Testimonies

...When I was in 4th grade my family and I moved to Wyoming.  Let me tell you that being a cop's kid in a small town is no picnic but throw in someone who is outspoken and opinionated and not afraid to make them known - I didn't have a very good life.  I was hated and picked on the whole 4 years that I lived there.  It was hard because those are the years when your self esteem is being formed.  When we finally moved back to MN, it started all over in the Jr. high that I went to.  This time things weren't quite as bad. 

My Jr. year of college I met a guy.  This was a guy who didn't fit the standards I had set for myself, but I didn't care. He paid attention to me and that was enough for me.  A couple of months after we started dating, he raped me.  At that point I felt that I was ruined and it didn't matter anymore, so I stayed with him.  It was then that I began to harden my heart toward God.  A couple of months later I found out that I was pregnant.  I was always one of the first people to judge others when that happened to them, and I swore that it would never happen to me.  I grew up in a Christian home and even attended a Christian college, and I knew that I had disappointed my parents.  It wasn't until my son was born that I started to turn back to God.  I knew that I needed him.  I had to learn to forgive myself and my new husband for the past.  I also thought I had forgiven the kids in the past who hurt me so bad.

In 2000, I had just had my third baby when my husband, who was upset about something, threw our 2 1/2 year old across the room.  I knew then that was the beginning of the end.  I knew that I put up with a lot, but I had to protect my children.  We started counseling, and I thought that things were going well.  I found out that he was cheating on me and that was the real reason he got mad and hurt our son.  He was supposed to see this woman, and I needed him to babysit.  Once again I was willing to try and work things out because I loved him or so I thought.  You see that is what a destroyed self esteem is like.  You always put yourself last and don't think you deserve any better.  My husband refused to stop seeing this woman, so we eventually got a divorce.

The biggest series of trials in my life came in 2001.  I was eating dinner after getting the boys fed and ready for bed when my 7 year old came and told me that our 3 year old had started a big fire.  He received 2nd degree burns on his hand and arm but was spared any further pain.  My house was a total loss.  We got out with the clothes on our backs and our lives.  God used the church, my son's school and even complete strangers in Wal-mart to bless us.  When I purchased a new house, it was furnished totally by what others had given us.  In August of that year my son who was almost 2 got extremely sick.  He got an infection in his blood and had a fever of 106 degrees for a week.  I couldn't sleep because he wasn't hospitalized, and I had to stay awake and make sure that he didn't die.  Due to the fact that I got run down, two weeks later I got extremely sick and found out that I had viral meningitis.  I was in and out of the hospital/ER probably ten times.  On my last visit to the ER, my mother came with the hospital social worker; they told me that my ex had committed suicide.  It was also my youngest son's second birthday.  I had to go home with the worst headache of my life and tell my sons that their dad had died.  Thankfully, I had my pastor and some of the elders of the church, my parents, and my siblings there for support.

In 2002, I started seeing a different guy who I had known as a friend for 5 years.  I thought that he would be a good dad and husband, but I was wrong.  I found out that he married me only for my money and for someone to babysit his kids, so he could get high on prescription drugs.  He ended up stealing over $30,000 from me, and he was still married to someone else when he married me.

I thought that over time I had worked out my issues with all of the things that I went through.  But when I went to the women's conference in the spring and heard Ellie and Kathy and Sally talk, God started to talk to me and tell me that there is more to deal with.  Sally said to reach down deep and deal with things and hear God so that we can leave a legacy that is good.  It was then that I realized that I am not dirt, and I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  God loves me flaws and all, and I am His.  He is all that I need.  I finally forgave all of the kids and people who have hurt me, and I am not listening to the devil when he tells me that I am a failure and don't deserve the best.  I know that if I am to leave a legacy that is good, all I need is God.  I am learning to really listen to God.  But most of all I have answered God's call when He asked who will go.  I said send me.  I am in the process of starting a single parent's group in my church so that I can help other people realize all that God has for them and that He is all that they need.  I have adopted Jeremiah 29:11 as my life verse: "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  I know that my future is in God's hands, and He will do with it what He pleases.  I can't wait to see where He is leading me.

...PK, I was very touched by your sharing...but what really touched my heart was your message to post-abortion women.  I am a post-abortin woman, more fortunate than most.  Through much counseling, years of grieving, prayer and the grace of God, I've come to a lot of peace with taking away my first child's life.  Recently as a participant in a program...at my church, I was prayed through being able to forgive myself after 34 years.  I'm not done yet...but I know God has called me to minister to post-abortion women sometime later.  Thank you so much for sharing from your heart and passing on a legacy message to all those women that healing and peace is possible from such a devasting event.

...The Legacy Conference demonstrated the Real Church, reaching powerfully beyond the scope of the Institutional Church.  Women can walk into the fullness of what God intends for them without obstacles, without distractions, without religious strings attached - and to see them live life to the fullest in Christ.  Bridging the Gap speaks with grace but also fervor and excitement, presenting strong, biblically-sound truths to a lost and dying world who desperately need Him.

