THE NEWSVINE, SPRING 2021

THE NEWSVINE

SPRING 2021

REVIVAL CENTER

UNITED PENTECOSTAL CHURCH

825 7th Street, Modesto, CA 95354 Business Phone: 209-522-5365 email us at googlethenewsvine@gmail.com us at: the newsvine or follow us on: issuu.com/thenewsvine

EDITORS

ASST EDITOR MULTIMEDIA

BUSINESS LIAISON

GRAPHIC DESIGN PHOTOGRAPHERS

CREATIVE TEAM

COLUMNISTS

YOUTH REPORTER MAILINGS DISTRIBUTION

LEO AGUILERA VIRGINIA AGUILERA

Tim Warren

Charlene Wilson

Leo & Virginia Aguilera

Leo Aguilera, Grover Hunt

Gabriel Chavoya

Autumn Amador, Tim Warren, Alexis Diaz, Jocelyn Powell

Jim Campbell, Carol Castillo

Alexis Diaz

Virginia Aguilera

Norbert Feliciano

CHURCH STAFF PASTOR H. TODD JOHNSON

BISHOP RANDY G. KEYES

ADMINISTRATIVE PASTOR - JONATHAN QUINONES

YOUTH PASTOR - JOSHUA AGUILERA

Dana Le Blanc

Uday Narayan

CHURCH SECRETARY

RESIDENT MISSIONARIES

SUNDAY SCHOOL DIRECTOR

K.R.E.W. KIDS DIRECTOR PRAYER MINISTRIES

CHOIR

WORLD MISSIONS

OUTREACH DIRECTOR

LIFE GROUPS

PUBLIC RELATIONS

APOSTOLIC MAN MINISTRY

B.U.F.F.(MEN’S 50+)

HYPHEN (YOUNG ADULTS)

THRIVE (YOUNG MARRIEDS)

SPANISH SERVICES

NURSING HOME MINISTRY

BIBLE QUIZZING GROWTH TRACK

A Word From the editors

THEME FOR 2021 - “PURSUE!”

It has been a year since the pandemic hit our state and temporarily shut down everything. It seemed our whole world changed overnight. We went from in-person services to totally online. Thank God, we had young people who quickly and courageously pivoted to learn new technologies and equipment. We cannot imagine the stress of learning how to stream services using multiple cameras, then running both sound and lights. Services are now being offered both in-person and online, and are reaching more people than ever. It is exciting that people are viewing our services across our city, state, and even in other countries. We have people who found us online, came to our services and have been baptized! Thank you, God, for using this pandemic to enable us to reach beyond our walls.

Jerry Powell

Jonathan Quinones

Jeremiah Williams

Charlene Wilson

Uday Narayan, Xenn Seah

Mary Aguirre

Sujay Diaz

Charles & Joyce Bispo

Kellee Hopper, Matt Aguirre

Jerry & Andrea Powell

Leonard Alvarez

Jonathan Quinones

Jeremiah Williams

Alex Diaz

Herb Jenkins

Chris & Lindsay Castro

Chris & Lindsay Castro

Antonio Gutierrez

Joyce Jones

Sujay Diaz

Dana Le’ Blanc

Weekly Service Schedule

SUNDAY - 10:30 A.M. 12:30 P.M. 12:30 P.M.

MONDAY - 7:00 P.M.

WEDNESDAY - 7:00 P.M.

THURSDAY - 7:30 p.m.

FRIDAY - 7:00 P.M.

SATURDAY - 10:00 A.M.

The pandemic, although trying, is not stopping the church of the living God. After starting the year with communion and a time of prayer and fasting, we have moved into soul-winning mode with revival and prayer services. We were blessed by the ministries of many powerful preachers including Dannie Hood, Mark Morgan, A.J. Holloway, Taylor Fairbanks, Victor Jackson, Landon Gore, Mark Shutes, and Stan and Juli Jasinski. Wow! We have had some amazing services. And the best part is that people are still being baptized and still receiving the Holy Ghost - even during a pandemic. Praise God!

We are in the midst of a remodeling program, kicked off by a spring sacrificial offering. Our goal is to replace our sanctuary seating and carpeting, both of which are long overdue. We are thankful for God’s provision and look forward to seeing the end result.

Morning Service - Sanctuary, KREW

Growth Track - Youth Chapel

Spanish/English Service - Sanctuary

All-Church Prayer

Mid-Week Service, KREW

Spanish Service

Pulse (Youth Service)

Saturday Morning Outreach

THE NEWSVINE is published quarterly by the United Pentecostal Church of Modesto, Inc., 825 7th St., Modesto, CA 95354-3414. Postage paid at 825 7th St., Modesto, CA 95354-3414. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Newsvine, 825 7th St., Modesto, CA 95354-3414. Any submitted articles to The Newsvine are subject to pastor’s approval and editing by The Newsvine staff.

We do not know what 2021 will bring but are confident in our God. With Pursue, as this year’s theme, we will keep pressing forward with our eyes focused on the harvest. May He Who is ever faithful, find us faithful until the end. Maranatha - He is coming!

Editors Leo and Virginia Aguilera

“Every page an altar to His works!”

WHY CHRISTIANS CAN’T QUIT CHURCH!

ALARMING STATISTICS

The COVID-19 pandemic has not done any favors to church attendance across America and around the globe. In fact, a recent March 29 Gallup poll has shown record lows in church, synagogue, and mosque membership. As houses of worship open once again, former members are reluctant to return. For the first time in nearly a century, U.S. houses of worship had their membership fall to less than half of the population. Only 47 percent of Americans say they are members of a church, mosque, or synagogue. In 1999 and 1940, it was 70 percent and 73 percent respectively.

The same Gallup poll shows an increase of Americans who say they don’t have any affiliation with any particular religious belief. Twenty years ago, the percentage was 8 percent - today it is an alarming 21 percent! It is a double-digit decrease with older generations and a bad example to the younger generation. Young people across America are likely to admit they are more secular, not belonging to any religion, and apt to speculate the existence of a divine being. This is a trend taking place more so across the western states and significantly in Christian churches than mosques and synagogues.

What about other countries? The Pew Research center surveyed citizens in Great Britain, Japan, and Spain. They were asked the question if religion played a vital role in their lives since the pandemic. The numbers were astonishingly low - 16 percent for Spaniards, 10 percent for Britons, and 5 percent for Japanese.

WHY THE DECLINE?

