My Story: Faith Bible Chapel Testimonies

I truly felt the hand of God during Sundays May 16th Service. Never before have I felt the power of God as I did that afternoon. I can hardly put into words the truly blessed feelings I experienced. As Pastor George spoke of how we need to give God our stresses, problems and grief I began to feel as though I was the only person in the sanctuary and it was God's hand reaching out to me. I began to cry as though I have never cried before, every word that Pastor George spoke reached down deeper into my soul as if he where reading my thoughts. I have always been the type of person to “take on the world” by myself...taking care of everyone else whom I thought needed caring for, helping others deal with their problems, worries, etc. I always held my emotions in, never letting anyone in, including God. I almost lost my husband to heart disease 3 years ago. He actually died on the operating table, but by the hand and grace of God he brought him back to my children and myself. It's experiences like that that I have lived with for years and years, and oh how many skeletons, hurts, disappointments and anger not to mention other life altering things I have held in for years.

My mother had always told me that "God will never give us more than we can handle." REALLY! I would think to myself. Then why is it that "my cup runneth over" time after time after time? Well, it all came to be at the service...I felt God's power take all of the the stresses, anxieties, pain, fear, grief, anger that had been dwelling in me for years and bring them up from the darkest depths of my soul and casted them out...it started in my gut and I felt it go from there up to my head and I truly thought my head was going to explode. But, then with the love, support and prayers of Kathy, Brenda and Jose I began to feel the overwhelming Love and Strength that God truly has to offer each and every one of us. I sat there with my dear, dear friends and wept thinking 'Holy Moly.'

The flood of feeling that was passing through me in waves would go on forever...I was so overwhelmed I didn't understand what was happening, how could I have so much "darkness" come from me? But as time passed on I felt the weight lifting, Brenda and Jose were praying for me and a very dear member of the church whom I have no idea was, came and prayed for me and with me and oh what a wonderful feeling that came over my entire body...I cannot begin to explain the love I felt from God during this time. This moment will forever live in my heart and in my soul. This has brought me truly into Gods life and I will forever hold it near. I forever pledge my love to God and thank him endlessly for believing in all of us. I thank my friends and Faith Bible Chapel for helping me find the true path to true happiness in the Light of God's Love. Praise the Lord Jesus and in his name I pledge my life to him. Amen.
Julie

It's funny...when FBC first came to Arvada I used to debate the FBC students at A-West. I was in the Gifted/Talented Humanity Classes and was encouraged by my Teachers to verbally spar with the "Ignorant Fundamentalists." In my late thirties, while working as a High school tutor/counselor I would lead a atheist/skeptic organization in the Boulder area. However, during a service at FBC three years ago (at age 41), I fully committed my Life to the Lord. This summer The Lord has provided me with the time to more fully connect with my FBC Family and I intend to take full advantage of the miraculous Truths and life healing that Father God has provided us to share with others!
Kevin

My story begins a few years ago when my family and I were in a complete financial oppression. My husband kept losing jobs and I was the sole provider of five of us on a $28,000 a year salary. I didn't tithe because I was lucky to have enough money to pay the monthly bills, let alone have money left over for food, gas, and laundry. We survived off the food that the food bank would give us. I was about $10,000 in debt with credit cards plus a brand new car loan. My husband kept pushing me to tithe but I was stubborn. He kept affirming that if I would tithe maybe things would turn around for us, but I didn't buy it. As time went on things were just getting worse. Out of desperation I said "O.K God, I will tithe and I will believe that we won't suffer that much more because of it."

I was giving it to God in faith finally. Almost immediately and miraculously there was somehow a way that the same money I was making, was suddenly stretching farther in everything we did. Nothing in our finances had changed except that I was investing into the church. No costs went down, but somehow we began to have money for a little bit of groceries. I didn't put 10% in at first, maybe just $10 or $20. But the more I put into that tithe bag the more I was able to do with my finances. My husband still wasn't working, I wasn't making any more money, but some how that money was just stretching.

