Testimonies Archived | Christian Renewal

TESTIMONY

"They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony" - Revelation 12:11

JUNE 3, 2021 - GOD HEARS OUR PRAYERS AND HEALS...

A text was sent to the CRM family group text asking for prayers for our very own Nanay Celing. According to the doctor’s report, she received a blood transfusion but she was unable to make urine. She was also in pain and felt very uncomfortable at the time.
CRM Family immediately prayed and interceded for her and the whole situation – many texts were sent to declare God’s complete healing and we all partnered with one another for God’s promises over Nanay Celing.
In a matter of hour, we received another text that said that Nanay Celing started peeing after 12 hour of not being able to. She also had a scan of her bladder and it was empty. Her family were worried about her kidneys shutting down but she made urine.
CRM rejoices with the family and we praise God for another miracle and breakthrough that He did. How beautiful it is to realize just how powerful prayer and intercession can be. We are moving the hands and heart of God when we come together and pray. We are still moving mountains as we intercede for one another.

MAY 13, 2021 - SHARE & CARE TESTIMONIES...

MAY 6, 2021 - GOD LOVES A MOTHERS PRAYER...

“No one is poor, who has a praying mother!” – Abraham Lincoln
Cecilia was born in a very, very poor family. She was an orphan at a very young age. A young married couple took her and they had her as her guardians. At her young teen age, she married a hard-working young man and had ten children. The youngest child was barely two years old when the husband died because of an accident.
Cecilia’s perseverance, persistence, and patience enabled her to keep her children together until they were able to marry and establish their own families. Only three children stayed with her.
One of her daughters had an encounter with some American Missionaries and it led her to the Lord. This gave Cecilia a real personal experience of the love of God! She also received a powerful healing from the Lord where she got healed from her high blood pressure and poor eye sight. Since then, she was able to read even small prints in the Bible. Her life was a real testimony of God’s love.
She loved reading the Word of God. She showed what it means to be spiritual and not just religious. She worked hard and it was her heart’s desire to serve others. She loved to talk to the Father in heaven— while others were asleep, I heard how she whispered and prayed to Him.
I believed God has heard her. It is because of her fervent prayers that stir up my heart and mind to follow God’s call. Her prayers followed me for more than half a century— God has providing for my every need, showing through signs and miracles that He is a loving Father who answers the prayers of a loving mother!

APRIL 29, 2021 - GOD DIRECTS US...

Coming home has been such a beautiful journey for us. After being in Redding for 11 years, the Lord directed us back home to be with our family.

Though it has been a stretching season, it has been incredibly exciting watching Him orchestrate things beyond our what we can imagine. When we say “yes” to Him, our act of obedience will part the Red Sea.

APRIL 22, 2021 - GOD LOVES US AND IS OUR FRIEND...

One of the things that impacted me at our Renewal Youth Group was prayer. The way I feel during prayer is happy because I am talking to God. They teach us that prayer is just like talking to your best friend. It’s nice to know that I can talk to God like He is my best friend.

Also, I liked learning about God and Jesus while being surrounded by good leaders who know God and kids my age.

I liked knowing that I’m safe there because God is protecting us. Youth group helped me get closer to God. I have been able to have a lot more talks with my mom about God and even asked about wanting to get baptized. I’ve also been able to talk to some of my friends about God and His love for us.

APRIL 15, 2021 - GOD WASHES US CLEAN...

I was feeling really bad – there was something inside me that I was praying to God but I didn’t feel that He was answering my prayers, so I wanted to give up. Then, last Sunday during service, when the Pastors called for people to come up for prayer… I stood up but I immediately sat back down. But I fought the feeling and said “Not today, Satan. I’m going to go up there and be prayed for.”

I went up there and Pastor Sefa prayed for me and I started crying and I felt embarrassed. But I realized it was because of the joy of the Lord. The whole prayer touched my heart. Especially when Pastor Sefa said, “We are going to wipe you clean,” and he dusted off my shoulders. That moment, I knew the Holy Spirit was lifting everything off of me that is not from Him. I felt like all the dirt are being washed. I started feeling high. I feel the Holy Spirit, I feel like I’m glowing with His love.

God is so good – the things that He does for us that we don’t deserve. What He did for me last Sunday? He just removed every dirt from me. All the shine, glow, and the happiness and joy, that came to me like a flood. I went home dancing and singing and praising Him. Truly, God never leaves us nor forsakes us.