The world says institutionalized religions deserve what they get. Mainline churches stick to dated hymns and lack vibrant worship. Mosques and synagogues remain extremely ritualistic. These religions have not kept up with the times. Instead of concentrating on spiritual improvement, they fail to focus on evangelism and would rather be concerned with racial division which leads to political fundamentalism. Outside the United States, animosity, bias, and religious politics can be dangerous and even deadly with Jews, Christians, and Muslims. But America has shockingly seen radical terrorism increase within our borders when the new millennium began.

The younger generation is withdrawing quickly from religious institutions: the political bickering, and the lack of leadership. They are becoming disenchanted and more cynical with a faithless, secular worldview. With a rise in suicide among the young, to quit everything this deadly way cannot be ignored!

WHAT CAN APOSTOLIC PENTECOSTALS DO?

This pandemic is not the first time the Pentecostal movement was devastated by a plague. Right after the Azusa revival

in 1906, Pentecostalism spread like wildfire across America and around the world. Then in 1918, the Spanish influenza pandemic sickened over half a billion across the globe, and 50 million died worldwide - 675,000 in the U.S alone. Church meetings and large gatherings were banned, radical measures were taken to shut down the country, and extreme quarantines were practiced with the ill. Many mainline churches lost membership. But when the pandemic was over, Pentecostal churches focused on prayer meetings, divine healing, sincere worship, evangelism, missionary outreach, and holy consecration. Church members did not quit, but membership grew rapidly in numbers. The Pentecostal movement from then to this day remains the fastest growing Christian church in many nations, including our own.

Why must we as Apostolic Pentecostals apply the same historical principles to maintain active membership? Because the harvest field we are commanded by Christ to evangelize is full of individuals with a decline in religious beliefs who have now formed a huge vacuum within themselves. It is human nature for human beings to search for meaning, a sense of belonging and authoritative structure. They want to give their loyalty to something or someone. Today they are filling this vacuum with political fanaticism, atheistic reasoning, immorality, addictions, pursuit of materialism, mockery of religious beliefs, and entertainment, particularly sports. It is interesting to note that Archbishop John Chrysostrom in A.D. 398, after Christianity became the state religion for the Roman Empire, complained that Christian believers had left the church, “deserting us for the spectacle of horse racing.” He referred to chariot races becoming an obsession for the populace. Today more sports games are scheduled for Sundays than any other day of the week. Sports fans know more statistical data of players and teams than stories and verses of the Holy Bible. The harvest field lacks a moral compass. It is a polarized society, unnaturally hooked on social media, a decline of values, absorbed in dysfunctionalism, with a growing disease of selfishness. The harvest field is also filled with those suffering from alienation, depression, and apathy. Many in the field are backsliders who perhaps are more guilt-ridden than others.

STAY!

We as true Christians must not quit but step in to save those who have, and those who have never had the experience of belonging to the body of Christ. We have the true message of salvation for the harvest field, the gospel of Jesus Christ given to the apostles after our Savior’s ascension. We must show the world we are here, faithfully keeping the church doors open for all, and we must go out and witness and actively invite all to our dynamic services. We as Apostolic Pentecostal Christians must proclaim, “WE HAVE NOT QUIT!”

recent events

1st Sunday of the Year - “Pursue after His Will!”

“It’s OK to look back, but we’ve got to look forward.”

- Pastor Johnson

“...accepting the things we can’t control, and taking charge of the things we can control.”

- Pastor Johnson.

January & February Services

Josh Aguilera and the ensemble lead the church into worship singing, “Nothing’s Impossible, Our God Reigns!”

Revival Service, Dannie Hood

Pastor Dannie Hood of Landmark Tabernacle, Denver, Colorado, preaches “What God Did the Last Time Is Not the Last Time!”

https://youtu.be/WA8ZxBTPK_0

Revival Service, Mark Morgan

Pastor of Abounding Grace of San Francisco, California, Mark Morgan, preaches “From Place to Place.” He proclaimed, “It’s time for the church to wake up to the supernatural provision of God.”

https://youtu.be/HWX9q1Zib3U

RC Hosts WD Network of Prayer

Revival Center was honored to host the Western District Network of Prayer - churches united to pray for their communities and our nation.

February, March, and April Services

Revival Service, A.J. Holloway

Revival Service, Taylor Fairbanks

Evangelist A.J. Holloway preaches

”One to Rule the Night.” He declared, “God is not intimidated by chaos.”

https://youtu.be/o0hntPjnz68

Pastor

teaches on Apostolic culture.”Apostolic Culture is less about receiving and all about giving,” he declared.

https://youtu.be/Bf5HGuOlIsI

Revival Services - Mark Shutes

Our young people pray during a revival service altar call. God, raise up this generation to do great things for You!

Missionary and Director of Evangelism for the former Soviet Union, Mark Shutes, has an amazing gift of teaching and preaching. From left, he teaches on the gifts of the Spirit. In the next pictures, hearers put the word into practice by praying for one another. https://youtu.be/E6KzT-5r93g

Taylor Fairbanks of Vessel Church, Baton Rouge,

evAngelist Focus

During the first 100 days of this year, our church was blessed by the powerful ministries of many great men of God. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, we, the editors, were not able to physically cover many of these services as we waited to be vaccinated. However, we were able to get fully vaccinated in time to cover the revival services of Evangelists Victor Jackson and Landon Gore. Here is a glimpse into these services, and we highly recommend you go back and listen to their anointed preaching on our YouTube channel. Their messages are life-changing.

Evangelist Victor Jackson

Evangelist Victor Jackson preaches “Great Faith.” He declared, “The same events that cause people to leave God are the same events that cause people to cleave to God.”

https://youtu.be/fdzuLIriKoo

Victor Jackson is not only an experienced evangelist both in the United States and abroad, he is well-educated with a master’s degree in Theological Studies. When he preaches, he also educates with his vast knowledge of the scriptures. Revival Center has been blessed by his ministry, and we are thankful that he has been able to fit our church into his busy schedule of revivals, youth camps, camp-meetings, and conferences. Come back soon, Brother Jackson!

