Testimonies
Renee Moore, Volunteer @ CS-Ministries - given on the 2nd day of June, 2017
While volunteering for some other ministries in 2015, God crossed my path with Gary Buckaloo and CS Ministries. I immediately had great respect for what this ministry was doing. God decided to end my assignment with the other ministries and had ordained my steps toward CS Ministries. I attended a ministry event where Gary ended up recruiting me as a volunteer. He basically told me I was signed on whether I wanted to be or not! LOL! But I’ve enjoyed every minute of my involvement as the Event Planner & Fundraising Coordinator. Aside from being a mother, I must say that it’s the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done.
My testimony is quite different than the others here as I have never served in the military. However, my brother, father & grandfather all served so I have a special place in my heart for Veterans. And I’m as patriotic a soul as you’ll probably ever find. I can’t relate to PTSD on a war trauma related level, but I have experienced a different kind of post-traumatic stress. My second child, Lizzy, had to be delivered 3 months prematurely at 2 ½ lbs. to save both our lives. She stayed in the NICU for 2 months. At about 10 days old, it was discovered that she might have Trisomy 21 Down Syndrome and tests confirmed a week later. For the next 3 years, Lizzy would have a lot of doctor visits and therapies. At age 3 she became very ill and remained ill for almost a month. After many sleepless nights and various testing, she was diagnosed with A.L.L.- Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. That, of course, was a devastating blow after all she had overcome by age 3. Lizzy had 2 ½ years of chemotherapy (yes, I said YEARS!), infections, hospital stays, missed birthdays & Christmases, etc., through all of which I was her caregiver. BUT, glory to God when it was all over, she was CANCER FREE and has remained so to this day!
All of the trials and stresses with having a special needs child and a major life-threatening illness took a huge toll on our family and Lizzy’s dad & I divorced in 2011. Devastations like that typically cause one of two reactions. You can rebel and wallow in the hurt and pain, OR, you can turn to God and let Him heal your pain on His terms in His timing. I made the choice to run and JUMP into Daddy God’s lap! I didn’t know what else TO do except let Him hold me, comfort me, refine me, transform me, and heal me. It took time, and it wasn’t easy, but it was the greatest thing I could’ve ever done for myself. I got counseling, went to every church service I could get to, went to Bible study classes, Divorce Care, read books, read scripture and prayed….A LOT! I can truly say that God has NEVER failed me or deserted me in any of these times in my life and has been faithful to heal and restore me. He has brought me to a place where I feel whole and complete in Him and so enjoy any opportunity to share His love with others and help perpetuate healing in them. All of the things that I have been through and been with my children through have brought me to the place I’m at today. As an old gospel song says, “I wouldn’t take nothin’ for my journey now!”. I wouldn’t want to go through those experiences again, but I wouldn’t take them back either. The pains of the past have strengthened me and prepared me for the future purposes that God has for me and I’m excited about that! And I’m excited to be a part of CS Ministries, using my gifts and experiences to help make a difference for the kingdom in the lives of others. I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve and pay God’s love forward!
Renee - CS Ministries Event Planner & Fundraising Coordinator
While volunteering for some other ministries in 2015, God crossed my path with Gary Buckaloo and CS Ministries. I immediately had great respect for what this ministry was doing. God decided to end my assignment with the other ministries and had ordained my steps toward CS Ministries. I attended a ministry event where Gary ended up recruiting me as a volunteer. He basically told me I was signed on whether I wanted to be or not! LOL! But I’ve enjoyed every minute of my involvement as the Event Planner & Fundraising Coordinator. Aside from being a mother, I must say that it’s the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done.
My testimony is quite different than the others here as I have never served in the military. However, my brother, father & grandfather all served so I have a special place in my heart for Veterans. And I’m as patriotic a soul as you’ll probably ever find. I can’t relate to PTSD on a war trauma related level, but I have experienced a different kind of post-traumatic stress. My second child, Lizzy, had to be delivered 3 months prematurely at 2 ½ lbs. to save both our lives. She stayed in the NICU for 2 months. At about 10 days old, it was discovered that she might have Trisomy 21 Down Syndrome and tests confirmed a week later. For the next 3 years, Lizzy would have a lot of doctor visits and therapies. At age 3 she became very ill and remained ill for almost a month. After many sleepless nights and various testing, she was diagnosed with A.L.L.- Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. That, of course, was a devastating blow after all she had overcome by age 3. Lizzy had 2 ½ years of chemotherapy (yes, I said YEARS!), infections, hospital stays, missed birthdays & Christmases, etc., through all of which I was her caregiver. BUT, glory to God when it was all over, she was CANCER FREE and has remained so to this day!
