The Rose of Sharon and Sharron

Sharron Wilbanks (front)
 Sharon White Guthrie (back)

I recently told my husband Adam that Sharon and Sharron are two of the most courageous ladies that I have ever encountered. Whenever I think about their ministry, my spirit leaps with excitement and then salutes with honor as I behold Christ in their yielded vessels. They are heroines of the Christian faith and I wanted to share their story. When I read Hebrews 11, I picture their smiling faces framed in gold throughout eternity, with Abraham on their right and Rahab on their left. 

I don’t believe it is a coincidence that they are both named “Sharon.” I have always enjoyed researching the meanings of names. Their names and testimonies are spelled slightly different—“Sharon White Guthrie” and “Sharron Wilbanks,” but the fragrance of glory that lingers is undeniably the same.

It is notable that the Rose of Sharon grows and thrives in dry, harsh, and unfavorable conditions. The flower is showcased in Song of Solomon 2:1-2, “I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys. As a lily among brambles, so is my love among the young women.” As you read their testimonies, you will be amazed how the crushed petals of their broken lives blossomed into a garden more fruitful and beautiful than they could have imagined. Only through Jesus.

They have two ministries that they oversee…Fruits of the Spirit Ministry and Fruits Safe Haven. Yes…Fruits…not Fruit…I believe the “s” is placed there to represent “Sharon” and “Sharron.” How it all starts with one life…then two…then multiplied fruit.

Genesis 50:20, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”

Sharon White Guthrie

Jesus delivered you both from very painful situations... Can you share some details about your testimony?

~Sharon White Guthrie’s Story~

“Well? Where do I begin…somewhere at the beginning…I remember painting my nails, I remember police at the door…I remember an ambulance siren and thinking ‘Why has it been on so long?’…I remember being stirred back to life vaguely as I was pushed down the hall on a gurney at UAB hospital in Birmingham, Alabama…I remember hearing someone say, “You have bleeding on the brain…

I woke up sometime later…about 12 hours later...before I realized what was really happening or at least trying to piece together what was really happening…the nurse informed me I was in the trauma unit…as I looked at my body hooked with cords to a machine, I figured I must have been hurt pretty badly. I had the worst headache imaginable…I have had migraines, but this was worse than any migraine I have ever experienced. 

Why was I hurting everywhere? She told me I had bleeding on the brain, a broken nose, a broken eye socket, a broken shoulder, two very black eyes. She told me not to worry about the red blood in my eyes because it would get better. They had my bed elevated into a partial upright position because they didn’t want me lying flat. My body kept sliding down the bed, when I tried to pull myself up, I discovered my entire right side of my body was throbbing with pain. 

I glanced down at my right side, and all the way from my waist down was one continuous abrasion…my skin was raw, red, and skinned…scratches on my legs, stomach and side…some so deep I have scars. The nurse came in to pack a laceration under my breast…and that’s when I saw for the first time the 2” x 6” laceration on my breast and all the scratches and small cuts above and all over my breast.

I was a complete mess. Depressed. Hurting. Disoriented.

The nurse asked about my children so I could call them. I didn’t even remember what their phone numbers were…for that matter I couldn’t even remember what city or state either one of them lived in…the reality of what was happening flashed through my mind and consumed me. I was scared and felt all alone. They informed me I was brought in as a result of a domestic violence case. The nurse asked me if I remember being in Princeton Hospital…No, I did not remember that at all.  I found out later, I had been to a local hospital of where I lived, transferred to Princeton, transferred to UAB trauma unit. Really?!? Three different ambulance rides…three different hospitals…a multitude of xrays, cat scans, tests, and I didn't even remember......I later learned that I was admitted into the hospital under the unidentifiable name of “JANE DOE.”

I looked over to the side of my bed and noticed my personal items…the nurse told me they had to cut my clothes and that is all I had with me…in addition to my cut-up clothes, there was the cell phone that belonged to my boyfriend…my abuser. How and why did I have HIS cell phone? I couldn’t remember anything at all…WHAT happened and WHY? I was searching for answers but I was in too much pain to try to figure it out.

