CPC Life is a publication of Christ Presbyterian Church. In each issue of CPC Life, we feature stories, pictures, and people that make our church unique, plus a full listing of monthly programs and events. We have here compiled all the faith stories from the 2011-2012 ministry year, which demonstrate to us the moving of the Holy Spirit in this congregation and beyond. We are grateful for the men, women, and kids who share their stories and give life to our church mission of “inspiring all generations to follow Jesus, love others, and live missionally.� Thank you for reading the powerful stories of these faithful CPCers.
behind veneers. I don’t go to my men’s group to hear myself talk but to ask questions and listen to what the guys say to me. Together we’re seeking the Bible, Jesus’ teaching, and the work of the Holy Spirit to become operational in our lives. Now I can’t imagine my life without this group.
Chris Nielsen wife, Kathy, and I met as Young ‘‘LifeMyleaders and married during college.
We were young and idealistic, confident that faith would always stay at the center of our lives and marriage. But then I started medical school — and I sold out. It wasn’t a calculated choice; I just fell into the reality of spending more than 100 hours a week trying to become a doctor. I paid lip service to God being a priority, told my family I loved them . . . but then my beeper would go off. All of a sudden, it was 15 years later: where had my life gone? It wasn’t that I lost faith, but work had become my everything. I was disconnected from everything I said mattered most. In 2006, my wife finally called a spade a spade. We needed to make a big change, to reset and recalibrate our lives. This time, we would let community and church be the focus, not my career. We moved from Wisconsin to Edina because we had close family friends here and because we discovered the Upper Room [CPC’s former Sunday night service]. As soon as Kathy and our son, Zach, walked into Upper Room, we knew we could find spiritual
community here. Kathy bought a house without me seeing it. We committed to move before I had secured a job. My career was no longer driving the bus. Five years later, I’ve seen my family and our lives transformed at CPC. It’s not like we were going completely the wrong way, but this church has brought us“ together anew. I’ve watched my three daughters find their faith through Student Ministries programs. My son interned at CPC during college. I’ve found community in a men’s small group. Kathy just finished at Bethel Seminary and will work in the Missions department this fall.
“It’s important to find those intersections of discomfort and faith, to enter environments where I have to trust God to lead and provide.” But the real change isn’t about new activities; it’s about getting faith back at the center of my life. I had to ask myself hard questions: What truth was being born in my life? What fruit was I bearing? To honor my marriage and my kids, my relationship with Jesus has to be primary. Investing in community has been a crucial part of my transformation. I’m an introvert, so when John Crosby suggested I join a men’s small group, I was nervous. Now I see it’s vital to be transparent with people, to stop hiding
September 2011 Issue
It’s important to find those intersections of discomfort and faith, to enter environments where I have to trust God to lead and provide. When we take ourselves a little out of our comfort zone, we invite the Holy Spirit to show up. The most dangerous things in my house are often the TV remote . . . or my iPad . . . or a cup of Starbucks. None of these things are bad on their own, but if my hands are full with what’s comfortable, they’re not folded in prayer before God. I’m learning — as a parent, follower of Christ, doctor — it’s important to “do” less and be available more. I want to be present for my family and others, present to what God wants to teach me and where He wants to take me next. The most important thing I can do for my kids is to foster their faith so they know God and invest in community. That’s my greatest joy. When I watched my son get married last summer, I was an emotional wreck but I realized he had found the most important things: faith and community. Previously, I might have worried he wasn’t a doctor yet or didn’t have an MBA. But now I know he has what matters most. Everything else falls away.
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In My Own Words:
I’ve also stepped into new ways of serving, another area that made me uncomfortable at first: volunteering down at Calvary Church or chaperoning on a high school mission trip to Chicago. The returns always far outweigh the investment. Last fall, I joined a CPC medical GO! Trip to the Congo. I didn’t know any of the other people going and was unsure what to expect. But it was amazing. You learn so much from sitting down with people on the other side of the world, learning to be present with them and hear their stories. I’m coleading the return GO! Trip to Congo this October.
In My Own Words:
Melissa Clark been coming to CPC since ‘‘I wasI’vea baby, but it was through 8th
grade Commitment Class that I learned the importance of Jesus being the center of my life. I was fortunate to be in a small group with close friends who held each other accountable outside church. I was really impacted by my leader, too, so I’m excited to lead a group of 7th grade girls through Elevate this year. In July, I went on a CPC GO! Trip to Zambia. My dad [Tim Clark] had gone on two previous CPC trips to Zambia, and he told me there was a new trip for high school students. He said, ‘It would be really special to share this experience with you.’ I had never, ever thought about going to Zambia before that, and my dad and I had never done anything like that together. To be honest, I was a bit worried to take a life-changing trip with my dad because I didn’t know how this would change our relationship. But the trip definitely strengthened our bond, and I’m so glad I got to experience this with him by my side. Sometimes when our family is having dinner, my dad and I will look over at each other because we’re reminded of something only we can understand.
One day, we were playing with some kids when I saw a boy sitting off by himself, looking shy. I invited him to sit on my lap, and before I knew it, he fell asleep in my arms. I learned later his name was Matthew and he had parents who weren’t very nice to him. An adult told me how important it was that I held Matthew because what he needed most of all was to experience love. When I had to leave, he didn’t want to get off my lap. I never spoke a word to him; I don’t even know if he spoke English. But if I go back to Zambia, I want to see him again.
“ The people in Zambia taught me a lot about hope. I know it comes from their faith in Jesus.” That same day, we were eating lunch on our bus when kids started peering through the windows. We had this icky feeling knowing many of them wouldn’t eat that day. We had only bought a couple loaves of bread and some peanut butter and jelly, but we started taking our leftovers to make sandwiches for the kids. More and more kids circled the bus, so we pooled our granola bars and anything we could find. We were really nervous we wouldn’t have enough for everyone. I suggested we pray over the food, that God would make the situation turn out like He wanted. Then we handed out sandwiches, and after everyone had one, the boxes still looked full! The kids asked if they could have another and we said, ‘Yes!’ God helped us feed 100 kids that day.
October 2011 Issue
Those two experiences — holding the little boy and sharing sandwiches — made me realize I could make a difference, even if I am just a high schooler. One of the churches we visited has a program that feeds 60 kids one meal a week. Kids walk a long ways to get it, and all have HIV and are orphans. Then we heard the program was shutting down because of funding. Since coming home, we’ve started an organization called FEED ZAMBIA. Our goal is to feed 200 kids, three times a week, for a year through a Jubilee Centre feeding program. We plan to raise $32,000 by next summer. We started two weeks ago and already raised $5,000! It’s easy to have a misconception that CPC’s work in Zambia is just about sending money. But it’s truly a relationship. The staff at Jubilee Centre talk about CPCers as friends. When my dad arrived at the airport, they ran over and hugged him, saying, “Welcome home, Tim!” I hope lots of CPCers go to Zambia because it’s amazing to have a place halfway across the world to call home. I’ve been thinking a lot about how to keep the joy and community I experienced in Zambia. I think prayer is a big part of it. We prayed so many times a day in Zambia, I can’t even count. At home, it’s harder to remember constantly to keep Jesus at the center of my day. One of the leaders, Mandy Jester, was a great model of prayer to me on the trip, and she’s a huge part of my life now. At the CPC High School Ministries kick-off this fall, Cory Gregory talked about going through dry spots in our faith. It was inspiring to see a guy we look up to admit he doesn’t always have it all together, either. Before Zambia, I had felt like I was in a dry spot, too. But since coming back, working with FEED ZAMBIA, and growing my relationships with Mandy and my dad, it’s made me realize how much I want to live my life for Jesus.
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The people in Zambia taught me a lot about hope. Even those who had so little, even the patients who were too sick to sit up and talk to us, still had so much hope. I know it comes from their faith in Jesus. Their example inspired us to be more hope-filled, too. And the fact that we visited them and prayed for them inspired their hope.
- Melissa Clark is a junior at Breck School. Some of the funds raised through this month’s Three-Day Meal Challenge will benefit FEED ZAMBIA.
blades and up my arm. They gave me Nitro pills, but it didn’t help. I told them to take me to Abbott Hospital. They loaded me into the ambulance, and I felt better right away in the airconditioning. But when Deb got into the front of the ambulance, I lost sight of her. The EMT kept saying, ‘Stay with me.’ But everything around me was chaotic, and I don’t like claustrophobic situations to begin with. Without Deb in sight, I couldn’t hold it together anymore. I heard God say to me, ‘This is your moment; say what you need to say.’ I prayed for my family, my kids, and my soul. I felt no more stress, just peace. And then boom — I was out.
