone for a year and a half I still felt something was missing. Despite all that I had been through with my family I moved back home because I missed them.

Shortly after coming home I was once again drawn to a Christian that I felt a strong urge to be close with. Actually I fell madly in love with him. Little by little he started answering my questions on how God could let me endure all that I did.

He suggested we attend Lifebridge. The minute I walked in I could feel my soul begin to ease.

We continued to attend Lifebridge. On June 21st we commited our lives to God and accepted Jesus as our savior through baptism.

We recently got married and live our marriage and life for God.

You never know when God will place the right person in your life at the perfect time.

I finally feel whole.

By Chris Ann Bass

I am mad—the kind of mad that grows out of anticipation of doing something that is uncomfortable, unfamiliar, and scary. I am not exactly praying—it is more like a threat muttered under my breath. God, if you are there, you have one last chance to show me. I am going in alone and unarmed. If this turns out bad, I will never enter one of these church buildings again! If this doesn’t work, I am not looking for You anymore. If You exist, please let me know.

I am sitting inside of my parked car looking at the scene in front of The Church of Aurora, a small neighborhood Christian church. The scene is just as I expected. I see perfect looking families, girls in dresses, boys in their Sunday shirts, older women in hats, older men in suits, and middle aged men and women dressed in casual-business attire. They collect in groups on the small grassy areas on each side of the wide concrete sidewalk that leads to two large open doors. People hug new arrivals, chat, and laugh. They obviously know each other well. I, on the other hand, am an intruder—an unhappy, nicotine-addicted, seven-month-pregnant, unmarried, living-with-the-baby’s-father, intruder. And I am about to trespass into their perfect world.

I made choices in my life that landed me where I never intended to be, but I don’t seem able to do much right to fix things. Life is heavy—very heavy. Over the last year I have done more crying than laughing. I don’t belong here at this church, but why not? I don’t have anything to lose. This is another attempt to make sense of life and maybe fix things.

My stomach sinks at the thought of heading up the walk and through the large doors. I decide to wait until most of the perfect people go inside before I make my move. My mind swims in fearful defensiveness. One unfriendly glare or righteously judgmental comment at my protruding belly, naked ring finger, or nicotine perfume, and I am prepared to react in prideful defiance. I am ready to wash my hands of the perfect people before I ever meet them.

By the time I make my way to the large doors, there is only an older man remaining in sight. I am certain he hung around on purpose waiting for me to reach the doors. When we meet he shakes my hand and smiles, and I do likewise. That wasn’t so bad, I think as I proceed through a second set of open double doors. I see there is a man already in front of the people talking. Everyone is standing, and all I can see is a room full of the backside of heads. I can’t tell where there might be an open seat. A woman close to my 24 years of age quickly perceives my predicament. She gestures to the older couple between her and the end of the isle. They quickly make way for me to pass, as the young woman motions me to come next to her.

The man up front stops talking and everyone sits down. In hushed voices this woman and I exchange names. I feel trapped! My deodorant cannot take the pressure and instantaneously flees its post, allowing perspiration to escape. Nervousness and being shoulder-to-shoulder with strangers causes beads of sweat to collect on my upper-lip. Stand up, sit down, what is next? I don’t know the routine, not even well enough to fake it. How long did this get-together last? I have only been here a few minutes and it seems like an eternity. This is definitely a bad idea. My thoughts are too loud to hear any of what the man on the raised platform is saying. Just remember to breathe until this is over and you will be fine, I tell myself.

Piano music starts and the people again stand up. Like a good follow-the-leader player, I too stand. They grab songbooks from the backside of the benches in front of them. I opt not to. I don’t know the tunes and am not comfortable singing out loud. The young woman next to me is sharing a book with her husband, as is the older couple on my other side. A short way into the song the young woman passes her songbook off to her husband. She grabs another book from the back of the bench and flips through the pages. Stopping at the correct song, she opens the book wide and moves in front of me. I am involuntarily sharing a songbook with this politely persistent woman. It would be rude not to sing under the circumstances, so I sing.

When the song ends I am watchful to see what my next move is suppose to be. Are we going to sit, sing, pray, or pay? People begin shuffling pages in the songbook. No! We are going to sing another song. Once she finds the correct page, my neighbor once again dutiful places the songbook in front of me. Holding the songbook with both her arms extended towards me makes her stance a bit awkward. I reach my outer hand in her direction so that my side of the songbook rests in the palm of my hand, while she continues to hold the other side. It is a decision that immediately makes us both more comfortable. I do not sing during the opening of the second song, not until she points to words on the page. I take this as my cue.

Thou has taught me to say, it is well, it is well, with my soul… The words of the song are but whispers on my lips. But for the first time since my arrival, I hear something other than my own thoughts. The voices and words of the song fill me like a deep draw of fresh air. It is well, it is well… My mind is free of clutter and I hear only “It is well with my soul.” I am completely emptied and filled with words that immediately become my very sustenance. I cannot sing now for tears fill my eyes. A few drops escape. I am weightless. Outwardly, as the singing continues, I hear the words of the song from behind, below, above, and beside me. Internally, the words of each chorus become reality.

