Simply Love

FINANCIAL
mint.com
Personal Financial Profile (34kb Excel file)
Personal Financial Plan (23kb Excel file)
Monthly Budget Ledger (37kb Excel file)
Online Giving
God and Money
Common Errors and Expenses
Making Financial Decisions
Finding Financial Freedom
How to Control Spending
10 Things You Can Do to Find Financial Freedom

COMMUNICATION
Marriage Growth-Track
3 Ways to Really Listen to Your Spouse
Date Nite Conversations
His Needs, Her Needs by Willard Harley
How to Have a Forgiving Spirit
Sex Conversations
The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman

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Stressed. Disconnected. Alone. Catherine and I met through my friend’s wife. We didn’t date very long before getting engaged, and then quickly got married. Just as quickly, though, we found out we didn’t have a lot in common. Marriage was a huge adjustment: I went from being a bachelor with all the money I could spend, to boom – being married, having a stepchild, and then having another kid with Catherine. We had a lot to deal with. We went to individual and marriage counseling, but it didn’t solve our problems. I drank, and with every change and stress that drove us further apart, I drank more. We had no intimacy between us, and no spirituality in our home. There was just this feeling of aloneness.

Thankfully, a counselor suggested we try Dave Ramsey’s financial management program. While it focused on finances, it also covered deeper spiritual issues. This program brought us together – we were able to get on the same page and heal. When we moved to the area in fall 2012, our oldest daughter started regularly attending Fellowship of the Parks. She would always come home and tell us we needed to go, but heavy stress levels kept us from doing it. We were burnt out. When Christmas came, and we didn’t know where else to go, we decided to try FOTP. Then at Easter, we went back. We plugged in and decided to join a Small Group, which has now become our family.

Connected. Hopeful. Together.  At the time, Pastor Chuck was starting a church softball team, and he asked me to play. We weren’t very good, but it was fine. I got to know Chuck quite a bit, as he shared some personal and marital struggles he had faced. Slowly, over time, I stopped going out with guys from work; I stopped going to the bars. I started looking forward to going to Small Group and to doing family things.

When Pastor Doug talked about taking first steps toward giving financially to God through the giving ladder, we decided to try giving $100 a month. When I got into a new job with a sizable raise, I thought God had a lot to do with it, and told Catherine I wanted to make sure we bumped up our giving to 10% of our income. As much as God helped my family and me personally through FOTP and its people, I want to give my money and my time to them, because they are constantly reaching others. We went because we were far from having everything together. We were looking for something that was missing in our lives. I found it at FOTP – connection to Christ – and that’s something I hope everybody will find.

We are Reggie & Catherine and we are CHANGED!

Divorced. Uncomfortable. Incomplete. I first came to Fellowship of the Parks in 2003. As much as I appreciated the teaching and worship, I had recently been divorced and felt like I didn’t belong here. It seemed to be a church full of married people. That stayed in the back of my mind and, when I was remarried two years later, I came back thinking “now this can be my church.”

Within two years, that marriage had also deteriorated. All the lies and infidelity paved the way for yet another divorce. As broken and frustrated as I was, I had grown to love FOTP too much to leave and ended up hosting a singles group at my house to try and help create a place for myself and the other single adults around me. Through that group, I realized a deep insecurity with myself. I felt incomplete if I wasn’t married, which really bothered me. I wanted that to change so I would nd my identity in Christ and in serving Him.

In 2011, I became the founding leader of DivorceCare at Fellowship of the Parks. The program does a great job of teaching that we are de ned by our relationships with God long before the world labels us as married, divorced, or single. Regardless of how messy divorce so often is, the path forward is forgiveness through Jesus and finding our contentment in Him beyond our immediate circumstances.

Dependent. Content. Undivided. It’s amazing to see all that God has done for single and divorced people through a church I initially thought was for married people only. Ironically, it was only after I had reached a place of total contentment with myself and the Lord that I met Mark, who also served at the church and had himself been single for nine years. We eventually married each other, but with a completely different understanding of what our purpose really is for each other. The difference for both of us is like night and day.

I am so happy to see how the singles ministry at Fellowship of the Parks has developed since I first came. We now have a group called Undivided 735, where those who are or have become single again can pursue their relationships with the Lord together with their attention undivided from Him.

The group gets its name from 1 Corinthians 7:32-35, where Paul explains marriage to be something that very easily distracts us from the Lord. Especially in our culture, marriage quickly becomes the primary relationship we pursue, care for, and worry about. Paul says we should give that kind of attention to our individual relationships with God first. Everything else comes from the over ow of that. It’s an unpopular idea, for sure. And yet it matches perfectly with what Jesus taught: being in the world and not of it and making sure nothing gets in the way of our relationship with Him. In 7:35, Paul wrote, “I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.”

We are a church that loves to strengthen marriages, helping them to be built and function with a Christ-centered perspective—and rightfully so since marriage was the illustration of intimacy Jesus used to explain our unity with Himself. But that is a relationship we are all meant to enjoy, whether we are married or single, young or old. We all t into one family together as His Church—His bride. No matter what stage of life we’re in, we can grow, serve, and love right where we are. ​

I am Mindy and I am CHANGED!

