Category: Faith Stories

Faith Stories: Reflections on Faithful Marriage

To go along with the Valentine’s Day celebration, we asked a few couples how their faith has been a part of their long marriages. Here is what two couples had to say. We will feature another couple’s story in a future email.

“A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:12b)

This Ecclesiastes saying symbolizes our marriage with the three cords being God, Bill and Joyce. The love of God and the love of and for each other intertwine to form the foundation of our 50 years of marriage. We have tried to put God first in our lives from the time we met at the Wesley Foundation in college, through the many moves for Bill’s work where we always found a church to become actively involved in, to the years of working together in the Walk to Emmaus and Cursillo. We continue to join with God each night when we read the Upper Room and Bible together, when we hold hands during prayers (even in church) and as we support each other in pursuit of our individual spiritual journeys. God, Bill and Joyce make a strong cord.

Bill and Joyce Perry

We credit our long and successful marriage to a strong faith in God, a deep love for each other and respect both of and for each other. We are both fortunate to have been involved in churches all our lives. As founding members, we have been involved in many activities at St. John’s United Methodist Church on a regular basis since its beginning. This has placed us among people who love God and support and participate in activities that result in strong family relationships. We are thankful for our 60 years of marriage, the rearing of three sons, the love of God in our lives and the influence that the people of St. John’s has had on us for more than 50 years.

Tom and Martha Burch

Faith Stories: God Sighting

Two men . . . Thomas and John . . . they could have been boyhood friends, playing ball after school and swimming together in the summertime. Maybe they attended the same church and married their childhood sweethearts. They could have grown into adults with successful careers and built strong marriages with happy children and grandchildren.

One, however, became the classic stereotype of a homeless man and comes into the Shepherd’s Market regularly. Thomas’ physical appearance is appalling and his personal hygiene makes it unpleasant for those around him. He has ridden his bike again and expects to somehow load it with all of his food bags and peddle home. Home is now an old house which is far better than the homeless condition in which he once lived. Thomas has severe medical issues, psychological problems, a failed marriage and two children.

The other man, John, works regularly at the Shepherd’s Market. He fits one of the other stereotypes our culture has created. He is successful, well-respected, and he has a large and loving family. John is healthy, active, and leads the life of a true Christian man. Spending many hours weekly at the market, John mingles comfortably among the clients as he has come to know many of their stories.

God was sighted in action that day! Of course, John would not allow Thomas to try to put all of those groceries on his bike. He simply took a break, loaded all of Thomas’ groceries plus his bike onto his truck and took him home. John did what few people would do! He did not judge Thomas, blaming him for his misfortunes, but instead, he acted selflessly in helping a fellow human being.

God sightings are common at The Shepherd’s Market!

Faith Stories: The Hunger Banquet

“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink.”- Matthew 25:35

Theresa and I were setting up a booth inside the LSU union one evening to participate in “The Hunger Banquet,” a program put on by Volunteer LSU to raise awareness of the relational problem of poverty and hunger. I will admit that I was a reluctant participant, as we were going on our 16th straight evening of not being home. While we were setting up, I was watching the students getting the room ready, laughing and enjoying themselves while they worked. After a while people started to arrive and were assigned areas to sit. There were three groups, the wealthy, the middle class and the poor. The wealthy tables were served a very nice catered meal. The middle class tables had a buffet meal where you serve yourself. The poor were sitting on the floor, and received a small cup of rice with dirty (coffee grounds) water. While everyone was eating, a Sociology professor from LSU got up and gave many interesting statistics on hunger and poverty. After she was finished, Theresa spoke to the group on what the Shepherd’s Market was and how we help those who are hungry. After she spoke, the crowd was very quiet. It was obvious that they were all amazed at the numbers of families and children that are served each month.

