Good Friday Service
Come on, everybody. Bring our communicators up here. Let's rock and roll. Rod. All right, all right. Here we are settling in welcome to the stage. Welcome to the stage. So for those of you who may or may not know, for those of you who may not know, this is Skylar Crowl Skylar, wave to everybody. Skylar is a Skyler is on our staff, and he has been on our part of our staff for seven years.
Now, is anybody counting? I'm not counting, you're not counting? Okay. Well, I counted. I don't know about the dates. But they he and his wife, Katie got connected in the very early days, I think it was week two of the life of our church. And the reason that they are still here is because pastor carry gave them a holy headlock, and took them to our Connect track at the time. And so he thought, well, if someone's gonna, if somebody's willing to give me a headlock, I'll just stick it out. So now Skyler oversees our location development or location and leadership development. So he oversees as we develop our locations, and he oversees as we are growing our mercy city Bible college, and so Schuyler is going to host the conversation, and then everybody's going to introduce themselves. So come on, everybody, give it up for these guys.
Well, before we get deep into it, I just want to first say thank you, to each one of you, that would take the step of vulnerability to share your story. Most Christians, studies say that the average Christian spends less than an hour per year evangelizing or sharing the gospel to other people. And what you guys are deciding to do right now is not just share the gospel to one person, but you're choosing to share the gospel to a full room of people. So thank you for that vulnerability, and boldness. As we were meeting as a staff and beginning to talk about this, we just we really thought that the gospel needed to be shared from people who aren't necessarily the people you're used to always seeing. Because one of the realities of the gospel is it's only true if it speaks to every person, every situation, every corner of the globe. And so what we really wanted to do is take the stories of some of the people who are local, that you guys might recognize or maybe don't recognize, but who have stories that are very similar to many of the people in this room. So with that, we're going to begin hearing from some of our friends. Jeff, once you introduce yourself, and then give us one word that would describe your story, and then share your story for us. All
right, Jeff Tansley, from Lincoln, I had one word. But after listening to what Jesus paid for and how he paid for it, my word is forgiven. Little bit about me, I didn't grow up in the church. So I didn't know anything about this. It wasn't until I was on my second marriage that I got connected to a local church, connected, right, sat in the back row was like, Hey, I'm at church, I can do this. But then, as a family, we kind of got away from church for a little while. And we had some family stuff going on. But I can say throughout my life, the if there's one word grown up, it was fake. I always tried to do everything to please other people, and try to fit in and find the right friend group relationships, drugs, alcohol, whatever it was to fill the void in here. But it wasn't until I got an invite from my son, to come check out another local church, that my life radically changed. And that date is etched in my mind. It's Saturday, October 16 2021. It was a man camp. We got encouraged to on a Saturday, the last day, take some time, and reflect on what we had learned and what touched us. Well, what touched me was, I had a Bible that my wife got for me, probably our fifth year of marriage. And this year will be 23 years. But when I opened that Bible, it was brand new. It had never been touched, never been open. And then that moment God convicted me that hey, it's time. It's time to grow up and start living for Jesus. Good.
It's good. It's great. Thank you, Jeff, Matt or Phelps. I don't know what we're gonna call you call Phelps around
here, everybody.
Introduce yourself, give us your one word and your 30/62 testimony.
Yes, I'm Matt Phillips. And I think through thinking through all this, my word was freedom. What I came up with a little bit about my story, I was adopted when I was two months old, into a loving and wonderful family, and grew up going to church went to private school. But while growing up that adoption piece, I didn't realize at the time, I was experiencing a lot of hurt and rejection. And so I operated my relationships, whether it was a personal relationship with God, or my family and friends. There just was a strain. And just, it was tough. And I decided I was I was going to take control and just, you know, do what makes me happy, to bury that hurt, and everything. So through the years, did whatever I kind of felt whatever felt good, you know. And then so much, so about nine years ago, God met me at a bar of all places, and from there just kind of decided, I need to get this personal relationship thing figured out. And then my family relationships. So got plugged back into local church started serving right away. And then relearning kind of what that looked like. And then, as we were going, you know, just even up until a year ago, my story's still going, obviously, and had had some life change happen. And I was at a loss with God, like, what the heck, like, what are we doing here? And he's like, bro, you haven't? He calls me bro. So he's like, You, you, you've done well, you've come a long ways. But you haven't given up that control piece yet. And he's like, you give that up to me. And I will bless you. beyond measure, you will not even know what I can do. So the last year has been pretty crazy along with other 30 some years, but but just operating in this freedom right now, has been huge for me. So it's awesome.
Thank you.
Season, why don't you tell us your one word and share us your story here.
Okay, well, I'm season app. And my one word is overcomer. I was a believer, very young, like at five years old and had a really great relationship with Christ growing up. And it really didn't. It didn't change, but it smacked me in the face in my 20s, my brother passed away suddenly. And I fell into a very deep, deep place. And God showed me in the next few months after that, to go ahead and just rely on him. And he gave me the tools to kind of move on three years later than my husband, I were gifted with a little girl who passed away with trisomy 18. And with those tools that he gave me with my brother's passing, that was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. But I was able to rely on those tools he gave me previously. So yeah.
It's awesome. Thank you. Thank you, Daniel.
I'm Daniel Newman, the word for my story would be redeemed. So a little bit about my story. So before I really knew Jesus, or had any sort of relationship with him, I was stuck in this pattern of addiction to drugs, pornography, sex, alcohol, pretty much anything. And I was just constantly trying to fill this void in my life with that, and like the praises of other people. But the more that I tried to do that, just the more empty I felt. And so once I got connected to a local church, it was shortly after that, that the Holy Spirit just convicted me. And I wanted freed from all those things. So I remember laying in bed one time, said, Jesus, if you're real, like, I need you to just free me from all these addictions, and specifically the drug addictions. And a week later, I was arrested. And, and so Jesus, she showed up, and not the way I wanted, maybe, but it was it was exactly what I needed. So
that's good. That's good. All right, Hannah. To tell us a little bit about Hannah.
