New to town from Colorado, we started attending Chestnut Ridge Church in August 2014. Last year, we became small group leaders. In November, our group threw us a “sprinkle” or baby shower for Clara at our home. That evening, at 38-weeks, my water broke during Bible Study! We weren’t ready! We had just moved into a new house, the crib wasn’t assembled, the clothing needed to be washed… We had thousands of things left to do. Luckily, our small group was there and jumped right in to help. Contractions started at 7:00 pm, at 8:01 we were at the hospital, and by 8:15 Clara was born. If it wasn’t for the community group it would have been a home birth. Our community group has become family for us. Chestnut Ridge Church is a great place to connect with other believers and our kids love it here, too. The Ridge is family.
Hernandez Family
People of the Ridge: Lisa
When I was 18 and fresh out of high school, I joined the Army. I come from a family of servicemen, so it seemed like a next step to take in my life. I enlisted in 1999... I was a young woman who was excited to share the gospel in a way I hadn’t before—by being a light...
People of the Ridge: Maria
When I was a young girl, my parents often took me to the Catholic church I grew up in. I knew God, but I didn’t have a strong personal relationship with Him. I never really felt a spiritual presence... In middle school, I was happy when we started going to Chestnut...
People of the Ridge: Frank & Yadira
Yadira: I was raised in a loving, Catholic home and received Jesus when I had my first communion. He was the center of my life until I got married. My husband became my everything, instead of Jesus, and my life became a roller coaster. After 10 hard years, we...
People of the Ridge: Jamie
Sixteen years ago, on 9/11, I was serving on active duty in the Air Force at Dover Air Force Base. I remember it like it was yesterday. My fellow airmen and I watched the events unfold on television, as the planes hit the towers, the Pentagon, and crashed into that...
People of the Ridge: Tokunbo
I grew up in Nigeria, and after college, I got my master’s in Sweden, and then my Ph.d. in statistics at WVU, where I’ll be a visiting assistant professor this fall. Growing up in Nigeria, my family was Muslim, but religion didn’t really play a role in our home. I...
People of the Ridge: Liz
When my husband and I received Christ as our Savior in 1987, we were in a difficult financial situation. Even though we weren't aware of it, the Holy Spirit led us to a church where tithing was preached. These are times when our eyes roll in our heads and we thought...
People of the Ridge: Steve
I was recommended The Ridge about two and half years ago by my tattoo artist, Patty. I was attending a church in Masontown where I was the young guy. I came here for the first time on a Saturday night and suddenly I'm the old guy. I love listening to K-LOVE on the...
People of the Ridge: Sara
In 2010, I graduated from college. I got a job almost immediately but was really unhappy with it and where my life was going. I attended church off and on my entire life. One Sunday, I decided to go to Chestnut Ridge. I was lonely. I needed something, I needed...
People of the Ridge: Justin
HOPE...that is what kept me going when things looked bleak. In January 2015, I noticed my neck started to swell. I went to MedExpress and was referred to an ENT. In February, the ENT conducted a biopsy that came back diagnosing me with Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma. A...
People of the Ridge: Joe
I'm a work in progress, that's for sure but I'm a different person now. My wife always asks me where the old Joe went. I remember there would be times when I would get so mad I would burst capillaries in my face. Since I have been coming to The Ridge I find myself not...