After breakfast Greg Newmaster presided the morning program.
First, there was a choir singing, "Deep love".
Second, Shepherd Greg Cocco served a message, "Father" on Luke 15 where Jesus taught the legalists the love of God using the story of a rich father having two sons with the younger being the prodigal son.
He testified that both the younger son and the old son need the Savior for salvation. He testified about God's love restoring him both as a younger/prodigal son and old son.
Then Greg Newmaster shared a testimony.
He grew up in a Roman Catholic family in Pittsburgh. During his childhood he suffered from various illnesses such as lacking motor skill. In his young adulthood due to himself being un-athletic he got picked on by one bully after another. May 11, 2000 at the age of 16 he lost his mom, and became sad and angry. He gave eulogy for his mom with God speaking in and through him at the mom's funeral service. It was a growing experience for him. His sister Jackie left him for college. He used to be obese, but within a year he lost over 100 pounds. Then women started paying attention. Sooner than later as he went through the college life (Duquesne in Pittsburg) he lost virginity and grew promiscuous. Then he met a girlfriend, but he ended up cheating on her. After graduation in Pittsburg, he and his girlfriend moved to LA, with himself wanting to be a movie star. Soon he broke up with his girlfriend. He started acting only to grow bitter. He developed social anxiety. Worked at a Starbuck, only to be fired soon. His ex-girlfriend notified him of her plan of marriage with another man, whereupon he felt depressed suffering from the urge to commit suicide. He moved from one job to another. Soon he got into a car accident and cried out for God's help. One day when working at a workplace Troy came and invited him to a Bible study. During the Bible study Troy said, "Greg, you have bad 'spiritual cholesterol problem". He then repented of his sins. He confessed his sins. Then he felt a great relief. He realized the meaning of life that is being with Jesus Christ. Anxiety and eating disorder disappeared. In sum he was so lost, but Jesus reached out for him. He challenged all to pick up the cross and follow Jesus.
The Redeemer Will Come
Greg's testimony was followed by testimony writing and sharing on Luke 15 in groups. After lunch we had a group Bible study on Isaiah 59 entitled "The Redeemer Will Come." This prophecy speaks for three times: the time of the Prophet Isaiah, the time of Jesus' first coming, and the time of Jesus' second coming.
Recreation: Olympic games
We got ourselves organized in three teams: Red, Blue and White. One of the games was Dance Competition for which the Blue Team won the first place.
The tug of war was a lot of fun as well. I fought for the man's white team, and we won the first place.
After dinner Daniel Tourn served a message, "Father, forgive them." He said that often times we act like adult babies. If a five year old child keeps doing what is wrong, you cannot send her to a prison, for she does not know what she is doing. Likewise, he testified that he used to keep sinning many times, and yet Jesus kept praying for him saying, "Father forgive Daniel Tourn for he does not know what he is doing."
Jennifer Vu shared a Bible testimony on Luke 23, "Father forgive them." She had a rocky relationship with her mom who was a Catholic. She had a hard time to forgive two persons - her mom and her cousin. But Christ's love shown on the cross moved her, so she was able to forgive. Once upon a time she also had a romantic feeling about a married man. She could not overcome this feeling that she brought this problem to the Lord in prayer. The Lord answered her prayer and gave her freedom. After this she still felt guilty for losing her heart to a married man. She felt she deserved punishment. But through the Bible study she realized that Jesus paid the price for all of her sins. This gave her great relief.
After a break, Diana Lopez shared her life testimony. She was born in Mexico in a Catholic family. Following her father she moved to the U.S. She received a lot of attention from family members, until her brother Angel was born. Growing up she started seeking men, only to feel more thirsty. At the CSULB college campus she met a Bible teacher. Through John's Bible study on the Samaritan woman she found Jesus the true love. She then was invited to join a discipleship program. The Lord blessed her through the life together with believing sisters. Lately she became grateful for guiding her mom to meet a Bible teacher in UBF.
Shepherd Terry Lopez shared his life testimony on God's love. He is from a broken family. The Lord had mercy on him, sent a Bible teacher Missionary Monica to him. The Lord also blessed him with the marriage with Missionary Mari, five sons from the marriage and two spiritual daughters, Maggie and Angie. The Lord slowly changed him from a broken man to a stable man knowing God's love. In love the Lord has been using his house as a source of blessing feeding Jesus' sheep.
The evening program ended with a drama. Jonathan Pyles directed. Charles Wilson played the father's role, Justin the prodigal son's role, and Diana the old son's role.
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