According to God’s Timing

As we begin to reach out to friends and family, we are confronted with many questions: will they be open to studying the scriptures?  Will they be able to confront important issues in their life?  Can I adequately convey God’s love to them?  If so, how long before they decide to make Jesus their Lord and Savior?  The answers: God knows!

During the middle of 2007, myself, Marcus Wallace, and some singles began to study the Bible with a young man named Branden Bensen.  He was introduced to the church by Jeff Henderson, a friend from his high school days.  He began to attend church, get integrated into the singles, and study God’s word.  He was inspired by what he saw and read, but didn’t feel like he was ready to make a decision at the time.

Over the next year, he attended occasionally, and kept in good contact with the church through many relationships in the singles ministry.  In the Spring of 2008, he decided to come back and begin studying the Bible again in earnest.  God  blessed Branden with a Princeton education, a good job, and a supportive family.  Still, he realized all of that meant nothing without a saving relationship with God.  After months of studying and changing, Branden was baptized on October 27 in the icy waters of Puget Sound!

That was one night nobody will forget.  Surrounded by friends and family, Branden pledged his life to God.  It was incredible to hear touching words of gratitude from his father, as well as Branden expressing thanks to God and his friends for showing him patience on his journey to a relationship with God.

As Branden was baptized by his close friends Derek Scholz and Todd Stickler, we were all reminded that God’s plan of evangelism includes our tireless effort in reaching out to people and showing them the scriptures.  We should pray earnestly for them, serve them, and show them unconditional love.  However, we can’t control the timing of people making decisions to turn their life over to God.  I was reminded of this when I asked Branden the question, “why did you decide to become a Christian now and not last year?”  His answer: “I feel like now I was ready to make the decision to make Jesus my Lord.”  I think God knew that!

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Sunday - November 9, 2008

Daren Overstreet preaches: “The Vastness of God”

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A Miracle for the Shockley Family

Bill and Michelle Shockley have been members of the South Sound Church of Christ for nearly eight years.  Like so many young married couples, they began to earnestly pray for God to allow them to bring children into this world and start a family.  Not long into this process, it became clear having children on their own might not be a part of that plan.  After wrestling with many different options, they courageously decided to volunteer to be a “foster-adopt” family.

They lovingly brought a little boy into their family – an energetic young guy named Stone!  Thirteen months after his birth, following a lot of prayer and many legal proceedings, he officially became their son, as they were able to legally adopt him.  Not long after their adoption of Stone, they welcomed a beautiful newborn girl into their home.  Her name was Arrie.  She came from a troubled family that struggled to be unified on just what exactly would be the best long-term solution for her.  Would one of Aries’ relatives step up and adopt her?  As she fought to get her life together, would her birth mother want her back?  As the Shockley family met Aries’ needs in the warmth and security of their own home, they also weren’t sure how her future would play out.

As they prayed and patiently waited, the legal process became witheringly slow and frustrating.  Forced to wait, sometimes long periods with little or no news, the Shockley’s struggled to see how God was working.  It seemed that when news did come, it was discouraging.  After two long years, they felt no closer to resolution than when they started.  Concerned about Arrie and their family on many fronts, they solicited the prayers and encouragement of the disciples in the church.  Friends and family prayed and put the future of Arrie into God’s hands.  It was impossible for us to believe that Arrie would be forced to leave the only family she knew.  Finally, nearly three years after taking her in, the Shockley’s were notified this last week that they were cleared to officially begin the process of adopting Arrie!

The Lord has blessed the Shockley family.  He has worked powerfully to bring an end to a long, tense, bittersweet process.   He has blessed Stone with a little sister for life.  He has enriched so many of us with the joy of watching Arrie grow up into a sweet little girl.  Perhaps most importantly, He has helped all of us grow in our faith, clearly showing us the power of prayer and perseverance.  To Him be the glory!

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