Cornerstone Assembly of God

Peter's Story

Jesus is the Cornerstone of my life, but it wasn't always that way. I grew up in a rather large city in Germany near the sea. My sister is 14 years older than I am and took the role of a parent because my father died shortly after I was born. This fact of my childhood is important as (the way I see it now) my need for a father was a driving force in my search for the truth and for God. While growing up, I was exposed to the institutional elements of a big church. There was a two-year program for teenagers, followed by a graduation celebration as a "church adult" at age 15. It meant nothing to me at that time.

I was - and still am - on the one side a very analytical, thorough and detail oriented person, and on the other side, fairly emotional and sensitive. Combining these facets of my personality explains why I began taking college prep courses in the sciences but continued to feel uneasy about the quest for explaining the world and its meaning by pure logic and science.

When I was 16, I began dating a girl from the U.S. who had a Pentecostal upbringing. Her parents became role models to me. Her father gave me the scholarly and intellectual "food" I needed with respect to God's message to us, while her mother's genuine love towards others and me showed me "Jesus in action." It still took two years before I realized that Ican climb all the intellectual mountains in the world, but without Jesus I will go nowhere. I surrendered my heart to Jesus at the altar during an evening church service. It was the night before I was leaving for college.

While I realized that friends & relatives were nearby, I felt suddenly removed from the secular world and lonely in my newly blossoming faith.However, only a few weeks into my first school year I met another student who had recently become a Christian also! Needless to say, we have been best friends ever since. He was even the best man at my wedding. As for the young woman I dated and the parents I met, well she is now my spouse and they are my in-laws!

Becoming a Christian changed me, of course. But in hind sight, it was not an earth shattering change of lifestyle. I had basically been a morally good person with no major vices (other than chocolate). Obviously I was not without sin, but I see my growth primarily through smaller changes in my everyday life that drew me closer to God.

Today - about 16 years after giving my life to Jesus - I struggle like so many of us do - with finding the time and discipline to make more time for God and what He wants to do with my life. My organized wanting to take control personality challenges me often as I attempt to make room for Jesus and give Him more control. He has given my wife and me a long-awaited miracle - our daughter Annika and our son Hendrick. We thank God for these blessings of His grace after a very long wait to have children!


I grew in my spiritual life at  Cornerstone. Over several years, I became more involved with the church and served as the Treasurer for many years. My involvement in a Lifegroup strengthened both my wife and me as we experienced deepening relationships with fellow believers, new depths in the Word of God, and sharing in a committed, caring Body as the New Testament describes. What is now important to me is that God's everlasting love is there for us every minute of our lives and is truly the answer to every question at every point in your -and my - walk of life.

Prologue: In 2007, Peter and his family relocated to Maine and are active in their new church family. While we miss them a lot, we rejoice that they are once again involved in ministry in this new setting. Peter serves on the board and Susan leads the Vacation Bible School and is involved in children’s ministries.

 

 

 

 

 

Men's Ministries is about Reaching, Teaching and Releasing men to grow to their full potential in Christ.

Discipleship Resources for Men

  • 2011 National Men’s Ministries Leadership Conference

    Organizing a pancake breakfast is easy – discipling men, not so much. That’s why the National Men’s Ministries Leadership Conference is so important! You will be equipped and resourced with the essential tools to help men grow in their walk with Christ. Plus, it’s your chance to get away for a guy’s road trip, network with some crazy cool dudes and learn from some of the nation’s most influential leaders.

  • Men's Ministries: The Mag

    The redesigned "Men's Ministries: The Mag" is a 48-page magazine with a three-fold focus: Life as a man; Life as a husband; Life as a father. Article titles include "Life in the Red Zone"; "When Faith Fade's"; "Thriving Through the Circumstances of Life"; "Family First - Kurt Warner"; "Value of Men Being Men"; "Power of a Praying Dad"; plus more...

    For more information, visit men.ag.org.