Tell Us Your Story

For most of us we can see the changes in our lives by certain milestones that we hit. Getting our drivers license, graduating from school, getting married, having a baby or lossing a loved one. For those of us at Green Valley Community Church those milestones, big and small, are lived out everyday sitting in a simple "orange chair". Tell us your story. We want to share with each other what "one small chair" has done in your life. To tell us your story click on the blue "Comments" link under this posting or email us your story at orangechair@gvcconline.net.

Comments

[Kori Taylor]

These stories are great testamonies of what God has done and will do in everyones' lives if they will only let Him in.

[Christine Ann]

I walked in feeling so alone. Not so much lonely. But alone. I had friends, lots of friends. I had my 2 young children. I had a full time job. I had two parents who loved me. From the outside my life seemed fine. But I felt empty. I felt alone. I searched for a way to fill my aloneness, the hole I had in my heavy heart. I searched through new age books, meditation classes, night clubbing every weekend, unhealthy boyfriend relationships. I searched and searched. I almost gave up.
I will never forget the day. I got in my car and drove aimlessly around like I had done so many times before. Except this day was different than all the others. This day I drove right into the parking lot of Green Valley Church. I knew it was there, I passed it so many times. This time I drove into the parking lot and ran into the church. I was greeted by a sweet lady about my age. I asked her what I needed to do to attend Green Valley? Enrollment forms? Afterall I didn't believe I was worthy to attend. Would the church accept me? I had no background in religion. I knew nothing. She told me all I had to do was show up. Ok, I thought, I could do that. But first I need some guidance. Serious guidance. She quickly grabbed a little booklet. A booklet she called "Life Skill Classes". My heart skipped a beat. This is it! This is exactly what I need! Life Skills! Maybe this is what would fullfill my emptiness, the hole in my heavy heart.
Five years later, my life has changed thanks to that one drive. The last aimless drive I took. It took a few years to fill my heart. A few years of tears and unanswered questions finally answered. And a few years of going back to my old lifestyle only finding the consequences were excruciating.
So here I am now five years later. I have found what I was looking for. Thank you to the sweet lady who gave me the Life Skills Booklet, Thank you to the teachers who dedicated themselves to helping people like me. Thank you to all of you who didn't know me, but made me feel welcome. You all made a difference in my life and my childrens life. I will always be thankful. And most importantly I never feel alone.

[Dixie Ludwig]

I would like to share my orange chair story with you.
I am 64 years old (will be 65 in Mar.).
FOR ONLY THE PAST 6 MONTHS have I felt a joy and peace in my heart I have NEVER felt before.
I always knew there was a God but the books I read like Charles Stanley, Billy Graham and occassionally the bible said I was suppose to be a "knew person".
I certainly was NOT that. I went through all the outward motions BUT when I finally started being obedient to the Lord did he fill be with such awesome peace and joy. I am so thankful he has not given up on me, so you see, it is never to late. I shall always praise the Lord.
I just wanted to share.
Sincerely,
Dixie Ludwig

[Paul]

I have only just begun attending this wonderful family here at Green Valley Community Church. I must say this is the most energizing celebration of sharing Gods love I have ever encountered. The services are more a concert than church. "Make a joyful noise!" The message of the words and love of Christ are phenomenal in the manner they are shared here. I was born and raised a strict Catholic background. My mother always insisted on our attending mass every Sunday. As well as CCD after school once a week. It was driven into our brains how powerful and strong Gods Will was and how we would be banished from heaven should we make the slightest mistake. As soon as I was into my high school years and began studying economics, I discovered the "Business" of religion. I refused to attend church with my mother and sisters soon after.

When I was eighteen years old, in 1978, my younger sister, Terry, was killed in a plane crash down here in Cameron Park with her boyfriends father. Father Downey from St. Patricks in Placerville came to the house to give his condolences to my family. I had questioned him why God felt it was time for Terry to be taken, and as he shook my hand with tears in his eyes he couldn't answer that. I felt betrayed and stranded by God. Her funeral would be the last time I entered a Catholic church until my mother passed away in 1990.

I have yet to enter those establishments with the intent to pray or attend "mass". I did however attend the Church of Christ with my wife of 17 years, only to be told I was not permitted to accept holy communion without being baptized by that church. I had been baptized as a baby in the catholic church, but this apparently was not sufficient.

My wife and I have since divorced and I brought my youngest son, TJ up to Plymouth where I relocated after selling our home in Sacramento. July 6th 2007, I suffered a mild stroke and grand mal seizure. while visiting my then girlfriend in Elk Grove. She called things off a few months later with the notion I had health issues. I recovered with no residual affects and continued my medication regiment religiously.

August 31st this year I suffered another seizure, not as serious as the previous yet scary all the same. The doctors have placed me on disability, in the meantime I was advised by my employer I should consider finding another position elsewhere. Due to the economy and my health issues... I felt as if the world around me was caving in when my beautiful girlfriend, Robin reminded me, perhaps God has different plans for me and its time to start another chapter.

Here I am and happier than I thought was possible. God Bless you all and Thank you form the bottom of my heart!!

[Amanda Sutton]

For 6 yrs i attended Green Valley, but only wore a mask. A mask covering my brokeness, despair,guilt, and shame. Where i used drugs and alcohol to change the way i feel but to also fill the void in my heart.

I always had a relationship with God, it was a huge struggle. Going to services i would cry my eyes out, and at one point i remember feeling these huge arms wrapped around me. It was Jesus holding me, and today i know that.

On November 14th, 2007 there was a sevice about forgiven yourself, and humbling yourself before God. That was a service where an orange chair became my story. How could i have a relationship with God if i wasnt willing to forgive myself. God forgives me, he doesnt judge me, so why should i judge myself. That was it i had to forgive Amanda and let go of the broken pieces of my past. Forgiveing myself did not happen over night. It took alot of healing and alot of time with the Lord carrying me.

When i truly accepted Christ, and his everlasting love he has for each and everyone of us my life began to change with it in his hands. I stopped using drugs the night of the service turned myself into jail, and after jail it was a treatment program. While being in Jail i spoke to other woman and lead them to accept Christ.

It wasnt the nails that held jesus on the cross, it was the unconditional love he has for each one of us. When he went to the cross he took my guilt, and shame but also mended my brokeness. God is Love. Grace has set us free, and Grace has changed my life.

Today i have a great relationship with the Lord and know he will never give me more than i can handle and he is always carrying me. Green Valley is an amazing church and i attend it often.

Its been almost a year and half off of drugs and 10 months off alcohol which means for me no more overdoses, jail cells, and living BROKEN. The pieces have been put together with the love of christ. I am a new mother to my daughter and raise her to love christ. My new sons will grow up knowing the love and work of God.

If you are someone who comes here wearing a mask, covering your addiction, pain, or whatever it is. Just cast your burden to the Lord, he can handle your past, he can heal you if are willing to heal yourself.