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Read the testimonies below of how RWC is living out incarnational lives! Testimonies - 2010 & 2011 The Amazing Love of Our Lord While looking for an inexpensive car for our daughter, we found a listing on Craig’s List. We met Lisa and looked over the car. It was just what we were looking for. There were a couple of glitches; the title was not in her or her husband’s name, car needed Smog. Research was done on the requirements of DMV and agreement was made to meet the following day at DMV. Lisa, who works doing in home care for disabled people, and is the mother of a 4 year old and I talked as we sat at DMV for an hour and a half. There I had the opportunity to encourage the heart of a hard working young mom and share the love of Jesus with her. By the time we were called to the window, we had shared some of our lives with each other. As events unfolded, she was asked to move the car to the back of the DMV and when I walked out back there were two Officers there to meet us. The car was stolen. I walked between the Officers and hugged her and told her that whatever the circumstances she has a 4 year old and she needed to get herself and her child in to a safe environment. I walked to my car thankful that God had protected us from buying a stolen car and praying for Lisa. An hour later, Lisa called me to say she did not know the car was stolen and how terribly sorry she was. Again I told her that she needs to put the safety of her child first. I have no idea what the full truth is. I learned the next day when one of the Officers called me for information, that her name is not Lisa, and this was part of a much larger scam. I believe God gave me the time waiting at DMV to plant seeds and share the love of Christ with “Lisa”.
SERMON NOTES
Pastor Josh Roberts delivered the message today. He struggled with his voice and pushed through it, persevered to deliver God’s message – it gave us all an opportunity to pray for him, to love him, to support and give to him (candy? coffee? water?) while he ministered to us, and to show our desire to receive the message. He never lost his composure, worked through a dry throat and coughing spell, graciously suffered through it, and delivered...
OUR JOURNEY IS OUR DESTINATION: Our distance from our Lord is directly proportional to the measure of our surrender to His Lordship. Josh overcame and surrendered this morning!
He continued on to pose a most powerful question: Is what I am living for worth Christ dying for?
Following all that he still lead worship as wonderfully as always.
Thank you, Pastor Josh, for your fine example of incarnational living.
It Is His Strength
Last Sunday you said that you wanted stories of how God is working in our lives. Everyone I talk to says that I should pass this on to you. As you know, I started working an additional 4 hours at Caroline Wenzel School as their RSP Aide. I am working with students who have been diagnosed with some type of learning disability. There is a wide range and severity. I originally wanted to stay with a different school and continue to work in the library. This is where my passion is. I was very unsure and scared to venture into a new and unfamiliar career. Mandie told me to follow God's lead that this is where God wanted me to be and to have faith. After praying and asking God to give me the strength to accept this challenge, I accepted the position. I have been working with my students for five weeks now and have built a relationship with them. I realize now why God wanted me here. Some of these kids do not have much stability in their lives, but they have that stability with me. I am there every day of the week for them and create a safe and non-judgmental place for them to learn. I find that not only am I teaching these students, but they are teaching me things also.
Erin Villagomez
OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS
Are we able to recognize an incarnational opportunity when it presents itself?
I recently made an exchange at a gift shop and later realized that the wrong item was credited. When I looked through my receipts to balance my checkbook I discovered the error and returned to the shop to let them know they had given me too much credit, and paid the amount they were due.
Often, whenever someone receives too much change from a transaction they are presented with an opportunity. There was a time when I saw an opportunity for extra $$ in my pocket, and sadly, as I was under the influence of this world then, missed the true nature of the opportunity.
Being given too much change provides a rich opportunity to do the right thing, to increase our spiritual beauty in honor of God’s commands, and to give to someone else the miracle of love.
