Entrepreneur Finds Peace in Christ After Major Life Setbacks

Tom sat impatiently at one of his first Journey Group meetings, and at one point, he blurted out, “Are we going to get into some Scripture?”  His Irish roots contributed to his fiery personality, but mostly, the fire came from a deep desire to know Christ more intimately.  Tom had been on quite a journey already. A successful salesman and entrepreneur, Tom had been on top of the world.  He had the Country Club membership, the fancy cars, and the best seats at the best concerts.  He was also the life of every party.  He was fun-loving and fast-living.  Throughout his life, God had placed different people to speak into his life the deeper things about Faith.  He was raised in a strong Catholic family, but to him, faith was more of a ritual than a relationship.  In the midst of the “good life,” God started getting Tom’s attention. Nothing got his attention more than when his wife, Carol, had a seizure during lunch one afternoon.  They found out that she had brain cancer, and thus began one of the most challenging times of his life.  All of the sudden, nothing in life mattered more to him than getting Carol healthy.  Months of battles with doctors and hospitals ensued until God guided Tom to get help for Carol 1000 miles away.  Tom began to see that he was not alone in his battle. Carol got well, and Tom began to seek God like never before.  Old friends who had shared God with him came back around.  He was visiting churches, reading his Bible, longing for someone to disciple him.  That is when one of his old friends invited him on The Journey.  Tom found what he had longed for.  He found a personal, intimate relationship with Christ.  He began to see God’s fingerprints on every aspect of his life.  The scales fell from Tom’s eyes.  He started to see the joy of giving his resources away to help others.  As a matter of fact, when his Journey Guide’s wife was diagnosed with brain cancer, Tom and Carol immediately went into action, walking beside them through every step, even taking care of their travel expenses to get them to the best care available.  They were moving with The Spirit. Tom became one of the biggest advocates of The Journey.  He lived outside of town on some acreage, and he had a large detached garage which he called his Barn.  It was his Man Cave, with all his memorabilia from all of his life’s adventures.  Where at one time it was more of a Party Barn, it became a Journey gathering spot.  The joy and the buzz Tom received seeing men pour their hearts out for God in his Barn far surpassed any party he’d ever experienced.  He started reaching out to his neighbors and nearly every man he encountered.  He had tasted the power of God, and he wanted others to get a taste. Then, the economic Depression of 2009 hit and Tom’s business suffered greatly.  He headed into a financial storm that is just now starting to calm down.  He could not pay his bills, especially his mortgage, and he ran the risk of losing his home.  He had always been the self-sufficient, successful guy who took care of everybody.  He was the giver, the one people would come to when they needed help.  In The Journey, he learned he had the spiritual gift of Giving.  So, for him to be so financially desperate was heartbreaking to him.  Many times, he asked God, “Why?!”  God delivered he and Carol through cancer, but He was not helping deliver them from this financial pit.  A battle was raging within him, and he struggled to take his thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ.  Thoughts of suicide entered his brain more than once. Through it all, Tom was seeking the Lord.  He was in the Word.  He was Journaling.  He was still leading Journey Groups.  He was fighting.  God kept bringing Journey brothers around him to encourage him and pray for him.  At one point, he was getting on a Southwest flight, only to realize Rocky Fleming was on the same plane.  It was yet another sign to Tom that he was not alone.  He and Carol joined a Couple’s Journey Group and at the 2nd Prayer Retreat at their home, Tom asked a Journey brother to baptize him in the pond behind his house.  It was a very special moment. A few years ago at his Couple’s Journey Commencement, Tom met the owners of a Retreat location.  It was a beautiful ranch located in a valley, tucked away from the world, one hour from the nearest big city.  Tom fell in love with the place, and he fell in love with the owners and their story.  Sam and Stacy had been on their own spiritual journey, with their own financial struggles.  God had done many miracles to give them the desires of their heart, a retreat in the woods where people could get away to meet God.  They were living by faith, asking God to provide for their needs, as they tried to follow His vision for their Ranch.  Tom began visiting the Ranch often, as it became a place of refuge for him.  He helped Sam and Stacy work around the Ranch, and he tried to help them promote it to investors and others who could help them. Miraculously, Tom’s mortgage company worked with him for three years while he could not make a payment.  Though financially, things looked dismal, God and Journey Brothers continued to sustain Tom and his family and his business.  A few months ago, Tom was finally forced to short- sell his home.  It was hard to let go, but Tom saw God’s hand, even in the sale of the house.  He was looking for a rent house, when Sam called him from the Ranch.  Sam had just bought some land adjacent to the Ranch 2 weeks prior, and it had a small home on it.  The miraculous thing was Sam really did not need the extra space but felt lead by God to purchase it. Sam asked Tom and Carol if they would be interested in renting it. Tom had often mentioned that someday he would build a house at the Ranch.  Though he had envisioned a large log cabin retirement home, God gave him the desires of his heart nevertheless.  He has gotten rid of most of his possessions, and he and Carol are living the most simple, humble life they have ever lived.  Tom, who for so long lived such a fast-pace life, is slowing down and appreciating God’s creation and His handiwork in life.  Tom has learned the joy of Godliness with contentment.  There is more to be written in Tom’s story for sure, but Tom is at peace today.  They have just started a new Journey Group at the Ranch, and Tom can’t wait to join them.