Something Different

by Steve Chamblee

Greetings from Vail, AZ!   I hope that this update finds you fully satisfied in Jesus!  Here is a testimony from our church:

Charles stood before the congregation of Grace Fellowship one Sunday just a few weeks ago, nervous because of his tremendous fear of public speaking, so I read his testimony.  This highly intellectual eighteen year old young man shared of his battle with depression and his daily fight with suicidal thoughts.  His parents and sister had come to Grace Fellowship about a year ago and given their life to Christ and were baptized.  As he began to notice the change in them, even though he was a self-proclaimed agnostic, he decided to check this faith thing out.  He started slowly by coming early on Sundays and helping the set up crew set up chairs and then he would leave before the service.  As the weeks went on, he began to stick around outside the gym and listen to the service, eventually making it into the service to sit in the very back.   He shared in his testimony that it was the love of the people that caught his attention.  This was not the "snooty", "condemning", "judgmental" church crowd he had expected to encounter... these people were nice!  And there was something different about them.

He even reluctantly went with his father to our men's camp out in April.  He then began hanging out at the church office and helping out when he could.  All along, family and friends were praying!  Then one Monday morning Charles approached me at the church office and declared that he wanted to trust Christ as his savior.  We bowed together and Charles gave his life to Jesus!  What a thrill to see Jesus move people!  This agnostic, intellectual who thought the Christian faith was too simplistic and didn't answer enough questions was now stepping into the waters to testify of his faith in Jesus!   Charles' eternity has been changed.  He still fights the battles of the issues he had before his conversion, but he does so now with real hope!  Please pray for this precious new baby in Christ.  This is the legacy of the gospel which produces a life change and redemption through Christ!  What else is there to live for or to die for?

Thank you for your partnership in this ministry of life change.  Because of your prayers and support, there is a young man in Vail, AZ who will walk with Jesus in eternity!  And there are many more who need to hear the great news that there is a redeemer.   So, please don't stop praying for us in Vail, AZ.   The spiritual warfare is thick and seems to be increasing!  I can only speculate that it's because God is positioning the church in the West for the next Awakening!  Let it be!