Christine’s passion for flying took off at 16 and has never left her. In fact, she even helped build an airplane that’s proudly displayed inside the Illinois aviation museum in Bolingbrook.

Christine shares, “The joy of flying, you get into the cockpit. You have all these instruments that you have to watch You are up in the sky. You are above everything. It's just amazing.”

Christine’s life took a turn in 2005 when she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, yet her passion for aviation never wavered. She continued teaching high school students specialty trades like engine repair, staying connected to aviation. Despite a stable salary, she lived with constant fear of financial instability.

Christine recalls, “I was always concerned about how soon, what I needed at the end, what it would cost, what things would do. I mean, I was usually a saver, but I always felt there wasn't enough.

Christine continued working. She worried about her financial future and struggled trusting God with her finances.

Christine says, “Handing situations over to God wasn't always easy for me. Always gave at Christmas time, you always gave, at Easter time, you went to church. I started to ask, God, now what, where do I do? What happens if I don't have this job? How am I gonna afford things?”

Then one day, she turned on the 700 Club and heard a message that shifted her perspective.

Christine remembers, “I heard Gordon say that this is the one time that God says, test me. That, hit me. And I thought, I have to look that up. I have to see if that's so. And I saw that it does say test me. So I did. I decided to start giving 10%.

She says at first, giving 10% of her income felt scary, nevertheless, Christine held on to her faith and saw God provide in unexpected ways. 

Christine says, “First I thought, oh my goodness, this is a lot of money. I'm gonna miss this. But I didn't because I was able to afford the things I still wanted to do. How is this happening that I'm giving more money, yet I'm still able to afford things that come up?”

Soon, Christine’s savings grew beyond her expectations. By 2016, she was able to put down $30,000 on her mother’s condo. She also had enough to retire early – trusting God to take care of the rest.

Christine shares, “I don’t have those concerns about money. I was able to get a retirement bonus. And that helped put that in, into a savings account which was of course security.”

In 2023, Christine paid off her mortgage. Then, she sold her mother’s condo for nearly double its value. She continues to tithe and give generously, supporting ministries like CBN and Operation
Blessing.

Christine says, “Helping with the hurricanes and now the fires in California, what my little amount that I give goes so much further by giving it to these places that work out at CBN Operation Blessing, the Orphans Promise. It's just, it's a beautiful thing.”

Christine never imagined that trusting God with her finances would bring so much peace. Today, she encourages others to step out in faith and give also.

Christine shares, “Not having to worry about money is a relief. Try to tithe, try to give that 10% to God. Because ever since I did, I haven’t had worries about finances. God’s taken care of it. Just give back to God because He gives so much.”

Psalm 41:1 says, “Blessed is he who considers the poor; the LORD will deliver Him in time of trouble.” When you partner with CBN, you do more than just give to the poor. You provide hope and the love of Christ through life-giving surgeries, food and clothing programs, humanitarian aid, and so much more! Become a CBN partner, and help transform lives in the name of Jesus Christ! Join us now!

10-year-old Kervis was born with a congenital condition called torticollis, where neck muscles are shortened and contracted to one side. Kervis’ head has been severely bent towards his left shoulder since birth. He currently lives with his Aunt after his mom asked for help raising the boy. They live in Honduras. “I would like for my neck to be straight someday,” Kervis told us. “It’s embarrassing to me because other kids have necks that are straight.”  

As he grew, his neck became more tilted and twisted. The condition was so bad that it affected his perception and caused him to fall when he ran.  Sometimes he even lost balance when he was standing still or walking His Aunt Sindy worries about how much he’s missing out on. 

“He likes soccer, but he can't play because he easily stumbles and falls,” said Sindy. “So, I restricted him from playing.  I explained to him that he could get seriously hurt.” 

“Sometimes I fall, and I also get cramps in my back,” added Kervis.

One day, Kervis overheard a child call him a ‘son of the devil’ because of his appearance.

“When I look in the mirror, I wish my neck was normal,” he said with tears in his eyes. 

Sindy supports Kervis by doing laundry, but resources are limited, and she can't afford to pay for surgery to repair the damaged muscles.  “When we took him to the doctor, he said the surgery would cost 8-thousand dollars!” said Siney. “I said, ‘How are we going to get that kind of money?’"  

When Operation Blessing learned about Kervis and his neck condition, YOU made it possible for him to receive surgery to repair the muscles in his neck.  “Now my neck is straight!” declared Kervis. “I can play with my friends and I can sleep well! I returned to school, and I am very happy.”  

Operation Blessing came to us by the work of God, they showed up and everything went fast. I am thankful,” said Sindy. 

“Thanks to the people who help Operation Blessing. I love you very much and bless you.  I pray for you every day!” added Kervis.
 

What a beautiful example of how CBN partners share the love of Jesus around the world with people in need! If you’re not yet a partner, we invite you to join us today. Help bring God’s love through initiatives like clean water wells, medical missions, feeding programs, and so much more—all in the name of Jesus! Join us today and become a part of what God’s doing through CBN partners. 

So much has changed in the past fifty years for Bill and Joann Brookhart. One thing that hasn’t is’ their commitment to tithing.

