My name is Michael Root, and I go to Faith Heritage Church. How I became a member there is a long story. I knew the Solomon sisters from their father’s church, back in the day, Gethsemane Apostolic. I got really into it, so much so that I was a member of the choir.
Eventually I left that church and we parted ways. I got married to a girl named Stacey, had three children, all boys. One is a stepson, but I have always thought of him as a real son. My other sons are named Ethan and Logan. Ethan was…my heart. There are no words to describe how much I loved him. He looked just like me, I mean, we compared pictures of he and when we were kids and we looked just alike. Ethan had Autism, and that was why he was so special to me. I used to worry about what would happen him when he became an adult; would he be able to function as an adult, you know, care for himself and live a functional life? I was going to charge Logan with his care. I wanted Logan to watch out for him until the day he died. Ethan died at the age of three, in a bunk bed accident, on February 18th 2004 and my life fell apart.
Stacey and I eventually divorced and I moved to Everett where I lived with a friend. The whole time I lived in Everett, I could feel the Lord calling me back to church. After Ethan’s death, I tried several churches but didn’t like them; I didn’t fit in. I kept looking for a service like the services I had at Gethsemane.
In December of 2007, Danene and I ran into each other at Michael’s craft store. Seriously, literally ran into each other; I mean face to face. Stacey and I were just getting back together at the time. I looked at Stacey and said, “I know her, her name is Danene Solomon”. As I turned the corner, there she was again. She said, “is your name Mike Root?” and I said “yeah”. I went to FHC for the first time in April 2008, and havn’t missed a Sunday since.
Fast-forward to now, Stacey and I are now remarried and working on buying a house. I’m an Armor Bearer and running the sound for the church. The Lord brought me back to church, and then He brought my family back to me.
The Lord is working on making a better man. He’s teaching me to praise him in the good times and in the bad. It first started when I asked for a day off from work. I wanted to go to Wild Waves with Stacey, Logan and My in-laws. Since I never get to do stuff like that, it was really important to me that I go. We were all supposed to go on a Friday (which I had asked to be off the week before). My supervisor said he wouldn’t know until the day of. So, on my way into work that day I called them, only to hear them tell me I had to work. I got really, really mad. On the way in I was thinking, “they’re going to hear it from me when I get in there”. Then I remembered, "in the good times and the bad". I said out loud “PRAISE JESUS!!” and my hand managed to fly up as well. A man in church had come to me and said, “you have a fiery spirit, use it to be quick with the enemy, be quick to bind him”, he told me. So when I opened the door to the office I said calmly, “Where am I at?” I noticed my name was off to the side and that all the routes had names on them. Then I started helping the other drivers load their trucks to help get them get out quicker. They eventually told me to go home. Praise Jesus!
Another story is the time I rear ended a lady on the way home from work one day. I was really excited for church camp this year. It had just rained and the roads were really slick. I was on the phone and not paying attention to car in front of me that had stopped abruptly. By the time I realized it had stopped, it was too late. I put the brakes on and slid into the back of her. I’m not going to lie, I said a few curse words - as it turns out she stopped to let ducks cross the road. Ducks?!! Who stops for ducks?! I calmly stepped out exchanged information and went on my way. Driving down the road I said out loud again “PRAISE JESUS!” No hand this time. I became really, really stressed out. Driving home I could feel myself getting really upset. Then I said to myself, “I’m not going to let this affect my night. I’m not going to go home and take it out on my family. I’m going to walk in the door and ask my wife for a kiss and a hug”. I walked in looked at Stacey and said “can I have a kiss and a hug?”
In both these stories the Lord was building my character. I’m tired of playing the enemy’s game; I’m not going to do it anymore. I’m going to be quick to bind him and say “not today!”
As far as my son Ethan goes, PRAISE JESUS!! Better he walk with Jesus than here on earth. He’s the lucky one, he gets to walk with Jesus every day. Ethan’s autism is cured. Like I said earlier, I was stressing my self out about how Ethan would live as an adult. I was going to tell Logan that it was going to be his job to watch out for and take care of his brother. Now I don’t have to worry anymore. "In the good times and the bad", that is what I have to remember.
The Lord has blessed me by bringing me back to church, bringing my wife and I together again and giving me my family back. I feel blessed.
