Featured Stories
Wrong Turn-Right Path : Story of a young girl who took the wrong road in life-but ultimately ended up on the right path!
A Hunter Who Survived Suicide : A hunter who tried to end his life-and ended up finding his way and his faith instead!
Up & Coming Artist: Jake Lynn : A young up and coming Christian Hip Hop rapper trying to reach people from this generation through his music!
Another Daughter : Story about a young girl feeling her way through life blinded-who's eyes were opened when she found love and faith in a family that was not her own!
 

Another Daughter
By: T.R. Michels (2001)

I try to live by Romans 10:9, which states, "That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." I try to tell every one I meet that I am a Christian, and I try to live like a Christian. If we, as Christians, don't try to do those things how can we expect to reach out to those who don't know Christ? And how can we expect to get through to them? If we are really trying to live as Christians we have to "Proclaim the good news." Every once in a while I get confirmation that, through me, God has touched someone's life, and gotten through to them.

Of all my children, my youngest daughter Tawny (fifteen at the time of this writing) is probably the most like me. She is confident in her beliefs about God, Christ and the Holy Spirit; and she is very outspoken about it. Several of Tawny's friends come over to the house regularly, but the one who is here most often is Kayla. Kayla's parents are divorced; her father is an alcoholic who has remarried; her mother lives with a boyfriend. Kayla lives with her mother on weekdays, and stays with her father on weekends. When things get difficult at her father's house Kayla usually asks if she can come and stay with us, and of course we let her.

About six months after first coming over to the house to visit Tawnya, Kayla began calling me "Dad." I didn't think anything about it at first, because when I was young I called several of my friends mothers "Mom." Then one day I asked Kayla why she called me "Dad." She said, "Because you're the Dad I never had when I was little." (Kids can make you cry at the worst of times.) I told her, "That's one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me." Kayla is like a daughter to us, and we love her.

On December 22, 2001 Kayla called at 12:30 PM and asked if we could come and get her. So my wife Diane drove five miles to pick her up. While she was waiting for Diane and Tawnya, Kayla got on the computer and wrote a letter, which she read to us the next day. I think her letter clearly explains why I keep saying that as Christians we all need to confess with our mouth's that "Jesus is Lord."

Following is a copy of Kayla's letter to Tawnya.

Dear Tawny,
Over the past years you have been so good to me, even when we were upset with each other. But you know what? That just proves what kind of a friend you really are. And the little things you do show what kind of a person and friend you can be. Your personality and determination of religion can really inspire people. I know it has inspired me. And I hope that it continues to as the days go on.
I am truly grateful for what you and your family have done for me. You gave me a warm and caring home when I wanted to get away from my own. You gave me love and hope. You and your family gave me something to believe in when I thought that I had nothing left to believe in. And as I sit here and think of the important people in my life, you and your family come to mind. And I now know why. God has truly blessed me by being able to have more than one "family." I am so grateful that your family is the other family in my life.
I really don't know what kind of a person I would be without the love that I have from you and your family. And I don't know where I would be without you and your dad. You both have impacted me in a way that no one else could ever do. You were there (and still are) for me when I needed to "talk," when all I really did was cry. You were more than willing to stay up till all hours of the night just trying to get through to me, and help me through whatever I was going through. Your father (and mine now) gave me the love of a dad that I never had when I was little. He cared for me, and he still does. He's behind me all the way, and when I fall you and he are there to help me pick myself back up. And all I can say is THANK YOU.
What I am even more thankful for is that you and your family have helped me believe in God more than I EVER had in my life. And I do believe in Him with my whole heart! And I believe in you, your Dad, your Mom, Dallas and your grandma's. It was all of you who helped me see who I really was and what I was really doing with my life, and how to fix it. Even though I am still working out a few things, I am happy to say that all the advice that I have ever received from you has been helpful. Thanks a million, God Bless!
Love Always & Forever
Kayla Jean Amundson

 Wrong Turn-Right Path?

