Picking up and relocating to answer God's call with Christy H.

I've had the pleasure of meeting Christy a few years ago through our church.
Christy and her husband responded to the call to move their family from the familiar and comfortable, to the City of Chicago to minister to the Brighton Park community.
She talks about the heartache of leaving everyone they knew and loved and trusting God with His plan. She currently pastors a church alongside her husband Jason in the Chicago, Brighton Park neighborhood and hold community outreach events. 
Christy leads her women's ministry and has a heart to see the women in her community grow in their relationship with Jesus. Christy is a blessing to me and so many women who know her. Her gentle yet courageous spirit is so inviting. Her perspective on finding the beauty and unity in Christ  through our cultural differences is so enlightening. I know you'll be blessed by Christy's story.

Transcript

Ann: 0:11

Hey there, friends. My name is Anne Calvio and welcome to her Scars Tell a Story, podcast, A safe space for women from all different walks of life and different backgrounds coming together to share their stories of God's redeeming love. So grab your cup of coffee and journey with us now. Hey there friends. Welcome to her Scars. Tell a story. I'm your host, Anne Galio, and today I'm with a very special guest. Her name is Chrissy Halt. Hi Chrissy. How are you? Hi

Christy: 0:53

Anne. Thank you for having me today. Oh, thank

Ann: 0:56

you for being a guest. I know you took a little drive to get here. Mm-hmm. You got caught by a train and that happens a lot here in

Christy: 1:04

Chicago, right? Yes. Forever, never ending trains. Right.

Ann: 1:09

can you tell us where you're originally from?

Christy: 1:11

Mm-hmm. Yeah. I, uh, I grew up mostly in Pennsylvania, so mm-hmm. Eastern East Coast girl from that side, um, lived in, you know, suburban, uh, outside of Philadelphia. I was the oldest of six.

Ann: 1:28

Okay. Can you tell us a little bit about what your home,

Christy: 1:31

life looked like? Mm-hmm. Yeah. Um, I grew up in a, in a family where my parents are believers. I was, raised to know God. They were like connected in a church and, um, I was actually home educated from kindergarten through 12th grade. So that's kind of, yeah, something unique about me. But also, a short period of my childhood. We lived in Brazil, so my parents were missionaries there. I was very young, four, four years old to like seven years old. But, I learned Portuguese. God used that, a lot in my life, to, just open my eyes to God, working in people different than me, different cultures, languages, and, just to have that like awe, about, how he works in different ways around the world. And then we came back when I was seven, and then kind of assimilated back into our everyday normal lives in the middle, suburban, middle class, white America again. But that, that experience. Changed me and it touched me a lot. so, and then homeschooling all along, I always felt like a little bit of an outsider. Mm-hmm. Among even my church friends or, you know, in, in my community. and so God, I think used those feelings of inferiority or being different, to draw me closer to him as I became a teenager. And I just struggled with, with feeling like an outsider. Yeah.

Ann: 2:55

Mm-hmm. And so you said you were the oldest of six siblings? Yes. Were they all

Christy: 2:59

homeschooled too? Yeah. Yeah, we were all homeschooled. I had God bless your mom. Two. Two sisters, yes, two sisters and then three brothers that came along after the youngest one was born when I was 17, so, wow. Yeah, and I was just, Heading to college, not, you know, before he turned a year. So, yeah. Ah, that's so

Ann: 3:17

cool. I admire women who homeschool. I don't think I could ever do that. That's not my gifting or anything, but I admire that. Growing up, what did you see when your mom homeschooled, what did you learn from her? What did you apply with your

Christy: 3:32

children now? Hmm. Yeah, I think I still have that, even though my kids go to school and I have, I have not felt that same calling my mom is amazing. Like, she was very administrative, you know, knew exactly what needed to be done when very organized. And so, you know, we had a, a smooth well-run household. And um, I know I benefited a lot from that style of education and learning and. I know they always loved the flexibility, you know, to be able to, um, you know, have school and then to be able to say, we're gonna do school different today, we're gonna go on a field trip, or, you know, that counts as school. I we're hearing that, does this count as school, or, that's awesome. Things like that. But, um, just a, yeah, I think it, it just gave like a, a flexibility to learning and also just realizing how, you know, school isn't the only place learning takes place. You know, it happens in so many different ways and as you explore and as you do life together, so, yeah.

Ann: 4:30

Wow. And so you said you felt a little bit like an outsider, um, as a believer growing up in a Christian home. What did that look like?

Christy: 4:40

I think for me because I was homeschooled, I didn't. Feel, I felt like I was missing something with my friends that were in school. So, and I was very social uhhuh, so I always felt like, um, I was, I was missing out on social life especially. Okay. Yeah. I think that was a big part of it. But too, just feeling different. yeah. I don't know why, but just those few years we were gone in Brazil, we came back and life was different. There were microwaves in every house. There were VCRs. my parents were getting ATM cards. They didn't exist before then. There was just a lot of pop cultures too, I think that kids all of a sudden get in that AIDS range, which I don't, I didn't realize. But yeah, I think it was, it was just like I missed something and that just became a part of my identity then for a long time. Yeah. And

Ann: 5:30

then to Brazil, you said you had a chance to experience, you know, just a different culture, a different way of life. Mm-hmm. How did that impact you growing up?