My name is Hannah Cole, and my word is surrender. So I grew up in a Christian home I went to church every Sunday, believed in God and Jesus, but I was always believing and doing all the right things because I wanted to please people, not because I wanted to please the Lord or because I had actually fully surrendered my life to Him. And so once I got to college, then I decided I was just going to actually do what I wanted, I'm not going to please people anymore. I'm going to please myself, got myself into some stuff that I was never meant to be in. But my sister got connected to a local church. And her life just started to change. And we had a lot of conversations during that time. But there was one conversation in particular, that really shifted things for me. And it made me question if I was actually saved, like I thought I was. And I wrestled with that for a few months. And then one night, in my room by myself with my private time with the Lord, I just surrendered everything to him, told him he could have it all. And ever since that moment, I just started taking little next steps towards relationship with him, and everything has changed since then. So
good. So good.
Spring. So what I want to do is spend a little bit of time kind of diving into each of your guys's stories, so people can hear about what this relationship with Jesus has looked like. And, Jeff, I want to come back to you. When we were talking before you said, I've met Jesus multiple times in my life, but it was that October 16 2021, that I felt like something was radically different. Can you just expand on that date talk about why that was different for you.
So really, it was the knowing that I had a spouse that had been believing for me for so many years, that the Bible was like sitting there and I never even looked into it. And I really just took the Christianity thing as just a cliche, like, hey, you know, my kids are in youth group, and I'm going to church. And so, but it was just in that moment that, like I said, I opened it up and God was like, it's time to grow up. And I mean, I ran out of the room, I was in tears, I called I called Heather right away, and just asked for forgiveness for all the years of not being the best husband not being the best father, and just not passionately pursuing Jesus and showing her what a true loving man is all about.
It's good, right, man? Tell me a little bit about like, now, this side of that moment in October, what is different about Jeff, how does this relationship with God work that, like you said, I'm a totally different person, I feel different. It's like a totally new life. Talk to me about that. Well,
I mean, it's funny, you talk to some people, and they're like, they have a 180 degree change right away. And mine hasn't quite been like that. It's still work every day. But it's still just changing my heart posture. I have a rhythm right now, if I get up every morning, no matter what time that is, this morning, it was three. And I'm in my Bible and worship music. And I go and I journal. And my very first question is always, Hey, God, what do you want to do with me today? So I can I can say that. I mean, a feather was in here. She's doing the TOS. But uh, she was here, my my coping mechanism when I didn't want to deal with something as I would just get mad. And, you know, people would get away from me, and then I'd be like, oh, sweet, I have my own time. But I was just pushing people away, and not growing relationships, and trying to do everything on my own. So I mean, from that moment, it's like, being in relationship with people around church and knowing that there's guys that I can rely on that I can call and say, Hey, I'm struggling. And they are like, Hey, let's meet or they call me right away and say, Hey, let's talk through this. So that kind of friendship and that kind of relationship. What I want what I need. I think every one of us needs that. So good.
So last last question I want to ask you is you said that your wife gave you that Bible? Five years into your marriage? Yeah. And then it was, what? 17 years later? Yeah. Before we finally opened that Bible. 15
years because I was 21. Okay, so
15 years much? Yeah,
that's a lot less. Yeah. For sure. I mean,
17 years would have been bad. Right? For sure.
Thank god, she's
not in here. They're all just numbers. We're all just numbers. So you're here, it'd be my question for you is thinking of like, how heathered been praying for you that whole time? What might be your encouragement for the wives, the husbands in the room? They're still praying for their spouse on on that seed that's been planted?
Yeah, just I mean, keep believing and keep pouring into each other. The one thing Heather and I have now is, is a completely honest relationship. We can, you know, in the hard times, we're still talking to each other. When the conversation we know it's gonna be difficult. It's still like, hey, let's, we need to sit down and talk about this. So that one thing is is if, if you're that guy, I'm going to talk to guys, if you're that guy that your wife is leading the spiritual, stop, grow up, take take the reins, and see how much he loves you and how much he's believing for you. Because God will meet you in that moment.
Good man. Oh, good. That's that's a little dose of hard truth. The Chapel loved it. But everybody in the room was like, no, no. That's alright. I get it. I get it. So to bring it. Thank
you, Jeff. Matt Phelps, we have a question that I think everybody is wondering about in the room. And that is, how did God meet you in a bar.
So a guy walks into a bar, right?
So a guy walks into a bar, and I see that it's a local pastor from church in town. And the only reason I knew that it was a certain talent, or who he was, was just because social media them kind of blowing up the first few months of the year, they were looking to start this church. And I was like, Hey, I'm a Christian. I'm in this bar, like, so is he like, this is cool, man. Like,
why do you keep pointing to me? Oh, sorry.
So this guy,
it was me everybody. So
So I think you were there to check out a band, or some guys, some musicians. And I was actually working for that band, helping them out with some stuff. And so after their SEC got done, I decided, I'm gonna go over and talk to the students, you see what he's all about. And so just having a genuine conversation with him, just kind of telling him this, some of the story even he just sat there and was Yeah, man. Like, I mean, the conversation were just so genuine. And I'd never experienced that before. And so I knew that in that moment, God was like, Hey, bro, again.