Evangelist Victor Jackson with his lovely wife Luisa

Evangelist Landon Gore

Evangelist Landon Gore hails from Wylie, Texas, and is a graduate of Texas Bible College. He preached, “The Storm on the Way to the Storm.” (https://youtu.be/o75rkhBYGt0) Referring to the storm on the Sea of Galilee while Jesus and His disciples were crossing, he exclaimed, “Nothing in our life happens by accident, but everything in our world is by divine design.... Everything is strategic.” In his sermon entitled, “This Same Hour” (https://youtu.be/LshkIl7WeJw), he spoke of the gentile woman who asked Jesus to make her daughter whole. She argued that even the dogs eat the crumbs under the master’s table. Brother Gore used bread to illustrate God’s miracles. With faith, our Lord Jesus is waiting for us to pick them up. up.

ministry Focus Growth Track

New to Revival Center? Looking to find out more about our church? Want to get involved? Well, Growth Track was designed just for you! Several years ago our church started Growth Track in order to take new members by the hand and introduce them to our church, teaching them how to live a consecrated Christian life, and helping them to find their place in God’s kingdom. Interested? Classes meet on Sundays at 12:30, currently in the youth chapel, and are taught by instructors: Director Dana Le’Blanc , Vinnie Zapien, Barbara Seah, Chris Harris, and Carol Castillo. Unable to attend in person? Classes are also accessible via Zoom. For more information, contact director Dana Le’Blanc. We are excited to have you a part of Revival Center. Welcome!

Growth Track Kick Off

Plowing the Field:

Prayer Walk Breaks Down Strongholds

InApril, our church was blessed with Prayer Walk

Training presented by Stan and Juli Jasinski. This powerful program by the National Harvest Prayer Evangelism, a ministry of UPCI’s World Network of Prayer, was developed through written contributions from: Sister Flo Shaw, Sister Juli Jasinski, Brother Phillip Hofstetter, Sister Lisa Marshall, and Sister Thetus Tenney. What makes this instruction unique is that it not only teaches principles of prayer, but it puts these teachings into action by the local church with anointed prayer.

The initial training began on a Friday night with the focus on why prayer walking is so important for revival, the steps to take to prepare prior to conducting a prayer walk, and how to pray strongholds down in a community. The Jasinskis provided exciting examples of the results of several of their prior prayer walks, which have taken them across the United States and around the world. At the conclusion, the church gathered in the altar to anoint themselves with oil and to pray to break down the strongholds in their individual lives. Those gathered then broke into groups to anoint with oil and pray for all parts of the church and for the pastor and all those who minister. It was powerful to see and hear members praying throughout the sanctuary pews and beyond to other parts of our property, including our visitors’ parking.

On Saturday morning, members met again for additional training, including: the “Armor of God,” “Weapons of our Warfare”, and “How to do Spiritual Warfare Praying”. The attendees were then broken up into groups and assigned various areas in our city to go to and pray and anoint. The goal was to strategically target these strongholds to break their influence as if plowing a field to ready it for harvest. Look out, Modesto, Revival Center, is prayerfully armed and ready for spiritual battle!

The Jasinskis, always busy with winning souls for God’s kingdom, pray for a child. Their burden is real, and they are true prayer warriors, breaking down strongholds around the world.

Revs. Stan & Juli Jasinski

Our young people pray and anoint our parking lot under the supervision of Youth Pastor Josh Aguilera.

A group of men pray at the Stanislaus County Courthouse. On the other side of the wall is where prisoners wait to enter the courtrooms for their trials.

These lovely ladies prayed for the Stanislaus County Office of Education and the Modesto City Schools’ district office buildings

With hands lifted, prayer is made in front of the officer memorial located in front of the Modesto Police Department.

Prayer was also made in front of the county and city offices at 10th Street Place.

Prayer Walk - Continued

Saturday Morning Prayer Walk Training

Thank you Barb Seah for arranging to bring the Jasinskis to our church for Prayer Walk training. It was an informative and inspiring time. May it produce great fruits of revival across our city in Jesus’ name.

Jeremiah Williams opens with prayer.

Vinney Zapien “The Armor of God”

Bob Evans “Weapons of Our Warfare”

Stan Jasinski “7 Points toward Effective Prayer Walking”

Juli Jasinski “How to Prayer Walk & Disengagement”

Ruben Dominguez “Things to Pray for Your City”

Barb Seah “Strongholds of Your City”

The Jasinskis explain how to do spiritual warfare praying

Map of Modesto with targeted prayer walk sites

Child Evangelists Bring a Crusade to KREW

The dynamic Child Evangelists, Brother Brent and Sister Rachel Regnart (right photo), came down from Stockton, California, to hold a one-service crusade this spring with our KREW children’s ministry directed by Sister Sujey Diaz. The Regnarts have been called to this ministry for many years, and Brother Regnart is effective in leading inspirational worship and telling the best illustrative Bible lesson ever! Both are graduates from Stockton Bible College. Brother Regnart is also the Academic Dean of Stockton Christian Academy. His years of experience as an educator shows his natural talent of grabbing and retaining the attention of children of any age! He drew a great prayerful response from the children. May God continue to bless the Regnarts, and may they come back soon!

KREW Is Back!

Thenews that you have been waiting for is here: KREW is back! Now your elementary child has a special service on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights tailored just for them. Watch for the announcement on the screen during services to see when the children will be dismissed to participate. Below are pictures from recent KREWservices. A huge thank you to our staff for their dedication--and energy! By the way, our Toddler Class, JAM, is back as well. Thank you, Jesus!

KREW Director Sujey Diaz teaches KREW girls a lesson on Jesus’ love.

KREW teacher Joshua Williams instructs the boys in the upper room.

community outreAch

Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Service

Our church hosted this year’s socially distanced Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday celebration for our community. The service was streamed with limited attendance due to the pandemic. Brother Jeremiah Williams was the master of ceremonies. Many from our area participated; from members of law enforcement, to civic leaders, to passionate young people. Many speeches alluded to the social unrest in our country but focused on striving for unity and cooperation. Yes, progress has been made, but we have not yet arrived. Amid the various speeches were songs beautifully performed by Sheelah Grant-Williams and Tasha Wilson. A powerful rendition of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech was given by Jakhi Nichols, as well as an emotional free verse by Michael Baldwin. We were honored to have President Wendy Byrd of the Modesto chapter of the NAACP as the keynote speaker.

As we honor the life of this great American, Martin Luther King, Jr., may his words be an inspiration to our life and community: “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” When Jesus asked who proved to be a neighbor in the retelling of the Good Samaritan, the people answered that it was the one who showed mercy. Jesus then responded: “You go, and do likewise” (Luke 10:36 ESV). That is the message to us today. Despite the color of someone’s skin, their religious or political views--all are our neighbors. Let us endeavor each day to do something to support the lives of those around us. Let us be doers of the word and not hearers only...