Christy: 5:41

Mm, yeah. At first of course I didn't speak Portuguese, the language and then just, uh, learned it over time, interacting with people. I went to the camps, that my parent, my dad was, teaching Bible at a Bible institute, so they had to pick up Portuguese pretty quickly. And so, I guess we all kind of did. And then there would be camps that I would go to with other kids from, you know, Brazilian kids. and so I, I learned the gospel, but I saw it being lived out and applied and in, cultures and lives different than mine. I got, I got to travel a little and see things and, uh, I think just, See God, God move and work and, and see God's love change people and, me being a recipient of that too, so, yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Ann: 6:29

Growing up in a Christian home, you grow up knowing about the Lord. And hear a lot of talk about having a relationship with God. Mm-hmm. When do you feel that your relationship with the Lord was established, where you knew like, I have a relationship with Jesus

Christy: 6:46

now? Mm. I have a very specific memory of being six years old and by myself looking out the window in Brazil like we lived. Um, we lived out in the countryside, so there were just tons of stars. Like just seeing the Milky Way and just like feeling a conviction in my spirit that I have not fully put my faith in Jesus yet, and I want him to be the boss of my life. and so, I remember at that point just doing it by myself. And so, and that's always been a part of my story, but I probably didn't even tell my mom, you know, the next day, oh, I just, you know, decided to put my faith in Jesus and that he forgave me and my sin and, you know, I've been set free, you know, but Wow. But, that's where it started. And of course, you know, I think there's a lot of ups and downs in any person's life, you know, as they, as a, a new believer, a young believer, growing. So I would, you know, I don't say that the fruit really started to happen a lot until I was a teenager. And then, you know, all those, all those feelings of being an outsider, the comparison or the shame, you know, that we, that I experienced, I began to like really seek God and to find, an intimacy with him that I didn't have yet until then. And so I just, I really, think God used that, those feelings to draw me to him and to find what I didn't have in him. And I, you know, I found, his love was enough and, and that everything I was lacking like that, he was enough for me. and, God gave me good friendships, that pointed me, sort of him. I had some good experiences, getting to do some, youth ministry, like a, a missions trip to California when I was a teenager. I also went back to Brazil when I was 14. For a summer. And so God just used. Those, experiences to draw me to him, so. Hmm.

Ann: 8:36

At any point along your walk, did you feel, disconnected with God in your relationship with him?

Christy: 8:42

Mm-hmm. Yeah., I think it's happened in different seasons in my life and not, not just as a teenager, definitely as an adult too. I think I've gone through like desert seasons and dry seasons where I just, struggled or haven't heard from God, or I was going on my own way, you know, where I just, I wanted, you know, either there are desires I had, that were taking my focus off of the Lord, or, yeah, I think, I think that was definitely a, a real part of my life. And, my personality, I'm social, but I'm also very introverted. So it's easy for me to get overwhelmed. it's easy for me to get paralyzed and not feel like I can move forward, because of either anxieties or, um, way I compare myself to others or ways that I seek to, please other people instead of the Lord. And so I think those things have been areas of my life where I've had. Definitely growing or, you know, have had to come back to God and be like, God, I'm wrong. I know that you're enough for me, and I know that you accept me, you know, for who I am and I need to trust you and not in myself and my own strength. Hmm.

Ann: 9:48

We mentioned, you're, being homeschooled. Mm. And now you're in college. What does college life look like? And when did you meet your husband?

Christy: 9:59

That's always the question. Um, I met my husband before college. Okay.

Ann: 10:06

See, I'm glad I asked.

Christy: 10:08

All right. So on that missions trip, uh, uh, I was 16 and he was 14. He was from Maryland and I was from Pennsylvania. But we started out in California and it was a missions trip to, um, it was a lot of ministry training and, we served to like, there was a, a fellowship of churches that we were both a part of, so we'd never met each other before then. But we came together with a bunch of other teens our age. We were trained in like evangelism and doing children's outreach programs. And also we spent time traveling from church to church and just. Serving the church and encouraging the church in different ways. Sometimes it was doing a lot of work, like manual labor. Sometimes it was, going out in the communities and inviting people to different events. But that's where I met my husband.. Okay. We were not allowed to like, have any special interests or date on that trip. But that's when he says, I noticed her and I thought, she's the one I wanna marry. And I had noticed him at that point. And, you know, we, we got to know each other and we couldn't exclusively, you know, pursue each other or, you know, so we, we took the opportunities we could to have time to talk or to get to know each other. And then at the end of the summer, youth conference we went to. And,, I found out that he confessed that he liked me there. And, and I think I told some friends the sames Oh, okay. That's where, you know, that's where we got to know each other and we started writing letters. Oh. Um, because email was just starting to be a thing. Yeah. This is like, uh, 1995. Okay. Yeah. It, it was just starting up. Yeah. Yeah. So, uh, yeah, we wrote some letters and then my, that was my senior year. I remember he wrote me one letter that he was dating someone, so I was like, oh, okay. I guess that's not anything. Yeah. Kinda like, all right. I was disappointed, but I, I guess I moved on. I was Okay. And then I went to college. He was a couple years behind me and he ended up going to the same college, which was a small Christian college in Indiana, um, that was also affiliated with our church. So. Okay. Um, Yeah, it was there. Uh, so you had asked about college too then, so Yeah, yeah, yeah. Um, it was an adjustment coming from homeschooling. Yeah. For sure. And a lot of it was just me learning to like, organize and, keep myself on track with my grades and not all social life and, you know, yeah. All those things. So it took a couple years, but I got in stride and it's one, I saw God work so much through college. even, even the, the process of deciding was like so painful for me. Like yeah. How do you make that decision is very hard. And I was, I've always been scared of big decisions, so yeah, just a lot of fears. So, in that process, my dad lost his job my senior year and I was telling the school, cuz you know, they always call and. I was like, I don't know if I, maybe I'll go this year. My dad lost his job and, I saw God work through that though, because what happened was they were able to provide me with more financial aid, than I, would've received if he was still working. And I was actually ended up being able probably even, you know, got more, received more assistance than I would've. So, I was able to go, God provided even through that difficult experience. yeah. And then I wanted to do social work that is, just over time, God was, working in my heart, opening my eyes through experiences in Brazil, seeing street kids or, I just, yeah. I saw, I saw needs and I, I wanted to meet them or, you know, yeah. I wanted to, to be a part of that. So I was like, I think I wrote on my college application, social work and Grace College didn't have social work. Okay. But I, I was like, well, maybe I'll. Try counseling or something. So I, yeah, the, the, my freshman year, by the end, they announced they were starting a social work program. So that was like really encouraging to me. That's so, yeah. Like, wow, thank you, God, I know this is exactly what I wanna do, you know, so I signed right up for that program, so, yeah. Yeah. but college was a wonderful experience for me and, um, yeah, just building relationships of, of maturing as a believer of having an opportunity, to. Do leadership in different ways, like as an ra and, we would take, trips to Chicago, and do ministry, a couple months or a couple weekends,, a semester. So I did that as well, so.

