Comments on: We’re Listening http://gcstories.wordpress.com/2007/06/02/were-listening/ Inspiring people to find and follow Christ... Thu, 23 Oct 2008 14:48:29 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Anonymous http://gcstories.wordpress.com/2007/06/02/were-listening/#comment-17 Anonymous Fri, 27 Jul 2007 00:40:53 +0000 http://gcstories.wordpress.com/2007/06/02/were-listening/#comment-17 What happened to the GC website? What happened to the GC website?

]]> By: Greta, Bruce and the girls http://gcstories.wordpress.com/2007/06/02/were-listening/#comment-16 Greta, Bruce and the girls Thu, 26 Jul 2007 00:18:26 +0000 http://gcstories.wordpress.com/2007/06/02/were-listening/#comment-16 Good sermon Charles. BTW, how do I get to the main GCCC website? Good sermon Charles. BTW, how do I get to the main GCCC website?

]]> By: Anonymous http://gcstories.wordpress.com/2007/06/02/were-listening/#comment-14 Anonymous Tue, 26 Jun 2007 15:19:15 +0000 http://gcstories.wordpress.com/2007/06/02/were-listening/#comment-14 I cannot pick out one person who has made a difference in my life, because there are so many. I want to thank the Lord for bringing me to GCCC in 2000, to experience the love shared to everyone who walks through the doors. The Lord has never been so alive to me. The Word is my strength everyday. The least I can do is to share it with everyone I meet. Thank you, family. Nancy Klintworth I cannot pick out one person who has made a difference in my life, because there are so many. I want to thank the Lord for bringing me to GCCC in 2000, to experience the love shared to everyone who walks through the doors. The Lord has never been so alive to me. The Word is my strength everyday. The least I can do is to share it with everyone I meet. Thank you, family.

Nancy Klintworth

]]> By: Dan Wolfe http://gcstories.wordpress.com/2007/06/02/were-listening/#comment-13 Dan Wolfe Sat, 23 Jun 2007 00:57:22 +0000 http://gcstories.wordpress.com/2007/06/02/were-listening/#comment-13 I was traveling this week in West Palm Beach, Florida on business and it was around 10:30 p.m. at night when we (my colleague from work was with me) drove up to our hotel, which was near the airport. When we pulled up in the parking lot we notice a woman standing near the parked cars trying to carrying on a conversation with someone getting out of their car (it actually looked like she might be fighting with the person in the car as she was standing in front of the car waving her arms and talking). We proceeded to park our car and could overhear bits and pieces of the conversation but it appeared to us that the woman (who was around 40 years old) was begging for money. We parked our car and as we were getting our luggage out of the trunk of our car she approached us and was trying to get our attention. She first apologized for approaching us and said that she was "not crazy" but was trying to get some money for gas for her car that had run out of gas just down the road. Given that I had heard a multitude of variations on this story from vagrants in downtown Chicago, I was all too quick to conclude that this was all part of a scam to get money to buy alcohol or drugs. Moreover, given that it was late and we were very tired from a long day's work, I was even more motivated to politely find a way out of the situation and get to my nice, comfortable bed that was awaiting me. That's when the first "God Moment" hit. Given my analytical nature, I figured I could ask her a series of questions to "test" her to see if her story was legitimate. I then asked her, "Where is your car that run out of gas?" She proceeded to point across the parking lot to a car that was parked in a neighboring Enterprise Rental Car lot and said, "It is parked over there . . . that is where we ran out of gas and they won't give me any gas unless I pay for it." Hearing "we" I said, "Who is with you?" She replied, "My 16-year-old daughter." Being the skeptic I am, I thought to myself, "Geez, it is 10:30 p.m. at night in a hotel parking lot with hardly anyone around within eyesight and here this 16-year-old girl isn't out WITH her mother helping to look for gas money." I then said, "Why isn't your daughter with you?" The woman then got very quiet and tears began to well up in her eyes and she said, "My daughter is pregnant and she is afraid to go out in public and be seen . . . I just left my husband and we are on our own now." Now I was really torn . . . either this was a tremendous actress and she was really good a being a con or this was the real deal. Then the second "God Moment" struck me like a frying pan up along side the head. I looked her straight in the eyes and said, "Do you believe in God?" As soon as I asked her this question, she began to sob. It was as if this woman thought I was her Guardian Angel. She proceeded to tell me that the reason she was begging for money (which she said she had never done before but she didn't know what else to do) was so that her and her daughter could get to a Catholic Church shelter a few miles west of where we were at (she mentioned the Church by name). It was at the moment that the Holy Spirit overwhelmed me and I felt the need to give her some money. I reached into my pocket and gave her $10 and you would have thought that I gave her the world. She continued to cry and thanking me for what I had done . . . with several "God Bless You!" remarks as well. I prayed for her and sent her on her way, where she went and put gas in her car. I hope and pray she made it to where she was going and that she truly is being comforted by God's grace and mercy. I continue to pray for her and her daughter. What a way to put my long day all in perspective and realize what it was all for . . . God's Glory! Amen! I was traveling this week in West Palm Beach, Florida on business and it was around 10:30 p.m. at night when we (my colleague from work was with me) drove up to our hotel, which was near the airport. When we pulled up in the parking lot we notice a woman standing near the parked cars trying to carrying on a conversation with someone getting out of their car (it actually looked like she might be fighting with the person in the car as she was standing in front of the car waving her arms and talking).