“God blessed us, you know? I mean it’s obvious,” says Bill

“The Lord has been faithful in so many wonderful ways,” remarks Joann.

Both have many stories of God’s faithfulness. In 1972, Joann was a single mom struggling to raise two boys on a shoestring budget with no money in the bank.

She says, “I was working at a grocery store as a clerk, and that really made it rough to be able to pay rent and feed my kids and pay for anything that was needed. The fear was almost crippling.”

During this time, she committed her life to Christ and to giving.

“I wanted to be obedient because obedience is better than sacrifice,” Joann says.  “I started tithing and it was scary. It was like drawing a line in the sand. Am I going to believe God or not? Do I trust him?”

Trusting and tithing wasn’t always easy, especially when things started breaking down.

Joann says, “I had a clock that I really liked. It broke down. I had a stove that broke down so I couldn't cook. My car began to make funny noises and I had to be to work every day. I needed that car. The full 10% was scary because I had to be sure that that came out first. You know, ‘Is what I've got left gonna make it?’, and it always did. It took me a while to really trust the Lord with it, to be able to write that check without fear.”

She continues, “So, I took my car to a shop and it was the hose that was loose. Cost me nothing! I had a friend bring me a stove to replace my broken one. Then, my clock started working again, and I still have it and it still works!”

Then Joann met Bill, who also loved the Lord. There was something else they needed to agree on before they tied the knot.

“I wanted it to be something he wanted and he did,” says Joann. “It was what sealed the deal for me because I’d heard a pastor preach one time that if God has a man’s wallet, he has his heart.”

After they married in 1975, they continued to tithe. By the end of six years, Bill’s salary had tripled. That same year the couple sold their house for double what they paid for it. That allowed them the financial freedom for Bill to build a new home mortgage free.

“It was nice to be debt free. We didn’t have to worry about house payment,” he says.

Bill’s earnings from his engineering consulting business steadily increased over the years. By the time he retired in 2006, his income had grown by 800% - nine times greater than when he began tithing. Today, after tithing and giving to various ministries, the Brookhart’s live comfortably and have no debt. They have tithed together faithfully for more than 50 years and never stopped.

“I wish I would've trusted him sooner,” laughs Joann. “But you can trust God. You really can trust him.”
 

Psalm 41:1 says, “Blessed is he who considers the poor; the LORD will deliver Him in time of trouble.” When you partner with CBN, you do more than just give to the poor. You provide hope and the love of Christ through life-giving surgeries, food and clothing programs, humanitarian aid, and so much more! Become a CBN partner, and help transform lives in the name of Jesus Christ! Join us now!

“I called him ‘Little Cutie,’ his mother says.  “His hands were so small, as soft as cotton.”  

“Xiangrong was like a seed of hope in my heart,”  his father declares.  “After he was born, I chose the best fruit tree in our orchard and carved his name and birthdate on it, hoping he’d grow-up strong like that tree.”

Then, just a month later, Xiangrong started struggling to breathe.

“His face turned red, then white.  His throat made a whooshing sound, and he was drenched with sweat,” Mrs. Bai recalls.  

Doctors found a hole in his heart, which was obstructing his blood flow and keeping his lungs from working right. 

“The news struck us like a lightning bolt,” exclaims Mrs. Bai.  

Within two months, the hole had doubled in size, making Xiangrong weaker than ever.  Doctors said he needed surgery right away. 

“His disease progressed faster than we thought it would, and we didn't have enough money for surgery, so we had to take him home,” Mr. Bai shares.  “I looked at Xiangrong lying in my wife's arms, and I vowed that I would work hard to get him surgery.”

Severe pneumonia landed him back in the hospital.

Mrs. Bai weeps, “Time was running out for Xiangrong.”

Mr. Bai adds, “If we brought him home again, we knew he wouldn’t live long.  My heart felt like it had been cut by a knife.  I was so ashamed that I broke my promise to save my son.  All hope was gone.”  

“I went into the hallway to cry,” remembers Mrs. Bai.  “A doctor saw me, and I admitted we didn’t have money for surgery.”

The doctor told Mrs. Bai about Operation Blessing, and you helped Xiangrong get the surgery he needed.

“We were so excited that our baby would live.  It was like fireworks lighting up our sky,” exclaim Mr. Bai.  

Mrs. Bai says, “Operation Blessing volunteers prayed for us and asked Jesus to keep our baby healthy and safe.  Their prayers gave me peace.  Now Xiangrong has a good appetite and is growing.  I’m grateful to Operation Blessing donors and to Jesus.”

“Now when we take Xiangrong to the orchard, he’s always smiling and reaching for fruit.  Thanks to you, he’s healthy and strong,” concludes Mr. Bai.  “I even found a new tree and carved the date of Xiangrong’s surgery and ‘Operation Blessing’ on it.  We will never forget what you did.”
 

What a beautiful example of how CBN partners share the love of Jesus around the world with people in need! If you’re not yet a partner, we invite you to join us today. Help bring God’s love through initiatives like clean water wells, medical missions, feeding programs, and so much more—all in the name of Jesus! Join us today and become a part of what God’s doing through CBN partners.