A Student Testimony of Faith |
“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” Romans 5:3-5
In August, I (Kate) was asked to disciple Christina*, a Penn State senior who is a student leader within the DiscipleMakers fellowship. I wasn’t sure if this was a good decision for me to commit to regularly meeting up with her, as I was already feeling the crunch of keeping up with my Event Planning work and my new role as mom. However, it was very clear that the Lord was orchestrating this and knew it was just what we both needed.
Here’s her testimony:
“I grew up going to church, but it was my dad’s faith that modeled for me how to follow the Lord. I saw him display great faith in the Lord through trials and broken situations. Though his faith was inspiring, the Lord used my own trials to build my own faith, modeled after what I saw in my dad.
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On my first day of middle school, instead of being in class, I was in the doctor's office with intense pain from the previous 2 days. That day, I was diagnosed with IBS, a chronic condition causing abdominal pain.
Of the many coping attempts for the pain, singing Amazing Grace was the most effective. As middle school |
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continued, the frequency of my pain lessened, but it became more linked to stress, including stress from guilt. When the pain would come, I would take 15 minutes in the bathroom to process, pray through my pain, confess, and sing Amazing Grace, then leave feeling peace born of gratitude for God. The Holy Spirit definitely works in mysterious ways!
Am I saying the Holy Spirit, God, inflicted pain on me on purpose as retribution for the sins I committed - NO! But what I am saying is that God used a crappy situation (literally) and turned it into a way for me to grow closer to Him.
Then in sophomore year of high school, I began struggling with dark intrusive thoughts that often envisioned my loved ones or myself as the subject of terrible tragedy, and I took it upon myself to defend against those thoughts in any way I possibly could, however illogical. It progressed to the point where I |
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would cause myself physical harm to get my mind to focus on the pain instead of the thoughts. I was soon diagnosed with severe OCD.
The mental struggle of my OCD felt like the ultimate evil, and thus the only way I could truly combat it was with the ultimate good - God, the creator of all good things, boundless in love, and who I grew up learning was in control of everything. Though I had neglected my relationship with Christ since my bout with IBS, the Lord clearly revealed to me how adding HIM to the equation was once again the answer, and because of His grace and sovereignty I can find peace even when it seems impossible. |
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By the time I got to college I had a strong desire to grow in my faith but had no idea where to start. I joined a Bible study, which was at first very boring, but after seeking the Lord to help me draw near to Him, it quickly became the most interesting thing I ever read. I grew to have deep friendships with the other students involved with the DiscipleMakers fellowship and it’s been a huge blessing to walk alongside them as we seek Christ.
However, my story isn’t over yet.
On September 6th of last year, I got a call from my mom informing me that my dad had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. And in the five weeks that followed I watched my dad- a warrior of the faith- spend every last bit of his energy dolling out as much wisdom as he could to whoever visited his bedside. I witnessed firsthand the agony my father was in and did the best I could to help my mom provide in-home hospice care. By Oct 13th he was gone. Thankfully, my mother, brother, and I were able to be by his side as he took his last breath. |
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My father, a beacon of faith for me throughout my life, was gone. Yet accompanying the mourning and weeping, was peace in knowing my dad was ok because he was a man of faith, and He was most certainly rejoicing in Heaven at that moment, and still is now. God granted me peace through faith. |
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I can find peace trusting that God is going to make something beautiful out of this in the end, just like he did with my IBS and my OCD. Because God is good- in all His ways, He is merciful, kind, patient- and He always has a plan- he knows what He's doing, so trust in Him even when you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel because His plans are good, and always filled with love for His children.”
It was just 3 days after Christina had received news of her dad’s diagnosis that I met her for the first time, unaware of how shaken up her life was feeling. Though we were strangers, Christina shared vulnerably and openly with me about her dad’s declining health and her uncertainty about what the future would hold. Her dad was dying and she was facing the reality that soon he would be gone. I knew that feeling all too well. It was clear that God wanted me to commit to meeting with Christina.
In the weeks following that first meeting, Christina and I talked regularly about the mixture of emotions as she not only watched her dad fade away, but also cared for her mom and brother, and continued her school work for her senior year at Penn State. These are all quite heavy burdens to carry, yet she has done so gracefully and with such peace. At times I haven’t been sure if it’s been denial she’s truly feeling, but knowing her testimony, it is clear that the Lord has used her previous trials to strengthen her faith in Him, rest in the loving arms of Christ, and have a peace that comes only by the Holy Spirit.
I am humbled the Lord would allow me to witness such faith and walk alongside Christina in this season of suffering. I continue to pray for her as she considers what her future will hold post-college, knowing the Lord will sustain and guide her. *student name changed for privacy |
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In a previous newsletter, we shared about Joe Wenger, who worked with TJ in the Systems department last summer as a student intern. It was a great experience for Joe, so much so that the Lord prompted him to apply to work with DiscipleMakers.
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Please be praying for Joe as he finishes his last semester at Shippensburg University. Pray also for the Lord to quickly provide the funds needed to support the work he'll be doing with DiscipleMakers. |
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Prayers & Praises Praise God for the work in Christina's life! Pray for the Lord to continue to be her strength, refuge, and peace as she processes her grief and finishes her final semester. Pray for Kate as she continues to walk with Christina in this, that the Spirit would give her the right words to speak. Praise God for Joe and his future service to DiscipleMakers! Pray that he would finish his final semester well. Pray that the Lord would provide the funds needed Pray for our family
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Thank you for your continued prayers and support. We are constantly in awe of God's work on the college campus and delight to share it with you. If there are any ways that we can pray for you, please let us know!
In Christ, TJ & Kate Renninger |
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It's been a fun few months with Asher!
Top Left: We've enjoyed continuing to serve on the praise band at our church - Kate on piano, and TJ on guitar. Asher is definitely interested in music as he often wants to touch and play the instruments and yell into the microphone.
Top Right: Asher experienced snow for the first time. He wasn't too sure about it, but enjoyed a cold walk with mom.
Bottom Left: We spent the holidays with family who lavished Asher with gifts, including this climbing ladder that he loves and has gotten quite proficient at!
Bottom Right: We celebrated Kate's brother's wedding at the end of January where Asher had his second gig as ring "bear"-er! |
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Contact Us: TJ & Kate Renninger 548 Easterly Parkway State College, PA 16801 717.673.2359 | 610.401.7441 |
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