Ann: 14:28

Okay. So your husband, he ends up going to the same

Christy: 14:31

college. Mm-hmm. So he came along, um, I guess my junior year. He was a freshman and, we ended up in the same New Testament class and he, he says now, like, he was very careful about picking his seat cuz they were like assigned, I don't know, we had the same seats all semester, so he was right next to me and I did not, I didn't realize he was still interested at that point. Right. Um, but then my senior year, I think he was just like, I better make a move cuz she's getting, she's gonna leave. Yeah. So then he invited me to homecoming and that's kind of when like, it was just neat. Like, it was good timing in my heart and life too. Okay. just where I was at. Yeah. And so we just spent time getting to know each other more then, and I think we kind of started a relationship, but it was really stressful for me cuz again, I was making a decision about where I was gonna be Yeah. After I graduated. And I remember having a very sad breakup for, um, at that point again. Yeah. It was just, it was a difficult timing. I was, I was trying to seek God on where he wanted me to be, I didn't feel ready for marriage yet. Yeah. Necessarily. And, didn't wanna lead him on if, you know, I didn't know if he was the one or whatever. So, yeah. We broke up then. And, God had been opening, opportunities, in Philadelphia. Yeah. There was a church that was, um, the people were aging. They'd moved out of the neighborhood. They weren't real connected to the community there anymore, even though the church, there was a church building. Okay. And so they, they passed it on for a restart. And so it was about the time I was graduating from college. So, I was so drawn to that I idea of like moving into a neighborhood and, you know, the, the church being around the corner from where you lived and to be able to like, yeah, rub shoulders with neighbors and, do ministry. And it just sounded like a, just a really neat, environment, to, to do ministry. So I moved there., I got a full-time job in social work and, that was, I say my bootcamp to inner city life and, and just learning what families deal with in the city and yeah, the struggles that they face. And, the neighborhood we were in was Puerto Rican and, Dominican mainly, some African American and,, a few, Polish or Irish, older white people that lived there. So that was, my, Philadelphia neighborhood. Yeah.

Ann: 16:50

That's really interesting. So you grew up in this neighborhood, now you're able to minister to the people in your neighborhood, different cultures, different backgrounds, everyone, you know, just kind of, a mixed group of people. Mm-hmm. Very diverse. I love that, by the way. Mm-hmm. What do you feel that you learned? What did you take away from that culture and people?

Christy: 17:11

Mm. Yeah. I think there's just so much, it's hard to know how to sum it all up. Yeah. But, um I was just, even just reflecting just this last week mm-hmm. On, you know, my child growing up feeling a little bit of an outsider and, and not, um, like I could relate, you know, with the people around me. And I was like, I wonder if God used that, um, in my. To prepare me for, being around cultures that are different than me I think by that time I got there I was pretty comfortable with that idea of Yeah. You know, just like, well, everybody's different, but God can work the same in all of them. And just having that faith to see, that God can do, reveal himself, to people. Yeah, it was, just learning, the Puerto Rican culture, man, I, I love their culture so much. Yeah. And I just love, you know, they became dear brothers and sisters and family to us, and then we lived in Philly almost 20 years, so, mm-hmm. Yeah. And then, I think moving, I mean, I think we'll talk more about that transition, but Yeah. But moving to Chicago and, and learning Mexican culture and yeah. I, you know, I think there was, I had a false assumption for a while, you know, that like, yeah. You know, Latino culture is kind of all similar, but No. Oh, no, no, no. Oh, no. And so, yeah, I've, I've learned, you know, um-huh. You know, my Mexican brothers and sisters come from a very different place than the, my Puerto Rican brothers and sisters. And so it's been a journey learning. Yeah. Getting to know that too. And yeah. That impressive. I feel like that's,

Ann: 18:42

I mean, that's enriching. I feel like getting to know people that are not like you, getting to know the beauty of their culture, getting to know, the way they connect and relate and being able to connect and relate with them through Christ. Mm-hmm. Because as you mentioned, now we're brothers and sisters, um, but we get this opportunity to know this whole different way of life. Mm-hmm. You know, and, and see God in the midst of that, in, in the midst of all of that. Right. Mm-hmm. Um, but go

Christy: 19:16

ahead. Oh yeah, it just, um, one verse that stuck out to me just over the years is from Ephesians and it just talks about, I can't quote it specifically, but it talks about, um, God breaking down the ho the walls of hostility. Mm-hmm. Um, and I think in that, in Ephesians, he's probably talking more specifically between the Gentiles and the Jews and, and how they, they're both part of God's new covenant in knowing Jesus. Getting to like witness that,, in our, like our day Yeah. And age now. Yeah. Um, and getting to see God break down walls of hostility between cultures is I think just one of the most beautiful parts of the gospel. Yes. So like, that just gets me going. So I get really talk a little bit about that

Ann: 20:00

because you got me going. I wanna hear more. Yeah.

