How Everyday People Live Out Their Christian Faith

Illustrating how men and women display their love for Jesus in their day-to-day lives.
Little things that may have an eternal impact. Might these stories motivate you to use your talents?
  • Children Overcoming Obstacles

    TRUSTING GOD’S PLAN

    It’s amazing how we can plan out everything in our lives to the smallest of details. But so often, everything we planned can evaporate in just one day or a single moment. Our wedding day was scheduled for October, but Uncle Sam had a different plan. On July 31st, Duane was drafted into the military and was deployed to Vietnam. We were reeling and wondering, now what? We got in our car and drove from Minnesota to Milbank, South Dakota where we found someone to open the courthouse since it was a Saturday and it was closed. We were able to get in and grab our marriage license. We then found a justice of the peace at 6 pm to perform our five-minute wedding ceremony. Later that night, we ate at the local drive-in, then drove back home after one hectic wedding day. Did I ever imagine I would be married last minute in a courthouse in Milbank, South Dakota? No, of course not. But the memories we have to look back on and cherish will forever be in our hearts because we trusted God would see us through an unexpected obstacle in our lives. Fast forward a couple years, and we were expecting our first child. However, after a couple months, I ended up in the hospital having a miscarriage. We had a second miscarriage before our first daughter was born in January of 1968. After the first two miscarriages, we had three children in three years. All in all, we've now been married almost 60 years and have six amazing children, 18 wonderful… Read More

    April 17, 2024
  • Labor Overcoming Obstacles Unique Ministries

    THE OLIVE PRESS

    Have you ever had a “lightbulb” moment? For me, these moments literally have a golden glow about them in my memories. These are the moments I know are from God. These moments are where He lights the path and leads the way. The Olive Press, my business born out of a “lightbulb” moment, has its own kind of glow. This is the kind of glow you can feel as soon as you walk in the door, and it’s because of the people. This kind of glow is the kind that only comes from Jesus changing your life. And in His grace, He has grown The Olive Press to be a vessel for that change. As a rule, The Olive Press hires exclusively women who need us. Women who come to us from addiction, abuse and even prison. We provide them with a work environment committed to Christ and to new life. We begin each morning with a devotional, stopping at any second in our jam-packed days to answer questions about Jesus or to pray with one another. We play worship music all day long. We show them that restoration is simply what God does. Who He is. This business started as an Etsy shop with seven listings, and one wholesale customer. Now, by the goodness of God, we exist as a storefront, an Etsy shop with over 1000 listings, and 100+ wholesale customers. We are able to support not only our beautiful employees but other local ministries as well. Portions of profits go to aid victims of sex trafficking and purchase essential supplies… Read More

    April 10, 2024
  • Hospital Overcoming Obstacles Unique Ministries

    A SCAR IS A STORY

    I fought a long battle with skin cancer which has left me with significant scars on my face after several difficult surgeries. I was first diagnosed in the middle of the pandemic and right before Christmas. I had just left my doctor’s office and went to my church to drop off some Christmas gifts. As I entered the door, I unexpectedly broke down and started to cry, telling my friends who worked there I was just diagnosed with cancer. Immediately, they stopped what they were doing and began to pray over me. In that moment, I could feel God’s healing energy transferred through prayer. I felt humbled and strengthened. When I was scared, I found peace in Isaiah 41:10: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” As my weeks of surgeries and treatments went on, I was blessed to have been paired with a team of amazing doctors. Right before a major surgery, I saw God. He was the most beautiful being. He reached out to hold my hand, and I immediately knew everything was going to be okay. When I opened my eyes, I said “Wow. I woke up because of Him.” Once I was cancer free, I began to volunteer at the Cancer Center. Many patients do not have a family or support system to help them. My reason to be there is to bring hope to others. All it requires is time. I am here… Read More

