Short Stories By Jesus Series Our fall worship series was entitled Short Stories By Jesus, in which we were looking at Jesus’ parables, especially some of the most problematic ones.  We enlisted the congregation to write Before & After stories.  Each Sunday one member shared a story in which there was a before and an after, and after which, many things in his or her life changed dramatically. Here is one of those stories. Jessi Mathews-Rush  – Before & After Before the age of seven I knew of God but I didn’t know God. From the age of three months to two years I lived with Nana and Dad, my biological grandmother…

Short Stories By Jesus Series Our fall worship series was entitled Short Stories By Jesus, in which we were looking at Jesus’ parables, especially some of the most problematic ones.  We enlisted the congregation to write Before & After stories.  Each Sunday one member shared a story in which there was a before and an after, and after which, many things in his or her life changed dramatically. Here is one of those stories. Rachel Hutto – Before and After According to the Census Data Bamberg, SC is home to approximately 35 hundred people. My graduating class was about 100. Not the tiniest place on the map, but certainly a smallish community…

Short Stories By Jesus Series Our fall worship series was entitled Short Stories By Jesus, in which we were looking at Jesus’ parables, especially some of the most problematic ones.  We enlisted the congregation to write Before & After stories.  Each Sunday one member shared a story in which there was a before and an after, and after which, many things in his or her life changed dramatically. Here is one of those stories. Suzanne Suddarth – Before & After I have prayed throughout my life, especially during difficult times.  I prayed for strength and courage when I went through Marine Corps boot camp. I prayed for confidence and the ability to…

Short Stories By Jesus Series Our fall worship series was entitled Short Stories By Jesus, in which we were looking at Jesus’ parables, especially some of the most problematic ones. We enlisted the congregation to write Before & After stories. Each Sunday one member shared a story in which there was a before and an after, and after which, many things in his or her life changed dramatically. Here is one of those stories. Melissa F. – Before & After When my first marriage blew up in my face and I found myself living alone with my four year old son and not a few negative emotions, I found a…

Short Stories By Jesus Series Our fall worship series was entitled Short Stories By Jesus, in which we were looking at Jesus’ parables, especially some of the most problematic ones.  We enlisted the congregation to write Before & After stories.  Each Sunday one member shared a story in which there was a before and an after, and after which, many things in his or her life changed dramatically. Here is one of those stories. A Wedding—or Two In 1956, one of my parents’ friends, a widow, got married for the second time, and I attended the wedding.  Until then, I was unaware that people could have a second wedding.  There was only…

Short Stories By Jesus Series Our fall worship series was entitled Short Stories By Jesus, in which we were looking at Jesus’ parables, especially some of the most problematic ones.  We enlisted the congregation to write Before & After stories.  Each Sunday one member shared a story in which there was a before and an after, and after which, many things in his or her life changed dramatically. Here is one of those stories. Melanie Crenshaw – Before and After “I don’t see a future for us where I can be happy.” I glanced down at the ring glittering on my left hand which just a few months earlier had expressed the…

Short Stories By Jesus Series Our fall worship series was entitled Short Stories By Jesus, in which we were looking at Jesus’ parables, especially some of the most problematic ones.  We enlisted the congregation to write Before & After stories.  Each Sunday one member shared a story in which there was a before and an after, and after which, many things in his or her life changed dramatically. Here is one of those stories. Kate Scherer – Before & After I had never felt a strong connection with God growing up. Being brought up in the Catholic Church, I felt as if things were always structured way too much for my liking…

Short Stories By Jesus Series Our fall worship series was entitled Short Stories By Jesus, in which we were looking at Jesus’ parables, especially some of the most problematic ones.  We enlisted the congregation to write Before & After stories.  Each Sunday one member shared a story in which there was a before and an after, and after which, many things in his or her life changed dramatically. Here is one of those stories. Kathy Kirstner – Before & After Before and after:  my first though is that is a Wheel of Fortune category – At my age, I can see significant events and periods in my life with some degree of…

Short Stories By Jesus Series Our fall worship series was entitled Short Stories By Jesus, in which we were looking at Jesus’ parables, especially some of the most problematic ones.  We enlisted the congregation to write Before & After stories.  Each Sunday one member shared a story in which there was a before and an after, and after which, many things in his or her life changed dramatically. Here is one of those stories. Diana Washburn – Before & After Being a member of College Park, an accountant; working with the auditors on annual audits, doing non-profit tax returns as well as individuals from home.  I was also providing housing for one…

Short Stories By Jesus Series Our fall worship series was entitled Short Stories By Jesus, in which we were looking at Jesus’ parables, especially some of the most problematic ones.  We enlisted the congregation to write Before & After stories.  Each Sunday one member shared a story in which there was a before and an after, and after which, many things in his or her life changed dramatically. Here is one of those stories. Kevin Nicholls – Before & After Growing up, I always knew I was a little different than the other kids.  At around the age of 10 I finally realized what that difference was.  I knew that I was…