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Our Leadership
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One of the things that we highly value is listening to one another's stories. In particular, we love to hear about how people are encountering Jesus in their day-to-day lives. This might be in big ways...but it also happens most often in smaller ways (sometimes in ways that are really easy to miss.)
On this page you will find a treasure trove of such stories! May your own walk with Jesus be deeply encouraged and nourished by what you read here.
If you are interested in sharing some of your story here, please email us to let us know!
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Karen
The first anniversary of my wife’s death was in October this year. As of this writing, we have been married for 45 years, 3 months and 6 days. Honestly it’s only been 45 years, 3 months, 5 days and I don’t know how many hours. Karen was my best friend. She understood me, even my weirdness of how I think about some things. Karen was my helper. She was willing to sit in the car or truck and do whatever I asked, as I would be either under the hood or under the car itself, work
Steve Pettijohn
2 days ago3 min read
The Awesomeness of God
This season, I’ve been thinking about Alexander more than usual. Photos from years gone by pop up on my phone, and suddenly I’m back in those final weeks of his life — the sweetness of who he was for 13 beautiful years, and the ache of watching him prepare to go home to Jesus. Both memories live side by side: the joy of his life and the pain of his leaving. “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted” (Psalm 34:18), and I feel that deeply right now. A few days ago was especially
Angelina Wainhouse
Dec 32 min read
Giving Thanks
Growing up, one of my fondest memories was Thanksgiving at Grandma Charlotte’s house. It was an annual event for family and friends, and Grandma’s house was the center of it all. Our immediate and extended family could be anywhere from sixteen to twenty-some people, including Great Grandpa Bill, aunts, uncles and cousins, and some adopted relatives. Ironically, this was a small post-war, two-bedroom house in Wedgewood that couldn’t have been larger than 1,200 square feet.
Bob Witty
Nov 273 min read
Listening is a Gift
A few years ago, I took a class on Call. I realized more of what “Call” meant and what gifts God gave me. I always knew I was called to work with children, but I also learned that listening to God is a gift! Years ago, a month and a half into my marriage, I got sick with a stomach flu that never ended. I was pregnant. That had not been in our five-year plan, as we were 21 at the time, and we were scared, but we knew God had a plan. I was sick my entire pregnancy and was then
Andrea Nelson
Nov 192 min read
Life Lessons Part 6
After leaving the Jehovah's Witnesses ( see Life Lessons Part 5 ), I became the object of scandal and cruel gossip. After all, I was the golden boy that made his mother and family proud. It was hard not living up to their expectations. It was something I had done all my life and I didn’t know any different. The shunning and sometimes unnecessary rudeness hurt deeply. I often questioned my decision to leave the Witnesses and wondered whether I should have done something d
Bob Witty
Nov 143 min read
A Halloween to Remember
I’ve been telling people for years, “Halloween isn’t my holiday.” Then I found myself in a Raggedy Ann costume three times in one Halloween week! I even attended a performance of Dracula! What’s up with that? Turns out, doing something together with my brothers and sisters at Creekside is a powerful draw. Dracula came first - the one and only reason to go was to see Tracy dance. She was great! Pastor Julie set up the first Raggedy instance with Trunk or Treat. Kent signe
Jani James
Nov 52 min read
Life Lessons Part 5
I’m 17 years old. I’m working part-time for Alderwood Manor Electric. I’m enjoying high school. I am very active as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. I have an extended family with grandparents and cousins. Life is good. But at that time, I didn’t really have a direction in life. I felt like I was marking time. One weekend, I went to our Kingdom Hall (what we called church). They were presenting a special home movie about the many missionaries of Jehovah’s Witnesses around
Bob Witty
Oct 304 min read
Time in a Bottle
“If I could save time in a bottle the first thing that I’d like to do is to save every day ‘til eternity passes away just to spend them with you…” Timeless words, right? Ten years before I got married, I listened to that popular Jim Croce song on the radio while studying in my college dorm room. In 1972 the lyrics to Time in a Bottle were poignant, but at the time I had no idea how prophetic they would be in years to come. Milestone moments in my life would accentuate t
Greg Asimakoupoulos
Oct 233 min read
Called Away
Pastor Mark’s departure is top of mind right now. That leads me to reflect on a call “away” that occurred in Kent’s life and mine. Kent experienced a call “to” involvement in a country in Central Asia. It began as co-ministry with national churches and foreign mission partners, including our church at the time, which had “adopted” Azerbaijan, as was the style in the ‘90s. Kent wasn’t a missionary. But, he was drawn by God to use his skills for the good of the country. Tho
Jani James
Oct 163 min read
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