Personal Stories


Gratitude journals spotlight God’s action
Gratitude journaling can focus attention and frame the day with thankfulness. Read More

Gratitude in the midst of loss
In the midst of tragedy, loss, disease, death and violence, following the admonition to "Rejoice always" is difficult. Read More
Carlenda Smith: Love, care for all
Prayer guided Dr. Carlenda Smith as she prepared to be a physician; prayer sustains her in her practice. Read More

Jaime Gallaga: Faith leads to service
Since his baptism, construction worker Jaime Gallaga has worked on God's behalf whenever and wherever he can. Read More

Gary Walden: Called to Serve
A long career in the cosmetology industry gives this hairstylist opportunities to fulfill his call to serve. Read More
Aly King: Living Christ’s love
Aly King may not be able to talk about her faith in her workplace, but she can act on it -- and does, daily. Read More

Ben Papa: Making peace during divorce
Attorney Ben Papa seeks to change the conversation about divorce. Read More
Faith undergirds attitudes, actions in the workplace
Everyone carries a belief structure into the workplace. What it is shapes the attitudes of United Methodists and others toward their work. Read More

Downward mobility reflects radical faith
Intentionality guides two women's efforts to bring diversity and community into their families' lives. Read More

Everyone is a storyteller
Master storyteller and United Methodist pastor Michael E. Williams contends that everyone tells stories -- and gives tips for doing it enjoyably and well. Read More

The Creative Spirit
A poet, a musician, a sand artist and a painter encourage using different forms of creative expression to draw nearer to God. Read More

From Woman at the Well to well woman
Spending time with her now, no one would imagine the horrors Donna Rhodes once lived. Today, she shares her story to help others see the hope of Christ. Read More

Grace: Responding with piety and mercy
Throughout the centuries, God has been extending grace to people through everyday practices. These means of grace, as John Wesley called them, continue to inform and enrich people of faith... Read More

Abundant Grace: Living Grace
Grace. One tiny word that will change your life. We know, because extraordinary and everyday experiences of grace forever changed our lives. Read More

Abundant Grace: A Crash Course in Grace
God's grace can show up in the most unexpected places and circumstances. For Elise Matheny Eslinger, this grace literally came crashing into her life on Oct. 8, 1989. Read More

Student Day scholarship prepares seminarian to empower others for ministry
When Brittney Stephan was 14, she says she was terrified of public speaking. Ironically, she was also 14 when God called her into the ministry. Read More

God’s love heals the soul
Serving in Iraq from 2003 to 2004, the Rev. David E. "Dave" Smith, a retired Army chaplain, had four near-death experiences within a month and a half. Read More

GBHEM: Supporting journeys to professional ministry
Shortly after the birth of his son, Jacob Lynn realized his faith was "not as deep as I wanted it to be with a person who was going to learn... Read More

Faithful Questions: Why Does God Allow Suffering?
Tragedy strikes. A loved one dies unexpectedly. Mental illness steals a family's hope. Someone gets cancer. In the face of such pain and suffering, people ask: "Where is God in... Read More

Called from the back row into leadership
"Before I became a Christian, I was a broken man that was a shadow of a human being," says Kenneth Askew, a member of Gordon Memorial United Methodist Church... Read More