God's Love Story - Transformed Hearts and Lives

March 7, 2014

Greetings Friends and Family,

 

 Jim and Sheryl ‘s Reception 4/26/14 RSVP www.weddingwire.com/jimandsheryl

All of us want a story that begins, “once upon a time” and ends “and they lived happily ever after.”  I’ve seen God’s grace in the midst of difficult circumstances. Over and over, God has provided through your prayers, financial donations and now through my Boaz – Jim Turner. A hopeless romantic, my faith in fairytale happy endings has been restored.  Please share our joy on Sat. 4/26/14 at the Giesbrecht/ Turner Wedding Reception Open House from 1 to 7 pm  RSVP: www.weddingwire.com/jimandsheryl

 

Help Us Tell the Story

God is constantly re-writing our story, isn’t He? The same is true for Africa. The New Story of Africa is how God is taking its people from poverty to promise. God is using Africans to take the Gospel into the world to fulfill the Great Commission. We’d like to involve others in Help us Tell the Story of The New Africa.  Look for a postcard in the mail, request a brochure and view a DVD about the many exciting opportunities awaiting you in the ministry of ICM. For information go to www.icmusa.org.

 

Purpose Driven Conference 9-13 – Sheryl excited to return to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 11-14

The story of ICM continues as Vision Quest Alliance takes over ICM’s donation processing. Please add an identification number to your check or credit card donation. Sheryl Giesbrecht’s ministry unit ID # 020010. Please use this number on your checks and donation information. ICM 2014 Banquet – Tuesday August 19, 2014 at Olive Knolls Church in Bakersfield. I’m working with our outstanding team of volunteers for this annual fundraiser. Jim and my wedding date is April 12 and reception April 26, plus my USA speaking engagements have increased this spring, my next trip to Ethiopia will be in November 2014. Thanks for your part in God’s love story – Sharing Jesus!

Love and prayers,

Sheryl

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south.” Psalm 107:1-3

 

Will You Believe

Feb 10, 2014

 

Sheryl with Pastor Donna Stephens at Women’s Kick Off Tea, New Hope Fellowship – Vacaville, CA – “Believe”

Dear Friends and Family,

“I can’t believe it,” I said when asked about my recent engagement. The first weekend in February, I spoke at New Hope Fellowship in Vacaville, CA. Pastor Donna Stephens called to invite me in November, “Sheryl, your name has been on my mind. What is the Lord giving you to share?” Trusting God will fulfill His promises to us; I’ve chosen to focus on the word “Believe” for 2014. “Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill His promise to her.” Luke 1:45

Jim and Sheryl

What promises of God are you holding onto today? I’m trusting God for His will to be fulfilled as Jim and I join our lives together. God has led our friendship, courtship and engagement; we are convinced He will faithfully manage our married life together. Our wedding date is Saturday, April 12, 2014 at First Baptist Church in Davis, CA. FBC is my home church, so a private, family-only ceremony is being planned.  

Please join us as we celebrate our wedding and new life together at a reception soon afterward:

 Saturday, April 26, 2014 at The Bell Tower Club, 1200 Truxtun Ave, Bakersfield, CA. The Giesbrecht/Turner Open House Wedding Reception will convene from 1 to 7 pm.  See our wedding website for details: www.weddingwire.com/jimandsheryl - RSVP there, too!

Thank you for sharing in our joy! Your presence is a gift to us; we are joining two households, so we need no gifts. Wise advisors recommended a wedding registry which is on the website. In addition, should you prefer to give a financial donation to help with costs of our Giesbrecht/Turner Bakersfield Wedding Reception, please send a donation to www.ICMUSA.org

 

At ICM, we are excited to share the Help Us Tell the Story Campaign to be launched 2/15/14. We need your help to tell the story of the New Africa; the story of God’s grace and blessing turning a hopeless continent into a continent of great hope. Please join us in sharing the New Story of Africa. For information contact sherylg@icmusa.org

“If you can?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.” Mark 9:23

All my love,

Sheryl

 

My Boaz Has Come

January 2014

Dear Friends and Family,

All of us want a story that begins, “once upon a time” and ends “and they lived happily ever after.” The day the tragic motorcycle accident tore Pastor Paul’s physical presence from this earth, my world collapsed. My fairytale became a nightmare; my life as I knew it ended.  With Pastor Paul’s “promotion to heaven,” our marriage of twenty-eight years was over. I assumed a new title: widow.  “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my savior for He has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.” Luke 1:46

Within the first few months as a single woman, I learned a lot how to ask for help, personal and family grieving, financial struggle, preparing meals for one, making major decisions (buying a car, putting a new roof on my home and remodeling a bathroom), even travelling to Africa alone. Fearful at first, God gave me discernment and I, accustomed to my independence, developed a new confidence and conquering spirit. “The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him.” Lam. 3:25

 In June 2012, widower Jim Turner asked if he could clean my garage, I wasn’t sure if I really wanted help, the Lord asked me to be open and accept it. Jim’s wife, Peggy succumbed to a five year battle with breast cancer eighteen months prior; we shared our grief as we sorted. Through that task and other chores, Jim and I became good friends and began dating. Jim and I have known each other for twenty-five years, both of our families attended the same church. Jim’s wife and I were friends; our children were in the same youth group and he took care of our family as our chiropractor. God has melted my heart into something he can mold; Jim and I have fallen deeply in love. So when Jim Turner asked me to marry him at Yosemite Falls on Christmas Day, I said yes! “Do not be afraid, you will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace, you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the disappointment of your widowhood.” Isaiah 54:4

 

My story reminds me of Ruth, Naomi’s daughter-in-law, also widowed at a young age and fearful of what her future would hold, yet she remained faithful.  We see God’s grace in the midst of Ruth’s difficult circumstances. God provided Ruth a kinsman-redeemer; Boaz, to share her future. A hopeless romantic, my faith in fairytale happy endings has been restored. Jim and I are planning a spring wedding. My Boaz has come!

Thanks for sharing in our joy –

Sheryl