Christine Alfaro
A Mother's Miraculous Journey of Faith, Hope, and Love through Tragedy
About
In 1989, as a newly married twenty-one-year-old, Christine couldn't wait to be a mother. Just ten months after their wedding, she and her husband, Chris, were blessed with the birth of their first child. The love Christine felt for her newborn son was more amazing than anything she had ever imagined. However, what she didn't realize at the time, and actually had never even considered was what incredible, intense pain could come with such an all consuming love.
"How much must I bear? How long, God, will you continue to tear apart my heart and stomp on my joy?" ~Christine Alfaro
Over the years, Christine and her husband were blessed with eleven children. However, after burying three of their children, Christine felt as though she, herself, was dying inside. She was broken and struggled to feel God's love, or even anything at all.
"It is suffering, more than anything else, which clears the way for the grace which transforms human souls." ~Pope St. John Paul II
It was through Christine's fourth encounter with death that God transformed her. God led her on a journey from brokenness and despair to a place of unbelievable peace and deep joy. She describes the peace she experienced using Philippians 4:7, "...the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding." It was a miraculous journey of not only accepting God's will for her life, but seeking it out, embracing it, and actually desiring it above all else. It ultimately led Christine to a place of total surrender.
"To do Your will, O my God, is my delight..." ~Psalm 40:9
In 2016, fifteen years after losing her fourth child, Christine wrote a book about her spiritual journey through the births and deaths of her children. She knew her experiences were meant to be shared. Through her writing, God was indeed preparing her to trust Him completely on the new journey she was about to take. Just weeks after finishing her first draft, the words she had written in her book about surrendering completely to God in all circumstances, were put to the test.
"As we prayed for God to save our son's life, God was actually saving his soul." ~Christopher Alfaro
On the night of February 13, 2017, Christine and her husband rushed to the hospital following police escort after being told their twenty-one-year-old son, Seth, had fallen twenty-five feet from a roof. Upon arrival, they were told their son had sustained a serious brain injury, was on a ventilator and in an induced coma, fighting for his life. Once again, they had to place another one of their children in God's hands and trust His will for their son's life.
"You're wounded no more." ~God to Seth
Through social media, prayer warriors from around the world rose up, begging God for a miracle for Seth. Based on his MRI, doctors said Seth should be dead or severely brain damaged. But against all odds, Seth had a completely miraculous recovery. However, that wasn't all. When Seth woke up, it quickly became evident that he had experienced a Spiritual miracle as well. While his body lay lifeless hooked to machines in the hospital, his spirit was in the presence of God.
In December of 2017, Christine was asked to share her story and journey through motherhood at her parish's Advent by Candlelight event. It was well received by over two hundred people. Since that time she has continued to speak, sharing her miraculous journey through grief and tragedy, at various Church events in multiple states.
"Tell God's glory among the nations; among all peoples, God's marvelous deeds." ~Psalm 96:3
Christine is currently working on a second book about her son, Seth's tragic accident and miraculous recovery. She is also devoted to full time ministry, speaking and sharing her story of surrender and healing through suffering.
Life is hard and full of suffering of one kind or another. For Christine, it was through the suffering that God was able to mold her and draw her into a deeper relationship with Him, ultimately setting her free and making her whole. She believes that God desires that for each of us - to set us free and draw us to Himself.
"I hope that sharing my story will help lead others to the freedom and peace that comes through total surrender to God's will, no matter what life's circumstances may be." ~Christine Alfaro
Types of events
Speaking Events
Christine shares her story at Church Events, such as Retreats, Parish Missions, Advent and Lenten Events, and various other Faith Formation Events. Her story lends itself to several other break off topics ideal for retreat type settings or parish missions. Other topics include Forgiveness and Letting Go, Personal Relationship with the Lord, The Power of Prayer and the Body of Christ, Grief, Childhood Grief, and Communicating with your Children, Teens, and Young Adults.
Joint Speaking Events
Christine also does speaking events with her husband, Chris. While he is still working full time, he too strongly believes that what God has done in their lives is meant to be shared. On occasion he shares his personal experience through suffering and is especially passionate about encouraging men to stand up and openly share their faith, thus passing it on to their families.
Seth's Story
Christine's son, Seth, also shares his story and music with youth and adults. He has done events with Christine as well as many on his own. To learn more about Seth, check out some of the videos below as well as his website: sethalfaroministries.com
Testimonials
Andee Vosters
"If you’re looking for a forgettable speaker. Move on. But if unforgettable is what you’re looking for, look no further than Christine. Christine has quite a unique story to tell—quite a unique life she’s lived—yet she is as relatable as they come. She achieves this by enveloping us in the moments where most of us would call God into question, and we live out those moments alongside Christine. And we see her choose God—over and over and over again. We feel that struggle, that pain, that bond, that peace, that hope. In the midst of the moments where deep despair could be the story she tells—instead, we feel wrapped in the arms of God himself, cradled by His tender love. We, too, become that powerful woman when we hear Christine’s story. She has a humbleness about her that silences the minds of every person that occupies a chair in her presence. You can’t help but be drawn in the second she opens her mouth to speak, nor can you resist rising to your feet in a swell of emotions when she speaks her last word."
