Episode 62: Christina Retief

Being shot at point-blank range in her stomach shortly after her wedding was not how Christina expected to start married life. But tragedy was not something that Christina was unfamiliar with. Nor was she unfamiliar with God’s incredible grace. Her story of coming to faith in Christ from a background of death, divorce and the traumatic stillbirth of her first child is one that highlights again and again God’s grace to us all. Listen to Christina and Taryn chat about Christina’s deep and joyful love of Christ and His work in and through her.

 

EPISODE NOTES:

 

 

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Born in Germany, Christina grew up with Christian values, but lived a God-less life. The death of her father in 1996 started her search for the meaning of life and death. A divorce in 2001, and the still-birth of her baby in 2002 brought her to her knees, crying out to God. In His great mercy, God brought people across her path who began to share the gospel with her. Her newfound joy in Jesus drew her to YWAM and her journey found her in South Africa where she began to study theology through a reformed evangelical lens at George Whitefield College in Cape Town, South Africa, met and married her husband, Bruce and now, together they are adoptive parents to 14-year-old twin boys. Together they serve and are served in the Christ Church, Hermanus church family.

 

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

 

Arise - https://arisefamily.org/ 

Ywam - https://ywam.org/ 

Gwc - https://www.gwc.ac.za/ 

REACH SA - http://reachsa.org.za/ 

The Sandwich Guys, Hermanus - https://www.facebook.com/sandwichguyshermanus 

I am Second - https://www.iamsecond.com/ 

One for Israel - https://www.oneforisrael.org/

    

SHOW SNIPPETS:

 

"I saw this light and instantly my tears subsided, my fear was gone. I just had this overwhelming sense of peace and belonging."

"I really investigated hard to find answers and nothing could satisfy my thirst for this truth."

"Seeking truth, seeking answers to these big questions." 

"I knew my baby had died. It was such a desperate moment. I was completely empty. 11 June 2002, I delivered a dead baby. My life was shattered. "

"I went home without a baby. Such emptiness. Because all my hope was in this child." 

"My trust was in material things." 

"I cried out to God - I want to get to know you!"

"Share the hope that we have in Christ."

"When I was lying there waiting for the ambulance and the police, I just thought, you know Lord you have a plan because I’m still here."

"She taught me to not ask God why but to ask Him to teach me."

"Let’s be available."

 

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The Lydia Project: Conversations with Christian Women is a podcast co-hosted by Tori Walker and Taryn Hayes. It features informal chats with Christian women around faith, life, ministry and the ways in which God is shaping their thinking and their lives. The views of TLP guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the hosts.