Posted February 9, 2003

About a year ago, I walked up to Jesica Averhart at church, who was standing next to her mother. Rhonda Sigg was visiting a service. Rhonda quickly told me that she was moving to Cincinnati. Under her breath, Jesica said, “It’s only a matter of time now,” and gave me a wink. Rhonda thought Jesica meant until she moved all her things to Cincinnati – but WE know what Jesica really meant! After 4 ½ years of praying that her mother would become a disciple, that prayer was richly answered on December 15, 2002. Growing up as a single mom, Rhonda remembers thinking church just wasn’t that important for her or Jesica. Rhonda had been so independent – 8 ½ years in the military, raising a child all by herself, working hard and being completely self-sufficient. When Jesica got baptized, Rhonda was there, but thought the church was just some “corporate religion” – she thought it was weird that people carried brief cases and feared it was political. She began to persecute Jesica when Jesica asked Lou, her boyfriend, to move out until they could be married. Lou and Jesica had been boyfriend and girlfriend for quite a while and had been living together when initially invited to church. It was a defining time for Jesica in her faith, since Rhonda didn’t initially want them living together, but then when Lou moved out, that was bad too! It showed Jesica just how much her Mom needed God. Jesica knew that only God could change her Mom, and she continued praying. The longer Rhonda came out to church, the more her friendships deepened with people and she saw their hearts. After a few months, a sermon really stressed the issue of studying the bible – and Rhonda decided to go for it. When asked about her biggest hurdle, she says it was forgiveness. She continued to learn how to open up and be more understanding of other’s points of view, and how to just accept things as they have happened. What impacted Rhonda the most was the cross study. As she learned what Jesus physically went through, reading through a medical account of the crucifixion (which is told through the eyes of a physician,) it really changed her heart. Rhonda’s advice to anyone who is struggling with forgiveness? Write a letter to the person who hurt you and then let go of the feelings of bitterness. Think about what Jesus went through to forgive us, and you’ll forgive someone else. Jesica is so grateful for all the changes in her Mom. She says the biggest change is in their ability to communicate now on such a deeper level. As a teen, and into college and later, their discussions were always difficult. Now, they can talk about anything! It used to be Rhonda shutting down, saying, “I can’t talk about that”. But now, they talk about quiet times, God, anything. Jesica says, “It’s great, yet weird! She’s a totally different person in my life, but it’s been the greatest adjustment ever.” Jesica says her Mom is so chilled out now - when she used to be so uptight before – now she is enjoying the fellowship, her new friendships, her love of God, and her family each and every day. Lou says the greatest thing he’s seen in Rhonda is her gratitude. She had such a grateful response to God’s word. She is serving now with so much heart, and has a deep motivation from within because of what God has done in her life. It’s so inspiring! Rhonda studied with Janet Burns, Sherri Ross and Kris Meade, among many others. Of Rhonda, Kris says, “Before I met Rhonda, I just knew she had to be wonderful because she is Jesica’s Mom, and a single Mom. Jesica had to get her precious heart from somewhere! As we studied, I saw a pure heart in Rhonda, which God had been preparing. She wanted to know the truth, she read the bible daily and consistently, and as things in her life came up, she quickly began to change before our eyes. Rhonda is like a child – fresh in her perspectives and gleeful as she experiences the joys of God’s kingdom”. I laugh when I think back a year ago and am so encouraged by Jesica’s faith that it was just a matter of time until her Mom came around. Rhonda is such an integral part of the kingdom now – her serving heart, her loving fellowship and the way she mothers all of us is so special and needed. Now when I see Rhonda in fellowship, I walk up and say “Hi Mama!” She has adopted us all, and we are much richer for having her!