We invite you to share your story of restoration in Christ. Please briefly describe your old unrestored life, including your attempts at self-restoration; your moment of full surrender to the Restorer; and your new life of authenticity. Please share how God is using you to lead others toward restoration. Thank you for helping others find Restoration Road.
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[...] more, watch: Episode 10: Restoring Our Four Desires (Significance & Contentment) Episode 11: Restoring Our Four Desires (Control & Secur
23 Stories
When I was in the Church last 21st of November 2010, I closed my eyes and shouted to the Lord through Worship, I was so amazed because the HOLY SPIRIT is in me, I can’t explain why I’m chilled as well as shouted like a Trumpet, and He Lead me to Worship God, The Holy Spirit, Hallelujah! Amen.
Before I don’t want to worship God, I was very self – pity person and I don’t want to talk to the person around me. I couldn’t talk if you don’t talk to me, and later on God used me to share His gospel. Right now I’m still knowing and loving God more. And the blessing I’ve never forget is the “LOVE OF GOD” I can’t explain His works into my life, and some of my relatives, friends, as well as the person I do not know their name in my street called me a Pastor but I do not know why.
In 10th of August I decided to enrolled in the BBCA Camp, because my friend invited me to join in the Bible students Camp. Before I enrolled I have a lot of struggles with my relatives. Because they want me to work, and my cousin said, you should find a job, and my uncle also said, what are the benefits in your church ?, but I’m still worshiping God and loving and knowing more, and one of the most blessing is the Provision of God in my Finances, I don’t have work and I live with uncle’s House and next my cousin’s House as well, this is my present House. I want to stay and live with my family but I need to give up my dreams as well as with my own family especially this coming Christmas Celebration and the coming celebration as well, It’s fine as long as I serve God here in Manila, Philippines. It’s been 12 years I don’t celebrate the Christmas with them, but it doesn’t matter, as long as I serve God, I remembered in the BBCA form, what do I think your calling ? my answered, Pastor or Missionary, I do not know why but right now I’m still asking God for my calling here on earth, God changed my life little by little, and now I am one of the Youth Coordinator in our Foundation, as well as Youth Leader in the Youth Ministry as well as in the Shepherd Christian Church, here in
Novaliches, Quezon City, Manila, Philippines.
My life before well, I’m always inside the bar looking for love, and Altar Server in 3 years of service in the Catholic Church , that was my handsome look with other girls, and I always looking for the attention of new girls in the bar as well as in the Catholic Church, and when I was 15 years of age I raped, and after that I want to die, but I can’t, and then I asked God what His purpose and why I’m still alive, but when I realized God knows everything, my life before was no direction, because I don’t have Jesus in my heart although I know Jesus, but Jesus doesn’t recognized me before, after I go to church with my girl friend we sex together she was 15 years of age and I was 16 years of age. Is that you called that I’m a servant of God. NO!
but when I started to join in the Camp at Iba, Zambales, Manila, Philippines. I was so amazed, first because God brought me to the people who love God very much, Because I accepted Jesus Christ in my heart when I was 20 years of age, I chilled and I do not know why, and the Pastor said, who want to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, I raised my hand. That was 22nd of May. Pastor Vincent Vicencio the speaker.
In April 2010, I became a Volunteer as a Follow – up Team in the Camp with Dir. Nichelle , and May 2011 last Summer Youth Camp God gave me another task to assist the Campers in the Camp as a Assistant Camp Director with Bro. Alexander Raganit
Hello Mitch! I really enjoy your ministry! I’m not sure how my story fits with your ministry but here goes. I’ve been a born again Christ follower since 1990. My family are also believers with the exception of my father. Now my father grew up as a Catholic but is not attending church. I’ve prayed for him for years and recently began reaching out to him to build on our relationship with the hope I could speak into his lift the truth of the gospel. The method I choose was for he and I to campaign a vintage race car on the vintage road racing circuit as he and I are old club racers. I’m happy to say it’s really helped dad and I reconnect and begin to build on our relationship while at the same time have a great time together. We’ll see what God does from here. I’m praying for restoration of my dad with his heavenly father. Thanks for your unique format towards spreading the message of restoration.