Jim Deanovic ‘‘
Last spring, I started a new health regimen. I had a bad knee from basketball (trying to keep up with John Crosby), sleep apnea, atrial fibrillation, and I was on many medications. So I got a trainer and started doing Pilates. About seven weeks in, I felt like a million bucks. But one Monday during the workout, I felt dizzy. That had happened before, but I wasn’t too worried. A few years prior, a Nuclear Stress Test at Mayo told me I had a 97% chance of never having a heart ailment in my life. It was one of those sweltering hot mornings. I sat in the lobby of the gym drinking water, but didn’t feel better. The gym staff called my wife, Deb, to come. They asked me a bunch of questions, and I answered them fine. But when I started getting discombobulated, the owner said, ‘I’m calling 911.’ The fire department was four blocks away, so they were there in a matter of minutes, giving me oxygen. Then Deb arrived. People were swarming around me, and I kept my eyes fixed on her. I don’t think I’d be here today if Deb hadn’t been there for me to focus on. I started to feel pain in my shoulder
“ That was really the
message God had for me after my heart attack. There is no person and no thing in this world — no matter how great — that is enough.” watched them shock me, my body heaving, her first instinct was to run away and not deal with it. But she knew there was only one thing she could do — to pray. She and so many at CPC covered me in prayer that day.
A week before my heart attack, I had been out with some young guys to talk about some challenges they were facing. I remember coming home and praying, ‘C’mon God, reveal yourself to these guys a little bit. They need to see you . . . . And, if you’re showing yourself to them, why don’t you give me a little peek-aboo, too, because I haven’t seen you as much lately.’ Now I know I hadn’t been looking for Him. I joke now that we’ve got to get on the right radio station: God’s station. We need to listen and obey what He says — and if we don’t, we’re going to wander a little bit. I think of those young guys and all the different stations they can listen to. We need to tune into what God is saying, turn up the volume, rip off the knob. When I started cardiac rehab, I set out to do everything possible to get better. To go above and beyond what they asked of me. We have the same kind of choice in our relationship with God. We can do it every once in awhile, or we can do it diligently, with some fun and vigor.
When I woke up later in the hospital, I remember people cheering. The doctors said, ‘We just don’t see guys like you. Most people die: 100% blockage, shocked seven times — you should have died.’ All I cared about was seeing my family and thanking God for giving me a second chance.
Living gratefully is trying to make the most of what God has given me. To help others. To not hold back on saying things to my kids that encourage them in a godly life. To focus on the impact I can make for God in this world each day. It’s not easy; it’s tempting to fall back into old patterns. But I’m so grateful for a second chance. For the friends who have supported us. That I was here to see both my kids get engaged to wonderful people. And that I’ll get to walk my daughter down the aisle and whisper something special in her ear.
Two months later, I went up to Rainy Lake. I wanted to think, to reconcile everything that had happened. Out in the middle of the lake, I felt God say, ‘You
P.S. A special thanks to John Crosby for nurturing and nudging me toward a godly life. I do like playing with you more than against you on the courts.
November 2011 Issue
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In My Own Words:
I flatlined. On the way to the hospital, they shocked me five times and twice more in the ER. I had 100% blockage in my left anterior descending widowmaker artery. Deb says that when she
have a great life and a great wife who has stuck with you. But Deb isn’t going to bring you home. So you better start looking over here, focusing on Me.’ That was really the message God had for me. There is no person and no thing in this world — no matter how great — that is enough. We need a relationship with God.
marriage ends and I try to support four kids, I’m leaning on Jesus. But it’s also a prayer for any of us, no matter what we’re facing. We can’t do it alone. I’m so grateful to be part of a fourgeneration family at CPC. My grandparents, parents, my kids, and I call this church home. Roger Anderson [founding pastor] introduced my parents to each other. There are people in this church who have prayed for me and my family since before I was born — and 37 years later, are still praying for me.
little girl, I’ve always felt ‘‘calledSinceto doI wastwoathings: to sing and to be
a mom. Singing is just something that I have to do. The old hymn, ‘How Can I Keep from Singing?’ sums me up. Luckily people like to hear me sing, which makes it even better. Music is how I learn things best, and also how God speaks to me. Don’t ask me where a certain passage is in the Bible, but if there’s a song about it, I can recite it to you.
“There are things to be grateful for in every situation.”
I started singing with the CPC Contemporary Team when I was a senior in high school. A year later, when I found out I was pregnant, I worried I wouldn’t be able to keep singing here. I was fully aware what message my situation — pregnant at 19, married at 20 — might send to people. But John Crosby and Heather Hood told me I was more than ‘my situation,’ that I was welcome here. I think their decision kept me in the Church. If they had turned me away, what would I have done? Being embraced by this church was a turning point for making my faith my own.
My husband, Mark, and I went on to have three more children, when I was in my later 20s and early 30s. Mark and I had issues over the years, but I thought we were committed to each other. Things started to fall apart when he was laid off in 2009. Something happened to his spirit. It got to the point where we lost our house. In October 2010, Mark said he wanted to take a few days away from the chaos and the family. What was supposed to be a couple of days has turned into . . . forever. He has never come back. He lives in Utah now.
I started going to CPC Mom’s Morning, even though it was awkward for me. All the moms seemed much further along on their journeys. Their lives
In a recent worship service we sang the song, ‘Give Me Jesus.’ Those words feel like my anthem. Amidst the chaos and rawness I’m experiencing as my December 2011 Issue
I have numerous Bible verses posted in my kitchen where I can see them everyday. One is from Philippians: ‘I know what it is to be in need and I know what it is to have plenty and I have learned the secret to be content in all circumstances.’ That is definitely the truth. My family and I used to live in a fantastic house, drive great cars, and could afford to do great things — and now I’m on the other end of the spectrum. The one constant is Jesus. There is provision in His name. My joy comes from God. There is no reason why I should have the attitude that I do, why I should be happy in the middle of really cruddy circumstances. There is no other reason but that God has put something in me that I can’t stuff and hide.
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BeckyWaters
looked so together, while I was working full-time and still worried about paying for groceries. But I kept showing up. Now I’ve been in a small group with the same moms for almost 12 years. That small group means everything to me. What these women have done is to grow my roots, to show me how to be vulnerable. If you had asked me 20 years ago, I never, ever would have guessed I would need a group of women like I’ve needed them. We’ve walked some hard roads together.
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In My Own Words:
My dad was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease four years ago, when he was in his early 60s. When I see his peers, I get sad, thinking of the things he’s no longer able to do. On the other hand, we have fun finding the humor in the little things that are changing in him. His life is shifting in unexpected ways. Maybe traveling the world with my mom is no longer on the agenda, but cultivating really strong relationships with his grandchildren is. There are things to be grateful for in every situation.
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Gino & Lynn Giovannelli
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ur kids used to argue about whether they had to go to church, but since we came to CPC 18 months ago, now they argue about whether we go on Sunday mornings or nights. Gino plays drums in the 11:00AM services a couple times a month, and the boys love to watch their dad play. But The Table on Sunday nights is where we usually go together, and it has become a vital community for us. We love the creativity and smaller size, and the boys are joyous about the kids’ program. They can replay in detail what they
learned and did. The Table is an easy place to invite friends, too. We often schedule play dates for the boys that involve The Table and then we share a meal at D’Amico afterward. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in June. God’s perfect timing is so clear in how He brought us to CPC before this “There is glory to God in this journey. My hope is secure because I trust in a mighty God.”
journey began. Shortly before my diagnosis, the sermon was on Philippians 4:6-7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the
January 2012 Issue
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peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” When I got the diagnosis, that verse was laced in my mind. I’ve clung to those words to remember that there is thanksgiving in this somewhere; there is glory to God in this journey. My hope is secure because I trust in a mighty God. We’re committed to being a family that serves, and CPC always points us to ways to do that together. We’re each at different places in our faith walk, but God is meeting us where we’re at while drawing us closer as a unit. Sundays are a sacred time for our family; coming to CPC is not negotiable. We all want to be here and be here together.
January 2012 Issue
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Blanche Raup God’s Peace and Promises
T “There is no explaining the peace I feel except that it comes through knowing Jesus and His promises.”
hirty-one years ago, my husband and I lost a son when he was six months old. The day before the funeral, my mother-inlaw told me I needed to buy food and entertain guests after the service. I was grieving a child and had two other children to care for, so the thought of hosting people was overwhelming. That’s part of the reason I now coordinate the Memorial Receptions at CPC, to spare others from having to clean their house or get groceries on a difficult day. CPC offers up the Fireside Room and we serve bars, punch, coffee, and sometimes lunch. We provide a way for those who are grieving to be with others. The women of the church all bake. What we do is pass out love. When my infant son died, my husband and I were extremely new Christians and I didn’t have much of a faith. My mother-in-law said to me, “There is a verse in the Bible that says to trust in the Lord.” I kind of shrugged it off at the time. Then I started Bible Study Fellowship and found that verse in Proverbs: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding but acknowledge Him in all your ways and He will make your paths straight.” That verse became precious to me — especially when we lost a second son, Kevin, in a moped accident when he was 13 years old. After Kevin’s death, I would walk around and around and say, “Lord, I need a straight path today! Direct my path!” Exactly one year to the day after Kevin died, I went to the grocery store. The cashier recognized me and asked where my son was. I almost burst into tears when I told her, “My son died in a moped accident.” The bagger heard this and turned white. She asked, “Where January 2012 Issue
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did the accident happen?” I told her the street and she grabbed my hand. “Your son died by our house,” she said. “My dad went and got a blanket for him and read the Bible to him.” What mother wouldn’t want to hear that the last words her son heard were from the Bible? God knew I needed to hear that on that exact day. I didn’t need to know it when Kevin first died because Christ was carrying me then. But one year later, Christ was saying, “Okay, you start walking now, Blanche.” I hugged that bagger and told her to thank her dad. We were able to donate Kevin’s organs when he died. Ten years later, God allowed us to be on the other end of that experience when my husband received a liver transplant. The only thing we knew about the donated liver is that a young woman of 19 or 20 had died. We wrote a letter to the family to thank them and to say we knew what they were going through, that our own teenage son had died and his liver went to a young woman. You talk about a miracle growing from a miracle. If you call my phone, you’ll hear my message say, “Count your blessings; God loves you.” Just recently, John Crosby did a sermon on Romans 15:13 about the God of hope who supplies us with joy and peace as we trust in Him. I had forgotten that verse. The sermon came at a good time because my husband has been out of work for over a year. He’s 61, so this is a season of trusting God for hope and peace. There is no explaining the peace I feel except that it comes through knowing Jesus and His promises. God didn’t take away our boys for no reason. I trust Him. Every time I do a Memorial Reception at CPC, I try to give back a little of the peace Jesus has given me. Whether it’s with a smile, a touch of a hand, or simply giving someone a cookie, our committee tries to be the hands of Jesus at a time when people most need it. When we do receptions for people who aren’t from CPC, we try to shine on them even more because we hope maybe they’ll hear or see Jesus through what we are doing.