APRIL 8, 2021 - GOD PERFECT PATH...

I praise God for this new season in our life as a family. Indeed, when you are obedient to what He is calling you to do, all doors and opportunities that need to be opened will be opened.

Coming back to CRM was such a blessing to us. God has opened a lot of doors for us specially in the area of Ministry. Serving God along with the CRM Leadership was such an honor and privilege. God allowed me to step in to my destiny and see the fulfillment of His promise. Also, it is our desire as parents to model to our child how to serve God and how to love Him fully. Being able to do that through CRM was a great blessing.

My heart is full of joy and thanksgiving for what God is doing in our life because we have obeyed God to come back and be reconciled with CRM. We are back home.

APRIL 1, 2021 - THE GREATEST TESTIMONY...

1 John 5:9 says, We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which He has given about His son.

As we enter into this time of commemorating Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and celebrating His resurrection and victory, we encourage you to read and meditate on the greatest testimony of all time that can be found in 1 John 5:9-12.

MAR 25, 2021 - GOD IS MY HEALER...

I have been struggling with knee pain for about 20 years. It slows me down sometimes when I need to build something at the church because the pain was constant. But last Wednesday, God was just spoke to me the verse in John 14:12 that says “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.”

Jesus healed people in His time here on earth and I believe as children of God and as co-heirs of Christ, that we are also able to do it if we believe. I believe for that healing. Last Wednesday, I declared this verse over and over on my knees. I felt the tingling and the pain subsiding. Since then, my knees are way better than before. I am not limping anymore like I did the past weeks. Truly, truly, I know I can be healed if I believe.

MAR 18, 2021 - GOD SAVES...

I’m so thankful and proud to be called daughter of most High, a Father who never fails to take care of us. His goodness, care, and love is everlasting and unconditional. Few nights ago, I was driving in a free way and planned on switching lane because the car in front of me was slow. I was suddenly shocked and scared because a mini-second before I changed lane, a car from my blind spot was speeding and it passed by me. Even my switch lane sensor wasn’t able to warn me about that speeding car.

We could have almost crashed but I felt someone controlled my steering wheel. I knew in my spirit and felt in my heart that it was God. Even in that moment, I know He was the one who saved me from danger. I praise Him because Switch Lane Assist Sensors may fail in our cars but God never fails and late in protecting and covering us from any seen and unseen danger. Thank you Lord!

MAR 11, 2021 - GOD'S LOVES ME...

I wasn't able to accept God's love for me. It took me a long time to recognize what was happening then. I’ve been hurt a lot by the people that were supposed to love me. Because of that, I didn’t think He could love me as well. I shaped my perspective of who He is through my experiences with other people. I was so afraid of getting hurt that I wasn't willing to let Him or others in.

Recently that has shifted. There are moments where I feel that He is revealing the walls I built around my heart– walls that kept me from accepting love from other people and even God. I feel His presence, especially when I am most anxious. I can feel Him near, His arms around me. During the moments that I feel worried and I am only thinking about the circumstances and problems in my life, His love overwhelms me, making me whole, lacking nothing. His love is rebuilding healthy relationships in my life and allowing me to accept love from others.

Through it all, He is showing me how much He loves me. He is showing me that He has loved me even in those moments I didn’t feel loved. By accepting His love, walls that have been around my heart for so long are crumbling.

MAR 4, 2021 - GOD'S GOT MY BACK...

We recently went through our 21 Day Prayer and Fasting. When Pastor Eunice asked a few of us if we would be willing to write the daily devotionals, everything inside of me wanted to say no, because I never felt writing was one of my strong points. Then, I felt an invitation from God and He said to “trust Him in this weakness”, so I said “Yes” to writing the devotionals.

During the time of writing them and trying to write them, I felt defeated. I felt like I wasn’t qualified to do this and this was something I couldn’t do. Then God!!! In this place of defeat, God reassured me that He’s got my back. I am qualified because He says I am. When I try to do these things on my own, I tend to make a mess of what comes out. But when I rely on God and I am led by Holy Spirit, He is my guidance, my reassurance and my strength. Everything works out for the good.

Not only did I overcome a fear with encouragement to do more writing, God reminded me of my awesome pastors that He personally connected me with, to help bring out the gold and purpose of my life. (Thank you Pastor Eunice, for trusting God and challenging us to higher levels). I am excited for where God is bringing me and His plans over me. To God be the glory!

