coney island

 

Blessed. Jackie F’s Testimony Pt. 1: Wednesday, May 19.

God moved today.  He moves everyday, but a lot of the times I don’t notice it because of all the distractions in my life that blind me.  The first part of the day we were broken up into our families, were given $60 cash & cleaning supplies.  The only direction we received from leadership was to go out into the community we were assigned to & share to love of Jesus Christ with them in a tangible way.  My family threw around ideas of cleaning restrooms at Starbucks, paying for someone’s groceries, washing windows at the gas station, etc.  After praying for the Holy Spirit to lead us we broke off into small groups & went our separate ways on a mission to bless people.  However, most people we approached didn’t want the blessing.  Of course, we were discouraged, how can you say no to free bottles of water or free groceries?  But the Lord used this day to bless us instead.  It seemed like everywhere we went there was a Christian around wanting to bless us.  We got free lunch & coffee from the manager at McDonalds who is a Christian.  The other half of our family got free pizza, three different times we were approached by a Christian that just wanted to poured encouragement into us.  How loving is our God?  We still had money left over so we decided as a whole to bless the staff at the YMCA.  They’ve been so gracious to allow us to use their facilities to shower & workout everyday so we bought them pizza, a bouquet of roses, & picked up trash around the property.  That was the first part of the day.  God knew that our family was struggling spiritually & it was like he just wanted to use this day to show us how much he loves us and give us sweet kisses on the cheek.

Contention to Union. Nikki’s Testimony: Wednesday, May 19.

On Wednesday, two of our van families combined into one for an outreach. At first, there was a lot of disunity and frustration amongst the group. Later, we left our first location to go to an outreach at a nearby park. That same feeling of disunity was still in the air amongst us. Once we arrived at the park, clouds came and it began to rain. Everyone that was at the park left, while our group stayed and huddled under a pavilion. We all decided to pray and see what God had for us there. During the prayer, I felt the Lord tell me the reason… that we needed this time as a group to build our unity. It ended up that as it rained, we sat under the pavilion and affirmed each other and gave encouragement. After we finished, the rain let up and God had brought unity to our families. After that a van of troubled children arrived. Some of our group went to play with them in the park. Some of us even had the opportunity to pray for them. It was a day of unexpected circumstances for our group. Man makes his plans but the Lord guides his path.

The Ministry. Christian’s Testimony: Wednesday, May 19

The ministry is a rough, difficult field. Frequently neglected, hardly recognized and often taken for granted. You deal with numerous problems of which you are expected to solve with a calm, cool, and joyful attitude. That is a well-rounded description of a minister. So what makes it all worth it? Let us say a man is called to that position and seeks to be obedient. Only, obedience is one thing, obedience with a willing heart is another.

So, what really does make it all worth it? What is it that keeps a minister from becoming jaded and bitter?

It is on this trip that I am beginning to realize… It is the changed lives for the kingdom. Seeing hope restored to the hopeless, love given to the undeserving, compassion to the broken that leaves the mark of love.

The people… The people are what make the ministry worth while.

Never Ready. Cody’s Poem and Testimony: Tuesday, May 18

Why is this melancholy mayhem?

A child looking for love but never finds,

Left with a robbed and weary soul.

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Never ready for this realization.

Pain and hurt flood this soul.

Is such harsh veracity assumed false?

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Yet among pain and sorrows of old,

You lay still and knock on this door.

“Come to Me, I am sovereign over all”.

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Though it cannot be understood.

You wait with warm embrace,

To ease the pain and dry the tears.

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I wrote that poem about my day yesterday.

Yesterday was a prodigious day. It was full of people who demonstrated the reality of spreading God’s Word. Many were closed to all outward communication, while others were extremely encouraged to see laborers for the kingdom. It was a melting pot of attitudes and beliefs. My family and I were passing out flyers for a festival coming up this Saturday. We were assigned to the shopping strip in Littleton. While Jess (Lewis) led half of the family one way, I led half the other. My group and I ran into a couple of boys and gave them some flyers. We had a blast talking to them about Jesus and how many “coincidences” there are when it comes to life and Christ. After the boys left, another group of children came. They were all around 13.