Andrew Allen
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’m involved in a new Student Lay Care group where students help students who are going through tough times. We connect over Facebook when we hear about someone who is sick, has lost a grandparent, or just needs Jesus. Then we put by Mike Hotz, Missions together a care package or spend time with them. I also lead a small group of 7th grade boys at CPC on Wednesday nights. I started mentoring them last year and will continue with them through 8th grade. I like learning alongside them and it keeps me closer to Jesus. In the fall, I often have to leave football practice early to make it to CPC or I have to wake up early on Sundays for leadership training. But it’s worth it because I’m around good people, I stay out of trouble, and I’m learning about God. My leaders in Student “My leaders in Student Ministries Ministries have had a positive have had a positive influence influence on me. on me. I want to do the same I want to do the for my group of kids.” same for my group of kids.
Glo Westerdahl
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was taught that if things need doing in church, you step up and volunteer. And I try to do that. But when I went to the Willow Creek Leadership Summit with other CPCers, I heard a speaker who talked about serving more than just at church. He said, “Bloom where you’re planted. Lead where you are.” I work for the Minnesota Twins, and so I asked myself, “I wonder what I can do here.” I began to use things I learned about leadership not only with big groups but with individual people. It’s absolutely amazing what happens when you put your hand on someone’s shoulder and say, “Can I help?” That is magic and it’s all God-given. Over the last three years, it’s amazing how my relationships within the Twins’ organization have grown. The word travels from person to person. If someone needs something or has a bad day, people say, “Call Glo . . . find Glo.” If they don’t come find me, I’ll get a quick message that says, “Come on down to Section 104. I’m waiting with a person down here.” It often starts with hello and a smile. I smile because I love people and it’s an open door to hear their stories. When I was a small child, my dad used to quote from Isaiah 30:15: “In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.” I think one of the reasons he said that to me was because I talked too much! But when I was at Willow, I learned that the future of our Al TeWinkel world is not going to depend singularly on the decisions of politicians and legislators: it will depend on Spirit-led people who shepherd others in quietness and confidence.
January 2012 Issue
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nikki abramson
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year-and-a-half ago, my car was backed into by an SUV. I had a little whiplash and a headache, but my pain kept getting worse. I went to different doctors until I was diagnosed with generalized dystonia, which involves involuntary muscle spasms.
At first I felt uncomfortable contacting Congregational Care, because I thought it was for people who had lost loved ones or were older. But I decided to contact Kyle Jackson because I knew him back when I was a student. Kyle met with me every other week until he left CPC. I had a lot of questions about faith because my life had changed so drastically. I’m no longer able to drive or work a full-time job. Kyle and others have helped me process how God is using my challenges for His glory. Since my accident, I am so grateful for the ways that God has shown up. Even when life is challenging and hasn’t gone the way I would like, I am still choosing God. He has brought me joy, even in difficult circumstances.
and said, “I’m in.” I knew that the Lord had organized it so that I was there and not my wife. It was a little miracle. This is now my third year of mentoring three high school Student Leaders who in turn lead junior high small groups. It’s really been a blessing; these three boys are true disciples and it’s been fun to watch them grow in their faith. We meet every Wednesday before the small groups to go through the curriculum and make sure they are on the right page.
Rick Dahlstrom
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few years ago, my wife and I received a notice about Parent Night for Elevate students (6th & 7th graders). My wife was so excited to attend but, at the last minute, she couldn’t go. She looked at me and said, “You have to go.” I said,
“You’re kidding. I never go to informational meetings where someone has to take notes.” I knew she’d want every detail from the meeting and that just wasn’t going to happen with me. But I agreed, and when I arrived, there were 30 women and me. The first thing the leader said was, “We are in a crisis: we don’t have enough male mentors” and he looked right at me. I raised my hand
January 2012 Issue
The first thing the leader said was, “We are in a crisis: we don’t have enough male mentors” and he looked right at me. I raised my hand and said, “I’m in.” When I’m out in the real world, I hear people say, “What are kids up to nowadays?” I am happy to say that I know of 400 kids who are reading the Bible, learning about Jesus Christ, and living for God.
January 2012 Issue
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Tolu Oyelowo
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welcoming the stranger
n one of my first Sundays at CPC, there was a congregational meeting where Paul Tshihamba was voted in as Missions Pastor. I sat in the balcony watching, and when the vote was announced, the Sanctuary erupted with clapping and cheering. To see a fairly white church show spontaneous joy and jubilation about an African-American pastor made a real impression on me. I was born in Nigeria and lived there until I was 18. For most of my life, I have been a foreigner living away from my homeland. Even though I’m a U.S. citizen now, whenever I visit Nigeria, my soul knows the difference. My DNA considers Nigeria home. When I left Nigeria for college, I was terribly homesick, so one Sunday I went to church thinking, “At least that’s one place I’ll feel connected.” But no one at the church said hi to me and I walked out more miserable than when I went in. I called home crying, and my father said, “If you’re in church, Tolu, there is something for you there. It may not be what you think it is, but keep going back and pay attention.” These simple words have become a life lesson for me. Now, whenever I go to church, I have the mentality that God has something for me there.
I try to be intentional about welcoming people. I know what it’s like to feel different or like the stranger. For a long time, I was a single woman at a church that was mostly families. At CPC, I am one of the few African-American women. But it’s up to me to help people be comfortable with me. The key is being intentional — like looking for people
“I try to be intentional about welcoming people. I know what it’s like to feel different or like the stranger.” who are sitting alone, or asking the newcomer, “What are you doing for Thanksgiving? What are you doing for Christmas?” I still remember those years as a foreign student, when the holidays were the hardest. I missed my family and had nowhere to go. It was a double loneliness. So much of African culture is about being good hosts. I would say Minne-
January 2012 Issue
sotans are focused on being good hosts, too, but express it differently. Minnesotans tend to stick to circles of people they’re comfortable with or have known a long time. I understand that; my husband grew up in Edina and has had the same ten best friends since college. But I think of Jesus’ example of reaching out to the Samaritan woman. We should all try to broaden our circles — to be not just a host to people we’re comfortable with, but those who are different than us, too. Growing up in Nigeria, I saw how some American churches approached missions in Africa. There was often a paternalistic attitude of “I have the solution; let me fix you.” I was invited to join the CPC Missions Steering Team and I can say with confidence that CPC’s approach to missions is about partnership and mutual understanding. CPC identifies people who are finding solutions for their own country and asks, “How can we walk alongside you?” CPCers return from GO! Trips to Africa and talk about the receiving lines that formed to welcome them. I ask them to think about how we treat the strangers we meet. Obviously we’re not going to form receiving lines — that’s so not Minnesotan! But we can all start by paying attention.
kari norman
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ince I was young, there was nothing I wanted more than a big, happy family. I worked in the finance industry in Boston and New York in my 20s, but when my husband and I moved to Minnesota in 2004, I really wanted to start popping out babies. An opportunity fell in my lap to manage the investment portfolio for the Dayton family, which was a great job. But we also focused on building a family. I never imagined I would face a multi-year struggle with infertility and ultimately grieve five miscarriages. By God’s grace, I had twins, Andy and Luke, in 2007. I tried to quit my job twice while I was pregnant with them, but my boss convinced me to continue part time. I figured I’d hang up my cleats once I had another baby, as I was certain I would. In January 2010, I had my fifth miscarriage, our second child with a fatal case of Turner’s Syndrome. It was the hardest loss. We knew we weren’t only saying goodbye to a daughter but to the idea of a bigger family. That same month, John Crosby delivered a sermon focused on a “spiritual
inventory” to examine how we were following Jesus, loving others, and living missionally. I had to give myself some pretty low marks at that point. I didn’t have time to be as intentional as I wanted, and my feelings toward God were growing apathetic. A voice in my head said, “You can turn this ship around, but it’s going to require effort and sacrifice.” What I needed was time and availability. I felt God calling me to quit my job. I even wrote that down.