FEB 18, 2021 - GOD LOVES ME...

Before the fast started, I felt like I became comfortable and stagnant in my relationship with Christ. I knew I was not where I wanted to be but I was so comfortable that I didn’t care much to get out of my comfort zone (I mean, who doesn’t wanna be comfortable?)

This fast was just the push that I needed. I felt the Father telling me to fast from social media and solid foods for the first time, so I said yes. Not having any apps to open every time I picked up my phone and being constantly hungry encouraged me to rely on Him more and read the Bible more than I ever have before. This led me to feel more connected and sensitive to the Father.

He was, then, able to reveal areas in my life where I had partnered with lies and made it a part of my identity. He showed me how I was believing in lies that I already thought I had broken off. I was believing that I was not powerful enough, that my words weren’t good enough, that I had to work for His love.

He didn’t just reveal the lies to me but He also told me the truth and brought people in my life to remind me of who I am during the leadership retreat. He was rewiring me during this fast. I felt a weight being lifted off of me— the weight of having to please people and of having to do things perfectly. He was telling me that He is pleased with me and there is nothing I could do that would make Him love me more or less. I know we hear this often but this time it was different. He’s given me an unexplainable freedom that empowers me to step out and stop hiding behind the shadows but be who He called me to be.

FEB 11, 2021 - GOD SAYS "I AM"...

My entire life, I’ve always felt “average” or not enough for anything or anyone. When I was younger, I’d be told I was good, but not good enough in almost everything I did. It really molded my young mind into thinking I would never be enough. I didn’t realize just how much I carried that mentality into my adulthood until this past weekend. I’ve realized that even when I did things to the absolute best of my abilities, whether in ministry, at work, or just in my personal life, there was still a small thought in my head that said I’m good, but not good enough.

During our MLT retreat this past weekend, I heard Him, clear as day, telling me “YOU ARE ENOUGH”. He told me not only am I enough, but I am powerful. In that moment, I realized I am everything He says I am, because I was created wonderfully in His image. I can’t even explain the weight that was lifted off of my shoulders; it was as if every lie and every chain that was holding me back from knowing my true identity was broken.

My life changed in the single moment I realized I truly am who He says I am, and that I am enough, I am powerful and I am His forever.

FEB 4, 2021 - GOD ANSWERS PRAYERS...

Share and Care Young at Heart is a ministry that serves the Seniors in our community by delivering free grocery bags to them. As our team members deliver, we also get pray for and declare blessings to them.

Here is Lorna, one of our Share and Care Young at Heart recipients, sharing a powerful testimony about God answering our prayers for her daughter.

JAN 28, 2021 - GOD IS OUR HEALER...

Pursuing healthy blood sugar - In the span of 1 1/2 years, my A1c has gone from 8.3 (highest it’s ever been) to 6.6 (the lowest it’s ever been). PRAISE GOD! The normal range for a person’s A1c is 5.6 or lower. Just recently received my test results on paper from the Doctor stating that my diabetes is “well controlled”.

My desire is to be within the normal range of 5.6 or lower by the summer. With that said, I will continue doing what I am doing by pursuing physical wellness (working out 3-4 times a week), eating healthy, being aware of my sugar intake and tracking my blood sugar daily. I believe it’s a partnership with God when I do my part. As I do my part, God will do His. I know His Will is for healing upon my body.

I am one day closer to hearing the doctors say “I no longer have to take medication for my diabetes. My blood sugar is now in the normal range.”

JAN 21, 2021 - MY HEALTH IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO GOD...

“As a healthcare provider, most of us tend to be the worst type of patients. I have actually been having problems with palpitations for about 6-7 years now. (Palpitation is an irregular, rapid, strong heartbeat.) Sometimes it's even hard to take a deep breath and there are days that I need to sit down.

During this pandemic, God put in my heart to really pay attention to my health. I started my journey with diet and exercise. Then, I noticed that the episodes of my palpitations had been way less. I praise God for reminding me to put my health as a priority. I praise God because as I take care of other people- as it is my life-long calling, He wants to take care of me. He reminds me how much I mean to Him and that I, too, am important. I can't wait to celebrate my process and progress with Him and with my family.”

JAN 14, 2021 - GOD CARES ABOUT THE LITTLE THINGS...

