Testimonies

When my wife and I joined House of Prayer we we’re going through one of the most difficult situations of our lives.  I had been through multiple job losses and was facing the reality of losing our first home because of the financial position we were in.  Although we attended church regularly before joining house of prayer we were simply going through the motions and struggled to connect and find purpose.  At times we felt completely hopeless and alone without any relationships to walk with us through challenging times. God spoke to my wife and I clearly about joining the House of Prayer and we trusted God. We have now been at the House of Prayer for 3 years and the growth in our lives during that time is immeasurable.  We have been able to find unbelievable jobs that provide financial security and growth because of the prayers and support we received.  We welcomed our first child into our lives shortly after joining the church and are excited to watch her grow in a church that puts such an importance on children’s ministry.  We have grown immensely from the leadership and direction of our Pastors and have built relationships with friends that we will have for the rest of our lives. We have found a home where we feel valued and appreciated and a place where we can operate in our gifting’s and calling to reach a community for Jesus.

I was your average guy. What the world would call a "good person" or someone who had it "figured out". I didn't lie, steal or cheat. Paid my taxes, went to work everyday, didn't do any drugs and never drank any alcohol.  I owned a nice 2 bedroom house, a sweet SUV(95 Toyota 4runner on 35's with a 7 inch lift) and to top it off a beautiful fiancé! All by the age of 22! I had it together! You couldn't tell me anything! Fast forward 5 years later and I had pretty much self destructed. No job, no car, no girl, losing my house, drinking and doing drugs on the regular. No future, no direction, no hope. My testimony is about falling for the illusion that you can be your own God. Saying your ways are higher than his ways. Fighting against His will for your life.... thinking you know what's better for you than he does. This is where I was at when I was 22. Though I didn't realize I was doing it but that's the whole "illusion" part of it. Sin has a way of blinding your vision and polluting your thoughts. You see I knew about God and his son Jesus. I had asked him to come into my heart when I was 14. I could quote some Scripture and even tell you a few bible stories! If you would have asked me what I believed in, I would have responded happily "I'm a Christian" but like the saying goes "talk is cheap" and my actions told a different story. I was the equivalent of what Jesus would call "lukewarm" and if you didn't know Jesus is not down for lukewarm people. In fact he spits them out. (REV 3:16) I had a great life(so I thought) I lived for me. In the moment. Kind of a #YOLO attitude. And though it was awesome it wasn't sustainable.  I put my trust and hope in myself. The problem with that is "None is righteous, not one" (ROM 3:10). If you put your hope and trust in someone/something corruptible then it's only a matter of time before it falls apart.  Maybe moths maybe years but you will eventually self destruct.  The solution is JESUS!!  He is the only man that ever walked this planet and never sinned.  Meaning he is righteous and without flaw.  Worthy of your praise.  He was tempted and trailed.  Life was hard for him but he surrendered his life to his Father!(God).  He died for our sins so we wouldn't have to!(that's love). And now he's seated at the right hand of the throne interceding for us.  Praying on our behalves!!!  You can put your trust and hope in him!!!! I tell you all of this to try an save you a lot of unnecessary hurt and pain.  Not only to yourself but to the others closes to you.  Not saying that being a "Christian" doesn't come with its  trails and tribulations.  But I truly believe that surrendering to the will of God is the only way to truly live a purposed, fulfilled, hopeful and prosperous life! With that being said let me finish up by telling you where God has me today.  And how he has restored almost every aspect of my life.  Well first I wrote a mass message and posted it all over facebook about how i was tired of sitting on the fence(lukewarm)and had decided to surrender to God and live my life for him.  Second I got into an electrical apprenticeship with the Union.   1 of the 15 people that made it in out of 150.  And trust me I wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed.  Gods favor for sure!  Next I was able to secure my finances and catch up on all of my bills!  The provision from my job was just enough to sustain me.  Gods good with numbers!  This year I bought an 08 scion!  The newest car I've ever owned.  And I'm still waiting on a girl but let's be honest.  I've got a lot to learn and I trust in his timing.  Obviously I can't write all the amazing things he's done for me on here but I'd love to tell you in person!  You can probably catch me around HOP on Sundays or Wednesdays but if you really want to talk text me 892-6531 and I mean that! Learn from my story. Ask God for wisdom and direction.  He has far greater plans for you than you could ever imagine!!  Thanks for listening!

As a member of a family full of missionaries, I am more than blessed to have grown up in a Christian home. My parents are missionaries and as of now, are no longer on the mission field. Our family had to return home from Kenya in 1997 due to my younger sister, Nicole's, severe disabilities. Nicole has been a blessing to our family in many ways and has taught us all first hand that every single person is precious in God's sight. My parents have always raised me to love others with God's love and to most importantly, love Jesus with all of my heart, soul, and mind. I have been going to the House of Prayer since I was 4 years old and that is where I can remember my first encounter with Jesus Christ at Vacation Bible School. That is when I fell in love with Jesus and I have been following Him ever since that moment! Throughout my journey, God has always been my rock. He has taught me through lessons in life and through His word that I am a daughter of the King and there is no one that can come between me and my Lord. I battled with depression and suicidal thoughts during several years in middle school and high school. Through those experiences, I have grown in so many ways and the Lord has really been able to work in and through my life. He has shown me that I am more than a conqueror through Him and that He will never leave me or forsake me no matter what may come my way! My prayer is that the Lord would use me and the things that I have gone though in the past for His glory. And that His light would shine through me so that others may come to know his unfailing love as I do.

I grew up going to church, but I always did my own thing. It wasn't until Spring of 2009 that I realized who God was in my life. From that moment on, I started on the fast track to becoming the man He wanted me to be. Granted, I'm a long way off from that, but I'm leaps and bounds from where I was. In the Summer of 2010, God showed me a glimpse of His plan for me and that changed my life forever. Because of that, I started getting deeper into the Word. In doing so I grew closer to the Lord. God has big plans for all of us and if we just stay the course, we'll never fall short of His goal.