When Andrew Rhinier was born, his parents received the news that he had brain damage. He was not expected to walk, and doctors believed he would have severe limitations. However, Andrew’s parents were determined to seek a second opinion, which led them to pursue early-intervention physical and speech therapy. Instead of living a wheelchair-bound life, Andrew grew up to be a high-functioning and independent adult.
While Andrew’s original prognosis was far from what his reality became, he would still battle learning disabilities, which made school especially difficult. For most of his school-aged years, Andrew often heard the words, “You can’t.” Because of his disabilities, many believed that Andrew’s hurdles were too high to overcome. And yet, he said, “No, I can do this. If God wants me to do this, He’s going to have this door open, and I’m going to do it.” And that’s exactly what happened. Not only did Andrew graduate high school, he also participated in Little League baseball and marching band, then went on to graduate from college, earning a degree in General Studies, and later receiving his Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) certification.
While Andrew had grown up believing in Christ, and credits God for all of his accomplishments, he began to fall into unhealthy patterns after college. Addicted to alcohol and not following Christ, Andrew was lost. But God used his parents to play a huge role in guiding him back to the Lord.
When Andrew’s mother died from cancer, it rocked his world. Working as a CNA at the time of her diagnosis, he helped to care for her from day one. While his mother’s sickness was heart-wrenching, it also served as a catalyst for him to grow in his faith. “It was really weird how I didn’t fall back [into drinking]…I committed myself to open God’s Word, and just praying…” Though Andrew felt lost without his mom, he was able to seek wise counsel who guided him toward Christ.
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The Lord is my strength and my shield;
in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults,
and with my song I give thanks to him.
The Lord is the strength of his people;
he is the saving refuge of his anointed.”
Psalm 28:7-8
Today, Andrew enjoys his job in management at a local grocery store and also performs with a local Christian theater group. He is able to live out his faith in both of these roles and knows that it’s God’s grace that led him to where he is – learning disabilities and all. Whatever he does, he seeks to proclaim Jesus boldly, saying, “As Christians, we cannot be afraid. [People at work] know where I’m at. They know I’m a believer in Christ…I’m not afraid to show it…We’re disciples…We’re here to preach the Word of Christ…Don’t get quiet. People need to hear it.” Andrew has really taken on the same determination his parents had when they received his initial diagnosis. No matter what limitations he’s told he might encounter, he faces them head-on, knowing that, with God’s help, anything is possible, and ultimately, He will receive the glory.