The Storyteller

Living at home with his biological family was difficult. The longer Ted lived there the less hope he had in life. At age 15 he finally reached a point where he had had enough. He walked out of the house and went back to stay with his foster family where he knew that he was loved and accepted. But while he was there, he would learn about a love that surpassed even that of his foster family.

Ted was born with Cerebral Palsy. His mother left him at the hospital because they told her that he would not make it through the night. He was bounced around in foster care and spent a few months with his family, but ultimately was placed in long term care. Ted felt valued and loved when he was in the care of his foster parents. They called him their son and treated him like one of their own. Told that he would never walk, they invested in the belief that he would... and he eventually did. But, when a custody battle resulted in him moving back home, his life turned upside down.

Mae shares her story of faith and recounts what it was like to grow up in a remote village of Alaska. Born in the village of Unalakleet before modern conveniences reached that far, she was aquainted with the ruggedness of life in the north. Fishing and berry picking weren't recreational, they were essential to living. She has good memories of life there. And it was there in the village where she met the most important person in her life... who is still with her today.

Tom Claus reflects on what Christmas was like growing up on the Six Nations Reserve near Brantford, Ontario many years ago. After all the gifts were opened, the family would sit down together and read the Christmas story from the Bible. Tom goes on to read the story for us and then speaks about the gift that God gave to all people - His Son, Jesus Christ.

Ryan shares some of his childhood memories of Christmas. Then he reminds us of the significance of the birth of Christ... and that Jesus came to save all nations, but not everyone will receive this incredible gift.

When asked the question about where he would spend eternity, CR came up short. He didn't know. Many people are in the same place CR was - but he isn't there anymore. Find out what changed and how he now knows the answer to the most important question in life.

When Christ died, we’re able to accept that death and kind of take it as our own, and so, now when God looks at us, He doesn’t see our sinful selves but sees the sacrifice that Jesus made, and that covers for our sins, so that, once again, like God originally intended, we can be with Him. Ultimately, Christ’s death and resurrection and a relationship with God is a gift that God wants to give to each of us and to each of His children, but it’s something that we each still need to accept, and I’m really grateful I did.

Finally I came to this point where God was telling me, ‘You can choose that path, you are free to choose that; I will let you go, and you can go and drink and sleep around, but just know that means that you lose Me.’ And that was a really scary thought to me, that God would let me go.

God showed me that I was pretty good at working with other youth, and my pastor gave me the opportunity to lead small groups with some of the junior high girls. After a little while I realized I wanted to be a missionary and share the gospel, share about Jesus with other people. I told my dad this, and he told me, “Cassandra, I believe God made you the way you are for a reason and there’s a people right here who need to hear the gospel.” Little by little God changed that around for me, and showed me my people here that need help.

Herman tells the story of being cursed by a medicine man. He had gotten very sick and yet the doctors could find nothing wrong with him. As they crossed the reservation line to go see a doctor, the sickness would go away. As they headed back though, as soon as they got on the reservation, he got sick again. It didn't take long after that for Herman to figure out that something spiritual was going on.