Hey, bro, you let's, let's get this relationship figured out. And let's, let's really dive in and see what see what we can do with this. So I think it was later that night, about 230, you know, normal time in the morning, texted my girlfriend at the time, who's now my wife, and was like, Hey, I think I found a place to go to church. Let's check it out. See what happens. And I think that was week three. We came in and visited and then still here today, so
yeah, come on. We were. So let me let me just clarify, let me clarify. That was literally the only time I've ever been in a bar in my life. We had just moved here. And we were looking for musicians. And so this guy's like, hey, this band is playing at a bar. And they're a bunch of Christian dudes. They were Christian ish. They were Christian, adjacent. So I was like, Hey, I guess I'll go to the bar. And I went to the low bar, I didn't know how to order. I was like, Oh, can I get a Diet Coke. And they looked at me like, I'm sure, I guess you want to get it not just Diet Coke. So that's how we met. Just clarity sake, everybody.
It was also my only time that my first time it was your first
God did meet you.
So anyway, your personal relationship with Jesus. So you said that you met God nine years ago in the bar, and then just recently began began to receive some healing. I think a lot of us imagine that we're going to meet Jesus, and then immediately, our life is just going to be changed. And immediately better talk about how this has been a process of a personal relationship with Jesus.
Yeah, so it's definitely been a process, just kind of relearning everything that I had kind of known growing up about God, and having a relationship just was just learning again, you know, kind of re remembering things of yeah, this is how it supposed to be. But then just seeing it in a different light and a different perspective. And just being way more intentional with it was the, the huge piece for me, and it wasn't all, you know, rainbows and butterflies for the last nine years, like, there's a lot of challenges, there was a lot of trials that I went through. Just trying, you know, trying to navigate it. So it's definitely a process and even the last year has been a process, you know, but last year when I when I was like, Hey, what's going on? You know, it was like, give up that control piece. You can have control or you can have freedom, but you can't have both so
so season you, you're kind of on that same like talking about lifelong personal relationship with Jesus. You mentioned that there were two seasons of dealing with this grief in your life. Talk about both of those and you said that God met you with your brother talk But that situation for us. So
when my brother passed away, there was an overwhelming, it wasn't just a grief, it was a was probably part of grief, but it was anger. And it was rage. And it was so overwhelming that I couldn't get out of it. And for a few months, I just kept actually praying to God, my anger. And there were some very brutal words that came out of my mouth. But I needed him to hear it. I needed him to know where I was at. And in that he continued to remind me that he knew what anger was that he had been angry and has been angry and was angry with me. And in that He healed me. He just I just gave it to him. And he completely overcame it for me. And so that was the tools that I learned. So then, moving forward to my daughter's Lily's passing. When I was pregnant with her, I didn't choose to listen to what the world was really telling me that she was going to be terminal that there was anything wrong with her. I just trusted that God had her and really rested in that piece. He gave me a piece that I can't ever explain and put words to. And when she passed away, I didn't root into that anger. I mean, I got angry. Yes, I did have moments of pain and suffering and turmoil, but I didn't let it take root. And so yeah, he definitely gave me tools to overcome it again. Yeah,
that's so good. That's so good. Daniel, you might have the most opposite experience to meeting God in a bar the way you talk about. Yeah,
I realized I just left off at the fact that I got arrested. I just I just got out. I just came here, right.
So we're just glad you made it to service. Yeah, me too.
So a lot of people would hear that, like, Oh, I got arrested. And I was on probation. And I think they would picture that as like, Oh, my life is falling apart. But for you. You've seen a different way. He talked about that.
Yeah. So I was honestly I got to a point of like, just complete desperation. Like I was like, Lord, whatever it takes, even if I get arrested. I was like, I was like, whatever. So in that moment, it was like, honestly, just such a godsend. And the fact that like it took a couple days after I got arrested to realize I was like, oh, yeah, I prayed for this, like, this is what I prayed for. And so there was a little bit of like, Oh, this sucks at first, but then realizing that God actually showed up and in that crazy way. I remember sitting with Derek, you know, a couple days later, and we're crying, it led Belize because I'm sharing this whole story with him. But Derek was really there to encourage me and actually speak some truth into the situation. And it was one I kind of took a hold of those truths, that I began to see that all these things in my life that I was like trying to conquer on my own just started to fall off and kind of drift away. I had, I didn't have the desires for it anymore. God plays different desires inside my heart.
Yeah. So good. That's so good. One of the things that as we were preparing, I thought you did a really good job of talking about how the price Jesus paid on the cross specifically helped you conquer your sin. Can you talk a little bit about that relationship with Jesus and how you picture that the sacrifice on the cross? And the way that
yeah, the way that I see it is just, it's the ultimate symbol of sacrifice and of love, ultimately. And his sacrifice on the Cross gave me the freedom to live life in a way that I could never live on my own. And, yeah, I'm just trying to think ultimately, it's just like, yeah, just that freedom, peace and just feeling restored with with God, the cross being the bridge to God that I could never get to. I was feeling like I had to try to fill these voids with all these other things. But the second that I allowed Jesus to come into my life, everything just seemed to click and just make make sense, in a way that I can't really explain. But
that's so good. So good. So Hannah, you you talked about how you had gone into the season of like, you've been people pleasing, and then it was all about like, this is this is not my time for me. And then you had this conversation with your sister. Talk us through that conversation with your sister and what what you felt like God was unveiling for you? Yeah,
so um, the church that she got connected to is a church with next steps. And she was telling me how there's always a next step to be taking with the Lord. And you're either taking next steps and you're moving in pursuit of him, or you're moving backwards. There's no such thing as actually being in like, a still stagnant spot with him. And it clicked for me because I was like, this whole time I thought, I've been in this still spot with the Lord. Like, I know I'm not like moving in pursuit of him, but I'm for sure not going backwards. Like, I'm not moving away from him. And it just clicked. I was like, shoot, I'm running away from him. Like I'm not I couldn't tell you. The last next step I'd taken over the last decades, like maybe one. And so it just finally clicked for me where I was like, I'm not living the life that I thought I was. And I have to change something because I know I want a relationship with him. So that's just when it clicked is it was like I, I don't know if I'm actually saved right now.