I had about ten neurosurgeons that came in every day along with orthopedic surgeons, plastic surgeons, and even a neuropsychiatrist. As I started healing, the question I had about the cell phone was answered.

God saved my life that night from certain death.

You have to understand this to see the details of the miracle that occurred that providential night. We (meaning my abuser and I) were in his FEMA unit, an approximate 8’x35’ mobile home…emergency quarters…the door was locked. I never could get the door unlocked to get out before he could get to me, when he flipped his lid. I was told that two calls were made to the Police Department that night…one they believed was from me and one from the neighbor. I have no memory of the call, but knowing how I never had room to get away from my abuser, couldn't unlock the door and get out before he grabbed me. 

How did I possibly make a phone call without him getting to me in that small of a place? I know God protected me with His angels to enable me make that phone call. This was a MIRACLE. Praise the LORD!

I spent that entire week just talking to God. I told God the decisions I had made in my life up to this point were not very good…they landed me in a hospital in the trauma unit. My family didn't have a clue where I was and I didn't know how to get in touch with them. I should have been scared, lonely, and terrified, I should have been worried about where I would live, instead I had the most peaceful feeling, free of any worrying…thank you GOD for being with me. 

We talked all week and I STILL don't make any of my decisions…I pray and God shows me the way. My sweet caring doctors dismissed me from the hospital to a safe place that has helped me to re-start my life, accomplish goals, get all the documents such as IDs etc... to begin again. I found out after I had lived there a while, that I was outside of their service area…how I was admitted there remains a mystery (I know how…THANK YOU LORD).

The recovery I experienced is nothing short miraculous…a testimony of God’s healing power. If you research traumatic brain injuries, you will find that the longer a brain trauma patient is unconscious, the lower the probability is of living and those that do live typically experience severe brain damage and severe disability. I had three life-threatening injuries and was unconscious for approximately four days…it is amazing that I comprehend as well as I do. The only residual problems I experience include seizures, extremity tremors in my hands, short-term memory loss, loss of balance, and headaches. It is truly a miracle that I am alive and not in a vegetative state. I can walk, talk, comprehend…GLORY TO GOD!

Ladies, Gentlemen, ANYBODY in a situation like this, I'm here if you need to talk, I've been there and bought the t-shirt, maybe...just maybe…with God’s help, we can help you.

Sharon Wilbanks

~Sharon Wilbanks’ Story~

I was in a marriage relationship for 28 years…he never hit me, but was mentally abusive. I always wanted to stay married and never thought about leaving. 

One Sunday right after church, I was shocked when he announced that our marriage was over. He moved out of the bedroom and slept in another room for two months. During that time, I begged him to talk to me and tell me what was going on. I wanted to fix our marriage, but he refused to talk to me. 

One morning, I woke up to find out he was gone with a couple of our neighbors. He returned a couple of hours later and announced he was getting ready to go hunting behind our house with the neighbor. 

Again, I pleaded with him to talk, but he said he had more important things to do. I asked him what was more important than our marriage? He would not answer me.

Finally, around 10pm he returned from hunting. I found some papers out of the desk in the office and was looking over them. When he saw me reading the papers, he went into a rage and tore up the yard with his truck. He mowed over our plants, and then aimed his truck at the front door. I thought he was going to hit me because I was standing by the front door watching him. That is when I called 911.

He got out of the truck and pointed a gun at my face and said he was going to blow my head off. He handled his guns & knives well…he collected them and was a skilled hunter and fisherman...I just knew my life was over that night…I was sobbing and asked him to please put the gun down. I still had 911 on the phone as I was slowly backing up…I could not say anything because I did not know what his next move would be, but they could hear everything he was saying to me. 

I somehow managed to run into the bedroom but I had my nightgown on. I hid in the closet…I was standing behind the closet door, and tried to put on clothes (I did not want to leave in my night gown!)...911 kept telling me to get out of the house....at this point I was trapped and could not get away. When he finally walked out of the room, I grabbed whatever I could reach in the closet, changed clothes very quickly and darted out of the house to head to the police department. As I pulled out of the driveway, there were several police cars surrounding our house. One of the police officers followed me to a motel to make sure I was okay. 