Christy: 20:03

Yeah. Because only outside of the work of God in someone's life, people have no reason to, really pursue each other much, you know, there's, I think the, the social good in it, like when people get along there's harmonious communities and it's better for, the children growing up and, if there's no violence, because people are loving each other and looking out for each other, obviously. But when Jesus comes into a person's life and, he gives us that joy, that freedom, that forgiveness, so we can extend that grace to others. And that's what it is so much about cross-culturally is because, I need to know that the things that I've done that are wrong, have been forgiven. Mm-hmm. So that I can extend that grace that only comes through Jesus just to another person. Yeah. Um, I mean, it's like that in my family, you know, too. I'm always like, yeah, you know why I forgive you because Jesus has forgiven me. Yes. And so, and I think that's, Yes. That's what it has to be cross-culturally, because we're always gonna offend each other cuz we're, we're different. Yeah. We're different. You know, we, and there's, there's different in different cultures. Mm-hmm. You know, we all have our priorities about what's important to us or Yeah. The way we want things or we way the way we think things are best. Mm-hmm. And so, you know, it's, it's very easy to, just be offended. Mm-hmm. And or to like, um, discount someone else, you know, because they're different. So I think, getting to be a witness and getting to experience that, in my life, has just been just such a joy to me. Yeah. And, I mean, I have so much to learn. Like, I, I'm sure, like, I don't know if I've always done the greatest job of like actually working through all of the, cuz reconciliation is hard, you know? Yeah. And it takes communication and it takes work and it takes perseverance. And it takes, yeah, just not giving up and saying,, God, like being committed to that process of loving, I'm another person. So, yeah. Yeah. And I know that brings God glory. So, that's, that's something that just excites me about, getting to, to live alo among people different than me. Yeah.

Ann: 22:08

Yeah. And I think that, you know, you, like you mentioned, you came, you were living in Philadelphia, then you married, right? And then you all, how long, you said you lived there 20 years. Mm-hmm. And then you all moved out to Chicago. So what was that like? Philadelphia and Uhhuh now Chicago.

Christy: 22:29

Yeah. It, you know, I'll just take a minute to say this cuz this is, this is just something that's like impressed me over and over in my life. Yeah. Is be careful what you, vow in your life that you will never do because God has a way of turning that around. Yes. Yes. He does. Over and over again. So funny things like, okay, so I, I lived in Brazil, I learned Portuguese. So to me Spanish always gave me a bad taste because I learned Portuguese. They're similar, but they sound different, you know? Mm-hmm. And so I, I remember at some point being like, ah, I never wanna learn Spanish. Yeah. Yeah. And then, Yeah, that God changed that, so, yeah. Oh yeah. I, I am still learning Spanish and you know, that's a big prayer request of mine that I would finally be fluent. I've been working on it for a long time. Mm-hmm. Um, but another thing is I always, I vowed that I would not parallel park because it is just too hard. I don't like it. It's scary. Uhhuh. God also, in that situation, he just changed my heart because I wanted to go to Philly. I started developing a love and a heart for Philly, and if I was gonna go to Philly, I was gonna have to parallel park. Yeah. And so, I remember the first time I drove down by myself, I drove, like, I ended up like three blocks away from where I needed to be because I was looking for a spot I could pull into. But you know, over time, It wasn't a big deal and I became a parallel Parker Pro. Wow. I've got, I've gotten rusty these days, but Uhhuh, but I, yeah, I used to pride myself. I'm being able to get into very tight spots. I feel like even in Chicago?

Ann: 24:05

Especially if you live in areas where there's apartment buildings, uhhuh, you know, and, I feel like the parking is very limited. Mm-hmm. So if you're not saving your spot. It's a tight squeeze and you just

Christy: 24:15

gotta somehow Yeah. Maneuver into it. That's right. Not cause any denser scratches. Right. Yes. But that's what I was, gonna, stay was Chicago was never on my radar. I never thought, oh, someday I just wanna live in Chicago. We were in Philly. Um, we were committed there. Like I was there. I'm here until God leads me somewhere else. I knew not to say I'm here forever, because I know that God often, makes changes in transitions in our lives, but I was comfortable there. I was happy. I, I felt, committed and I loved the community and the neighbors and the ministry we we're a part of. So, that was, that was never, Chicago wasn't on our radar at all. Uhhuh living in the Midwest. Uhhuh, it's colder here. It