Here is another incredible incarnational story…additionally, stop right now (if you can) and pray for Raul…
Good morning my beautiful friends, Please when you get this, be in prayer for a young man named Raul (student here). He comes in EVERY morning to say “good morning” – well through our conversations he shared with me that he was in a gang and had gotten out, but now the other gang members are not having that. His house was shot at a few weeks ago, and then this morning he came in, and I could tell he wanted to talk - well our Gracious LORD allowed us a few minutes, and this young man was in tears. He's torn about what to do, part of him as he says, “wants to go and handle it", while the other side knows that's not the way. He has a two year old son, and he had a daughter that was killed (not sure when) by gunfire when she was 3 months old. Jesus allowed me to speak His words to this young man’s heart - His eyes welled up with tears, you can see the desperation in his eyes. I promised Him that Jesus does hear him, and that we will be praying. We know that these are divine appointments, so GOD is wanting this young man to know He will protect and guide him. Thank you, thank you, I love you all!!
Hugs, and in His GREAT Love, Jill 2 Samuel 22:30, 33, 47 "With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall. It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God, the Rock, my Savior!"
Amanda goes to college in San Francisco
As a mom you wish for the best but sometimes focus on the worst….will she be safe, will she keep to her Christian beliefs? She hasn’t been able to find a church that meshes with her beliefs and worship style that is within transit range. Her two roommates are non-believers, one an atheist and one agnostic. She was rudely asked to turn off a Sunday morning televised service because her roommate found it disturbing. Her school is located in an industrial area and she has to walk under a freeway to get to the bus stop in a not too safe area, sometimes very late at night. A few months ago she called me from the store to ask if it was okay to buy some extra fruit for a homeless man she had met that lives under the freeway. Amanda is on a strict budget and wants to be cost conscious. I encouraged her to be generous and said a quick thank you to Jesus for putting it in her heart to help this stranger in need. Over the next weeks she brought him homemade food and fruit on school days, whatever she was feeding herself she shared with him. She thinks he is close to 60, a Vietnam veteran suffering from post traumatic stress disorder. He was homeless twice for a short time and got it back together before life circumstances left him living on the streets for six years when he lost his job, home, wife and children. Amanda witnessed to him and encouraged him. She asked a college friend who is a pastor’s daughter to pray for him and Amanda has been praying for him daily. After a month Amanda no longer saw him under the freeway and hoped he had found a spot in a homeless shelter before it got cold and rainy. Last week he showed up at her school, sitting on a bench by the entrance hoping to see her. He was cleaned up and groomed and reported that he had decided to go back to church after talking to Amanda. The pastor at the church took an interest in him and gave him a job cleaning the church and a place to stay. He is saving up to get his own place and has been in contact with his ex-wife and daughter.
Our God is an awesome God!
“Hey Red, do you know anything about gardening?”
by: Rebecca Gist “Hey Red, do you know anything about gardening?" I heard this question float through my screen door as a light knocking perked my attention. I lifted myself off of my usual perch, the couch, and faced one of my elderly neighbors who is quite a character. For example, one evening after Bible study he approached me and said, “You’re pretty strong aren’t you?” I shrugged it off yet flexed at his request. He turned to someone and said in all honesty, “She’s as strong as a bull!” To which I responded to with an eruption of laughter. Again he asked, “Do you know anything about gardening?” I stepped outside to the community garden in front of my apartment to inspect his box and produce. “Should the soil always be wet for my broccoli? And do you think it matters where I put the hose?” Since I disregarded my career test’s recommendation to become a farmer I couldn’t answer with complete certainty. Yet after years of watching my grandfather care for his vegetables I know a thing or two about watering plants. We stood discussing proper watering techniques until he exclaimed, “I know the nicest people on the face of this planet.” “Well do you now, sir. Who are they?” I responded with curiosity. “Westmont students. How do they do it up there?” He was of course referring to the “retreat center” in the hills where people go to study. “I mean, I’ve met many Westmont students and they’re the nicest people on the face of the planet. Does it attract people like that or grow them into it? Or is it because they are Christian?” Astonished I replied, “All three in fact. We are encouraged to live with Jesus’ love and supported by friends and faculty to do so.” “That’s a great testimony to Christianity, I think.” We wrapped up our conversation and I walked away humbled, convicted, and encouraged. Being characterized as part of “the nicest people on the planet” is incredibly humbling. My failure to love unconditionally convicts me because God calls me to love. His words also shone light upon the powerful witness the Church can have when we love. Westmont, thank you for shaping and training disciples. All fellow believers, let us continue to love for, “they will know we are Christians by our love.” By Rebecca Gist--http://rgist.wordpress.com/
Testimonies - 2011
YOU ARE IN MY PRAYERS
I was recently asked to pray for a family facing a financial crisis and impending loss of their home – they requested prayers from family and friends and every time they came to my mind I prayed for them. Many people prayed. God blessed this family and their home was saved.