Then a man raised his hand and was handed a microphone. He said that he was not there to speak, but after hearing Theresa, he felt he needed to say something. He said that he came from a middle class upbringing, had a college degree and was probably considered upper middle class. He has three children, and his wife is a stay-at-home mom. He was involved in an accident and was out of work for several months with very little income. His family was struggling to keep up with their monthly expenses and was having trouble buying groceries to feed the family. Someone told them about the Shepherd’s Market, and that they helped anyone who came for food. He and his wife came to St. John’s on a pantry day and went through the intake process to “shop” at the Shepherd’s Market. His family came for food for six months before they were back on their feet and able to support themselves.

When the banquet was over, several students came to our table and asked how they could help serve. Some of these students are still coming to help on Monday evenings. The funny thing about the encounter with this man was that he recognized Theresa and me before the banquet even started. Theresa had handled his intake paperwork the day they came to the pantry for the first time. He recognized me from an encounter we had at the Dollar Tree on Burbank Drive. I had gone one evening to purchase food for the pantry and was loading the food into the pickup truck. He saw my Shepherd’s Market shirt, and came over to help me load the food into the truck. When we finished, I shook his hand and said, “Thank you; you don’t know how much you helped me because of my bad back.” He said, “I saw your shirt and knew that I needed to help. The Shepherd’s Market fed my family when we needed food.”

This experience has made me realize that the work that St. John’s is doing through the Shepherd’s Market is positively and powerfully impacting our community. I pray that God continues to help us be a “feeding people.”

Jim Sandifer

Faith Stories: A Second Chance

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. — Ezekiel 36:26

I sat alone in the pew that Sunday morning. The congregants were just beginning to trickle in. The sanctuary – beautifully adorned with Advent greenery – was filled with the brilliant light of a clear, crisp December day. I was focusing on the altar when the thought came to me: If things had gone differently yesterday, the minister could shortly be announcing my untimely death to my friends and beloved community of faith. In that moment, I realized fully for the first time that I had been given a second chance.

The day before, I had left Columbia, Missouri, well before dawn, after visiting with my husband’s elderly mother. The dark interstate was wet and slick with a cold steady rain. In that part of Missouri, the road runs through rather hilly terrain. Every few miles, I was carefully passing one by one what seemed like a fleet of Fed-Ex double long trucks. As I passed one truck, the road went up a slight hill. I completed the pass and pulled in front of the truck just before the hill’s crest. Immediately, over the crest a car sped past in the left lane just next to me going the wrong way. The headlights coming toward me on my side of the interstate startled and confused me. But when the full realization came that I had avoided a head-on collision by mere yards, I began to shake. A little way up the road, I had to pull over to the shoulder because I was shaking so violently. I cried with relief and I reverently prayed – grateful to have been saved from a terrible accident but also terrified for the people in that speeding car.

What an awakening! Literally, a second chance at life!

We all are given a second chance at life – every morning that we awake to a new day. Every dawn brings new possibilities, fresh opportunities to live out our faith in the daily actions of our lives. Probably the most important realization for me was the need to focus on living my life with gratitude – despite the many challenges and obstacles that I contend with. To live fully and enthusiastically and to spend our days serving God and loving our neighbors – that’s what it’s all about! I keep a little button on the vanity next to my vitamins. I read it every morning, and its message has sustained me through days of joy and grief, excitement and pain. It reads simply: ‘Every day is a gift from God.’ 

Amen!!

Betty Schroeder 

Faith Stories: Ask with Boldness

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7

It was another busy evening in the pantry. A client, who had been through already, came through again with her friend. She had missed out on eggs the first time around, and she wanted to make sure she was able to get some now that we were restocked. It was very confusing going through with the two of them, with her telling her friend what she could and could not get and what she didn’t get before.

When we came to the peanut butter and jelly, she was upset that her friend couldn’t get both. We moved on, and she mentioned the peanut butter at least one other time. I just kept moving on, knowing we still had more clients to take through the pantry.

As they were about to leave, she embraced and blessed me. The words above from Matthew flooded my thoughts, and of course, I went back for the peanut butter.

She was not afraid to be bold in her requests to me, even though she didn’t know me. Shouldn’t I also be unafraid to boldly, continually present my requests to God whose love is steadfast and who desires a relationship with me?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the Shepherd’s Market – for the healing, feeding and fellowship that it brings. Amen.