That's so good. And then you talked about you had this moment, then that you're crying out to God? What was that conversation? Like? What did that what did that look like? Was it like a room of people were you in community with people or what I
was by myself with the door shut, because I didn't want my husband to hear me crying. And I was just, I got to a breaking point where I was just so tired, I was tired of people pleasing my whole life. Because if any of you are people pleasers, you know that people pleasing just leads to hiding and secrecy. Like there's a lot of stuff that goes on that you don't want anybody else to know about. And it's a really, really, really heavy weight. And so I just got to a breaking point where I was like, I can't carry this anymore. You have to take it. Like I remember me and my husband, we just bought our first home. And I literally told the Lord, like you can have the house, you can have my job, I don't care what not. And it's funny just because the Lord doesn't want to take my house. But that was just where my heart was. That was I was just like, I'm so done that you can have anything I just need you to take over.
So then you're having this conversation with the Lord. What is that surrender look like?
Surrender, to me just looks like giving him the space to do what he needed to do. The Lord's a gentleman, so he was never going to force himself on me. Because that's not love. That's manipulation. And so I had a choice to make of, I have to make the next step to pursue this relationship with him, because he's not going to do it. For me anyway, like, I have a part to play in this relationship. And so it just looks like telling him, Lord, I'm so tired, I need you to take over and show me what my next step is. I don't know what my next step looks like. But tell me what it is so that I can be obedient to you give me the boldness to move in that. So
good. So at last thought, if there's anybody in this room, I mean, from all of these conversations we've had, it's invite God. How do you have that conversation with God? What did that look like when you were having that? Like, talk somebody through in this room? Encourage them? How would you have that conversation with God?
I would first start by opening your mouth. This prayer isn't. That's not it. Get vulnerable, get honest. He already knows all your thoughts. He already knows every single thing you've been through. So be honest with him, and allow him to move into that space. Tell him Lord, I don't feel like worshiping you right now. Everybody's lifted in their hands in this room. I don't want to, Lord, I don't want to come up and receive prayer right now. Help me have that desire, like, show me what my desires are. Show me the way that you see me so that I can walk in what you're calling me to because that's the thing is I was blind to it. So even just praying like Lord, show me what I'm not seeing. Give me the eyes to see what you want me to see in the ears to hear what you want me to hear. But people in community around me who can point me towards those things, take things out of my life that aren't pushing me towards you. Take the your hands off the reins, and pass them over to him. You can't have one here. I have one rain and he has one rain. That's not how it works. You have to give them both so that he can steer you forward.
That's good. That's so good. As we give it up for our panel. Thank you guys. This is awesome.
Boom. So Matt, God met you in a bar. Jeff. God met you. In the middle of being fake. Season God met you in grief and anger. God met you in the middle of addiction. And God met you in the middle of people pleasing and trying to be perfect. Realizing I can't do any of this. And I think that's the beauty of serving God. The way that he's called us to serve Him is in our uniqueness. He will meet each and every one of us. So you might look around the room and think, Well, they don't know what I'm going through. I remember when I first met Daniel, I never would have guessed he was going through what he was going through. When I met season, I would have never guessed she was walking through what she was walking through. When I met Jeff, I would have never guessed But the reality is we all walk through stuff. And it's all unique to us. But the beauty of it is, is in our unique trials, in our unique circumstances, there is a God who paid a price for it all, through His Son Jesus on the cross. So we're observing this evening. And I want you to know that this is not just about five people that we could gather together to share a story. This is about men and women who just like you came through the doors of a church, one Sunday, one Friday, one city group, or whatever the case may be. And realize, there's something here that I haven't been applying. There's a step I can take that I haven't made yet. I don't have to be alone. I can enter into a new relationship. So here's what I want you to think about. As we're standing on our feet this evening. To close the service. I want you to think about God, where have I allowed you one reign, and I've held the other? Where have I not been willing to express how I'm actually feeling God, I'm ticked off about this. I don't want to be here. I feel like you failed me you did not come through. But in the midst of it being open, that God might reveal something to you that you just hadn't had a complete view. So when all of our rooms with heads bowed and eyes closed, you would say, Pastor Matt, that's that's me. Maybe somebody's story resonated with you. Maybe a stirred something on the inside of you. You say, I need to leave tonight knowing that I've given my life to a savior like that. Not this not this guy that I heard about as a kid in this religious traditional fashion or for but the life giving power that the death of Jesus provides. I want that. If that's you, just as a simple sign of agreement and acceptance, would you lift your hand? Just lift a hand? Oh, my gosh. Thank you, Jesus. Thank You, Jesus. Thank You, Jesus. Those of you who have your hands lifted. I want you to repeat this with me loud, but everybody who's a part of the family of faith, Would you repeat this so your brothers and sisters know that they're not alone? Listen, we believe at Mercy city, nobody prays alone. Nobody's in this alone. We're in this together and we're better that way. So say this with us tonight. Say Father God. Tonight I receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Tonight, I believe that Jesus Christ paid the price for my sin. Tonight I believe that the power of Jesus Christ can help me turn from my sick turn toward a new life. So not I believe, Jesus Christ has empowered me to lay down my sin and pick up his life. Powerful, complete, holy, and right. Tonight I choose to pursue Jesus with all that in Jesus name. Amen.
