By Michael Hernandez
OXNARD—”Stop and reset well,” said evangelist Nick Vujicic at New Life’s 12:30 p.m. livestream church service. “You don’t know what you have got until, it is gone. The world has stopped in many layers. The eight months of 2020 are unbelievable. God is not surprised. He has not changed.”
Evangelist Nick Vujicic, born in Melbourne, Australia without arms and legs (a member of New Life Oxnard) has preached the gospel in over 69 countries since he was 19-years-old. The 38-year-old Christian and motivational speaker began his ministry, Life Without Limbs, in Southern California in 2005.
Vujicic recounted how his aunt recently passed away of COVID-19 in Australia. “My aunt could not be touched because of COVID-19. It sucks that she died alone but she really didn’t. She felt the love of her family and of Jesus.
“Don’t be surprised by tribulations. I want you to look at one of the greatest legends of faith: The story of Joseph Bondarenko, Russian evangelist: “The KGB’s Most Wanted” and known as the “Billy Graham of Russia.”
Bondarenko was born and grew up in the Ukraine and attended the Naval Academy but was expelled because of his faith just before graduation. He was condemned to prison three times, serving a total of 10 years of imprisonment for preaching the gospel and locked up in a solitary cell that was four steps long and three steps wide at age 26.
“He was told to renounce his faith to show the Christians (what would happen to them) if they did not renounce their faith in Jesus. He sought asylum after he got out and came to America.
“In 2006, Bondarenko told his sons and daughters that America was going to be brought down by a left-wing agenda that will tear down the family. Socialism would come in a blanket of communism. Christians would be pressed like never before. We would see a whole new America and that has happened.
“When we entered 2020 everyone was excited” about double vision for this year. “What do I see God saying to us now about 2020?
- Allow your mind to be aligned to the Bible.
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
- Take one day at a time and be careful of what you hear.
“Stop and filter what you are reading, seeing, and hearing.”
- Have you asked God: “What are you up to? Have you had those conversations with the Lord?” Have you asked the Lord “to talk to you? Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and mind.
“God wants you to write out your testimony. What were you like pre-Jesus and post-Jesus? Who are you now? How did Jesus change your life? How do you have peace in the storm? How do you get joy? How did God allow you to have mercy?
“Jesus conquered the devil. The war is won. Jesus conquered the grave. The war is won. We need to love God and love our neighbor. Nothing is more important than you sharing how Jesus changed your life. May we quickly learn what we need to learn today. Reset now.“
Michael Hernandez, Co-Founder of the Citizens Journal—Ventura County’s online news service; editor of the History Makers Report and founder of History Makers International—a community nonprofit serving youth and families in Ventura County, is a former Southern California daily newspaper journalist and religion and news editor. He worked 25 years as a middle school teacher in Monrovia and Los Angeles Unified School Districts. Mr. Hernandez can be contacted by email at [email protected].
Get CitizensJournal.us Headlines free SUBSCRIPTION. Keep us publishing. – DONATE
Please Lord , give us all the strength to get thru this difficult times. And I ask my Lord for you’re kindness to surrounded all of us. Let those who have perish from Covid-19 be in haven and please help those who are alone without any loves ones. Give me peace of mind to get they this and please please find a solution.