Geraldine

What is your name?

Geraldine

How old are you?

65

Do you have any kids?

I have two grown daughters. Leticia and Katanga

What are you interested in?

I like to sing. I love to read, that’s my passion.

If you have decided to live your life with Jesus, when was it that you made that decision?

I know that he’s real because over a year ago I died twice and one of those deaths I had a near death experience. I went back and I didn’t know I was dead. I went into this room and there were a bunch of naked people and I said, “Oh my god! I’m in a brothel…” so I just spoke to the room and said, “Hey everybody!”, but they wouldn’t speak. Then I saw a bright light and moved to another area. It’s like I went to a room where I saw my relatives that had gone on before me. I saw my dad at first. He died when I was 13 in the march with Dr. Martin Luther King. I saw him and said, “oh wow dad you look good! Hey daddy!", but I couldn’t get to him nor could he get to me. It’s like there was this road in between us and we couldn’t cross to each other. I still didn’t know I was dead even though I saw my relatives that have passed. I said to them, “you guys really look good!” still not realizing I was dead. I even went further back because I had no choice in where he carried me. I wasn’t walking. It was like something was moving me along. My feet didn’t touch the ground. I went back to slavery times and saw my people in the fields and there were two people on the road and I felt like I knew those people. I guessed that they were my ancestors. By the time I was getting ready to move towards them I was moved somewhere else. They moved into the sky and when I bumped into something, I didn’t know I was in the sky at first, but then I bumped into a cloud. I got scared because I was up in the sky! Then I heard something coming and I said, “who is that?” and he said, “it is I God. The lord.” so I said, “THE LORD?” not realizing I was dead as a hammer. He was telling me that I had to go back to save my grandson. I said to him, “you know, lord I have seven grandsons. Which one are you talking about?” He said, “Nassir.” Then I saw him crying so hard he was just wet. I said, “I’ve never seen a child cry that hard. Probably his big brother that hit him. As soon as I get home they’re gonna have to explain something to me.” Before he let me go he said, “I want you to go back and tell all my people that I am coming. I’m as close to you as a door you’re trying to knock. Also, tell my people that are gay or whatever, that I don’t hate them. I love them. I just hate what they do. Tell them to stop lying on me because I don’t hate anybody”. So I said, “okay, but lord why would anybody listen to me? I’m a nobody from Mississippi. Why would they listen to me?” He says, “It’s not your job to make them listen. It’s your job to tell them, cause when they’re standing before me I don’t want to hear them say ‘well lord I didn’t know’. The main thing is you need to go back to save your grandson.” Then I said, “Lord before I go back can I see the city?” because I wasn’t in the city and he said, “No you can’t go in the city because I know if I let you in I’m going to have to drag you out.” and I said, “yep! You know me. The second I get through those gates I’m not coming out, I’m sorry!” Then I fell back into my body and woke up. The pain was the worst I’ve ever felt. I said, “PAIN” after having been in a coma for five days, they were getting ready to pull the plug on me and that’s when I woke up. Then I asked, “who hit Nas? Cause I know he was crying.” and they said, “Mama how did you know he was crying?” I told them, “the Lord showed it to me. How else would I know that he was crying when I was as dead as a hammer?” That’s my story, but I’ve also died a second time I'll have to share that a second time.

Venesa

What is your name?

Venesa

How old are you?

55

Do you have any kids?

Yes, but he’s grown. He’s 38 and his name is Christopher

What are you interested in?

Adult coloring, journaling, walking, biking, and dancing.

If you have decided to live your life with Jesus, when was it that you made that decision?

Yes. I know that god is my savior. He is definitely in my life because he woke me up this morning so, that is the most important thing. I can walk today on my own and I can think, so I am grateful for that.

Is there anything else you would like us to know about you?

I’m a survivor of cancer. It was stage three. They did catch it. I have four years of sobriety. I’ve been clean for four, almost five years. Oh and I love to dance!

Samara

What is your name?

Samara

Where are you from?

Coon Rapids, Minnesota

How old are you?

27 soon to be 28!

Do you have any kids?

I have 2 kids. They are 7 and 8.

What are you interested in?

Food and Jesus.

If you have decided to live your life with Jesus, when was it that you made that decision?

I knew Jesus as a child but truly meant it only recently.

How did you get through hard times?

Jesus

Is there anything else you would like us to know about you?

I happy to be here!

Pastor Dianna

What is your name?

Dianna Lee McCartan

How old are you?

Under 55 and over 50

Where are you from?

Maplewood, Minnesota

Do you have any kids?

Yes! 2 awesome sons . Ryan is 26 and married to Adrienne. Eric is 23 and attending Univ of Northwestern

What are you interested in?

Animals, I love animals. Biking. Traveling to unique places. I like to go off the beaten path.

If you have decided to live your life with Jesus, when was it that you made that decision?

At 35 after my divorce. I said I needed him in my life and boy, did he show UP!

How did you get through hard times?

Prayer, support of good people around me, trusting God

Is there anything else you would like us to know about you?

Yes! I'm adopted. Which is just a very interesting perspective in what that brings to everything; you realize pretty readily how your life circumstances are mainly based on the family you were born to, how you were raised. It’s really given me the eyes to love others easily, understanding that often the things that led to their own brokenness may have been simply about the family they were born to. Also love dogs, and I have two, Bailey and Bella.

Khiem

What is your name?

Khiem, pronounced Kim.

Where are you from?

Woodbury, MN

How old are you?

23

Do you have any kids?

No.

What are you interested in?

Rock climbing, being involved with the community (whether it be through my jobs or volunteering).

If you have decided to live your life with Jesus, when was it that you made that decision?

I have not fully included Jesus in my life, but I see Gods work through other resilient people.

How did you get through hard times?

I got through hard times by the support of people around me

Is there anything else you would like us to know about you?

That’s it.

Mary

What is your name?

Mary

Where are you from?

Saint Paul, Minnesota

How old are you?

51

Do you have any kids?

I have 1 daughter and she’s 27.

If you have decided to live your life with Jesus, when was it that you made that decision?

Yes and as a young person.

How did you get through hard times?

Praying

Is there anything else you would like us to know about you?

I love bingo.

Jose

What’s your name?

Jose

How old are you?

54 but only 6 or so if I was a golden retriever.

Where are you from?

I hail from a small city in Michigan—hazel park.

Do you have any kids?

I have two cherubs: Bayley who is 19 and a sophomore in college this year and Duncan (the dude) finishing a peace officer degree and readying to become a peace officer.

What are you interested in?

Wood working and food.

If you have decided to live your life with Jesus, when was it that you made that decision?

I decided when I was 21 to give my life to Jesus and I wish it was a straight and narrow path but I have at times not allowed Jesus to be my co-pilot and have worked hard to make my life harder with poor decisions. I am a working progress, like the lumpy dough that needs a little more kneading.

How do you get through hard times?

I try to surround myself with people who will build me up and support me.

Is there anything else you’d like for us to know about you?

I really really really like chicken pot pie.

Scott

What is your name?

My name is Scott B.

Where are you from?

Hastings, Minnesota

How old are you?

I’m 56 years old.

Do you have any kids?

I do not have any kids.

What are you interested in?

Construction work. I would like to get back into it some day.

If you have decided to live your life with Jesus, when was it that you made that decision?

Since I was a kid. When I was 3 I got into a really bad accident and broke my nose. I’ve believed in him ever since.

How did you get through hard times?

I’m still going through it. I struggle with alcoholism and I’m working on it every day.

Is there anything else you would like us to know about you?

I really like helping people especially the elderly.