Stacee Kemp

Attending Ren since 2016

At the end of 2020, I had gone into a program to deal with some of my personal issues and was unaware that he was starting this venture. I have always been a deeply spiritual person and very sensitive to the Spirit. But I have never had a structured prayer life. It was always pretty sporadic. During my stay in the program, I had made a New Year's resolution to cut out a chunk of time every morning for prayer. Unbeknownst to me, at the time, Scott was starting the 100 Days of Pursuit. Upon my return home, (New Years Eve), the timing could not have been more perfect! God is so good! And I am still praying every morning!

The 100 Days of Pursuit has not only kick-started my morning prayers, but it has taught me that they don't have to be perfect and sound in structure. They have given me the courage to approach the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, with the deepest parts of my heart. Not only that, but they have helped to shape and grow my intercessory prayers as well. Along with cultivating a healthy prayer life, this Pursuit has impacted my life so much, that I have stepped out in faith and trust to rejoin the workforce. I haven't worked in about 8 years.

Ever since 2016, when I stepped into Ren, and got saved, my life has been nestled in and around the bosom of the church, and with my church family. This Pursuit has given me the courage and resolve to step back out into the world! I pray to be a solid Ambassador for Christ. Thank you Scott and my Ren family for giving me wings to fly...

Hillary + Isla Molengraff

Attending Ren since 2016

Oh what a year it has been!!!! Hillary and Isla have been making it through day by day! We have had ups and downs. The ups were that last summer we got to go back to Michigan (where our whole family lives) for an entire month which is not something we would have been able to do prior to COVID. And then the lows were that we didn't get to see our family at Christmas. But now that the vaccines are rolling out, we are eagerly awaiting spending time with our family again! Isla has been in person, in school since September and Hillary has been working from home since March of last year. It's been a wild ride but we are making the best of it.

Joe Schmitt

Attending Ren since 2016

Feel like I’ve been making it through. I miss being around friends and fellowship. I have been working at home since March 2020. I did meet an amazing and we are moving towards marriage. Seeking and trusting in God has become so much more real in this trying season. Looking forward for what is to come.

The Deubner Family - Derek, Diana, Jake & Olivia

Attending Ren since 2019

Our family is doing well. We are grateful for our health and that we’ve been able to spend so much time together over the past year due to full-time working from home and distance learning. That’s not to say there haven’t been challenges or times of discouragement, but we are thankful that God’s mercies are new every morning.

It seemed the news from this past year—the pandemic, racial injustice, natural disasters, political tensions, the list could go on—tried to make you despair, but one passage kept coming to mind:

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock. Isaiah 26:3-4 ESV

Whatever may be happening in this crazy world or our lives, we are thankful to know that God is in control and His promises are still true.

Chris & Nicole Waugh

Attending Ren since 2017

What a year to be newlyweds! We are doing well; however, cultivating a loving, healthy family life, leading Ren’s youth group and growing a new business have been challenges during such an unpredictable, often lonely year. Thank God for His steadfast love even when we are weak! The end of 2020 brought our biggest blessing of all — we are expecting a baby boy in August!

Kellie Karambizi

Attending Ren since 2019

Hey Ren family! Kellie Karambizi here. I'm just about 3 weeks away from my due date with our first baby, a boy! His name is Judah and we are so anxious to meet this little guy. I've been working from home since last March when the world shut down, which has turned out to be a huge blessing in pregnancy. David and I are doing well, just preparing to be parents and looking forward to having some family members visit and help out. Prayers for a smooth/safe delivery and for adjusting to our new reality are always appreciated :) Miss you all and love you, Ren!

Stephanie Boeninger

Attending Ren since 2011

It's been a long and tiring year but we have been thankful for health, safety, and family time. Brian and I continue to teach at PC, mostly remotely, but occasionally in person, masked and distanced. We are very, very, very tired of Zoom (as are our students.)

Samuel and Micah are growing up fast. Both have been able to attend a small local pre-k/kindergarten program part time, which we have been so thankful for. Both boys are making friends, loving math and reading, and playing lots of card and board games together.

We can't wait to be back at Ren! I remember crying last year when I realized we couldn't go to church for Easter (though it was the right decision) and now it's a second Easter. We are thankful for the online services and especially for the hard work that Nate and Becky have done keeping all the kids engaged!

Rebecca & Patrick Westfall

Attending Ren since 2012 / 2016

We’re doing pretty well. Patrick is continuing to work with guys getting out of prison with OpenDoors, and I (Rebecca) am happily working from home vs making the 3x/week trek to Boston. Our families are well. Though it’s harder for Patrick in particular to feel as connected w online church, etc - I’m continuing to regularly gather w our small group and have no problem continuing virtual church for as long as we need. Though we of course would prefer to get together in person and miss the Ren community and serving our neighborhood. We have no problems wearing masks and staying socially distant!! Personally it’s been a year of self reflection and growth particularly in racial reconciliation and deeper connection to social justice issues. I loved hearing from the Be the Bridge group today, as I’ve also learned a lot from Latasha Morrison, and still have so much to learn. When it comes to things like Black Lives Matter and more direct social justice issues, I wish our church would be much bolder in support of all of this vs what I see as sometimes walking the line of “both sides” and false equivalencies w what the larger church in America seems concerned w, which is sad and a distraction and in conflict w what Jesus taught and the Bible lays out. I could be wrong, but in my humblest of opinions, think greed, white nationalism, and the Church’s role in support of systemic racism and capitalism are the biggest problems facing America today vs a yearn for yesteryear, fake worries about “cancel culture,” and taking a blind eye to justice. But we’re here, we love Ren, Scott, and our community and neighborhood, I think/hope/am-pretty-sure there’s roles for me and my husband and our lean-leaning perspectives :) within our community, and we want to help however I can.