“Sometimes, we think of God as being the God of the big things. Sometimes, we always expect and look out for that monumental event to see and say that our God is good. But do you believe that God also cares about the little things that we need?

Here is Lola, one of our Share Care Ministry recipients, sharing her story about how God cares, even the littlest of things that she needed.

How about you? We encourage you to have a faith that can see God even in the simplest of things

JAN 7, 2021 - PRAISE GOD FOR KIDS'

Teaching God’s word to young kids is a responsibility that I am grateful for and I trust the Holy Spirit fully that He speaks through me for our children.

This pandemic challenged us on how to continue imparting the Scripture to the young minds. But God – He is faithful because we have the technology to utilize for His Glory. Yes! Kids Konnect was born, in March of last year. We partner with supportive parents and we are able to meet every Saturday for at least an hour. We bond and learn through our study of the Scripture, sharing testimonies, prayers, games, and activities. The kids that the Lord have entrusted before us are the new leaders of this generation.

We, together with other Sunday School teachers, Pastors, and parents) are prayerful that they will grow up fearing and loving the Lord. As we dive deeper in reading and understanding the scripture, using some YouTube videos-shared with them before the Saturday class, we trust that those learnings are embedded in their hearts and will be pulled out in times of need.

From Kids Konnect, I ask parents to encourage your kids to join us every Saturdays at 5PM. Kids in our class now are from age 6-12 (older are welcome). As a parent of a 9 year-old boy, I ask the Lord for the right words of encouragement so all our children will have interest and passion in learning more about our Creator.

DEC 31, 2020 - GOD HEALS & PROTECTS...

There are many beautiful testimonies, but I will share this: I want to praise God for healing and protecting me. A few weeks ago I was home alone when I passed out due to a seizure. I felt scared and disoriented because I didn’t know what was happening. It’s been 4 years since I had one.
I called my husband Caesar and my daughter Coco to come home. What is so beautiful was God protected me, I don’t remember falling or getting hurt as I passed out. Just waking up knowing that something had happened. I praise God, He is a good Father always there protecting His children. There were comfort and peace. Truly God was with me.

DEC 17, 2020 - GOD's FAITHFULNESS...

I work at a Senior Living Facility and part of my job is to give medications throughout the day. Most of the seniors that I take care of are sweet. However, there is one resident who is very combative. He keeps on exiting the building and he hits other workers.Before work last Sunday, I prayed that God will give me patience. That I am able to serve and bless the patients under my care. I prayed over that particular patient. When I came in, I noticed the shift in his personality, and the way he interacted with us. When I asked him to do something, he listened to me without resistance. He was smiling and laughing too. I praise God because He heard me. I know God is attentive to my prayers. I am fully aware, too, that it was God’s light shining through me! My shift last Sunday was filled with God’s presence and joy.

DEC 10, 2020 - GOD IS GOOD...

“Because God is good and His timing is perfect! There was a time recently when I didn’t feel the fire or drive in my career. I asked God, “Is this where You want me? Is this where You called me to be?” I didn’t hear anything and so I continuously pressed in and waited on Him, because I knew He would reveal Himself and His plans over me for this time and this situation. The next day, I was on a telephone call with a client and at the end of the conversation, my client started thanking me for a job well done. He shared his gratitude and appreciation for the years that we have worked together. He said he was always at peace knowing that I was always looking out for his best interest. At that moment, I felt super encouraged and motivated to be where I am. I thanked him as well for being a dedicated client and I asked if I could pray for him (yes, even in a place of business). He said yes to prayer and I released everything Holy Spirit showed me about him. It was a powerful time and I praise God for all of it. God heard my words and He knows my heart.

After I hung up, I started crying for JOY and praising God for His goodness and His perfect timing. I am excited for this season and this next year! I know that God has gone before me and He has opened lots of doors. I’m ready to walk through this journey with God!!! To God be the glory”

Dec 3, 2020 - THANKSGIVING...

We praise God for what happened last Wednesday on our Thanksgiving Community Curbside Dinner. Through His love, grace, and abundance, we were able to serve 600+ people in our community by providing them a Thanksgiving Meal, by praying, and by declaring blessings to them and their families. We gave out school uniforms and school supplies to 120+ children who came. Also, we served 54 seniors in our community by delivering the Thanksgiving Meals and free grocery bags.