No story yet. Still waiting and praying, while wishing things could end.
My parents belonged to an old line denomination and every week all six of us kids were dragged to church. I loved going though. I loved the whole church scene, but I was not a born again Christian. In fact in the 18 years I attended that church I never heard the term “born again.”
After a stint in the Navy during the Vietnam era, I returned to my hometown and married my high school sweetheart. After nearly five years of marriage though she had had enough and decided to leave me. I was devastated and sought counsel from a pastor of that old line denomination. He offered me nothing but dead religiousity. Then I was invited to a little “on fire” Baptist church where the young pastor said “you must be born again” and I figured maybe if I was born again my wife would return to me and life would be wonderful again, so I went forward, knelt at the altar and received Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour. My wife’s reaction was 180° from what I had anticipated. She said she didn’t want to be married to me before my “getting religion” ” and she was darned sure she was not going to be married to a “Jesus freak” and she divorced me.
That was 36 years ago. I met and married a wonderful Christian woman the next year after the divorce and life is REALLY wonderful now with God as my Father and Jesus as my Saviour. I am a mamber of The Gideons International and a substitute Sunday School teacher at my church.
I am so thankful that God choose me.
Ben Jones
I was baptized into Christ in l969 at age 20. I was a member for over 20 years of the Worldwide Church of God. Our church believed, wrongly, yet sincerely, that we should keep many Old Covenant laws including tithing, Feast days, unleavening our houses at Passover, etc. We did not understand the New Covenant completely. At age 45 my husband,who was a minister in that church, and I were laid off along with several other ministers because the church changed many of these beliefs. This resulted in many members splitting away. Money was tight, but this was the best thing that ever happened to me. I spent all those years being a “busy” Christian, serving God as if just a “servant” and not a precious child who was loved individually and specially by my Father. After leaving the ministry, a mature woman in the church told me to think on one Scripture–John 17:3–”This is eternal life, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ His Son”. I had read that many times and it never made any impact on me. This time, it hit my heart as if God had come down Himself and said those words to me. For some reason, I have never been able to free my mind from that Scripture. I have now spent these last 16 years asking God how I could become one in mind and heart with Him as Jesus was. Bottom line is that I have had to be stripped of all my pride, vanity, worldly idols over the years. It has been costly, but I believe I now know my Savior and Father intimately now.
My story begins in 1985 when a dream comes true to become involved in Nascar Winston Cup Racing. Growing up in Pa., it was difficult to land a job in NC. But God was faithful, even though I didn’t see it as His intervention at the time. In 2001, the church I was attending was sending a mission trip to Africa to “build a church”. I could do that, I enjoyed building things. What I didn’t know was that the church’s idea of building a church, was hut to hut evangelism. That was totally out of my comfort zone, but I decided to commit to it anyway. I truely felt God was calling me to do this. This was the greatest decision I ever made.In 2003 I decided to retire from racing, and become an instructor at the Nascar Technical Institute. Again, out of my comfort zone. Currently I am looking to start a school doing restoration work, and customizing of cars by students. The world gives us choices all the time. It is up to us to decide if they will glorify God, or the world. My school will be called Transformations, and I have written a bible study cirriculum to go along with the build, based on 1 Corinthians 12, where Jesus tells of the one body with many parts. My vision would be that a student comes into the school with an open mind, and leaves with an understanding of how cars are designed to work together, and God has designed us all to work together for His cause.
Dear Mitch Kruse;
Thanks a lot for the interview; Bay and I really enjoyed spending time with you, and know that I really love your book. I just finished reading it. You have a lot of great information in the book, and I just love your Bible references. You must have spent a great deal of time reading the Bible inside out to find all those cool references. I love your concept of the cross representing the relationships between God and man vertically, and human and human horizontally. I never thought of looking at the cross from that perspective. If you don’t mind, I would like to borrow your concept next time I am out ministering.
