Real Testimonies: Michael Au, "Freedom"

Jesus is truly good and powerful. He set me free from the power of sin all due to His grace by the power of His blood.

I came to put my faith in Christ truly on February 5, 2007. Before that I experienced loneliness, pain, and depression almost all the time. I had many worldly seasons back in the days: basing my worth off of people’s acceptance, drinking and partying, video games and gambling, and a religious spirit of going to church because my parents told me to go. None satisfied my heart causing me to question whether I really knew Jesus. Then on that day in February, I submitted my life until His ways and He gave me a new spirit. I was then filled with His deep joy, peace, and love.

The next few years I was growing in the Lord but there was still one hindrance internally. I had a fear of the future especially my career. I could not get rid of this fear by my own power. In December, 2009, the Lord delivered the majority of fear through powerful healing prayer. Since then the Lord has been revealing deeper intimacy to my heart. I’ve also been set free from all types of sin that I could not overcome before. It’s not by power, nor by might, but by Spirit! Jesus is truly alive and I choose to live and bring this reality to others because that is His desire. There is hope for all who put their faith in Jesus!

Real Testimonies: Alexander Yao, "The Reality of God's Love"

My life is a complicated web of God’s grace, mercy and handiwork. As I reflect on my life, I can see how God has taken me through painful and difficult struggles in order to display his glorious majesty. I was blessed to grow up (in the Bay Area) in a Jesus-loving, Bible-believing church and family. I knew all the Bible stories, the Jesus loves me songs, and how to act like a “good Christian”. I accepted Christ when I was seven at VBS, went to Sunday School and attended youth group regularly. However, it wasn’t until I went on my first short-term mission trip in 2001 where I began to realize the reality of God’s love for me. That’s when my world changed. The stories I once learned became a reality in my heart.

Recently, I have made one of the hardest moves back down to LA. Prior to moving, I believed with all my heart that God was calling me here, despite how difficult and painful this move away from my family, home, & security net would be. The move was beyond what I had anticipated. After 5 months, I’m reminded of God’s grace and love and how desperately we are all in need of it. I am able to see how His hand has been in every step of my life and how He will be the one guiding me through the rest. I am grateful for all the ups and the downs He has taken me through and my prayer is that at the end of the day I remember His faithfulness.

Real Testimonies: Ralph Ogata, "It Could Have Been Me"

In the early ‘70’s, I was a young Air Force serviceman stationed in Turkey. As an unbeliever, and away from home for the first time, I wasn’t much different from other U.S. servicemen there. Some of us were interested in traveling around this unique country whenever we had a few days off. On one occasion, four of us were to drive down to the coast. At the last minute, I pulled out, and they went on without me. On their way back a couple of days later, they got into a car accident, and one of my friends was killed. I was stunned. This was the first time that someone my own age whom I personally knew had died suddenly. I mourned his lost, but I also started realizing my own vulnerability, especially since I could have died myself. What would have happened to me if I had died? I became more open to what God wanted to tell me. I began attending a small Baptist mission outside our base. There, I was introduced to a close-knit community of believers. Little by little, my many questions were answered, and the salvation plan was made plain to me. The Holy Spirit started convicting me of my sin, and I knew I needed to be saved. After unwavering conviction of my sins over several weeks, I finally gave up and prayed to accept Jesus into my life. It was the most important decision of my life, and I’m thankful I made the right choice.

Real Testimonies: Ivy Conklin, "My Life's Journey"

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Surrounded by loving Christian parents and family, how could I not believe? Grandpa carried me from the cry room to introduce me to worship; I was sure that God turned on His water faucets to cause rain; I pounded the table and shouted while playing preacher. At our South Los Angeles mission, daddy was preacher, mama, grandma and my aunt teachers, Sunday afternoons were to visit homes, hospitals and jails. Four days before my 10^th birthday came war. By light of one flickering candle during a blackout on Easter night, I was baptized. Teen years were camp meetings, youth choirs, youth activities, Loyal Workers, Christian Endeavor songfests. God equipped me, over and over, to serve Him and my churches: 5^th-6^th grade Sunday School teacher, superintendent, bulletin boards, banners, cakes, landscaping, scrubbing, waxing, treasurer, finance, congregational care, witnessing to Girl Scouts for 30 years. Now it seems He wants me to teach adults; with His help, I’m trying. God gave me treasures: my husband, four children, three grandchildren, and an internationally extended family. God traveled with us through 49 states, even to help build a church in Alaska. He put His arms around me the night our son Duane died, prayed with us the night our granddaughter Danielle battled a diabetic coma, grieved with us when our granddaughter Riki was killed. “Even when I am old and gray,” God has not forsaken me. He has blessed me, by taking away my terrible temper. But I’m not quite used up, so God isn’t finished with me yet.