I was born in 1957 into a very typical blue collar Western Pennsylvania family, the third of four children of Al and Dorothy Birch. My mother was a housewife and handled everything that four kids could throw at her. My dad quit school in the 9th grade to work and never really stopped. My favorite memory of my dad goes like this: One month shy of my 16th birthday, a neighbor was selling his 1963 Impala. I loved this car. My dad asked, "How much?" "One hundred bucks," I said. " How much you got?" he said. "Forty bucks," I said. Next day, I owned my first car! My mom later told me that my dad, the contractor, used the money he was putting aside to buy tires for one of his trucks.

I have vague memories of going to church as a child but it definitely was not a regular occurrence. The Bible was something I really knew nothing about. Growing up my main concern was baseball and how the Pirates were doing.

I graduated from Shaler Area High School in 1975 and couldn't wait to get a job and make money. My dad got me into the Laborer's Union and in 1979, I got married. We had a son, Brian, and a daughter, Stephanie, who we call Stevie. I was a happy guy with what I thought was the perfect little family. I was 29 years old and my entire life, for the most part, was going the way I had hoped. I loved being a husband and father, but I must say, deep down I always knew there was something missing. I had no spiritual connection growing up, so that pretty much meant that my kids wouldn't either.

After losing her mother suddenly at the age of 52, my wife told me she wasn't happy and something had to change. Thus began an 18-month struggle to try and keep my family together. I just couldn't imagine not being a family. Fast-forward 2 years later, my ideal life was over. My wife, my 9 year old son and my 8 year old daughter were gone. In June, my dad was diagnosed with lung cancer and on September 30, I lost him too. My mother and I leaned hard on each other. I was the only one of four kids still in Pittsburgh. I was 36 and had not a clue what was next.

I had started my own business but, for me, being single and self-employed was not a good combination. I was selfish with my time - working when I felt like it, and relaxing when I felt like it. I treated myself with vehicles, vacations and other luxuries. I thought I deserved it. After all, I was by myself. What a destructive attitude I had. Through all of this, my kids still remained the single most important part of my life. But still, I always found time for Fred to have a little fun. Despite this freedom and the material possessions, I was still not happy and not satisfied with life.

It was during these years that my sister, Beverly, became someone I could really talk to. She is an ordained minister and, without being too pushy, she explained how Jesus had become her Lord and Savior and what a profound effect He had on her life. I knew deep down that this was what I had been missing, but still really had no desire to change. During my single years, I made a ton of bad decisions, but looking back now, it was only because I was in a hurry to find happiness. Even then Jesus was there, looking after me. I just didn't know it.

One of my best buddies invited me to his wedding. Little did I know that June 19, 1999 would be a day that would change my life. I walked into Sewickley Heights Country Club by myself that day but when I left I had an angel by my side named Diane. Love at first sight? Absolutely! I asked her if she golfed, she said no. "Perfect!" I said. She asked, "Do you cook?" I said, "Yep!" She said, "Great!" We got married on a sun-drenched day in Bermuda on a cliff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean - Jesus was again watching over me, giving me with the most wonderful gift of all but I still didn't get it.

In contrast to my childhood experience with church, Diane and her siblings would attend church weekly. Shortly after we were married, she expressed interest in getting connected spiritually – somewhere that we would both feel comfortable. We were invited by a friend to attend a Christmas Eve service at Orchard Hill. We were totally impressed and felt completely comfortable. I couldn't believe how nice everyone was. I loved the encouragement I was given to explore a personal relationship with God at my own pace - as fast or as slow as I wanted. I know now these were the first steps in exchanging my heart. My sister, Bev, was ecstatic.

We participated in the membership classes, joined the church and felt that this was something that really belonged in our lives. Sunday service at Orchard Hill was a priority. After some time, we felt we were getting complacent and somewhat reached a plateau, and like clockwork, we were invited to take a next step to join a serving team. We became part of the Information Center Team and later also joined the Usher Team. What a great way to connect deeper with other people. Instead of just coming, sitting down to hear the message and going home, we had more contact with the people we served with and the people we served. We also took another step and joined a small group. God has blessed Diane and I both the most genuine, loving, sincere, caring people that we have ever known.

I also spent the last year and a half in a CLC group with 11 other guys, meeting on a weekly basis to not only grow deeper in our faith but to also build relationships with each other. I've never been part of anything as rewarding and fulfilling. Though I can't pinpoint the exact moment, this is where I really started to 'get it ' and truly understand what it means to have a relationship with God. I realized that over time I had a transformation of the heart. I will graduate from CLC in September. I am so proud to be a member of such a wonderful group of men.

Looking back over my life, it was easy to coast through moving from thing to thing searching for happiness. Once I discovered Jesus Christ and allowed Him to transform my heart, I finally found true satisfaction in life and discovered that I am never alone.

My name is Fred Birch and that's my story.