We proceeded to park our car and could overhear bits and pieces of the conversation but it appeared to us that the woman (who was around 40 years old) was begging for money. We parked our car and as we were getting our luggage out of the trunk of our car she approached us and was trying to get our attention.

She first apologized for approaching us and said that she was “not crazy” but was trying to get some money for gas for her car that had run out of gas just down the road. Given that I had heard a multitude of variations on this story from vagrants in downtown Chicago, I was all too quick to conclude that this was all part of a scam to get money to buy alcohol or drugs. Moreover, given that it was late and we were very tired from a long day’s work, I was even more motivated to politely find a way out of the situation and get to my nice, comfortable bed that was awaiting me. That’s when the first “God Moment” hit.

Given my analytical nature, I figured I could ask her a series of questions to “test” her to see if her story was legitimate. I then asked her, “Where is your car that run out of gas?” She proceeded to point across the parking lot to a car that was parked in a neighboring Enterprise Rental Car lot and said, “It is parked over there . . . that is where we ran out of gas and they won’t give me any gas unless I pay for it.” Hearing “we” I said, “Who is with you?” She replied, “My 16-year-old daughter.”

Being the skeptic I am, I thought to myself, “Geez, it is 10:30 p.m. at night in a hotel parking lot with hardly anyone around within eyesight and here this 16-year-old girl isn’t out WITH her mother helping to look for gas money.” I then said, “Why isn’t your daughter with you?”

The woman then got very quiet and tears began to well up in her eyes and she said, “My daughter is pregnant and she is afraid to go out in public and be seen . . . I just left my husband and we are on our own now.” Now I was really torn . . . either this was a tremendous actress and she was really good a being a con or this was the real deal. Then the second “God Moment” struck me like a frying pan up along side the head.

I looked her straight in the eyes and said, “Do you believe in God?” As soon as I asked her this question, she began to sob. It was as if this woman thought I was her Guardian Angel. She proceeded to tell me that the reason she was begging for money (which she said she had never done before but she didn’t know what else to do) was so that her and her daughter could get to a Catholic Church shelter a few miles west of where we were at (she mentioned the Church by name). It was at the moment that the Holy Spirit overwhelmed me and I felt the need to give her some money. I reached into my pocket and gave her $10 and you would have thought that I gave her the world. She continued to cry and thanking me for what I had done . . . with several “God Bless You!” remarks as well. I prayed for her and sent her on her way, where she went and put gas in her car.

I hope and pray she made it to where she was going and that she truly is being comforted by God’s grace and mercy. I continue to pray for her and her daughter. What a way to put my long day all in perspective and realize what it was all for . . . God’s Glory! Amen!

