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Our local Singles Ministry in the South Sound Church of Christ is amazing. They are a tight family-knit group with deep relationships, strong convictions, and a passion for the kingdom of God. Each of our members in the Singles Ministry is awesome in their own way, and Natalie Dow is one of the many talented women in this group. Right off the bat, her faith, energy, and spirit of encouragement is radiant and luminous to those around her. She recently celebrated her 3^rd year as a disciple of Jesus on March 19^th. When asked how she would describe her relationship with God, she replied, “There are no words to express it, really. All I know is that God is very patient with me and his willingness to sacrifice His Son and wait for us is amazing and encouraging.”

Growing up, Natalie was an All-American girl. She played Tennis for high school and Washington State University (WSU), participated in school clubs and organizations, and also applied herself in ROTC for a few years at WSU. She also was raised Lutheran, went to a Baptist High School, and graduated from Washington State University. Although she was familiar with religion, she questioned her faith, who God was, and what it meant to have a strong and deep relationship with Him. It wasn’t until Natalie attended a 2-year Nursing Program after graduation that she started to earnestly seek after a relationship with God and to get her questions answered.

When she studied the Bible with the women in the Spokane Christian Church, Natalie said that she remembered feeling like she was living for the first time. Through the studies, she overcame her struggles and learned humility, to trust in God and His plan for her life, and be vulnerable with the women around her. After some time Natalie became comfortable with her surroundings and life in Spokane, but God had other plans for Natalie. After completing her nursing program, she started to look for job positions in Washington. Her passion has always been to work in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) with babies, and the perfect position was open in Tacoma. Moving to Tacoma was a huge turning point for Natalie, but remembering what she learned in Spokane about humility, trust, and vulnerability she was able, with the help of the Singles Ministry in Tacoma, to make a smooth transition to her new home.

It’s been a little over a year and a half now since Natalie moved to Tacoma and in such a short time she has made such an impact and added value to our Singles Ministry and church. She has many dreams and visions that she would like to accomplish as a disciple. She aspires to one day serve as a Kids Kingdom Ministry Coordinator and serve as well in a church planting, hopefully in Pullman to help others like her at WSU. Natalie currently works the night position in the NICU Department at Tacoma General Hospital and volunteers to coordinate the Blood Mobile Drive, with Cascade Regional Services, for our church members.   

Transformations – Corrine Moore

By Naomi Wallace

He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.

Isaiah 40:11

“Servant, grateful, gentle mother, strong and passionate” are common words that describe one of our amazing sisters in the South Sound Church of Christ, Corrine Moore. She is a single mom with a 13-year old son, named Roger. Although the statistics of single parent homes in the United States are disheartening, Corrine doesn’t identify or allow the numbers to label who she is as a single mom. According to Custodial Mothers and Fathers and Their Child Support: 2005, which was released by the U.S. Census Bureau in August 2007, there are approximately 13.6 million single parents in the United States today. Of the 13.6 million single parents, 84% of them are custodial mothers. Of these mothers, 79% are employed, and 56% of them raise one child. Many of these single parents do not choose to be single, but due to their life circumstances they end up raising their children alone.

When Corrine looks back on her past, she remembers being challenged in her life at an early age; starting with witnessing her mother and father separate and choose which child each should get. She was decided to stay with her mom, and her twin brother with her father. Soon after she graduated high school, she left home and met Roger’s dad. At the time, she believed him to be her knight and shining armor, but after living with him her dream became her nightmare of abuse, loud arguments, and suffering from a low self-esteem and self-worth. It wasn’t until she gave birth to Roger that she sought help from the Lord. And a year later, He answered her prayers in providing a spiritual friendship with Jeanette Kemp who worked with her during the night shift at Tacoma Lutheran Nursing Home.

Corrine immediately soaked up the church fellowship, sermons, answered prayers, high accountability, and the multiculturalism among the members. She was baptized on August 2^nd, 1998. Ever since then, she has constantly served the church and those around her because of her gratitude towards God for “saving” her life. She is most certainly thankful that God’s family became her own family since there was a familial absence from her relatives. A few names she mentioned that she is fond of were: the Shockley’s, Markieta Marks, Lisa Rucks, and the women who studied with her; Jeanette Kemp and Debra Jones.  With their friendship and accountability, she believes is a better mom, friend, and sister in Christ because of them.

Markieta Marks, one of her dearest friends, says this of Corrine’s life and faith: “When I first met Corrine, she didn’t have the desire to dream.  She is a dreamer now.  The things I admire about Corrine is her commitment to God and receiving input from people in all walks of life about her life and raising her son.  She never gives the excuse of people not understanding, but values their knowledge.  Whatever she accomplishes, an answered prayer or even encouraging news, she gives all the credit to God, not desiring any of the credit, and shares it with anyone willing to listen.  Her life is an open book, a quality that carries her closely with her relationship with God and her friends.  Through her ups and downs, she stays committed to her faith and encouraging others.  She has been an incredible example to her teen son, who has turned out to be a child that many would love to have as their own!”

