Fresh Start Stories
Be encouraged as you watch and read these real life examples of
transformed lives that have all experienced a Fresh Start!
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Fresh Start "Home & Abroad"
The "Fresh Start For Every Heart" mission: Impacting lives through the message of "forgiven and forgiving"...
A FRESH START for EVERY HEART in EVERY NATION!
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Fresh Start "Poster Board Stories"
A visual representation of lives and hearts that have been transformed by the power of forgiveness - captured through words that describe each person's life PRIOR TO and AFTER receiving a "Fresh Start" for their heart!
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Cecilia
United States
Last night as I was up at 3:00 am seeking peace and guidance, I once again read the explanation of "Go Vertical” on the Fresh Start Blog. The words "for the sake of your relationship with Jesus Christ" spoke to my heart. I feel I now have guidance and an ultimate purpose - for the sake of my relationship with Christ.
Much love and appreciation…
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Pastor Steve Peterson
WHAT IT TAKES TO FORGIVE SOMEONE - more than words!
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Anonymous
In the year 2000, my husband suffered a major depression which affected both our relationship and our finances. It lasted for years and left me feeling isolated and vulnerable. In the midst of this difficult time, one of my adult children suffered a complete emotional breakdown and moved back home with us. Then, when I felt that I was at my lowest point, I came under vicious personal attacks, which led to a long legal battle. By the time I heard about Fresh Start, I was wounded, confused, and angry.
In the weeks after I started going to Fresh Start, I heard testimonies that renewed my hope. Soon, my husband joined me and we began the journey back from defeat to victory, and from despair to faith.
I would encourage anyone who has suffered a loss, felt abandoned, or been offended to enter into the healing process offered through Fresh Start For All Nations!
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Mindy Peterson
GIVING THANKS... - Key to experiencing God's enabling grace to forgive!
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Men & Women from...
Wasilla, Alaska
"My life was pointless. I couldn't even see a reason why a depressed person should live. I was too fearful to kill myself, so I placed myself in situations where I could die or maybe someone would kill me. Not anymore...I see the point of life here. I see the heart Jesus has for me. With my heart free because of forgiving others, I see the treasure it is and why Jesus says that we are to guard it so strongly. The heart that God put in me is the most valuable land that exists & Jesus died to redeem it!"
"...helped me to learn about true forgiveness...the true meaning of the word...how to forgive truly from my heart...also that my God truly does love me for who I am & is always ready to forgive me, no matter what I do or what happens in my life. He is always willing to give us a fresh start. All we have to do is ask God & be willing..."
"I have never felt so consistently happy & fulfilled & yet want so much more. I have never felt this alive in my life...I'm learning to hear & I am starting to recognize His voice."
"Fresh Start set me free from the prison I allowed myself to build around my heart."
"I wanted to die...life was too much and hope too small...I knew it was wrong, but I gave God the 'one more chance' speech before going that first Monday. WOW! The Creator of all things met me in my awful attitude, hopeless outlook, and wrong demands. I don't know for absolute certain, but I think I'm alive today because Church on the Rock has Fresh Start and really good, imperfect people selflessly give themselves to you...that seems like the absolute perfect Jesus picture to me. Thank you seems so weak & meaningless for how I feel. I hope you (the team) know what you do for people - you saved my life!"
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Sherri
Midwest - USA
"MY HEART WAS THE ONE THAT NEEDED TO CHANGE"... Venting and "repenting" wasn't enough... Fully forgiving led to a lasting change and a new heart of compassion. It's never too late for a fresh start!
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Debbie
Phoenix, Arizona
Having worked with inmates for 10 years, I know that what puts them behind bars are the unresolved issues of their hearts. Fear, unforgiveness, hatred, bad childhood experiences, gangs, and more. Fresh Start helps them to start processing the issues of their hearts. I have counseled some inmates after they have gone through the Fresh Start process. Some expressed the pain they felt as they encountered the truths of their own hearts, but they were relieved to have experienced freedom as they came to a better understanding of their own feelings and actions. The problem (crime) that locked them up was inside of them. I would encourage every facility that houses the incarcerated to pass out the Fresh Start booklet.
My husband and I have taught the principles from the Freedom Series to the inmates. This Series really gets to the roots of the heart. It truly helps them to become fully alive and to receive freedom. Part One of the series, is the building foundation, especially Sessions 4-7: Free to Forgive, Free to Reconcile, Free to Confront, and Free to Love and to be Loved. So many inmates are hung up because of relationships. Many of the men with their fathers, (alcoholism, abuse, telling them they're worthless, they'll never amount to anything, etc). Women also had issues with their fathers for stealing their innocence. Bringing them to the freedom of forgiveness truly humbled our hearts. Once they forgave, the session "Free to Confront" came easy, especially when they could love their fathers in spite of what they had gone through. Why? They had come to the knowledge of how much they were loved by Jesus!
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Jamie and Tasha
From insecurity and duplicity to favor and freedom—free to love and to be loved!
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Caroline
Atlanta, GA
From 7th grade until my senior year of high school, I had a wound from my past that I hadn't surrendered to the Lord. I didn't communicate to a single person how I felt or what I went through, not even God. And truthfully, I'm not sure I really realized how much this wound had impacted my life negatively. Not understanding how unforgiveness and hurt had eaten away at my heart, I didn't know that I even needed to go through a process of forgiveness. It wasn't until my small group leader offered to take a few of my friends and I through Fresh Start that God really showed me the power of forgiveness in my life. Going through Fresh Start showed me how many insecurities, behaviors, and attitudes were born out of my wounded heart. I was then able to finally choose as an act of the will to forgive and let God begin to break and then restore my heart.