My name is Tom Braden

and this is my story...

You may remember me sharing my story last Spring. I stand here today as living proof that folks don't disappear after sharing their story...the story continues here at Orchard Hill. One year ago, it was a struggle to get my daughter, Melissa, to set foot in this church. Today, she is plugged into Storm, Wednesday Night Discipleship, and is a member of a D-Team. I had no idea how important this was going to be.

A month ago, Melissa's best friend, Lindsey, left our house on a Saturday evening and was involved in a serious automobile accident. Her spine was damaged, hips crushed, liver lacerated, lungs collapsed and she remained unconscious for quite a while.  As a single male parent I was challenged to comfort my teenage daughter.  Without God, Orchard Hill and its staff, and my men's group, I would not have had a clue where to start.  I had lost my best friend and then my wife.  Melissa had lost her mother and now was faced with losing her best friend.  Natalie - my youngest, Melissa and I did the only thing I knew to do. We held hands and prayed.  However, I had a tremendous feeling of inadequacy in being able to comfort her. 

I struggled with the appropriate thing to do.  I had to lean on God for guidance and wisdom.  I began thinking about Melissa's trip to Colorado this past summer and the fact that she had since gotten connected in the Student Ministries here at Orchard Hill.  I thought about the girls who came to visit Melissa in the weeks following the trip. Maybe they could help.  The following day, I called,Jill Jackson, a member of the Student Ministries Staff and one of the girls who had visited Melissa after she returned from the Colorado trip.  In a matter of minutes, Jill was at our front door. She spent much of the afternoon in Melissa's room - talking, crying, and praying with her.  Jill really made a difference! I encouraged Melissa to attend Storm that evening and suggested she might find comfort in her time of need and that there is power in group prayer.  I told her that was one thing that she/they could do for Lindsey. She called two non-church friends of hers and asked if they would go with her.  They did . Jill, and the others did get together and pray for Lindsey. Lindsey is miraculously recovering and because she was touched by folks here at Orchard Hill, she and her mother are visiting us here at church this morning. Her mother had said that she was curious about a place where total strangers care for her daughter and she wanted to find out what was going on here on the Hill. So they're both checking us out this morning.

As you know, we are in the middle of our Chapter 2 campaign - turning the next page of ministry. I have to confess that when Chapter 2 was first introduced to my men's group, I was very reticent to climb on board. However, after watching the Chapter 2 video, a number of issues became perfectly clear to me.  I am so thankful to God for Orchard Hill, Chris Wright, Danny Parker, Jill Jackson and the countless others who provide precious comforting ministry and endless hours of dedication and hard work to so many.   There are so many more out there who have no clue what God and the Orchard Hill family have to offer when faced with the darkest hours that we can experience.  To have more staff like Jill available through Orchard Hill is an invaluable resource.  I can't begin to express to you how much it has meant to Melissa, Natalie and I to have Jill connected with our family. There really are "Angels Among Us."  What a blessing...and it is a blessing that needs to be multiplied. 

God has caused me to "adjust" my attitude with regard to Chapter 2. Chapter 2 is not about constructing buildings - it's about building lives. If this campaign means building more staff that can minister to others like our family has been ministered to, then I'm ready to roll. You may recall me sharing last Spring that I had spent much of my adult life acquiring "toys", attempting to fill an emptiness that I felt inside. God has since filled that emptiness with His presence, and the sports car and motorcycles - my toys - have lost their significance. They are now simply pieces of metal, collecting dust in my garage. God's Kingdom is better served by using these toys for His purpose rather than my entertainment. So, that is where my commitment to Chapter 2 is going to come from. I'm exchanging my "toys" for the building of lives.

So many lost souls, so little time.  Thank God and Orchard Hill Church for salvaging this lost soul.  Point me in the right direction.  You have at least one new foot soldier in the Chapter 2 army.  I'm Tom Braden...and that's my story.