I stayed in a motel for about a month until I could obtain a restraining order against him and relocate back into my home. I was so scared for a very long time…I did not feel safe…I installed a security camera in the house. My case was held up in the court process for five long years but we are finally divorced. It was not easy…I even had a nervous breakdown from all the stress, but the Lord picked me back up and now I walk in the power of His strength.

I thank God for saving me that night…that’s when it all started. My goal is to help others going through abuse…ladies, men, and children who are trapped in a corner. Domestic abuse is real, folks. I want to reach as many people as I can for the Lord through His strength.

What is the mission of Fruits of the Spirit Ministry and Fruits Safe Haven?

Fruits of The Spirit Ministry is a Facebook Group created to spread the Word of God as He commissions us in Mark 16:15, "And He said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel to the whole creation..." 

We want to SHOUT the Gospel from the rooftops...Fruits is an exhortation ministry…its purpose is to uplift individuals in all sorts of situations and to get members to post and interact...to lift the fallen and spread an encouraging word...We want to band together prayer warriors to meditate…

We pray for needs and give members an immediate source of counseling and encouragement on a one-on-one basis through Facebook Messenger. We host Facebook events to teach others wisdom in the Word of God...the group belongs to God…He ordered and directed it into existence...of course, our number one mission is to bring in the lost sheep in to come to know God...

We thank God for Fruits of the Spirit ministry and to lift up others that are struggling in their walk with the Lord. God uses the ministry to encourage others and to be encouraged. We love helping others…our role is to walk with the captives and point them to the Light at the end of the dark tunnel. We want our testimonies to be an inspiration to others that are downtrodden or struggling with abuse or addiction. We love to help the homeless…to provide clothes to those that are in need or just out of jail and desire to start a new life down the right path.

We thank God for each and every individual that He leads us to, and want to help others that have reached the bottom…the end of themselves…that need pulling back up out of a pit…

The mission of Fruits Safe Haven is to provide a safe place for the abused and the addicted...so close to my heart…I (Sharon White Guthrie) was both. We care for the homeless and “After Jail” ministry. We provide these individuals a safe place as we introduce them to the Lord. We establish them into a routine suitable for a life of working...assign daily chores of cleaning...a spiritual discipline of prioritizing God first by setting aside time for a daily devotional and prayer. We show them how to put on the whole armor of God and pray Psalm 91 before starting each day. Safe Haven is an interim program. After Safe Haven, we find a long-term program tailored to each one’s specific needs.

What are some of the ministry's needs and how can someone contact or donate to Fruits Safe Haven?

If you are ready to change and don’t know how…or would like to donate, please contact "The Sharons!"

We currently pay two sets of bills on a meager income, but God faithfully meets our needs each month. We gratefully welcome donations to help pay with the expenses. We currently use our personal funds to buy identification cards, gasoline, food, etc...If you would like to donate money or even time and labor to improve the Safe House...we need fencing, a stronger front door, a camera system, painting, paneling, and a new bathtub. 

Thank you for your support and prayers!

For more details on how to give, please email:

Sharon White Guthrie: sharongee6@gmail.com

Sharon Wilbanks: slroses58@gmail.com

Unveiling The Arthritis Foundation

When we hear the word “arthritis,” the mind tends to pair images of knobby knuckles with white hair and walkers. Kayla Smeraglia, a vibrant young bride in her twenties, shatters the stereotype associated with those afflicted by this multi-faceted condition. Kayla was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at the youthful age of 24. With a determined and hopeful attitude, she purposed in her heart to not let the diagnosis define her journey or limit her joy. Through her compassionate spirit, she helps the very ones whose shoes she herself has walked in. As the Development and Services Coordinator for the Arthritis Foundation in Birmingham, Kayla is not only a leader with a servant’s heart, but also an empathetic ear to those who find their daily activities suddenly interrupted by needle-throbbing pains. In every sense of the word, Kayla is truly a beautiful person. Elisabeth Kübler Ross says it best, “The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths, These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, a gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.” 