Although being a single mom is challenging, Corrine is very positive about her experience. God’s generosity has led her to believe with all her heart that she has been provided for and taken care of throughout the years. Since the day he was born, she has prayed that Roger would have the best life possible and not to be a statistic of a fatherless child or be limited of a natural family structure. She hopes that one day Roger will also choose to love God and to build a deep and personal relationship with Him.

Corrine is an amazing mom and sister in Christ. Her son, Roger will says it best, “My mom is very supportive. When I tell her anything, like what I want to do in my life, she has always supported me and doesn’t tell me what I can and can’t do. She is also fun! We cook together, and she always helps me when I cook something and shows me the right way to do things. I hope that my mom gets a great job and succeeds in her career; the massage field.” You are right, Roger. You do have a fantastic mom!

For the high school student, Joseph Sarabia, yesterday’s President’s Day wasn’t only a great day because he got a day out of school, but more importantly because he was baptized into Christ.  Joe is a junior at Olympic High School in Bremerton and is a young man of great character.  With more than 50 people in attendance at his baptism, Joe and his parents (disciples Lorena and Ernie Sarabia) thanked God and all the disciples of the South Sound Church esp. those in the Kitsap Ministry whose love and support allowed such a great miracle to take in their family.  People shed tears of joy and told Joe how much they respected his decision to become a disciple of Jesus.

Joe & Lorena - a happy day for mom!

Erika Martin shines as a teen!

Erika Martin is known to always have a smile on her face and her joy to be insurmountable. Her bubbly personality lights up any room she enters and is a great friend to many in her high school and church family. I am personally grateful to know her and am so proud to see how she has grown in her maturity and faith as a disciple of Jesus in just a couple years.

Erika is currently a senior at Curtis High School and will graduate with amazing accomplishments. Not only is she an honor roll student in her class, she also has an ability to balance her other extracurricular activities well. She has served as Captain for the school’s cross country and track team for 2 years, and won high standings individually and as a team member in League, District, and State Championship in Cross Country and Track.  She placed 12th in the 2008 Washington State cross county championships, and recently received a medal at the 2008 Junior Olympics.  She is currently being recruited by several Division 1 colleges to run cross country.  However, her biggest accomplishment though was not achieved in school however, but in her personal relationship with God.

It was shortly after the annual Northwest Youth Camp in 2005 when Erika realized that she wasn’t fulfilled by everything that she had already accomplished in life. At such a young age, Erika had the popularity, the high academic grades, and being the “golden child” in her family, but she was inspired by the faith of others at camp and knew she was missing something; a purpose in her relationship with God. While growing up around the church, Erika knew who God was, but hadn’t made decisions to completely devote her life to His word and His purpose in her life. After studying the bible and growing in her character, she was transformed into a new creation in August of 2006 at Titlow Beach Park in Tacoma.

Since her baptism, Erika has strived to be an example of faith and righteousness for her siblings and friends at school. Her heart for others is well-known by her friends by being a great listener, energetic, and giving 100% in any assigned task. This last summer, Erika worked for HOPE worldwide as an AmeriCorps Intern for a little over a month to work in Philadelphia at a summer camp for elementary and pre-teens as well as Camp Miracles where she was trained in a one-on-one mentoring program working with inner-city youth from North  Philladelphia. There, Erika would say with a big smile that she built some of her deepest friendships and was thrilled to have made a difference in those kid’s lives in such a short time. She also came away with stronger convictions to meet the needs of others, especially in discipleship; being open to discipling and being able to disciple others. Anyone would tell you that “she came back as a different person” after Hope Youth Corps because she exuberated security, confidence, and maturity. Erika is an amazing teen in our church. Currently, she is unsure of where she will be attending college, but I’m sure that wherever she is, her efforts and heart in a campus ministry will bring glory to God!

Thanks to volunteers over 4,000 families were served on MLK day-09!

In partnership with the American Red Cross, Over 275 HOPE worldwide volunteers came together to distribute life-saving fire prevention materials and provided a community fair in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s legacy.  Volunteers canvassed throughout South King County region.  Door-hangers were distributed to more than 4,000 homes in the community and hundreds more people opened their doors to learn what they can do to protect their families and homes.  

In the afternoon, volunteers and local families gathered at the Southwest Seattle Boys & Girls Club to celebrate with a community fair sponsored by the Hope worldwide – Washington, American Red Cross Advanced Academics, and the Southwest Seattle Boys and Girls Club.  Mack and Zoe Strong were joined by Seattle Seahawks fullback Leonard Weaver, The Seahawks drum group Blue Thunder, Fox Sports Northwest sports analyst Jen Mueller and the Seagals to entertain and inspire the community. The theme of the day was “Dream Big. Think Safe. Get Prepared.” Members of the community had the opportunity to learn about disaster response, CPR and First Aid techniques, and history about Martin Luther King, Jr at various booths set up throughout the gym. 

HOPE worldwide – Washington would like to thank all those who gave their time and heart to serve the community, and a special thanks to the South Sound and Seattle Church of Christ for providing the majority of volunteers!  MLK Day ‘09 was an amazing success and we can all be sure that the people of South King County were truly impacted by our efforts.

To see a full slideshow of the MLK event, click here!