“Not titles, but testimonies of showing up, of being available in the lives of others.” But I didn’t want to quit my job anymore. It was the part of my life where I received the most affirmation. It also paid really well, such that I made more in three days than my husband did in five, and I had developed an unhealthy self-satisfaction about that. I realized that money and achievement had become my idols. While I was wrestling with whether to leave my job, I had to redo a D&C procedure, because my last miscarried baby
January 2012 Issue
hadn’t been fully removed. It was insult upon injury. A powerful, immobilizing sadness come over me. One morning I went down to Minnehaha Creek with my iPod and the first song that came on was “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.” I replayed it for two hours, weeping. I saw five birds — which I took to be a sign of my five lost children — circle overhead. I felt a surrender and acceptance wash over me. It was then that my wrestling stopped and I said, “Okay, God, Your way, not mine. This has felt like too many goodbyes, but I’ll do it, I’ll say goodbye to this job, too.” A few months after I quit my job, I went for a walk with a woman I esteem greatly, Nan Bertelson. She was telling me she had recently gone to an event where she introduced herself as “Paul’s wife,” because she didn’t have a concise title to describe what she does. God planted a thought in my head, which I repeated to Nan. “No, you’re not just Paul’s wife, you have an important ministry — the ministry of availability.” That phrase, “ministry of availability,” kept popping into my head for several months, and I felt God saying that was what he had for me now, too. Not titles, but testimonies of showing up, of being available in the lives of others.
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“We are rethinking how we can better raise our kids with a servant-like mindset rather than one that is self-serving.”
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Nate Haack
ll of CPC’s sermon series have been powerful, but the “Hope that Endures” series especially hit home for my wife and me. In the hustle and bustle of a young family, we unknowingly were so inwardly-focused on the stresses of our everyday life that we completely missed the forest and only saw each tree in front of us. “Hope that Endures” changed that. We’ve taken a step back to realize how truly blessed we are and how there are so many people who could use a helping hand. We are rethinking how we can better raise our kids with a servant-like mindset rather than one that is self-serving. We want to teach our 2-and 5-year-old children that we can help others in need, even from a long way away. We recently showed them a picture of Godfrey, the boy we are sponsoring from Moyo, Zambia. Now that our 2-year-old daughter is older, we would like to sponsor a girl from the region as well. January 2012 Issue
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faith story: Gary Tygesson “I had to let go of a lot in order to take up the cross and follow Him.”
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y wife, Jane, and I started coming to CPC for our kids’ sake. We never guessed this church would come to be so powerful for us, too. I grew up in a dysfunctional family and lost both parents to cancer. I had always felt a certain emptiness in my life. As I struggled to fill that void, I tried to find significance through achievement in many ways, including school and the practice of law. But I was truly a lost sheep, nibbling away at all the wrong things. In CPC’s Membership Class I heard about a class called “Bible 101.” At that point, I had barely opened the Bible, but “101” sounded accessible. I took that class, and several more after that. It was in a study of Ephesians where I came to really understand God’s great love for each of us. One night after class, I said: “Yes, this is it. I want to have Christ in my heart and be sealed with His love. I want to be God’s adopted child.” To finally recognize God’s love for me — and accept it — was a turning point. This coincided with one of the busiest periods of my life. I was in charge of our worldwide corporate group, which meant 200 lawyers in 17 offices. I worked all the time. But I felt prompted
to join Bible Study Fellowship (BSF). I was blown away to find 500 men studying the Bible on Monday nights instead of watching football! For the next seven years, I attended BSF weekly, and God really protected those nights. I learned so much about the character of God and the power of applying God’s Word to everyday life. Four years ago, I was laid out with a bad back and an ear problem that resulted in vertigo. It was difficult to walk, drive, or do most anything. I believe God used the situation to force me to make changes I wouldn’t otherwise have made. It was time to cease striving and rest in the Lord. What kind of a testimony did I have by being rushed and overworked all the time? I wasn’t going to attract people to Christ by being a busy, crabby Christian. Since then I have been trying to do less of the world’s work and more of the Kingdom’s work. God doesn’t want me to have my head down in papers all the time; He wants me to have my head up so I can see the world He created and engage with the people He puts in my life. I’ve come to realize God put me in a workplace where I can try to bring light and reflect His love. Now my files are becoming less of “Client X, Y, Z,” and more about projects where I hope February 2012 Issue
God can use me. As I have created more margin in my life, new and exciting ministry opportunities have seeped in. I didn’t aspire to be a CPC elder. I figured it would be like seeing how the sausage is made, and then you don’t want to eat sausage anymore. I took the position as a step of faith. Then John Crosby asked me and two former elders to provide leadership in denominational issues. Really? Talk about making sausage! But I have a heart for this church. The brand on the door isn’t ultimately what matters. I’m committed to being part of a God-honoring process around this issue and being a church that is all about Jesus, grace, and living that out missionally. When you come to Christ in your 40s, your hands are full. I had to let go of a lot in order to take up the cross and follow Him. And as I have let go of things I used to hold tightly to, God never fails to fill my hands with something new. I used to live my life in terms of months and years. But God has brought me to the point of focusing on just today. Each day, Jane and I start with prayer together and remind ourselves that “This is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it!”
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At Easter, we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection from the grave. His defeat of death demonstrates that we can have new life in Christ through our relationship with Him. We asked three CPC staff members to share stories of what their lives looked like both before and after Christ. stomach-stapling operation. Honestly, it probably shouldn’t have worked, just like every other thing I’d tried to lose weight. My problem had never been big portions, but that I ate all the time to fill my spiritual hunger. This time, the spiritual void at my core was being filled by Jesus. Over the course of ten months I lost 105 pounds. People noticed a change in me, telling me I walked around with a grin all the time. It wasn’t just because I was losing weight. I was having a spiritual awakening. I was filled with energy for God.
Debbie Ducar Satisfying Spiritual Hunger
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grew up in Philadelphia. When I was young, my family sometimes went to a Presbyterian church, but by middle school, church stopped being part of my life. As I think back, I don’t think I ever heard the gospel preached.
My mom and I had a strained relationship. Most of my life I was overweight. When I was in 5th grade, my mom brought me home for lunch everyday to keep me on a diet. Her heart was in the right place, but whenever you stand out as a kid, you feel ashamed. After my freshman year of college, my mother took me to the doctor to get diet pills. My weight swings continued into adulthood, marriage, motherhood. My husband, Mike, was patient throughout it. I would go up and down by 20 or 30 pounds. After I had my third child, I lost 65 pounds. You would think that’d be the end of the struggle — but I soon gave up and ate more. I realize now I had a spiritual hunger that I was trying to treat as physical hunger. A friend whose life I admired went to Bible Study Fellowship (BSF). Mary’s life seemed to be in control, but she wasn’t doing the controlling. I figured if Mary had such a great life, I should try BSF, too. It never occurred to me I had a spiritual need. BSF was just one more attempt to
lose weight. I hoped someone would say something so inspiring I’d never want to eat again. My first day at BSF they sang this hymn: “When morning gilds the skies, my heart awakening cries: May Jesus Christ be praised!” I thought that was the weirdest thing I’d ever heard. Why would I need to praise Jesus? But for some reason I kept going back to BSF, and, over the next yearand-a-half, I asked Mary a lot of questions about Jesus. I also gained 40 pounds.
“The point of my story is not that I lost weight; the point of my story is that Jesus redeemed me.” In January of 1981, at age 40, I prayed a very simple prayer in my den. I prayed that God would forgive my sins and accept me. I didn’t really know what I meant by that, but I trusted God. I wanted to be in His arms instead of me trying to do it alone. It wasn’t working for me to be in control. I threw myself into studying the Bible, praying. A few months later, I had a March 2012 Issue
The point of my story is not that I lost weight; the point of my story is that Jesus redeemed me. I don’t want to make it sound like you accept Christ and then you lose weight. I still crave food a lot. I need God every day to help me manage that — and to help me with all the areas I struggle to trust Him. But He is with me, even when I fall short. My favorite verse is John 15:5: “I am the vine and you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” I am almost 71 — and I’m still full of energy for God. I feel like I want to make up for the first 40 years of my life when I didn’t know Jesus. I feel so blessed that I didn’t waste any more years. Knowing Him, following Him, sharing Him is my passion. I used to think of my life in terms of “fat years” and “thin years” — and the thin years were the good ones. But now I think of life as two chapters: before Christ and after Christ. When I hear the hymn, “When morning gilds the skies . . . ,” I feel like it’s my birthday. That song marked the beginning of a journey to an incredible new life. It’s my salvation song.