    April 3, 2024
  • Hospital Overcoming Obstacles Prayer

    GLORIFYING GOD IN DIFFICULT TIMES

    The story of Job resonates with me. He was put through some very difficult and gut-wrenching trials. But Job’s faith saw him through those times. I feel like I’m in a somewhat similar situation right now. I’m going through an excruciating cancer battle which has me wondering how long I may have on earth. And a number of family members are going through very hard struggles. I have three children. My oldest daughter has Huntington’s Disease which affects her nervous system; I’m seeing her life being taken away from her, and watching my granddaughter lose her mom. I promised my daughter that I would be there for her and would take care of her, but that has since changed with my cancer, and my parents have had to step in to help her. My teenage son has autism and sensory needs. He is sensitive to crowds and loud noises, so I’ve homeschooled him since the third grade. The only completely healthy child is my middle daughter—she’s married to her childhood sweetheart, and has dedicated her life to working with children with autism. In the past three months, my dad has undergone heart surgery twice: once unexpectedly to remove two blockages and the other time for a valve replacement. My sister recently found out she will have to undergo her second brain surgery to remove a non-cancerous tumor that has continued to grow for the past seven years. But these trials have made my faith in the Lord so much stronger. The more bad news I get, the closer I get to God. I was saved when I… Read More

    March 20, 2024
  • Overcoming Obstacles Unique Ministries Verbalizing the Gospel

    HELPING VICTIMS OF SEX TRAFFICKING

    Kainos is a Chrisitan, non-profit organization in Stuttgart, Germany that helps victims of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation find freedom, hope and a new life. Kainos is Greek meaning "completely new”, inspired from 2 Corinthians 5:17: Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! It is our desire to help give women in prostitution the confidence, hope and belief in the living God so they can exchange a life of captivity for freedom. We believe this offer of new life is for everyone, and we want to take this message of love and freedom in Christ to some of the darkest places in Germany. Prostitution is legal in Germany, and Germany is known as the Brothel of Europe, an international hotspot of sex trafficking. Brothels are filled with women from around the world, especially Romania, Bulgaria, Columbia and the Dominican Republic. Even though prostitution is legal, it is difficult to regulate, creating a dark place where abuse and atrocities of all kinds are committed every day. It is estimated that 150,000 people in Germany are currently living in forced prostitution and sexual exploitation. However that number only reflects the lack of reporting; most organizations agree that the number could be 3-4 times more. One can go to prison on accounts of rape or physical abuse. However, in Germany, all of that takes place in the brothels. This injustice needs to stop. Our organization was founded in 2014 by my former pastor’s wife. God had put this ministry on her… Read More

    March 13, 2024
  • Overcoming Obstacles

    TURNING FROM A LIFE OF PROSTITUTION

    While Kenya is a beautiful country, about 8.9 million Kenyans live on less than $2 a day. This can lead many to desperate situations, like Priscar Onduso. She is a woman who fell into sin and despair, only to receive a source of unlikely hope when she needed it most. Priscar Onduso was born in Mombasa County in Kenya, in a town called Voi. She was the firstborn of a family of four, and her parents were impoverished with no stability in work. Though she went to church, she did not know salvation. When her mom was diagnosed with tuberculosis, her life became even harder, and she would often miss school, doing a difficult laundry job instead to earn money. Then, unfortunately, her dad was involved in an accident, so she had to fully drop out of school and continue to do laundry to support her family. She finally gained a job as a waitress, but was still living in poverty. Priscar then fell into a dangerous relationship, crushing her innocence. This man led her into a terrible lifestyle of low self-esteem, drinking, and dancing. Desperate for love, acceptance, and money, Priscar became involved in prostitution. This lifestyle, unfortunately, had severe consequences, and one day, she went to the doctor because she was feeling sick. It turns out she had a severe infection due to a sexually transmitted infection, and it was a serious situation. She was ashamed, and she did not know where to turn. That is when she met Peter in the hospital. He is a member of the Schools Family Ministry,… Read More

    March 6, 2024

Browse all categories

Adoption/Foster Care 34
Children 150
Church Activities 57
Financial Help 18
Food 39
Homeless 32
Hospital 38
Labor 155
Loss Of Loved One 32
Loving Your Neighbor 63
Mentoring 48
Mission Work 48
Other 12
Overcoming Obstacles 91
Prayer 52
Prison Ministry 10
Recovery 35
Senior Citizens 21
Special Needs 44
Unique Ministries 158
Verbalizing the Gospel 67
Submit a Story
Listen To Our Podcast
Support The Christian Heart
Sign Up For Our Inspiring Newsletter
X