Terri Johnson | Arlington Heights

March 20, 2022

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I had heard about Pray First for months, even years, but always had a reason not to come. “I don’t like to pray out loud with people I don’t know. Sunday gets to  be a long day when it begins so early. I need to get things done before work on Monday morning.” You know the excuses. One night Pastor Dan Wells asked the choir to consider coming to Pray First and I decided to try it. What a wonderful evening it was. We begin and end with singing. Each ‘praying session’ is a directed time of focused prayer. It’s a well thought out, powerful, and God-glorifying evening. Now, I attend Pray First regularly. And I leave feeling more connected to Christ and with the vision and mission of The Orchard. I leave uplifted by all the young people there praying caring for Christ’s church.

If anyone undecided was to ask whether or not they should attend, I would say, “Give it a chance. Don’t use the excuses I always used and come. I promise you will leave nourished by bringing The Orchard and our ministries before the Throne of God!”

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The Orchard Barrington shared the following testimony from Annette Wehrli. Faith @ Work: Annette has felt a growing burden for those called to the marketplace—business owners, entrepreneurs, and leaders who long to live out their faith where they work.  With prayer and vision, she’s launching a new ministry to encourage and equip believers to lead with Christ at the center. This ministry will gather men and women who desire to grow in faith, share their testimonies, and lead others to Jesus through their daily work.
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Submitted by Steve Bond, The Orchard Barrington. There’s an urgency senior year as parents consider their kids’ readiness to face the world views of college. In March, my friend, Matt, and I were compelled by the Spirit to not squander the chance to equip our 18-year-old sons, Grant and Ty, with Truth before their departure. We dads can unintentionally outsource the training up of our kids to preachers and small group leaders… but Solomon’s caution in Proverbs 3:1 “My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments” modeled the intimate privilege and obligation Matt and I owed our boys.
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Mark Wilson, a long-time business owner and faithful member of The Orchard, recently took a bold step to share his faith with his team of 50+ employees. While known for his kindness, Mark realized he had never openly shined for Christ at work. So, he hosted a voluntary lunch to share his story of faith. The impact has been incredible—sparking new conversations and inspiring others. Watch Mark’s story and consider how you too can shine for Christ. Do you, or someone you know, have a SHINE story? Let us know!