Debbie ducar serves as Director of Women’s Ministry
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John Crosby | Grace & The Gospel
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grew up in a Roman Catholic family, the oldest of four boys born in the span of four-anda-half years. I went to parochial schools from kindergarten through 7th grade. I was an altar boy for a while, but my family wasn’t very religious. As I went into middle school, my parents stopped making me go to church, so I quit. I had a general disaffection with God, picturing Him as stern in a way that made me feel bad about myself. I couldn’t measure up. I thought of Christians as judgmental legalists who thought they had the corner on a truth that could not be known. There was a lot of chaos in my home growing up. Financially, we lived an odd lifestyle. My father lost his job but didn’t tell us how tight money was, draining our savings to keep up the appearance of success (the nice house, etc.). There were parts of me that knew things weren’t secure — like the way we didn’t have money for new clothes. By the time I finished high school, we had to move out of our house, and there was no money for college, retirement, anything. My parents’ drinking also accelerated while I was in middle school. By the time I graduated from high school, my mom was in bad shape. She was a bright woman who graduated valedictorian
of her college class the year I graduated from high school, but she had become a functional alcoholic. My dad was mostly absent by then, working out of state, and when he was back, my parents had a largely upstairs-downstairs relationship.
women. He also challenged me to let go of the pretense I hid behind — of all the ways I was a “wannabe” and pretended to have it more together than I did. He asked, “What happens when people see the real you? Will they still love you?”
The chaos at home shaped my attitudes toward success, marriage, and commitment. And, in the end, that’s where I came to faith. My senior year of high school, I followed a cute cheerleader to Campus Life, a local youth ministry. I wasn’t looking for romance with the girl so much as the challenge of dating a girl who was way too nice for me. She made it clear she wasn’t interested in me, but I kept going to Campus Life because I had a new set of friends and, even more importantly, a relationship with the Campus Life director. He invested in me, answered my questions, and affirmed me. He let me drop by and, while he was washing his car, we would talk about life and God. I wouldn’t say he took the place of my parents, but he became the stable figure I needed. I wanted to be like him.
One night in January 1970, when I was 18 years old, I was closing down the skating rink where I worked. As I looked out at the ice, I said a simple prayer: “God, if you really are there, this is John, and I would love to be part of your family and not feel like I have to pretend anymore.” In that moment, I felt like God saw me. I wouldn’t have said it then, but I had the sense that now God had my back, that He would be with me.
He is exactly nine years to the day older than I, so he would have been 27 when I was 18. I thought he was old because he had just gotten married. The way he talked about his wife and sex was very different than the way I did. He helped me to have a new view of how to treat March 2012 Issue
I went away to school at Western Illinois, with a latent intellectualism and a passionate faith that grew quickly. State school was easy academically, and I wasn’t good enough for the football team, so, after the first year, I transferred to Wheaton to play football. I had to drop out of Wheaton twice because of finances, but with construction jobs, I graduated in four-and-a-half years. Wheaton is where I learned the intellectual underpinnings of what I call the classical “C.S. Lewisan” Mere Christianity. It wasn’t until my junior year at Wheaton that I would describe myself not just as
local church as the best place to minister, where a passion for justice and poverty can combine with the lives of people whom you grow to know and love. I met Laura while serving as a youth pastor in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. Laura laughs that the timing of our meeting was providential. She says I had already dated everybody else, and it took God a long time to straighten me out and loosen her up! We married just after I turned 31. I was attracted to Laura’s passionate commitment of faith and her deep desire to learn. I loved her laughter filled with joy and energy, and I came to love her family, too. Joining Laura’s family gave me a picture of what a family could be like.
a Christian but a whole-hearted follower of Christ. Prior to that, I used the “Jesus words,” but it took time to do more than believe in God. I finally became convinced inside and outside that Christ came to rescue us and die for us and we need to trust in Him. That’s what defines us as followers of Christ. The apostle Paul says we move from the citizenship of darkness into the citizenship of the light. I think we live in both of those worlds all the time, but I spent more time in darkness than a lot of people would have known. You don’t automatically undo the drinking, sex, and language. It took time to move away from the “destroy and conquer” relationships I had with women, those things that not only leave scars, but you can’t just flick off like a switch. I lived in tension all the way through college and even when I joined the staff of Campus Life after college. But it comes back to that moment on the ice rink when I first became assured that no matter what anybody discovered about me, the God of the universe loved me. As I came to Christ, that turned into grace. Not only was I forgiven, but I was loved. For me, the best part of the Bible is the story of the prodigal son where it says, “When he came to his senses, he turned and said, ‘I don’t have to live like this. I can go home.’” I feel that’s my story, too.
At my root, I want to share with people that they can be home in the grace of God no matter how screwed up they are. I’m still pretty screwed up on the inside, but I know I am enormously loved. I moved to Colorado in my mid-twenties to join a political campaign and do a little graduate work in economics. I attended
“I am at root a person beloved by Jesus. We can flourish when we realize it doesn’t depend on us alone.” First Presbyterian Church of Boulder and started to think that maybe instead of being the junior senator from Colorado, I should try to be Chaplain of the Senate. Always grandiose dreams! I attended seminary at Gordon-Conwell in Boston, and one of my professors, Gordon McDonald, taught a course called “The Possibilities of the Parish.” He challenged me to see the March 2012 Issue
We lived in Glen Ellyn for five years and then went to Washington D.C. where I served as the Executive Pastor at National Presbyterian Church. We stayed two years and came to CPC in September of 1989. Being part of this community has been the greatest privilege of our lives. I am delighted to be a pastor, but I’m much more committed to being a good husband, father, and follower of Christ. I recently spoke to the staff about a verse in Titus that talks about being agents who proclaim the faith, and that our aim is to “raise hope.” That’s my call. My hope comes out of a sense that Christ came to rescue us. That hope frees me to see the poor with fresh eyes and to take on things that are not always popular, but to say, “I am at root a person beloved by Jesus.” We can flourish when we realize it doesn’t depend on us alone. If I were to point to a “life verse,” it’d be 1 Corinthians 15:10. When I think that I don’t deserve to be a leader because of the things I’ve done, I think of that verse: “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect.” At the core of the gospel is grace, and I keep coming back to that grace.
John crobsy serves as Senior Pastor
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eight friends, one of whom is Jim Lee [CPC Kids’ Elementary Associate], and that’s how he found God, too. I just love the power of invitation and how it has impacted my story. A friend invited me to church, and here I am working with kids. I invited Jim to church, and now he’s going to seminary.
Van Chounlamountry The Power of Invitation
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y parents are from Laos, and I was born in a refugee camp in a tent in Thailand. My parents wanted a better life for my brother and me, so they waited in the camp to emmigrate to America. We eventually settled in Eden Prairie. Although our family wasn’t devoutly Buddhist, we still observed its holidays. I never had much desire to dive deeper into Buddhism. I just took it for what I saw it as: live a moral lifestyle and hopefully come back in the next lifetime with a better situation. In 9th grade, a friend invited me to Wednesday night small groups at CPC, but I declined. Yet he continued to ask every Wednesday for the next three months: “Van, it’s Wednesday. Want to go to church with me?” Finally I said, “If I go with you once, will you stop asking me?” He agreed. That first night, Kyle Jackson shared that God accepts me no matter how I look or where I come from. Because I’m Asian in a Caucasian environment, I often felt different. So, the fact that this Jesus guy accepted me perked my attention. Then Kyle said, “God loves you no matter what.” I thought, hey, I could use a little extra love in my life. I figured if Jesus didn’t work out, at least I knew I gave Christi-
anity a shot. I went home and decided to pray, not knowing the change that would occur in my life through it. From what I saw in movies I figured I should kneel and fold my hands. “I don’t know You God, but I want to know You. It seems like a great idea. Help me to be less stressed. Love me for who I am.” He’s kept His side of the bargain ever since, which has been a beautiful thing.
“Why me, God? Out of all the boys raised in a Buddhist home, You chose me.” Toward the end of 11th grade, the small group I had joined in 9th grade fell apart because the guys lost interest in church. I said to them, “We have found something amazing! Why wouldn’t you want to share it with the world and be a part of this?” I was told I needed to join a new group, but I said to myself, that’s not how things are going to go down. I asked friends at school the same question I was asked back in 9th grade: “Do you want to come to church with me on Wednesday nights?” I invited March 2012 Issue
When I began college at St. Thomas, I laughed at the idea of how Jesus had “messed up” my future plans. Before Jesus, I wanted to be a doctor because my parents had ingrained in me that I needed a prestigious career. They were living this American dream through my brother and me, and though I appreciated their sacrifices, making a lot of money just wasn’t my main priority. I had been pursuing perfection before I met Jesus. I’m so thankful for the teacher in high school who gave me an A-, because it meant I didn’t have to pursue valedictorian anymore! I realized my grades don’t define me; Jesus defines me. Throughout college, I volunteered at CPC in High School and Kids’ Ministries, and I’ve been working in Kids’ Ministry since I graduated. Going forward, I’m contemplating sticking with ministry, but I’m also open to God calling me to teach or work in chemistry. Being the only Christian in my family is difficult at times. I remember feeling this huge burden to bring them to Christ, but they haven’t been open to it yet. So in the meantime, I show them love through my actions. I understand that it’s God’s timing, because God’s timing was right for me. Many times I’ve asked, “Why me, God? Out of all the boys raised in a Buddhist home, You chose me.” I don’t know why He did, but I’m very thankful. My friends and family see that where I used to pursue perfection, I now pursue God. Van Chounlamountry serves as Elementary Associate
Young Couples Grounding Their Marriages in Christ
e have six couples in our group, with seven children under the age of four. We don’t include our kids in our meeting times because we want to focus first on our foundation in Christ. Our next book is on marriage, which has been a focus from the beginning. We want to prioritize our marriages, because often when couples have children, marriage is put on the back burner. And that’s not good for families.