Joan VanGrinsven
"I heard Christine speak a few years ago, but I remember her message to this day. It was a message of HOPE! She struggled through some very dark times. I continue to struggle with a grandson who remains in a very dark space. Although our ‘darkness’ experiences are very different, the ultimate message is not. We must hang on to HOPE. Our God is a God of hope! We are called to trust that…to trust HIM …No matter what. There is nothing too dark, too difficult, or too hopeless for him. Christine’s message is powerful!"
Amy Vanden Boom
"‘Game changer,’ Christine’s story was for me! God has surely brought beauty and goodness out of ashes as per Christine’s story. I cannot tell you how many times I have repeated her story in evangelizing! Heaven is for real! God’s promises are true! God gives and takes away … but LIFE remains and is RENEWED in Him alone! I heard Christine speak at Women Celebrate, a women’s Catholic conference in Wisconsin, and highly recommend! Amen!"
Christine's Story Presentation
(Legatus is an international organization of Catholic laymen and laywomen, comprised of CEOs, Presidents, Managing Partners and Business Owners, with their spouses, from the business community and professional enterprises.)
For the purpose of parish missions or retreats, Christine's talk can be broken into two parts, as well as branch out into smaller talks with various topics that naturally flow from her story.
slideshow
FORGIVENESS PRESENTATION
past event samples
Seth
Books
Speaking options and fees
Christine’s presentation sharing her story is approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes.* This can be followed by questions and answers if desired. The presentation can also be followed by Adoration or social time to make a nice event lasting a couple of hours. This works out very well, especially for stand alone evening events.
The presentation of Christine’s story can also be divided into 2 or 3 parts if desired. This works well for a morning or afternoon half day event or mini retreat. For the 2 part option, the first presentation would be approximately 25 minutes, and the second would be longer, about 50 minutes. For the 3 part option, the first presentation would be about 25 minutes, the second about 20 minutes, and the third about 30 minutes.
The charge for any of the 3 options above is $350.**
One or Two Day Retreats
If you would like to do a full day or weekend long retreat, the initial talk(s), depending on your preference, would be the presentation of Christine’s personal story. After hearing her story, many other topics within it can be addressed in more depth throughout the day or weekend. You can choose from the list of additional talk topics below. You may choose as many as you would like based on the length and focus of your retreat. The length of the additional talks can be tailored to meet the needs of your particular event schedule. Each additional talk is $300.
Parish Missions
For a parish mission, Christine can present 2 or 3 nights. She would share her story the first night (or it can be spread over 2 or 3 nights if you prefer to split it up), and then you could choose additional topics for the remaining nights. Pricing would be $350 for the first night and $300 each for the second and third nights, even if the initial story presentation is split up. This is due to the time commitment involved over 3 nights.
Additional Talk Topics
~ Forgiveness and Letting Go ~
~ Personal Relationship with the Lord ~
~ The Power of Prayer and the Body of Christ ~
~ Grief and/or Childhood Grief ~
~ Communicating with your Children, Teens, and Young Adults ~
Additional Speakers
For additional speakers, Christine’s husband and/or son could also speak, sharing their personal experiences and faith journey through the tragedy and suffering. If desired, they could be part of a retreat, parish mission, or single evening event. The charge is $300 for each additional speaker.
Seth also has a gift sharing with youth. If desired, you could plan an extra time after his talk, where he could have some fun with the youth (middle school through college age), sharing his music and music videos with them, while also candidly sharing his faith. This would be an additional $200.
Travel Expenses
Christine also asks for travel expenses ($0.25/mile) to be covered if your event is more than an hour away from Grand Rapids, Michigan, as well as overnight accommodations if necessary. If this is difficult for your group to provide, she accepts freewill offerings to be taken up during the event in order to help offset any travel expenses incurred.
* Initially, some groups have expressed concern about Christine’s story presentation being too long to keep people engaged, but after hearing her speak, they felt differently. Please be assured that it is a relatable, emotional, and challenging story which is very engaging. All the feedback received is that it didn’t feel long at all, that the time flew by and audiences could have easily listened even longer.
** Regarding fees, if you are interested in hosting an event but money is an issue, please don’t hesitate to contact Christine personally, so that other arrangements can be made. This is a message she strongly believes God wants her to share and, if at all possible, does not want money to stand in the way.
Contact
- Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States