]]> By: Sue http://gcstories.wordpress.com/2007/06/02/were-listening/#comment-12 Sue Mon, 18 Jun 2007 21:03:34 +0000 http://gcstories.wordpress.com/2007/06/02/were-listening/#comment-12 Saturday the 16th was OHH and I had the honor of serving with a great team at the Open Door Clinic. The clinic serves HIV and AIDS clients. Walking into the building was like walking into a tunnel. The hall was long,the panneling was dark, and the lighting was not very bright. But entering the waiting room was like entering a cave. No windows for sunlight and the same dark panneling, carpet, even the chairs were gray. This amazing team transformed the waiting room and adjoining hallway into a bright welcoming area. Pat, age 68, is the receptionist, mentor, big sister, mother, and friend to all the clients and she works part-time...only about 50 hours a week! She told us over and over how what we did would make a difference. I'm sure that God has plans for each person that enters that clinic. But the lasting impression for me was when we realized we would not be able to finish the exam room after spending hours stripping the wallpaper. And Walt asked if anyone could committ to another day...he had an immediate response....just tell us when! OHH may be scheduled for a Saturday in June, but the Open Doors that God will use because of us will go into eternity. Saturday the 16th was OHH and I had the honor of serving with a great team at the Open Door Clinic. The clinic serves HIV and AIDS clients. Walking into the building was like walking into a tunnel. The hall was long,the panneling was dark, and the lighting was not very bright. But entering the waiting room was like entering a cave. No windows for sunlight and the same dark panneling, carpet, even the chairs were gray. This amazing team transformed the waiting room and adjoining hallway into a bright welcoming area. Pat, age 68, is the receptionist, mentor, big sister, mother, and friend to all the clients and she works part-time…only about 50 hours a week! She told us over and over how what we did would make a difference. I’m sure that God has plans for each person that enters that clinic. But the lasting impression for me was when we realized we would not be able to finish the exam room after spending hours stripping the wallpaper. And Walt asked if anyone could committ to another day…he had an immediate response….just tell us when! OHH may be scheduled for a Saturday in June, but the Open Doors that God will use because of us will go into eternity.

]]> By: Susan http://gcstories.wordpress.com/2007/06/02/were-listening/#comment-10 Susan Thu, 14 Jun 2007 12:32:04 +0000 http://gcstories.wordpress.com/2007/06/02/were-listening/#comment-10 This week I made a dinner for some neighbors. You see the women was hit by a car and suffered leg injuries which required a few surgeries and now she's recovering in a wheelchair. Many neighbors decided to help and made a volunteer dinner schedule for them to assist in her healing. But when I delivered the meal this past Tuesday, my heart told me that she needed much more in the healing process than food. I knocked and called out for someone, her husband greeted me.(I was a bit late for their dinnertime) . Her husband escorted me to the kitchen where I put the dinner down, I offered to serve them and come back and clean up afterwards, they said they'd be fine. He took me further to the screened porch at the back of the house and there was his wife in the wheelchair. I leaned in and gave her a hug and she quickly said "Hi" and thanked me for taking time out of my day to make them dinner. She asked me to have a seat and even thou I had to make dinner for my own family, I heard that little whisper, that tug at the heart, it told me I could take the time to visit and listen today. I feel like I'm blessed for having so many great neighbors, I'm going to listen to that whisper more often and I encourage you to do the same, This week I made a dinner for some neighbors. You see the women was hit by a car and suffered leg injuries which required a few surgeries and now she’s recovering in a wheelchair. Many neighbors decided to help and made a volunteer dinner schedule for them to assist in her healing. But when I delivered the meal this past Tuesday, my heart told me that she needed much more in the healing process than food. I knocked and called out for someone, her husband greeted me.(I was a bit late for their dinnertime) . Her husband escorted me to the kitchen where I put the dinner down, I offered to serve them and come back and clean up afterwards, they said they’d be fine. He took me further to the screened porch at the back of the house and there was his wife in the wheelchair. I leaned in and gave her a hug and she quickly said “Hi” and thanked me for taking time out of my day to make them dinner. She asked me to have a seat and even thou I had to make dinner for my own family, I heard that little whisper, that tug at the heart, it told me I could take the time to visit and listen today.
I feel like I’m blessed for having so many great neighbors, I’m going to listen to that whisper more often and I encourage you to do the same,

]]> By: LC http://gcstories.wordpress.com/2007/06/02/were-listening/#comment-9 LC Thu, 14 Jun 2007 12:07:32 +0000 http://gcstories.wordpress.com/2007/06/02/were-listening/#comment-9 Dear GCCC's, For hose of you who helped out with Eastwood picnic/outreach I wanted to share with you how it affected 2 others. When I went to have a medical procedure done yesterday, the nurse seemed like she couldn't wait to see me and share with me what an Aurora police officer friend of hers who was working there that day told her. The churches' made quite an impact-she said it didn't feel like 'charity' but respectful, thoughtful loving and friendship building. Which, if I understand correctly, is what we were aiming for. The nurse brought up how GC is about to do something more. I can't remember everything she said, but both she and her officer friend were touched and impressed. Way to go guys!!! Dear GCCC’s,
For hose of you who helped out with Eastwood picnic/outreach I wanted to share with you how it affected 2 others. When I went to have a medical procedure done yesterday, the nurse seemed like she couldn’t wait to see me and share with me what an Aurora police officer friend of hers who was working there that day told her. The churches’ made quite an impact-she said it didn’t feel like ‘charity’ but respectful, thoughtful loving and friendship building. Which, if I understand correctly, is what we were aiming for. The nurse brought up how GC is about to do something more. I can’t remember everything she said, but both she and her officer friend were touched and impressed.
Way to go guys!!!

