January/February 2017 testimony
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017 STORIES
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FALLING INTO GOD'S ARMS—From addiction and brokenness to recovery and healing
You could say that for Patrick Shea the way up was down. Patrick had hit bottom in more ways than one the night he woke up broken and bleeding at the foot of a metal staircase. Here is the account of his journey to recovery and healing. In his words, it is a story of falling into the arms of God. Read more.
SO WHAT'S YOUR STORY?—The life-changing power of a simple story
Carmen Kampman has a story she loves to tell. She believes you do too. She also believes our stories are for telling, especially the story of when Jesus showed up in our lives. Here is hers. She tells it in the hope that it will inspire you to tell your simple story to someone around you who needs to hear it. [Full content available to subscribers.]
SEVEN QUESTIONS FOR: FLORENCE JUMA—Discovering God’s purpose in the cracks of life
From her call to pastoral ministry in Kenya to her current work as a spiritual care educator and author, Florence Juma’s journey has offered surprises at every turn. Her story is too large to be captured on a page, but her answers to this issue’s Seven Questions will give you a fascinating glimpse into the life of one of our PAOC family members. Read more.
NEW BEGINNING CHURCH—An Anglophone/Francophone journey unfolds
The 2016 gift book sent to each PAOC credential holder is entitled A Shared Vision. It is a collection of some of the many stories of church revitalization and multiplication unfolding throughout our Fellowship. We think these stories are worth celebrating, so we have decided to include a few of them in testimony in the coming year with the hope that they will both inform and inspire. [Full content available to subscribers.]
NOT THE TIME FOR MUSINGS—Confessions of a theologian on prayer
Marty Mittelstadt has done his fair share of musing. As a longtime theologian he is trained to question and analyze things in order to better understand them. But a few months ago, Marty became a confessing theologian and began praying what he calls the “audacious prayer of a friend.” Here is the reason why. [Full content available to subscribers.]
DIANA'S STORY—Trusting God when life doesn’t go as planned
Most of us like to have a plan. It can be as simple as what to do with a day off, or as detailed as the rest of our life. Diana Clifford’s plan was as big as her life, and it seemed to be moving along quite well. Then a doctor’s diagnosis changed everything—except her faith in God’s plan for her life. [Full content available to subscribers.]
YOUR
Our Stories
MISSION CANADA: REACHING OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS—Using Urban Art to Share the Message of the Kingdom
If you are wanting to make an impact that goes beyond the walls of your church building and takes you out into the community, allow Connie Jakab, an urban Mission Canada worker who is reaching into the hip-hop community, to share three simple steps you can take to begin engaging those around you. Read more.
INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS: MIDDLE EAST SCHOLARS PROGRAM—Helping Students to Hope and Dream Again
The Middle East Scholars Program was intended to assist war-affected Syrian youth to get on a path to an academic career at the university level through provision of English language studies. Learn from Shelley Kauffeldt, a PAOC global worker in Lithuania, about the challenges that the students deal with in their lives and the hope and opportunities offered to them through this program. Read more.
ERDO: REBUILDING HAITI—An Update on the Impact of Your Generosity
Ruins, rubble and chaos—this was the reality of Haiti after a massive earthquake struck the country on January 12, 2010. More than 200,000 people were killed, much of the capital city was destroyed, and 2.3 million individuals were left homeless. Through the faithful support of the PAOC Fellowship, ERDO was able to respond strategically and promptly to the disaster. What originally began as crisis response soon transformed into long-term community development to help Haitians rebuild their communities. Read more.
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