20 years ago when my husband and I founded Lifechurch (then Church on The Move) we would have only dreamed of the impact this community of Christ Followers would have. Ordinary people working together to do EXTRAordinary things.
Ordinary individuals mobilized to impact their communities, their region......their world.......the world.
To see the lives that are transformed, restored and "redeemed" is amazing. Our mission has been that the power of God enables ordinary people to have an extraordinary life and impact.
A personal story........
Our 21 yr. old daughter, Natalie, a junior at Eastern University, was so moved by the plight of a group of children with special needs that she volunteered to lead her first missions trip to Haiti this past Tuesday. Natalie is not unfamiliar to Haiti, this is her 4th trip. Neither is she unfamiliar with having a sister with special needs....this has been her reality for 18 years.
The earthquake left an already povertry stricken country immobilized. But to add the physical and mental challenges that these children have seems unsurmountable.
Natalie felt with the resources she had, people she knew that would be moved and the compassion in her heart she could do something and she did...............
Watch the story of ordinary people making a big difference
http://www.wfmz.com/news/24026191/detail.html
So the next time you think what's in your hand is "small" and can't make a difference, think about this story. The small 'thing' in your hands may be enormous in the eyes of someone else that needs it!!
Pastor Maribel
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Sunday, June 13, 2010
The Graduation of a Champion
“Olivia Landis”
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Eighteen years ago well meaning doctors could not forsee this day. “There are institutions where your daughter can be taken” one doctor said.” They just didn’t know Olivia Landis.
They didn’t know she was going to be one of the strongest young ladies they’d ever seen. They didn’t know that she’d be so resilient and courageous and fight against the odds. They didn’t know she would be someone that would not be satisfied with people telling her “Olivia you can’t do that.” If anything, those words would serve as fuel for her perseverance.
Today I witnessed one of the most inspiring events. Olivia sat there at Stabler Arena amongst 691 Emmaus High School Seniors that she would graduate with. These were peers that though she didn’t know their names, they knew her. They had seen her grow from a 9th grader that needed her aide to take her room to room to a 12th grader that “could do it all on her own”. That in itself is not an easy feat given the size of Emmaus High School.
As Olivia approached the stage we could see she just couldn’t contain herself. Her smile covered her face. The skip in her step was one of elation….. she had done it against the odds. And now, just like any other ‘typical’ student she was going to walk across that stage proud and with her head held high.
What took place in that arena will forever be engrained in my mind. As they said her name….. “OLIVIA VICTORIA LANDIS” she began to lift her hands above her head similar to runners who cross the finish line. With her diploma in hand she continued to lift her hands over her head as if taking her “victory lap”. The place was filled with clapping, shouting and even blow horns (people we didn’t know had the blow horns :) ). As she proceeded down the aisle to her seat, she was giving “high fives” to her peers that stretched out their hands to her.
Cheers were from both family and friends and those who didn’t know her. One thing they did know in that moment was “here is someone that although she was not valedictorian or graduated with honors she was truly a champion."
As the cheers went on people asked “who is she”? They wondered who would get such applause and cheers.
Over the last 18 years I’ve come to know Olivia Victoria Landis, not just as my daughter but as a “special individual”. One thing I know for sure……….. She Has The Heart of a Champion.
It’s a true honor to be called her Mom!!!
Maribel Landis ("Olivia’s Mom”)
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Eighteen years ago well meaning doctors could not forsee this day. “There are institutions where your daughter can be taken” one doctor said.” They just didn’t know Olivia Landis.
They didn’t know she was going to be one of the strongest young ladies they’d ever seen. They didn’t know that she’d be so resilient and courageous and fight against the odds. They didn’t know she would be someone that would not be satisfied with people telling her “Olivia you can’t do that.” If anything, those words would serve as fuel for her perseverance.
Today I witnessed one of the most inspiring events. Olivia sat there at Stabler Arena amongst 691 Emmaus High School Seniors that she would graduate with. These were peers that though she didn’t know their names, they knew her. They had seen her grow from a 9th grader that needed her aide to take her room to room to a 12th grader that “could do it all on her own”. That in itself is not an easy feat given the size of Emmaus High School.
As Olivia approached the stage we could see she just couldn’t contain herself. Her smile covered her face. The skip in her step was one of elation….. she had done it against the odds. And now, just like any other ‘typical’ student she was going to walk across that stage proud and with her head held high.
What took place in that arena will forever be engrained in my mind. As they said her name….. “OLIVIA VICTORIA LANDIS” she began to lift her hands above her head similar to runners who cross the finish line. With her diploma in hand she continued to lift her hands over her head as if taking her “victory lap”. The place was filled with clapping, shouting and even blow horns (people we didn’t know had the blow horns :) ). As she proceeded down the aisle to her seat, she was giving “high fives” to her peers that stretched out their hands to her.
Cheers were from both family and friends and those who didn’t know her. One thing they did know in that moment was “here is someone that although she was not valedictorian or graduated with honors she was truly a champion."
As the cheers went on people asked “who is she”? They wondered who would get such applause and cheers.
Over the last 18 years I’ve come to know Olivia Victoria Landis, not just as my daughter but as a “special individual”. One thing I know for sure……….. She Has The Heart of a Champion.
It’s a true honor to be called her Mom!!!
Maribel Landis ("Olivia’s Mom”)
Congrats Livey….you are an EHS 2010 Graduate!!
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