Cindy Adams

Faith Stories: To Really See

Then turning to the disciples he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.” -Luke 10: 23-24

A beautifully dressed woman walked into St. John’s gym. Several times she had driven past the electronic sign in front of St. John’s advertising the Shepherd’s Market. She told me, “I saw the sign about the Food Pantry, and I think it’s a great thing. I can’t offer to volunteer here because of my job, but I was wondering if I could help by giving you some money?” After she gave me a $100 check, she turned to leave. Thinking that this encounter should go a little deeper, I said “If you have a few minutes, I’d love to give you a tour of the pantry.” She accepted my offer and I showed her around and told her some of the stories of the clients that had come to the Shepherd’s Market.

After the short tour, she looked at me sheepishly and said, “I am embarrassed I only gave you $100. I wish I had given more. If I had another check with me, I’d give you more now, but I will commit to giving regularly.” After this woman took the time to really see, she realized that God was at work in this place. It is a reminder to all of us to really see what is around us. Where is God at work in our lives? Maybe in places we haven’t taken the time to really examine.

Deirdre’ Halliburton 

Faith Stories: In the Shadow of His Wings

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed. Psalm 57:1

Coyotes moved into my neighborhood a year ago. It’s totally understandable. Construction of multiple groups of townhouses has taken up the wild lands that used to stretch from Highland Road to the Mississippi. The coyotes have nowhere to roam, to hunt for their natural prey. Consequently, the neighborhood cats and small dogs have become the accidental prey.

My cat Sammy, wise in her 17 years of life, smells the coyotes during our daily predawn forays into the backyard and down the driveway to fill the birdfeeders. I have noticed her doing a remarkable thing. In the driveway that is well-lit by a street light, Sammy always stands in my shadow, thereby making herself less visible to any terrifying predator that may be lurking. Sammy seeks the protection of my shadow, knowing that there she will find security and safety.

Like the Psalmist, I often find myself dwelling in the shadow of God’s wings. During times of fear and uncertainty, during my bouts with unremitting grief, I find solace in abiding in the protective love and peace of God’s open arms. And when these times of trial and terror pass, I find myself once again singing joyfully in the shadow of His wings.

Prayer: O God of strength, God of tenderness, we thank you for loving us in our weakness and for welcoming us into the shadow of your wings. Help us, as we abide with you, to recover our strength and passion so that we might continue to serve you and be your ambassadors to all people.

Betty Schroeder 

Faith Stories: The Lord’s Table

A couple years ago I worked with curriculum specialists at the Malawi Institute of Education in Zomba, Malawi, for a couple of weeks. A colleague there asked me if I was a Christian, and I said, yes–a Methodist. She told me she was of another Christian denomination and invited me to her church the following Sunday. I accepted, and we went together to her surprisingly traditional, large, beautiful red brick church with a steeple, wide doors and stained glass windows in the colonial capitol of Malawi.

The service was so familiar to ours that I felt right at home–until, that is, my friend leaned over and told me that in a few minutes, when they started preparing for communion, I would have to leave because I wasn’t a member of that denomination.

Sure enough, after a few minutes the preacher announced, “Those who need to leave should leave now.” I was surprised, but other cultures are always full of surprises, and I took it as a kind of “culture shock,” more interesting than upsetting.

As it turned out, I wasn’t the only one to leave–anyone receiving counseling from the preacher also had to leave. We the Undeserving went to the parking lot, and everyone except me left. I was alone by our car under a tree, where there was a delightful breeze. I listened to the prayers in preparation for communion, and heard the shuffle of people going to the altar. Then, at the conclusion, over a thousand Africans raised their voices and with all their hearts and souls sang “Amazing Grace.” Standing in that parking lot, I felt truly blessed.

Now, during our communion service, every time I hear the words that everyone is invited and this is not a Methodist table but the Lord’s Table, I remember, and I don’t take it for granted any longer.

Lynn Evans