Story of the Week: The Invitation

Red’s journey back to God and to his family didn’t begin in a sanctuary. It began with disc golf and one person who cared enough start a conversation. God can use people like that.

Red Carlson thought it was just an ordinary disc golf tournament.

Fresh-cut grass. A friendly competition. A shared golf cart. Red and Andy Jones got to know one another as they made their way around the course.

Although they just met that morning, by the end of the day Andy invited Red to join his disc golf Connect Group through Woodmen Heights. Red smiled, said “Thank you,” and politely declined.

At the time, Red had bigger things on his mind.

THE PRAYER

Red and his wife, Kari, had just marked ten years of marriage. They spent the day with her family. To him, it simply felt like another day. Communication was thin, affection was nearly gone, and Red carried a low simmer of anger that never seemed to lift. After that anniversary, divorce felt inevitable. He was ready to call it quits.

Red believed in God — but his faith was hanging by a thread. A church visit here and there. An occasional prayer. That was it.

But one night as Red thought about his wife and kids, in a moment of raw honesty he dropped to his knees. He spoke a prayer of surrender: “This is my fault. I don’t know where to go. I don’t know what to do. Lord, show me something.”

THE DREAM

What happened next took Red by surprise. He began having the same dream — again and again. In it, he stood at a fork in the road. One path was smooth and wide. The other was crowded, treacherous, and chaotic. The first time, he chose the easy way and woke up. Two nights later, the dream returned. This time, he took the path full of snares. He had this dream a dozen times.

On the final night, he reached the end of the rugged road. There, he saw a silhouette of his wife and children — and behind them, Jesus. Jesus spoke: “The closer you get to Me, the closer you get to your family.”

The next morning, Red received a text — an invitation to a Woodmen Heights Men’s Ministry event.

He nearly didn’t go. But Kari encouraged him to give it a try. He grudgingly got in the car. He arrived 20 minutes early and sat in the parking lot debating whether to walk inside. That’s when Paul Finch — a friendly face from the Heights — walked up to his car and said, “Hey, are you here for the Men’s kickoff?”

Red nodded. They walked in together.

Inside, Red ran into Andy — the guy from the disc golf tourney. They talked for three hours. Andy invited him to church.

This time, Red said yes.

THE SHIFT

Red showed up to the 9 AM service with his son, Rylen. After dropping him off at Woodmen kids, Red joined Andy’s family in the sanctuary. Something shifted. He left that morning with conviction in his heart and a clear mission: “To become the husband and father God intended me to be.”

Red came back the next Sunday — with his whole family — and they’ve been a big part of the Woodmen Heights community ever since. Andy and Red have now become fast friends.

Red was baptized at Heights in May 2023. He and Kari found a Christian counselor and begin to put in the work to rebuild — together. The road is still rugged, but they’re walking it side by side, eyes fixed on Christ. Red continues to learn and grow. He’s focused focus on being a Christ-like husband and father.

Red puts it this way: “I’ve been called to be the lighthouse for my wife.” A lighthouse built on the rock of Scripture. A beacon of unconditional love, casting light into stormy seas. Not asking anything in return — just giving light.

Red’s journey back to God and to his family didn’t begin in a sanctuary. It began with disc golf and one person who cared enough start a conversation. God can use people like that. Red sums it up: “God reached my heart at just the right time to show me how to live for Him every day.”

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