The Grove | Evergreen Church

Even though Nikki Boyd grew up in church, it wasn’t until early adulthood that Jesus showed her what it meant to truly surrender. As she was maturing in her walk, she understood that Jesus isn’t just the Savior, but He is Lord. With a passion for song and a heart full of Jesus, she began a journey giving her life to the Lord through music, and then children's ministry. But, what if there was more God needed to teach her? What if she had to wait in order to see her role in building God's Kingdom?

Listen, as we unpack a children’s minister’s story full of intercession, lessons in waiting, trials, the birth of Ramp 56, and more. Nikki reflects back on the purpose in each season through the lens of a faithful witness to God's Kingdom work.

With a God-given entrepreneurial spirit, a 9-year-old partnered with God as God turned a tiny lemonade stand into a massive, non-profit enterprise through little Johnny Crater. Little did Johnny know, the enemy had plans to step in and entice Johnny with a different path years later with a life in football. However, God wasn’t going to lose his partner to the lust of the world, so He interceded by waking Johnny up. It was time for God to show Johnny who is the branch, and WHO is the vine.

After pointing Johnny back to Him, God continued to perform blessings and miracles in Johnny’s life. As God’s plan unfolded, He walked Johnny through marriage, ministry, tragedy, loss, and community - reminding Johnny that when things don’t go the way you think they should, God is still in control.

After Christ rescued Jessica Long from anxiety at a young age, she was faced with more of life’s challenges leading her to remember His mercy and goodness. Ultimately, all of her struggles prepared her for the biggest challenge yet - a cancer diagnosis. Jessi shares with us how the Lord stood by her, and used His Word to remind her that Jesus is with us in the storm. As her doctor now reveals disease free scans, Jessi reflects on how God made sure His Glory would shine during this trial, pointing back to God being the Sovereign Lord over all.

Evergreen’s Senior Pastor, Michael Gabbert, thought he had it all figured out when God called him to give up his life for Him. Growing up in the church since birth, Michael learned God had much more to show him after he met his wife, Diane. Together, their testimony is full of joy, pain, loss, abundance, illness, love, and even miracles. From the classroom to the pulpit, listen with us as we unpack a story of how God restored the bride of Christ, and supernaturally birthed the local church’s identity we now know as Evergreen.

Mike Seagraves had it rough. His childhood was marked with abuse, violence, and broken relationships. As he grew older, he pursued the normal American life: a good paying job, a wife and family, and leaving his past behind him. And then God began to interfere. How would this man respond when God proved to be more stubborn than he was? Would he give in and let God redeem his life? Or would he run from grace forever?

Who defines gender roles? Driven by her experiences of abuse and a broken home, Brittany Nieves came to the conclusion that it would be better to be a man than a woman. Then she was invited to a church where she found true and meaningful community. Confronted by the gospel she had to make a decision about who she was going to be. Would she accept what God said about her or tell God who she was?

For someone who grew up on the mission field in another country, Justin McKenzie was shocked when he felt God’s call to become a Missions Pastor at his church. His life had turned into a downward spiral and was headed straight for rock bottom when he finally surrendered to God’s plan for his life. From then on, he began to experience redemption and restoration like he had never known. God took Justin through his obstinance to new obedience in a way that Justin gets to share with all he comes into contact with.

Sometimes living on God’s timeline seems to make life more difficult. If we could just get to the thing God has called us to then we could get so much more done for the Kingdom, right? Ed and Janet Coffman have learned that waiting for God’s timing leads to fulfillment and opportunity that they never could have imagined. Through prayer they were able to lean on God and follow his direction, even when Satan was hard at work against them.

“Why God? Why me? Why us? Why our son?” Few things are more gut wrenching than the heart cry of a parent watching their newborn child fight to live. As Jeremy and Heidi Warren found out, God sometimes gives us more than we can handle, but walks with us through it all and sees us through to the other side where we are able to find purpose, meaning, and growth.

What is discipleship and why does the Bible make such a big deal about it? How do you do discipleship? These are questions AJ Gonzalez stumbled into as he found himself chasing his purpose in life. As a kid, he tried to make the best of his situation until profound loss broke him. Listen in as AJ talks about the power of letting go of your past and letting God take control of your life.