Thanks again for listening to today's message. For more information on all that God's doing at Mercy city, or to share how the message has impacted your life. Visit us online at Mercy City DOT church or on social media.
Now, is anybody counting? I'm not counting, you're not counting? Okay. Well, I counted. I don't know about the dates. But they he and his wife, Katie got connected in the very early days, I think it was week two of the life of our church. And the reason that they are still here is because pastor carry gave them a holy headlock, and took them to our Connect track at the time. And so he thought, well, if someone's gonna, if somebody's willing to give me a headlock, I'll just stick it out. So now Skyler oversees our location development or location and leadership development. So he oversees as we develop our locations, and he oversees as we are growing our mercy city Bible college, and so Schuyler is going to host the conversation, and then everybody's going to introduce themselves. So come on, everybody, give it up for these guys.
Well, before we get deep into it, I just want to first say thank you, to each one of you, that would take the step of vulnerability to share your story. Most Christians, studies say that the average Christian spends less than an hour per year evangelizing or sharing the gospel to other people. And what you guys are deciding to do right now is not just share the gospel to one person, but you're choosing to share the gospel to a full room of people. So thank you for that vulnerability, and boldness. As we were meeting as a staff and beginning to talk about this, we just we really thought that the gospel needed to be shared from people who aren't necessarily the people you're used to always seeing. Because one of the realities of the gospel is it's only true if it speaks to every person, every situation, every corner of the globe. And so what we really wanted to do is take the stories of some of the people who are local, that you guys might recognize or maybe don't recognize, but who have stories that are very similar to many of the people in this room. So with that, we're going to begin hearing from some of our friends. Jeff, once you introduce yourself, and then give us one word that would describe your story, and then share your story for us. All
right, Jeff Tansley, from Lincoln, I had one word. But after listening to what Jesus paid for and how he paid for it, my word is forgiven. Little bit about me, I didn't grow up in the church. So I didn't know anything about this. It wasn't until I was on my second marriage that I got connected to a local church, connected, right, sat in the back row was like, Hey, I'm at church, I can do this. But then, as a family, we kind of got away from church for a little while. And we had some family stuff going on. But I can say throughout my life, the if there's one word grown up, it was fake. I always tried to do everything to please other people, and try to fit in and find the right friend group relationships, drugs, alcohol, whatever it was to fill the void in here. But it wasn't until I got an invite from my son, to come check out another local church, that my life radically changed. And that date is etched in my mind. It's Saturday, October 16 2021. It was a man camp. We got encouraged to on a Saturday, the last day, take some time, and reflect on what we had learned and what touched us. Well, what touched me was, I had a Bible that my wife got for me, probably our fifth year of marriage. And this year will be 23 years. But when I opened that Bible, it was brand new. It had never been touched, never been open. And then that moment God convicted me that hey, it's time. It's time to grow up and start living for Jesus. Good.
It's good. It's great. Thank you, Jeff, Matt or Phelps. I don't know what we're gonna call you call Phelps around
here, everybody.
Introduce yourself, give us your one word and your 30/62 testimony.
Yes, I'm Matt Phillips. And I think through thinking through all this, my word was freedom. What I came up with a little bit about my story, I was adopted when I was two months old, into a loving and wonderful family, and grew up going to church went to private school. But while growing up that adoption piece, I didn't realize at the time, I was experiencing a lot of hurt and rejection. And so I operated my relationships, whether it was a personal relationship with God, or my family and friends. There just was a strain. And just, it was tough. And I decided I was I was going to take control and just, you know, do what makes me happy, to bury that hurt, and everything. So through the years, did whatever I kind of felt whatever felt good, you know. And then so much, so about nine years ago, God met me at a bar of all places, and from there just kind of decided, I need to get this personal relationship thing figured out. And then my family relationships. So got plugged back into local church started serving right away. And then relearning kind of what that looked like. And then, as we were going, you know, just even up until a year ago, my story's still going, obviously, and had had some life change happen. And I was at a loss with God, like, what the heck, like, what are we doing here? And he's like, bro, you haven't? He calls me bro. So he's like, You, you, you've done well, you've come a long ways. But you haven't given up that control piece yet. And he's like, you give that up to me. And I will bless you. beyond measure, you will not even know what I can do. So the last year has been pretty crazy along with other 30 some years, but but just operating in this freedom right now, has been huge for me. So it's awesome.
Thank you.
Season, why don't you tell us your one word and share us your story here.
Okay, well, I'm season app. And my one word is overcomer. I was a believer, very young, like at five years old and had a really great relationship with Christ growing up. And it really didn't. It didn't change, but it smacked me in the face in my 20s, my brother passed away suddenly. And I fell into a very deep, deep place. And God showed me in the next few months after that, to go ahead and just rely on him. And he gave me the tools to kind of move on three years later than my husband, I were gifted with a little girl who passed away with trisomy 18. And with those tools that he gave me with my brother's passing, that was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. But I was able to rely on those tools he gave me previously. So yeah.
It's awesome. Thank you. Thank you, Daniel.
I'm Daniel Newman, the word for my story would be redeemed. So a little bit about my story. So before I really knew Jesus, or had any sort of relationship with him, I was stuck in this pattern of addiction to drugs, pornography, sex, alcohol, pretty much anything. And I was just constantly trying to fill this void in my life with that, and like the praises of other people. But the more that I tried to do that, just the more empty I felt. And so once I got connected to a local church, it was shortly after that, that the Holy Spirit just convicted me. And I wanted freed from all those things. So I remember laying in bed one time, said, Jesus, if you're real, like, I need you to just free me from all these addictions, and specifically the drug addictions. And a week later, I was arrested. And, and so Jesus, she showed up, and not the way I wanted, maybe, but it was it was exactly what I needed. So
that's good. That's good. All right, Hannah. To tell us a little bit about Hannah.