Kayla & Frankie Smeraglia

 

1)      When were you first diagnosed with arthritis? What were some of your symptoms?

In 2007, during my final semester in college at The University of Alabama, I started waking up every morning with pain in my toes.  In looking back, I realize that I had experienced symptoms for many years but it began to progress during college.  The pain literally felt like I was stepping onto needles. After I would start moving around, the pain would lessen and I would continue with my normal day-to-day activities.  After an appointment with a podiatrist I was put on the anti-inflammatory, Celebrex, which did help to decrease the pain. 

After completing college, I began a job as Director of Marketing and Communications for a health-care company in Tuscaloosa.  After working for approximately six months the pain in my toes became so severe that I could no longer wear heels or tight fitting shoes at any time. My only option was to wear tennis shoes everyday to work. Some mornings the pain was so severe that I could not even get out of bed. I could not apply any pressure to my feet without screaming in pain.  Getting to work was beginning to be impossible.  I left my career in Tuscaloosa and moved home to Birmingham.  Living by myself and working full-time were no longer options.  I was referred to an orthopedic surgeon who immediately did blood work.  I was 24 years old when I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. 

I am now under the care of Dr. Robert Kimberly, a rheumatologist at UAB Medical Center.  We are partners in my care.  Every decision regarding my care is done as a team.  I currently inject myself weekly with both Methotrexate and Enbrel.  I also take Celebrex and steroids as needed.  I have learned to manage my disease and medications.  Other than medication I believe the most important part of my care is both diet and exercise.   I work out three days a week whether I feel good or bad.  When I am feeling bad, I always feel better after going to the gym and getting active.   

For the first few years after my diagnosis I worked part time and did a lot of volunteer work for the Arthritis Foundation.   In January 2013, I joined the Arthritis Foundation as a full time employee.  After my diagnosis I made the decision that my diagnosis will not define my life.  My family and I will do everything we can to help improve both treatments and outcomes for arthritis patients.   My hope is that in my lifetime there will be a cure for arthritis.

2)      Is it a hereditary condition?  What are some ways you personally manage this condition? Are you on a special diet?

Rheumatoid Arthritis is hereditary, yes. However, I cannot trace this disease in our family. As far as a diet, I am not on a special diet. I do eat healthy and work out regularly.

 

3)      What is your role at The Arthritis Foundation?

 I am the Development and Services Coordinator for the Arthritis Foundation in the Birmingham Office. I am responsible for our events which include: Mudbugs and Music, Jingle Bell Run Clanton and Birmingham. I am also responsible for the recruitment and support of our Junior Board and the development and building of strong relationships within the business and corporate community.   

 

4)      Before you became the Events Coordinator, you volunteered at the Arthritis Foundation. Share how this impacted you and how others can get involved.

Volunteering for the Arthritis Foundation impacted my life in a positive way. For the first time I was able to meet people going through the same thing I was and I realized that there are many people in the Birmingham area affected by this disease. It was nice to be able to have a conversation with someone about the medication and the day-to-day experiences.  For me, it was learning to understand how to manage this disease and meeting people just like me made a huge difference.  It is very easy to get involved and I highly recommend it. If you would like to be involved with the Arthritis Foundation, please contact me at ksmeraglia@arthritis.org or (205) 314-8440.

5)      You recently got married…Congratulations!! How did you meet your spouse?

We got married on April 6^th, 2013. It truly was the best day of my life! Frankie and I met in our Computer Science 302 class at the University of Alabama in 2006. We were assigned to work together on all class projects by our teacher.  Needless to say, we spent countless hours working on assignments and the rest of our story is history!

6)      What are some misconceptions about arthritis?