This is not normal. God, are you there? As soon as this mental question emerges, deep within my chest I feel heaviness being lifted, inching upward slowly. The heaviness continues to lift till it reaches my shoulders. From there it dissipates, till all heaviness is gone. You’re real! You’re real! Oh my God, You’re real!

The song is over and we are sitting down. My heart continues to race with excitement. You’re real! Now what? What do I do next? If you are real then the Bible must be true! What just happened to me is the most real thing I have ever experienced. Should I keep this our secret? Am I suppose to I tell someone? I don’t hear any words that are spoken for the rest of the service. Only words of the song and my excited thoughts fill my mind. Never again will I bear the weight of life’s heaviness alone! God is real and He is with me.

Rick Rusawwas calling. “Hi Dick,” he said, “You’ve met Joni Morse, our missionary in Thailand.  I know we can help him, but have you and he decided what we can do to help his ministry?”

The background to this question was that Rick had been meeting weekly to study the Scriptures with seven business executives, including myself. One day, Rick asked our group, “Would you be willing to do a short-term mission toThailand?” We agreed unanimously, and Rick asked me if I would be team leader. So, I phoned Joni that evening.

“Joni,” I asked, “How could LifeBridge better assist you in your vital work there?” Joni knew that ten percent of all giving at LifeBridge goes to missions, so he inquired, “Would it be possible to just send us money?” “Joni, I’m sorry,” I replied, “I have a team of high-energy senior executives. They’re do-ers who make things happen! I can’t tell them, “There’s nothing you can do but write a check.”

                                    They Toil in Their Fields all Day in 90 Degree Heat

So Joni and I agreed that my son and I should fly toThailandfor a “getacquainted” visit. On our arrival in Chiang Mai, Joni took us on a tour of the local villages. I was deeply impressed by the Hill Tribe people. They have to work hard tilling the fields all day in 90 degree heat just to raise enough crops to feed their families for the coming year!

The villagers live in simple thatched-roof huts. Many huts stand on stilts up off the ground. Joni told us that they do that because local witch doctors have persuaded them that the ground belongs to the devil. Thus they fear the ground. Joni longed to see the power of Christ discredit those witch doctors. But he had no churches to attract the Hill Tribe people to Christianity.

After returning home, I told Rick and the others that Joni’s top priority was for us to build some churches. Next, we appealed for volunteers and got 20 others from LifeBridge to help.  However, we still had a problem. I had worked in management for years, but I knew nothing about construction.

I had built only one thing—a chicken coop on my farm. So I asked some builder friends to teach me the basics of erecting and wiring simple buildings. That done, our team flew off toThailand.  There we rented vans, checked our equipment and supplies, then drove out to the building site.

We decided to put God first by offering thanks to Him for challenging us to try to live our “lives on loan” from Him. We started off with a worship service. All of us gathered together on a big concrete slab. There, Rick preached a message. Next, came translations into two different languages. We sang worship songs in Thai, then in English.

The next day our two teams started building, and by Friday we were done. Later some local leaders came out to see our work. They were amazed that, in just five days, we had constructed two church buildings—each with electricity from a generator.

Previously, the Hill Tribe people had no place to worship. But once a church was built in their community, many villagers began inviting friends, and they in turn started coming to Christ! In addition, the headmaster of a nearby school told us, “Every week I must turn away students due to lack of space.”  In response, we were able to build him more classrooms.

            Multitudes of Villagers Have Been Liberated from the Power of Darkness

Also, a local school asked us to build dormitories for their students. What happened next was amazing! Committed Christians were assigned to be dormitory counselors. Through their influence, almost every student in those dorms became a Christian. Many have since become evangelists. Thus, a lot more villagers are hearing God’s good news!

Over the last eight years, LifeBridge teams and Engineers Without Borders have built a total of four churches, three school dormitories, five educational facilities, and a medical building, plus numerous water pipelines from the mountains so that villagers no longer have to carry water for drinking. In addition, one village tripled their crops after our team installed the necessary irrigation.

Joni Morse summarized the impact that LifeBridge teams have made among his Hill Tribe people. They believe that God must love them very much to send His servants around the world to build all these improvements. Joni said that multitudes of villagers have been liberated from the power of darkness.

Over a thousand people have come to faith in Christ. Even witch doctors, after seeing the futility of their ways, are turning to God. Entire villages are accepting Christ! In gratitude to the Lord, many of these dear people are also choosing to live their ‘lives on loan’ from God!

We were challenged on Sunday to come forward and pick up a Challenge envelope that would ask us to be a blessing in our community in someway. My envelope asked me to do something for a middle school student. My idea wasn’t hard and it wasn’t time consuming but I hope it blessed a student. I just simply went to the school and wrote a check for lunches and asked if they would apply it to a student who needed it. Pretty easy, pretty boring but it’s a blessing to be the hands of Christ.