]]> By: PK http://gcstories.wordpress.com/2007/06/02/were-listening/#comment-8 PK Mon, 11 Jun 2007 18:22:01 +0000 http://gcstories.wordpress.com/2007/06/02/were-listening/#comment-8 On May 1st of this year, The company I work for was asked to take this young man to his prom and gradution. The manger asked everyone that was a senior driver. Because you were not getting paid for the field trip everyone turned it down, well it got to me and there was something telling me I had to do it. So the company manger asked me and I said yes. So on May 12th, I drove downtown Chicago and picked up Richard Winfery (Tre) to take him to his prom. I go to church on Sunday and Richard's Pastor was speaking at Ginger Creek. Richard attends Faith and Family church. I want back and picked Tre up and May 25th and Tre's mother and I talked about church and the pastors. She told me that because I was doing this out of the kindness of my heart, I will be blessed. I was doing it because everyone has the right to go to prom and gradution. On May 1st of this year, The company I work for was asked to take this young man to his prom and gradution. The manger asked everyone that was a senior driver. Because you were not getting paid for the field trip everyone turned it down, well it got to me and there was something telling me I had to do it. So the company manger asked me and I said yes. So on May 12th, I drove downtown Chicago and picked up Richard Winfery (Tre) to take him to his prom. I go to church on Sunday and Richard’s Pastor was speaking at Ginger Creek. Richard attends Faith and Family church. I want back and picked Tre up and May 25th and Tre’s mother and I talked about church and the pastors. She told me that because I was doing this out of the kindness of my heart, I will be blessed. I was doing it because everyone has the right to go to prom and gradution.

]]> By: TN http://gcstories.wordpress.com/2007/06/02/were-listening/#comment-6 TN Thu, 07 Jun 2007 11:24:09 +0000 http://gcstories.wordpress.com/2007/06/02/were-listening/#comment-6 God allows us to help even in the little things. While at the post office, I was using the postage machine to see how much postage I needed for a letter that I had to send. While using the machine, an elderly lady came in and was contemplating if she needed more postage for her letter. I thought of what Pastor Charles spoke about on Sunday and proceeded to show her how to use the postage machine to check the weight of her letter. Most people wouldn't think of this as a "God Moment" but it is. To see the smile on her face when I showed her this is why we are meant to be lights in the world. Our actions can speak volumes about who we are and what we believe. With random acts of kindness, we can allow our lights to shine. I just encourage everyone to try to reach out when someone needs it. God allows us to help even in the little things.

While at the post office, I was using the postage machine to see how much postage I needed for a letter that I had to send. While using the machine, an elderly lady came in and was contemplating if she needed more postage for her letter. I thought of what Pastor Charles spoke about on Sunday and proceeded to show her how to use the postage machine to check the weight of her letter.

Most people wouldn’t think of this as a “God Moment” but it is. To see the smile on her face when I showed her this is why we are meant to be lights in the world. Our actions can speak volumes about who we are and what we believe. With random acts of kindness, we can allow our lights to shine.

I just encourage everyone to try to reach out when someone needs it.

]]> By: KK http://gcstories.wordpress.com/2007/06/02/were-listening/#comment-5 KK Wed, 06 Jun 2007 15:35:16 +0000 http://gcstories.wordpress.com/2007/06/02/were-listening/#comment-5 It is so cool to look at every interaction and meeting through God's eyes. I have found so much more of the focus in conversations to really be on listening to the heart of the other person - we are both blessed in the process. I had a couple encounters (so far) this week...so amazing to feel God right there in on the words spoken. It is so cool to look at every interaction and meeting through God’s eyes. I have found so much more of the focus in conversations to really be on listening to the heart of the other person – we are both blessed in the process. I had a couple encounters (so far) this week…so amazing to feel God right there in on the words spoken.

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