Share your “180″ Experience
We thought you might end up here. Thanks for taking a step in response to God’s stirring of your heart. We want to hear your story and want to provide a listening ear if you’d like to share with us.
In the comments section below, please take a moment and post your stories of how God touched you or has led you to a “180″ in your life. Do you have a story of someone you invited who was particularly impacted? Did God speak to you or someone you know through a song, a testimony, a drama or through a magnet? Did being part of the choir or orchestra bring you to a new level of worship? If you prefer to share confidentially, please send us an e-mail by clicking here.
If you have questions or would like to know what steps you can take to move closer to Jesus, please call us at 614.718.2294.
Keep the Conversation Going!
Please post your 180 stories to our social media channels as well:
- Facebook (facebook.com/vistacommchurch)
- Twitter (@vistacommchurch – #Vista180)
We so appreciate you taking the step to attend our Christmas program–whether you are new to Vista, or if you’ve been part of our family for a while, we thank you and we’re praying that through your circumstances you will find hope and joy from our God Who is always present. Allow Him to do a 180 in your life.
This was emailed to me during the weekend…
I was astounded last night by the number of people who wrote prayer requests and put them in the baskets. I was an usher and could watch people taking time to fill-out those requests….some really labored…and made people wait for them to complete their thoughts before passing on the basket. I have to believe people were really sharing something from their hearts. I had the privilege of carrying some of those baskets full of prayer requests to the light room on the first floor—where they were left. It’s not every day you carry handfuls of prayer requests in such a tangible fashion.
As part of the choir, I was able to hear the comment “Where did you get your professional singers?” Funny! Where we lack in vocal training, we gain in passion for Christ!. I want to share that there were two 13 girls, who were adopted from China in September 2010 in the 180 choir that a year ago were challenged to sing “Frosty the Snowman” in their school choir. As their dad, I was blessed to sing with them (and even dance!) and experience how God moved in their lives during the final week. Lori’s testimony deeply impacted both girls and by Sunday night they took the step of faith to write down a 180 prayer request.
Please understand they have a 180 story moving from an orphanage and foster care to America only a year ago – but that happened to them. They are still working on their 180 story now that they have a forever family and are learning to make their own choices. Even as I write this, one of my daughters walked by singing one of the 180 songs because the words and music are imbedded in their hearts and minds; God continues to work even days later. My sincerest thanks to everyone involved in the program. I am choked with emotion knowing God used each one of us to reach others. Praise His Name!
I felt compelled to share my story that I shared with Tammy. I hope it blesses you in some way!
I just wanted to thank you for making my first choir experience so wonderful. Your energy, enthusiasm, and faith are an inspiration. I remember at the first rehearsal you said that nothing that happened here was an accident. God had a hand in everything, even the person by whom we were sitting. “What a nice sentiment,” I thought, as I exchanged pleasantries with a woman named Jill. However, I didn’t see how she or I would have any impact on each other. And we didn’t. Not until the first performance. Jill was standing near me on the risers and overheard me talking about my daughter. She leaned in and asked how old Amelia was. Then, she said, “I heard you say something about an ex. Are you divorced?”
“I am,” I said, without providing an explanation.
“What happened?” she asked.
What happened, Tammy, was that after years of drifting far from God, excessive partying, and a brief stint as an atheist, I moved back in with my parents while I looked for a post-college job. During this time I met and married a brilliant and handsome man. Over the course of our six months of dating, he revealed to me that he had bi-polar disorder and had been treated and hospitalized many times, sometimes for suicide attempts. He assured me his disease was under control thanks to medication and counseling.
However, less than a month after we got married, he fell into a deep depression and began drinking heavily at all hours of the day. This was the beginning of his alcoholism. During this time, he avoided hospitalization, but only because I was too proud and stubborn to admit that he was really sick. A year after we got married, he had a psychotic breakdown that ended in me having to call the police. Shortly after, he was diagnosed with schizophrenia. My life changed dramatically.
