You may remember me from my Christmas sweater. I can look unapproachable, but I have a big heart and love Jesus. God has blessed me with a beautiful wife and two awesome kids. We have been attending church at The Ridge for about five years. We drive 108 miles or about two hours from Selbyville, West Virginia, to get here. I come from a home where my father was in and out of prison my whole life but it has never held me back. It has only pushed me forward. I know that God has a plan no matter what your circumstances. And I feel God’s blessings truly follow me all the days of my life. My wife and I met our best friends while attending Marriage Works. It’s funny because I remember when my wife and I would drive past Chestnut Ridge Church and say, “Look at that place, I will never go to a church like that.” Don’t be intimidated by the size. You can’t judge a book by it’s cover.
Brad
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: The Hernandez’s
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...