Ann: 24:59

is really cold. Ooh, it's

Christy: 25:02

just cold. Yeah. Yeah. But, um, that, you know, and that there were a bunch of things that happened in Philly that just no. Started to make us realize that maybe that opportunity and that time that we were there, was changing and. It wasn't a place, where we felt like God was calling us anymore and, there must be something new for us. And, there was a lot of heartache and a lot of just process that went on in, in all of that. Through that process, God worked in us and, and just kind of confirmed again, you know, his faithfulness and his goodness to us. And we went through a process of like, God, where do you want us? You know? Mm-hmm. And, we looked, my husband had, um some relationships with New Life here in, in Chicago, and. Began reaching out and setting up times to visit and, and then a couple other places too we looked into. And, it just became apparent over, it was pretty quick, a couple of months that, you know, this is, this is where God was, was leading us and, and, opening the way for us. so, it was, yeah, in all of that journey, it was painful. There was a lot of, heartache for me in letting go of Philly and, what God was doing there. But it was also a process of, of refining me because I was putting, I had, I didn't realize all the hopes that I'd put into my work and into the ministry, which are good things, but they aren't things to, to base your hope in. Mm-hmm. And, it was, it was a process of learning. No, my hope needs to be in Christ alone and life changes, ministry changes. God's. Works in different ways, in different seasons. Yeah. And so there was a, a time of just like stripping away mm-hmm. And of, of just kind of, yeah. There, I mean, sometimes it, it left me feeling, unsteady or, or unsure. Because I also, you know, you put your identity into what you do and so when you're, what you do changes, you're like, it can be a little unsettling. Yeah. But it was a good process because it, it reminded me, oh, my home is in heaven, you know, so even though my home is changing Yeah. I know I'm secure in him and I know where I, I will always be. Yeah. And also, what I do, my identity shouldn't be based on that. It's based on my relationship with Christ and so there was, just a, definitely a period of time of just being reshaped and reformed in that and, reestablished in him. Before we moved on to ministry, we had a year where we moved to Chicago and we didn't have to be like in leader any kind of leadership or responsibility in that way. And it was just such a, a good healing time for us. A time to pause, a time to, um, put our eyes on Jesus and just kind of say, okay, we're here and we're trusting you for what you have for us. That year was when? Chicago, 2019, I think the winter it got down to negative 22. Oh my goodness. Oh no. So it was, yeah, that was like, it was a culture like, whoa, what is this? I'm not sure I even really set foot outside those couple days. Yeah. Yeah. I would, I don't blame you. I don't step foot. Oh, it's that cold. Yeah. But even the negative 14 days, oh, I know.

Ann: 28:22

Anything below zero. I'm just like, I don't, I really question it. Do I, do I go out there or not? Or do I, do I hang out under this blanket? Yeah. What

Christy: 28:30

do I do? Seems a little dangerous. Yeah. Seriously.

Ann: 28:34

And then the older you get your bones tell you. Yeah. So, okay, so then you move out to Chicago. Tell us a little bit about your family. How many

Christy: 28:42

children do you have? Yeah, we have five kids. The youngest was born in 2018, the year we moved to Chicago. So. I mean, he just turned five now, so it's, oh, we've been in Chicago almost five years and Yeah. It's crazy for me to think about, he was born in Philadelphia, but he, that's not part of his identity at all. Chicago is, yeah. You know, he's a Chicagoan. It is interesting to think about. We bring him back to visit Philly and he gets to see, you know, I was like, oh, there's the hospital where you were born, and, you know, there's the Independence Hall in the Liberty Bell, you know, just things that, are part of Philadelphia where he was born, so, yeah.

Ann: 29:17

Yeah. And how did your kids, do with the transition?

Christy: 29:21

Different ones took it differently. So when we initially presented the idea to them, we just kind of asked for their input. Hey, you guys, God called Abraham on a journey, Uhhuh, and, what do you think if God called us on a journey? And they were all in very excited, ready for the adventure, Uhhuh, our oldest at that time, Was, let's see, he was probably 11, 10, 11. And so they were excited, but when it did come down to actually leaving, you know, their roots, their home that they've been born into and grown up, there was one of my kids, it was very hard on. So yeah, there was definitely times of, just deep struggle in, getting comfortable with Chicago, of let you know, so many friendships and yeah. People that were like family to us that we had left behind. So, yeah, that was difficult. It was difficult. But God, you know, God provided a school that was very similar to the one they went to in Philly. and so, In that way. I think that was such a blessing. And, and then there were families that would just, like either from church or from school that would be like, Hey, come over to our house. And, and so we just felt so much of God's grace in that transition, just him providing for us and, you know, new relationships and, and just, confirmation, you know, of us being here and new and not knowing anything and getting used to a new place and, yeah.

Ann: 30:44

That's so awesome. I feel like, you know, you transitioned out of a place that was home and like you said, you went through this refinement process where the Lord was showing you home is with me home. Mm-hmm. Home is always gonna be with me. Mm-hmm. No matter where you go on this journey, wherever I send you home is with me. And then now you bring your family here to Chicago. Right. Everything's so different. Right. Even, just relationships and friendships, you know, now having to start brand new all over again. Mm-hmm., tell us what community meant to you here in Chicago.

Christy: 31:24

Mm-hmm. Yeah, that was an interesting transition, because. We came from the neighborhood in Philadelphia was all row homes, and we would see our neighbors all the time. Like they would in the summer. They'd be sitting out on their steps. So you would just all like, like my husband, we, he, he walked to work two blocks, but it would always take him at least a half an hour to get home, his commute home, because he would get stabbed and he would talk to so many people. Yeah. Along the way. Yeah. So, so we were used to a very tight-knit community. We were in the inner city, but it was like a small town in the way people connected and related and cared for each other in that way. So coming to Chicago, it was different, because, we were in Humboldt Park our first year and the houses were kind of set apart. There's more apartments. And so we didn't see people outside. It was a little harder to get to know people, for us. And then we were going to church, not right in the neighborhood. So I think we were trying, it took a while for us to get our bearings here. It's a different culture. It's a different city. I think I had expectations of Chicago, being the same as philadelphia in that way. Mm-hmm. And just being able to relate and connect, in, within the community, but learning that, no, um, God, God still works here. Yeah. And he still does amazing things. And he still, works through relationships, but we're gonna find those a little differently than we did in Philly. Yeah. Um, so, and then we, uh, about a year, a little less than a year, we moved down, to, gage Park, so on more Southwest Chicago. The neighborhood had, there's still some apartments, more houses. Um, the block that we were on has had a lot of families that have been there for like 30 years. And so that was kind of reassuring to us, you know, that there was, there were some roots put down there and, and that we were gonna be able to build some relationships with neighbors. And, and so we've been able to do that there. And that's, that's been some sweet grace in our lives of just getting to be able to, you know, get to know our neighbors and, um, connect with them more. Yeah. That's