I was not ready for what came next. As we all broke up and spoke to the kids, Amy and myself spoke to the girl of the group. Her name was Julia, but she liked to go by Jules. She wore colorful beads around her neck and wrist, she had drawn a black heart on her hand. I was overwhelmed. As we spoke to her, the Holy Spirit told me that she had been sexually abused earlier in her life. I as well, was abused when I was a child and always knew what to look for in a child to see if they were too.

I saw the broken eye-contact, the pain in her eyes, the fearfulness of her body language, but this time was different than any other time. This time, I didn’t just know by knowledge or observation, but I knew by feeling. The Holy Spirit came down on me and I was overtaken by this feeling of pain, hopelessness, but more so compassion. A compassion that moved me to tears, one that I never felt before. I always wanted to feel the Holy Spirit in an amazing way, but I was never ready for that feeling. I felt the vulnerability of a child who’s life has been stripped from her, who’s identity is found but trying to find a person to love her, but has lost that hope. I felt that way when it happened to me. I had forgotten. Sure, I’m in HSE and serving God to the best of my gifts and abilities He has given me, but at some point in my life, I did not want that to define me as a man, so I drowned out that pain, closed that book, and buried it in my soul.

He came down to me yesterday, reopening my book, as I asked Him, why? He said “Come to Me, I am sovereign over all.” I looked to the sky and saw His amazing glory, scribed in the clouds as rays from the sun and silver linings overtook the view. After He spoke, the pain and vulnerability left me, yet a burden remained. I may not understand why this happens in our world, but I do know that God is sovereign over all and will be your strength and comfort in weakness and struggle.

As I have reflected, yesterday has become a miracle for me, I felt God’s heart in a tangible way, and have grown to understand His love more than I ever have before.

A Poem: by Gino: Sunday, May 16

Red Rocks: Neat place, a poem of lost souls.

Lost and dying world seen in many a face

All searching for something greater than themselves

Mystic rhythms, not at all mystic

More diluted then spirituality based on the same hypnotic escape from reality

Yet mediocre…

Continuing to make a mesh of delusion to discontent

May He deliver them from their vain repetitions.

Please pray for those lost and dying people. They need the Father just as much as we do.

God’s Greatness. Jay’s Testimony: Tuesday, May 18

This morning was a busy morning. From prayer at 6am to breakfast, leader meeting, packing for the day, a morning devotional and much, much more all ending by 8:15. Then my amazing evangelical “high 5 for Jesus!” family (#5) went to serve the Lord. My only desire is to lift them up with encouragement as we go and witness for the Lord. Thank God for giving me the opportunity to lead such an amazing family. As we start our outreach, God begins to use every family member gifts, talents, and testimonies to reach and lead 15 souls to the Lord. Wow, God is great.

In Need of a Father. Daniel and Ernie’s Testimony: Tuesday, May 18

Daniel, a teen from the slums of Littleton dedicated his life to the Lord today :) After entering into a divine appointment with My practicum family (#5), he stuck around to listen even when his friends left him. He listened to the truth as Ernie and I spoke to him. With his father’s death and the recent loss of his grandfather, he was looking for a fatherly figure to love him. Thank Christ that He is their and ready to embrace daniel on his new journey.

Dynamic Duo

Leo and Josephine have stayed in San Diego during this Journey. Please pray that God would provide amazing opportunities for them and their daughters to complete for His glory. We all are praying for you guys and love you very much :)

Tending to God’s Chosen

Maria Aguilar, a beloved leader to us, has been called to Israel instead of Denver and Brooklyn. Please pray for a safe flight and smooth transfer from place to place, as well as that her light may shine brightly on the people of that nation, that they may see her and see Christ in her as all of us in the school do. God bless you Maria, we all love you so much! :)

Absent in Body, Present in Spirit

Jessica Liermann unfortunately was unable to join us on this journey due to unforetold circumstances. Please pray that over the next three weeks she can be a witness to the wondrous change that only Christ can bring to people. We love you Jessica :)