He was sometimes violent, incoherent, usually drunk, and never employed. I supported us on my small income and his multiple hospitalizations because of cutting and suicide attempts left us with huge medical bills. During this time, I hated God more than anyone could. I felt that I had tried to let Him back in and that He re-payed me by destroying the person I loved most. Brian and I were married for almost five years. Despite multiple attempts at recovery, he never could stop drinking, which made his mental illness that much worse. I began having panic attacks and anxiety because I never knew what I would come home to. Once, he greeted me at the door with his wrist completely slit open and a Tupperware container of blood. I begged God to heal him. To give him back his mind and let him be the brilliant architect I knew he would have been had he not gotten sick. I felt like there was no answer. Finally, four weeks after the birth of our daughter, I had to leave. It wasn’t safe for our daughter and it was no longer safe for me.
My heart was broken to the point I thought it would never, ever heal. I had a lot of angry, tearful conversations with God. Before long, however, anger gave way to thanks as I watched my beautiful daughter grow. I found that my anger and pain had opened a door to God that I had previously closed. That openness led me to accept my sister’s invitation to Vista. I immediately knew this would be my church home. My life is still a work in progress, but my heart is full again, this time with a love and peace I could never get from another person.
When I heard that “Blessings” was the centerpiece of the program, I cried. And I cried every time I practiced in my car and nearly every time we sang it in rehearsal. IT IS MY STORY! I NEEDED those nights of pain and anger so that I could learn to seek comfort in the Ultimate Comforter. I still wonder why Brian’s life has to be the way it is now. But I hope and pray every day that he sees the peace I now have, and seeks it himself.
Had Jill and I not sat near each other that first rehearsal, we wouldn’t have conversed on the risers. And she wouldn’t have reminded me of why I was in the choir, why I was on the stage, why I was at Vista, and why I finally had peace that surpasses all understanding. It was a God moment for sure. And one I won’t soon forget.
Beth,
Thank you for sharing your tragic and inspiring story. You have gone through a deep valley and God continues to do his work in you. Thank you for being a part of 180, in ministering to others during the performance, in worshipping God, and in taking the risk to openly share your very personal life story with us. Our life story and God’s hand in it are not always crystal clear but as they intertwine they are fully ours and fully God’s. God has a plan for you and your daughter; keep looking for God in your life as you daily grow in your faith. And keep you guard up for the next attack of the enemy. 180 equipped us with many responses, ones I seem to need every day, so we all need to remember to let God take it all and live life with confidence.
Thank you again for sharing your testimony. It is a blessing for me to hear it and to know that God is working in your life. We are blessed to know what you overcame to be a part of 180!
Dave
God really uses every part of the Vista Christmas programs. For me this year the most important parts were the uplifting rehearsals and the sharing prior to each presentation of 180. It has felt like a really long year and a long fall for me. I went from really feeling lonely and depressed, to really feeling God’s presence and comfort. I always appreciate that Vista people are real, transparent, and don’t have a “church face” that they put on. They really do want to know how you are when they ask! Vista choir feels like a safe place to be yourself, to be with the Lord, and to just be. It is so great. I was especially impacted by Tammy telling us of how she was awakened in the nite to go and pray for someone. It is awesome to get to know the leadership at Vista. What was going thru my head was, “I want a relationship with God like that. I want Him to know that I will be there to intercede for someone or to fellowship with Him whenever He “calls”. So I prayed that we could begin that type of relationship. Well, let me just say that since the Vista 180, my sleeping patterns have been all over the place and I have definitely been awakened for the purpose of prayer and fellowship! I have always been a heavy sleeper and never a morning person and wow what a change! And amazingly have Him provide for my rest despite these interesting nites. If there is anything that I have learned since coming to Vista, it is that God is real, He is interested and cares for ME, and when I take a small step towards Him, He takes a huge leap towards me, bridging a gap that only He can. I have attended church all of my life and accepted Christ at a very young age. I don’t ever remember a time when I didn’t believe in God and Jesus as my savior. However, at Vista, I am really learning how my daily life is impacted by growing closer to God and just how refreshing it is to my soul to have such heartfelt worship each week. I know that there are so many people that made 180 possible, and who make Vista work on a weekly basis. THANK YOU! Peoples lives are being forever changed.