Ann: 33:26

wonderful. And so you and your husband, you pastor a church. Mm-hmm. Um, Tell us what that looks like. Ministering to the neighborhood you mm-hmm. Moved into. Mm-hmm. Um, as you mentioned, yeah. It's a lot different than Philly. Mm-hmm. Um, you were ministering to a Puerto Rican, Dominican community, and now you're here in Chicago. Yep. Ministering to, um, Mexican community. Uhhuh. Yeah. So tell us what, what does

Christy: 33:57

that look like? Yeah, yeah, yeah. So in that first year, we, just began to pray. And then, in January, the church, has the, the month of, or the 21 days of, of praying and fasting. And so our heart's desire was just asking God, where would he have us during that month? and that by the end of that time, we had a pretty clear picture there was an opportunity for us in Brighton Park, which is just right above Gates Park. So, as we visited the neighborhood and just prayed about it, it just, it was exciting for us and we were, we were excited to get, to be there. There was already a Spanish, congregation in that building. But there, and there had been in English, but it had not continued. I think it, it had been like at least a few years since it had been there. So, um, they were asking us to restart an English service there. And so, God provided and led, so we had the opportunity to, launch in, November of 2019. Yeah. And then, yeah, we had moved the summer before down to gauge. Before, just before that, a few months before that. And, yeah, we love Brighton Park. the community and the neighborhood, something that was, was challenging right off, almost off the bat is we launched in November and then Covid came around by March. Oh my goodness. That's true. Yeah. So that kind of, felt like a little bit of a setback to us, we had to, think about, okay, ministry online, what does that look like? But God was, God provided and was faithful through those seasons and we learned, you know, to adapt and do small groups online and, to, try to, stay connected with people differently. Yeah. Our heart is still to. Really connecting with families and children in the neighborhood. And that's been a little bit of a slower process, due to Covid. But my husband was able to get a teaching job in the neighborhood. Yeah. So he's in a school and gets to know families and, he's gonna coach, a flag football team this spring. Oh, okay. So yeah. And we're, yeah, we're just ex I mean, we, we've learned in Chicago too, your ministry season is really the warmer months. Yes, yes it is outside. You're right. So, we spend all year talking about what we wanna do in this summer. Yeah. So, so last summer we, we got our feet wet. Literally, we did like a, a water park, a program, with water games, first kids and families in the neighborhood. And that was a success and, and really neat to see, yeah. Uh, families come out and enjoy that. So we're excited to try, just some more outreaches, like that this summer and in the park. Near our church. And, I'm excited to, do more prayer walking and, praying for, the community and just, seeing who God puts in our path as we're out there. So I'm really excited to, continue to dig in Brighton Park and, see God work and, where yeah. Who he brings our way. So, yeah.

Ann: 36:40

That's always so exciting. Yeah. And I think that Covid kind of interrupted a a lot, right? Mm-hmm. It, it interrupted a lot, but I love that you and your team, the team of people that the Lord has put together there at Brighton Park, um, just have a heart for this community. Have a heart to see change, have a heart, to see the Lord, just moving the lives of people there. I think that's wonderful. You coming from Philly, you and your husband coming from Philly, bringing your family here, um, and saying, you know what? We're gonna trust the Lord. He's planted us here and he's going to use us as vessels in this community that we're very new to. Mm-hmm. Right. And then because things were kind of interrupted because of covid mm-hmm. Now you're getting reacquainted again mm-hmm. With the community. Um, and so just seeing what the Lord is doing through your lives, through your obedience and making a big move like that mm-hmm. Um, because that, that's not easy. Mm-hmm. That's anyone who has family and children, that's not easy. You have to know it's a call from God. Mm-hmm. You have to know that the Lord is calling me here and he's purposed us to do his will here for whatever, you know, whatever that looks like. Right. So are you currently, facilitating in your women's ministry? Is that what you're doing right now? Mm-hmm.

Christy: 38:04

Yeah, we've had, life groups and we changed over to doing like a, it's more of a family focused time. So every other week, we meet and we do a meal together, and then we divide in groups. So I, I'm leading a women's group and then the men get together and there's things for kids and teens. So that's been, just really neat to see who God's brought, even even through Covid, some people joined us on Zoom and then they, now they come to our church. You know, now that we meet in person and it's, it's just, yeah. Yeah, it's just, um, I've, you know, I've learned so much in ministry. You know, I still struggle with like, when someone would come to faith just wanting to see them grow, like wanting good things. Yeah. Um, but it, it can easily turn into my desires and, and control, you know, because I wanna see like a, just a forward progress. And sometimes it's, it's more of a, you know, zigzag. It is. Yeah. And, uh, so it's, it's, that's like the verse in, in first Corinthians three, it in six and seven, it talks about how, you know, I, I planted the seed, somebody else watered it, but God made it grow. Yes. And uh, and, and that, that verse gives me comfort. It reminds me of my role that it's, yeah. My, I don't tain people, you know, God, God is the one who does that work and. And so just, trusting God to do that. And one of the neat things that's happened, the last couple months, we've been doing a food distribution once a month for the neighbor, for the community. And a lot of the people that come out are actually Mandarin Chinese. They speak Mandarin Chinese. And so we've, just been like praying about, opportunities to be able to reach that group of people because we don't know Mandarin. And yeah, that's, it's exciting, but it's a growing population in our neighborhood and so, there are no Chinese churches that we know of, right? In the neighborhood. And so we just began praying, that God would provide, someone who could maybe lead a Bible study and we'd had another church, Chinese church that was helping us. With the food distribution and through connections with them, they've provided a couple of people that come to our family groups. Yeah. And have, just in the last couple of times we've met, started a Chinese Bible study too. Oh, that is so awesome. So the first one that we had, the lady brought some fried rice and Ooh. Yeah. Which my son thought she said fireworks. He's like, I think Ms. May must have left, left her fireworks at home. And we're like, no. She said fried rice.