Pending Transfer

Diana Gutierrez Started her practicum last Wednesday in Mexico. She will be joining us this week here in Denver. Please pray for her travel time, that it would be safe and full of the light of Christ within her. :)

Joe, The Amazing Technicolor Designer

Joe Kraft will also be joining us in Brooklyn. Pray for travel mercies and that he will be a light for the crowd. Love ya Joe :)

Sauer Power

Matt Sauer will be joining us on our journey when we get to Brooklyn. Pray for a safe flight and that he may touch those he is with on the way. Love youmatt :)

Workman’s Compassion

Our brother Sean Campbell has been struggling with health issues for the last couple of weeks. Please lift him up in prayer for compassion from his employer and others, that while he has been incapacitated, he still has security in his job and other responsibilities he has. All of us and The Nehemiah Crew love you Sean-man, get well soon. :)

Wayward Soldier

Our beautiful sister Janis is in the USAF and was stationed in kuwait two weeks ago. As we go on our generic three week practicum, Janis is only just beginning her eight month practicum abroad. Pray that she would remember what she has learned and share that with her fellow soldiers, friends and acquaintances she integrates with while she’s over there. We love you Janis!!! :)

Battlegrounds

Mike Thompson, our beloved brother is unable to make it on this journey with us. He has been battling some heavy issues on the home-front. Please lift him in prayers to our Father. We all love you and are praying for you Mike :).

Deliverance. Tony’s Testimony: Saturday, May 15

On Saturday evening we headed to the YMCA showers in our van. On our way in, our family stopped to pray when a man walked by with long hair, baggy clothes and a bandana decorated with marijuana leaf prints. I approached him with an invitation to next week’s festival and then started a conversation with him. His name is Dillon. I asked him about himself and he said that he was from New York. After that I told him about HSE and how we are preparing to go to Brooklyn for our Practicum. I then proceeded to tell him my testimony and how God delivered me from my marijuana addiction and changed me forever. He told me a little about his family and about how they are Christians. He then said that he wanted to receive Christ into his life. I prayed for him and led him into a prayer of repentance. He then accepted God’s gift of salvation. The joyful smile on Dillon’s face was priceless as I told him about how the angel’s were rejoicing in heaven. I told him that we would remember this day even after we get to heaven.

Bold Faith. Marni’s Testimony: Saturday, May 15

Saturday was such an incredible day. My family and I went to Clement Park to distribute flyers for a festival next Saturday through the Horizon in Denver. We were led to a small skate-park to see if the skaters would be interested in a skate competition during the festival. However, on the way, it began to rain. Most of the skaters left by the time we reached the skate-park. Instead of speaking with them, God led us to the Columbine Memorial. I did not even realize that Columbine was in Colorado, let alone the park we happened to be serving in! We saw the High School and then went into the Memorial. I was blown away by the testimonies of the High School students and how devoted to God they were. One student in particular amazed me, Rachel Joy Scott. She was held at gunpoint and asked if she believed in God. She intrepidly proclaimed, “You know I do!” She was killed that day at Columbine. Praise God she is now dancin’ with Him in heaven, the greatest place to be. Her faith changed my life and rocked my world. I want to live a life completely devoted to God even unto death.

James 4:14; “You do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a short time and then vanishes away.”

John 13:38; “Jesus answered him, ‘will you lay down your life for My sake?’”

Self Reflection. Sarah K’s Testimony: Saturday, May 15

I was not very excited to depart for this trip. However, I was determined to finish what I started. My heart was not in the right place. I got sick on the first day in Denver and was put into a place where I had to reflect on the consequences of my attitude. During all that, my brothers and sisters were so comforting and loving towards me. It was convicting. God showed me the actuality of my attitude. I realized how much glorious joy I was missing. I had to refocus myself. When I was acting out in self, God was faithful to whip me back into shape and gave me the time to step back and see where my countenance can lead me. He revealed how often I can miss the big picture and the blessings He desires to give… to reveal more of Himself to me.