I was not raised in a church family and it is new for me to realize the impact of prayer. Sadly, many times in the past I have said to someone, “You are in my prayers,” meaning to make them feel better, and then didn’t actually pray for them. It had been a sweet thing to say but if I said I would pray and then failed to do so it could have negatively impacted their faith...if I had prayed on their behalf it could have made a difference.
It has made me feel sorry, as though I had unintentionally used God’s name in vain – “me” trying to help someone feel better but not asking God to bless them.
Now if I tell someone they are in my prayers, I pray for them often...whenever it is put upon my heart to do so.
“I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them, intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.” 1 Timothy 2:1
Sweet Rewards
We were feeding the homeless, the poor and needy. I was one of the cooks fixing scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, and hash browns. We enjoyed the crisp sunny morning air, fellowship and fun. The delicious aromas reminded me of a camping trip.
The line was beginning to form and soon a multitude was waiting to be served. There was music and a beautiful singer proclaiming the goodness of God. It was marvelous and exciting to see such a huge effort of many people and to cook for these hungry men, women and children. However after cooking awhile, the need to serve food sparked, so I moved myself into the food line. Literally I crowded my way in—at the end of the breakfast table, right in the already packed dessert line. As the homeless came along servers would each offer what was in front of us—pumpkin or apple pie, chocolate cake, brownies, and cookies. It was happy competition and I was thrilled when dessert was taken from my hand. There was great satisfaction from giving dessert with a big smile to the homeless as they moved along this line. This continued until suddenly, the line stopped—right in front of me—as I was saying with a big smile, “Would you like some pie, apple or pumpkin, chocolate cake, brownies, what do you want?” This tall black man stopped right in front of me. I really looked at him as he was not budging and his eyes were filled with longing and compassion, looking intently at me, nearly spilling over with tears. He was not moving or taking dessert, and I sensed His need. His eyes spoke volumes. I continued to offer dessert—but realized he wanted something more and was just not going to move along, when out of my mouth came the question, “Do you know Jesus Christ?” He looked up to the heavens, then to me, and sadly shook his head, No. Still unmoving, I told him He could know Jesus and receive Him as Savior and have a brand new life if he sincerely asked in prayer. I asked if he would like to receive Jesus as his Savior by praying after me, and the tears began to spill down his cheeks as he nodded, Yes. A table of desserts separated us but the love of God closed that gap. I felt God take and move my hands over the table to reach for his hands to hold as I objected in my thoughts, But God, his hands are dirty. I heard God respond, Hold his hands! So quickly, hand in hand, Al prayed after me and received Christ as Savior. After prayer I welcomed Al into the family of God and shared “Al, if I never get to see you again here on earth, I will see you again—in Heaven.” “Promise?” he tearfully pleaded. Still holding hands, I assured him of his new conversion and to always call out to Jesus in prayer and depend on Him for help. God made Al beautiful to me even though He was missing a front tooth, and wearing a dirty jacket with a ball cap on backwards. As we were holding hands, out of the corner of my eye, I saw another Christian servant bolt directly towards us in beeline fashion. I introduced him to Al sharing he was now a member of our family, just born into the family of God. Robert put his arm around Al and took him away a few feet and talked and prayed with him.
