Archive for July, 2009
Dance teacher
Posted by Stories | Filed under faith stimulus
Upon receiving our envelope, my husband and I knew not to give it to who we “thought” it should go to. I ended up carrying it around for three weeks. One night we were praying and asking God “Who should this go to?” when our daughter’s dance teacher came into my mind. We finally felt we had been told who to give it to. Over the next two weeks we tried to get in touch with her without success. When we were ready to give up, thinking maybe we weren’t supposed to give it to her after all, she contacted us. God planned it so that we would be traveling through her town on our way to a family reunion. However, when we stopped she wasn’t home. We felt discouraged, for sure that we were missing the right “name.” After the reunion we traveled through her town once again, and I said,”Let’s try one more time.” I walked up her front porch and rang the door bell. She was shocked to see me. I told her that I was there because of God. She looked at me with tears in her eyes. I told her that God wanted her to know that he knew her name, and he sent me to tell her that. I gave her the envelope. It was $50, and God blessed us with the ability to add another $40. She stepped back and said, “No way. I can’t accept this.” I hugged her, we both cried, and I told her it wasn’t my money–it was God’s, and he loves you. She went on to tell me of her medical struggles this past year and of feeling alone. Praise God I was able to deliver the message to her that she will NEVER be alone!
– Heather F.
Helped a stranger through God
Posted by Stories | Filed under faith stimulus
My husband and I prayed to ask God to show us who needed to get the envelope we received from the church. I kept the envelope in my purse waiting for God to tell me who to give this to. One day (three weeks later) I took my grandaughter to a park and started talking to a young woman and her two year old son. Shortly after we started talking she told me that her five year old son was tragically killed in an accident last October (I remember hearing about it on the news). She said that she was recently laid off from her job and that things were really hard on her financially and emotionally right now. Chills ran through my body as she talked about her sadness. I asked her if she had faith in God. She said she really hadn’t until this happened, but was still trying to understand everything. She was also mad at God. I told her that God loved her, and he was taking care of her son. I felt very strongly that she was the one God wanted me to give the envelope to. I gave her the envelope and told her that this was from God and he wanted me to give this to her. She hugged me, cried and thanked me. My husband would have liked to have been a part of this event, but I felt the Holy Spirit moving me to give this to her right then and there. I did not know the amount in the envelope and she did not open it in front of me. The kids continued to play for a while, and we talked a little more about God and life. I am hopeful that she felt God’s love and will turn to him to help her through her journey. She is in my thoughts and prayers daily.
– Glenda H.
Helping in Walmart
Posted by Stories | Filed under faith stimulus
I had been carrying the envelope with me for a couple of weeks, praying and waiting for God to nudge me who do give it to. Do I give it to someone I know? Do I give it to my waitress at a restaurant? I knew God would let me know when and who. My daughter and I were at Walmart on University, somewhere we don’t usually find ourselves. This particular Walmart carries a product the other locations don’t. As we were standing in line to make our purchase we noticed a mother in front of us searching in her purse for more money to cover her total. As she searched she came up empty and asked the clerk to take some of the items off. I felt a small nudge but dismissed it. I didn’t want this to be from me I wanted it to be from God. I continued to look at the items around the register, all the while I am noticing more items being taken off. Just then I felt more of a jerk than a nudge, to GIVE THE ENVELOPE TO HER! So I swallowed and said “ok Lord!” I took the envelope out of my purse and explained to the young mother that I had been waiting for God to let me know when to use this and He is telling me this is the time. She opened it and gasped. I had chosen not to open the envelope and wasn’t sure how much was in it. She pulled out $50 and it covered her entire bill and she had some to spare. After she gathered herself from the shock of everything, she turned and introduced herself and shook my hand and gave a sincere thanks. I simply told her to not thank me thank God, He told me to give it to you! We then paid for our items and went on our way. GOD IS GOOD!
– Melissa F.
