Your Story « The Hole In Our Gospel

Share your own story about how you have chosen to reach outside your comfort zone to serve the poor — and how it has changed your life.

this book absolutely changed our direction

JANUARY 16, 2012

We read this book as part of our Xmas holiday reading in 2010. It has absolutely put us back on the path to realising we have always had 'Missions' on our hearts. We have long encouraged our 2 children to be involved in Missions and last year when Simon went bankrupt and we lost all our assets and couldn't get any of the jobs we applied for, God dumped into our lap a wonderful opportunity of doing Mission Building in the Solomons. After spending all our 30 years of marriage working hard to save for our retirement, everything was taken away from us and now we are most fulfilled without a home of our own living in a rent-free bedsit underneath a local Pastor's house in Honiara. We have both read Rich's books twice and have lost count how many of this book we have purchased and given away. The challenge to everyone who reads this book is 'what are you going to do about it?' It is wonderful living and serving God in a 3rd world country and we wouldn't change any of it! We look forward to the next adventure God has for us after the current project is finished. Thank you Rich for sharing your story.
LIZ & SIMON EVANS

Profound Impact

DECEMBER 16, 2011

Dear Richard,
My church, Ingomar United Methodist in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, just
completed a church wide small group study of your book, "The Hole in Our
Gospel".
It has had a profound effect on me personally, as well as our
congregation.
We have committed to raising funds for clean water to be sent to Kenya
and Hondouras,two countries in which our members serve. I personally
participated in a ten day medical mission in Hounduras this year. It was
an incredible experience.
In addition, I personally am sending to World Vision a gift of $100.00
to be used however your organization sees fit.
This Christmas Eve, our pastor has decided that the offering taken in
all four services that day will be used to provide clean water
throughout the world.
As I said, your book had a profound impact upon me, especially after
serving in a third world country this year.
My response, beside sponsoring a family in Honduras, is to contact as
many churches as I can in the North Hills of Pittsburgh where I live,
and challenge them to also do a church wide study of your book, hoping
that at least some will partner with us to give to the need of clean
water for the world.
I also was deeply moved by the story of God's call upn your life.
May He richly bless you for your obedience, passion and dedication.
Blessings upon you and your family this Christmas and in His New Year.
Sincerely,
Jan Lamm

JAN LAMM

"There's a Drought" - helping one song at a time

OCTOBER 19, 2011

A few months ago I was sitting at home with a cup of coffee, enjoying the fresh spring air and lilacs in bloom. The comfort of that afternoon was suspended by a shocking message in my email inbox from World Vision warning: “There’s a Drought Threatening the Lives of 7 Million People in the Horn of Africa.” I contemplated how much water I brush in, swim in, drink, shower, flush and water flowers with - and then I wrote the song “There’s a Drought” - a song that would become the title track to a musical collaboration to help drought victims.

Our small group at church had read “The Hole in Our Gospel.” We wrestled with the questions it raises, like “Who is my neighbor?” and “What does God expect of us?”. The
email “There’s a drought...” and the challenges from Richard Stearns’ book became lyrics in the song. World Vision’s warning inspired the song. The song inspired the cd project, and a community is coming together to share the story of this suffering and to help!

Today as the drought impacts over 14 million people, it is hard to imagine how something as simple as access to water, something I totally take for granted, can be the difference between life and death for millions upon millions of people. Fully aware that the problems in our world are both sophisticated and simple, the project “There’s a Drought” is a small response to the enormous catastrophe being referred to as “The worst humanitarian situation in the world today.”

KIm Albrecht
albrecht.kim@gmail.com

There’s a Drought (facebook)
KIM ALBRECHT

After The Rain; The Son Shines

OCTOBER 18, 2011

OCTOBER 17, 2011

After a mostly satisfying career of Clinical Nurse Examiner and Health Service Specialist
I realize that I was living in a fantasy world. I am a sinner saved only by God unmerited favor. I have trespassed most of the Ten Commandments. I have not kept my own promises to God. Because all people have sinned, we have fallen short of God's glory. And all of us consciously come short of that glory Romans 3:23. This is my life’ story and testament. Life you see is what happens while we wait for retirement? Or what happens when we wait for anything, really. And anything could be; when the kids grow up, when my finances get better and of course my favorite saying when I have more time. Which explains my acronym of a word that I practically coined, it is “Busy; or B= binded U=under, S= Satan’s Y=Yolk.

