Imagine Impact

Imagine Impact
One Family's Journey

Shared by Chris and Jennifer Patterson

Last year during the Trustee series, my wife Jennifer and I were both moved in our hearts by the message of what God intends for us, and felt we were being awakened to being true stewards of the gifts He gives us. We began to look even deeper than before into the way we handled our finances, debts, and even more importantly, our lives.

We worked hard to streamline the way we spent. We not only looked at eliminating large expenses and purchases, we even drove it deeper into things that were “standard nice to have." I realized that Jennifer was truly committed when I invited a neighbor over to watch a sports event, and realized that the cable package had been cut back and that I no longer “needed” TNT!

As we committed to being better Trustees of the blessings that God had bestowed on us, we saw that we were able to make progress against our own debts in a year in which the family income was less than ever before. We also gave more in charitable contributions than in any other year of our marriage!

We have two small kids, and the most important thing to us is that they know God and hopefully someday help lead others to the Lord. We immediately saw the Imagine campaign as an opportunity to ensure that others would have the chance to experience the ministry of the church and God’s Word. The only problem was that we were not sure how we would be able to come up with an amount that was significant to us, but that we could support after the reshaping we experienced from the Trustee series.

Jennifer and I both prayed about it separately. We both came up with initial numbers that we “thought we could do and that would be tough to meet." Our hearts told us, however, that we could do more. As we began to finalize our commitment to a higher number, not knowing where it would come from, Jennifer was provided an opportunity to make a little extra income.

We weren’t and still aren’t sure exactly how we will be able to give the amount we have committed, but we are very excited about seeing how God will work in our lives to help us meet it.

We have seen that, often, the changes we make in answer to God’s will, though they may require certain “sacrifices," often result in other rewards from Him. We are excited about this new chapter for Grace Fellowship and we are thrilled to be a part of it. We know that it is not the monetary amount we have committed to, but the purpose that is important.

GFC member Chris Patterson is Director of Operations for Saratoga Technologies, Inc. in Johnson City.

Grace Fellowship Church