Broken. Afraid. Longing. I have been a middle school music teacher for several years. Three years ago, a new student walked into my classroom and we had an immediate connection. Conversation seemed to come easily. Now don’t get me wrong, Jennifer had a hard-outer shell, and she was not interested in singing! Period! However, shortly after starting my class, she began to eat lunch in my room. She was relatively quiet the first few weeks and did not initiate conversations. As time progressed, she started to open up more during lunch and actually began singing in class as well! During our chats, I learned that she was living in a local children’s shelter. As time progressed and our comfort level increased I learned much more about the life of this special child. Jennifer continued to share her story with me. She was so young to have such a “full plate!” She told me that she was going to be featured in WFAA’s Wednesday’s Child. The basic message from this program was: “no one wants to adopt teens”! This was a very sad reality.

Soon after bonding with Jennifer, FOTP started the adoption/orphan care movement. I had always thought that I might adopt one day, but it wasn’t until the realization of this statement that I genuinely felt a longing to “make the plunge“. I nervously prayed for guidance.

Towards the end of the school year, Jennifer asked me to take a picture with her. I placed the photo on the fridge and immediately thought and felt that “this is my child”. On the last day of school, she brought me a letter and a painting. After school dismissal, I read the letter. She had expressed that she loved my class and that I was the mother she needed. I knew then that I had to adopt Jennifer. I talked to a friend who worked at an agency and started paperwork. That summer I was able to keep in contact with Jennifer, but didn’t let her know that I was thinking and praying about adopting her.

In January 2016, we officially started the process. I was very nervous and afraid because I am an older single woman, but I was prayerful and leaned on my great support system. Jennifer was placed through Child Protective Services and moved into my home on the last day of school. She was fostered in July and formally adopted on National Adoption Day November 19, 2016.

Healed. Hopeful. Purposeful. Blending together as a family has been an eye-opening but beautiful experience. I had the opportunity to meet Jennifer’s biological mother, and we have been able to bond. Jennifer’s sister has been adopted by another single mother and lives ten minutes away. This has been helpful and encouraging for all of us.

To say this process had been a journey of faith would be an understatement. It was truly the blind being led by God. This process has been a very positive one, and definitely a win-win situation. Jennifer has a new supportive and loving family, and I have become more open minded and vulnerable in the best way. Sure, there are challenging moments, but when these times arise, we seem to figure out a way to make things work. The words that the judge spoke on Jennifer’s adoption day help us to continue: “Are you sure that you want to do this? Denise? Jennifer? After I make my pronouncement, it will be too late to change your mind!” It is then that we remember that we were both in tears as we said, “Yes!”

I am Denise and I am CHANGED!

Abandoned. Abused. Afraid. When I first came to Fellowship of the Parks, the only person I knew was my sister, who agreed to come with me for moral support. My ex-husband had just left me with our 18 month-old, and my 14-year-old and my world felt like it was out of control. Even with a Catholic background, I lacked a personal relationship with God. After everything I’d just gone through, I felt like maybe that’s what I needed.

My sister’s support wasn’t quite enough in itself to get me to become more involved, not to mention I still had a thousand unanswered spiritual questions. It sounds silly, but I felt inadequate to serve. I did have the courage, at least, to join a LIFEGroup for single parents. I was nervous but I knew I needed more support in my new journey.

The group was brand new, and I was the only person who attended at first. I think I actually needed that. Stacyee, the group’s leader, was so helpful in talking with me about some of my spiritual questions while encouraging me to study on my own. With time, I was much more aware of what the Christian faith actually stood upon. For the first time, I knew in my heart it was true and I soon found myself serving in multiple areas at the church.

The single parents LIFEGroup grew to have many more regular attenders like me, but eventually, Stacyee needed to step down as the leader. She asked me to lead it in her place. I didn’t feel qualified but I was encouraged that she thought I was capable. I soon found that it wasn’t my knowledge (or lack of knowledge) which decided if I was qualified to be a leader or not. It was the fact that I was actively pursuing God and valued having others around to do that with.

Bold. Confident. Following. The biggest fear I had to overcome as a LIFEGroup leader was the group prayer. It helped to realize that all of us were nervous about praying out loud. But I knew I had to work past it if I wanted to grow in my faith. To help, I purchased a small prayer book and found a few relevant prayers to read aloud for the group until I became more comfortable with it.

I am forever grateful for what that first LIFEGroup offered to me in community and spiritual growth. Neither was automatic but rather the direct result of what I put into it. I learned a personal relationship with God and His people was exactly what I needed. God calls His followers to love each other, and I have yet to find a better way to do that than to entrust myself to a small, Christ-centered group of people and take an active interest in their lives.

Last fall represented a new time of growth for me as I felt God leading me to start a brand new LIFEGroup to follow The Daniel Plan. I’m still no Bible scholar but I was excited to witness what God did through this new group.

If anyone were to tell me three and a half years ago when I first arrived to FOTP that I would be doing this, I would have thought they were crazy. But now I have seen how God cares for us when we simply trust Him and put Him first in our lives. He has truly changed me from the inside out.