...Sally Morgenthaler demonstrated authentic leadership, from a sometimes messy, but real and relatable life, bringing in a netfull the four walls of "Church" have often missed.  I sampled the crowd by sitting amongst various participants and heard the a-ha moments of many over simple and beautiful truths.  I realized the conference was reaching many who have not absorbed the basics before.

...I saw Bridging the Gap successfully bring denominations together to a work worthy of the God we serve and worth our lifetime of service.  Incorporating local churches with relational resolve, leading leaders, the Legacy Conference became something greater than any one entity and reflects the oneness God intended.

Women were moved to be:

Bold in their faith; not spiritual wimps

Instead of victims; to be victors

Instead of faded and unpicked; blooming and ripe

Instead of busy and rushed; refreshed and focused

Prized and chosen to BE the Church

Leaving a legacy of exemplifying Christ

... Congratulations on a spectacular Women's conference!!! I think that it was one of the best ever!! What a great line up of speakers and the theme was spectacular. God did a great work and I am grateful that you put your heart and soul into it every year.

... P.K., I just want to say "AMEN!" to your assesment  of the the conference.  The depth of what each of the main speakers said  was so relevent.  Thank you, Bridging the Gap!  What a  weekend!

... I thought that it was a conference that could rival any!  Each plenary speaker was so great!  I came away with so much to think about and to pray about how to implement in my life.  I laughed, I cried, I was challenged to remember, to dream, to believe in that dream and to live it.

... Thank you so much for letting me be a part of the Legacy Conference. I had been looking forward to it for such a long time, and can't remember a concert more soaked in prayer for me personally than that one. I have heard many positive comments from women at our church, and other women that attended. - Sara Groves

... Just a quick note to let you know that I thought that the conference this past weekend was over the top – incredible – fantastic – awesome – stupendous and totally wonderful.   You are totally amazing to pull something like this off.   Thanks for all your work and for all the women you touch and inspire!

... I just want to say the conference was GREAT! It was such a blessing to be there, the speakers were anointed and powerful, the message was what many of us women needed to hear... I know we left the conference with a new and renewed desire to continue to serve God with everything we have (even though it might not be much) and we all know that God spoke to us and to our hearts. It's great to be able to leave a conference like that with an assurance and conviction that God has spoken directly to you - and that is what we felt. So, thank you.

... Another successful year! 

... I just wanted to say thank you for a great weekend!  I went with a group of about 12 friends and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves!  The marketplace luncheon was so well done, and Connie did a fabulous job communicating how important it is to be open and obedient to what Christ is speaking, even in the workplace.  Kathy Tricolli and Ellie Lafaro were so inspirational in their example of their own “best friendship” as well as their individual passions in search of TRUTH!  I could go on and on...

... The conference was great - I am still hearing good things from the people in our church that went.  They enjoyed it immensely. 

... Thank you for all of your hard work to make the conference such a success.  All the ladies from my church couldn’t say enough about the weekend.

... I got a letter on Sunday morning from a lady that I kinda pushed to go and the week prior she would say to me. I better have fun this better be good... and I had been praying for her for a long time. She gives me this letter that says how thankful she was that she went. God broke walls that she had in her life. She had fun and God touched her at the same time... we had lots of  incredible testimonies!

... My thank you's are infinite for the great weekend.

...Thank you for a great conference. We had a good time. The women who
came with me are determined to help me get more people involved next
year.

... The intercession room was great! Women were praying the entire conference.  At many points, there were intercessors just weeping for women in attendance. 

... I loved hearing comments as I walked through the commons area at Grace, the location itself gave women a feeling of freedom, the space in the commons area was so very inviting and relaxing. 

... I thought that Kathy, Sally and Ellie were all great.  They crossed all dividing lines of age and status.  Ellie is a gifted orator and is so solid for the mature crowd and yet holds the younger crowd with her wit.  Sally was so right on for the post-modern generation!  She moved me so deeply regarding living out the dreams that God plants in our hearts as little girls!  It reminded me to dream with my daughters!  Kathy was so great on so many levels.  I'm sure that many could relate to the pain of the bullimia and depression and singleness.  She showed us God's faithfulness!

... The facilities were great!  Everything was so classy and well-run. 

... Thank you sooooooooo much for another GREAT conference!!! God really worked in our lives and I'm still hearing about it!! You all worked so hard and long THANK YOU - WE LOVED IT!!

... Thanks so much for a wonderful conference. It was so well organized and so uplifting. I really appreciate all your efforts to make this a meaningful experience for so many women.

... It was a tremendous event in the kingdom and we were honored to be a part of it.

... What a great conference!

... It was a fantastic weekend and everyone I know was truly blessed. How can we ever thank you enough for this first class conference? Thank you , thank you, thank you. Everyone of the speakers, worship team, prayer team, concerts were outstanding. I came away with so much and feeling so full. It has been so exciting to hear and share with the group of women that I know about the weekend. They LOVED IT!!!

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