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We’ve studied books by Tim Keller and John Ortberg. In the summer, our group also has social gatherings, like heading to the State Fair and bowling. They’ve become our date nights. We wanted to periodically step away from our book studies and just have fun together. This is really a great community for us, because we grow together spiritually as well as have a good time. - B e k a h P o l z in
Pictured, left to right: Erik & Bekah Polzin, Chris & Sarah Uwimana, Chad Stewart, Lucas & Jessie Ovans, Stacey Stewart
John Crosby talks a lot about making a crowd into a community. For years, we loved coming to church and hearing the messages, but this small group has made CPC feel more like a community. It goes to John’s point that you need to take the responsibility for the next step to get plugged in. Although I’ve gone to church my entire life, I’d never really had conversations with people about faith and what it means to me. This group has helped me get more comfortable not only talking about my faith but enjoying the process.
My husband and I previously met with men’s or women’s groups, but it felt right to build relationships with other Christian couples as we started out our married life together. - JessIe Ovans
- Chad Stewart
April 2012 Issue
It can be scary or intimidating for a man to join a small group, but after the first few meetings, we all started getting more comfortable. I thought, “Okay, these people aren’t so weird!” We go to each other’s houses and meet their kids and become a part of each other’s lives. When you have faith in common, it’s a gift. - C h r is U wim a n a
From the Coffee Shop to the Bike Trails
April 2012 Issue
“Everyone is welcome. You can peel off after five miles or go as far as you want. If you’re not a biker, then just come for coffee. Contact any of us and we’d love to have you join.” Pictured, left to right: Mike LaHaye, Mike Hotz, Patrick Riedel, Ole Olson, Doug Clark Pictured on opposite page with coffee cup: Steve Mader
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n Saturday mornings, we meet at Starbucks, usually at 7:30AM, and share coffee for 30 minutes or so. Then we bike. I do this for the camaraderie and fellowship, as well as for the scenery. It’s great doing things with other believers who have a similar passion for adventure, the outdoors, fellowship, and supporting each other. The group has definitely made me feel more connected to CPC. We share a lot of fun and laughs together. - O l e O l s o n We bike at a pace that allows great conversation. The biking is great and we love it, but we’re also able just to spend time getting to know each other and talk about our weeks. This is a good group, and I love that it’s not so fast paced we can’t spend time connecting. - P a t r ic k Ri e d e l The thing I like most about this group is that it’s very welcoming, and you can drop in or drop out based on your schedule. Sometimes I need a breather on Saturdays — and sometimes I realize how much it helps to connect, exercise, and experience the day alongside others. - D o ug C l a r k
We also encourage each other to be mission-minded. Some of us have traveled to Haiti, or the Gulf Coast, or Mexico together to serve. That’s the fun part — mixing fun and camaraderie with mission and adventure. - M i k e L a H a y We talk about everything from motorcycles to bicycles to life events. Sometimes we go a little deeper with things happening in our lives. We deepen our relationship with Christ through supporting and encouraging each other. There are a lot of laughs, too. Sometime the guys fill out forms for motorcycle magazines with my wife’s name on it. - S t e v e M a d e r I think the best part about this group is that it’s not church driven, but relationship driven. God has brought these guys together. It’s very cool for me to join in, not as a CPC pastor, but as a fellow community member. And I love seeing how these guys serve others. We call Ole the Good Samaritan because he fixes flat tires for people we pass. - Mike Hotz
April 2012 Issue
Eight Years of Studying the Bible Together
Pictured, left to right: Beth Benedict and Debbie Nelson
“People need to be connected to others. Being accountable and being in touch with others is important for personal and spiritual growth.” I
grew up as a Presbyterian, but my family didn’t always go to church. It just wasn’t a big factor in our lives. But when I moved to Minnesota about 11 years ago for a job, I decided to get connected with a church. CPC has really been a home away from home for me.
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wanted to become a mentor because, though I had been involved in small groups, Sunday school, and women’s groups, I was ready for a different avenue to reach out and give back. One-on-one appealed to me because I’m more of an introvert.
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After hearing about CPC’s Spiritual Mentorship program eight years ago, I decided to sign up. I was matched with Debbie Nelson, and we’ve been meeting weekly ever since. Though Debbie started mentoring me, it now just seems like two friends getting together to have a Bible study.
After my kids were grown and out of the home, I found that I needed to expand my life a little! I definitely never thought that I would be meeting with Beth for eight years. I love that it has evolved, and now we really hold each other accountable. You have someone there with you in your faith walk to ask, “What are the kinds of things I should be doing as a Christian?”
I’ve found that meeting one-on-one has helped me learn more about faith than just sitting down and reading the Bible by myself. Since we started our in-depth studies, I have a much better grasp of the Bible, and my relationship with Christ has really grown.
The thing I have learned about my own walk with God is that you can always be deepened and enriched. I think people should always grow. Who wants to be stuck in a rut? You can never know it all; always learn, deepen, and grow.
Debbie has six grown kids, and I’m single with no children, so when you see it at face value, you might ask, “Do these two people really fit together?” But I think our unique experiences have encouraged us to find common ground in faith.
People need to be connected to others, so whether it’s one-on-one, a small group, or a large group setting, get involved. Being accountable and being in touch with others is important for personal and spiritual growth.
- B e t h B e n e d ict
- D e bbi e N e l s o n April 2012 Issue
A Family Makes Room for One More w
hen we were in the process of buying this house, we would walk by and pray we might use it to honor God. We wanted to open our home to others and specifically prayed somebody could use our extra room downstairs. Literally two weeks after we moved in, Paul Tshihamba [Missions Pastor] made an announcement at church, saying, “Is there anybody who would be willing to open their home to a missions intern for the year?” We looked at each other and knew God meant that for us. We contacted Paul that day, even before we knew who the intern would be. That was a step of faith! But we met Lexi Soldo a few weeks later and knew it’d be a good fit. The best part of the story for us was putting a desire before God, praying about it, and seeing
Him respond right away. Lexi has been a blessing. This whole experience has strengthened our faith and our family. A home is a very private thing and, in Western culture, sometimes negatively so. It’s been good for us to stir things up and get out of our comfort zone. We feel community with Lexi. Inviting her to share life with us has brought joy we wouldn’t have known living privately amongst ourselves. We also want to model to our kids that our home and all we have is more than just ours. When we restrict our belongings just to our family, we limit God’s blessings and harm our own faith. Hopefully our kids are learning the importance of sharing what we have — both our belongings and our lives — with others. - M i k e & M e g a n T a mt e
Pictured above, left to right: Lexi Soldo, Mike Tamte, Megan Tamte, Allison (15) and Ryan (12) Tamte
My first instinct isn’t to give away the things I work hard for, so watching the Tamtes in action has been a huge thing for me. My perception of what generosity looks like has grown because of them. I wouldn’t have learned that living alone. - L e x i S o l d o April 2012 Issue
Filling Up on Pancakes and Prayer Before School A lot of the time Lee will come in with some devotionals for us. If we are having trouble with the kids we lead, Lee gives us advice. We like to listen to what he says. Because of this group I’ve become more disciplined to pray before I touch my food. - An d r e w Allen, 17
Friday mornings are a time to be supportive of each other and help each other live out our faith. - Joe Wood, 17
April 2012 Issue
Bottom row, left to right: Lou Nanne, Joe Wood, Conor Kline, Joel Deutsch Back row, left to right: Andrew Allen, Lee Hanssen, Jack McNeill, Spencer Olson, Sean Satterthwaite, Alex Van Gorp
very other Friday at 7:00AM, these high school guys and I meet at Original Pancake House. They’re all juniors, attend three different high schools, and each leads a group of 8-10 middle school boys at CPC on Wednesday nights. Working in Student Ministries, I can’t build relationships with all 300 middle schoolers who come to CPC, so I’m intentional about empowering the high schoolers who do lead them. I
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Every Friday is different. We always pray and have conversations about what’s going on in our lives. I open up the Bible and we chat about a passage or I share a devotional. Sometimes I bring a Christian book I’m reading and offer quotes for us to discuss. The guys come with ideas, too.
The opportunity to spend time with a mentor like Lee has made me a better leader for the kids I lead. Lee has gone through a lot of what we’ve gone through and he relates to issues we face. Some people think it’s weird I get up so early for breakfast with a 28-year-old guy and kids from different schools. But then I tell them why this is so important to me as part of my faith.
I would say I facilitate the group rather than lead it, because every guy offers his own unique piece of the conversation and brings leadership in different ways. We have fun together, but the conversations get serious, too. It’s taken time, but our group has come to a place where everyone feels safe to share about their lives and talk about significant things. We’ve been meeting for almost two years now. I have seen these guys grow so much. Their walks with the Lord are richer, deeper, and more real. The depth of fellowship and trust has grown immensely. I really believe the Lord is using this group to build each other up in Christ.
