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Linda Gamlen - Ladies Agape Dinner

April 22, 2021 • Linda Gamlen

Linda offers her testimony of a life spent in service to God as the founder of the International Student Network.

Ye Shall Be Witnesses

October 30, 2022 • Pastor Kevin Pestke • Acts 1:8

This passage of Scripture from Acts 1:8 is our Lord’s guarantee of power and the thrust for evangelism. The purpose of the Holy Spirit, directly or indirectly, is to testify of Jesus (John 15:26). When the Holy Spirit is active in our lives, the fruit of His work is a good witness for Jesus Christ. God knew very well that man, left to himself, could only produce flesh. The prophet Joel prophesied about the age when God’s Spirit would be poured out upon all flesh (Joel 2:28-32). Jesus Himself declared that He had to go away so that the Comforter could come (John 16:7). Now, we are all aware of the inability of our flesh to produce fruit or spiritual gifts. However, we often become so concerned about what God is doing in us that we neglect to see why God is working through us. His work is so that His Son Jesus would be glorified. We have been predestined to be conformed to His image. Just as Jesus is the express image of the Father, we are to be the express image of Jesus. Whether we like it or not, we are witnesses for the Lord at all times. And in order to be effective, fruitful witnesses, it’s imperative that we be controlled by the Spirit of God. In fact, the Greek word for witness is “martus”, or the English equivalent, “martyr”. After the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you become a “martyr” for Christ, dying to sin and self. The result? Power … dynamite! May we yield to God’s Spirit more and more, and in so doing become dynamic witnesses for Jesus!

It's Going to Be Okay

March 11, 2018 • Guest Pastor David Crespo

Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV) Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. “CHIPPIE THE PARAKEET” NEVER saw it coming. One second he was peacefully perched in his cage. The next he was sucked in, washed up, and blown over. The problems began when Chippie’s owner decided to clean Chippie’s cage with a vacuum cleaner. She removed the attachment from the end of the hose and stuck it in the cage. The phone rang, and she turned to pick it up. She’d barely said ‘hello’ when ‘sssopp!’ Chippie got sucked in. The bird owner gasped, put down the phone, turned off the vacuum, and opened the bag. There was Chippie– still alive, but stunned. Since the bird was covered with dust and soot, she grabbed him and raced to the bathroom, turned on the faucet, and held Chippie under the running water. Then, realizing that Chippie was soaked and shivering, she did what any compassionate bird owner would do . . she reached for the hair dryer and blasted the pet with hot air. Poor Chippie never knew what hit him. A few days after the trauma, the reporter who’d initially written about the event contacted Chippie’s owner to see how the bird was recovering. ‘Well,’ she replied, ‘Chippie doesn’t sing much anymore. He just sits and stares.’ It’s hard not to see why. Sucked in, washed up, and blown over . . . that’s enough to steal the song from the stoutest heart.

Jesus is Still Our Hope

May 6, 2018 • Guest Pastor Kirk Dudek

What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should prolong my life? Is there any hope for mankind? The Bible says that there is. 1 Timothy 1:1 tells us that Jesus Christ is our hope. In fact, Ephesians 2:12 plainly states that if anyone is living without Christ, he is living without God and has no hope. I’ve often imagined someone drowning, able to see land, and yet with no one to rescue them. That’s what the world is like without Jesus: drowning in hopelessness. Maybe today you feel like there is no hope for you, no reason to live. Perhaps you’ve been an abused or ignored child. Maybe you’ve been a victim of rape or some form of brutality. Some of you may be living under the crushing blows of rejection because your spouse has been unfaithful. There is Someone who loves you and cares about you dearly, and His name is Jesus Christ. He promises to give you hope (Jeremiah 29:11). In fact, “the hope of the gospel” is that when you believe the gospel of Jesus Christ and receive Him into your heart, He will prepare a place for you in heaven and give you a brand new start here on earth. The Scriptures declare that a Christian can be “rejoicing in hope” (Romans 12:12). Indeed, the purpose of the Bible is to give you patience, comfort, and hope (Romans 15:4). Without Jesus, mankind merely exists. God created us for a deeper purpose than mere hopeless, uncertain existence. You have been created to fellowship with God. He gives purpose to both life and (Romans 14:8). This “good hope” I’m talking about comes to you from Jesus and the Father through grace to “comfort your heart and establish you in every good word and work.” (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17)