A new “home” for mom and daughter

In the fall of 2020, my junior high school friend, Kristi, invited me to the Stones Crossing Food Truck event. There I met a new friend, Martha. Little did I know then that she later would become well known to me.

After the food truck event, Kristi invited me to a Sunday church service. She picked me up before the first service. I remember the service clearly, because it was the one where guest singer, Megan Duke, sang “Set My Heart on Fire.” When we left the 9:00 a.m. service, I asked Kristi if we could hear that song again. We listened to it about three to four times on our way home. It made me cry during the initial hearing as well as when we relistened to it. I was in search of a church home, somewhere I felt I belonged.

After that service, I started attending church regularly with Kristi. Soon after, she invited me to the D-group she was attending. I accepted her invitation and have been in that D-group, led by Martha, ever since. My involvement with D-group has led to stories of how God has used Stones Crossing Church to minister to my daughter and me.

Fast forward to spring of 2021. The house in which my daughter, Aubree, and I lived turned out to be a nightmare with awful sewage complications. It became necessary to move. In the meantime, I was scheduled for surgery on May 20, 2021. On the Saturday before surgery, we found a home in Franklin and fell in love with it. We received the house keys on a Monday and back surgery was scheduled for that next Thursday. We needed to move in two days, as I would not be able to move after surgery.

That Tuesday prior to surgery, Marilyn, Melissa, and Ginger (three ladies from my D-group) came over to help me. Marilyn even brought her husband. This group helped my mom move many car loads into the new home. Late that night, I received a call that the men who were scheduled to help move furniture on Wednesday would not be able to make it.

I texted Martha saying, “I need help!” She texted everyone in our D-group and phone calls were made. Ronda called the church and Pastor Keith and Pastor Mitch came. Ginger called her son, Brent, and he came. Anita and Martha helped too. Three kids, who are related to these folks, also helped.

My mom rented a U-Haul. And still others came later in the day. Beds were set up, furniture was put in place, and some were boxes emptied. By the end of the day, it looked like home. I cried and cried and then prayed and gave thanks for the miraculous help. My surgery was the next day and the prayers and relief I felt were overwhelming.

The D-group was amazing in their prayers and following up with me to see how I was and if I needed anything. Martha came to visit me frequently and we would talk. Many of the talks were about the Bible and questions I had, along with questions I had about the church.

Since then, my daughter has been attending church, volunteering in Stones Crossing Kids, and attending the youth ministry which she enjoys very much. We both went through the membership class together became members of Stones Crossing.

I am truly blessed and thankful to have been introduced to Stones Crossing Church. I look for opportunities to assist or help others as I am able. Pastor Scott has said before that God gave us gifts that we may utilize in the church and help.

I knew then that Stones is a special place, and the church really meant it would help the community—even someone who was new to the church.