(Link to streamed service: https://youtu.be/2csbwAWu8sQ

Wendy Byrd NAACP President Modesto Chapter Keynote Speaker

Rev. Jeremiah Williams RC Public Relations Event Emcee Pledge of Allegiance

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

Galen Carroll (holding plaque), former Modesto Police Chief, is honored by Reverend Darius Crosby and the Modesto Police Clergy Council.

Statue of Martin Luther King, Jr. in the Kelly Ingram Park, Birmingham, Alabama - Library of Congress

Thank you to Nicole Evans for providing ASL interpretation and to our tech team of Kiah Williams, Tim Warren, and Jon and Brianna Harris. Also thank you to Kyle Barker from Barker’s Music for providing our organ music.

Tasha Wilson Solo - “Precious Lord” and “Stand Up”

Deborah Sullivan Board President Kennedy-King Center Jakhi Nichols “I Have a Dream”

Michael Baldwin Life Experiences

Lauren Williams Welcome

Sheelah Grant-Williams “Lift Every Voice and Sing” Black National Anthem

Rev. Bobby Evans Service Prayer

Sheriff Jeff Dirkse Stanislaus County

Mani Grewal Stanislaus County Supervisor

Chief Brandon Gillespie Modesto Chief of Police

Rabbi Shalom Bochner Congregation Beth Shalom

Terry Withrow Stanislaus County Supervisor

Ted Brandwold Former Mayor Modesto

Representative for Congressman Josh Harder

40 Years of Revival Center Ministry

The Newsvine Salutes Bishop Randy and Sister Sharon Keyes

(EDITOR”S NOTE: What better way to celebrate Bishop Randy Keyes 40 years of tenure as active pastor then emeritus bishop by sharing with our faithful readers his and Sister Sharon Keyes’ testimonies of how God’s divine plan brought them to Modesto. Many of our members, new converts and the younger generation, have never had the blessing of reading their testimonies. The last rendition in the Newsvine was decades ago. Now is the time to read their dynamic testimonies of faith again and be inspired!)

YOUNG SISTER SHARON KEYES

Sister Sharon Keyes was born on January 3, 1952, to Harold and June Langford in the Southern California town of Van Nuys. She was the middle child with an older brother named Dennis and a younger sister named Christine.

As long as she can remember, Sister Keyes’ family has always been Oneness Pentecostal. Her family attended Truth Tabernacle in Los Angeles, pastored by her grandfather, Brother Sherman Langford. Her grandfather originally came from Mena, Arkansas. They migrated to California in the 1930s.

Sister Keyes’ family then moved to the San Fernando Valley where she attended Garden Grove Elementary School. Her father, who was a general contractor, had the family attend a small church in Culver City. She remembers sleeping under the pews. During this time the family moved back and forth between California and the family compound in Shreveport, Louisiana. There the old home site had 400 acres in Elm Grove. The farmhouse was like a retreat for all the Langford family members.

At the age of nine years, Sister Keyes attended the youth camp at Frasier Park. There she became convicted of her need to be baptized in the Holy Ghost. Within a moment’s time, she and many of her young friends received this great experience. It was an incredible feeling that she will never forget. A week later, Sister Keyes was baptized by her uncle, Brother Delbert Langford, back in Truth Tabernacle.

When she was a freshman in high school, her father

moved her family back to Elm Grove, Louisiana. She started attending Bossier City High School where she had a lot of problems being accepted by the students due to her standards. She was set apart by her schoolmates because of her long, Apostolic hair and no make-up. She began to experience severe harassment on the school bus. There were several boys who taunted her. One boy in particular became violent with her. It became such a nightmare to Sister Keyes that she dreaded going to school each day. Fortunately, the bus driver was on her side and watched out for her. But one day, the bully grabbed her by the hair and pulled her completely out of the bus seat, knocking her down to the floor. He was disciplined by the bus driver and the school authorities, but even so, Sister Keyes remained frightened and expected retaliation. Her parents temporarily solved the problem by allowing her to drive to school in the beginning of her junior year. Still unhappy, Sister Keyes finally asked if she could go to a Christian high school. The Langfords knew the Haney family in Stockton quite well, and they made plans for her to attend the Apostolic high school. Sister Lois Siebold (McDonald) was the dean of the girl’s dorm. Sister Keyes’ roommate was Sister Nancy Jorgensen Grandquist). She had to make

a big adjustment when she entered the school at midterm. She missed her family who had moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where they were attending Brother Wesson’s church. Her life was about to make a major change when in her senior year, Sister Keyes saw a young man preach on Tuesday Jubilee night. She thought he was very cute and a fine preacher. She found out that his name was Brother Randy G. Keyes from the Fresno area. She was determined to get to know him.

YOUNG BROTHER RANDY KEYES

Brother Randy G. Keyes was born in Fresno, California, on October 7, 1950. His family attended the church in Kerman, but the pastor before Brother Keyes was born went “latter rain,” which was a more liberal movement. His parents, along with a handful of other saints, decided to form their own United Pentecostal Church. It was during this time that Brother Keyes was born to Isaac and Bonnie Keyes. He has an older brother, Rick Keyes, who pastored the church in Santa Maria and was the sectional Presbyter.

In the first months of life, Brother Keyes could not eat. He could not keep anything down. His concerned parents took him to the doctor who could not discover the cause of his malady. His mother spent hours feeding him. They were sent to all kinds of specialists who made only one confirmation--he was dying. He constantly vomited up his food. If it was not for his mother who made sure that some of his food did not come up, he would have died the first year of his life. Being that they had no pastor yet, they had no one to pray for their son. They became desperate and took the child to the church building which was newly completed at that time. They cried out to God to heal their son. Brother and Sister Keyes felt the power of God. When they took the young child back home and Sister Keyes fed her son, nothing came upj! She cried out to her husband who also witnessed the little boy gobble his food down. They in-

stantly knew that their precious son had been healed. Soon afterwards, he began to crawl and to walk. He was now a healthy toddler. Doctors wanted him back for more tests to determine why he was now well, but Sister Keyes said no.

As Brother Keyes began to grow up, he remembers one beautiful memory from his first four years of life. He knew his father prayed every morning, kneeling by his chair in the living room. Brother Keyes remembers waking up in the morning, hearing his father praying in the next room, and then going there in his pajamas to stand near his father and listen to him pray. Even though he did not understand what his father was doing, he felt a beautiful peace just standing there. Elder Brother Keyes would sometimes lay his hands on his son and continue praying. Brother Keyes knows that his father kept up his prayer time every morning of his life until Alzheimer’s disabled him.

