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 cussing and I’m a contractor, that’s unheard of. At times when I get frustrated at work, I’ll stop and pray, and say, ‘You got that God?’ I know Jesus has my back. I’ve had opportunities to help with the construction in the kids area with carpentry, that’s what I do. I was baptized last November and I am currently reading a modern language Bible. I have been coming to Chestnut Ridge Church for about 18 months and this is where I belong.
Joe
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...