The presence of God is so thick and there were a lot of people who encountered Him that night with testimonies of healing and other breakthroughs. All of us are full of joy and thanksgiving to the One who deserve it all.

Nov 19, 2020 - HE IS FAITHFUL...

Grace-Praise is one of our talented worship leaders. Even though she knows who her Heavenly Father is, sometimes, there are still doubts if He is going to show up. Today, she is sharing this powerful testimony of God reminding her of who He is — He is a God of provision and abundance.

“Last week, I was stressing because I have bills to pay and I had literally nothing in my bank account. I knew I was getting a check from work but I also knew it might not suffice. I prayed about it and asked Him for provision, but in my heart, I didn’t truly believe that He will provide. I was worrying about the plans I should take to get the money I needed.Miraculously enough, when I asked my sister to get the mails for me, I got THREE CHECKS! It was way more than what I was expecting.God reminded me in this circumstance that I should KNOW the truth about the God that I am serving. He told me, “Time and time again, I provide for you. You never slip my mind. You don't have to stress or do this on your own! I got you, my daughter.”

Nov 12, 2020 - POWER IN PRAYER...

Hannah Bercilla is one of our amazing youth volunteers for various church activities. Today, she shares a powerful reminder yet again of how a simple prayer can lead to someone’s breakthrough.

“I was at my gym ready to kick start my day and work out when I saw someone who was wearing a cast and using crutches. In my heart, I felt that God was telling me to go pray for this person. So I took the risk and the opportunity to approach him. I found out that he tore his Achilles recently while playing basketball. I am not comfortable in praying in public, much more praying for a person that I don’t know but I pressed in because he was being highlighted. I was crying while declaring healing for him and I feel that God was just smiling.
When I came back to the gym few weeks after, he told me that ever since I prayed for him, his Achilles has gotten stronger. As of now, he said that he still needs to do physical therapy but he is officially off his cast now. I’m continuously praying for him and believing for complete healing in Jesus’ name.”

How amazing it is that we are always just one prayer away from a miracle? We hope that this encourages us to take risks and pray whenever God leads. We have the hope and the healing that the people around us need.

Nov 5, 2020 - MIRACLE WORKER & PROMISE KEEPER...

Esther Fuentes is one of our dedicated leaders and volunteers who has a big heart to help at various church activities. Today, she shared a powerful story of God being a miracle-worker and a promise keeper.

"A local Pittsburg Resident by name of Jesus came to CRM to help do yard work. I know his family and his wife told me that he has cancer in his throat, though I am not certain of the type. I told Glory and Aislyn, who were in the office at the time about his condition and immediately, Glory said, “Let’s pray for him”. Although challenged with not being able to speak Spanish, Glory pressed in, mustering in broken Spanish the words she knew to pray and declared healing for him. A week after, when I visited my mom, she told me that Jesus called her and he was crying. He had just visited his doctor and his doctor confirmed that his cancer is miraculously shrinking - with even a possibility that his cancer would be gone in five months!" Indeed, God hears and God still heals. Let's continue to press in and believe for complete healing. God is faithful to complete the good work that He has started (Philippians 1:6)

Oct 30, 2020 - DIVINE CONNECTIONS...

Let's start this day with the goodness of our Heavenly Father. Israel Castro Cortez shares this beautiful story of an encounter when he and some of the Worship Team members (Abby Francisco, Glory-Gee Aquino, and Grace-Praise Aquino) went out to eat after rehearsals. It is amazing to see how God uses willing vessels to bring His children back to Him.

"One Thursday, after our worship rehearsal we all went to In N Out. After having enjoyed our meal, the exhaustion hit us so we kind of had some fun dancing to music in the parking lot—yes we were THAT weirdo. When suddenly, a man with a boy approached us interrupting our fun moment. And you already know what goes down - at least we presume in our heads - they ask for money, you give them some, they thank you, you leave and bless them, end of story. This time, however, it wasn’t like that. The father told us him and his family didn’t have a place to stay so we gave them some money. I was wearing my hat that says “Essential Worship” and immediately, the father says “Woah. I can definitely feel His presence.” That was our cue. We found out he was in prison and after being the “mocker of Christians” in prison, the beautiful presence of God touched him one day and changed his life. Fast forward, he’s in a dark place desperately feeling hopeless and defeated. We prayed for him, prophesied over him, he cried, they received money from other people that saw us and lastly, him and his two sons ended accepting Jesus in their hearts once more."