When Brother Keyes was five years old, he became convicted of baptism. He understood that the blood of Jesus Christ must be applied to his life so that his sins would be washed away. After convincing his parents and Pastor Odell Cagle, he was baptized in the San Joaquin River.

He remembers his boyhood being a perfect situation. In the pleasant neighborhood in which he lived, his home was a modest one, but full of love. His father was a barber and his mother, a homemaker. School was fun for Brother Keyes. He often seemed to be “teacher’s pet,” and he averaged a 3.75 grade point average or higher. Only at times did he feel embarrassed and uncomfortable that his friends noticed he had no television. He also had to respect his parents’ standard, which meant at times he could not participate in other children’s activities. His parents were faithful to the house of God and expected their children to do likewise. His dad was an outdoors man who taught the young Brother Keyes to hunt and fish. Brother Keyes also liked baseball and played the game as much as possible. He remembers his family having family altars every night of his life. Even on vacation, his father would take the Sunday school quarterlies and use them for the family altar.

There was a character flaw that Brother Keyes felt was uncontrollable about himself. He had a very bad temper. He remembers he gave his older brother a hard time. He also had an adversary in the school named Larry Leister, whom he fought with more than once. He remembers one time pinning Larry down and placing his knees on his shoulders. He knew this was the perfect opportunity to slug Larry in the face, but he spared him and allowed him to get up. No sooner had he done this, Larry Leister slugged him, giving him a black eye. When Brother Keyes got home, his parents let him know that they did not approve of his fighting.

Young Randy Keyes sitting by his dad; Rick Keyes on his right.

HIS CALLING WITH A VISION

Soon afterwards the church appointed Albert Cagle as their new pastor. During this time, the church congregation began to grow. Brother Nathan Wilson, who pastors in Sacramento, was the youth leader at the time. At the age of 11, the church was having excellent services where the power of God was manifested in wonderful ways. One night, Brother Keyes felt the need to pray and seek for the Holy Ghost. He knew several, including his parents and Brother Wilson, were praying for him. Suddenly, Brother Keyes felt a supernatural infilling. He began to speak in other tongues, and he saw like a vision the cloven tongues as of fire. He knows that the Holy Ghost changed him, because he had better control of his temper after that.

As he entered his teen years, he struggled with the thought that his baptism at age five was not bona fide. Pastor Cagle told him to lay aside these doubts by being re-baptized. Brother Keyes was baptized again in the wonderful name of Jesus at the age of 13.

During his junior high and high school years, at his parents’ allowance he was old enough to make his own decision, Brother Keyes chose to try out for the baseball team. He played second base. In his sophomore year, he was asked to play varsity. He would be lettered before any other sophomore athlete in school. He also was maintaining an A average at the time. However, when he entered the spring season of his sophomore year, his spirit was grieved because of the atmosphere he felt in the locker rooms and dugout. His teammates said off-colored jokes, and he was expected to laugh and join in the fun. Some of his teammates called him the “preacher” and the “holy roller.” He resented the ones who scoffed him. He was not enjoying playing baseball. He came home one day and began to pray. He recommitted himself to God, and he knew the Lord was dealing with him to quit. He called his baseball coach, Bill Stephens and told him, “This is Randy. I’m not going to be back.” The coach asked him, “Why?” Brother Keyes told him that is was conflicting with his church. He was surprised that the coach did not harass him, but allowed him to resign, even though he was losing an all-star player.

A few weeks after he made his call to his coach, Brother Keyes was moved to linger after church service. He stayed in the sanctuary after midnight praying alone. During that night, he received a vision. He saw a wide expanse of a field of grain disappearing into the horizon. It was ripe for harvest. He would see the same vision 15 years later. He knew that the Lord was calling him for the ministry. Shortly after that, he succeeded his brother as youth leader. On Friday night he began to preach. At first he was timid, but then he

allowed the anointing of God to take over. In his junior and senior year, he continued to maintain an “A” average and became a life member of the California Scholarship Federation. In his college entrance exam he ranked in the top two percent of the state.

BIBLE COLLEGE

His counselor wanted him to apply to a pre-med school, and Brother Keyes was considering the University of Texas where he would eventually study at the Debakey Heart Center in Houston, Texas. He asked the Lord for guidance, and one day he applied for the Sheaves for Christ Scholarship. Only one student was selected every year to receive a scholarship to a Bible college of their choice. Before he graduated, a telegram came from the General Conqueror’s President announcing that he had won the scholarship. Brother Keyes knew then that he would be attending the Western Apostolic Bible College, now Christian Life College, in Stockton. Brother Keyes left for Bible college early in the summer. He described himself as 6 feet tall and a skinny 140 pounds. But he was always careful about dress and grooming. He appreciated that Elder Kenneth Haney took him under his wing. He allowed him to preach the first jubilee service in September.

Brother Keyes remembers that he was still 17 years old when he appeared before the sectional board to apply for his ministerial license. He went under Brother Kenneth Haney’s recommendation. He remembers Brother Sam White asking him in front of the other ministers, “Brother Randy, don't’ you know that you have to be 18 years old to apply?” Brother Sam Cagle then broke in and said, “He may be 17, Brother White, but he has been coming to church for 18 years. His mother was faithful when she carried him.” They gave him his license that day.

While at Bible school, Brother Keyes remembers doing work duty for Brother Leo Gomez in the kitchen. One day he went to the library to study. He noticed a young girl vacuuming the carpet. He claims she bumped his chair intentionally. He looked up and the young girl said, “Hi.” He was immediately attracted to her and found out that her name was Sister Sharon Langford. They began to see each other throughout the year, and then Sister Sharon Keyes graduated from the high school. When she returned for her freshman year, Brother Keyes asked her to marry him.

They were engaged for one year and were then married in Truth Tabernacle on June 1, 1970, by her uncle Pastor Delbert Langford.

THE CALL TO PASTOR AND EVANGELIZE

Elder Kenneth Haney wanted Brother and Sister Keyes to return to the Bible college, but Brother Keyes felt led to start evangelizing. Their first revival was at her uncle’s church. They were scheduled for other revivals until the end of 1970. They then had a revival at Mendota where the pastor asked them to take the church.

