Stories
Click here for a great Newspaper article about our Origins Teens!
Worship with you guys always brings me to tears because I can just see how God is working in your church. Every time is a "God moment" for
me because He is always in that place, it is wonderful. For the longest time church has been such a struggle for me.
It's so nice to see a church family that really is a family instead of just a place where people gather. No one is
condemning or preaching at one another, it is just real. -J.S.
Check out the Serve Day '11 highlights video!
We recently asked people to tell us about how God is using Origins to work in their lives. Here are their replies:
What has Origins meant to me? It helped me find my way back home.
What Origins has meant to me... Three words, understanding, belonging, open mindedness. Thanks for having me and letting me fit in.
Origins has meant a church home, free from being judged, freely accepted, not judged because of having HIV/AIDS. An opportunity to serve and grow in a family reaching for the same goal.
I love this church! Thank you God for making this and all other things possible. You are so great!
Freedom and acceptance to be who I am. I love my Origins family!
Origins is one of the best things that has ever happened in my life. I love my children and my family but had difficulty interacting with them in a meaningful and peaceful way. My father and me have never seen eye to eye on anything. We butt heads constantly because we are both stubborn and I am his clone. Through Origins I have seen more love and pride from my father than I have ever felt. I look forward to coming here each Sunday and when I don't want to get up I think about how I need this time with my Lord.
My God has used Origins to remind me of the path that I need to be on. Coming to Origins has reminded me of one of his plans for my life as a servant. Thank you for allowing Gods grace and power to work through you to reach people like me and other people out there that need the seed planted.
Origins has given me a new life! Origins has given me my positive attitude back. Given me hope and joy.
Origins always talks the talk and walks the walk. No perfect people allowed. In todays society it is hard to find a place where everyone is accepted. Origins is that place.
Origins means that this community has hope. Becoming part of this family has given me a base home to work from to help others in the community. To hopefully brighten someone elses day. Hopefully God through me can make someones life easier. At least for a day. Giving me a home church has allowed God to make this world a little better. Both for me and for others. Thank you Origins.
What Origins means to me: the church is not the building.
Click Here to see the Easter 2010 video!
I will soon be graduating drug court. It has been 14 months of self discovery and acceptance. I have learned so much about myself. Finding God again has helped me tremendously! I have found strength I thought I never had. I discovered I am loved and never alone. I have also been blessed to have a man in my life who truly cares for me. THANKS! Praise the Lord! I am proof you can Live while you're alive! - H.H.
In most of the time I've sporadically attended Origins, I haven't listened much. It's hard thing to admit to a man who seeks to do so much good. I've always been a music man (for which I have no talents). It speaks to Me like nothing else. It's what kept me coming back. It is also what made me see a Beautiful that shines down when the band plays. I've just started my faith journey again and truly have heard your words for the first time. I could never hear them before. I was way to selfish to hear anything but my own narrow and single minded views. I just wanted to say thanks so much for helping a blind man to see light again. - C.P.
Click Here to see The Church Has Left The Building 09 video!
Click Here to see the Serve Day 09 video!
"Our barn is overflowing with wood for the winter because your people came and gave their all splitting logs and carrying them into the barn. Our hearts are overflowing with thanks, thanks, and thanks. There were children, teenagers, and adults...even a new couple to your church who worked until the end. Your group reflected Jesus' spirit.
If you could have seen all the big stumps, it looked impossible! But with all those willing hearts and hands, the job was completed in just hours. We will think of you every time we place a log in our wood stove. The warmth it gives to our home, you gave to our hearts. God bless you all!" - S.A.
"I want to seriously and humbly thank you for the awesome sermon on forgiveness. As a result, I reached out to my brother whom I had not spoken to in almost 6 years and we are now having Thanksgiving together!" - J.E.
"Thank you, your new church and new beginning could not have come at a better time. My family and I have gone through some tough times and have some ahead of us. To be able to sit in front of you and hear that even though we make mistakes that we are forgiven was a very joyous/painful experience. I knew that, however I did not listen for quite some time. I look forward to listening to the Lord's word through you from now on. Thank you for waking me up!" - F.H.
Birthdays.
It seems as though once a particular age is passed, acknowledging the day
you were brought into this world becomes less about celebrating how many
years you've enjoyed living and more about focusing on how many more years
you'll get to survive. But don't you just love looking back and remembering
the special things you did for your birthdays as a kid or a young adult?
All of those fun parties, the cake and ice cream, the funny hats and games,
streamers and balloons, and cards and gifts you received from so many friends.
Can you imagine not having any great memories of your birthdays?
Meet Christine!
Christine is a neighbor of Origin's Pastors James and Tammy Vogt and didn't
have any of those great birthday celebration memories. When Tammy found out
that Christine was going to be turning 81 and had never truly celebrated her
birthday, she thought Origins needed to give her a memory. So the party
planning commenced!
Within days of hearing about Christine, many people stepped up to help Origins
make this party a special event. Cards were sent from places as far away as
Kansas, Ohio, and Texas by people who have never met Christine. They just knew
the story and knew this woman deserved a birthday memory. The number of people
responding to the invitations to attend the party grew so quickly that the
Vogt house obviously not going to be big enough. Enter Pastor Frank from
Ontario First Christian Church just a few doors down from their home. Frank
opened his church fellowship hall/gym for the party.
Location was set, guests were coming, cakes were ordered, and decorations were
purchased. All that was missing were the fun activities. But that wasn't going
to be an issue either. Christine loves country music and dancing, so a band was
booked and our dancing brushed up on.
SURPRISE!
Yes, this was all a surprise to Christine when she entered a room of about 50 people
whom she had never met and simply wanted to celebrate and love her. Origins made
a difference in the life of one woman by doing something for her that no one else
had ever done. We had the privilege of celebrating 81 years of life and living with her.
"Thank you all so much for the surprise birthday party.
I thought I was being taken to just hear some Western music.
Imagine my surprise when a group of nice people all said,
"Happy 81st birthday, Christine!"
I could hardly believe it. I knew no one and had just met James and Tammy Vogt.
I've never been so surprised in my life. Tammy made me a beautiful sugar-free cake.
There were nice cards and replies from people in other states.
Big posters from so many young people made me feel very welcome to your normal doings.
I also enjoyed the band... that was my kind of music!
With James and Tammy around, things get done, I notice.
Ever so thankful to you all."
-Christine