Little stories of BIG Hope!

10/06/2010

A couple of weeks ago I was headed to the Wednesday night Womens Bible Study at Hope. As I pulled into the Hope parking lot I noticed a couple that were obviously hitchhikers. I felt God kind of "urge” me to talk to them. So I did. Their names are… read the rest of the story.

10/06/2010

A couple of weeks ago I was headed to the Wednesday night Womens Bible Study at Hope. As I pulled into the Hope parking lot I noticed a couple that were obviously hitchhikers. I felt God kind of "urge” me to talk to them. So I did. Their names are Chad and Melissa. Melissa's mom is very sick and close to dying. She was trying to get to her mom, in New York state, to say goodbye. They didn't have money for bus tickets and had no car so they were trying to hitch their way there.

The short version goes like this... I mentioned it to the women at the Bible study, and they donated a generous sum of money to help purchase a bus ticket. I talked to a couple of other people, one of whom graciously gave money AND gave the couple a ride to the bus station and helped them buy tickets to where they needed to go.

Now for the part that I just LOVE. When I had stopped to talk to the couple earlier, they said they had asked the church for help, but the church was unable to because Hope’s benevolence fund was at $0 at the time). What makes God so awesome is that even though the "church" (the institution) wasn't able to help, the "Church" (God's people) were.

I'm so grateful that he taught me that lesson.
–Naomi Wallace

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08/15/2010

Somewhere in Wichita, a single mother of three looks through tear-filled eyes and sees drugs, death and destruction rampaging where her children are growing up. She has no husband to help support her and her family. She's all alone. One day on her way home after working three shifts in… read the rest of the story.

08/15/2010

Somewhere in Wichita, a single mother of three looks through tear-filled eyes and sees drugs, death and destruction rampaging where her children are growing up. She has no husband to help support her and her family. She's all alone. One day on her way home after working three shifts in a row to support her boys and her mom, her broken down, leaking car bursts into flames. Adding to her crushing load, she does what she has to do … she starts paying astronomical cab fare to get to her waitress job. The Lord sees all though, and He answers her prayers. By using the hands and feet of the Men of Hope, He provides the woman first with a loaner, then a freshly fixed up and incredibly well maintained set of wheels to call her own. All free of charge … as things tend to be with Him.

Thank you, Lord, for honoring the Men Of Hope in this way. We certainly do not deserve to love in Your name, but you impart your cleanliness to us. You let us experience your grace first hand! What A GOD you are!!!
–Blake Baysinger

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06/28/2010

I witnessed a miracle and answer to prayer at a recent CMA (Christian Motorcyclists Asso.) chapter meeting. Steve and Cheryl Noland are longtime members of the chapter. Many years ago, Cheryl was previously married to Charlie Dean, with whom she had 2 children. The marriage ended in a nasty divorce.… read the rest of the story.

06/28/2010

I witnessed a miracle and answer to prayer at a recent CMA (Christian Motorcyclists Asso.) chapter meeting. Steve and Cheryl Noland are longtime members of the chapter. Many years ago, Cheryl was previously married to Charlie Dean, with whom she had 2 children. The marriage ended in a nasty divorce. After Cheryl began to date Steve, the two men got into a scuffle in which Charlie was accidentally shot. As a result, Steve spent 15 months in prison and Cheryl lost custody of her children. Since then, Cheryl has had very little contact with Charlie except for the rare phone call to inform her of one of their children’s plans to wed or join the military. Even though Steve is a Christ follower, the time in prison had left Steve with bitterness and unwillingness to forgive Charlie.

Recently, some CMA members who were unaware of this situation invited Charlie and his fiancee Tonjia to a chapter meeting. Imagine the shock and surprise. Though it made for some uncomfortable moments, both couples continued to come to chapter meetings and events. For 3 months, Steve and Charlie simply kept their distance from each other. Cheryl, however, believed Charlie’s appearance was part of God’s plan. Friends began to pray for the two men and the situation. Then it happened. Prior to the recent meeting, Steve approached Charlie and asked him for his forgiveness. Then, during the meeting, Charlie stood up to give some reports on CMA activities with which he had assisted. As he was thanking some people by name for their prayers and help, he also thanked Steve Noland. He followed this by telling everyone the story of what had happened between him and Steve 15 years earlier. He then said that he forgave Steve a long time ago, but hadn't shown it yet. So he walked across the room to where Steve and Cheryl were sitting, apologized directly to them. Steve stood up with open arms and the two men embraced in a hug.

I will never forget how these two men listened to the Holy Spirit and forgave each other, swallowing their pride to humble themselves in obedience. The work of God's Forgiveness is mighty powerful.
--Marsha Owen

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