Brother Keyes accepted the pastorship and moved the church to Firebaugh. There he and the congregation built a new building. At times, Brother Keyes worked alone. Sister Keyes who was pregnant at the time, walked every day to her job cleaning rooms in a motel - a motel frequented by truckers who tended to leave their rooms a challenge to clean. Within two years, they built the congregation from 12 to over 100. He then was asked to pastor in Prescott, Arizona. Sister Keyes was excited as her family lived in nearby Phoenix. However, Sister Keyes preferred the life of evangelizing. He accepted the pastorship and increased the church from 70 to 150 members in two years. It was a progressive church which kept a good standard. He also became the Conqueror’s President in the state of Arizona.

Brother Keyes felt that there was a ceiling on his ministry because it was a retirement area. People were not as open to the gospel. He knew evangelism was in his blood, and he regretfully left the church for four more years of evangelizing. He was now 26 years old, and he and Sister Keyes with young Kim began a great evangelistic harvesting. They held revivals in Turlock, Modesto, Stockton, Fresno, Riverside, San Jose, San Diego, Houston, Dallas, and Flint, Michigan, just to name a few. Doors opened everywhere. He held three revivals in Modesto for Brother Dansby.

MODESTO BECKONS

In 1981, Brother Dansby asked Brother Keyes to apply for the pastorship of Modesto. Brother Keyes knew that the Modesto church had the greatest potential for fantastic growth as he had previously told his wife. Three other churches had invited him to come as pastor which were much larger and more generous financially, but the Holy Spirit prompted him to chose Modesto!

The congregation numbered about 142 members including their children. There were two buses running in the Sunday School Department, and their Tuolumne

Christian School had shut down. Brother Keyes admits that he never lost his drive to evangelize. He began to blend this ministry with his pastorship. The congregation quickly caught on to the burden of soul winning. Soon visitors began to pack the pews. Brother Keyes remembers a huge surge of sinners coming in during this time. Many were from the Hispanic community. He remembers Sister Suzie Evans’ conversion and many of her family members following her through the Tuolumne doors. He also remembers Sister Josie Barraza’s conversion and the Loronas. Brother Charles Bispo was dynamic in bringing many from his work. Soon the Tuolumne sanctuary was packed every Sunday night. More buses were purchased, the Tuolumne Christian School was reopened under the principalship of Brother Darryl Wilson. Sister Janet Drury organized an effective music department that began to foster talent from younger members like Sister Shurece Hunt. Sister Quigley led the chorale for many years, adding to the services inspired singing. All this took place within two years.

It was not long before Brother Keyes realized the church had to expand in building space. Projections were made for the Tuolumne property, and the church leaders found out that an expanded sanctuary would only hold at most 650 souls. Brother Keyes had a greater vision than this. He knew this church had the potential to number in the thousands. That’s when he seriously began to consider the big, white abandoned building on 7th and I.

After much prayer and many miracles, the building was purchased and renovation began. Many of his friends raised their eyebrows as they toured the vast auditorium originally designed to be a movie theater. But our pastor kept revival fires alive through anointed leadership. In less than ten years two phases opened up the entire auditorium to the size of our sanctuary today.

These testimonies cannot do justice to the legacy these two leave in the long history of our church. Many more years would follow with more building projects, ministries birthed and, above all, a huge missionary outreach to all points of the globe. Truly Bishop Keyes will be remembered as a “missionary pastor.” How many souls have been saved locally and worldwide because of his burden for the harvest fields cannot be earthly fathomed. Though the light was dim when he came, he left with a much brighter glow for all who will follow.

May our Lord Jesus Christ give Bishop Keyes and his devoted wife great blessings and new adventures until He returns.

Bishop’s Heart for the Harvest

With a burden for missions,

at RC.

Marching to the new building on the corner of 7th and I Streets.

Bishop Keyes celebrates as our fundraising goal was met, allowing us to double the size of our sanctuary.

Bishop Keyes stands before the wall that was demolished, doubling the size of our sanctuary.

Preaching to hundreds of thousands gathered for a crusade in Ethiopia.

Bishop Keyes established year- ly mission conferences

Bishop Randy Keyes with his mother and brother Rick at the dedication of the Isaac A. Keyes Memorial UPC Center for Christian Studies in Thailand.

Missions trip to Fiji Bishop Keyes and Julio Hernandez who partnered together to establish 38 Span- ish-speaking churches and preaching points in the North Bay and beyond.

Bishop Keyes with Brother Gordon Mallory at a massive gathering in the Philippines.

Bishop Keyes preaching at the national convention in Venezuela. He remembers the cloud of dust that arose in the arena as the people enthusiastically worshipped God.

A Word From India - Chacko Thomas

Elder Chacko Thomas is a man with a great burden for the people of India. His organization, Lighthouse Ministries India, provides:

• Help to children under the poverty line with education, food & hostel expenses.

• Support for poor families with unaffordable medical circumstances.

• Village development focusing on water resources by boring wells, moral training, child education.

• Moral development training to people to reduce crime in the society.

Please keep Elder Thomas and the people of India in your prayers. There is a great spiritual need in India, a country of more than one billion souls.

April 10, 2021

Greetings in the almighty name of our Lord Jesus!

I pray this update finds you well in the Lord. Amid this virus pandemic, I pray that the Lord will keep you all safe in His hands.

A short update about the ministry in India... This year has seen a great start to the ministry. God has been adding new thirsty souls to His church. Plenty of new people are coming to hear the Word of God and see His wondrous work in their lives. New opportunities are opening to preach the Gospel and start cell groups. But as the new Covid cases surged infecting 10,000 in the city and 400,000 in the state, we are suddenly under a lockdown again. So this whole month we will not be able to go out and evangelize. We are going back to online services from this Sunday.

In February we celebrated our Mumbai church's anniversary and three village church anniversaries. We also gave out sarees (Indian clothes) to about 50 widows in our village churches to make this season special for them and to honor them. God has been faithful all these years in leading and providing for our ministry through big-hearted and ministry-burdened friends like you. It was a time of thanksgiving and lifting up our church and partners in gratitude to the Lord. Thank you for standing with us in this work and helping to reach the Gospel to the unreached in India.

Persecution incidents continue to rise, mostly in northern India. The government is labeling all conversions as 'forced conversions' and taking harsh actions against them with imprisonment up to 10 years for those doing it. Please keep our missionaries serving there in your prayers, and for the pastors and the church believers.

I continue to pray for you all. I understand there are challenges there also with the virus situation. I am praying for God's hand to be upon you all and the church. Thank you for your precious prayers for us. May the Lord richly bless you and all that you do - keeping you and your family safe and rejoicing in Him!

