When we arrived, we discovered one of the reasons for being there. The pastor, a sweet young man from Ireland named Mark, came into the church with a cane and explained in serious tones how there is some unexplained pain and swelling in his joints, and it’s really affecting his ability to walk well. He can’t see a specialist for over a month.  Also, his wife’s father is very sick and will be moving in with them soon. Meanwhile he has three very young children and they had just had one of those “family” mornings when it’s so hard to get everyone out the door to church.  Two-year old Leah, with her big beautiful eyes and cropped bangs, was running in between the pews. Kim said they were going to have four children until Leah came!

Later I mentioned to the pastor how sweet his wife looked holding someone else’s baby.  I smiled at him and said,  “Four is a nice round number.”

To which he answered, “Well, the number ‘three’ in Hebrew actually is translated “the number of children that Methodist pastors are supposed to have.”

He was hilarious. He was also very grateful for a morning that he didn’t have to preach, but could sit with his family and be ministered to. And I loved the fact that in spite of his pressing life circumstances, his joy was contagious and real.

Iris was sitting in front of me before church began.  I introduced myself and Julia and asked her how she was, since we had met her last year.  She said she had had a terrible backache that week, and that yesterday she was at the Laundromat and had dropped her change.

A woman watched her as she struggled to bend over and retrieve it, and that woman said to Iris ( who is a beautiful white-haired lady)  “Do you believe in prayer?”

Iris was surprised by the question but she answered, “Yes.”

The woman laid her hand on Iris’ back and prayed for healing right there in the Laundromat.

Iris said with to us with wide eyes,

“…and my back pain is gone!  Can you believe that?  A perfect stranger.  I mean, I didn’t know whether I should believe her to not, but it was a miracle. I had a miracle.”

Just a little conversation in an old Methodist church I East Palestine.  How ALIVE our Lord is, and working and loving in our midst.

Last night we had ministry at First Christian Church in Girard, which is not far from us.  This was one of the nights I look forward to each year!  The Shanower Trio (a father and his two grown sons) sang the harmonies on Body of Christ for the album 12 years ago, and we’ve been having a night of ministry together every couple of years. Their style is Southern Gospel and mostly very high energy, joyful songs!

So last night was a great blend, as always, of our very different genres, but the same God.  At the end of the evening they came up to the platform to sing the Body of Christ and I was between the two sons, while Dean, the father, was on the far side of our “quartet.”   Before the music started I said, “A rose between…!” and left the rest of the phrase for them to finish.  The people laughed, but then Brian, who was beside me, moved away from me to the other side of his dad, which brought the place to stitches. And those sweet people gave us a standing ovation at the end. It’s always a blessing to know we were a blessing.

A threesome was sitting behind us.  Julia and I talked with them for awhile before church and David told us he’s been going  to church there for over 83 years. His mother brought him when he was a baby, and he told us he’s painted the whole church three times. He said he’s done about everything in that church except lead worship.  Then he told us that the short wooden wall in front of the first pew we were sitting in was called a “modesty rail”.  His wife was funny.  She said “You never told me that in all these years.”   We felt privileged to get that little piece of information. It was designed to block those sitting on the platform from viewing the “legs” of the women sitting in that front pew.

At the end of the evening a woman came up to me and said that her daughter had heard Grandma’s Song almost two years ago and brought the CD home to her mom with such excitement.  This lady has 26 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren and writes in all of their letters “God is the only one who loves you more than I do.”   She told us that her daughter was “jumping up and down” when she shared it with her.  How sweet is that?

Keep us in prayer as we enter into some really busy weeks of ministry, and the joy of encountering more modern day heroes of our faith.  Jesus is alive and well in their lives, and we come away as the ones refreshed!  And if we’re heading to your church or gathering, see you there!!
Love
Tia

Kathy

Tia,

I know my children are older, but sometimes I put on the Lullaby cd just to change gears in the house.  With two lively boys, it can get very LOUD but within minutes of playing the cd, we are ALL much calmer and our hearts are more drawn to Him.  Thank you for the moments of His Peace we have in our home, due to the Lullaby cd.

love you,

Roseanne 

Dear Tia,

I am writing to let all parents know that your lullaby CD has been a special blessing to our family. The title song “Heaven Sent” has such precious lyrics,  and Tia your voice is so comforting and sweet, that my girls can’t help but to snuggle up to sweet dreams!  We’ve listened to the lullaby CD shortly after it was released, and continue to do so even though my youngest baby turns four tomorrow.  We have no plans of putting it away.  Our personal favorite “He Made Me your Mommy”  has the words every mommy longs to be reassured of….how Jesus personally chose you to be the mommy of your little one. I urge anyone who has a precious child to purchase this CD, you will cherish it !

Gina Holloway
Youngstown, Oh

I love this CD.. I have the very first lullaby cd that I used with my first two sons, I used it so much I wore the cd out! This cd is just as beautiful as the first and It will get so much use with my newest addition as well!!!!!

Mitzy Schwartz     mother of 3 boys

We believe that Tia Ciferno’s  CD “Heaven Sent” was truly written for our little one.  After many years of infertility we were blessed by our little one who was …”Heaven Sent.”  We have often played Tia’s music to remind us of His perfect timing.  All of her songs give us a peace that is beyond words. (Some of our favorites are …Heaven Sent, Body of Christ, Dedicated To You, Grandma’s Song.  I could go on and on how each song touches us in different ways.)  She is blessed with a gift that she uses to bless us!!

The Cristo’s of Warren

P.S.   Our daughter who is now 7 often asks to listen to the song that Tia sang at her Baptism!!

Tia,  
My children (And I) spent much time listening to Heaven Sent. It truly is 
annointed. Touched by the Master’s hands.

I have three little girls, ranging in age from three up to eight. 
Even at their “ripe old ages” they enjoy the Heaven Sent CD. And when 
it’s not in their player, I am requested upon to perform live 
rendering of Tia’s songs. My 5 year old said, “They make me feel 
quiet on the inside.” And after listening to the CD for quite some 
time, we were all surprised when God gave us “One More Baby”. Now all 
four of my little girls listen gladly. Thank you for the much needed 
ministry of peace to the homes of families with little ones.

On a side note: Alina’s 4th grade teacher had a stillborn baby a few 
years back. She happily got pregnant again this past year. And 
anxiously was waiting for her pregnancy and delivery to go smoothly 
and  without problems. Happily had a new baby girl last month. I saw 
her out shopping and she mentioned she saw my name on a CD she loves. 
She said she loved to listen to your CD, and it always calmed HER 
SPIRITS. I don’t know to to get ahold of her, but if I can, I’ll see 
if she can send you a testimony of her special instance.

Cami Neff   mother of 4 girls
Warren, OH
Dear Tia,
I am writing this note in support of your most beautiful work on the
Lullaby CD. As the manager of a busy OB unit, I would like to say that
purchasing your CD to give as a gift to our new mothers has been very
rewarding. Your uplifting songs have inspired both patients and staff in
sharing the miracle of birth. The CD has given us the opportunity to say
“how precious” life is and it is a living example of how we at HMHP support
our mission and values everyday. With that, we thank you for sharing your
gift of music with us and allowing us to spread goodness to the patients we
serve……
God Bless You,
sincerely,

Anna Marie Klejka RN, BSN
Manager Maternity and Pediatrics SJHC

Tia   I LOVE the CD Heaven Sent, we use this at the daycare that I work at and it not only soothes the children but also the teachers after a hectic morning. The children love it, they ask for that CD to be played everyday at rest time. 

In His Love,
Marlene Allen