Witnesses

• Alex Y.
• Alice W.
• Andrew H.
• Andy C.
• Andy C.
• Angelo C.
• Angie S.
• Anonymous 1
• Anonymous 2
• Anonymous 3
• Anonymous 4
• Anonymous 5
• Anonymous 6
• Benedict M.
• Bradford G.
• Brian C.
• Calvin C.
• Carlos L.
• Chris L.
• Christi C.
• Christine P.
• Courtney C.
• Damaris Y.
• Daniel C.
• Danny C.
• David Y.
• Dorothy G.
• Edmund W.
• Easten L.
• Elye W.
• Eric H.
• Fred C.
• Gaius F.
• Gideon F.
• Helen S.
• Henry C.
• Howard L.
• Jason L.
• Jason T.
• Jeff C.
• Jeremy S.
• John L.
• Jonathan C.
• Jonathan L.
• Joseph L.
• Joseph S.
• Justin C.
• Justin H.
• King G.
• Leona W.
• Lina G.
• Kevin C.
• Matt Z.
• Mau-En L.
• Michael H.
• Michael L.
• Mikey M.
• Patrick Y.
• Peter L.
• Peter Y.
• Philip Q.
• Rebecca Y.
• Sam T.
• Shui C.
• Stephanie C.
• Teresa H.
• Terry J.
• Theo L.
• Tim G.
• Tim Z.
• Valeri C.
• Victor J.
• Victor T.
• Vivian C.
• Wesley G.

THIS IS REAL

Immense joy fills my heart to see the work of God in the lives around me. God had broken the walls of pride, selfishness, self-sufficiency and others. He revealed our naked hearts and our need. Our weaknesses and vulnerabilities lay open before Him and each other. For the first time in my memory, this group could freely be honest and opne with one another. We knew we were not perfect, we knew needed help, but now we were able to show it without fear of judgment or condemnation. We accepted one another because we knew that no one was any better. Through the tears and words that were expressed, the common prayer was the deep, very same realization of that tax collector in the temple who could only fall on his knees and say, "Lord have mercy on me... a sinner."

For within each one of us, we also saw our own imperfections. Through one teen, God revealed to each and every heart in the room... HIMSELF. We knew we were all unworthy, all meant to be despised in the sight of God, crying "Woe is me, I am a man of unclean lips, living among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the face of the Lord Almighty!"

We saw the love of a God who came down to earth, wrapped in flesh, who came to teach, to heal, and to love the unlovable of this world. A God who showed enough loves to die for us while we were yet sinners, and not only to die, but died suffocating, shamed, and broken for US. We weren't all that great. And we knew that. We had hurt our friends around us. We had rejected the very God who called us by name, and we have taken His blessings only to use them in vain, use them for personal glory, and even take them for granted. But Christ demonstrated His love for us, dying for us and loving us while we were yet sinners. Through Him, we realize fully how there is NO condemnation.

Amazing love, so divine. Our response was the only one we could have when facing God... one of deep worship and appreciation for Him & His love.

And tears... only tears... spoke the volumes of guilt, but also great joy, felt by all in that room that night. God is love. Not "God is loving," or "God loves," but God IS love... People were all crying, and an indescribable wave of the Spirit swept over the group. Friends huddled and embraced one another. And we were UNITED. There were people I barely knew, some I only met that weekend. But no matter, we were ALL brothers and sisters, and last night, we all saw each other equally. It was not important whether we knew each other for 10 years or 10 hours... we were all one body, and there was no denying that GOD IS REAL.

He called His people together. He brought us together, broke our walls, and exposed the true hearts of everyone in the room. We weren't afraid to be broken in front of each other, we weren't afraid to appear "weak." We WERE weak. Each one of us was weak. And we needed each other.

For so long I have prayed and hoped for unity within our youth group, and within my group of friends. I've prayed & hoped to feel loved and accepted by the people around me. I imagine that deep in the hearts of many, we all long for acceptance, and we need each other. And for those few hours, I saw the family I never fully knew I had and never fully appreciated. And I learned, NEVER doubt God's providence and abundance. In asking for just a few close friends, He gave me that, but much more... He gave me 144 people to collectively care for one another. God knew what I needed, and He knew exactly how to provide.

God is GOOD all the time! And this is REAL