 Story By: Tawny Michels

July 2006 (UPDATED DEC 2006)

My parents raised this girl from the time I was12 until we moved away from her. Her father was an alcoholic and her mother was dating one as well. Her name is Kayla-we now refer to her as my sister even though she isn't related in any way. We have been best friends for a really long time. People did not really understand this because we are complete opposites. I'm the good, sweet girl. She's the rebellious one. Even though we drifted in high school. We hung out with different crowds for
awhile-we still were together outside of school a lot. A few years ago-before her 19th birthday Kayla's drug use and drinking became so bad that I was afraid she was going to really screw up her life-or kill herself or someone else. I was really worried and thought for months on what I could do to help her. I tried being nice and talking to her-without judgement. Then I tried yelling at her-didn't work! Then one night I decided that I had to tell her mom. It was the only way I knew to help her. This decision was tough...and it took me weeks to think of what to say. I was talking to my friend Aly one day about it and she said she would come with me to tell Kayla's mom. We had been trying to set up a time when we could meet with Kayla's mom Vicki. Aly came over to my house one morning and Kayla called me talking about a party she and her boyfriend had gone too. I finally got fed up with this and told her exactly how I was thinking-but in a way where it came out as caring and not judgmental. Aly got so upset she cried-my dad was listening to the whole conversation and told me how proud he was of me for the way I was handling everything. Aly and I couldn't get a hold of Kayla's mom-but we knew Kayla wasn't home so we decided to just drive over to talk to her mom. Aly called Kayla's dad and asked him to meet us there because we were going to tell Vicki. At this point I had already told her dad-he called and informed Kayla of what we were going to do and of course she denied doing drugs.


When we got to her house-Kayla was there. Aly didn't want to go in cause she knew Kayla would be mad. But Vicki came out all upset and told us to come in-Kayla had told her some of the story. So we sat down for about two hours and talked about everything. Kayla was informed she had to sit there and say nothing until Aly and I had said everything we needed too. I could tell she was really mad and was pretty sure she would never speak to me again. Then her mom asked me why I had finally decided to tell her-since Kayla had been doing drugs since the 6th grade-I didn't know until 8th though. I told her mom-"Because I would rather have a ticked off friend than a dead one." Kayla burst out in tears and I knew then that she would forgive me!

After we talked with her mom-Kayla took me upstairs and said- "You know out of everything that was said downstairs-your dead friend comment and your tears got to me the most! I love you!" and then gave me a long hug and we cried together for about 15 minutes.
We went downstairs where Vicki and Aly were talking-Vicki came and gave me a big hug and said, "I can see you love Kayla as much as I do. Thank you-I love you more than words can express."

We went through long months of late night phone calls and driving 15 minutes to sit with her so she wouldn't be tempted to do drugs or drink again. Everyone told me to be prepared for her to struggle and mess up and do drugs again so I kind of expected it-but she was doing so well-6months! Then shortly after my 19th birthday she called me and said that she had started doing crystal meth. I didn't know how to deal with this. I kind of cut myself off from her because I couldn't watch her do that to herself again. In June of 2005 we kind of reconnected and we hung out one day like we were back in high school again. No hint of drugs-just her and I acting completely stupid!
In July I called her to tell her about some family problems I was having. After I got all done telling her I said-"So, how have you been?" She replied with, "I am pregnant and I am so scared to tell my mom!" I was hoping, praying she was kidding! She was supposed to go to school in the fall-she was supposed to make something of herself. Now-her life was ruined, or was it?


March of 2006 Kayla gave birth to the most adorable baby boy, Brayton Benjamin! In a way-Brayton saved her. We went and saw Brayton and Kayla recently and she told us that thanks to Brayton she stopped the meth and all the other drugs, she rarely drinks and that she is so glad she had him because he saved her life. She could have gone off to college and done nothing but party and screw her life up completely-but now she has Brayton, she is off the drugs and she is becoming the manager at her work!


I am so proud of her-- Kayla and I both fully believe that there is a reason for everything-and Brayton is her little miracle from God!

UPDATE:


Brayton Benjamin was baptized in a Lutheran Church
in October of 2006!!

  

 

 

Up and Coming Christian Hip Hop
Rapper: Jake Lynn

 

 

 

Jake Lynn, age 20, has been in love with rap since the 3rd grade. "I remember poppin' in some Bone Thugs N Harmony, Tupac, and Coolio during reading time!" Jake recalls. At the young age of 12 he started writing songs and poetry. However, that wasn't enough for the young music prodigy, he soon started deejaying for his father's company, KJ'S Sound & Light Show (kjsgv.com) "Music has always been my life, I didn't choose music--it chose me!"

