In coming months I will be sharing more of your testimonies about your involvement in small groups, the Sunroom, on Facebook, daily devotionals–wherever Rest Ministries has touched your life. Print, audio, or videos are all welcome if you’re interested in sharing. Lisa
From a woman we will call Samantha, who has been a part of a HopeKeepers in Southern California that has met for over 10 years.
I was a young Christian woman, just starting my career, newly in love, and full of hopes for the future.
Then, one day, chronic pain entered my life and set up a long-term stay. Now, over 20 years later, I live in constant severe pain.
Do I have many moments of questioning, tears and frustration? If I said I didn’t, I’d be giving false testimony, and worse, making it harder for someone who is reading this to believe that there is such a thing as solid hope even when one is living through intense suffering.
No, I haven’t found an answer, medically, for my chronic pain, but I found these things, which are so valuable. . . a God who suffers alongside me and does not turn His back on me, a group called–of all things–HopeKeepers (R).
The group has co-suffering servant-hearted leaders who are incredibly accepting and inspire me to spiritual maturity, brave fellow seekers and believers who listen and care and pray and allow me–in my brokenness–to listen to, care, and pray for them in return.
I am now still a young Christian woman, still growing in love with the same devoted man, striving to understand the riches of God’s Word, still leaning hard into my Savior.
What have I learned through HopeKeepers? Simple–No one gets through life without pain. The blessed ones are not those who live without heartache, obstacles and pain, but the ones who, in pain, in struggle, have love, hope and support in their very soul because of the giver of hope.
I invite others with whom I cross paths who are suffering to join us in community as we endeavor to keep our hope, right where it needs to be–in Christ.
Are you interested in starting a HopeKeepers group?
HopeKeepers is the small group program of Rest Ministries that meets in churches and communities around the world. Rest Ministries provides help in starting your group, materials and resources, tools such as training DVD to help increase awareness of (mostly invisible) illness in your church, and opportunities for networking with other leaders.
To find out more visit the “Start a Group” section of our web site.
Related articles
- When Our Church Disappoints Us, Where Do We Put Those Emotions (chronicillnesspaindevotionals.wordpress.com)
- The Journey of Life Is Not Meant to Be Done Alone (chronicillnesspaindevotionals.wordpress.com)
I am a 67 year old man, who has COPD, Diabetis, and FMS. I also survived stage 4 cancer ten years ago, by the grace of God. My wife has Huntington’s Disease, Osteoporosis, and a degenerative disc. I also help take care of a 61 year old blind diabetic, who lives with us. We all run a support group for people with chronic illnesses at our church, and are considering filtering it into the Hopekeepers program.
Dear Brother,
The Lord be with you and make God’s face to shine upon you and give you peace.
I am Waseem Yousaf from Pakistan . I have studied your web site, and
have found it to be one of many wonderful sites offered on the
internet which gets to the Truth of the Word of God. As is the case
with others whom I have contacted, you have created material which is
full of knowledge concerning development of religious faith. Living in
Pakistan, we Christians face many obstacles in getting access to God’s Word. Most
people in Pakistan speak Urdu, and are not capable of understanding the
English language. Because of limited access in our native tongue, my
people have a true hunger for fresh Christian Perspectives.
Proficient in both English and my native languages, I would like to
offer my services as a translator to you. Presenting your material in
both Urdu and Punjabi would be a true blessing to the Pakistani and
Indian people. For a nominal fee, I will enable you to bring the message
of Salvation to a most deserving people.
Blessing you in advance for your consideration,
Email: waseemyousaf153@yahoo.com
In Him,
Waseem Yousaf