The main misconception about arthritis is it only affects adults. This is not true and is actually far from the truth. Unfortunately, arthritis does not discriminate and affects children as well. In Alabama, 1.2 million adults have been doctor-diagnosed with arthritis, and more than 5,000 children.  Alabama has the 2^nd highest prevalence of arthritis in the U.S. There is no cure for arthritis, but are many ways to manage it.

7)      What special events are on the calendar for the Arthritis Foundation?

The Arthritis Foundation, Birmingham Chapter has 3 events every year. The first event of the year is in May and is called Mudbugs and Music. This event is a crawfish boil, with live entertainment, kid’s activities, food and fun.

The second event is Jingle Bell Run/Walk Clanton, which is on Saturday, November 23^rd, 2013 and the final event is Jingle Bell Run/Walk Birmingham, which is held on Saturday, December 14^th, 2013 at Railroad Park. This year is an exciting year because it is our 25^th annual event Jingle Bell Run! Come out and join us for the largest holiday 5K race series aimed to fight arthritis!

The Arthritis Foundation also has offices in Huntsville and Montgomery. The Huntsville office has 2 events; The Humanitarian Gala which is held in June and Jingle Bell Run which is on Sunday, December 8^th, 2013 at Columbia High School.  The Montgomery office has 3 events; Uncork the Cure which is usually the 2^nd Thursday in November, Jingle Bell Run on Saturday, December 7^th, 2013 at Huntingdon College Campus and Jingle Bell Run Dothan on Saturday, December 7^th, 2013 in downtown Dothan at Poplarhead Park.  For more information, you can visit our website at www.arthritis.org/alabama or contact Kayla Smeraglia at (205) 314-8440 for more information.

 

8)      How can someone donate or raise money for the Arthritis Foundation?

To donate money or items to the Arthritis Foundation please visit our website at www.arthritis.org/Alabama and click on the donate tab or you can send your donation directly to your local office. To raise money for the Arthritis Foundation, please join us in helping with any of our events and spreading the word about the effects of arthritis. Our next event is Jingle Bell Run in December and you can help raise money by creating a team at http://jbrbham.kintera.org. Join us today!

 

Shop YesStores through Yesboxx.com and select "Arthritis Foundation, Alabama Chapter" from the charity menu and a percentage of your total purchase price will be donated to this worthy ministry.

Introducing Grace Klein Community

In my interview with Larry King, founder of the Hands of Christ fund, I asked him, “Who are some of the most influential people in your life and why?” One individual who had shaped him spiritually was Jenny Waltman of Grace Klein Community. He noted that she “opens my eyes to the needy and reminds me to reach out.”

After reading her responses, you will quickly learn that Jenny is a true servant of Christ, embracing His command “…to love your neighbor as yourself…” (Ref, Mark 12:31). Her mission fulfilled by Grace Klein Community challenges us to redefine the barb wired boundaries of our comfort zone, and resuscitate the dying breath of community that has been strangled by the hands of intimidation and isolation.

She knows the secret of fulfilling eternal potential and purpose is intricately and architecturally cemented between the precious souls that populate our realm of influence. I recently watched the 2011 children’s movie Hugo, a story about an orphan boy who lives in the walls of a train station in 1930s Paris. Hugo discovers he has a special ability to fix clocks and other gadgets. Hugo reflected, “I’d imagine the whole world was one big machine. Machines never come with any extra parts, you know. They always come with the exact amount they need. So I figured, if the entire world was one big machine, I couldn’t be an extra part. I had to be here for some reason. And that means you have to be here for some reason, too.” With God as your Creator, you can rest assured that you have been expertly engineered, functioning as a catalyst in the community in which you find yourself.

1.       What is the mission of Grace Klein Community and when did it get started? 

God has entrusted to us a construction company and a non-profit. They are both totally His and we are His servants.  We long to prove faithful.  (1 Timothy 6:20) When Grace Klein Construction, Inc. started in 2006, we knew we were called to use the company as a means to give as much as possible to help those in need in our community. We wanted to use the business to fulfill Jesus’ command to love our neighbor as ourselves.