Today I tithe and give to a variety of foundations or programs I believe in. I am free of any credit card debt, and only have my monthly car loan payment. I am about to buy an 8-year-old, tri-level 3 bedroom house in beautiful condition in the country for only $104,000. I am worth almost 1/2 million dollars when you look at my complete portfolio. This is a miracle considering I was only worth $28,000 less than a year ago. I owe all of this to the little bit of faith I placed in God! He has moved mountains in my life!
Shilo

Let me start by saying that David and I were on the brink of divorce. I went back to work at Target in October of 2008 to help with the financial strain in our marriage. I got the job the same day I had applied. I thanked God for the quick response and began work 2 days later. David was working at UPS as a seasonal driver for the holidays. Everything was OK until he got laid off 1 week prior to Christmas. I was working long hours and not getting home until midnight or later. The house work was not getting done, the kids were upset that I was never home and our marriage was suffering greatly. Not to mention David was not able to find employment. Our mortgage was seriously past due and the fees were piling up. We received many foreclosure notices and the only reason we did not lose our home was because we filed bankruptcy a few years earlier and we were paying the courts. So nothing was getting paid, I kicked David out and I seemed to be missing out on my children's lives. David and I began counseling with Pastor Malito and that helped some, but we were still struggling. I was loosing everything I held dear in my life. My faith was weak and I didn't understand what was going on. I lost my relationship with God, my husband, my children and even myself. The only thing I had to look forward to was going to work, where I was appreciated.

The first Sunday of the "In God We Trust" series changed everything!!!! I decided that day to quit my job. I called that day and said I was sorry but I wouldn't be returning to work. I wasn't sure what was going to happen since I was the soul breadwinner (at 8.00 an hour) but I knew that something had to change. I told David of my plans and his attitude was mixed, he knew now that he HAD to do something but also he knew that I was giving up the control. I had a tremendous since of peace in the decision I had just made and just sat back to see what was going to happen.

That Monday we received at letter via Fed Ex, it stated that we had received the modification we had applied for a few months earlier. That meant that our interest rate was now going to a fixed one (not the ARM we were in), the interest rate would be 2 points lower than it was in the ARM and that our mortgage payments were going to cut to less than half of what we were currently paying, and our next mortgage payment is not due until April 2009. Also the back payments we had were just going back into the mortgage, No more foreclosure notices. We aren't going to lose our home. I just started crying. Also that Monday David began working again at a job he loves to do, and that will supply the financial means we need to make our new payment. Finally God was moving!!! The Lord told me that Sunday I needed to TRUST in him and in him alone.

When I quit my job, and gave up controlling the situation God was able to move. Our marriage is wonderful, our children are now stable and happy. My oldest is not struggling in school any longer in fact just the opposite. And I can now take a birthday cake to my daughter's class for her 6th birthday on Thursday. I have learned an important lesson through all of this, it is not in our human nature to "give up control" to someone we can't see. It is not in a mother's nature to "do nothing", and to give up control is not a natural thing. I believe that's why God emphasizes faith so much.

I believe that God allowed us to go through what we did to help other in the same situation. I know that I talked to a couple of friends of mine and told them what God did. They just started crying. They are in the middle of their storms. And the similarities are incredible. The enemy is destroying relationships and we are letting him. I just pray that God uses our testimony to help others. Thank you for letting us share.
Stephanie and David

I began having trouble starting my Chevy Blazer at the start of this wonderful "In God We Trust" series. My first thought was "oh, no! I don't have the money for any repairs!" I then went into denial. "There's nothing wrong with my car, there's nothing wrong with my car, there's nothing wrong.......".

A couple of weeks went by. It kept happening periodically. I called my mechanic and was told it was probably my starter going out. The cost? Around $500! My heart sunk into my stomach. Enter, the enemy........"it's okay, you don't have to tithe for a couple of months....that will take care of it!" The enemy kept at me. "You make more than enough to cover the $500...just quit giving!"

I was at church the Saturday night after being given the costly news. Pastor George was again telling us, "God tells you to test him on this!" After the service, I went up to Pastor George and told him of the spiritual battle going on in my mind. He prayed with me.

Walking out of church, I was determined to not only tithe but to give even more than usual. ("I'll show that lying, loathsome, prying enemy!") Within a few days, every start up of my vehicle was a challenge. Something had to be done. I try not discuss my problems with anyone but this time, I mentioned the problem to a co-worker in my office. "Oh, that's nothing!" he tells me. "Just go get a starter and I'll put it in for you!" Turns out the starter cost me only $90 and my wonderful co-worker charged me NOTHING for his time and effort. Now, every turn of the key is HIS music to my ears, so to speak. (This situation also presented another opportunity to witness to this co-worker about how great and faithful God is!)
Lisa