Volume Two

This volume contains the stories of people who are becoming the church. May you be filled with joy and possibility as you read about all that Jesus is doing.

STORYBOOK

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Walking In Hope

As a teenager, Scott was super active. One December snow day, Scott and some friends decided to go sledding. During what should have been a fun winter day, Scott flew off an embankment, hit a tree, and suffered a spinal cord injury – losing his ability to walk. Scott thought his life was over.

While recovering at Children’s Hospital in Seattle, Scott met a God-send named Jimmy who had lost his entire family in a car accident. The joy and hope Jimmy exuded helped Scott gain a new perspective on his own life - one of perseverance, purpose, and powerful hope in the face of deep darkness and depression.

Scott went on to get a Masters Degree in Guidance and Counseling and has served 25 years in CK school district as a teacher, coach, and, currently, a guidance counselor. Scott’s heart for teens battling darkness inspired him to write “13 Reasons to Live'' a book about how there is a purpose in every life, and how to shift from depression to dreaming no matter the circumstance!

Understanding the mounting struggles that teens face gave Scott an idea: What if we could get teenagers who are battling with mental health walking and talking with others? Enter: The Hope Walk – a 5K to raise awareness and support for teenagers struggling with their mental health. Scott led the charge for hundreds of teenagers and caring adults to walk together reminding each other who they are, how much they have to give, and that they really can dream again no matter what they may be facing.

Mustaches & Strange Looks

Ken’s always had a heart to serve kids! Whether he’s coaching youth soccer or volunteering at kids camps, Ken just adores kids’ enthusiasm, love for fun, and no-barrier personalities! He knows that with good and healthy role models, kids can thrive and bring so much positivity and energy to this world. When asked to serve at Kids Camp 2022, Ken went all in to lead a whole group of kids from getting soaked at rec to getting his face painted in art!

After an amazing but tiring week, it was time for Ken to celebrate and relax a bit with lunch out on the last day of camp. Wondering why there were many strange looks from a few too many people at Silver City, he went into the bathroom to discover he still had the big ole black mustache painted on his face his group had asked him to wear (The camp Villain, “Dallas Chaps” was a hit this summer, and every kid and leader wanted to wear a “Dallas Chaps” stache . . .)! As Ken was laughing to himself and washing off his face, a young man walked in. Ken shared with him that he was on cloud nine because of the terrific experience with the kids, and how thankful he was that so many kids, teens and adults at camp could experience hope that week. To Ken’s surprise, the young man shared with Ken that just the previous night, he and his wife were questioning why they brought their 14 month old daughter into this dark and scary world, and Ken’s story gave this young couple desperately needed hope for their own daughter’s future!

Ken wants everyone to see the positive potential for our whole community when kids have good and healthy role models investing in them.

I Was Sent Here

Ashley, a stay at home mom to a toddler and newborn, felt alone, exhausted, and isolated as her family was newly stationed in Florida due to her husband’s job in the military. Not wanting to let people in during her difficult time, Ashley was reluctant to follow her mom’s advice to join a church. After a long and silent struggle, she started attending a new church and felt God lead her to show up at a women’s event.

She didn’t know anyone, but decided to listen to God’s voice. Ashley drove to the event, slowly got out of the car, and stood awkwardly for what felt like an hour. But after only a few minutes she was introduced to one mom . . . and then another . . . and then was invited to a small but mighty mom’s group, which provided community and support from other moms who shared the challenges and joys of raising littles.

When her husband got a promotion, Ashley knew what they meant: moving – again . . . starting over – again . . . After many tears and trying to find ways to stay in Florida, she knew in her heart that God wanted her in Washington. Her mom’s group knew that moms in Washington needed the same kind of connection and support Ashley had gained, so they prayed for her, sending her to Washington to start a moms group in her new church . . . newlife!

