Testimonies
Jim Harker, 6-10-07
My name is Jim Harker and I am honored to be standing before you all this morning. I would like to share a story with you all that has not yet ended. In fact, I feel that it has only just begun.
I grew up right here in Traverse City, in a nice home with two very loving parents, and one very typical older brother. We did not attend worship on a regular basis, however, my grand parents were quite involved at their church in Elk Rapids were my Grandmother was the choirs lead soprano, and when we could, we would go to church. I attended some small Bible schools during the summers growing up and had been taught about Jesus and how he had died on the Cross for our sins. Up until just over a year ago, I had forgotten what I had learned. I had conformed to the world’s ways.
I believe that most of us, not all of us, but most of us, will at some point in their lives, go through a very difficult time that will be life altering. I believe that what we do with that time is a crucial building block to how one will live and act like in the future. My difficult time was a divorce to my wife, whom I had been together with for two and a half years, and married only 4 months. We had just closed on a beautiful house together and 3 weeks later, I found out she had left me for a much older man who was also married. I still to this day, work with both of them, and they are still together as a couple.
Wallowing in my sorrow for days on end, not sure what to do, I heard a knock at my door. It was a friend of mine who I haven’t spoken to for over a year that had heard what had happened to me and wanted to see what she could do to help. She just so happens to be a Christian who just so happens to attend and lead worship here at F.C.C., who just so happens to know my parents, who are also Christians and just so happen to attend regular worship here at F.C.C. My friend also just so happened to have a “spare” N.I.V. Life application study Bible (bound in leather by the way) to just GIVE me. This person and I have been friends sense we were 14 years old and I trusted the words that came out of her mouth. “Here, I know this will help and I think you should read just a little bit every day.” She said. I decided to start to read this “gift” and noticed that I began to take to heart and apply what was in it to my every day life. God had “just so happened” to be knocking at my door. This person had tried to get me to come to church all the time. “Every Sunday at 9:30” she would say, so finally, after two months of study and confidence building, I committed, and got up early, kicking and screaming, to come to church. I showed up 5 min early and noticed an empty parking lot. I knew I was at the right place at the right time right? I walked around looking very out of place and I quickly found out that “today” is a special Sunday, “It’s a unity service and it starts at 10:30.” I was told. So I took off, got some coffee and returned. The look on my friends face when she first saw that I had decided to attend worship was enough to make my day awesome. So where did we sit? The front row. That day I was truly saved. I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior and from that moment on, I began to see the world through a different set of eyes and hear the world through a different set of ears. Not only was the message that day pointed directly at me, but I heard 3 testimonies of faith that would forever change my life. Dr. Jay Jones, Dr. Walt Nobel, and Dr. John Keep would be sharing their story with all of us. All three testimonies where amazing, but Dr. Keep’s testimony talked about a letter he had contemplated writing and finally did. He ended his testimony by asking the congregation, “What letter have you not written.” Two days earlier, before I even knew I would attend church on Sunday, I just so happened to write and give a letter to my friend. I thanked her for all she had done for me and for showing me the door which I decided to walk through. The door of God’s love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness. The friend, who has shown me this door, whom we all love and appreciate how God works through her in the most amazing way, is Brigitte Ann. I love you. That day was one year ago, tomorrow.
Some of you know, and some of you may not know that I have truly been blessed with the ability to play the drums. I have been playing drums for more than 20 years now and have never taken a lesson. It is my true passion in life and God is fully aware of this and has been using my ability more than I could have imagined. I valet park cars for a living. I only work 3 day’s a week. I have plenty of free time on my hands. With my newfound faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and plenty of free time on my hands, I wanted to make a difference some how, some where. I had often talked about volunteering some of my time to the united way, or the boys and girls club. Brigitte told me to “hold on a bit, there might be something coming up that you could help out with.” That “something” was helping to mentor the youth praise band. With my musical talents, I had no doubt in my mind that I could do this. God was moving and I had no idea what He had in store for me, but I knew I was ready. This turned into becoming a youth group leader, which not only was something I knew I could accomplish, but something I had been wanting to do for a very long time, working with kids and young adults. But this is even better than I could have imagined. Not only do I get to have fun with the kids, but I get to help them, and myself, grow closer to Christ and how to learn together His Word and His teachings and how we all can apply these things into our ever day lives.
The youth ministry program here at F.C.C. has changed my life. I have never felt more at home or had more fun in my life than I have had in working with the kids in the youth center downstairs. These kids are incredible and so much fun to be around and learn from, and I truly consider all of them to be my close friends…..who keep me on my toes to say the least. From the awesome mission trips, to the wonderful games, music, fellowship, and small group study, the youth ministries here at F.C.C. is where I feel God has “just so happened” to placed me…..right where He wants me to be, and right where I want to be.
I graduated high school from Traverse City in 1993. Believe it or not, I also played football for the Trojans and had a friend and teammate by the name of Jeremy Houge. Before our Friday night home games, after school, the team would come right here to F.C.C. for a pre-game prayer with Jeremy’s dad, Dr. Gary Houge, senior pastor. I have always felt like my “home base” is here at F.C.C. and today I am so comfortable walking through these doors that it reminds me that God has “just so happened” to place me right where He wants me to be, and right where I want to be.
I Not only have I been continuously saturated by the Holy Spirit since the day I accepted the Lord Jesus Christ into my heart and life, I have had the most unbelievable supporting cast to help me along my journey of faith, most of which are here this morning. My parent’s are here this morning, Glenn and Linda Harker, so are my mother’s parents, my grand parents, Quinn and Betty Stulz, who are 85 and 82 years old and have been married for 63 years. I am so blessed to have all four of them here today. We are missing my father’s parents, Richard and Mary Harker who have been dancing among the Angels in God’s splendor for many years now, but who are never forgotten and missed deeply. I wish to thank my closest friend Marc McCombs for being the best shoulder to cry on next to Jesus himself. I love you. My dear friends and fellow Christians Mike and Brenda Spires who have traveled all the way from downtown Mancelona to be here this morning, I thank you and love you guys so much. I wish to thank Jeff and Becky Goodwin, and Gary and Karen Hogue for all they have done for me and for helping me truly feel like family. And for all of my other friends here, I wish to thank you all for mentoring me, and for showing me my part in being the Body of Christ.
I can’t wait to see what the future holds for me and what God has in store for me here at First Congregational Church. God is moving, and he is doing so much for so many, and I know that I feel like this is the building that I will worship him in for a very long time. Remember, God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called. And from the bottom of my heart, I bow down at His Glory. Thank you.
