Revolution: Easter Changes Everything
How can a holiday change anything? Easter is about so much more than just candy and colored eggs. It is the celebration of a revolutionary, historical event: when an innocent man gave His life to save mankind - but that wasn’t the end of the story. This Easter at Calvary we saw how Easter really can change everything and turn it all around - one heart, one life, one story at a time.
Below are the stories behind the brief, yet powerful, glimpses we saw into these stories of revolution. These are stories of God at work, of miraculous events, of long journeys, of answered prayers and of incredible hope. Just like with the empty tomb, the story of Easter doesn't end there. The revolution that began with Jesus is still unfolding and impacting lives for the Kingdom. May these stories of revolution impact your heart as you read them. Check back often as more are added.
Amy Luest | "Living Free in Jesus"
I grew up in a “Christian” Family, and accepted Christ as my personal Savior right after my sixth birthday. My parents took me to church, but there was no communication of feelings at home. My father was very angry and depressed, he yelled all the time. So when the teenage boy next door sexually abused me at age 6, I had no one to tell. Four years later, he (now an adult) raped me in his father’s camper. After that, I truly believed that I was bad and if anyone knew they would hate me. This was my secret for the next 10 years. I could not tell anyone. My friend, who had been one of my high school teachers, figured it out. She tried to help, but I was completely shut down.
A few years later, I went to counseling, but there was no significant change in my life. I felt depressed, alone, and worthless. I knew that God did not make mistakes, but I wondered why he made me. I was trapped by feelings of shame and fear.
Six years ago, I started attending Calvary Church. At the time I was so bound by fear that I was afraid of my own shadow. God started changing my heart through Bible Studies, our Recovery program, and many hours of Prayer counseling. I learned who God is, and who I am in Christ. I started to trust again. As I saw Christ in others, I learned how much God loved me.
Now my relationship with Christ is continually growing. “In God I have put my trust, I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?” Psalm 56:11 God is continually stretching and growing me. I now know that God was with me all along, and that he will never leave me. He has purpose for my life. “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6
Dave Gatson | "From Biterness to Joy"
My struggle was never really about God; it was about me. I grew up as a pastor's kid in an extremely loving family. I was truly born into the perfect situation although it took me years to realize it. I had the best and most supportive parents any kid could ask for, and I was literally surrounded by Christians every day of my life. As I got older, mostly into my teens and early twenties, I found myself going to church more out of habit rather than out of a heart felt need to connect with the Lord and his people. I noticed my personal desire for reading the Bible and for prayer nearly non-existent.
I had lost my dedication to letting God have first place in my life and replaced it with a dedication to Dave having complete control, because I felt I could do it all by myself. I became bitter with the ways God tried to speak and guide me, even though I knew it was for only my own good. I knew what I thought I wanted and what I needed and it didn't match what God was trying to lead me into. Slowly but consistently, God's voice became softer and his direction became less obvious in my life. I became a bitter, miserable, and angry person. I didn't officially renounce God, but I might as well have.
After a few years of living this way, I suddenly noticed one night in my apartment in Ohio, that I was alone. I was alone and empty. I was empty emotionally, physically, and spiritually. He brought me to my knees literally. I did it my way and this is where it had gotten me. God tried to give me everything, but instead I had given it all away. That night his voice was louder than ever. I swear he was standing over me with a hand on my shoulder, like I'm sure many have been while trying to console their children who are in so much pain.
I knew from that point on that He had never given up on me and that he had never left my side. I had turned my back on Him and yet he had never turned His back on me. No matter what I had done in the last few years He still loved me forgave me. Ever since that day I have done my best to let Him have control of my life. I'll never be perfect and sometimes I slip up, but now I know my purpose. I'm here to praise God. I'm here to give Him the glory he so richly deserves. I am here to make disciples for Him. I am not proud of my past, but I am so excited for the future He holds for me.
Melissa & Todd Banville | "Trusting the Lord"
The journey began when we went for our routine 20 week ultrasound...everything looked wonderful from what we could tell and we left feeling just a little disappointed that we couldn't see the sex of the baby. But besides that, no concerns. About a week later my midwife told me that I needed to go back for another ultrasound because they had found two choroid plexus cysts in our baby's brain. So my husband and I went back a couple of days later for the ultrasound and immediately afterwards saw a genetic counselor. She explained to us that the two ultrasounds showed two choroid plexus cysts and enlarged kidneys. In addition to that our baby had a very small head, which was not normal, and our baby's abdomen appeared to have gotten smaller compared to the first ultrasound. So there were definite growth problems that didn't look good. The counselor and doctor were really pushing getting an amnio for the purpose of seeing whether we wanted to have an abortion or not. Well, it was very late in the game for getting an amnio because of the risks, including miscarriage. It never mattered to my husband and I whether our baby was perfectly healthy or not, we just wanted exactly what God wanted for us. There was not even a question in our minds of whether or not we should have an abortion...the answer was definitely no. It was hard to stand up to both a counselor and a doctor who are both suggesting otherwise and have many different arguments for why you should do the tests. But, after signing all the paperwork we were able to leave, feeling very discouraged and scared.