I wanted to run away. Early retirement offered an escape. Today one world call it the
need to start living my Bucket List life.” Retirement offered me that escape. Like most retirees, I found myself excited and a little restless about the possibilities for the future. When I took inventory of my life. I ended my marriage and set out to live my life as I saw fit. I had considered my marriage of thirty-one years a disappointment. And for years I felt trapped inside my marriage by financial bondages. Also by the lack of (what I considered intimate-connection) and closer family ties. Yes. I did walked away from what seemed to be a reasonably happy marriage (I would regret that decision later). Ask yourself, how could a Sunday school teacher leave her “Deacon” husband, and the father of her children? And walk away l her work as Church Newsletter Editor? Because, I was
living in a fantasy life. Yet I still ask myself why and that question remains un-answered to this day. I am sure I got married way too young and for the wrong reason.

How could I put all my Church experiences, life experiences, professional career and Faith fit into my plan for self discovery, fun filled days and romantic nights. Or an active retired life style? It was in the middle of thinking about my post-retirement future that things began to change. Could I weave all my great loves together? I thought to myself, yes but only if you, father God be with me every day and every step of the way. I enjoy talking about the bible, being with people, being active and talking to strangers and seeing my God in action. But that is getting ahead of the transforming events.

The first eye opening self-realization was when I was age 14. I read the bible from cover and got baptized. But strangely and to my surprise when I was ducked into that cold church pool, I came up as the same person I was before getting dumped. I had anticipated an epiphany. But it wasn’t to be. Then in 1970 I witnessed what a true example of a Christian is. My younger sister demonstrated by her actions of what a real Christian was. She paid tithe, attended bible study, walked the Christian every day. But during that time I was too “BUSY” working and rearing my kids. But I was immediately moved by my younger sister life. For the first time in my life, I began to understand the magnitude of what being Christian meant.

After my own face-to-face personal experience with God I had my own proof and experience. I realize self-actualization and I got that Epiphany some people only long for. It was my real life personal experience (or my wrestling with God, like Jacob at the river Jabbok where Jacob wrestled with the Angel). It happened first during my walk to Emmaus and again a few years later at a Church conference in South Florida. Those two events gave me a direct “awe and wow” experience that some preachers have? It was then that I knew for sure that God talked to my directly. I felt it many times, but always thought it was in my own mind. But this time I had a visual, auditory, kinetic and cognitive experience. I then knew for sure that God is real. It changed me forever.

After my Walk to Emmaus {http://upperroom.org/emmaus/whatis/}I became totally devoted to my faith’ I became convicted of the necessity of service as well as tithe and offerings. I wanted to let my light shine as an active follower of Jesus Christ not just a believer. I started an online outreach Ministry “http://www.survivals.org/.” I use Facebook and all resources available to tell others of my experiences with God and my walk with Christ. And I began feeding street people as they ask for handouts at traffic lights. Today, I can say God is good all the time and my life experiences have made me who I am today. I am truly an example of a sinner saved by Grace. Today I still enjoy my title; God’s ambassador. I enjoy talking about the bible, being with people, being active and talking to strangers and seeing my God in action. It’s now all about God’ Grace, awesome love and being with people. I enjoy serving God too. Although” The pay isn’t too good, the retirement is out of this world. For years now, I’ve been more involved in my church and I’m investing my time, energy and money. I praise God and God’s awesome love.

TERAZZAH

A Change of Plans

OCTOBER 11, 2011

My story, of course, begins with Richard Stearns’ powerhouse book, The Hole in Our Gospel. Upon finishing it for the first time, I found myself shedding tears of shame on behalf of the Church – Lazarus is indeed lying at our gate, and like the rich man, we the Church are passing him by. As the words “this is going to ruin my life” were torn from me, I wondered at them. I wanted to spread this amazing book’s message throughout the broader Church; our plans for paying down the mortgage, travel, and a recent investment in a career change (teaching first graders) were suddenly at risk.