Also, I am amazed at how a person of your caliber who has met the rich and famous, traveled the world, and made a boatload of money is still humbled and a great soft-spoken Christian. I have a bunch of observations and questions that I came up with after reading your book that I will email you later. Great book, I will surely recommend it to my clients.
Joe Odhiambo
My dad left no forwarding address or child support when he left in 1972. I was 3. In 1998, God placed the verse “Honor your father..” into my mind and wouldn’t release me from it. I couldn’t believe that God would ask me to honor the one who left us. The years of Welfare & Food stamps would boil into a rage. How can You ask that?
After six months of waking in the night, I conceded. I purposed to meet my dad. Within two weeks of that decision my cousin on my dad’s side contacted me. My wife and I drove out to meet my dad in Missouri. I used to dream of this meeting when I was young. I pictured him as Mike Brady. Surprisingly he was closer to Fred Sanford.
God blessed our relationship & I grew to love him over the next decade. Our two common denominators were Christ & Golf. He held all of my children with the exception of our last and they knew their grandpa and I knew he was proud of me.
Dad passed away Dec 7th, 2007. Three of his five children were present at his funeral. As I stood and quoted the verse that began this journey, I looked at our extended family in the pews and realized that this is what God had always desired for me. He is the Restorer.
I would like to share my stoy on how God restored me from an abusive marriage. God is now using me as a pastor to counsel many women and help lead them to restoration with His Word. I have a book that just came out this week called, “Private Hell/Publi Ministry”.
I live in Villard Minnesota, a small town of about 250 people. I grew up in a Christian home, attended a Boy scout troop when I was young through a Assembly of God church and accepted the lord into my life when I was 9 years old. I got married to a beautiful lady that lived near by in 1996 and we now live 18 miles from Alexandria in a little town called Villard. God has Blessed us with 3 wonderful girls. Growing up my dad always owned a 1946 Plymouth coupe, so I grew up loving cars. Four years ago I started a Business called Dream Cars. I buy, sell, and trade vintage & muscle cars. About 3 years ago I went through what seemed like hell and back. I wasn’t running my business God’s way, I was selfish, a non giver and hoarded everything to myself. Very early that next year God said that’s enough and I lost my house and cars and pride. I had to learn to surrender my life, family, finances and Dream Cars to the Lord. I had to start over but God knew that it would turn out better and I would be a better person for him. I started putting a Gospel tract in every car I sold about 2 years ago and one morning I felt like the Holy spirit said put a Bible in this next car. From then on I put a small New Testament in the glove box of every car I sold. Yesterday, at the end of a sale I handed a guy a small Bible and told him how I was Saved and believed in God and that He lives in my heart. God is good! Our Wednesday morning Fellowship of Companies is also going through your book too!
I want you to know I have been reading your book and the Lord has really been using it to talk to me. It has been a life changing read for me. The Lord has really given you a great insight to the heart and all of life flows out of it. Thank You for being used by the Lord. I know he has much in store for you. If I may be a blessing to you in any way please let me know.
Lakewood Park Video from mitchkrusetv on Vimeo.
I am a parent of 5 children three of which were present in March, at Lakewood. All three of my children went forward. When my children came home that day they said, “Mom, the most amazing thing happened in chapel today! You could physically feel the presence of the Holy Spirit!” They proceeded to share their stories, and exclaimed you have to go to County Line on Sunday & hear Mackenzie’s story. Unknown to you, Mitch, was the fact that our family has been undergoing a tortous restoration process. I have been on death’s door for most of three years, culminating last year with an infection that left me a parapalegic in May of 2009. I was told by 3 doctors I would never walk again – it appears after I finish recuperating from a surgery I just had I will be able to walk fully on my own. The day after chapel I went to see Bill Moore at Lakewood. I had really been struggling with anger – not something that I have struggled with throughout the three years. I unleashed a verbal torrent of angry words that I hurled right at Bill. The next day at church Clare preached about full surrender to Christ. I cried through the whole service and then cried all afternoon with my husband. I was waging war with God to completely surrunder. We got to County Line late and walked in as How He Loves was playing & immediately began to cry. I hope I have the opportunity to share the rest with you, but am about to run out of characters!