My name is Hannah Cole, and my word is surrender. So I grew up in a Christian home I went to church every Sunday, believed in God and Jesus, but I was always believing and doing all the right things because I wanted to please people, not because I wanted to please the Lord or because I had actually fully surrendered my life to Him. And so once I got to college, then I decided I was just going to actually do what I wanted, I'm not going to please people anymore. I'm going to please myself, got myself into some stuff that I was never meant to be in. But my sister got connected to a local church. And her life just started to change. And we had a lot of conversations during that time. But there was one conversation in particular, that really shifted things for me. And it made me question if I was actually saved, like I thought I was. And I wrestled with that for a few months. And then one night, in my room by myself with my private time with the Lord, I just surrendered everything to him, told him he could have it all. And ever since that moment, I just started taking little next steps towards relationship with him, and everything has changed since then. So
good. So good.
Spring. So what I want to do is spend a little bit of time kind of diving into each of your guys's stories, so people can hear about what this relationship with Jesus has looked like. And, Jeff, I want to come back to you. When we were talking before you said, I've met Jesus multiple times in my life, but it was that October 16 2021, that I felt like something was radically different. Can you just expand on that date talk about why that was different for you.
So really, it was the knowing that I had a spouse that had been believing for me for so many years, that the Bible was like sitting there and I never even looked into it. And I really just took the Christianity thing as just a cliche, like, hey, you know, my kids are in youth group, and I'm going to church. And so, but it was just in that moment that, like I said, I opened it up and God was like, it's time to grow up. And I mean, I ran out of the room, I was in tears, I called I called Heather right away, and just asked for forgiveness for all the years of not being the best husband not being the best father, and just not passionately pursuing Jesus and showing her what a true loving man is all about.
It's good, right, man? Tell me a little bit about like, now, this side of that moment in October, what is different about Jeff, how does this relationship with God work that, like you said, I'm a totally different person, I feel different. It's like a totally new life. Talk to me about that. Well,
I mean, it's funny, you talk to some people, and they're like, they have a 180 degree change right away. And mine hasn't quite been like that. It's still work every day. But it's still just changing my heart posture. I have a rhythm right now, if I get up every morning, no matter what time that is, this morning, it was three. And I'm in my Bible and worship music. And I go and I journal. And my very first question is always, Hey, God, what do you want to do with me today? So I can I can say that. I mean, a feather was in here. She's doing the TOS. But uh, she was here, my my coping mechanism when I didn't want to deal with something as I would just get mad. And, you know, people would get away from me, and then I'd be like, oh, sweet, I have my own time. But I was just pushing people away, and not growing relationships, and trying to do everything on my own. So I mean, from that moment, it's like, being in relationship with people around church and knowing that there's guys that I can rely on that I can call and say, Hey, I'm struggling. And they are like, Hey, let's meet or they call me right away and say, Hey, let's talk through this. So that kind of friendship and that kind of relationship. What I want what I need. I think every one of us needs that. So good.
So last last question I want to ask you is you said that your wife gave you that Bible? Five years into your marriage? Yeah. And then it was, what? 17 years later? Yeah. Before we finally opened that Bible. 15
years because I was 21. Okay, so
15 years much? Yeah,
that's a lot less. Yeah. For sure. I mean,
17 years would have been bad. Right? For sure.
Thank god, she's
not in here. They're all just numbers. We're all just numbers. So you're here, it'd be my question for you is thinking of like, how heathered been praying for you that whole time? What might be your encouragement for the wives, the husbands in the room? They're still praying for their spouse on on that seed that's been planted?
Yeah, just I mean, keep believing and keep pouring into each other. The one thing Heather and I have now is, is a completely honest relationship. We can, you know, in the hard times, we're still talking to each other. When the conversation we know it's gonna be difficult. It's still like, hey, let's, we need to sit down and talk about this. So that one thing is is if, if you're that guy, I'm going to talk to guys, if you're that guy that your wife is leading the spiritual, stop, grow up, take take the reins, and see how much he loves you and how much he's believing for you. Because God will meet you in that moment.
Good man. Oh, good. That's that's a little dose of hard truth. The Chapel loved it. But everybody in the room was like, no, no. That's alright. I get it. I get it. So to bring it. Thank
you, Jeff. Matt Phelps, we have a question that I think everybody is wondering about in the room. And that is, how did God meet you in a bar.
So a guy walks into a bar, right?
So a guy walks into a bar, and I see that it's a local pastor from church in town. And the only reason I knew that it was a certain talent, or who he was, was just because social media them kind of blowing up the first few months of the year, they were looking to start this church. And I was like, Hey, I'm a Christian. I'm in this bar, like, so is he like, this is cool, man. Like,
why do you keep pointing to me? Oh, sorry.
So this guy,
it was me everybody. So
So I think you were there to check out a band, or some guys, some musicians. And I was actually working for that band, helping them out with some stuff. And so after their SEC got done, I decided, I'm gonna go over and talk to the students, you see what he's all about. And so just having a genuine conversation with him, just kind of telling him this, some of the story even he just sat there and was Yeah, man. Like, I mean, the conversation were just so genuine. And I'd never experienced that before. And so I knew that in that moment, God was like, Hey, bro, again.
