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« September 2009 | Main | November 2009 »
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115961 |
200 |
Perfect Setting Bigz XL die |
$42.95 |
$25.99 |
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114515 |
195 |
Flower Burst Embosslits die |
$11.95 |
$5.99 |
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116760 |
201 |
Pop-Up Three Tier Cake Bigz XL die |
$39.95 |
$25.49 |
This is not a stamping related article but I jaut had to share this awesome event and ministry that I participate in . Here is the link http://www.harvestrollingmeadows.org/article.aspx?site_id=4&article_id=178937
But in case they take it off the webstie I posted the sotry below. Enjoy!! You can see me and my husband in the first photo, Joe is in the back and I am in front beside Ray.
In June 2009, Vivian and her adult son Raymond Toth began attending Harvest Bible Chapel after being invited by neighbors, Jim and Natalie Stage.
“I hadn’t attended church in a long time,” Vivian says. "[But Ray and I were willing to] see what it was like.”
Vivian’s son Raymond is 26-years-old. Since Ray’s father’s death in 1991, the two have been practically inseparable. They live together, share every meal together, and if something occurs in the life of one of them, it occurs in the life of the other. The bond between Ray and his mother is unique, however, due to the fact that Ray has Autism.
“He always feels like he has to be around me, he’s got to be able to see me and know that I’m there," Vivian explains. "If he gets too far from me he gets uncomfortable.”
While Ray functions at a higher level than most that suffer with similar developmental disorders, Vivian would be the first to tell you that raising her son by herself has been difficult. In addition to Ray’s Autism, recently Ray has been diagnosed with a serious, terminal illness.
On their first visit to Harvest with the Stages, Vivian and Ray joined the congregation in the Worship Center in Rolling Meadows for weekend worship. During this time, God began to move not only in Vivian’s life, but in Ray’s as well. The sermon series was centered on the issues of anger, and Vivian mentions that the sermon on that first visit really moved her.
"Earlier that week, Raymond was having attitude problems and I [felt like] couldn’t take it anymore," reflects Vivian. "That sermon hit me and I was glued! After four days of nothing but screaming and hollering, I felt like the pastor was talking to me like I was the only one in the church.”
Vivian left the church that day with encouragement concerning her feelings of anger and the conviction to change. Not only that, but Vivian was blessed because as the band lead the congregation in song, Ray responded by holding his hands toward God–something that Vivian had never seen him do.
After a few weeks of coming to Harvest, Vivian asked her neighbors if there was a special service Ray could attend. Natalie told her about In His Image, the Compassion Ministries’ program that reaches out to care and spiritually educate those with special needs.
“When I told her what In His Image was, she was thrilled that there was something [geared] specifically to Ray," says Natalie.
“I wasn’t sure that I wanted him there,"Vivian tells. "But Raymond being there really burst my bubble. He was intermingling, which he normally doesn’t do. Raymond loved it. In fact, he didn’t stop talking about it all week!”
Through the ministry of In His Image, Ray was better able to follow the lesson, whereas during the main worship service, he usually would lost focus in the first few minutes.
“When I’m in [In His Image] I understand them. In the [the Worship Center] I didn’t understand them,” Ray says.
Immediately, Vivian realized that Ray was supposed to be there.
“It was like he was home in that classroom," Vivian says. "He’s happy in that room.”
Soon after attending In His Image, Ray has felt less and less obligated to be with his mother–now he simply grabs his Bible and walks to class on his own. In His Image has empowered Ray to live more independently, and what’s more, it has solidified his relationship with Christ and his knowledge of God.
So much so, that not long after consistently being involved in In His Image, Ray expressed his desire to be baptized.
“He asked us all week, everyday," remembers Vivian. "He drove me nuts, and I told him, ‘Ray you don’t just jump into something like that.’ I asked him why we wanted to be baptized and he said, ‘because I believe in Jesus, and I know about him dying on the cross for my sins.’
On Sunday, August 16, 2009, with his family, In His Image classmates, and his teachers looking on, Ray Toth was baptized in Jesus’ name.
Since then, Ray has continued to attend In His Image and play a huge part in the dynamics of the group. Ray is skilled and very interested in Web site design and has even created a site for the members of In His Image to use and for others to learn about the ministry.
Looking back, Ray is happy and excited that he was baptized and his mother is very proud of his profession of faith as well as his willingness to be baptized.
“That baptism meant everything to me," explains Vivian. "I had dreamed of it, and I was in tears. The whole day was beautiful. And do you know why? Because Raymond wanted it!
"I’m very proud of my son, he’s very special.”
As Ray’s health deteriorates, Vivian knows that tougher days are ahead, but she is looking to the Lord to be her strength in the midst of illness and family difficulties.
“Someday the Lord will ask me, ‘Did you raise your kid to love me?’ And I can honestly say ‘yes’ to that," she explains.
"I do believe that God has given Ray time, and maybe it was for this reason. So that he could be involved in In His Image and be baptized. He feels at home in In His Image, and I think the Lord is pleased with that.”
"In His Image" is a ministry that reaches out, biblically educates, and serves the needs of the disabled community of Harvest Bible Chapel and the greater community of the northwest suburbs. Recognizing that a life given by God is significant, we value that the works of Christ are displayed in those that have mental and physical disabilities (John 9:2). In His Image meets each Sunday during the 11:15 A.M. service in Room E141. If you are interesting in attending or serving in this ministry, please contact Troy at
tmaragos@harvestbiblechapel.org .
nd, Joe, in the top photo. Joe is in the back row and I am in the front row standing beside Ray.
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Description |
Regular Price |
Sale |
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109183 |
186 |
Trio Flower punch |
$15.95 |
$10.99 |
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109041 |
187 |
5-Petal Flower punch |
$15.95 |
$10.99 |
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110709 |
187 |
My Way punch |
$15.95 |
$11.99 |