I am a SS teacher in Atlanta GA, Seminary Grad, Ordained minister and car guy. My wife and I teach about 50 young married people and are blessed with 25 years of marriage. Thanks for creating this book! I’ve been wanting to start a home church and am introducing the men in my neighborhood to Bible Study through this book. Women will go but often not men so this is a great resource. Our new town Sandy Springs is trying to start an auto museum and I’m trying to help as God leads. If it ever occurs, I want to make certain that your message is a part of the experience in some way. Well, actually it is Christ’s message, but you are a good tool for Him!
God Bless and thanks for the step in faith that has led to your journey with Christ Jesus.
Mitch Interviews Tony Dungy from mitchkrusetv on Vimeo.
Hi.My name is jody.I will just start from the beginning of finding forgivness.I was 14 yrs.old when my life changed.I had been staying with my oldest sister and was ask to baysit for their friends while they went to a christmas party.The couple had a 5 yr. old son and one on the way.So I went over to babysit for them and was very attracted to the man of the house.I was shy and never spoke much.My whole family were like that also.I was brought up strict and to obey your parents.The friend’s husband picked me up and took me to their house in the same town.I did’nt know him very well had just seen him a few times visiting at my sister’s home and noticed him and was attracted immediatly to him.He was 7 years older than I.They gave me instructions on babsitting and the wife was in the other room Bob approached me and kissed me in the hallway.I fell in love at that moment.Bob would then pick me up and I would skip school and this went on for about 3 months.Bob was planning on a divorce from his wife.We picked out ring and outfits and I was happy.Then I became pregnant and my parents and family found out.I had told no one about bob and I.So my parents stepped in and I never seen bob again.My dad had threated him to never come around his daughter ever again and he didn’t.So I went through my pregnacy we did not believe in abortion Thank GOD for that.When I was in labor I was sick and the baby was sick too.I was in the hospital for 11 days as well as my daughter.I was never allowed to touch or hold my daughter and on the 12 day she took a turn for the worst.The Doctor that delivered her never told me anything.He would speak to my Mom.I was only 14 at the time and under age.So how I found out she had gotten worse was when my Mom came to the house and told me they had transported my daughter to another hospital and for me to sit by the phone and if she got worse the hospital would call my parents and they did at 2 am and we took the drive to the hospital and it was to late.The hospital called us into a room and told me I could hold her and say goodbye.I held there for the first time and told her my goodbye.oh it’s so painful to lose a child and being a child too.The hospital ask to do an autopsy so it would help another child and I said yes.My parents took me home to grieve away my daughter.My Dad had already told me before she was born that I was a disgrace to our family.my Mom just stayed quite.A few days later I heard my mom on the phone and someone on the other end was talking about abortion.I thought my Mom was speaking to Bob about our daughter.Mom never said anything to me I just assumed it was him.Then the wall of hate went up and I never wanted to see Bob again ever.I blamed him for our daughter’s death after I got the autopsy report and I carried the hate for 35 years.It took me 3 years to get over Bob and a lifetime to get over losing our daughter.I never spoke again his name till almost 3 years ago and how that all started was on Valetine’s day my daughter walked into were I worked with a single rose and a book title purpose driven life and I thought about picking the book up to read about 2 weeks later and could not get past the first page and I ask my friend whom had read the book already I ask Louann what the book was about she said I can not tell you this until you read for yourself so I put the book down for about 2 months then opened and read the first 4 pages and had to put it down I cried because God needed me to read it and when I read the first 4 pages I talked it over with my Mom about the phone call years ago about someone saying abortion.I said Mom I have hated Bob all these years for wanting me to have an abortion with our child and Mom said what? Jody it was not Bob on the phone that day it was your Doctor and I’m sorry I didn’t sue him for saying you were to young.I have never felt so ashamed for hating my first love the way i did but I had really never spoke of the loss of my child and my first love to anyone before.See how it was twisted all those years.for 35 years now!!!Wow One phone call and I hated him for half my life now.So I hung up the phone to Mom and finished the book and God showed me forgivness