Ann: 40:28

Wishful thinking though. I know. He's like,

Christy: 40:30

maybe she'll bring them next time. So he's still waiting for the fireworks at life groups inside. I don't know. But that's so funny. That's

Ann: 40:42

so cute. Um, but yeah, so that's, see I don't know, I'm just, as I'm listening, I'm just intrigued by the community that you're, you know, that you minister to. Like it's growing and changing, evolving. Yes. And it seems like the Lord's doing the same in your life. Mm-hmm. Like he's growing, changing mindsets. Mm-hmm. Opening, you know, like opening your perspectives, like, you know what I mean? Mm-hmm. Like just changing things so that as the community changes mm-hmm. You're prepared to. Whoever comes through your doors, through those church doors, that's beautiful. And I think we all, need to be prepared? Because at times we're not, yeah. But when we are, when we're equipped to welcome people that are a lot different like us. And I think that you've had a lot of practice in that we're, you've been just, you know, change from community to community and now here's another change. Mm-hmm. But change is good. I know change can be challenging. Mm-hmm. But I also believe change is good. Yeah. Because God's constantly working. God's constantly, just moving and transitioning us and growing us and our walk with

Christy: 41:54

him. There was something I'd heard, I don't know if you've heard of, um, she's an author. She lived through the Holocaust. Her name is Corey 10. Boom. Yes. I love She tells, she just has this little, I don't know if it was in her book, the Hiding Place, but she talks about how, Our lives are kind of like a tapestry. And when we look at it, we see it from the underside that just like, looks messy and stringy. There's a lot of colors, but everything's kind of nodded and you can't really make sense of it. Mm-hmm. But from God's perspective, the other side, it's a beautiful, you know, piece of artwork, and I think that describes our lives so much, and how God works in us and in ministry and life in general is, from our perspective, it can be confusing and disorienting. You know, we're in the middle of it. Yeah. but we know that we can trust God that he's doing something good. Yes. on the other side. Yeah.

Ann: 42:48

And I love that you mentioned that. Yeah. I think that, going through transition in life, going. Through those moves in life really just draws closer to the Lord, more reliant and dependent on him trusting him in the midst of the move and in the uncertainty of life. You know? Yes. And trusting that he's got it all worked out. He, he knows the plan that he has for us. Right., and trusting him there. I do wanna ask you, as I ask all my guests, what would you say to a woman who may be going through something that you've gone through in your life? I know you talked about feeling a bit on the outside, growing up and, with all this change, I'm sure, you know, it's still some, somehow there. Yeah. That feeling of being an outsider. and then also, Speak to that woman who's going through a possible move and is really praying about it, or a big transition in life and is really kind of just preying on it. What would you say to that woman?

Christy: 43:53

Yeah. I just think about my anchor, like no matter, in the ups and downs, I think, you know, Jesus calming the storm and the waves. I can get easily focused on the craziness or the chaos of life. and, look at the size of the waves and feel like I'm sinking. Mm-hmm. Yeah. And so I think there's been a lot of times in life, whether it's been in transition or just day-to-day life stuff too, where it can, it can feel that way and it can be paralyzing. Mm-hmm. But, I think one thing I've learned about getting through that those times is to turn your eyes back toward Jesus and, hold onto his word, because he is the one that anchors us. It's our continual seeking after him of placing ourselves under the truth of God's word, that keeps us anchored and stable, on the solid rock. So he's our safe place, our refuge. I've been studying Psalms a lot this year and, and we've been going through it in our women's group. You just see that testimony over and over again of Yeah, real life struggles, real life fears. You know, David speaks very candidly about so much of those ups and downs of life. But what he always comes back to is his, his hope, in who God is and, that, that God never changes even,, when everything else around us is changing. So he's, he's our solid rock. Yeah. and so I think that's what I would say to any, any person going through these, these kind of ups and downs in life or transitions that, there's just so much uncertainty in our lives and if, if we base our, our security in trying to to find certainty Yeah. We're gonna be unstable. Yeah. Knocked off our feet all the time. Right. because it, that's what happens. yeah. But, but when our anchor is in him and, and we know that our hope and our future is with him, and that he will never leave us or forsake us, he, he's given us that promise, for those that, that have a relationship with him. I think That is an amazing promise. Like that just gives us so much comfort in the middle of everything. Yeah, it

Ann: 46:04

does. It sure does. Yeah. Yeah. Knowing that I can trust, knowing that God's word will never fail. Mm-hmm. You know, things may fail. Situations may fail, people may fail, but God's word never, never, never fails us. And we can grab a hold of that. Yeah. That renews our hope. Mm-hmm. That renews our trust in him, that no matter what happens, like you, I love that you said to be anchored on him. You know, because we do, we, we so need to be anchored on him. Mm-hmm. Because those waves come crashing and they come hard. Yeah. And they come hard at us and it looks so different to each one of us. Mm-hmm. But it's when we're anchored and we know Lord, I, you're with me. Mm-hmm. And I'm not alone. Yeah. And, and even if, Lord, even if you know, my hands slip from that anchor you're holding onto to me, I can trust that you are holding on to me, and you've got me and I and and you're here and your're with me as your word tells me you are. Yeah. And it's that confident hope. Mm-hmm. To know that no matter what's happening around us, he's with us.

