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When the coronavirus hit Will County, Sara and Nick, along with their 11-year-old son Joseph, were working toward moving into a house. But Sara and Nick delayed those plans when Sara’s hours were cut and Nick was laid off. “I had thought, ‘Wow, it’s going to be hard to make ends meet,’” Sara said. “But we're keeping the faith, trusting God to do this thing. We kept believing it was OK and to just go with the flow. God has been good to us because we have no lack.” (Photo provided)
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In fact, a full-time job found Nick seemingly out of nowhere just as his unemployment ran out, Sara said. And so did a free Chevy trailblazer after Sara’s vehicle was damaged in a car accident back in May, she added. “My wife sprained her wrist,” Nick said. “My son dislocated his shoulder.” But other than that, “everyone was OK,” he added. Nick had been planning to purchase the trailblazer from a relative. But Nick delayed it when he could not afford to buy the license plates. Before the relative heard about the accident, the relative offered Nick the Chevy, he said. Another relative has helped pay some of the family's bills and rent, Nick said. “We’ve just been very blessed during this pandemic,” Nick said. Nick and Sara credit their church, New Covenant Worship Center in Joliet, with growing their strong faith. (Photo provided)
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Sara first heard about the church from a friend in 2018 and had met the pastor, Jonas Jones, at an event. That led Sara to visit the church and then volunteer for New Covenant’s laundry takeover event in 2018 at the Blue Kangaroo Laundromat in Joliet. Basically, the church paid for the washing and drying of any customer’s laundry until it spent $1,000. Sarah had offered to help out since she speaks Spanish. And then this past Saturday, Sara coordinated the church’s second laundry takeover. (Denise M)
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It just so happened Nick was there at the first event in 2018 washing his family’s laundry, his Saturday habit, he said. “Apostle Jonas introduced himself to me, and it just went from there,” Nick recalled. “I told him I was not in a church right now. And I told him, ‘I will see you Sunday. I will come by and visit.’” In this 2019 photo, Jones is pictured above with his wife Vinice Jones and their son Jonas Jones Jr. and his said. (Denise M)
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Sara had similar feelings. “I really wanted to go,” Sara said. “This really impacted my life. In my life, I had never seen a church or experience a church blessing the community and helping out.” Turns out, New Covenant was just what Sara needed. “It was a very trying time,” Sara said. “My father was in hospice. He had lung cancer. I was in a very emotional state. They were able to comfort me during that time, as well as wash my laundry. They touched every aspect of my life. The just showed love. My husband felt at home. I just felt the love of God. It was very comforting. I felt at peace.” (Photo provided)
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Nick said he felt the presence of the Holy Spirit during that very first visit. And Nick, who can be shy, Sara said, instantly made up his mind. “Right then, and in that moment, I decided to join with my family,” Nick said. Nick has since given his testimony that New Covenant videotaped and shared on social media. He’s enthusiastic about his spiritual growth and he feels the church’s classes helped with it. “They teach you the foundation of the gospel, how it all started,” Nick said. Nick also feels he’s grown in his relationship with God, too. “I’ve changed a lot,” Nick said. “I feel more humble, you know? It seems like I’ve found my peace again. No matter what situation it is, you know God always has your back and not to worry. Now about the job that seemingly came from nowhere. (Denise M)
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For two weeks, Nick had been stopping at a local grocery store a couple times a day to pick up boxes so the family could pack, he said. One Friday, Nick picked up a few groceries, too. A couple store employees noticed and asked Nick to meet them at the front of the store. Nick was a little anxious, wondering what he did wrong. The employees asked him if he was working. Nick told them he was out of work and was trying to buy a house. So they offered him a job, Nick said. But the job had a catch. Nick would most likely work 45 to 50 hours a week, he said. Nick was thrilled. “I said, ‘That’s exactly what I’m looking for,” Nick said. Nick said started the job on that Monday, three days later. For more information about New Covenant Worship Center, visit newcovncwc.com. (Denise M)