TYSON AND KATIE ASCHLIMAN

Tyson and Katie Aschliman are a story of how God can make beauty from ashes. Their journey is an amazing example of trusting God through the most difficult circumstances of life, taking leaps of faith that seem unimaginable and learning that God has the power to give new life even on this Earth.

Tyson and his first wife, Leslie, first visited CrossTown when it met in the gym of River Woods Elementary School. Soon after, Tyson began serving as a worship leader, and their family grew with the birth of a son, TJ. In 2007, Leslie, was suffering from what the couple thought was a chronic sinus infection. During a routine out-patient surgery for a polyp in her sinuses, doctors discovered Leslie had a fast-growing cancer that stemmed into her brain.

After numerous surgeries and several rounds of chemotherapy, doctors found that the cancer had spread to Leslie’s lungs. The Ashliman’s church family surrounded them, holding them up in prayer, bringing meals and helping care for TJ, who was then 2 years old. In July of 2008, Leslie defeated cancer and was given a new body in heaven.

Tyson came into contact with Katie, whose sister was Leslie’s best friend. Katie also had walked through a similar experience when her sister died of cancer a few years earlier. After several months of dating, Katie took a leap of faith and moved to the Chicago area to be closer to Tyson. In November, 2009, they were married. Tyson said he thanks the Lord for Leslie, their son TJ, and the new life God has given him with Katie. “Life can change,” Tyson said. “But God is sovereign, and He is good all the time.”

Tyson, Katie and TJ now live in the Baltimore area where they are getting involved in a new church and finding ways to minister to those in their neighborhood.

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