I watched them from the dessert line and was filled with amazement at what just happened. I realized I was the only one in the food line without those sanitary gloves on and that it was God’s plan. God wanted me to hold Al’s hands—skin to skin, in prayer.
Before Al and Robert quit talking, I excused myself from the dessert line to go speak with Al again. As soon as he saw me, he put his arm around me and leaned down towards me with his head on my shoulder, then tearfully looked deep into my eyes and said, “I will never forget you, I’ll always remember you.” My heart melted and I listened to Al’s heartbreaking story of hardship, always afraid for his life, trying to escape those who attempt to harm him, trying to find shelter and food and hoping for a better life. Before we parted I told Al, “I will always remember you too.”
Later in the day I asked Robert how he knew Al had just received Christ and needed more prayer. He responded God directed his attention my way and saw us holding hands and said, “That’s the love of God right there.”
Right after, on the drive to take Mom grocery shopping, I reflected on all that happened and couldn’t control my tears. I cried, in fact sobbed for Al—for a long time. Al touched a place so very deep in my heart. I pray that one day we will be together in Heaven with God where life will be beautiful and without suffering. For at least two weeks after, I cried and prayed myself to sleep at night knowing all that Al had to overcome and how I was changed and blessed, and was grateful God used me to bring Al into His family. Al is my brother that I love, but I haven’t seen him since. He is my brother in Christ and I am so grateful that God moved me along from cooking food to serving in the dessert line as my life was rewarded more sweetly than words can tell. These are tears of joy and thanksgiving still flowing and I continually praise my Lord. Don’t hesitate to move in the direction God calls you. Allow Him to impact your heart beyond words. “I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips” (Psalm 34:1, NIV).
Dear Praying Friends,
We went to Chao's home tonight to pray for the Lord's healing touch upon her Dad's (Sao) Cancer in Elk Grove. After the first phase of reading Scripture and devotion her Mom, Mee, told us that she had a dream. In her dream she saw God's warriors came with swords and spears and casted the evils spirits and clean out her home. She told this dream to Chao before she (Choa) told her that she has invited RWC's Prayer Team to come over to pray for her (Chao) Dad and her family. We read the rest of Scriptures including Mark chapter 5:1-20, 7:24-37. James 5:13-18, John 3:16-21 and we all prayed for him and his wife and his house hold. After praying we shared with him that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus. We also shared with him that Jesus loves him very much and died for him that he may go to heaven to live with God, where there is no pain, sicknesses, sorrows and death. God has prepared a big mansion for him in heaven. We asked him did he believe that? He said that he believed that. So we asked him to pray with us to received Jesus as his Lord and Savior. Angels in heaven are rejoicing with us in heaven now as we speak. Praise the Lord! Thank you very much for all your prayers and may the Lord richly bless you, your family and Ministries. Sean & and the Prayer Team Dear Praying Friends, The Lord has put in my heart to visit, bring some nutritional foods & drinks, and prayer for the homeless in West Sacramento at the Union Gospel Mission (while they were resting on the side walk) today. It was such a great blessing to serve and share the love of Christ with about twenty of them. A gentlemen name Ratu told me that he did not want to live anymore due to his addiction to alcohol and the lost of his hope & purpose in living. So I shared with him a little bit about how the Lord saved my marriage when I was incarcerated for seven and half years and fulfilled my hope and dreams after my release. I prayed for him as well. Also, I have visited there some others times before to share messages of Christ love, prayer, and serve meals in the chapel. I was impressed with most of them that their faith in God are very strong and they are very easy to minister to, every time I went there. They may not have the money, however they possess something more precious than money, silver and gold, their faith in the Lord in spite of their situations. Praise the Lord! Please ask the Lord to bless Ratu and to heal him from the alcohol addiction and restore his hope and purpose in life once again. Also, pray for all of them out there for His protection, provision and blessing. Of course for UGM as well.
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