It’s good to talk about God outside of church. We also talk about current events and relate them to our faith. - J o e l D e utsc h , 1 7
- S e a n S a tt e r t h w a it e , 1 6
April 2012 Issue
- L e e H a nss e n , Student Ministries
Lee is a real mentor to all of us. He’s living out God’s Word in his life. He sets an example for us of what it means to follow God and live by what Jesus says. Lee lives far away and drives 45 minutes to get here by 7:00AM to meet us. It’s inspiring to see how much he cares. - Alex Van Gorp, 17
The Retired Men Who Help CPC Shine
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’ve been in the A.R.M.S. group (“Active Retired Men Serving”) for about 12 years. The group rose out of a need to keep CPC looking cared for and welcoming to anybody who wanders in. The Facilities staff does wonderful work, but the weekly vacuuming, window washing, dusting, and repair was sometimes difficult to manage. Frank Uvodich, CPC’s Director of Building and Grounds, asked a group of retirees if we could come to CPC on Thursday mornings to help with the maintenance of the building. We have 12 or so dedicated guys who join us every Thursday for three or four hours. We even have a licensed electrician in Tom Brierley, whose work has been very, very helpful. I’m not licensed to do anything, but I don’t think I’ve missed more than a couple meetings in all the years that I’ve been a member of A.R.M.S. Frank Uvodich comes up with our To Do list every week, and I send out a reminder email. We work for a few hours — cleaning and vacuuming the Sanctuary, doing painting or repair, cleaning the carpets of gum, wax, and dirt, scrubbing the kitchens, and more. One guy polishes the brass every week; I spent a long time varnishing the pews. At 10:00AM we have a coffee break together. Sometimes we have speakers, but mostly we just talk about events, sports, politics. We josh each other and talk about our families, friends, and histories. We just love the fellowship. We are a community of guys who have worked together, who like each other, and who have the time to serve because we’re retired. From Frank’s point of view, we’re providing a very valuable service to CPC. I don’t think any group has ever come into the Great Room or Sanctuary without finding it in tiptop condition. We feel committed to CPC, which has been an important part of molding our minds and hearts for Christ. We hope any retired man interested in helping out stops by on Thursday mornings. We’d love to have new members. God has been very good to my wife and me, and CPC is our family. We try to give back and live by the Book. We are sinners, but we’re still studying, learning, serving, grateful to be alive and kicking! I’m sure the guys in A.R.M.S. all feel the same way. In our hearts, we know that God will have the last word. In the Book of Ecclesiastes, what did Solomon say he learned from life? To fear God and keep His commandments. - HER B T EL S HA W
Herb Telshaw, age 87
April 2012 Issue
I volunteer with a.r.m.s. because of the fellowship. It’s fun, and it’s good to give back to the church. - dave carver
I come back every week because I love to serve, and working with the guys is a lot of fun. I retired last April so I’ve been doing it for almost a year. I’ve heard about this group for years and have thought, boy, I want to do that when I retire, because I know they have a lot of fun. - B O B M ELA N DER
I help out because I like being with the guys. It’s therapeutic, and it’s the place to be when you’re my age. - ken hotz
What keeps me coming back every week is the opportunity to give back to our church. It’s always fun. There is some good camaraderie around here, good people, and we do good things for the church. - T O M B R I ERLEY April 2012 Issue
Becoming Better Moms Together
God has called us to fellowship with one another, and this group has meant a lot to me. I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year, and I can’t tell you how much it means to have people praying for you. It’s become a different level of friendship. - Vict o r i a J e nnings
started this Moms of Teens small group in 2004 with just two others. Since then, probably 35 women have been in the group at different times. Moms in our stage of life are in transition a lot as they go back to work or their kids grow out of their teens. My four kids were between 7 and 12 when I started, so not teens yet. But that was perfect because you want tools for raising teens before you need them!
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This group is like having partners in warfare, other moms to be in the trenches with who face similar things. We’re honest about things we’re dealing with and have covered hard topics over the years. It’s different than talking to parents of our kids’ friends, because that might create gossip about our kids if we are too frank. The confidentiality of this group is key. In all these years, I’m not aware of a single slip. We meet twice a month to study a book and pray. The books have covered all sorts of topics — how to say no to our kids, brain development, peer pressure,
affluence, media. We also share things that may not pertain to being a parent but still affect our parenting, like grief or caring for aging parents. I have a prayer journal where I’ve taken notes of our prayer requests each week. Looking back on the entries, it’s amazing to see the creative ways God answers many of them. It’s made me realize how involved in the details God really is.
“The whole group was a support network to me in practical and emotional ways. They were the hands of Christ to me.” In 2006, I had a disastrous year: I was diagnosed with breast cancer, my house flooded, I had emergency surgery for a hernia, and then another surgery because the first one wasn’t done right. There were new moms in our group that year and I remember worrying what they thought of me; I was their leader and everything was falling apart around me! But
April 2012 Issue
Pictured, left to right: Marsella Swanson, Kate Boyer, Ginny Anderson, Victoria Jennings, Ann Satterthwaite, Kathleen Hokemeir-Seim, Colette Prohofsky, Becky Shedd
the whole group was a support network to me in practical and emotional ways. They were the hands of Christ to me. Our focus is not on trying to fix our kids but being better mothers. How do we lead our kids in ways that are honoring to God? How do we help them develop a personal faith? How do we share our beliefs with them, particularly when Christian beliefs vary from general culture? We share ideas for how to teach teens to care for their bodies by not drinking or having premarital sex. And we talk about how to help them learn grace and to accept others. All of us in the group are grateful to be in this together. Attending church is not just about hearing a lecture; it’s about the relationships. There are two other Moms of Teens small groups, and we’d love to start one in the evening. If someone would step forward to help facilitate that, we’ll provide ideas and support. You don’t need a lot to start a group. Three of us met for a year and it was wonderful — and then God grew it bit by bit. - Ann S a tt e r T Hw a it e
Faith story:
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Carolineage manning 12 “I want to share my faith with people — to talk about Jesus and the difference He makes in my life. I’m not afraid to show that I believe.”
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remember praying with my dad to ask Jesus into my heart. About a year ago, I felt like I wanted to do it on my own, too. I lay in my bed and said to God, “You’re my Father, but I feel like I haven’t been a good daughter to You.” I felt something change in my heart. It was like God was talking to me. He said I wasn’t a bad daughter; He said He loved me. I love Jesus. Jesus is the world to me. He taught us what to do: to follow Him. We sin all the time, and He forgives us for the things we do wrong, big and small. He forgave the people who nailed Him to the cross. That’s so huge! He didn’t want to physically die, but He did it to give us life. He’s the world to me because of that. I couldn’t be more grateful. I talk about Jesus a lot with my parents. My mom and dad are a great influence on my faith. They both do Bible Study Fellowship (BSF), and they share what they’re learning with us. My dad reads the Bible to us whenever we can. My mom is a BSF leader and that is a great influence because I see her studying the Bible and working for Jesus. My parents tell my sisters and me that the people we hang out with influence us. It would be really hard to listen to Jesus if you’re surrounded by people who influence you to do bad things. I
like coming to CPC because I can hang out with other people who are trying to follow Jesus. I go to Elevate [CPC’s 6th & 7th grade ministry] on Wednesday nights. I get excited when I come because the leaders form an entryway for us and give us high fives when we run in. We play games, hear a talk, and then go into small groups. The talks are never boring; they have great people teach us about God. I also love the leaders. They are really funny and if I have a hard time they are there for me. They aren’t just like, “Hey, what’s up?” They actually care about me and what is happening in my life.
talking, others who try to help you. I think my favorite disciple is Peter. He was so devoted to Jesus. But He needed Jesus’ forgiveness, too.
I like to read the Bible. Honestly, sometimes it’s hard because parts are confusing. I recently asked one of my leaders about a passage on divorce and she helped me understand it better. I also try to find good and not very confusing spots to read on my own. I think Matthew is good for that. One of my favorite stories is about the man who had a bunch of demons in him and Jesus made the demons go away. I like it because it shows how powerful Jesus is.
I like praying when I’m alone in my bed at night, when it can be just me and God. I talk to Him about my day and, if my friends are having hard times, then I ask Him to help them. I know Jesus is always with me. In stories, you hear people talk about a long-lost brother or sister, or a relative they never got to know but still love. I feel that way about Jesus. I haven’t met Him physically, but He lives in my heart.
I also like to read about Jesus’ disciples. He picked really different people to follow Him. Sometimes I look around at school and can point out people who are like the disciples — some who are good listeners, some who are always
May 2012 Issue
I look for opportunities to talk about Jesus with my friends, both Christians and not. And I want to have helping people be a part of who I am. I want to listen to people’s stories and be there for them. When I heard Rich Stearns [president of World Vision US] speak at CPC, it made me excited to start an orphanage in Africa. I don’t just want to write a check and send it off. I want to be with people and literally help them right there.
My parents gave me a cross necklace for Christmas. I wear it because I love Jesus and I’m proud to be a Christian. Whenever I put it on I feel happy. I want to share my faith with people — to talk about Jesus and the difference He makes in my life. I’m not afraid to show that I believe.
faith story:
colin ageProvart 14 “I can say, ‘Yeah, I believe in Jesus Christ,’ but it’s important to live that out. My goal is to put my identity in Christ, not in being popular or fitting in.”
