Share this article:

On a recent flight home from Virginia, I prayed that the Lord would seat me next to someone I could share the Gospel with. Once on the plane, a guy in his thirties with tattoos and a mohawk asked if he could sit next to me. We exchanged a few words, and he pulled a book out of his backpack. I asked what the title was, he said, Hyperion by Dan Simmons and told me how excited he was about locating it in a used bookstore. The lady in front of us turned around and said, "I love that book!" I prayed and was reminded of the power of asking questions. Thank you, Pastors Trey, Shohei and Tim for teaching that great class on Evangelism, such a great reminder, and so timely!

It was time to buckle our seatbelts and we settled into reading our books. Mine was on Evangelism, and as I read, I prayed, asking for direction. The Lord put it on my heart to give him one of the New Testaments I carry with me. I felt the engines pull back, so I put my book away and noticed that he was not reading but pondering with disappointment. I asked him how his book was; he said, it was just a lot of people telling their stories. Then I offered him a book I had with a lot of stories in it. He asked who the author was, and I said "God'.



The conversation opened as he told me he had a book of Psalms by his bed and that his father was a Methodist minister. He said, "I don't know why, but I have this turmoil in my heart." Then came a boldness that is unusual for me, and I said, "that is Satan trying to keep you from Jesus". I proceeded to share the Gospel with him and as his eyes became wide like saucers, I knew he had heard the Gospel in the depths of his heart.

Connect with Us:

May 30, 2025
Matt shared his testimony with the members and attendees of The Orchard Arlington Heights, and how he has seen God work throughout his life. My name is Matt and I grew up here at this church. I accepted Jesus Christ into my heart on the first day of second grade but I never really thought more about Jesus until my sophomore year of high school when Pastor Brad gave me a book on theology. With that book I grew to understand more of who Jesus is and what he had done. Unfortunately, that only lasted until I went away to college. 
May 16, 2025
Vince shared with the staff at The Orchard Itasca how God has been moving in his life, and how Vince's life has been turned around through faithful obedience. Coming to The Orchard Itasca has been one of the biggest blessings in my life. Pastors Ryan Potelicki and Ryan Coburn have been everything I’ve ever wanted in spiritual leaders and then some! Through them, God has really let Himself be known to me. Having grown up Catholic, becoming an atheist for 10 years, then rediscovering the Lord, the deep-dives into scripture during the sermons have been exactly what I felt was missing in my past. Ever since God led me to those doors on George Street in Itasca back on Mother's Day 2024, I went from reading my Bible because that’s what a “good Christian” is supposed to do, to now looking forward to
May 1, 2025
Irene Mosias, an American Ukrainian, is a shining example of faith in action. Using her unique skills and unwavering compassion, she has been orchestrating the delivery of both furniture and food to Ukrainian refugees affected by the devastating war. In her efforts, Irene seeks to extend the love of Jesus to those seeking asylum and safety from war-torn countries. Through her dedicated work, she reminds us all of the call to serve and care for those in need as Christ's hands and feet. Do you, or someone you know, have a SHINE story? Let us know!