Our company motto is “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord and not for men.” (Colossians 3:23) 

After a while, as we grew and had more volunteers serving and giving, we realized it would be a good idea to start a separate entity as a non-profit. God led us to begin Grace Klein Community – we used the word “Community” because we wanted it to be just that, a community of friends serving each other, living life together. And, that’s what it’s become. 

Grace Klein Community, Inc. seeks to serve the poor while fostering long-term meaningful relationships between recipients and volunteers.  We all suffer from some type of poverty, whether spiritual, physical, emotional or financial.  When we take away our masks and our stuff, we are all the same and we can be real and intimately relate to one another.  When we have the privilege to walk through life with others, we all grow.  Ultimately, we trust the relational investment will have eternal impact. 

We began with a donation room in 2006.  God showed us that our plenty could meet another’s need so that their plenty could meet our need.  (2 Corinthians 8:14) We began to share the excess of others to meet the needs of our staff and families in the community.  The donation room is now used to help with such needs as adoption fundraising, clothing provision around the world, special ministry collection projects, and new home setups for people who suffer fire loss or graduate from a rehabilitation program. 

In 2009, God showed us that families were hungry right here in Birmingham, AL.  We began to pray about how we could share food and build friendships with families in need.  We personally related to their discouragement and we believed God could use us to spread the hope of Jesus.  We received referrals from a variety of sources for families in need and we matched volunteer families to groups of five families that needed food.  The ministry grew and we now deliver food boxes to around 200 families per month. The volunteer families spend time with the food recipients and build relationships with them. They talk about their own struggles, in order to relate, they pray for the families and celebrate God’s goodness with them. As the donation room, food ministry and mission opportunities continued to grow, we felt God leading us to start an official non-profit ministry. 

We exist to unify the body of Christ as we work together with local ministries. We believe God has created us to be more effective together than we could ever be apart.  Grace Klein Community operates to provide relief to the poor, distressed or underprivileged; lessen community tensions, eliminate prejudice and discrimination and combat community deterioration and juvenile delinquency.  We exist to teach and live out the community Jesus prayed for us in John 17:20-23.  We exist to stir the church and provide opportunities for individuals and families to serve others in Jesus’ name and share the hope of Jesus.

2.       In addition to finances, what are some items that people can donate?

·         TIME!! Serve with us in the donation room, on special projects, during community events, delivering food once a month, etc.  Watch our website (gracekleincommunity.com) or follow us at Grace Klein and Grace Klein Community on Facebook or gk_community on Twitter to know how to get involved.  Serve with your family.  Email gabe@gracekleincommunity.com for more ideas on how to serve and how to get involved. 

·         Donate the following to help with various types of ministry:

•        clean empty milk, juice and detergent jugs for volunteers to make homemade laundry detergent

•        sturdy shoe boxes to be decorated for Happy Boxes for children in the hospital

•        Non-perishable food

•        Toiletry items

•        Paper products such as Toilet paper or paper towels

•        Any household goods –dishes, glasses, pots/pans, utensils, etc.

•        Furniture

•        Appliances

•        Towels

•        Knick knacks

•        Any size clothing

•        Cleaning supplies

•        Reams of paper

•        Paper ream size empty boxes (to deliver food each month)

•        Pre-reading to adult books

•        Small size bookcases for cancer/dialysis treatment centers

•        Linens

•        Sports equipment

•        Instruments

•        E-readers

•        New underwear and socks

•        Durable recyclable bags

•        Any gift cards that have money left on them (no amount too small)

3.       How do you balance being a wife and mom while working and ministering to others? 

God has been teaching me that when I am walking with Jesus, I will feel used up every day. If I do not feel used up, my selfishness got in the way. The Bible teaches us to lay down our lives, pick up our cross and follow Jesus. Laying down our lives is difficult. We need the power of the Holy Spirit to fully obey that amazing command from the Lord. We cannot die to ourselves on our own. But, if we die to ourselves, Jesus can produce fruit from us. Amazing, huh?