Yours in His service, Chacko

Web - www.cjcindia.org

Chacko Thomas

A Christmas Miracle!

A Teacher’s Testimony in the Midst of the Pandemic

In the following testimony, Sister Julie Chavoya shares how God miraculously met the needs of her students this past Christmas and allowed her to share her faith with her principal and colleagues.

In the twelfth month on the ninth day of 2020, while teaching my 6th grade ELD (English Learning Development) class remotely via Zoom, I had asked my students to tell me one thing they would like for Christmas this year. Because many of them are apprehensive to speak aloud since most of these students in this class have little to no English language proficiency, I asked them to type their response in the chat to me only. Much to my chagrin, I watched as my students' responses came through:

and send me money. I said, “Of course! I will make sure the money goes back to the students maybe in the form of a grocery gift card for those most in need.”

By December 17th, I had a total of $270 in my account that had been sent to me via electronic transfer. Since it was now the Thursday before the winter break, I headed to a Food For Less grocery store (since that is the grocery store my students frequent in Stockton, CA) and purchased fifteen $20 grocery gift cards. This was quite a long process as the cashier made me purchase one card at a time. That meant swiping my debit card twice with each transaction and closing the lane to others who were in line behind me ready to pay for their groceries.

After this long process, I went and sat in my car and took a picture of the gift cards. Then I created a new post on Facebook thanking the generous secret givers who made this possible. Before I could even put the phone down to leave the parking lot, the same brother called me and said, “Sister, I saw that you bought gift cards but I haven’t sent you any money yet.”

“What do you mean? I received $275. Wasn’t that from you?”

That night, as I considered the day's events, with a heavy heart, I prayed for my students that God would somehow meet their needs. I then posted a simple post on Facebook that said, “Asked my ELD students today to tell me one thing they want for Christmas and many typed “food” in the chat.”

That same night I received a call from a brother we know from our previous church in Union City saying my post brought tears to his eyes. He explained that he works for a very affluent school district in the Bay Area, and they just don’t see first hand this level of need. Most of their students are asking for the latest technology, video games or cell-phones, etc. He asked if he could share my post

“No, I don’t know who sent that to you, but brace yourself… I have another $2,100 for your students! I shared your post with some others from church and some of my co-workers and about five of us raised this money for you - can I send it to you now?”

I explained how he could transfer the money and asked if he would mind if I went to Target instead, since there is no way in the world I could possibly get into that long line again to buy one gift card at a time. He agreed.

So I made it to the bank to pull out the cash, drove to Target, went to the self checkout line, and made 4 separate transactions purchasing seven $70 gift cards at a time ($490 was just under $500 and would not require customer service) until I had enough for my entire class of 29

students. Thus, all students received $70 to Target and some received an additional $20 to Food For Less. I then called my principal- it was now just after 6:00pm. I explained what just happened and how I wanted to know if it is possible that I could teach at school the next day and hand out these cards if I follow all Covid-19 protocols. She agreed to let me teach in the teacher’s lounge. There I could set up a table so that, as students came to the front office, they could be directed to me just across the hall where I could pass the items across the table.

The next morning, I asked my students in the live Zoom meeting to gather their families around their computers for the news I was about to tell them. I told them to turn on their cameras because I wanted to see their reactions. I explained that I have some very generous friends who wanted to make sure that they had a very Merry Christmas this year. When I explained that each student will receive a $70 gift card to Target and some are also getting an additional $20 to Food For Less.

Responses from students were priceless:

“My dad works non-stop, I want to give it to him.”

“I want to buy gifts for my family!”

“I’ve never even been to Target!”

“Mrs. Chavoya, my mom said you just made her Christmas.”

“Oh my God, Mrs. Chavoya, ahhhhhhh! Can I come now?!”

“That’s so amazing!”

Needless to say, all of my students picked up their materials that day.

The most awesome part was how I was able to witness to my principal and to other teachers at my school site who were approaching me with questions asking me how I was able to pull this off… my answer was quite simple, “I really didn’t do much. I just prayed for my students...it was heavy on my heart thinking how many families were losing their jobs and were out of food because of the pandemic. All I had was a burden for the kids and God saw the needs and swiftly took care of it. The money was raised within two short weeks! And furthermore, the brother who led the charge of donations said that they want to do this every year for my students - and with more time, they should be able to raise even more money and truly bless my students!”

I give God all the praise, for not only were all my students blessed with generosity from good Christians, but I was able to share awesome testimony with my schools faculty and staff.

Donated gift cards

more recent events

Easter - He is Risen!

Lauren Williams exhorts the congregation to worship our risen Savior as the 40-voice KREW kids choir readies to sing.

Sacrificial Offering

Our RC ensemble led by Matthew Aguirre sings “Never Be Defeated!”

Pastor Johnson preaches his Easter message: “Long Live the King!”

https://youtu.be/-fJwPIUW3A0

Our church sanctuary is long overdue for a make-over, since we are still using the same carpeting and pews from when we expanded the sanctuary more than 25 years ago. Thank you, church family, for your generosity and your love for the house of God. Get ready for a new look this summer!

Surgery and a Miraculous Healing

By Julie Chavoya

Our daughter Estar had severe scoliosis. It is a deformity that runs in my family, We noticed her spine was quite curved about two years ago, so we called Kaiser hospital immediately for them to look at her back. Her x-ray revealed her spine was curved like an S at 37 degrees. She had to be fitted for a brace that she wore for 16 hours per day. Estar went through a growing spurt and was quickly growing out of her brace. Her spine was rapidly curving. Yet, all appointments were no longer in person because of the pandemic, and being fitted for a new brace had to wait. During this time, we watched as she went from 37 degrees to 45 degrees to 53 degrees curves by October. She was finally fitted for a new brace on December 18, 2020. However, her latest x-ray, despite wearing the brace, showed her sine had worsened to a 60 degrees curvature in the upper back and 48 degrees in the lower lumbar by January 2021.

After 5 months of waiting, Estar finally received a surgery date on March 16. We prayed , along with prayer warriors of Revival Center, for success and a speedy recovery.

Estar went into surgery at 6:00 am and was done 6 hours later. The doctor informed us they used titanium cobalt chrome with bolts to fuse her spine. When I asked how he felt the surgery went, he said he successfully made her spine about 90% straight because he opted not to fuse the very bottom of her spine to make it totally straight. If he had done so, it would have limited her ability to bend and twist, as well as create possibly further complications later on in life. Although covid restrictions limit visitation to only one person at a time, Estar is a minor in ICU (intensive care unit), so they allowed both of us parents to come see her. She was quite loopy as she came to, counting 6 fingers on her hand. But within hours she was on the mend.

