Portraits of Grace: Gary (2 of 2)

Portraits of Grace is a snapshot into the lives of the people at King's Cross Church. As "kingdom minded, kingdom people," we recognize God's work in every detail of our lives. We invite you to meet the people of our church.

When I married Lisa, I don’t ever really remember discussing the specifics of how many kids we wanted and I don’t even think she knew how much it meant to me to be a father one day. As we approached our 30’s, we were already married a few years and thought it ‘was time for us’ to finally start a family, as if it was OUR decision to miraculously produce a child. As God would have it, we actually tried conceiving for about 5 years before we turned to modern medical science. Unfortunately, we were clinically diagnosed with unknown infertility (which is about 30% of all infertility cases). We persevered and prayed and trusted God – some of the times. Other times, we doubted, argued and were discouraged through multiple failed fertility treatments and we’d go on long vacations to ease and counter the disappointment. But through it all we trusted that God would have His Way…

In the Spring of 2013. God blessed us with a beautiful and healthy baby girl! We were elated and grateful for all the answered prayers. Not just our prayers, but the prayers of our friends and family who so lovingly went to their knees to join us in prayer. Avery Joia was not just a gift to Lisa & me, but an answered prayer and miracle for our whole community! She will always be a reminder of how God promises to bless us in HIS time and not ‘our time.’ Now, I wish we could say that after that amazing miracle, that we never doubted God from that day on, but alas we are sinful creatures and still struggle to appreciate God’s blessing. But as we prayed for Avery to have a sibling, our faithful God has once again come through and blessed us with a 2nd child due this Spring 2017! Thank you, Jesus!