I am Charmaine and I am CHANGED!

Stable. Comfortable. Content. My wife and I have been married 34 years. Lisa and I started dating at 15 and have two children. To say I am smitten falls short, I love this amazing woman, more now than ever.

On December 22nd 2015, Lisa went in for a voluntary hysterectomy. On the operating table the doctor found cancer and called the oncologist. He walked her through what he wanted done. We found out from the scans on December 28th that the cancer was contained. Fortunately, things moved very quickly. We met with the oncologist on January 4th. He gave Lisa options. Lisa decided to have the surgery and it was scheduled for January 8th. The doctor removed 95% of the cancer. While recovering from the surgery, Lisa underwent another surgery to place her port for the chemotherapy treatments. We began to see how our God was showing up at every turn. The statement, “God’s got this” continued to resound for both of us!

Lisa started the 18 chemo treatments on January 25th. Lisa did okay with the treatments. Our issues revolved around making sure she ate three meals a day and drank enough water. She slept sometimes days at a time and other days not at all. For me, tears would just roll at times when I saw the love of my life hurt, or she couldn’t sleep. We spent days on our couch recovering from surgeries. The pain so intense that nothing would work. If she took something it would cause something else. We made it with God at our side through these difficult times.

Stronger. Committed. Prayerful. During her treatments either myself or our daughter took Lisa. Lisa made it her objective to lift others up every time she was getting treatments. Lisa committed to never going to treatment without a smile. We shared the gospel every time. We have no doubt that God had us there for his work. God kept her going, he never left us, as he promised.

Lisa received numerous well wishes, cards, food and other meaningful gifts. One of the items she received early in this journey was a book called, Praying through Cancer. God, put this book in her hands, to help her in those many nights of no sleep along with those times where she was anxious. Every time we would have a tough time, he would show up in a verse, phone call, text, through the many friends who kept up with us.

On February 18th Lisa had a spot checked on her left foot. It came back as melanoma. She had surgery to remove it on March 2nd. This was difficult, she had to use crutches to get around for 3 weeks, while the site healed. Through all of this, chemotherapy treatments continued. On May 31st, Lisa went in for a follow up with her skin doctor to find a spot on her face. It came back as a melanoma. It was removed on June 7th.

Lisa had her last chemotherapy treatment on June 20th. She rang the bell to symbolize the last chemo treatment. On July 5th Lisa’s scans came back all clear!

We are Perry & Lisa and we are CHANGED!

Withdrawn. Unhealthy. Indifferent. Marriage longevity runs in our families. We thought everything was perfect. We have two children; Samantha (10) and Max (5). After Samantha was born in 2006 we started looking for a church home. We decided to attend Good Shepard Catholic Community. We had Samantha and Max christened and our marriage recognized by the Catholic Church. Then we stopped attending.

We’d been to FOTP several times throughout the years with Amanda’s sister and her family. The kids always loved it and continually asked when we would go back. So, we started attending regularly. In December of 2013, we attended Starting Point and joined the church.

Throughout our marriage, we struggled with communication and financial stress that never seemed to get resolved. It was the same dance year after year. We had attended counseling but it never seemed to work. On our 2015 annual beach vacation with all of our family, we had a huge blow-up. This fight motivated us to attend Marriage on the Rock in 2015. However, something was still off. We both swept it under the rug and continued to coexist in our home and put on a happy face in public.

What I (Chris) didn’t realize was marriage took effort and I wasn’t putting in that effort. I evaded problems and issues when they arose hoping the situation would resolve itself on its own. In my work career I routinely solved complicated problems and worked to find resolutions to satisfy those involved, but at home, I was withdrawn, distant, and disengaged. My behavior was unsustainable and it was taking a toll on our marriage and family.

Our financial struggle was serious. We had been making silly mistakes and with no real communication between the two of us, things got out of control. Trying to keep the peace between us, we didn’t talk about how things were going — and it was going terribly.

The series With Him was a light bulb moment for us. We immediately sought out Roger Gibson and said, “We need help.” We began weekly meetings with Roger to learn how to forgive and reconnect. After another episode of selfish withdrawal, I (Chris) had an epiphany while watching FOTP baptisms. I had to change. I truly accepted Jesus in my life and was baptized. While going through that process Roger encouraged us to participate in a two-day Marriage Intensive. It wasn’t easy, however, it has transformed our lives.

Committed. Together. Forever. The support and belief that FOTP has shown us has been a miracle in our lives. We now have the tools we need to communicate and understand our needs in a productive way. We still struggle, but we pray together, continue to work on our relationship with Christ as a couple and as individuals.

In the months since all of this came to the surface, our lives have been forever changed! Our children have seen the change in us. Our daughter has accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior! Our son enjoys talking about what he’s learned in Kids Inc. and prays with us too.

We have experienced a renewed commitment to each other that goes beyond ‘til death do us part’. Our marriage is now focused on the teachings in the Bible and we seek ways to honor each other daily.

We are Chris & Amanda and we are CHANGED!

Chained. Broken. Dead. I was raised