Stories of Others Living Deeply
At Cedar Springs, we see you – and we’re with you. We know what it’s like to be overwhelmed with the hurriedness of life. We also understand the feeling deep inside you for something deeper than you’re settling for now. In fact, we believe God created us for those deeper things, and we want to help you discover them.
Below are a series of stories from people right here at Cedar Springs. Some come from great experiences while others were walking through hard times. The unifying thread through all of them is a life living deeply in pursuit of Jesus.
My name is Zhenya Ballenger, and this is how I’m living deeply. “Isn’t it interesting how you can love learning about mission work, but not necessarily see yourself getting directly involved in it? I grew up at CSPC attending the church’s mission conference, which I still really enjoy. One of...
I’m Sam Johnson. Here’s how I’m living deeply. “I almost said no. My internship at Tombras—a prominent ad agency here in Knoxville—was supposed to start June 2nd. Our flight to Thailand for the mission trip I’d agreed to left June 3rd. I’m studying advertising at UT, I’d just pulled straight...
I’m CSPC member Abby Karadsheh. Here’s how I’m living deeply. “Growing up at CSPC, Mission Fest was the highlight of my year. I always made a beeline for the Middle Eastern ministry presentations. I couldn’t tell you why. I just remember sitting there as a little girl, completely riveted, soaking...
I’m Jennifer Yates. Here’s how I’m living deeply. “The tears were dripping down her chin before she even got through her first few paragraphs. She’d started as a Prince & Princess (P & P) of the King, God Almighty -a child our church helps get through school because she doesn’t...
I’m CSPC’s Alison Fleetwood. Here’s how I’m living deeply. “I wasn’t sure what was going on in my body last summer, but it was clear something was deeply, desperately wrong. After 11 hours in the ER (my doctor had sent me there), I was finally put in a room just...
We’re Janel & Abigail Tardy. Here’s how we’re living deeply. Abigail: “I felt like there was a fire coming out from the inside of me. It was a powerful night of worship on one of our CSPC Rejoice Youth Choir tours close to a decade ago, and just about every...
I’m Cedar Springs Weekday School Assistant Director Annie McDaniel. Here’s how I’m living deeply. “I was babysitting before I could drive, volunteering in the nursery at church in middle school, watching siblings of teammates while my brother played baseball. I always had a pull toward kids, even before I knew...
I’m Laura Hills. Here’s how I’m living deeply. “I grew up in Leeds, England, believing in the Big Bang and reading my horoscope, and somehow also believing there was something -someone- behind it all. I just didn’t have a name for it. My mum was raised Methodist- but in our...
I’m CSPC member Megan Hubbard. Here’s how I’m living deeply. “For nine months, I knowingly disobeyed the Lord. I heard [CSPC Director of Special Needs Ministry] Mary Kendall Akers stand up in church and share about the opportunities to serve with the Special Needs Ministry, and it was in that...
I’m CSPC Elementary Ministry Associate Erin Chivers. Here’s how I’m living deeply. “When I was 18, I knew exactly what my life was going to look like. I was going to be a professional ballerina. I’d been serious about ballet my whole life, and there was this Christian dance company...