Ashley showed up to a newlife gathering and boldly proclaimed to a team member, “I was sent here to help moms get connected!” And, wow did she! Ashley didn’t waste any time and now leads a team that has formed a monthly mom’s group. Ashley knows God was equipping her during those hard years, and she is in awe of how powerful it is when moms see God’s purpose for their lives, just the way He helped her see her own purpose!

65 Years in the Making

Five years ago, Mark started writing letters to God. He was feeling abandoned, unloved, and unwanted, and he wanted to know if God had any answer for his pain. In this dark period of his life, he met a special person, who soon became his fiancee.

She brought him to newlife and he accomplished something huge . . . walking through the doors! While he started out sitting upstairs during gatherings, he soon moved to the bleachers, and eventually down to hear the messages from the chairs –which for an introvert like Mark, is a huge deal!

Fast forward, and God has worked miracles to open Mark's heart in powerful ways. Mark has now surrendered himself fully to God. Mark felt a tugging on his heart to get baptized, which terrified him because it would have to be in front of a bunch of people! This Easter Sunday, after 65 years of life, Mark conquered his fear and declared in front of the whole gathering of the church that his life belongs to Jesus.

From someone who could barely be around large groups of people, to being surrounded by family and friends on Easter Sunday proclaiming that God is always with us, Mark knows God will never give up on him – or any of us.

Go To a Land I Will Show You

In the fall of 2021, Stess was part of a group that helped start a Christian school in Mazatlán, Mexico. Their goal was to help reach children living in poverty learn about Jesus, and to empower them to use their new skills and education to transform their own neighborhoods and community. This past year, Stess was asked to serve as both a teacher in the school and the principal!

To be honest, Stess was just exhausted from teaching Spanish Immersion in public schools for 10 years in the states, and she didn’t feel like she had the strength to take on a new challenge. She agreed to pray about it, and as you could imagine . . . The Holy Spirit led Stess to Hebrews 11:8 which says, “It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance.” She knew that God was asking for her trust.

Saying “YES!”, Stess packed up, moved to Mazatlan, and now teaches twenty-three 1st and 2nd grade students! She loves watching the transformation and hope build in each of their lives. Only 12 weeks into the school year, many students who were unable to count or recognize any numbers and letters can now count and subtract in both English and Spanish!

One six-year-old student that suffered with insomnia and fear because her mom was gone at work during the night now lights up when Stess reminds her often that she prays for her. Stess has a vision and hope for what God is doing in the lives of the children in Mazatlan, Mexico and is so thankful to be a part of it.

A Brand New Family Tree

Amanda and Jarrett’s journey together started when they were just kids. Their relationship hasn’t ever been easy, with them both coming from difficult homes, full of pain. After 10 years together of trying everything they could think of (and often failing) to overcome the difficulties that life threw at them, they said, “maybe we could try church . . .” After showing up at newlife together, Amanda and Jarret started to read the Bible and praying together. They encountered so much love in Jesus that everything about their lives started to change. Jarrett’s once quick temper has eased to a calm demeanor, their communication has completely transformed, and they’ve even started to see and feel the changes in their kids too! Their family now has a firm foundation, knowing that God is with them and for them.

Easter 2022, Amanda and Jarret got baptized to start their new lives in Christ, and in August of 2022 they started their new lives together by getting married! The joy that they were missing before they devoted themselves to putting God first is now evident all over their lives. They’re excited to show their family, friends, and community that they are fully committed to Jesus, their marriage, growing, and serving others. Their family tree has changed forever!

Firm Foundation

Kaiya said yes to Jesus at middle school summer camp in the summer of 2021. She wanted to continue to learn and grow, so she started serving in early childhood. She started to feel like it was time to get baptized, but felt like God told her to wait and she trusted him.

Fast forward to high school camp 2022 . . . What was supposed to be the best week ever at camp turned into a scary experience for Kaiya – a full on panic attack. It hit her like a train. She was scared and didn’t know what to do. Another panic attack hit her a few days later and Kaiya started to ask God why this was happening to her. She leaned in for the rest of camp and discovered that Christ is her firm foundation and there isn’t anything she can’t do without Him. God answered her prayers and hard questions and told her it's her time to be baptized.

