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Hope in the Midst of Suffering (Peter Scalzo – 2/22/19 – NCS New Canaan)

February 22, 2019 by NCS New Canaan 1 Comment

Peter Scalzo shares, with great vulnerability, how his 14-year cancer journey (which has included 15 surgeries, being told 6 times he has cancer, being told twice that he should make “end of life” preparations, and being told by the world’s top oncologists that he should not be alive) has been used by God as a tool of transformation and how it has been more of a spiritual and emotional trial than a physical one. Scalzo reveals that it was the reflections of a cancer widow that led him to consider the legacy he was leaving his children–she told him that her husband “didn’t leave enough of himself behind”.

After considering his legacy, Scalzo wanted to leave his six children with the two key ingredients that have allowed him to find hope in his suffering–“surrender and trust”. In explaining what “surrender” and “trust” have come to mean to him, Scalzo reveals his conclusions that we are unable to control anything other than how we respond to our circumstances and that pain is an invitation to change.

Scalzo also shares, with incredible transparency, a “dark night of the soul” experience in 2015 when he spent four days in an ICU. He tells about the depths of his depression, fear, anger and sadness and, more importantly, how God showed up to reveal 23 truths that brought back hope and continue to allow him to face extraordinary circumstances with unimaginable peace.

NCS New England Regional Retreat 2018 – Doug Goulding – Keepin’ It Real 2 (Intro by Paul Michalski)

November 3, 2018 by NCS New Canaan Leave a Comment

The 2018 New Canaan Society New England Regional Retreat was held November 2-3 at Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort in Hancock, MA. The theme was “Community Changes Everything”. This is Doug Goulding’s “Keepin’ It Real” testimony shared on Saturday morning. Doug was introduced by his brudder Paul Michalski.

A God of Second Chances (Rev. Albert Ray Dancy – 10/19/18 – NCS New Canaan)

October 19, 2018 by NCS New Canaan Leave a Comment

Rev. Albert Ray Dancy shares with tremendous vulnerability a life story that proves beyond any doubt that we worship a God of second chances. Dancy tells how he went from a prisoner serving time for armed robbery to a prison chaplain. He transparently notes that while his role had changed, his heart had not been transformed. For the heart change to occur, Dancy had to experience a “dark night of the soul” in which he lost everything–including his home, marriage and children. He explains how he felt like a “beast”. Although he was back in prison, God sent hope through a prophetic word and then miraculously restored him to his marriage (which had been dissolved for seven years), his children and his home.

My Prison Years (Chip Skowron – 9/21/18 – NCS New Canaan)

September 21, 2018 by NCS New Canaan 2 Comments

With great humility and humor, Chip Skowron shares vulnerably and transparently about his transformative time in Federal prison and the impact of community on his experience. He describes how NCS fellowship brought him through the period leading up to prison, how God orchestrated extraordinary fellowship with his fellow inmates while he was there, and how NCS fellowship is helping him with the difficult transition of coming home. Chip also shares amazing stories about how the Holy Spirit moved within the prison and about some of the ways God exhibited His faithfulness time and time again by showing up miraculously at just the right times.

False Idols and Manufactured Identity (Chad Dreas – 6/1/18 – NCS New Canaan)

June 2, 2018 by NCS New Canaan Leave a Comment

The full title of Chad Drea’s talk is “False Idols and Manufactured Identity: How Drive, Hope and Success Almost Cost Me Everything”. With remarkable vulnerability, Chad reveals that his life mantra for many years was “suck it up”. It led to an achievement-driven and “successful” life and career– until he faced the prospect of a failure so devastating that he could no longer “suck it up”. Dreas explains what brought him back from the precipice of losing literally everything and how he came to find his identity in Jesus Christ rather than in achievements.

With equally remarkable humility and transparency, Chad shares how he began to look back on his life and recognize the extraordinary grace of God that was present at each stage and at each “achievement”. It is a story that takes great courage to tell; it is a story for every man and one that takes great courage for a listener to reflect upon honestly.

Below is a short video shown in connection with Chad’s talk to NCS New Canaan. It consists of clips on “identity” from Tim Keller’s Friday night keynote address at the 2015 NCS Washington Weekend. The full talk is available HERE.

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