In July, Heather visited her family for the first time in 20 years, and her 6-year-old son, Kaiden, finally met the family. Amazingly, Cru Storylines played a role in arranging the reunion.

Last week, we joined Cru staff members around the world for one of Cru’s twice-a-year days of prayer. It brought to mind how Heather’s connection to our publication started. Three years ago, Anne Marie and I were in Pennsylvania. As Cru’s day of prayer overlapped with our trip, we joined several Philadelphia-area staff members for the day. We met Brad Daubenspeck, who told us about Heather.

She was separated from her family and visited a Bible study that Brad’s wife, Kim, was part of. Heather, a single mother, needed help. She needed to work and wanted to find someone who would watch Kaiden, then a month old. Kim volunteered. The Daubenspecks became Heather’s family in the Philadelphia area. They even invited her to move in with them.

When I  told the Cru Storylines editorial team about the story, we agreed that it might belong in our publication. Sarah Wontorcik, an intern on our team, wrote the story. Due to COVID-19, there was a delay before photographer Ted Wilcox was able to visit to do his work.

We finally published the story, “Grace Without Conditions” (shown above), in our January issue this year. It told how the families met, how Heather came to faith in Jesus, and how she helped in Brad and Kim’s ministry. 

At the Cru staff conference this year, in line for coffee, Sarah met Brad and Kim. They excitedly told Sarah that Heather’s sister had found the online story. The sister contacted Kim on Facebook. The family had been looking for Heather for 20 years, wondering if she was still alive.

We often tell you about how our online communications ministries reach a large number of people. But those numbers represent real people who are being reconciled with God, just like Heather has begun to reconcile with her family.  

Thanks for the role you play in this ministry of reconciliation. We’re grateful for your prayers and generosity. Please keep praying for Anne Marie to find relief from her symptoms as she faces an autoimmune disease. She’s started a new, more aggressive treatment plan this month, and we continue trusting God for a return to good health.

— Sincerely in Christ, Mark, for the Winzes