ONEBODYnwf

CHURCH SIGN

  "God wants full custody not just weekend visits" - Pretty much says it all!

DARING STUNTS, FLYING BIRDS AND THE WORD

 

It's another awesome, event packed Sunday night at the indoor skate park. For the 21 year old heading it up, it's another chance to reach a lost youth. He may be youthful, but he is mature beyond his years. He is world traveled. He has been to places such as: England, Germany, and Holland. He is currently in the process of lining up a trip to China. Mission? To expand a skateboarding ministry.

Jason Gallagher began his journey approx. 7 years ago in a skate park himself. "I was obsessed with skateboarding. I was at the skate park every chance I got. Problem was, I couldn't figure out why I felt so empty still. I had honed my skills and thought that I just needed to learn new tricks", Jason said.

But, that didn't do the "trick". Jesus did!

"I'd go to that skate ministry in Gulf Breeze and just blow off the message. Finally, it began to sink in. A seed was planted in me." Jason told us.

Just over a year ago, Sparrow became a reality. Launched under Globe International out of Pensacola, Florida, the name "Sparrow" was chosen from the passage of Mathew 10:29. We prefer that you read it, but we will give you a hint. It has to do with "God caring so much about even one sparrow". That's exactly what the 5 volunteers who head up Sparrow want those youth to grasp.

The evening is filled with daring maneuvers, a message and some pizza. Even if you aren't brave enough to master a 360 flip, it's very exciting to hang out and watch these kids. The message pierces the heart. Guest speakers are also invited to attend. You may attend these weekly events, free of charge, at Waterboyz in Pensacola. Located at 380 N. 9th avenue. Hours of the events are from 6:30 to 9:00 on Sundays.

Even though Jason has a busy, filled schedule which includes studying at Pensacola Junior College, the Sparrow ministry and traveling, he and his colleagues dreams and prayers are very clear. They pray that others will feel led to begin their own skateboarding ministries in other locations!

If the Lord touches your heart to begin a skateboarding ministry, or if you'd like to make a contribution in any way, feel free to contact Jason for help in that area. His number is: 850-485-8580.

A THRIVING POOL BUSINESS ~ SUBMERGED AND REBORN OF GOD

 

It can't be a coincidence that Lance Triplett lost everything in a prior pool business- submerged. He was dunked. He nearly drown. He rose again, by the grace of God- to be reborn. Both in business and in spirit. After all, we do serve a mighty God. 

Grab your popcorn. This is a movie. Or, at least it could be.

While working his way through college in a shipping company job, Lance sustained a back injury. So, began a long journey and spiral into the abyss of pain pill addiction and eventually, crack cocaine.

"After a rewarding career in the military, my pill addiction began to even impact that. I left that to begin working for an uncle in his pool business. After 5 years, I started my own. I was very successful and made a lot of money. It reached a point where the addiction consumed me. One night, while alone, God spoke to me and said, 'what if something happened to one of your parents? This is how you want to honor them?', said Lance.

Then, the unthinkable happened about a year later. The father he had loved, but not honored, was killed in a head on collision. He also lost a cousin under mysterious circumstances. Constantly scrambling for a way to get more pain pills, and with his business in shambles, Lance decided to enter a secular rehab.

"When I look back, the problem didn't begin with the pill addiction. It began as a youth not respecting or obeying my parents. Getting dependent on drugs was a symptom of my problems. I was selfish. "Me" or "I" came first. I also never thought that I was attractive enough. My self esteem was low. It  was about my outside appearances and not my inside image", Lance said.

Even though inside he still didn't admit that he was the problem- after all, doctors had been prescribing to him- he was able to stay clean for a year after rehab. Then, because he didn't deal with his "spiritual" problem, once again, the enemy stepped in.

"The enemy told me that I had stopped once, I can take pills again, and stop again. I had worked my way back up to my usual 35 pills per day. Hanging around people who only fueled my addictions, I was with a friend one day. I was desperately searching for more pills. That's when the so-called-friend introduced me to crack cocaine. I was spiritually naiive and didn't realize it was the enemy luring me down a darker path. I took the first hit, got out of my truck and threw up. I knew it instantly had me. The next approximately 6 months, I spent at least 18k on crack. I dropped to 157 pounds. I began having seizures. I was told that if I didn't stop, that I would die. I didn't care anymore. I was walking death. I wanted to die." Lance told us.

Then, a merciful and gracious God began to take over.

Lance still chokes up at His love and intervention in Lance's life. "I had been running things "my way" instead of allowing Him to guide my life and deliver me from addiction", reports Lance.

My mother and sister drove me from Arkanas to Florida to participate in a program called "Teen Challenge". Running away after just three weeks, getting in even deeper with the law, he ended up in jail for 4 1/2 months. The arresting officer was a Christian. While in jail, he began studying his bible. Brought up in church, he never really read his bible. With the company of 21 other cell mates, Lance began a sort of bible study group.

At his hearing, Lance was represented by a gentleman from teen challenge. They wanted him back. Turns out, that gentleman had just had lunch with the sitting judge days before. Through a succession of circumstances that only God could have put together, Lance stayed in the Teen Challenge program for a year. He went on the finish bible school. He even stayed on for a period of time as a staff member with Teen Challenge.

After Teen Challenge, God even miraculously put it together for him to begin work again as an employee of a pool company. Several years of that,  with inexplicable doors opening, Lance ended up, after years of taking it for granted, with a pool company of his own again!

Lance has been born again, and drug free now for 8 years! Lance tells this story not to bring light to himself, but to show what a powerful, forgiving and mighty God we serve. A God who has raised him from the dead and brought him back to life again.

"It is thriving beyond my wildest expectations. Even in a tough economy, my sales continue to increase. I pray over each home and person where I have a contract. I finally realized that I am not here to be served in this life, but to serve. I now support 5 missions programs with what God has blessed me with", Lance tells us.

If you would like to contact Lance for any of your swimming pool needs, you may reach him at: 850-529-4788.