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Last summer my Covenant Group and I decided to throw a party in a park where we knew a lot of homeless people hang out. We wanted to do something informal – just to show love by giving people food and spending an evening with them where they were. I took $100 to Sam's Club and got all of the hot dogs and chips that it could buy me. The BBQ was great… just people from all walks of life being together. I was a waitress at the time and, the next week at work, a very quiet man came in and ate. His bill was about $16, but he left me $100 for a tip! He also left a Christian tract. The money wasn't even the biggest blessing (not that it hurt!) – it’s priceless knowing that God saw what we did and approved. It doesn't always happen, but giving is SO worthwhile in God's Kingdom.
I have been struggling with tons of things at my current job for the past few months such as my schedule, fair treatment by management, etc. On Tuesday, after doing a favor for a friend, I called my mechanic to see if he was done working on my truck. He said it would be finished soon, so my girlfriend and I went straight to the shop. Once we got there, we sat in the car for 20 minutes talking before I went in. That day I also happened to be wearing a Bethel t-shirt. Once inside, I saw that the owner of a nearby business was chatting with the owner of the maintenance shop. He noticed that I was wearing my Bethel t-shirt and made a remark about the fact that I was a Bethel graduate. He then asked if I needed a job. Long story short, I paid for my truck, went over to the owner’s business and had an interview with him and the business manager. In the interview, the manager noted three specific things they were lacking in their current staff and would be looking for in new staff. All three of the things he mentioned just happened to be things I am very experienced in! The manager talked a lot about how important it is to him that his staff get along and have a fun time at work. Best of all, the owner and manager are both Christian (as are many of the staff), and they are not shy talking about their faith. PRAISE GOD!
– Zach
I started coming to Woodland Hills back when services were held at Harding High School. I think only God knew what challenges lay ahead of me after I started attending. In 2000, my world began to fall apart around me. My wife and I had a well established business that afforded us the good life. Our marriage of fifteen years seemed intact and successful. In short, all was lost within the next two years – my business, home and career were gone. Even my cherished pup was gone. I had to start over again from square one. I tried for some time to keep afloat, going through the motions of trying to get another job and keeping my house from foreclosure. I became quite isolated and then despondent. During some weeks, the only real contact I had with others was during our church service. As greetings went around, I often wondered if I would get to the next service without committing suicide. If people could have read my mind, they would have been amazed at my self destructive thoughts.
Greg or Norm would sometimes mention they were aware that people in the audience were hurting and encouraged those people to take an hour, leave the pain, and praise God. That was the beginning of my tide turning. Every Sunday, I would go to the altar after the service and receive prayer. In spite of thinking how hopeless my life had become, I tried to place my honest faith in God. Since then, lightning hasn’t struck and I haven’t won the lottery, but my life has normalized. After a few years, I was even able to buy a home. With God’s help, I have partially overcome my profound shyness and can actually try to meet new friends. The list of what seems to be direct intervention by God is long - new friends, healed relationships with my brothers, a good job with a previous employer. As each segment of my life turned into reality, I started to become aware this was not just ‘good luck’. I came to realize that this was God's handiwork, and I learned to trust in Him. I once thought I was the captain of my ship and the master of my soul. Now I can easily and enthusiastically say, “God – you are my Master, my King, my Lord and my God. As you will lead, I will follow.”
– Jim
Thank you very much for having your sermons available for downloading! I first heard about Woodland Hills from my brother. He said, "Emil, I've found a great website! You must check it out!" Since then, I’ve probably downloaded a couple hundred sermons. I listen to them when I'm working, and I find them very giving and interesting. I just wanted to thank you for spreading the word of God all over the world. Keep up the good work!
– Emil (from Sweden)
August 20, 2006 was the day I chose to take a stand against evil in my life and the world, declare my love for Christ, and express my desire to walk with Him by being baptized. I can still feel a palpable sense of renewal and calm as I sit here writing this. That day, as I slowly worked my way to the front of the line alongside my fiancé, my emotion was more than I could hold in. The tears came down like rain, and my sorrow and grief for living a life away from Christ became evident. As I walked into the water, I felt the weight of my “world" coming off me. I also felt the loving hands of fellow believers on my body and the hand of God on my heart. As I was taken from this world and buried in the baptismal waters, I witnessed my own personal miracle. I was under the water for only a brief moment. But, in that moment, I saw the most beautiful light I had ever seen even though I thought I closed my eyes. Call it what you will, believe what you will – but I honestly believe I saw the face of God and felt His healing touch on my heart and soul. As I was brought out of the water, I looked at the blue sky overhead and at all the other believers witnessing us be blessed in this way. Then I knew for a fact that this is where I belonged. I belong with a group of people who embody Christ and who love one another as Christ loved us. As I reflect on this monumental and profoundly defining spiritual moment in my life, I would like to praise God for letting it happen to all those who were there. I thank God for giving me the courage to stand up to this world. God bless!
– Brad
Don and I lead the Men’s Ministry at Woodland Hills on Saturday mornings. A regular attender from our group was scheduled to be baptized on August 20, 2006 at Gervais Lake during the church's baptism service. He asked if Don would take part in the actual baptizing. Don got permission for both of us to walk out with our brother and be a part of his public testimony. Due to a slight miscommunication, Don arrived a little late at the lake. This too was part of God's plan it seems. Our brother anxiously got at the end of one of the lines waiting to be baptized. After joining some Woodland Hills staff members, we successfully baptized him. It was a very special moment and a first for us all! As most everyone left, Don and I lingered – cooling off, talking, just relaxing. After all, the time was the Lord's. Our brother was also still there relaxing at the beach with his wife.
Unexpectedly, another brother from the Men's Group came walking up. He asked, "Am I too late? Can I still be baptized?" Don and I agreed that he must be the reason why the Lord caused us to linger. Our newly baptized brother joined us, and we walked out together for our "second" baptism ceremony. This second brother was very thrilled to have completed this public testimony. He had been wanting to be baptized, but his schedule and interruptions had always seemed to prevail. As we left the water, a lady on the beach remarked on what a special relationship we all must have. We explained to her that it was a baptism. Another lady said to her, "You should get baptized!" She replied, "Can I? Now?" We explained that if she knew what baptism was all about, she indeed could. So Don, this woman, her friend and I all walked back out and had yet another baptismal ceremony. The woman's friend turned out to be a regular attender at Woodland Hills and had taken her to church here several times. What an awesome day of being used by God – using His time (and timing) to baptize three of His children!
– Patrick
I am a farmer, and last fall I was injured when a ram ran into my knee. I was in serious pain for several days and had difficulty at work as being a farmer is quite physical. Eventually my knee did heal to the point I could get around, but it never got back to 100% normal. This made my work much harder, and I started to worry that it would never get better and I wouldn’t be able to do the work I needed to do. I was very frustrated after going to the doctor several times, where they said nothing could be done because it wasn't broken. Then, one night, I was lying in bed and it occurred to me that I should pray that God would heal my knee. And the next morning... no pain! I haven't had a problem since! Praise God!
– Abby |