When we realize we are missionaries right where we are, God turns our lives upside down. We become the aliens and strangers the Bible tells us we will be (1 Peter 2:11-12). God exposes that our lives are often segmented and teaches us we need Him for every moment and in every area of our lives. We do not have to balance or juggle because life all fits together; the work, the ministry, the kids. Life blends into this beautiful comfortable place where nothing ever stops or starts, it just is.

Our kids serve with us. Our kids work with us. Our kids pray with us. Our kids sing loud in the car and dance in the kitchen with us. Our kids bike, hike and sleep on the back porch with us. We are in this together.

Amelia Grace and Denver know where our help comes from (Psalm 121:2) and they are called by God to trust too. They believe for the next construction project and help spread the apples in the food boxes. We are all growing in our dependence on and intimacy with Jesus. We are constantly evaluating and praying for God to help us set aside the good for the best.

Jason and I easily work together. We are best friends. We enjoy being together. We share the load. We do not have designated chores. We each contribute where we can and let go of the rest. Organized chaos is where we thrive. What is ours is yours. God is constantly reminding us to hold tightly to Him and lightly to the things of this world. He is growing us in a life of faith and trust in Christ.

Our family is very close. Our kids are close. If they both are not invited to a birthday party, they are known to decline. We read a lot. We share our home. We love adventures. They practice their math and reading if we have to work late. We go to the library on Mondays and eat dinner with grandparents on Waltman Wednesday.   We love our community and find encouragement and challenge as they spur us on to love and good deeds.

 

We all get just one chance so we choose to live; to live fully in the midst of work, serving and family. We exist for these moments. We are called. We are chosen. We have a mission and we cannot lose heart.  

2 Corinthians 4:1 "Therefore, since through God's great mercy we have this ministry, we will not lose heart."

4.       You and your husband have a business, Grace Klein Construction to reconstruct and remodel houses. What are some stories that stand out to you in which the Grace Klein Community has rebuilt and remodeled lives spiritually?
  

Grace Klein Construction Team

Grace Klein Community is a fluid, moving, living thing where people love, serve and share life together. The early church in Acts has given all of us an amazing example of how to live in community together. We exist to be the body of Christ to one another.

We all have different gifts and abilities and God has set it up perfectly that if we all bring our best to the table that He will use us to accomplish great things for Him (1 Corinthians 12). One thing we find so fascinating: He does not have to use us. God is great, mighty and powerful and He can accomplish all His purposes without us. But yet, out of His great love and mercy, He uses unlikely people to make His name great.

God does the amazing work among us. We are nothing. He uses us to plant seeds and water seeds, but only He makes things grow (1 Corinthians 3:7). What freedom to know the results are on Him, not us!

Grace Klein Community experiences so many God stories. Sometimes we even forget how amazing it is to see God work because we see an overflow of His faithfulness so much. We are guilty of not telling more of His mighty deeds.

A few favorites...

·         Mission trips around the world changing people, changing the way we think, spend, live.

·         Food boxes being an open door for building friendship and sharing the love of Jesus.

·         Friends coming to know Jesus and wanting to share the hope they have found in Christ by serving too.

·         Baptism services to celebrate changed lives; people who want the world to know that they love Jesus.

·         The Giveback program providing the opportunity for friends who have received emergency assistance to serve the community to "pay forward" the assistance they received and to realize their value. It is so amazing when someone who is broken, beat down and hurting finally realizes that EVERYONE has something to give.

·         Hosting ministry partners from Africa and watching God open doors and giving favor with many local schools.

·         Investing in volunteers who are completing required community service.

·         Engaging other businesses, as partners with Grace Klein Community, to serve together as a staff and watching God deepen unity and motivate giving.

·         The donation room providing home setups for people graduating from rehabilitation programs and homeless shelters.

·         Picking up clothing from the Mercedes Marathon and watching God use those discards to provide for people all over the world.

·         Families learning how to live life with other families and experience the community Jesus prayed for us in John 17. 

Courtesy of His Hands Photographs

5.       What are your spiritual gifts and how have they been used to complement your husband’s spiritual gifts in order to fulfill the purpose of your calling?