He was raised in church and baptized at the age of nine, so he knew about God. However, during his early teenage years he headed down the wrong path--he abused drugs and alcohol. His actions did not show that he knew God. During those years he was around a lot of secular local rappers and fell in love with rap even more. He started rapping at 16, nothing serious, but not for Jesus.

For the longest time he struggled with suicidal thoughts, he hated the world and himself, and really questioned God. He always knew there was a God but he didn't know Him intimately.

The Apostle Paul said in 2 Timothy 1:12, "I know whom I have believed..." Notice he did not say, "I know about whom I have believed." Many people say they know about God, but all they really have is head knowledge, they know stuff about God; but you cannot really know God without a face-to-face encounter with Jesus Christ.

Jake truly experienced God for the first time when he was almost 17. He went to a pizza party at a local auditorium, which to his surprise was also a youth revival. He recalls wanting to flee out the back with his friends but the leaders would not let anyone leave. Somehow he experienced God's touch for the first time that night. Simultaneously he felt God calling him to the ministry!

"Once you truly experience God in His glory, you can't turn away from Him or forget His touch. Sure you may slip up and make a lot of mistakes now and then. But once you feel His touch, you are never the same." Jake says.

Jake Lynn is a prophetic voice to the Church and an evangelistic voice to those who have yet to come to Christ. He unapologetically laces Scripture throughout most of his songs, which is a primary source of their power. Yet don't think that Jake is just another 'Bible-thumper' or street preacher yelling at folks as they walk by to "Repent or die!" ... no, he's quite the opposite! He is a skilled communicator who has learned in his young age to speak the truth in love - as Jesus did. Jake speaks from both God's Word and personal experience and skillfully translates them into a language that his generation easily grasps.

Whether you listen to his music or attend a performance, you will find Jake Lynn a high-energy, enthusiastic young man with a genuine heart for his audience. Jake's songs range from being challenging, thought provoking, inspiring, encouraging, worshipful, to being downright fun and silly! Don't be surprised to find people jumping, dancing, nodding their chins and pumping their fists - or even twirling Hoola-Hoops! - at one moment to lifting their hands with tears running down their faces in adoration to the King as they are led into the very presence of God! It is not an exaggeration to say that Jake's performances are life changing.

As to image and style, Jake is unlike many other hip hop artists. He doesn't feel that you have to fit into any certain mold to do hip hop and do it well. You'll find him wearing his American Eagle with his hair styled. In other words by looking at Jake you can't see a "rapper" in him but you can see "Jesus" in him. Undeniably, Jake is breaking down barriers and killing stereotypes without compromising.

Jake Lynn is a highly motivated young man. At age 18 he started Crossin' Tha Bridge Records with the power of God, hard work, and dedication. The name Crossin' Tha Bridge symbolizes the sacrifice Jesus Christ made to bridge the sin gap between Man and God. CTBR exists to accurately spread the gospel of Jesus Christ and to enhance the Kingdom of God through hip hop. CTBR is an independent holy hip hop label with an innovative style and sound. As a short term goal Jake is seeking major distribution for CTBR.

Jake is a positive role model for the youth of America who stands for being true to yourself and God's Word. Don't be surprised if you start hearing people refer to him as "Pastor Jake" ... because he has been called by God and entrusted and commissioned by the leadership of The Gathering International to start and lead a new fellowship: The Gathering in Madisonville, Kentucky.

Current production credits include EMI Gospel artist/producer k-Drama (manCHILD of Mars Ill, Rob Hodge, Bobby Bishop, Japhia Life) and upcoming producer Foolish of Prophetic Productions (3-D Remedy)

He has worked with and opened for several national recording artists such as John Reuben, Ricky B, David Manning, k-Drama, MC Till, Ason, Theory Hazit, 2:Eleven and more.

Take a little time to check out Jake's Website, we're sure you will be encouraged and hopefully

challenged to draw closer to Jesus.

 

Check him out on Myspace at:

http://myspace.com/jakelynnmusic

Also check him out at:

http://www.sonicbids.com/epk/epk.asp?epk_id=57171

Download wallpapers and ringtones at:

http://jivjiv.com/jakelynn