Christy: 47:17

In a practical sense, something that, Um, learned to do, and I think maybe someone gave me this idea from somewhere. I can't remember where, but, it's just in those times where I feel paralyzed and overwhelmed, journaling is something that I continually come back to as a way of just like processing and organizing of, of putting my eyes, back on Jesus. But, but I, what I would do is just like take every single thing that is overwhelming me at that moment and write it all down, and that becomes my prayer list. And often it's, they're pretty specific things. Whether it's, you know, behavior with one of my children that I'm just asking God to, to work in and change and use me in that process or, whether it's. Just some kind of challenge that's going on at church. You know, I just write all that down and then I take it before God and pray through that whole list, and I just find such a burden lifted in that process. Yeah. So that's something I've gone back to over and over again is like, okay, if, if this, if this is, so overwhelming to me, like I can't even like function in my life because these things are just, you know, on my mind, like that's, that's a call to me that I need to take that to the Lord in prayer and Yeah. And give that up to him. And, um, yeah. I've just felt so, so much comfort in that, in that process. And what I find every time is that he restores me. He, he sets my feet on a solid ground again because he's al he's always there and he's always my sure foundation. It's just, I forget. Yeah. So, yeah,

Ann: 48:48

and I, and I think. As believers, we do tend to forget. The Bible says, remember in it so many times, and Paul's always reminding the believers, remember, remember, and God is also remember, you know, because we tend to forget. We tend to forget. And, but I love that He, he's aware of that. He's aware that we tend to forget. He's aware that,, there are seasons in life where we struggle to believe and have that faith, that measure of faith, to fully trust him. And we tend to lean in on our own understanding and rely on our own strength when clearly he's like, trust me. Rely on me. And we go through things. That shape us and form us. Mm-hmm. We go through things, through tests, right. I mean, like you mentioned the refining. Mm-hmm. Where he draws us back to him and he gives us clarity of mind. He gives us clarity in our focus, you know, where things were foggy and things are like, I don't know what to make of this. Mm-hmm. He gives us clarity through his closeness, his, his love and his presence. Mm-hmm. And through his

Christy: 50:02

word. Yeah. A verse in my life that's really brought me back to him over and over is Hebrews 12, uh, one and two, and. It talks about like fixing our eyes on Jesus, who's the author and perfector of our faith. Yeah. And I, I love the word fix because I try to fix myself all the time. Mm-hmm. And, uh, and I, I get so frustrated. I feel so much pressure to do that sometimes, you know, like to, to do things right or to make the right decision or, you know, I get afraid of failing. Mm-hmm. And, um, that verse right there, um, just reminds. Of who fixes me. It's not me. Jesus. Fix, fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith. And so I, it reminds me that he's the one that, that gives me faith, that he's the one that's going to perfect me. And so, um, it just caused me to put my eyes back on him. Mm-hmm.

Ann: 50:54

And that's so liberating. Mm-hmm. It's so liberating. And it gives you such peace. It gives me such peace to know that I don't have to fix myself. Yeah. You know, I'm like, whew. That takes the pressure, the pressure of trying to uhhuh fix myself. Yeah. Off. Yeah. You know, and say, Okay, Lord, I know you're working in me. Mm-hmm. I know that you're what we call sanctifying me. Yep. You're working in me. I'm a work in progress, Lord. I'm a piece of clay and you're molding me. Yeah. Lord. Yeah. And, and, and not having that pressure

Christy: 51:32

or, um,

Ann: 51:34

that, that fear of failing him because I know who's in control. Yeah. And I know who's working in me both to willing to do according to his wonderful purpose. Yeah. You know, and every season of life like God is

Christy: 51:51

so good. He is so good. Yeah. I think the, the more you grow and age like that, that becomes such a pre precious gift as a believer, because you've been through things and God has proven himself faithful over and over again. Yes. Yes, he has. And so it gives you, a growing confidence that like, okay, no matter what comes, he's my anchor. He's still there and he's, he's faithful. He's good. Like we can depend on him, you know? And, and it's been proven over and over again in my life and in, all the believers around me as I get to hear the stories that are shared of other women you've talked to. Yeah. It gives me goosebumps, Me too. Yeah. Just that comfort and, that sustaining presence he has in our lives. Never, not to not leave us, to not forsake us, to, to provide, to be faithful. Even when we go through, trials that being a believer doesn't take away, we know the story of job to know that can happen. That loss or, tragedy can happen to anyone, but to have. God's presence in your life through it, is an amazing comfort. Hmm. It is,

Ann: 52:55

Chrissy, thank you so much for joining me today and just sharing your story parts of your life with me and our listeners. Thank you for sharing what it is growing up Christian and what that looks like. As we talked before, I know my children as well grew up, they're second generation Christians and a lot of times, they feel like, well, I don't have a story. Mm-hmm. Yeah. but you clearly do. Mm-hmm. You clearly have a story. I know my kids clearly have a story, and I know every, believer has a story the story of Jesus Christ. Yes. See, that's our story. Yeah. Our stories are just interwoven into the greatest story, which is the story of Jesus Christ. I just wanna go ahead and thank our listeners. Thank you for tuning into this episode of Her Scars. Tell a Story.