Hey, bro, you let's, let's get this relationship figured out. And let's, let's really dive in and see what see what we can do with this. So I think it was later that night, about 230, you know, normal time in the morning, texted my girlfriend at the time, who's now my wife, and was like, Hey, I think I found a place to go to church. Let's check it out. See what happens. And I think that was week three. We came in and visited and then still here today, so
yeah, come on. We were. So let me let me just clarify, let me clarify. That was literally the only time I've ever been in a bar in my life. We had just moved here. And we were looking for musicians. And so this guy's like, hey, this band is playing at a bar. And they're a bunch of Christian dudes. They were Christian ish. They were Christian, adjacent. So I was like, Hey, I guess I'll go to the bar. And I went to the low bar, I didn't know how to order. I was like, Oh, can I get a Diet Coke. And they looked at me like, I'm sure, I guess you want to get it not just Diet Coke. So that's how we met. Just clarity sake, everybody.
It was also my only time that my first time it was your first
God did meet you.
So anyway, your personal relationship with Jesus. So you said that you met God nine years ago in the bar, and then just recently began began to receive some healing. I think a lot of us imagine that we're going to meet Jesus, and then immediately, our life is just going to be changed. And immediately better talk about how this has been a process of a personal relationship with Jesus.
Yeah, so it's definitely been a process, just kind of relearning everything that I had kind of known growing up about God, and having a relationship just was just learning again, you know, kind of re remembering things of yeah, this is how it supposed to be. But then just seeing it in a different light and a different perspective. And just being way more intentional with it was the, the huge piece for me, and it wasn't all, you know, rainbows and butterflies for the last nine years, like, there's a lot of challenges, there was a lot of trials that I went through. Just trying, you know, trying to navigate it. So it's definitely a process and even the last year has been a process, you know, but last year when I when I was like, Hey, what's going on? You know, it was like, give up that control piece. You can have control or you can have freedom, but you can't have both so
so season you, you're kind of on that same like talking about lifelong personal relationship with Jesus. You mentioned that there were two seasons of dealing with this grief in your life. Talk about both of those and you said that God met you with your brother talk But that situation for us. So
when my brother passed away, there was an overwhelming, it wasn't just a grief, it was a was probably part of grief, but it was anger. And it was rage. And it was so overwhelming that I couldn't get out of it. And for a few months, I just kept actually praying to God, my anger. And there were some very brutal words that came out of my mouth. But I needed him to hear it. I needed him to know where I was at. And in that he continued to remind me that he knew what anger was that he had been angry and has been angry and was angry with me. And in that He healed me. He just I just gave it to him. And he completely overcame it for me. And so that was the tools that I learned. So then, moving forward to my daughter's Lily's passing. When I was pregnant with her, I didn't choose to listen to what the world was really telling me that she was going to be terminal that there was anything wrong with her. I just trusted that God had her and really rested in that piece. He gave me a piece that I can't ever explain and put words to. And when she passed away, I didn't root into that anger. I mean, I got angry. Yes, I did have moments of pain and suffering and turmoil, but I didn't let it take root. And so yeah, he definitely gave me tools to overcome it again. Yeah,
that's so good. That's so good. Daniel, you might have the most opposite experience to meeting God in a bar the way you talk about. Yeah,
I realized I just left off at the fact that I got arrested. I just I just got out. I just came here, right.
So we're just glad you made it to service. Yeah, me too.
So a lot of people would hear that, like, Oh, I got arrested. And I was on probation. And I think they would picture that as like, Oh, my life is falling apart. But for you. You've seen a different way. He talked about that.
Yeah. So I was honestly I got to a point of like, just complete desperation. Like I was like, Lord, whatever it takes, even if I get arrested. I was like, I was like, whatever. So in that moment, it was like, honestly, just such a godsend. And the fact that like it took a couple days after I got arrested to realize I was like, oh, yeah, I prayed for this, like, this is what I prayed for. And so there was a little bit of like, Oh, this sucks at first, but then realizing that God actually showed up and in that crazy way. I remember sitting with Derek, you know, a couple days later, and we're crying, it led Belize because I'm sharing this whole story with him. But Derek was really there to encourage me and actually speak some truth into the situation. And it was one I kind of took a hold of those truths, that I began to see that all these things in my life that I was like trying to conquer on my own just started to fall off and kind of drift away. I had, I didn't have the desires for it anymore. God plays different desires inside my heart.
Yeah. So good. That's so good. One of the things that as we were preparing, I thought you did a really good job of talking about how the price Jesus paid on the cross specifically helped you conquer your sin. Can you talk a little bit about that relationship with Jesus and how you picture that the sacrifice on the cross? And the way that
yeah, the way that I see it is just, it's the ultimate symbol of sacrifice and of love, ultimately. And his sacrifice on the Cross gave me the freedom to live life in a way that I could never live on my own. And, yeah, I'm just trying to think ultimately, it's just like, yeah, just that freedom, peace and just feeling restored with with God, the cross being the bridge to God that I could never get to. I was feeling like I had to try to fill these voids with all these other things. But the second that I allowed Jesus to come into my life, everything just seemed to click and just make make sense, in a way that I can't really explain. But
that's so good. So good. So Hannah, you you talked about how you had gone into the season of like, you've been people pleasing, and then it was all about like, this is this is not my time for me. And then you had this conversation with your sister. Talk us through that conversation with your sister and what what you felt like God was unveiling for you? Yeah,
so um, the church that she got connected to is a church with next steps. And she was telling me how there's always a next step to be taking with the Lord. And you're either taking next steps and you're moving in pursuit of him, or you're moving backwards. There's no such thing as actually being in like, a still stagnant spot with him. And it clicked for me because I was like, this whole time I thought, I've been in this still spot with the Lord. Like, I know I'm not like moving in pursuit of him, but I'm for sure not going backwards. Like, I'm not moving away from him. And it just clicked. I was like, shoot, I'm running away from him. Like I'm not I couldn't tell you. The last next step I'd taken over the last decades, like maybe one. And so it just finally clicked for me where I was like, I'm not living the life that I thought I was. And I have to change something because I know I want a relationship with him. So that's just when it clicked is it was like I, I don't know if I'm actually saved right now.
