I grew up in Colorado with my parents, a brother and a sister. We attended church regularly as a family but it didn't have much meaning to me – it was more like going through the motions because it was the right thing to do. I continued to attend church throughout high school but stopped going soon after I graduated. At the time, church had no value to me and I didn't believe I needed it. I got married at the age of 22 to a man I had only known for 6 weeks. My life fell apart. It was only after I had married him that I found out he had a wife and three children. He divorced his first wife and we remained married for 2 1/2 years. This marriage was full of abuse - mainly verbal and emotional but sometimes physical. Eventually it led to divorce.

Two years later while living in Oklahoma, I married another man hoping that things would be different. Unfortunately, he was an alcoholic that also continued a pattern of verbal and physical abuse. We also struggled financially. I gave birth to a daughter, Crystal. The physical abuse was much more severe. After being in another abusive relationship for 2 1/2 years, I could finally take no more. With my 12-month old daughter in hand, I grabbed what I could carry of clothing and diapers and walked out the door never to return.

I ended up homeless and destitute. I stole milk and diapers from stores just to stay alive and take care of my baby. I spent the evenings roaming the streets looking for pop bottles to sell in order to raise the $2 needed to stay at the YMCA. After living homeless for 2 weeks, I finally contacted my brother. He and my sister were very concerned and threatened to come and take Crystal from me unless I would agree to come to them in Pittsburgh. They bought a ticket for me but I had no way to get to the airport. One evening, an officer caught me stealing milk and diapers. Seeing my dirty condition with a young baby in my arms, he had compassion on me. The officer said, "Stay right here and when I am done with my shift I will personally drive you to the airport." The airplane ticket was waiting for me that evening.

When I arrived in Pittsburgh, my family was ashamed of me. I hadn't had a shower in three days and my daughter was sick with chicken pox. I was completely unraveled. Over the course of the next several weeks, I was able to find a job as a sky cap and my life started to make a turn for the better. I now thank God everyday for my brother and sister and the way they cared for us. My life was better, but I still felt like I was missing something.

It was 1983 and after two and a half years of rebuilding my life, I found a better job with American Airlines. I had it all - a new house, a car and I felt as though I was on my way. Still, though, something was missing. I got married for the third time in March 1990 to a fantastic man - my husband Joe. Both he and I watched as my daughter grew. She wanted nothing more than to be a pilot. That's what she set out to do and that is what she accomplished. Her future husband was also a pilot and they would sometimes commute via jet to other cities to work. We were an airline family. I still worked for American Airlines and my husband, my brother, my sister and my brother in-law were all involved in the airline industry.

On the day of 9-11 my life turned upside down. I was at a funeral and heard an announcement on the radio that a plane had hit one of the towers of the World Trade Center in New York. Then I heard from others about the second tower, then the Pentagon, and then another flight here in Pennsylvania. I was overwhelmed. I broke down and cried. My mind raced wondering where my daughter and her fiance were. The media announced to please refrain from all cellular use, but I left the funeral home and tried calling anyway. I had to try and reach my kids, but with no luck. By 4:00 pm that day, they were finally able to contact me and told me they were safe; they were in Oklahoma visiting her father. I just collapsed and cried.

I went to work the next day. The airport was a ghost town. I was overwhelmed with everything that had happened, I couldn't help but cry all day. Then the rumors poured in. All airlines were going to enact major lay-offs. All of our lives would be turned upside down. My entire family relied on the airlines for our livelihoods, so we couldn't even depend on each other for financial support. We were all in a state of upheaval. What were we going to do?

I sought counseling, and after finding someone, he suggested I seek some form of spiritual support. I searched four or five different churches, but I couldn't find the support that I so desperately needed. He later suggested that I try his church, Orchard Hill. I took his advice. Suddenly, after the services, my understanding of God became very real to me. On my way home that first night, I pulled off of the road and just cried. For the first time in my life, I had experienced God's presence. I felt his comfort and felt His security. For the first time in my life, I finally knew what had been 'missing'. I felt like I had the world by the tail. I started attending three times a week - Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. My husband told me if the same thing was being taught on Saturday as on Sunday, that I was crazy to go to both services. When he asked, "Why?" the only answer I had for him was that it was what I needed.

I tried to get him to go with me, but failed. By Christmas, our marriage was falling apart. Into the New Year and coming quickly into Easter, our marriage had fallen into shambles. We argued all the time. The worst part was that the arguments were about nothing. My friend asked," You don't get it do you? A marriage takes three - a husband, a wife and God. All three work as one and two won't survive. As far as marriage is concerned, any combination of two of the three elements will fail." My husband asked, "What will change our lives and get our marriage back on track?" I told him, "Come to church with me." He came to the very next service with me and I never had to ask again. Joe experienced an immediate connection with God and the next Saturday, he was back in church.

He had the same positive experience that I had. Immediately, our marriage was back on track. The following spring we joined Orchard Hill together. Our daughter and her family have since joined and also attend regularly. I have served in the Deli and served as part of KidsFest. Most importantly, we're all still here at Orchard Hill.

So I say to you if you are planning to get married, if you do not have God together with you in your relationship, it will not work. It was difficult to believe at first, but I'm a believer now. It's a fact that a marriage takes three: a husband, a wife and God as one. My name is Katie Demicheli and this is my story.