Written by: Tom Schmidt I found myself in a place I had never voluntarily been before. Unemployed. I was discouraged and stressed. I could not even afford the COBRA insurance policy from my former employer.
I was a young married man with a son recently diagnosed with hemi-paresis cerebral palsy and no health insurance, no job and no real savings. I held onto the One thing I did have- HOPE. Hope in a God who is much bigger than all my problems then and now. During prayer after Tommy was diagnosed, we had felt reassurance that God would take care of Tommy and his needs. I was doing odd jobs for friends, painting houses and catering when possible. I went to a “headhunter” on the advice of a friend from First United Methodist Church. We met, I filled out information and the waiting began.
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Written by: Holly Schmidt Standing close to front of the sanctuary, my heart raced. It felt as if it was going to thump right out of my chest. I had been listening to story after story of missionaries sharing the hope of Jesus with others. They spoke of incredible hardships and sacrifices. Yet woven in between each testimony, a glimmer of hope sprung up.
I couldn't escape this internal shaking. My mind racing. I wanted to go. And then the theme song of the missions conference started up again. The chorus of music burrowed deeply within my spirit. I knew. I knew in the very depth of my being that God was calling me to go. Every part of my mind, my body, my spirit was touched. No escaping this draw. This pull to go. To be sent. To tell of the good news of Jesus Christ. Here I am! Send me. We had only been married a few years. A rough start brought us together. Drinking buddies. We met and started dating when Tom was still married to the older woman with her kid closer to his age then she was. An open marriage. Yet, deep inside I still knew it was wrong. It would be several years and quite a bit of hardship for this rocky beginning to work itself in our lives so we could move forward. |