Jeff maples' story
I grew up in New Berlin in a household where Jesus wasn’t necessarily the number one focus. I went to church long enough to get confirmed but that was about it. After confirmation I had the choice to go and usually chose not to.
One thing about God that really stuck with me is that He is everywhere. Because of this, I really didn’t think it was real important for me to go to an actual church building. This resulted in me going to church pretty much just for weddings and funerals. As the head of my household I unfortunately passed on this mistaken notion to my wife and kids too.
One thing about God that really stuck with me is that He is everywhere. Because of this, I really didn’t think it was real important for me to go to an actual church building. This resulted in me going to church pretty much just for weddings and funerals. As the head of my household I unfortunately passed on this mistaken notion to my wife and kids too.
This all suddenly changed on February 27th, 2011. On that morning I woke up with a feeling I can best describe as a firecracker going off in my stomach. God wanted my attention and He clearly made it known to me. I had an overwhelming desire to talk to and commune with Jesus - so I went to church.
For the next three years I did what I call “church shopping”. I did a lot of seeking and sampling but never committed anywhere. Looking back, I would have to say that this was probably intentional. I did draw closer to God at the time but I had no close ties at any particular church. This allowed me to go on sinning in my usual fashion.
On July 27th, 2014 I wrecked out on my motorbike. It would be twelve days before I came out of the coma I was in. All I could think about is that this crash was somehow punishment from my Heavenly Father.
This was another “firecracker going off in my stomach” moment. Just so you know, it isn’t easy to ignore a firecracker going off in your stomach. It will definitely lead you to take action! It became my mission in life to discover God’s purpose for me. It seemed kind of logical that I would probably discover this in a church.
My journey back to God was very humbling. My first day returning to church was no stroll in the park. It required a walker and help from my wife Jenny just to get into the door!
After the service I was standing in the commons area of the church and heard a gravelly voice say, “No it wasn’t Jesus”. Both this statement and the person saying it grabbed my full attention.
Bill Casey, the owner of the attention getting voice, was talking about a ministry that he heads up. The group is called Misfits for Jesus. I was immediately intrigued and wanted to know more. Who knows, maybe it’s because I’m a Misfit myself.
On August 27th, 2016, the Misfits were holding their 1st Annual FAITH FEST at Muskego Park. It was during this event that those two previous “firecracker in the stomach” moments finally began to make sense. As a matter of fact, it was actually 4 years and 6 months to the day since the first one. I hadn’t understood, until just a few months ago actually, that those uncomfortable feelings were actually God getting my attention to draw me into relationship with Him!
I was offered to be baptized that same day but refused. I didn’t feel worthy or “good enough” at that time. As usual, I was half right. I am not worthy or “good enough” to be in relationship with Jesus. But, by His Amazing Grace, He makes me worthy and “good enough”. Thank you Jesus! This awareness led me to ask to be baptized at the 2nd Annual Faith Fest on August 19th, 2017. I asked Bill Casey, “the voice” that God used to get my attention, to baptize me and he did!
For the next three years I did what I call “church shopping”. I did a lot of seeking and sampling but never committed anywhere. Looking back, I would have to say that this was probably intentional. I did draw closer to God at the time but I had no close ties at any particular church. This allowed me to go on sinning in my usual fashion.
On July 27th, 2014 I wrecked out on my motorbike. It would be twelve days before I came out of the coma I was in. All I could think about is that this crash was somehow punishment from my Heavenly Father.
This was another “firecracker going off in my stomach” moment. Just so you know, it isn’t easy to ignore a firecracker going off in your stomach. It will definitely lead you to take action! It became my mission in life to discover God’s purpose for me. It seemed kind of logical that I would probably discover this in a church.
My journey back to God was very humbling. My first day returning to church was no stroll in the park. It required a walker and help from my wife Jenny just to get into the door!
After the service I was standing in the commons area of the church and heard a gravelly voice say, “No it wasn’t Jesus”. Both this statement and the person saying it grabbed my full attention.
Bill Casey, the owner of the attention getting voice, was talking about a ministry that he heads up. The group is called Misfits for Jesus. I was immediately intrigued and wanted to know more. Who knows, maybe it’s because I’m a Misfit myself.
On August 27th, 2016, the Misfits were holding their 1st Annual FAITH FEST at Muskego Park. It was during this event that those two previous “firecracker in the stomach” moments finally began to make sense. As a matter of fact, it was actually 4 years and 6 months to the day since the first one. I hadn’t understood, until just a few months ago actually, that those uncomfortable feelings were actually God getting my attention to draw me into relationship with Him!
I was offered to be baptized that same day but refused. I didn’t feel worthy or “good enough” at that time. As usual, I was half right. I am not worthy or “good enough” to be in relationship with Jesus. But, by His Amazing Grace, He makes me worthy and “good enough”. Thank you Jesus! This awareness led me to ask to be baptized at the 2nd Annual Faith Fest on August 19th, 2017. I asked Bill Casey, “the voice” that God used to get my attention, to baptize me and he did!
So that brings me to today. You might ask, “Why on Earth would you volunteer to ride 1,000 miles in less than 24 hours to raise $5,000 for young people in Nicaragua”? It’s really quite simple. I am so grateful for what Jesus has done in my life that I want to pass it along to others. I have discovered that my greatest purpose is to “Be Like Jesus”. Jesus is a giver so that is what I want to be. Jesus made sacrifices. So will I.
Here is another little “God Moment” in my journey. Remember me telling you about going to the 1st Annual Faith Fest back in 2016? Well another thing happened that day.
I was in the parking lot when a guy walked out there to get on his motorbike. We struck up a conversation. During that conversation he told me that he was going to ride a dual-sport motorcycle from Dallas, Texas to Managua, Nicaragua in in early 2017. It was a fundraiser to build a Wisconsin Youth Sports Complex in Pocochuape, Nicaragua. I thought that was a really cool thing to do so I reached into my pocket and gave him all the cash I had.
Yes, you guessed it! This is the same guy I will be riding with on this Iron Butt 1000 ride. Bruce approached me a few weeks ago and asked if I would be interested in helping him to finish his mission. How could I say anything besides, “Yes, I’m all in for Jesus”! Please click on the attached link if you want to help me to achieve our God-sized goal to build Wisconsin Youth Complex In Pocochuape, Nicaragua! Thank you so much!!!
Here is another little “God Moment” in my journey. Remember me telling you about going to the 1st Annual Faith Fest back in 2016? Well another thing happened that day.
I was in the parking lot when a guy walked out there to get on his motorbike. We struck up a conversation. During that conversation he told me that he was going to ride a dual-sport motorcycle from Dallas, Texas to Managua, Nicaragua in in early 2017. It was a fundraiser to build a Wisconsin Youth Sports Complex in Pocochuape, Nicaragua. I thought that was a really cool thing to do so I reached into my pocket and gave him all the cash I had.
Yes, you guessed it! This is the same guy I will be riding with on this Iron Butt 1000 ride. Bruce approached me a few weeks ago and asked if I would be interested in helping him to finish his mission. How could I say anything besides, “Yes, I’m all in for Jesus”! Please click on the attached link if you want to help me to achieve our God-sized goal to build Wisconsin Youth Complex In Pocochuape, Nicaragua! Thank you so much!!!