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*Note: Dia de Reyes (the Epiphany) is a Hispanic holiday celebrated on January 6. It is a rememberance of when the kings brought their gifts to Jesus and is also the day when children receive their presents. This year, Woodland Hills, along with the Latino Ministry, donated presents to Puente de Vida Church for their Dia de Reyes celebration.
Dia de Reyes was indeed a reason to praise the Lord. The Dia de Reyes celebration was a great blessing in all respects. We had 30 families come to the Puente de Vida for the first time. About 15 people accepted Jesus as their Lord. Following the service we had a celebration where we shared refreshments and the kids received their gifs. A total of 160 children received gifts in a very joyful and Spirit filled event in which the message was very clear: Jesus is the true gift of Christmas. For many of these kids this was a first encounter with the Good News!
– Puente de Vida Church
God is at work! He is helping to heal years of silence, co-dependency and the work of the enemy in our family. He has brought us through some rather unpleasant happenings; but thankfully, God had already been equipping us through Greg's teachings. Seriously, this was some deep bondage stuff! My sister and I are forever grateful! Our lives have been changed for the better. We love you pray for you often.
Braggin' on God! I have been worshipping at Woodland Hills Church since sometime in 2000. I am a transplant to the Dayton's Bluff community from Golden Valley. Unlike any other church I have attended in the past, Woodland Hills changed my heart!
Over the last several years I have wanted to join a Covenant Group but it never seemed to be the right time. When the Beautiful Life Series was announced that little voice in my head said "no more excuses... this is it." I signed up to be a group leader and then had the distinct pleasure of meeting two people through the group that have been incredible blessings in my life.
I live in an urban neighborhood and I am an animal lover. Over the last year or so, after the death of one of my best dogs, I adopted a neighbor's dog, Dweezel. Dweezel is 1/2 Rottweiller and 1/2 Labrador. He is tied up, outside, 24/7. Kids throw rocks at him and taunt him constantly. He is not a mean dog, he just looks like a mean dog if you don't know him. This past year my husband and I have had some major set-backs in our life that I shared with our two friends from our Covenant Group. They decided to donate a day of their time to help me with whatever I needed. My Mom and I had planned to build Dweezel a new dog house before the winter this year but because of a number of unforeseen issues, that never happened. I decided, along with my Mom, to take Mike up on his offer and he took it upon himself to build Dweezel this unbelievable new doghouse! The dog house is a palace – shingled roof, insulated, sided and carpeted – it was just like being on "Extreme Makeover!" It is so like God to move me to this neighborhood (close to Woodland Hills), have me meet these two wonderful people and give them the opportunity to do something wonderful for an unsuspecting dog. If that isn't building the kingdom I don't know what is!
Thank you Woodland Hills for helping me meet these two very special people and thank you God for moving me to a place that has opened my eyes. Amen!
– Charlie
I am the lead worshipper for our church and also we host a City Wide worship service the second Saturday of every month. We also provide special Easter services and New Year's Eve celebration...we had a WONDERFUL New Year's Eve Celebration..I was so grateful. We had around 30 people rededicate their lives to the Lord and were able to give $1000 from the night's offering to a wonderful, faith-based, women's recovery center... they were so excited!
I say all that to say this... we could not continue to be who we are called to be, if not for your ministries at Woodland Hills. I know that may sound crazy, but you have sustained us and we are so grateful.
I've ordered several more DVD teachings. I think our congregation is going to begin the "Beautiful Life" series in February, for our mid-week Bible Study so I've downloaded all the material and ordered those teachings as well. Can't wait to begin!
– Connie
I was back in the Twin Cities for 3 months and came to Woodland Hills. It was amazing! Everything I thought God was telling me was confirmed through each message. I no longer knew anyone other than my family, since I have been in Alaska for 17 years. Low and behold, God connected me with a Covenent Group just 10 blocks from my sister's house. I received such strength from them. I thank God for all of it. God will bless you for being faithful. Now that I am back in Alaska I am thankful for the sermon resources on your site.
– Rosie
I have had the privilege to listen to your sermons online since October 2006. I was directed to your website as I was searching for references on the web on the issue of politics and living a true Christian life. I have always, and still do, struggle on how to live my life as a Christian but still have a political stance, and more importantly, be able to discuss, debate and challenge many Christians as they try to convince me that [certain stances on certain political issues] are "Christian" – that we have to fight back. But where is “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you,” as Jesus commanded us to do?
I listened eagerly to the sermon series "The Cross and the Sword." It has helped me answer many questions, prompted many new questions, but more importantly, it challenged me to walk the radical life that Jesus has commanded us to live – "power under" love .
You have also introduced me to Tony Campolo and Brenda Salter-McNeil. Wonderful Christians.
Thank you for your courage and your love that is so evident.
And following what Brenda did this Sunday ["Holding on for the Blessing," January 21, 2007], I really want to bless you and pray that God will increase your wisdom and your courage to live as Jesus commanded you and me. Thank you. And I pray that God may surround you always with those that support and love you, and challenge you to continue living as a Christian.
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