to a man I so loved and father of my child.My wall was torn down and I started looking for my first love.I looked for 3 years and finally one day I found his sister and we have spoke by e mail several times.she gave Bob my number and he called 2 months ago and it was the hardest thing to bring up all the loss of my life. You may never know how scared I was when his voice came over the phone.I didn’t know if he hated me or if he would ever accept my forgivness.I was shaking scared.How precious is his name for on the other end was a kind and gentle voice that said you have nothing to be sorry for!!!.I cry as we speak for what if Bob had passed away and I could not ask for my forgivness to him?I am still overwhelmed 2 months later and maybe for the rest of my life.Ihave spoke to him and have seen him once his voice never has changed.he looks older now with gray hair.The love is still there but he has been happily married for years and I am so glad he is happy and life has been good to him.For me on the other hand I am still at loss over my last 35 years that I could never have searched for him because the wall I had in my heart no one could break through.The power of God took it down through a book and if not for my daghter giving me the book and Bob’s sister giving him my phone number,and Bob saying you have noyhing to be sorry for where would I be? Hate would still be in my heart.God showed his mercy on me and allowed me to know that I was not a disgrace to have a child so young but that It was a honor to be my daughter’s Mother.God has a plan for my life and if this story helps one person I thank God for the great love for my life,my daughter’s life of 12 days here on earth but forever in heaven.and for my first love that will abide forever and Painful as it is and still is God will guide me through with strength.I will adjust to God’s plan and his will.God Bless who ever reads my personal story.Praise and Glory to God I am whole again..
Hello, My name is Ann. Restoration is a continual process and I have not yet arrived. I too, like Mitchell grew up in a Christian family. However in my teen years I chose to take a trip on the dark side. Thirty plus years after this trip God is still smoothing out the dents and holes in my soul. I heard once about how great it would be to hear a testimony of an adult that trusted in the Lord and did not succumb to the darkside. He may have several dents and dings, but is not taking a major part of his adult life to overcome his disobedience. I pray that teenagers today will shoot for such a Godly goal. Since we are approaching March Madness, let’s imagine our life as a high school basketball game with 4 quarters. The second quarter (teen years) you don’t screw up so bad! You don’t have to play catch up in the 3rd quarter and fight thru the 4th quarter to make that last shot in the last minute to win. This may sound like a exciting game, however struggle and heartache come with it. Not only for the player but for his whole team. If teenagers today can look at their life as the 2nd quarter and trust in the Lord. Then in the 3rd quarter they can blow out the competition and rest in the 4th quarter when the second string goes in and completes the win. No one is perfect, but you could save a large part of your adult life with God helping you help others versus God helping you pick up the pieces of a disobedient past. Because of my stupidity I was a mess in the 3rd quarter. I thought if I could get people’s approval than I would be valued and worthy of love. One of these attempts of self restoration I tried, was accumulating real estate. Because of my husband’s good salary, the banks loaned us the money to purchase 1 million in real estate in 1 year. Boy I thought I was hot stuff! We got to walk across the stage, meet the big wigs and feel like VIP’s. Little did everyone know that I was on the verge of a complete breakdown. I had to maintain and manage this real estate, my husband already worked 60 hours per week and we had 3 children. I could do it! I am a VIP! They said so on stage! WRONG – crash and burn! One afternoon I picked up my son Jonathan, I didn’t really crash and burn in a car accident, but I wanted too. If Jonathan was not in the back seat I would have drove in the other lane and race into the huge red Mack truck. But I didn’t, God helped me drive home and call for help. The next 72 hours I spent in lockdown in the mental ward of the local hospital. God’s been patiently working on my full surrender to Him ever since. Thank you God for not giving up on me. God, I pray for your strength thru the Holy Spirit to all the teenagers today, help them to stay true to your son Jesus Christ. I don’t want them to waste the 3rd quarter picking up the pieces. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Ann
Grezy & Diana from Derek Williams on Vimeo.
Hazel from Derek Williams on Vimeo.
Jessica from Derek Williams on Vimeo.
This is my story
Suzzana from Derek Williams on Vimeo.