The Christian Chronicle (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 76, No. 1, Ed. 1 Tuesday, January 1, 2019 Page: 18 of 35
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CURRENTS
18 JANUARY 2019
THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE 19
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Church puts a spotlight on ‘Everyday Saints
Voices
Jennifer Gerhardt
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PHOTOS BY CHRIS REYNOLDS
John Schneider is known for the
encouraging calls he makes.
At the Round Rock Church of
Christ, where my husband, Justin,
preaches, we recently began a sermon
series called “Everyday Saints.” As
part of the series, Chris Reynolds shot
portraits of members in the style of
saint icons. The portraits have been
up in our building, and we’ve pushed
them out online with accompanying
captions describing the way each
person is being made holy by God.
The response has been incredible.
First, we intentionally picked people
who wouldn’t necessarily describe
themselves as saints. Once we
persuaded them to participate, the
shoots themselves were so moving.
People cried. We prayed over each
person and thanked God for what he
was doing in their lives. Then, seeing
the images — it was such a powerful
moment. I’ve received messages from
several of the participants telling me
how they see themselves differently
JENNIFER GERHARDT is the storytelling minister
for the Round Rock Church of Christ. Her most
recent book is "Swallowed Up: A Story About How
My Brother Died. And I Didn't."
now, thanks to this experience.
Our church has been receptive to the
images in a way I couldn’t have antici-
pated. They’re sharing them on social
media, spending 20 minutes after
church reading the captions and medi-
tating. It’s been beautiful.
I
3
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Jim Flemmons
Jim Flemmons has been a Round Rock church fixture for a long
time, his laughter ringing across the foyer most Sundays, his
tenor voice leading in worship. In recent years, he has battled
cancer, problems with his immune system and unexpected
treatment complications. But his laughter still rings across the
foyer. He still sings. His hope and joy lie in what comes next.
Danielle Arnold
Balancing family and a high-stress career isn't easy, but Danielle
Arnold does her best — and asks God to make her best enough.
As a doctor, Arnold is often on call, perennially available to her
patients, ever interrupted by their needs. She can feel stretched
too thin sometimes. But she keeps showing up at the Round
Rock church, doing good work, helping and healing.
Natalie Norbut
When Natalie Norbut heard the story of the Ethiopian eunuch,
she told her parents that she wanted to be baptized, too.
Just like that. She said she wanted to be close to God and
wanted to get rid of everything standing between her and
him. Natalie is young, but that doesn't mean she's not a saint.
Natalie loves to worship and writes her own songs of praise.
Brenda Dodd
When Brenda Dodd moved to Round Rock, her condition was
dire. Her health was declining, and her relationship with her
children was strained. If she didn't get clean, she'd likely die. So
she moved in with her daughter and committed to sobriety —
attending Celebration Recovery meetings, welcoming therapy
and getting plugged in with the Round Rock church.
ROUND ROCK,Texas
j l ,l—i i | hen we think of saints,
I 1 i j J we think of people like
W ■■ V the apostles: St Peter
■■■■ or St John. We think of
■■ ■■ St Francis of Assisi and
- f • , his vow of poverty or St
Teresa of Calcutta and her devotion to
the sick and poor in India. We think of
people who are extra holy, more holy
than we are or ever will be.
But that’s not the way the Bible
Natalie Bogue and her children
Sometimes taking care of a family — managing chaos, maintaining routine, getting the kids to school
and volleyball practice and baseball and youth group, shopping for school supplies and getting stains
out of shirts — seems ordinary. But when done with patience and love, intention and wisdom, daily
tasks are transformed into sacred rites. Natalie Bogue first came to the Round Rock church when her
older daughter attended the preschool program. She decided then that she wanted Jesus to be at the
center of her family. Ever since, she's committed to motherhood as a holy vocation.
talks about saints.
In Scripture, all
followers of Christ
are called saints, liter-
ally “the set apart” or
“the holy ones.” To
choose Christ is to
choose to be a saint.
Clothed in his righ-
teousness, washed
in his blood, we are
made and are being made holy.
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Tryggestad, Erik. The Christian Chronicle (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 76, No. 1, Ed. 1 Tuesday, January 1, 2019, newspaper, January 1, 2019; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1509397/m1/18/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Abilene Christian University Library.