Outflow Story by Tracy Teepell
Our family started out with a desire to support The Vine by attending the initial
‘dry run.’ Little did we know how God would change our hearts and put us on the exact
path we would need in our lives – God’s perfect path. While we felt connected at our
previous church, we discovered that we didn’t really know what that meant until joining
The Vine.
Shortly after joining our new church, I [Tracy] began a journey that took me completely
by surprise. I am so grateful to know that it wasn’t a surprise to God, and He was
already putting the pieces in place to help me through this journey. I initially lost
my dad after a very brief illness. I was very close to my dad, and it was a huge loss.
A few short months later, my 16 year old nephew was tragically killed in a car accident.
Here was a boy who lived his life for the Lord, and was part of a family who devoted
their lives to Christ. Watching God work in this situation and seeing His hand in every
detail was amazing. Most recently, I suffered yet another loss. After a year-long
battle with lung cancer, my mother lost her fight and entered the kingdom of Heaven.
This past year was one of the most difficult times in my life, and I truly learned how
faithful our Lord and Savior truly is. Even as all signs pointed to my mom leaving this
earth a bitter and angry woman without the ability to show me love, God was working in
her. She left this earth a completely changed woman, and is now enjoying eternal life
in Heaven.
It is clear to me that God prepares our way and provides the right path – no matter what
you deal with along your journey. I look back at these past 2 years and know that it
was God who directed us to The Vine, where we would become part of a church family that
He knew would surround us in the difficult times that we were approaching. We never
knew what lay ahead, but God did, and by His faithfulness and love, brought us to The
Vine where people would show us the unconditional love of Christ and encourage us to
draw closer to Him in all ways. Throughout each of these losses, I saw my Vine family
work in a mighty way, supporting me and my family in ways I was not capable of thinking
of. It truly helped me to keep my focus on God and draw closer to Him in a way that I
had never experienced. Sometimes when you’re in the midst of hardship, it’s difficult
to see God’s plan. His plan for me and my family to join The Vine was not only clear,
it was exactly what I needed for my life, and my future life as a Christian.