“M aking the decision to send my two children off to public school was painstakingly one of the hardest decisions up to that point in their lives that we had to make. The peace on the other hand, after much prayer and careful consideration, has proven that this decision was the right one for them and for us, at least for now. We have taught them well at home that they are the salt of the earth and to use the privilege of being raised in a home where truth is taught to their advantage in the public school system. We have realized five years later, over and over, that God had a purpose in this decision…we had some salting to do in the community of Fishers.

    I will never forget making that first phone call to Jonathan’s mom; Jonathan was a friend of our son, Gentry, that he had been talking about from his first grade class. Gentry is now in fourth grade and from that one phone call came the opportunity to teach his mom a bible study and Jonathan’s entire family is now attending our church and active in helping us grow this work here in Fishers! Gentry and our daughter, Risa, carry the responsibility with me in helping to salt the earth to their friends at school very seriously. Many of their friends have visited our church, and they are both confident in letting others know they are Christians.

    Reaching out in our neighborhood has been another area in which God has allowed many doors to be open for our family giving us another chance to be used to salt the earth. From a simple garage sale, came the opportunity to witness to a young man about an Indiana Bible College CD that his mom had purchased. This past June he finished four years at IBC, has been filled with the Holy Ghost, baptized in Jesus name and faithfully attends Life Connections. Steven is helping us in our Puppet ministry and Kids Connection service. Both of Steven’s parents have been baptized as well as his sister, and they faithfully attend our church.

    From that same garage sale a neighborhood Bible study for women was started called “Get Connected”. I had struck up a conversation with Steph, a neighbor, and she asked if I would be interested in teaching a Bible study in the neighborhood. A week later found Steph and me passing out flyers around the neighborhood indicating the desire to start this with our neighbors. For two years women from the neighborhood and the surrounding area met in different homes, and I was able to share the Bible with these women. Some were baptized and attended our services when Life Connections began. One of the ladies that attended faithfully every week had this to say, “ While pregnant with my third child, I found myself tired, scared and overwhelmed at the prospect of keeping our everyday routine as normal as possible while bringing home a newborn.  Luckily, I had become very close friends with my neighbors.  My neighbors all pitched in and brought dinners ready to serve, entertained my older children while I got some overdue sleep, and they provided advice as well as a shoulder to cry on when I needed it.  When thinking back to that time in our lives, I often remember the generosity of my neighbors and appreciate it more than they will ever know.  It is so comforting to know that my family has a strong neighborhood to call on when times get tough.”