The following is an article I wrote in a newsletter, while I had been an associate pastor at, "Upper Room Worldwide Ministries, of, Mason City, Iowa.  It was published in the spring of 1998.

"To Everything There Is A Purpose"

As a former pastor's wife, I would like to share God's faithfulness.  (Psalm 36:5)  During my first pastorate, a car ran over my oldest daughter at the age of nine.  She was dragged over two and one half blocks, because her jacket had caught under the car.  My husband and I, drove her to, Mayo Clinic, of, Rochester, Minnesota, because her injuries were so serious.  She wasn't expected to survive, but we saw God's miraculous powers many times.  She was 26 years old at the time I wrote this article.

Many people found Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, were healed physically, emotionally, delivered, set free, and encouraged during this time.  (I Peter 4:12)

Our family was in an automobile accident after a night of ministry visitation.  My husband was injured severely.  He had to begin using a cane for walking, after he almost died within the first few days.

Shortly before this accident, we had a house fire.  When people came to pray and encourage us, they returned home blessed in return.  Our town rallied all around us.  Satan was trying to kill the fire of God in our lives, but it burned even brighter.  What satan mean to to destroy, God turned around for His glory.

After a few years, my husband and I accepted a pastorate down in a southern state.  These people enjoyed the moving of the Holy Spirit's gifts, but didn't practice what they preached and believed.  (Lev. 20:7)  We resigned after pastoring for two years and returned to evangelism.

We started a church in a different state from a home Bible Study.  During this pastorate, my husband was injured in another serious automobile accident trying to save the other plassengers in the car.  He was bed-ridden about two years and couldn't attend services on a regular basis.  When he was able, the men of the church dressed and carried him in a special wheelchair by van to church .  While gradually recovering, my older daughter and I, were the substitute pastors.  What was suppose to be a few days, turned into almost two years.

His health began to decline once again, and he only preached every few Sundays.  He became legally blind.  We found the church another pastor, and we resigned this pastorate.  My husband and I, moved back to Iowa, where we still owned our home.  He died within three days after our arrival.

I was invited to visit, "Upper Room Ministries", of, Mason City, Iowa, where Rev. Pam Runge_Stockman , was and still is, the senior pastor and founder.  She operates in the five-fold ministry spoken about by the apostle Paul in the New Testament of the Holy Bible.

She heard prophetically from the Holy Spirit, exactly what I needed at this time of my life.  I attended her church, until I moved back to Minnesota, where my three adult children resided.  Not knowing at this time, that I would later be invited to be her associate pastor.

My son was a drug and alcohol abuser during this time.  He confessed, while at a re-hab, that he was of the homosexual persuasion.  I was devastated, and I drew my strength from God.

Thanks to the prayers of my pastor, Rev. Pam Runge-Stockman, ministry friends, family, and other friends, I became an overcomer during these trials.  In the book of Peter in the New Testament, it speaks of fiery trials, that we might experience in our lives.

To everything, there truly is a purpose for each of us.  Joseph in the Old Testament, didn't know his true purpose, until many years later as governor in the Pharoah's court.  He, at the time, didn't know our awesome God's plans.

Jesus Christ is our living water.  He will quench our spiritual thirst, as we look continually to Him.  Upper Room Ministries is one of His fountains of hope, where a people who experience thirst, can and will have it quenched.  

The purpose of life's trials and challenges, is to help us achieve our full potential in, with, and for Jesus Christ.

In closing, I would like to recommend two books and their authors.  First of all, "The Purpose Driven Life", by Rick Warren, and, secondly, "Your Best Life Now", by Pastor Joel Osteen, of, Lakewood Church located in, Houston, Texas.

God bless each and everyone of you.  I trust you have been blessed reading this posting, and you will share in with those in need.  Be encouraged dear friends; for God loves you.