The counselor told us that day that it looked like our baby had a chromosome disorder called Trisomy 18, which affects every part of your body. Most babies who have this disorder do not survive. Some don't even survive until birth, and those that do sometimes only live for an hour or up to a week depending on the severity of the disorder. However in the midst of all the confusion and sadness we did find out some wonderful news...we were having a little girl!!! We decided at this point to name her Madelynn Eeva (pronounced Iva). Eeva means "life" and that was a great encouragement to us that no matter what was going to happen, the Lord will give her life. Whether He decided to give her life on this earth, or in Heaven, that was His choice and we were learning to trust in His perfect will. After seeing the counselor we began fervently praying and telling everyone we know to pray with us for our daughter.
Our next ultrasound was about 2 weeks later and her cysts were gone, which they said is normal for them to go away...the concerning part was that they were there in the first place. Her left kidney was down to normal size, but the right was still large. The amazing part was that her growth was back to normal. And this is so amazing because her little body was shrinking in size instead of growing and was previously measuring two in a half weeks behind schedule !! And after praying for those two weeks the Lord had brought her growth completely back on track! My heart was brimming with joy at the Lord's goodness and faithfulness! The counselor at that point said that everything was looking better but we would still not know until her birth whether or not she was ok.
I prayed so hard that I would just be able to hold her at least once and look at her beautiful face! At 32 weeks everything was still on track and looking good. As the days approached to her birth they found a tumor in my pituitary gland and that is a whole other story of God's grace in our lives. And so because of the tumor they decided to schedule a cesarean at 39 weeks. Sitting in the room waiting to be taken to the operating room was such a weird feeling In just a couple of minutes we would be able to see her and know for certain if the Lord had healed her. At 3:48 pm on November 21 2008 we saw our little Madelynn Eeva for the first time and she was absolutely gorgeous! She is a picture of God's grace and a constant reminder of God's immense love for His children! Blood was taken from her umbilical cord to determine for certain whether or not she had Trisomy 18. But her tube of blood was marked incorrectly by one of the nurses and so had to be thrown out. Todd and I felt that the Lord was telling us we didn't need man's tests to tell us of her healing, but to just trust that He has healed her and she is well!
We took her home three days later and she is now two months old, and a very chubby, healthy and happy baby. Todd and I and our two other children rejoice over her daily! The Lord has taught us so much through this time and our love and trust in Him has grown so much. I never thought I would be able to thank the Lord for such a painful trial, but I have actually seen how much He loves us in allowing us to go through this! Thank You Lord. Also, He has provided for us so much in the days following her birth through our church family and all the meals they brought for us. God's grace truly is enough!
"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21
Thank you for allowing us to share this with you.
In His hands,
Melissa and Todd Banville
Lili Ibanez | "Healed to Serve"
I was told about my kidney failure in the summer of 2006 and i really didn't think much of it. but every dr appt dropped a new bomb, like 'kidney's don't heal', 'kidney function can sustain but not regain full function', 'you may feel nauseous during the day', stay out of the sun (and i work outside 80% of the day!), etc. i couldn't go anywhere for fear of getting sick and having no one around to help me, i had to measure everything i ate and stay away from protein, calcium and potassium, take 9 different supplements a day, read every label on every wrapped food item and drink. my BUN elevated dangerously to abnormal levels, reaching 100 when normal is seven to 25, and though normal creatinine is between .5 to 1.5, mine was 15. function dropped to 9% and my doctor begged me to start dialysis.
but you know, God really is good. i NEVER suffered any of the expected side effects of kidney failure and never went through dialysis. i missed no days of work except for the hours i had to take off for medical appointments. my son volunteered to test as a kidney transplant donor and turned out to be a perfect match! we were told that polynesians don't match well as there are so few of us ( less than a million! ).
but glory be to God who keeps His own statistics. now, four months after the operation, my last creatinine reading was 1.11 and BUN was 22. we're both very healthy and active with work and school, and in answering the constant prayers of my lighthouse, the celebration choir and many friends, God has once again done the miraculous and merciful, and now i get to look forward to opportunities to serve.
how great is our God, sing with me how great is our God...
in Him, lili
"I have set the LORD always before me. Because He is at my right, I shall not be shaken." Psalm 16:8 (If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.)