We moved from West Auckland to Whangaparoa at the end of December 2016. We were really happy at Church Unlimited and I didn’t want to leave as we had built relationships with precious people. My husband felt it was too far to travel and that we needed to find a local body of Believers. On New Year’s day we went to the local Baptist Church because the ‘church’ we found online only opened on 8th January.

My pregnant daughter wanted to come with us to church the following week, and suggested that we go to the other church my husband found online. Our son was also visiting that day so the five of us came to Living Faith.

We sat side by side in a row and the row in front of us was lined with ladies who we later found out were the intercessory group. Jean greeted us and the rest of the row followed in welcoming us.

Theuns brought a prophetic word over Phil and all of us were encouraged as it was so spot-on. None of us wanted to leave the service .

All I can say is that we were blown away by this amazing group of people. We had only just arrived but week after week Jean assured us that the intercessory group were praying for my daughter and her baby. We hadn’t even asked.

When she hit difficulties on her due date and the two weeks before the birth, we felt like we were being carried in prayer by the intercessory group as well as Theuns and Nastasya. We were so grateful to Rosa and her prayer group.

Week after week they never tired of praying for us and were always interested in what was happening as we faced challenges once our Babydoll was born, even though Alicia was unable to attend. Caralise came to see her and our Babydoll and Heather was on hand to support them as well.

Theuns and Nastasya came to pray over our little Babydoll when she faced some health challenges and when our 11 week old was in hospital for 11 days, we knew we were being carried on the wings of prayer.

We know this is where we are meant to be.

Everyone welcomed us with open arms from the very beginning and we have formed friendships we are so grateful for, especially during this trying time. Normally we jump in boots and all, but we have not been in a place to do that at this stage but we still feel such love and acceptance from everyone.

Acts 17v26 says, "From one man He has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live."

We know God has ordained where we moved to, as Theuns and Nastasya are our neighbours, and we also know that we are meant to be at Living Faith. We have heard of so many stories where people have to go looking for a body of Believers to belong to and we are grateful Holy Spirit led us here.

Every week we are more amazed at the raw honesty and vulnerability from the pulpit that doesn’t leave the people guessing about what’s going on. The leaders’ lives are open books and this means so much to us.

We want to thank each and every person who has prayed for us and made us feel like we have come home.

Shalom

Brenda

Here is a testimony to the goodness of God and his provision.

There are three ways that the Lord has shown His faithfulness to us recently.

1. I have been gifted an all-expenses-paid trip to Europe for four weeks. This was in my probably-never-will-happen bucket list.

2. Last year (2016) I worked extra hours and saved them, then it was discovered that I was owed more hours unexpectedly so before I knew anything about any trip overseas, God had provided the equivalent to 3 weeks income. Then I am due long service leave so another week was covered. Therefore, our family had been financially provided for, before we needed it. God's goodness is overwhelming.

3. Even greater than the financial provision, has been the provision of healing of Alan's body, causing him to be well enough for me to leave him for 4 weeks. We have been coming out of a long-term illness winter season of 20 years and now are in our spring time.

We are overwhelmed with God's faithfulness, goodness and wonderful provision.

Raewyn Meikle

We want honour God and give Him the highest of all glory that He deserves.

Last Sunday, Vyviane and I stepped up during the corporate prayer session to pray for marriages. Specifically, we had asked for the church to pray for a non-Christian Chinese couple who were about to get a divorce.

We were called upon as a last lifeline of hope to save their marriage, and our meeting on that Sunday 3 pm needed a miracle, as the husband was preparing to leave that night.

I remember distinctly praying that God would save their marriage, and told them that God created marriage to be a covenant, never to be separated.

We prayed humbly and earnestly, for this couple, and for all marriages on the coast to be under the protection of God.

We are elated to report that after our meeting, the husband has decided not to leave, and is willing to work to save their marriage. His wife, whom we subsequently met later in week also agreed not to leave. They both have agreed to come to us for counselling to help to work out their differences. Praise God in the highest for He is EL ROI, the God who watches over us. Where there is no other way, He comes through to answer our prayer.