While in ICU, she was on heavy narcotics; with the touch of the button, she could have delivered another dose every 10 minutes. The physical therapist came around 11:05 am and was able to help Estar sit up on the edge of her bed. She still hadn’t eaten much of anything and was extremely nauseous due to all the medication. However, she was then able to stand up and, with support, Estar then took a few side steps along the side of her bed. She then sat back down and was assisted to lay back down on the bed.

That same day, around 12:30 pm they moved her out of ICU into her own recovery room.

By Thursday night, they took away her button for narcotics and were now giving her Tylenol and Toradol through her IV. She had not been nauseous all day today and was

able to get up with the physical therapist, walk over to the chair and sit down in her chair to eat! I was also happy to report that she ate some bread and some grapes and drank a little bit of her milkshake.

Just a day later, when the physical therapist came, Estar got up and sat in a chair long enough for me to braid her hair. Afterward, she got back up and went to lay down in her bed. This was a lot for her and she said she was in pain afterwards, but I told her she had to wait until 1:00 pm for her medication so she needed to rest. It was so awesome to see how straight and tall she looked! Before the operation she was barely 5’1”. I asked the physical therapist how tall she thought Estar was - she said, 5’3”! I told Estar, “ I think you are slightly taller!” Estar smiled.

On Saturday, Estar was not happy with me or her nurse because we made her get up four times to take a walk through the hallways of the hospital and sit up to eat her meals. I spoke to the nurses about seeing if she could begin only oral medication instead of IV medication, which they administered all day. They agreed but kept her IV medications on stand-by in case she needed something stronger to help her sleep at night. It was a pretty rough day emotionally. I was drained and cried a lot that night.

By Sunday our hard work paid off! Estar woke up in good spirits. When the doctor came to visit her that morning, he was shocked at how good she looked. He approved her discharge. The nurse removed her IV since she was now taking just oral medications. They sent her home with regular strength Tylenol, Percocet (Oxycodone) and Flexeril (muscle relaxer) for the spasms. When we made it home that afternoon, we measured Estar and saw that she grew 2 ⅛” and is now 5’3 ⅛” tall! The ride home was extremely difficult since sitting for more than 20 minutes, or reclining the seat back was so painful and the ride home was 1 ½ hours. That evening she took Flexeril and Percocet and fell asleep.

We were concerned about Estar becoming dependent on narcotic painkillers, as we know how addicting they can be. We began carefully weaning her off. After much prayer and encouragement, by Friday, April 2, she was completely free from the need of any pain medication. Praise God! Now our daughter stands straight and tall--and beautiful.

Estar (in middle) with her family

podcAst KicK oFF

Always looking for new ways to connect to people using the Internet, our church has launched a podcast that posts every Thursday on our Revival Center Modesto YouTube channel, as well as several other social media platforms. Hosted by Tim Warren and other members of the RC staff, the segments focus on a variety of topics and guests. They are about 20 to 30 minutes in length--just

right for those with a busy schedule. Thank you to Taylor Fairbanks, pastor of Vessel Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for providing his expertise in this area. We trust you will find these podcasts a blessing and will share them with your friends and family. Thank you, Tim, for taking on yet another media project for our church. You are a blessing!

“Lessons From the Road”

Pastor Todd Johnson

https://youtu.be/EYBa6y42tdc

“Leading Generation Z” Interview with Youth Pastor Josh Aguilera and his wife Jeannette

https://youtu.be/49sbJYrBLNs

“God’s Not Done”

Interview with Evangelist Landon Gore

https://youtu.be/TL9vG24Yhpo

“What Are They for So Many?”

https://youtu.be/n4481Mh4Bq8

“Focus on Direction”

https://youtu.be/EN1TZNil9yU

Jon Quinones

“Pastoring in a Pandemic”

Interview with Pastor Todd Johnson

https://youtu.be/SifsjERuXMQ

pAndemic pets comFort!

Pets, how would we live without them? During the past year of the pandemic, our furry friends were even more important during those trying months in which we were ordered to shelter in place. Could it be that God knew people needed these faithful companions to curl up next to us...and shed all over our homes? Here are just a few cuties that kept a smile on our faces as we wondered when will it ever go back to “normal?”

Dogs laugh, but they laugh with their tails.

Grover Hunt and Mac

The Rick Keyes family and Charlie

The Gregory Family with Thumper and Buttons The Hunts and Stella

- Max Eastman

What greater gift than the love of a cat.

- Charles Dickens

There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face.

- Bernard Williams

The editors’ kitty, Princess, reads the latest educational journal.

Never try to outstubborn a cat.

- Robert A. Heinlein

A real Christian is a person who can give his pet parrot to the town gossip.

Nancy Williams with Valentine and Kingston

The Rodriguez Family with Lil Bebe and Ginger

The Halls and Brandi

The Powells and Buck

The Winchesters with Teddi

- Billy Graham

Loved for Who You Are

by Carol Castillo

Be careful how you define yourself.

Often we fall into the habit of defining ourselves by our problems.

I am a crime victim.

I am a diabetic

I am out of work.

I am bankrupt.

Those facts about yourself may be true, but THEY DO NOT DEFINE WHO YOU ARE.

Shame wants us to believe there’s something wrong with who we are at our core.

But when GOD DEFINES WHO YOU ARE,

He does so based on your value, not on your performance, problems, personality or pedigree. YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD, LOVED FOR WHO YOU ARE.

That’s the only definition you need.

“So that you, together with all God’s people, may have the power to understand how broad and long, how high and deep, is Christ’s love.”Ephesians 3: 18 (GNT)

Mr. and Mrs. Austin Hernandez

Congratulations to newlyweds Mariah Amador and Austin Hernandez. Mariah, who has been a part of this editor’s Bible study group, will be moving south to the Fresno area with her new husband where they will be attending Life Center pastored by Brother Tirso Gonzales. Mariah will be greatly missed by her Revival Center family, but she and her husband will be a blessing to their new church home. Both Pastor Johnson and Pastor Gonzales officiated the nuptials. Sister Kim Johnson was invaluable as wedding coordinator - her creative touches were everywhere! God bless you, Mariah and Austin, and may He greatly use you in His kingdom!