Kaiya had come to youth after watching her sister Melia contagious joy in knowing God. Both Melia and Kaiya’s leaders, Makayla and Rowan, finally baptized Kaiya as a follower of Jesus after camp! Kaiya’s life is now full of daily prayer, leading worship, being part of a weekly Bible study, and leaning on older mentors in the church. Kaiya is learning how much peace comes from focusing more on Jesus than herself – and ultimately that’s helped her love others and herself even more than ever before.

Let's Eat

Sam and Heather are passionate about 3 things: Jesus, people, and food. Sam wanted to get more connected at newlife, so he started greeting – which led to meeting some awesome people. (Psst . . . If you are looking to get more connected, try serving!) Sam saw a need for Thursday night church as it launched – the people needed to eat! It turns out food, Sam knew how to do . . .

Sam and his wife Heather grew up in Christian homes and both fell in love with food at young ages . . . Heather with baking, and Sam with cooking. They’re both trained chefs and even have a spice business (go check out Spiva Cooking in Bremerton)! God has given them hearts and passion for seeing people come together around a table with food. They know that physical nourishment from food can lead to spiritual nourishment as well - through deep and meaningful conversations with others. Their love for food and cooking is making such a positive impact in people’s lives . . . from serving others in the church to bringing their mission for Jesus into their own business, they’re able to show their love for Jesus and others through great food all throughout their community!

Operation Strong Dad

Shilo had served in the Navy, worked in submarines, and completed two deployments before being medically disqualified in 2018. During his medical challenges, he was stationed away from his family for an entire year. That’s when he broke down. He was disoriented . . . lonely . . . and depressed. He missed his family and had no idea where his life was headed.

Over the last few years Shiloh started to fight for control of his body and mind. He lost 70 pounds and started to find hope after battling mental illness. He knew he could and wanted to help others find healing and wholeness, too. It was at the newlife Hope Walk when Shiloh realized that if people are going through depression, isolation, or certain types of mental illness, movement can really help turn things around – that’s what had worked for him!

Shiloh started “Operation Strong Dad” through Instagram with the hopes of becoming a mental health advocate – specifically for Veterans. He’s committed to moving his body 6 times a week for 45 mins a day and now works with other people who are fighting for their health. Helping people lose weight is just a bonus to helping them feel better, get stronger, and improve their mental mindset. Shilo had the words “Hope” and “Love” tattooed on his knuckles as a constant reminder that God has and always will be the greatest source of both no matter the circumstance.

Rooftops & Butterflies

On the morning of March 21, 2022 Victor fell off a roof at work. He was in a coma, had severe brain damage, and doctors didn’t think he was going to survive. But slowly, Victor started to show signs of life. While chances were still slim, Victor continued to get better . . . and better . . . until Victor woke up! His first memory is looking outside the dark and foggy window yelling at the top of his lungs, “Thank you God! Thank you God! Thank you God!” His old life was full of darkness, and now Victor knew his new life would be marked by chasing God into the light.

Months prior to his fall, Victor had been saving up money to buy a firearm. He had become so afraid of who he had become that he planned to take his own life. Falling off the roof changed everything for Victor. He realized how much God loved him despite his past. His second chance at life is proof to Victor that he’s seen, forgiven, and loved . . . and that’s what he wants everyone around him to feel too!

Victor calls his journey a metamorphosis: He started as a caterpillar who lived in sin and dark places, the coma was his cocoon, then God transformed him into a butterfly – a new and free life – all because of God’s grace!

Thriving Together

This past year has been a flat out answer to prayer – a season of finding deeper faith and more community – for Annanise and for her family. As a nurse, Annanise has worked through and seen some really tough situations, but she’s always known that God was with her. While faith has always been part of Annanise’s life and has helped her through challenges that come with working in the tense medical field, she’s always prayed for faith for her family, too. In 2021, God answered Anannise’s prayer. Her whole family started attending newlife and found what they were looking for – a home.