Sent to Michigan
Posted by Stories | Filed under faith stimulus
When we first received the Faith Stimulus money, both my husband and I had different ideas of who should get the money. We needed to pray and ask for God to show us who He wanted the money to go to. Our grown daughter lives in Michigan and has a friend and co-worker who has been having health problems which resulted in her not being able to work on a regular basis. She and her husband lost their home and are having to move. Our daughter told me that Samantha and her husband needed money for the move, and I felt that this was who we should give the envelope to. I told my husband what I was thinking but asked him to pray about it as we wanted it to go to God’s choice, not ours. Ultimately, we came to the same decision and decided that we would match the amount and send the stimulus funds to Samantha. When I told my daughter (who was having her own health issues), she was so pleased that we were doing this for her friend. I have mailed the money to Michigan and am anxious to see how God uses this to make an impression on Samantha and her family and perhaps draw them to a relationship with Christ.– Brian and Kristy B.
Helped an unemployed father and his family
Posted by Stories | Filed under faith stimulus
We were inspired to know that we at Northwoods were doing our own stimulus to benefit people in the area, allowing those who wanted to participate to share in the blessings. My wife picked up an envelope two weeks ago. On the way out of church and on our way to lunch we were both thinking of who we should share it with. We decided what ever was in the envelope we would match it. We opened it up to to find $50.00 so we added $50.00 more to total $100.00.
The family we were led to share it with had an unemployed husband. As we later talked to the husband, we asked what pressing need they had at that time. He said their lawn mower had broken down and they had four acres of grass to mow. We asked him if he knew how much it might cost, but he said he didn’t know. We then shared about what Northwoods was doing and what they wanted to share in the way of money to help in some way. As we talked more with him about the need we wondered if it might just cost $100 dollars to repair the mower, he still didn’t know.
We were out of town later the next week when we received a phone call from the father telling us that they got the mower fixed. I asked him how much was the bill, and he said $250. In a joking way, my response was we got the wrong envelope. That’s when he told me when the real cost was $100. Now that wasn’t a surprise to us!
Thank you, Northwoods, for putting feet and action to the Gospel, especially in these difficult times even for churches.
– Jerry & Marie H.
Miracles happen!
Posted by Stories | Filed under faith stimulus
I knew immediately who to give the envelope to. Her husband is disabled and they are without health insurance. She has found a doctor who will treat her, but she is required by his office to pay a monthly premium. She had forgotten to pay this month and she was down to their last few dollars. I mailed her the envelope like I promised, and she opened to find the $50.00 she needed to pay her premium. She said, “It was definitely a God moment because we didn’t have the $50.00″. God is working miracles through Northwoods! Thank you!
– Camy M.
My friend’s sister
Posted by Stories | Filed under faith stimulus
Initially I felt I knew who to give the faith stimulus to but as the week went on and I prayed about it my very good friend’s sister came to my heart and stayed. I have only seen this girl a few times. I got together with my friend and shared that God wanted me to give this to her sister. She started crying and shared with me her sister had lost her job and was really down. She had been praying for something good to happen for her sister. I also have now invited her to join me at Northwoods and she said YES! PRAISE GOD!
– Eileen F.
Helped a restaurant worker
Posted by Stories | Filed under faith stimulus
Well, after church on Sunday my family and I went out to eat at the Steak N’ Shake, and it was when we were a little after we ordered our food that I felt a urge to give our waitress the money. So I told her about what our church was doing and she told me she went to that church before but couldn’t go because she was having a hard time with money issues. Then I thought what a coincidence that I had felt that and she really needed it in that time of her life. God works in mysterious ways! God bless you all!
– Mark S.
Helped Adopt A Block family
Posted by Stories | Filed under faith stimulus
Phil Newton, Executive Director for South Side Mission, sensed during a recent Adopt A Block that visit one of the families we serve was hurting. We made a special visit to give then one of the stimulus gifts. We found out the lady of the house, Adrian, had recently come through South Side Mission’s New Promise Center, a shelter for homeless women and children. Adrian told us she had praying for some financial help to pay her rent, and this was an answer to her prayers. The whole family gathered around and prayed. They wanted to know more about the church that had helped them. They plan to come for a visit.
– Larry McMillan
Expired car sticker purchased
Posted by kirt.manuel | Filed under faith stimulus
Peg and Dave S. are dear friends of mine, and I was over at their condo explaining to them the financial problems I was facing and that a big, unexpected one had developed. Peg handed me the envelope and explained what your church has done. I used the money to get the car sticker back on since it had been expired since April.
Thank you so much. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.
– Lisa H.
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