Hope Lutheran Church in Warren, Michigan

Since my family has been at Hope, we have been made to feel right at home. in the past 2 years we have been members, we have jumped right in to help with the ministry of Jesus Christ by showing love to others. Our Hope Warren church family is very supportive and helpful, and always willing to provide time and talents to spread the Gospel. It is truly a blessing to be a member of Hope!

member - Hope Lutheran Church  

Personal Testimony from Jeff Meisegeier that was
presented to the congregation on Thanksgiving Eve, November 26, 1997

What I Am Thankful For

Good Evening – Happy Thanksgiving!

My name is Jeff Meisegeier and I am proud to be a member of Hope.

Thanksgiving is a day to look back at all of God’s blessing and grace he has given to us. I have many things to be thankful for – right now the biggest one is God giving me the Courage to come up here and do this testimony.

For those of you who know me, remember the scare Heidi and I had when she was pregnant. Our doctor called us to come into his office to tell us that our baby might have Down Syndrome and that if further tests showed this to be true, he could abort the baby. I almost fell over when he said that. I felt like I was having a bad nightmare. Heidi and I had driven separately because of our work schedule. I got into my truck and thought about what I can do. Then it came to me to talk to Pastor Duerr. Without calling first, I headed straight for church crying and praying most of the way. Pastor took me right into his office and immediately poured his love out to me and explained that no matter what, this was a child of God and for that there are no options. I left church feeling so much better. I wasn’t confused anymore but the doctor sure had me questioning my Christianity with his options. Telling us that if this baby is not perfect in our eyes that we did not have to keep it – that we could get rid of it in a blink of an eye and that we could try again for a perfect one the next time - as though I was buying a pair of shoes and didn’t know if they would feel good, I could return them for another pair. It is truly fascinating to me that a man I have so much trust in tells me something against everything I have ever read in the Bible, or learned in church – and I fell for it. Thank God for knowing I had to talk to my Pastor right away to straighten out my mind to get all of those evil thoughts out of my head. It really is scary to think of what some people who are not close to God might have done in that same situation. But thankfully, I had something to turn to – and that is Prayer. We had so many people praying for our unborn baby and that is what I am so very thankful for on this day – that God has surrounded me with so many Christians that know what the Power of Prayer is.

That is why I can tell you about my Grandfather who passed away a few months ago at the age of 89. I would probably hesitate to tell this to people outside of my family and church – but, I prayed for months that God would take him to a better place, "Heaven." You see, I remember all of my life, he would say "If I can’t take care of myself, I would rather die." Well sure enough that is what happened to Papa. You see, about five years ago he started to lose his memory due to Alzheimer’s. So you could say we lost our Papa around the time the disease took over his mind. Sure he could sit down and have a perfectly normal conversation about the weather or his past -–but he had no idea who he was talking to. A stranger never would know that he had a problem. You can imagine how upsetting that can be for those of us who loved him so much. Another thing I will never forget that my grandfather would always say – and I quote "The old have to die to make room for the young." So because of all the things that I remember, and my Papa believed in, and my own beliefs, I am thankful to God for taking him home to eternity where I am sure Papa is thanking his Lord Jesus in person for all of the gifts given to him in his life and the good health of his Great Grandson Brandon who is now 11 months old.

Have a blessed thanksgiving!

Personal Testimony from Dot Koss that was
presented to the Ladies Tuesday Bible Study in 1984 (approximately)

What I Am Thankful For

"Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His love endures forever." Psalm 136:1

Several years ago, approximately 1984, I was attending "Ladies Tuesday Bible Study" and Betty Reusch was our teacher. She requested us to write and bring to class, "What We Were Thankful For." After all these years, I found my paper and thought I would share it with you, word for word:

As I lay unable to sleep last Tuesday night I thought of Betty’s request of what we thank God for, at that moment so many things raced through my mind and I commenced to write my first '‘novel'’(ha, ha) -–now your blessing of the day is that I made it into a short story. (Thank you God for a sense of humor!!)

Laying there I thanked God for the quiet of the night and the warmth and comfort of my bed. I thanked Him for the safety of our home, for His protection while we sleep and for our financial security which makes it all possible. And, also makes it possible to share what we have with others when we see the need.

I thanked Him for Erv; for our son, Tim, and family; and that we were brought up in loving Christian homes. Knowing Jesus loved us was a great part of our lives and His love and family love are very precious to us.

I thanked Him that His presence is always near and for prayer. For all the private conversations that I have with Him. He is not only my Lord and Savior, but my friend, who listens and does not judge but loves me and forgives me no matter what my faults are.

I thank Him for laughter and release that tears bring. I thank Him for the songs of little children and the good feeling I get when my grandchildren say "Grandma will do it." I thank Him for each new day He gives me. Friendship, a smile, a hug, a kind word are all treasures from Him.

It has taken me a long time to be able to thank Him for my past and present trials. Through His word and Sundays and Bible studies, I’ve grown to see them as blessings and I thank Him for Pastor Jon and Betty and all my Christian friends and family who have lifted me up to Him in prayer and for their love, support and encouragement. I thank Him that I might be able to relate to others through my trials for I’m closer to Him than I have ever been.

Most of all I thank God for the peace forgiveness brings and for His promise that I will be with Him one day in His heavenly home and I thank Him that in some small way I will be remembered here.

And so the years have passed and my Lord and Savior has blessed me with a long life. I pray He will help me to keep uppermost in my heart and mind that He has given me the greatest blessing of all, Knowing Him As My Savior."

Love you all,

Dot Koss