Jason's spiritual gifts are a mixture of leadership, shepherding and service. My spiritual gifts are poverty, prophecy and service.  We love to serve together as it fuels the intimacy of our relationship and brings us closer to Jesus. We were both created to serve and it is a high gifting for each of us. Serving is a part of our everyday lives.

1 Timothy 4:14 reminds us not to neglect the gift we have. God will put specific truths on my heart that He asks me to share with specific people. Many times I am misunderstood and sometimes I offend others when God has asked me to speak into another person's life. Some days I selfishly do not want to practice my gifting because it gets frustrating to be misunderstood. However, God continues to teach me that I must not neglect the use of the gifts He has given me. Americans tend to avoid and cover up inadequacies when God wants us to deal with the deepest places of our hearts. God has used my African friends to teach me that sharing and receiving the truth in love is a powerful gift. The point of our existence and relationship with Jesus is to be refined, looking more like Him and less like us every day.

The gift of poverty is the ability to live with less in order to relate to the hurts, life and challenges of the impoverished. God has made me comfortable with little and taught me to see the resources we can share to allow our plenty to meet another's need so in turn their plenty would meet our need. As Jason's gifts of serving and shepherding connect us with many people, the gift of poverty allows me to easily share all we have as a natural overflow of holding loosely to our home, transportation, money, time and stuff.

In leadership, we have learned that the greatest leader is a servant. Jason's gifting of leadership and service are interwoven together and operate together as he seeks to lead like Jesus, as a servant. Galatians 2:20 explains how we desire to live each day, through the grace of God, "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."

6.       What is your prayer for your children and this next generation that God is raising up?     

Father, give us the nations. Use us to share Jesus to the ends of the earth. Allow our kids to know You more and depend on You more than they depend on us. Let them see we are nothing and You are everything.  Help our kids to look different from the world. Please help us teach them to find all their security, hope, protection and dependence in You.  Give them hearts for only that which has eternal value. Keep our children from wanting the things of the world so that they might find all their competence and sufficiency in Christ.  Protect them from any idols of this world that may tempt them to value anything above You. Give our children intimacy with You and teach them to receive Your love and in turn love like Jesus. Teach them to find all their hope, faith and provision in You. Make them desperate for Your power, mercy, and love. Give them a hunger for Your Word that keeps them girded in Your truth. Let their minds be fixed on You as the author and perfector of their faith. Allow them to receive the desires You have for their lives so they will walk confidently on the path You have for them.  Keep them from “I” and “me” and let them be hidden in Christ so people see You and not them. Give them boldness to share, kindness to love and self-discipline to obey your commands. Use them to take the hope of Jesus to the ends of the earth so that every nation, tribe and tongue will praise Your name.  Be enough for them, their all in all, their closest friend, their strong hold, deliverer, comforter, King. AMEN

Courtesy of His Hands Photographs

Special Project:

FILL PILLOWCASES FOR KIDS IN OKLAHOMA!!

 1. Decorate one side of a pillowcase with permanent markers.

 2. Inside the pillowcase, put the markers in a ziplock bag with a note encouraging the child who will receive it to use the markers to decorate the other side of the pillowcase.

 3. Fill the pillowcase with small toys, a child's Bible, pre-packaged healthy snacks, small craft projects, band aids, toothbrush, toothpaste, bar of soap, stickers, an encouraging note/scripture, etc, and tie with a ribbon.

 4. Label the ribbon as boy or girl based on what is in the pillowcase.

 5. Drop off the filled pillowcases to Grace Klein Community at 2652 Old Rocky Ridge Rd, Hoover, AL 35216.

We are also receiving monetary donations as well as donations of cleaning supplies, toiletry items and healthy snacks. Spread the love.

“And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” – Hebrews 13:16

 gracekleincommunity.com --- 205.390.2211

Shop YesStores through Yesboxx.com and select "Grace Klein Community" from the charity menu and a percentage of your total purchase price will be donated to this worthy ministry.