Joe’s Story

Joe’s Testimony

I was born as an identical twin more than three months premature.  My twin lived only twelve hours.  

In fourth grade, I started to lose my eyesight.  Since it was a gradual process which took eight years before I was completely blind, I had time to think about what was happening and to adjust.  

Growing up on the farm, I had chores to do as my contribution to the family effort.  When I started to lose my vision, my dad showed me tough love and said, “You eat here and live here, so you gotta work here.  We’ll just change the jobs you do!”  I’m sure that expectation helped me believe that I could continue to make a contribution and earn my way, even without my sight!  I graduated from college and was the first blind person to be hired by many companies.  One of the jobs I enjoyed most was radio broadcasting.  

Although I went to church for many years, I don’t remember the pastor saying anything about the importance of salvation or what it even means to be saved!  Some friends of mine who modeled the Christian life well invited me to church as an adult, and in 1976, I asked Jesus to come into my life.  Ephesians 2:8-10 says: For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

What this means is that anyone can be saved from God’s anger against our sin, but not by works, or trying to make up for our bad by doing good.  We can only be saved by receiving God’s forgiveness as a free gift because 1.) we trust that Jesus paid the penalty for our sins on the cross in our place, and 2.) we desire turn from sin and live for him.  

For me, following Jesus has meant serving others.  I have served for 24 years in leadership positions at two different churches.  This experience helped me grow in my Christian Walk.  I only stepped down in 2020 because of health reasons. 

I have also had two very good marriages.  My first marriage was for 34 years.  She suffered from M.S. and for many years, I cared for her needs, even without my sight!  She is now with Jesus and I am in year seven of my second marriage.  

One of my favorite hymns is “It is Well.” The first verse says:

When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When sorrows lie sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
“It is well, it is well with my soul!”

You may wonder, how can it be well with your soul when sorrows are rolling over you like waves.  My favorite Bible verse is Romans 8:31, which says, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”  

God has helped me to know that I am his and he is mine. And if I am his, then he is working through all things for my good, even if the reward for the trials will only fully be realized in heaven.  

We are all looking for something to help our soul feel that all is well.  If you would like to learn more about what Jesus did for you so that you can know God is for you, than I invite you to click on the link below.