In response to a persistent whisper from within, I wrote a summary of the The Hole in Our Gospel to share with pastors whom I knew were too busy to read the book. As plans to distribute the summary began to dominate my thinking, I shared the summary with Mr. Stearns, who was kind enough to read, comment, and correct it while encouraging me in my plans. Ideas, confirmations, unlooked for resources and support continued to place themselves in my path, and my enthusiasm for the project grew almost daily.

I was nearing a decision point. I had found teaching to be very rewarding, but a jealous taskmaster, allowing little time for other pursuits. Yet the project I was envisioning was clearly going to demand a significant investment in time and energy. Our gracious Lord gently led me to a place where I could see what I had to do.
I gave notice of intent to resign my teaching position at year-end on a Thursday afternoon. Early the very next morning, I met with a group of men who had been reading the book and wanted to hear about the project; they spontaneously decided to purchase books for their entire congregation! Did I mention that our Lord is very gracious in his leadings and confirmations?

The result of all this is mendingthehole.org – the sole purpose of this site, and its companion email campaign, is to point church leaders to The Hole in Our Gospel by providing a great discount, a preview to spur interest, and a collection of free resources to help pastors in using this book with their congregations. Over the last three months, our small team of email volunteers has introduced 43 churches and 759 new readers to this transforming book. And this with only a small handful of volunteers.... imagine what we could do with 20 volunteers! Information about how you can get involved is on the site.

Far from “ruining my life,” God’s call to me through Mr. Stearns’ book has been a blessing and a joy. If you are reading this story, you already know for yourself the transforming power of The Hole in Our Gospel. Please pray that our gracious Lord touches the heart of each new person who reads it, moving them to joyful action that furthers the advance of His kingdom on earth.

Wayne Snyder
Fort Collins, Colorado, USA

WAYNE SNYDER

Greater Bean is Born

OCTOBER 04, 2011

After a full satisfying career of firefighting in the suburbs of Cleveland, OH, I decided it was time to retire. Like most retirees, I found myself excited and a little restless about the possibilities for the future. I took inventory of my life.
I love God.
I love the church.
I love to pray and see God in action.
I love talking and being with people.
How could I weave all these great loves together? For over 30 years, I’ve been involved in my local church and invested my time and money there. It was in the middle of thinking about my future (one can do a lot of thinking while sitting around) that I picked up the best seller, Hole In Our Gospel by Richard Stern, CEO of Worldvision.
This is when things began to change. I was immediately moved by the book. For the first time in my life, I began to understand the magnitude of the orphan problem in Central Africa and comprehended the seriousness of the AIDS pandemic. As a father of four children, I felt compassion for the families and began to imagine the pain and yearning that fathers all over Africa must be feeling as they try to raise their own families in dangerous and challenging circumstances.
As I finished the book, I realized I was living in a fantasy world- a Disney World- while the orphans of Central Africa were living in what can only be appropriately described as hell. What were these orphaned children going to do? What would become of them? What was a retired middle class firefighter from Cleveland, Ohio, supposed to do?
Then I felt something deep in my soul, in a new way I had never experienced before; I was completely broken--not broken over my own trivial problems or my boring schedule--but broken over the massive need in Central Africa. So I responded the only way I knew how- on my knees, crying, and asking God, “God, what could I do? What do you want me to do? I’ll do whatever… but I can’t do it without you.” And then...the answer.
Like most retirees, I had taken up a new hobby: roasting coffee. It was only after I had prayed and asked God what I should do that the picture became clear - coffee and Africa. Why not sell this delicious, home roasted coffee, and give away the profits to orphans in Central Africa? Presto! Greater Bean was born!
Today, I spend my days roasting a superb coffee, selling it, and supporting orphans. Greater Bean’s mission and vision is to support as many orphans in Central Africa, which coffee sales will support. So what will you do? Will you join the vision? Will you enjoy a little coffee for a cause? This story isn’t over. We are just beginning. Join the story. Join Greater Bean!

CHRIS MEEKINS