Forum Christian Church

This feature requires Macromedia Flash Download Here

Hello

Hello to all my prayer warriors...it is Paxton (Spencer – age 7 months) and tonight above all things I want to reassure you that my journey is far from over. Yes, my heart is silly and apparently my left lung is now a bit of an issue, but my family and medical team are not giving up on me. My new condition does not put me at immediate risk, which gives my wonderful medical team time to come up with a plan AND time for another miracle from God.

The entire cardiology team will meet on Monday to figure out if it is possible to make my left pulmonary artery function again. My heart looked strong today and my lung is still getting blood. My body has grown extra vessels to try and correct the problem.

Everyone who knows anything about heart kids at my hospital knows me. I am becoming famous....a picture of me even appeared on the local NBC news!!

Going forward, mommy and daddy will continue to let me live my life. Really, nothing about me really changed today. I am still God's child, who is in the arms of a loving mommy, daddy and sister. God's plan was the same today as it was when he made me. It is just that more of His plan has been revealed to us. I can still laugh, love and change the world with my story.

What is your story? Are you being the person God made you to be? I am. I have a special heart and a big soul that has shown others that with God all things are possible. Please pray for God's plan for my life.

Love, baby Pac Man

I went to high school in the mid 80s. A popular slow-dance song at the time was Lionel Richie's, Hello. Slow-dancing in the 80s in rural Minnesota wasn't all that risque... just kind of hugging each other and moving back and forth slowly. I liked slow dancing because I didn't get any affection at home and it made me feel close to someone.

My husband and I visited Forum for the first time on the Sunday that the Hello series was started. I took a bracelet and it has often made me think of the words of Lionel Richie's song as though God were saying,
Hello, is it me you're looking for?
Cuz I wonder where you are.
And I wonder what you do.
And I want to tell you so much
I love you.

We have decided to attend Forum and will be joining the Discovery group that starts Jan. 31.

— Amanda Taylor

On a very cold night a few weeks ago, we drove across town to pick up a movie. On the way, we spotted a man walking on the sidewalk who appeared to be homeless or maybe a 'wanderer.' As we drove by, I silently said a prayer for the man and wondered if he had anywhere to go or if he needed anything.

After we picked up the movie, we decided to drive back and ask the man if he needed anything. We pulled up alongside him and asked how he was doing and if he needed a ride. He smiled and said, 'I could use a lift downtown if you're headed that way.' Something in my heart (God) told me that it would be safe to give him a ride. As we drove, we introduced ourselves and he said, 'nice to meet you, I'm Emmanuel." That gave me goose bumps - because Emmanuel means 'God with us,' (Matthew 1:23). We made some small talk and he mentioned a few places he went to.

We reached his destination and said God bless and good night. As we drove home, we discussed the encounter and wondered about God putting people in our paths.

The next week, Scott's sermon was about saying 'hello' and making purposeful connections with the people we meet. I was inspired by this and decided to write Emmanuel a letter. In the letter, I said it was great meeting him; I shared some of my testimony and invited him to join us at church.

Sometimes, it can be difficult to speak up about God and our faith, but if we pray and ask God to direct us and open our hearts and minds, those opportunities and the words to speak (or write) come easily.

— Emily and Kyle Martin

An "Accidental" Hello

This morning a gentlman ran into me - we had a car accident. Anyway, no one got hurt but we had some damage. It was his fault. He was very apologetic. He kept saying he was sorry and I said, "It's no big deal." He asked a question as to why I was so peaceful and why I wasn't angry. I told him it was because I have God in my life. I really feel now like I am kind of glad it happened because it gave me the opportunity to witness to someone that I would not have otherwise met. We've been talking about purposeful hellos but this was an accidental hello that maybe God ordained so this man could hear about Him. I believe in my heart that I planted a seed that hopefully someone else will water and this gentleman will come to know the Lord.

Last week in study hall, many of the kids didn't have any new assignments to work on, so I gathered a group to play a little "Dot to Dot" to fill the time. While playing, I used the "What do you want?" question to probe a little deeper into what each of the others really wanted. It was amazing to see how the initial answers were short term goals, objects, and so forth (a Playstation III, an expensive car, a girlfriend, a college degree, a big house, a family, a great paying job). After repeatedly posing the "Then what?" question, I saw how it really helped several of them to ponder the eternal. By the end of the study hall, many realized how life is more than jobs, degrees, or things. They shifted their thinking toward making more impactful daily choices of serving and loving others. I firmly believe it may have been the first time some even pondered God and life eternal.

Last week we were having lunch out. As we prayed over our food we prayed for our waitress. The next time she came to our table I told her that we had prayed for her and asked if there was anything specific we could pray. She had quite a list! In the conversation SHE asked us what church we attend. It was so natural that we knew God was there. We continue to pray for her needs.

— Sandra and Jim Karnes

Do you have a "Hello" story that you would like to share with us? Simply fill out the form at the bottom of this page, and look for your story to be posted shortly.