A Missio Dei story from Jeanette

I love to hear how God is changing lives at CVC and using our people as missionaries cleverly disguised...

Below is the latest Missio Dei story. Enjoy!

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I am a somewhat newer Christian at CVC. I have learned so much of what is really important. 

The first is that I am supposed to be doing something with the talents that God gave me. The second is that I have had a lot of suffering in my childhood and early adult life and that God can use what I have learned through my suffering to help others in their suffering. 

I heard Pastor Rick say to "never let your suffering go in vain." I took this to heart and focused my efforts on inner city children with Village Grace Mission Center. 

I met a child there that had cerebral palsy. He is 6 and was not in a wheelchair, but in an old broken umbrella stroller. His knees were bruised. His hands and feet were dirty. This child touched my heart because I also have a special needs child.

I was able to meet his mother and found out her husband had recently been incarcerated and left her alone to raise 6 children. I could see in her eyes that depression was beginning to set in. She said, "It was always just us two... me and him." I said, "No. It was you three - your husband, you, and Jesus right by your side."

I immediately asked his mother if I could bring the little boy a jogging stroller I no longer needed. I also noticed they did not have carpet in the home they were renting. Carpet is safer for a boy with cerebral palsy. 

I thought, "There has to be a way the system can provide for this child. So I tried to get aid for the family, but the under-funded system does not always reach those in need.

So, I started to tell his story to co-workers, business owners, friends, and family. I never realized how many people that I come in contact with daily. People reached out in ways that I thought would be unimaginable. Even my children went door-to-door selling angel ornaments for donations. 

We were able to provide the family with over $3,000 in donations! They now have pillows, blankets, rugs, special needs equipment, a bike, clothes, and food. 

I had everyone who donated put their hand prints on a canvas to make up angel wings. I then painted an angel and wrote, "Millers Angels - 2011- Jesus' helping hands - providing God's promises."

We dropped off all of the presents on Christmas morning. My children were so excited. I think this family and experience has not only changed me, but it forever changed the way we will celebrate Jesus’s birthday. 

When we were driving home on I-77 after delivering the gifts, there was a Christmas morning rainbow right over the highway. I couldn’t believe it. It was God's Promise...