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started coming to CPC in kindergarten and now I’m in Commitment Class [CPC’s 8th grade ministry]. On Wednesday nights we have a large group talk, then go into our small groups to discuss some questions. When we finish that, we talk about our lives and the highs and lows of our week. In Commitment Class, we did a whole “Identity” series on putting our identity in Christ instead of what people think of us. I also liked our “Walk to the Cross” series because it was powerful to see what Jesus went through for us. We did a “Missions” series about how we don’t have to travel to Africa to do missions but can help in our own backyard. It motivated me to seek out ways to serve here. I feel strongly that faith isn’t just a belief but needs to be a lifestyle. I can say, “Yeah, I believe in Jesus Christ,” but it’s important to live that out. My goal is to put my identity in Christ, not in being popular or fitting in. He calls us all to live our lives to honor God and glorify Him instead of living to impress others. As I grow up, it can be harder to keep my focus on the right things. So on my baseball glove I wrote “AO1,” which stands for “Audience of One.” When I play baseball I can get caught up in who’s watching me or what the coaches think during tryouts. So “AO1” is a little
reminder to focus on my Audience of One, God, more than on others. God wants us to try our hardest, but it’s most important to glorify Him in everything we do.
It helps me to have a good group of solid Christian friends, because we can encourage each other. And I’ve been blessed to have a great family. I have parents and two older sisters and they are all super encouraging. My sisters have done a great job about finding their identities in Christ. Their great examples have pushed me harder. But I realize it’s up to me to make my faith my own. You can’t just inherit your faith from your family. My parents told me I need to believe it for myself. It’s just been hitting me more and more — that’s what I have to do. Following Jesus is a personal decision, not a family decision. On the Commitment Class retreat spring, we did this experience around May 2012 Issue
this Jesus’ Last Supper, where my small group leader washed my feet. It showed me what Jesus did. Not only did God humble Himself to come to our sinful earth, but He came as a servant — not as some big king, ruler, or warrior. He came as a servant and served His disciples by washing their feet. This is our second year with Eric as our small group leader. Eric is not only good at leading us, but he gives us great life lessons. With his high school experience, he gives us advice about things we’re facing in junior high. We are a close small group, but the Commitment Class retreat brought us even closer. I know we can share anything together. In the last few years, I’ve tried to be better about talking about my faith with others. I believe God will give us the courage we need and, when we pray, He’ll have our backs. It’s our job to plant the seed, and it’s God’s job to make it flourish and tug on people’s hearts. There is always more to learn. I once heard someone say, “The more you know Jesus, the more you realize you have more to learn.” As the challenges come, I need to step up my game. I try to focus on the fact that God created me, and I’m trying to live to serve the Creator. It doesn’t really matter what other people think of me.
told me to be open to God’s will, listen deeply, and look for cues.
Jamie Dolynchuk, his wife, Daron, and children, Ella and Mitch
Jamie Dolynchuk Faith Story
Living in the Flow of the Spirit
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e used to live three miles from CPC. Today, we live 9,021 miles away, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where I work for Cargill. But in many ways I have never felt more connected to CPC than now — especially at 6:00AM when I make the 90-minute drive to work. Thanks to the magic of podcasts, I have used this time to listen to every CPC sermon since 2008 — about 200 of them! Each morning I spend time with John, Rich, Deb, Kyle, Ashley, Paul, and Dan, many of whom I never even met when we attended CPC. I chuckle thinking CPC has a small Sanctuary in a Honda Accord in Malaysia! For most of my life, I didn’t know how to connect with God. So I tried harder. I went to church, participated in activities, gave money. But this didn’t make me feel closer to God. If I’m honest, I just felt better about myself. But nothing changed inside of me. I still felt tired, irritable, and empty, even with a beautiful young family and loving wife. The turning point began on July 26, 2008. I was relocating my family to Minneapolis, driving north on Highway 100 to our new home, when I saw CPC from the highway. I simply thought, “We should go there one day.” It was nothing more than that — no divine
calling or thunderbolt, just a small cue from the window of my car with a tired family in the backseat. But that was the beginning of learning to listen to God in new ways. The last few years have taught me that sometimes God whispers in order to make us really listen.
“God calls us to arrange our life around our faith — not the other way around.” A month later, I walked through the doors of CPC and felt at home. God has used this church to teach me that living as a Christian is about more than going to church. God calls us to arrange our life around our faith — not the other way around. One of the most meaningful days of my faith journey was January 29, 2011, when I attended a CPC event to hear [visiting speaker] John Ortberg. He talked about “living in the flow of the Spirit” — simple words that brought a huge change in my spiritual life. At that time, I was nearing the time of a potential change in my career. As I asked advice, John Ortberg told me to renew a conversation with God. John Crosby Summer 2012 Issue
Our move to Malaysia and my deepening trust in God actually started in an unlikely way a year earlier — but filled with cues to grow my faith. A supervisor had a difficult conversation with me about whether I was focusing on others or myself. I remember coming to tears as I spoke about my fears, worries, and a sense I didn’t fit anywhere. But it was also one of the first times I didn’t worry alone. 1 Peter 2:1-3 was an important passage to me at that point in my spiritual journey: “Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.” The decision to move to Malaysia really wasn’t a decision at all. I can honestly say it was the first time in my adult life I placed my full trust in God. Doing so brought a sense of release I’ve never experienced before. At first there were no openings in local schools, but then I found a school run by someone from the same 500-person farming town in Manitoba as my uncle. And the local Presbyterian church has a new minister from Albert Lea, Minnesota, with whom we’ve found great community. Small cues indeed! Our family has grown so much from this move. Our son, who had a difficult few years in Minneapolis, has flourished in this environment. Our daughter has learned lifelong lessons about diversity and poverty. My wife has found purpose in a local orphanage. These are gifts so much more valuable than the move itself. And it started with listening to the will of God — nothing more. Listening to the Spirit, and purposefully trying to live in His flow, has made all the difference for me in my journey. I have to practice it intentionally every single day. I’ve come to love Proverbs 3:5-6 and the first lines of the hymn that say, “Teach me Thy way, O Lord. Help me to walk aright; More by faith, less by sight.”
back to the hospital later and that’s when my body started to shut down.
Dennis Brown Faith Story
a matter of fact. . . & faith
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rowing up on a farm gave me a matter-of-fact way of looking at the world. You are surrounded by life and death all the time. If there’s no rain, you don’t have crops or income. You help animals through childbirth and you also see them die. A couple years of drought help you understand pretty quickly that God is running the show. I had some episodes early in my life that brought me to death’s door — two tractor accidents and a combine accident. The fact I survived those made me realize God’s hand is on my life. I have discussions with God where I say, “You’re in charge, Buddy. If you want me to stay here, I’ll stay, and if not, okay, I understand.” As long as He has me on this earth, it’s my job to try to do my best for Him. Serving the church has always been important to me. I used to be a church pianist and organist. Since my wife, Karen, and I came to CPC in 1973, I’ve taught Sunday school and been on the deacon and elder boards, including chairing property and personnel. My name is among the committee members listed on floorboards beneath the current Sanctuary. I oversaw buying the church vans and developing the Memorial Prayer Garden. I have found joy in getting things done for CPC.
It’s harder for me to be on the receiving end. I’ve been learning more about that since 2005, when I was diagnosed with an incurable cancer, multiple myeloma. My health has forced Karen and me to learn how to ask for, and willingly receive, help. This has been our single, biggest lesson as a couple. The care I’ve received from others has made a wonderful difference in my recovery.
I still never doubted God was in control. If He wanted me to stay here, then I would, and if He didn’t, I knew where I was going. It has enriched my living years to be matter-of-fact about my dying years. Since 2009, I’ve been in very aggressive, constant chemotherapy. Since my cancer is incurable, all treatments are just attempts to extend my life. I’ve done all the so-called “accepted treatments,” so I’m on an experimental program cooked up at the Mayo Clinic. One of the components in my chemo today is a derivative of mustard gas. That’s how far back in the chemotherapy game we are in trying to find something that will work, because I’ve been through all the modern stuff.
Admitting we need help, and seeing how much it means to people to serve, has deepened our faith and relationships. CPC has done a beautiful job in fostering these kinds of relationships.
I have a shop where I restore old tractors. It gives my brain something to focus on other than myself, and I get physical therapy like I never would at the YMCA. I still serve at CPC when I can, helping with projects that have a beginning and an end. I can’t expose myself to large crowds since my immunity is so low. You’ll see me slide into church for the Saturday night service, arriving late and leaving early so I don’t have many germs to breathe.
Multiple myeloma is a blood disease; they don’t know what causes it or how to solve it. In 2006, I had a stem cell transplant. That process took me to the very door of death. They give you such high doses of chemo your body goes into shock; you have no immunity left, no strength, nothing. The night I was at my worst was CPC’s 50th anniversary celebration: May 7, 2006. I wanted Karen to go because this church has been so important to us. She came
I live day to day. With my kind of cancer, I go backwards faster than I progress. It’s taught me not to sweat the small stuff. And I hold tight to faith that God knows best. I’ve been through illness with people who don’t have faith, and it’s horrid. Prayer is extremely important, too. My prayers these days are mostly asking God to look after my family. I don’t ask for much for myself. Each day He gives me, I try to do my best for Him.
“It has enriched my living years to be matter-of-fact about my dying years.”
Summer 2012 Issue
Find full issues of CPC Life and learn more about our community and what we believe at www.cpconline.org/cpclife.
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