After her mother died, Nuris held in her pain as she responded to her siblings' needs. Their father had stopped caring for them and Nuris did her best to raise them. She felt betrayed when her father married a much younger woman. All of the pain turned to bitterness that she guarded herself with like a shield.

When Nuris was invited to a Bible study, she let down her guard and went. There she heard the leader speak from Isaiah 53:4, "Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows." The words pierced straight to her heart—she was not alone! Someone knew her pain!

After her children complained about the way she was treating them, she realized she needed to do something to change. "That verse spoke directly to my heart," Nuris shares. Her bitterness had not allowed her to love her children as she should.

Nuris' husband Marvin had felt the desire to attend the new church planted through Multiplication Network Ministries but something held him back. Finally, he put aside his misgivings and attended the gathering with his wife. The Lord spoke to him as He had with his wife and Marvin committed his life to Jesus.

"I feel a marvelous change. Before I had problems with alcohol and women pursued me even though I was married but God has liberated me from my sin and has kept me from falling into temptation," Marvin says. He now leads his wife and three children in serving the Lord. Marvin's favorite verse is Philippians 4:13—he knows he can do all things through Jesus who gives him strength.

"My life has changed and I feel joyful," Nuris says. "Despite the trials I have, I know the grace of God is what sustains us. My husband is completely different after meeting the Lord and things have changed in my home as well."

God uses the Church to draw people to Himself. Marvin and Nuris receive spiritual direction and encouragement in their community because of the church that was planted there. Praise God that Marvin and Nuris' lives will never be the same.