Inviting "The One"

During a girls' weekend getaway in late 2016, Michelle Haverkamp and Teresa Kraus were driving along the highway when Teresa spoke of a troubling recurring dream involving a cross, perched high above the plains in the rolling Flint Hills. In her dream, Teresa would leave the road, heading toward the cross after crashing her car. Upon hearing her story, Michelle felt the Holy Spirit nudging her to ask if Teresa had considered that in her dream she might be trying to reach what the cross represented—Jesus.

Michelle and Teresa have known each other since grade school. After high school graduation they drifted in and out of each other’s lives and reconnected at classmate events as old friends often do. But after Michelle  and her family accepted the call to help launch the Valley Center Campus and invite The One*, her relationship with Teresa was radically changed for the better. 

In May 2017, Michelle and her husband Dale heard the announcement of a new campus launching in Valley Center. Michelle said, “I immediately felt led to join the launch team, but Dale was very hesitant to make the commitment. He liked our church family at the Goddard Campus.”

After much prayer, Dale felt the desire to be part of the launch team and declared, “If even one person comes to Christ because of my desire to help launch a new campus, it will be worth it.” At one of the pre-launch meetings, everyone in attendance was asked to write down the name of their “one” that they would invite to join them at Pathway. Without hesitation, Michelle wrote Teresa’s name on her card. Weeks later, as the launch date approached, Michelle extended an invitation and Teresa accepted!

Since accepting the invitation, Teresa has attended Starting Point and attends services regularly. She looks forward to volunteering at Pathway and getting involved in Local Outreach in the Valley Center community. Certainly, Teresa’s journey is still Unfinished—only God knows what the future holds. Michelle is thrilled to be able to walk alongside her and that Teresa was her “one.”

*The One was a message series taught in the Fall of 2017 based on the parable of the shepherd who left his 99 sheep to go after “the one.” Learn more about The One series.