“Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three.” (Luke 12:51-52) Despite the current wave of persecution from the family members of those who have recently been baptized and who have been studying to enter God’s Kingdom, God’s peace was evident in the lives of so many precious brothers and sisters gratefully celebrating their “new-memberhood” at the Prestons at Saturday’s New Member Orientation (NMO)! One brother shared, “I want to lead a church someday overseas!” Two baptized OC disciples, Erin and Edimar, had the “wisdom” to bring their physical sisters to the NMO and BOTH WERE INSPIRED TO MAKE JESUS LORD AND WERE BAPTIZED TODAY!
Erin’s sister, Adriana, is a student at Whittier College, who began studying the Bible before Erin did! Sadly, Adriana decided to stop studying because she was not ready to give up everything. Weeks later, after realizing that the world was only going to “chew her up and spit her out” and seeing the peace in her sister Erin’s new life, Adriana sent me a text desperate to get together and continue studying the Bible! After hours of reviewing and multiple Bible studies, Adriana was finally ready to make Jesus Lord of her life and be baptized! Both “Fischer Sisters” shared about how grateful they were to have each other in the spiritual battle to love their family despite the negativity towards their convictions and to have gone on their first prayer walk together the night before Adriana’s baptism!
Erica is the physical sister of Edimar, a sister from our Cal State Fullerton Campus Ministry. Excitingly, she is the first fruit of the new All-Women’s Bible Talk! Edimar shared in tears about how broken their relationship was growing up. She shared how before she became a disciple, her own hostility toward Erica even caused her to move out of her house, because she could not stand to even look at her sister’s face. Grateful that God would reconcile their relationship now that they were both following Jesus, Edimar shared sincerely how she cannot wait to see her sister every day! Also in tears, Erica expressed how much she’s always admired her big sister, Edimar, and how grateful she is that she now gets to follow her footsteps into the Kingdom of God!
The Single Women of the OC also saw the Word of God at first brings division and then brings peace! Christina, Anayeli, Lesa and Jessica were studying with a Kenyan named Liz, who was struggling with the changes she saw that God was calling her to in the Scriptures. After nearing the waters of baptism last Sunday but doing a “fly-by,” Liz texted Kerri-Sue Adams this past Saturday morning, simply saying, “I want to get baptized!” She had counted the cost and been open with her struggles throughout the week and today at her baptism she shared her love for God and His Kingdom!