All of the trials and stresses with having a special needs child and a major life-threatening illness took a huge toll on our family and Lizzy’s dad & I divorced in 2011. Devastations like that typically cause one of two reactions. You can rebel and wallow in the hurt and pain, OR, you can turn to God and let Him heal your pain on His terms in His timing. I made the choice to run and JUMP into Daddy God’s lap! I didn’t know what else TO do except let Him hold me, comfort me, refine me, transform me, and heal me. It took time, and it wasn’t easy, but it was the greatest thing I could’ve ever done for myself. I got counseling, went to every church service I could get to, went to Bible study classes, Divorce Care, read books, read scripture and prayed….A LOT! I can truly say that God has NEVER failed me or deserted me in any of these times in my life and has been faithful to heal and restore me. He has brought me to a place where I feel whole and complete in Him and so enjoy any opportunity to share His love with others and help perpetuate healing in them. All of the things that I have been through and been with my children through have brought me to the place I’m at today. As an old gospel song says, “I wouldn’t take nothin’ for my journey now!”. I wouldn’t want to go through those experiences again, but I wouldn’t take them back either. The pains of the past have strengthened me and prepared me for the future purposes that God has for me and I’m excited about that! And I’m excited to be a part of CS Ministries, using my gifts and experiences to help make a difference for the kingdom in the lives of others. I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve and pay God’s love forward!
Renee - CS Ministries Event Planner & Fundraising Coordinator
John Adam Wilson, SGT. - given on the 14th day of March, 2017.
"You are making a big difference to these guys that really need the help and can’t get it otherwise. Keep up the good work man. Looking forward to having many more guys from CS-Ministries. Thanks so much."
US ARMY Combat Veteran
Program Director
Refuge Trauma & Counseling Center
Website: www.refugetraumacenter.com
Office - 936-648-5379
"You are making a big difference to these guys that really need the help and can’t get it otherwise. Keep up the good work man. Looking forward to having many more guys from CS-Ministries. Thanks so much."
US ARMY Combat Veteran
Program Director
Refuge Trauma & Counseling Center
Website: www.refugetraumacenter.com
Office - 936-648-5379
Brian - given the 23rd day of February, 2017.
"I enlisted at a very young age to get out of a bad situation, I served proudly, I loved the Navy and the Navy loved me. I worked until I bled, my sweat stained the deck. I learned the temperate of the sea...I went to war. I wasn't the same when I came home, I wonder if I didn't join so young that my still forming mind impressionable and naive didn't have my future drastically changed as a result of it. I think I was seeking security from too many "shots over the bow" I found my self in homosexuality with a million good reasons to be there. you see regardless of how I intended my life to turn out, without the power of Jesus that was the trajectory of "my lot in life". bad things happened, and here I find my self a result of my situation.
I randomly met a pastor who gave me a card and walked with me as much as I would allow him to, he wasn't scared of me when most macho men were. He didn't condom me, and didn't ask me to change without offering solutions. Jesus made sure Mr. Gary's path and mine crossed one day, he was a sailor same as me and played a very significant role in my life in getting me cleaned up and restoring me to God. I was very far from God not because I intended it, but because "that's where the waves tossed me" in looking back and talking about the God I have come to know in my personal experiences in life, all I can say it He's a God of great-faithfulness and He's true to His word. I'm living a Christ centered lifestyle today, I can finally sing all those old hymns and actually mean every word. "great is thy faithfulness" God made sure, I finally made it home, and I can't stop praising Him."
A Thankful Sailor,
AT3 Trapp
"I enlisted at a very young age to get out of a bad situation, I served proudly, I loved the Navy and the Navy loved me. I worked until I bled, my sweat stained the deck. I learned the temperate of the sea...I went to war. I wasn't the same when I came home, I wonder if I didn't join so young that my still forming mind impressionable and naive didn't have my future drastically changed as a result of it. I think I was seeking security from too many "shots over the bow" I found my self in homosexuality with a million good reasons to be there. you see regardless of how I intended my life to turn out, without the power of Jesus that was the trajectory of "my lot in life". bad things happened, and here I find my self a result of my situation.
I randomly met a pastor who gave me a card and walked with me as much as I would allow him to, he wasn't scared of me when most macho men were. He didn't condom me, and didn't ask me to change without offering solutions. Jesus made sure Mr. Gary's path and mine crossed one day, he was a sailor same as me and played a very significant role in my life in getting me cleaned up and restoring me to God. I was very far from God not because I intended it, but because "that's where the waves tossed me" in looking back and talking about the God I have come to know in my personal experiences in life, all I can say it He's a God of great-faithfulness and He's true to His word. I'm living a Christ centered lifestyle today, I can finally sing all those old hymns and actually mean every word. "great is thy faithfulness" God made sure, I finally made it home, and I can't stop praising Him."