That's so good. And then you talked about you had this moment, then that you're crying out to God? What was that conversation? Like? What did that what did that look like? Was it like a room of people were you in community with people or what I
was by myself with the door shut, because I didn't want my husband to hear me crying. And I was just, I got to a breaking point where I was just so tired, I was tired of people pleasing my whole life. Because if any of you are people pleasers, you know that people pleasing just leads to hiding and secrecy. Like there's a lot of stuff that goes on that you don't want anybody else to know about. And it's a really, really, really heavy weight. And so I just got to a breaking point where I was like, I can't carry this anymore. You have to take it. Like I remember me and my husband, we just bought our first home. And I literally told the Lord, like you can have the house, you can have my job, I don't care what not. And it's funny just because the Lord doesn't want to take my house. But that was just where my heart was. That was I was just like, I'm so done that you can have anything I just need you to take over.
So then you're having this conversation with the Lord. What is that surrender look like?
Surrender, to me just looks like giving him the space to do what he needed to do. The Lord's a gentleman, so he was never going to force himself on me. Because that's not love. That's manipulation. And so I had a choice to make of, I have to make the next step to pursue this relationship with him, because he's not going to do it. For me anyway, like, I have a part to play in this relationship. And so it just looks like telling him, Lord, I'm so tired, I need you to take over and show me what my next step is. I don't know what my next step looks like. But tell me what it is so that I can be obedient to you give me the boldness to move in that. So
good. So at last thought, if there's anybody in this room, I mean, from all of these conversations we've had, it's invite God. How do you have that conversation with God? What did that look like when you were having that? Like, talk somebody through in this room? Encourage them? How would you have that conversation with God?
I would first start by opening your mouth. This prayer isn't. That's not it. Get vulnerable, get honest. He already knows all your thoughts. He already knows every single thing you've been through. So be honest with him, and allow him to move into that space. Tell him Lord, I don't feel like worshiping you right now. Everybody's lifted in their hands in this room. I don't want to, Lord, I don't want to come up and receive prayer right now. Help me have that desire, like, show me what my desires are. Show me the way that you see me so that I can walk in what you're calling me to because that's the thing is I was blind to it. So even just praying like Lord, show me what I'm not seeing. Give me the eyes to see what you want me to see in the ears to hear what you want me to hear. But people in community around me who can point me towards those things, take things out of my life that aren't pushing me towards you. Take the your hands off the reins, and pass them over to him. You can't have one here. I have one rain and he has one rain. That's not how it works. You have to give them both so that he can steer you forward.
That's good. That's so good. As we give it up for our panel. Thank you guys. This is awesome.
Boom. So Matt, God met you in a bar. Jeff. God met you. In the middle of being fake. Season God met you in grief and anger. God met you in the middle of addiction. And God met you in the middle of people pleasing and trying to be perfect. Realizing I can't do any of this. And I think that's the beauty of serving God. The way that he's called us to serve Him is in our uniqueness. He will meet each and every one of us. So you might look around the room and think, Well, they don't know what I'm going through. I remember when I first met Daniel, I never would have guessed he was going through what he was going through. When I met season, I would have never guessed she was walking through what she was walking through. When I met Jeff, I would have never guessed But the reality is we all walk through stuff. And it's all unique to us. But the beauty of it is, is in our unique trials, in our unique circumstances, there is a God who paid a price for it all, through His Son Jesus on the cross. So we're observing this evening. And I want you to know that this is not just about five people that we could gather together to share a story. This is about men and women who just like you came through the doors of a church, one Sunday, one Friday, one city group, or whatever the case may be. And realize, there's something here that I haven't been applying. There's a step I can take that I haven't made yet. I don't have to be alone. I can enter into a new relationship. So here's what I want you to think about. As we're standing on our feet this evening. To close the service. I want you to think about God, where have I allowed you one reign, and I've held the other? Where have I not been willing to express how I'm actually feeling God, I'm ticked off about this. I don't want to be here. I feel like you failed me you did not come through. But in the midst of it being open, that God might reveal something to you that you just hadn't had a complete view. So when all of our rooms with heads bowed and eyes closed, you would say, Pastor Matt, that's that's me. Maybe somebody's story resonated with you. Maybe a stirred something on the inside of you. You say, I need to leave tonight knowing that I've given my life to a savior like that. Not this not this guy that I heard about as a kid in this religious traditional fashion or for but the life giving power that the death of Jesus provides. I want that. If that's you, just as a simple sign of agreement and acceptance, would you lift your hand? Just lift a hand? Oh, my gosh. Thank you, Jesus. Thank You, Jesus. Thank You, Jesus. Those of you who have your hands lifted. I want you to repeat this with me loud, but everybody who's a part of the family of faith, Would you repeat this so your brothers and sisters know that they're not alone? Listen, we believe at Mercy city, nobody prays alone. Nobody's in this alone. We're in this together and we're better that way. So say this with us tonight. Say Father God. Tonight I receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Tonight, I believe that Jesus Christ paid the price for my sin. Tonight I believe that the power of Jesus Christ can help me turn from my sick turn toward a new life. So not I believe, Jesus Christ has empowered me to lay down my sin and pick up his life. Powerful, complete, holy, and right. Tonight I choose to pursue Jesus with all that in Jesus name. Amen.
Thanks again for listening to today's message. For more information on all that God's doing at Mercy city, or to share how the message has impacted your life. Visit us online at Mercy City DOT church or on social media.
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