By: Tiffany Snowden
Two years ago, my life was in the midst of chaos.
I was six months sober, in recovery, but my life was still a mess.
I was relieved to find an agency that agreed to pay for the replacement of my boiler, but my taxes had to be current. My friend Christopher Bahrke had invited me to church here. He said it was very welcoming and that the clergy were wonderful.
But church was the LAST thing I was about to do.
Meet a PRIEST are you kidding me??
I wasn’t sure if I even believed in God – I certainly didn’t trust him.
I had seen too much suffering and abuse done to my family.
Well, apparently that didn’t keep Christopher from asking all of you to pray for me during Morning Prayer here at the church.
A couple of weeks later, he called me and said that someone from the church – who wanted to remain anonymous – wanted to pay half of what I owed for my back taxes.
It absolutely blew my mind.
Here I was, having never set foot in this church. Not knowing anyone.
How could a total stranger be THAT generous with me?
They knew my story.
They knew the mistakes I had made.
And a “church person” was willing to help ME??
I honestly couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
I was so grateful. I tried to find an agency to help with the other half of the taxes I owed, but there were none willing to help.
Just when I thought I had caught a break.
Putting your life back together is hard.
Sometimes it seems like there is always a step back every time you think you have made a move forward.
Well, unbeknownst to me, you all kept praying, apparently, because a few weeks later I got another call from Christopher.
“Are you sitting down?” He asked?
“Another member of the church is going to catch up your taxes so you can get your boiler fixed.”
Truly, there were no words.
Here I was, not a member, having never even attended a service – NOT even trusting in God!
And yet through you, God was doing THIS?
It was like manna from heaven – truly!
And I guess without realizing it, these acts of generosity began to rekindle my faith.
I attended my first service, and from the moment I walked in, I felt so incredibly welcomed. The walls around my heart melted when I walked into this beautiful sanctuary.
You walked alongside me when my mom was dying,
You did a beautiful funeral for her — way on the other side of town.
And the clergy I had at one time been so hesitant to meet gave her a gift I will forever be grateful for – they helped restore my mom’s faith in me.
Thank you.
When my mom’s estate was settled, I turned right around and made a significant gift right back to the church.
I had felt so loved and surrounded. I was glad to be able to do it. It was as if everything had come full circle.
I have since become an active member of Christ Church Cranbrook.I pledge every year so that others might receive the SAME overflowing and generous welcome that I did.
I pledge so that the NEXT person who needs it, might have a chance to find THEIR faith restored as mine has been.
Thank you.