A Thankful Sailor,
AT3 Trapp
Shad - given on the 17th day of November, 2015.
"In June of 2014 I started going through a divorce process with my wife that I did not want. In order to cope with the situation, I began using alcohol and drugs to mask my pain. By September of 2014, I was headed on a downward spiral that would have only a short list of outcomes: homelessness, jail, or death. I lost my job with NOV in January of 2015, and basically became homeless thereafter. It wasn’t long before I found myself near death and in the ER. It was at this point that I decided to get help through a place called Healing Hands Ranch beginning in February 2015. Through God’s Grace and mercy I was given another chance at living a life that he would have me lead. When I was well enough to get back to the workforce around May, I found myself having a hard time becoming gainfully employed because my skills reside in the oilfield and there just weren’t many jobs to be had. By July I was not only frustrated, but worried about not being able to find a job yet. CS Ministries brought me in and gave me a job even when they didn’t really have the funds to do so. I got to do my QC/CWI work and reacquaint myself with a career field that suits my skill set. I was able to log hours towards my PT and MT Level II certifications. It gave me an opportunity to get back on my feet and obtain a vehicle, and most importantly, it allowed me to be a part of a Christian organization and environment that is not the norm in the business world. Through time, patience, and trusting God’s plan, I have been restored to my old QC position with my former company Weatherford. I fully believe that through God, Calvary Steel and CS Ministries gave me my life and my career back and I will be forever grateful."
Shad
"In June of 2014 I started going through a divorce process with my wife that I did not want. In order to cope with the situation, I began using alcohol and drugs to mask my pain. By September of 2014, I was headed on a downward spiral that would have only a short list of outcomes: homelessness, jail, or death. I lost my job with NOV in January of 2015, and basically became homeless thereafter. It wasn’t long before I found myself near death and in the ER. It was at this point that I decided to get help through a place called Healing Hands Ranch beginning in February 2015. Through God’s Grace and mercy I was given another chance at living a life that he would have me lead. When I was well enough to get back to the workforce around May, I found myself having a hard time becoming gainfully employed because my skills reside in the oilfield and there just weren’t many jobs to be had. By July I was not only frustrated, but worried about not being able to find a job yet. CS Ministries brought me in and gave me a job even when they didn’t really have the funds to do so. I got to do my QC/CWI work and reacquaint myself with a career field that suits my skill set. I was able to log hours towards my PT and MT Level II certifications. It gave me an opportunity to get back on my feet and obtain a vehicle, and most importantly, it allowed me to be a part of a Christian organization and environment that is not the norm in the business world. Through time, patience, and trusting God’s plan, I have been restored to my old QC position with my former company Weatherford. I fully believe that through God, Calvary Steel and CS Ministries gave me my life and my career back and I will be forever grateful."
Shad
Jason - given on the 9th day of May, 2015.
“I am Jason and I've been blessed to be associated with Calvary Steel since they opened the door to me and in doing so, open the doors for me to the outside world. Calvary gave me a job when a lot of other businesses wouldn't give me a chance. I have a bad past. No company is perfect, but the people who work for Calvary have a strong bond and a shared belief. They all pull together to help one another and give support when one is down."
Grasshopper
“I am Jason and I've been blessed to be associated with Calvary Steel since they opened the door to me and in doing so, open the doors for me to the outside world. Calvary gave me a job when a lot of other businesses wouldn't give me a chance. I have a bad past. No company is perfect, but the people who work for Calvary have a strong bond and a shared belief. They all pull together to help one another and give support when one is down."
Grasshopper
Dean - given on the 29th day of April, 2015.
"I had been working for a small shop .... I myself had been a drug addict in my past and in 2001 found myself in prison for manufacture of a controlled substance. I spent a year in TDC, the whole time spent in God’s word and rehabilitating my physical and mental bodies....
Through God’s grace and a lot of hard work, my life turned around.
... my wife and I had prayed for Calvary Steel to open up a position for me. Within 2 hours of our prayer, Calvary called me and I have been here ever since. With my background and my testimony, I feel that I could help others in the same boat. I know that God put me here for a reason and I do have so much to give back.”
Dean B.
"I had been working for a small shop .... I myself had been a drug addict in my past and in 2001 found myself in prison for manufacture of a controlled substance. I spent a year in TDC, the whole time spent in God’s word and rehabilitating my physical and mental bodies....
Through God’s grace and a lot of hard work, my life turned around.
... my wife and I had prayed for Calvary Steel to open up a position for me. Within 2 hours of our prayer, Calvary called me and I have been here ever since. With my background and my testimony, I feel that I could help others in the same boat. I know that God put me here for a reason and I do have so much to give back.”
Dean B.