Now, in 2022, they’ve been all about getting plugged into events. From volunteering at Kids Camp or participating in the Hope Walk . . . you name it - they were probably there! Why? Annanise says that being part of the newlife community brings the whole family closer together and gives them an opportunity to pour into others. Now, she loves seeing the joy her kids and husband have gained and is excited to watch them continue to explore their own faith journeys. The purpose and motivation Annanise carries is clear: she wants to live out her faith in her challenging but rewarding workplace and see her family and church family thrive together.

Apples & Seeds

Mike has read the Bible cover to cover a fair few times in his 70 years of life . . . in fact, he’s read the Bible through at least 45 times! It was Mike’s relationship with Jesus and the foundation scripture built in his life that carried him through multiple helicopter crashes and many other challenges in his long career as a pilot in the Navy. So, what does this former pilot turned history buff do in his spare time? The answer: he teaches a group of fun, sweet, and eager to learn elementary school girls how to read the Bible! This year, newlife launched a Kids Bible Night to help kids memorize scripture.

So, why does Mike teach kids the Bible? He said it this way: “There are two ways to look at an apple . . . one is to see how many seeds are in the apple, and the other is to look at how many apples are in a single seed.” That’s how Mike looks at teaching kids. How many people will come to know Jesus from just one kid who truly knows Jesus and has a firm foundation? One kid has untold potential for the mission of God.

Mike has seen how the Spirit of God has worked through the kids in his group and is always amazed at their curiosity and wonder! It brings Mike to tears to think about how good God has been in his life and how much he will be with each of the kids in his group throughout their lives, too.

Not Just For Christmas

Have you heard of Outrageous Christmas? Every holiday season, newlifers meet real needs in their communities to share the love of Jesus. Steve and Pam saw that a woman named Lisa needed Christmas gifts for her two kids. After asking more about Lisa’s story, the Madsens knew they wanted to make Christmas special for Lisa and her kids . . . Here’s where this story gets even better: the connection didn’t stop after Christmas!

The Madsens and Lisa started off as strangers, became friends, and today they all agree they’re in a “familyship!” Pam helped take care of Lisa’s daughter at kids camp . . . Lisa helped the Madsens clean when Pam had knee replacement surgery . . . and the Madsens watch Lisa’s kids so she can have much needed “me time” (all mom’s cherish that)!

They’ve shared meals and created memories together – all because the Madsens did more than just meet a need. They leaned in and built a lasting bond with Lisa and her family (who, by the way, now are part of Thursday night gatherings with newlife!) Pam, Steve, and Lisa all experienced God meeting one of their deepest needs through one another – connection and community.

First Communion

Joel and Dani Reeves both grew up in what they describe as a “legalistic religion.” Battling health and communication problems, life finally got to the point that Dani couldn’t take the way life was going anymore – that’s when Dani told Joel she wanted to leave their church. In their religious background, leaving meant they would lose everything – family, friends, and a life they had built over the last 40 years. They decided to leave anyway.

Joel and Dani started to drift even further apart. Then, Dani found a new relationship – Dani met Jesus! Joel was reluctant to try a church again, but seeing his wife’s newfound joy through simply reading the Bible made him curious.

As an avid reader, he read some books suggested by a friend (a newlifer) and soon he decided to try out newlife in South Kitsap. Joel came alone and was surprised to find a very different experience than what he expected. Everything was new for him – from the worship to the message to the people he encountered! It wasn’t long before Dani got plugged in and joined a group too! One Sunday, communion was served and Joel was astonished to feel like he was truly welcome at Jesus’s table for the first time. He and Dani have rebuilt their life together and found a welcoming home with newlife. They are so excited to continue to serve others and get to know Jesus more each day.