Welcome to the VCC Testimonies Blog

Welcome. The following are testimonies and praise reports from Vineyard Community Church at Laguna Niguel California, USA:

-If any of you VCC folks have a testimony or praise report–                  <<please email it to us>>

-Receiving Joy and Grace While Fasting

Last Sunday Pastor Mike asked the whole church to fast from sundown Sunday through sundown Monday-24 hours. He said that it was a great time to do so since it was Yom Kippur-the Biblical Day of Atonement. He asked us to fast and pray for the finances and ministries of the church and for our nation.

I always have a hard time going without food on a work day since I do a lot of physical work in my job and was somewhat apprehensive. Usually when I fast I end up with horrible headaches and have a miserable time of it.

Monday was different. By the grace of God I had a wonderful joyful day remembering to pray in the midst of my work and I seem to be in touch with God all day long. I was particularly blest by the Holy Spirit while I listened to praise music and Bible studies on the radio while driving. Praise God.

-Literally Receiving God’s Favor

 

The last week of June at the Wednesday morning Marketplace Prayer Service Pastor Mike prophesied over me that my work was going to get a whole lot easier and all of the stuff I had been worrying about was going to be resolved and that I was going to receive ‘God’s favor’.

I sorta wondered about what ‘God’s favor’ meant and involved–how that was any different than what I already had with the Father’s love but it sure sounded good. Anyone out there ever receive a prophetic word that was full of good sounding stuff that really didn’t mean a whole lot? If you receive ‘God’s favor’ how do you know for sure except good stuff starts to happen?

Well in this case, ‘God’s favor’ has been miraculously demonstrated to me literally on several occasions—here’s one incredible incident:

I had just spent 3 or 4 hours with a new client going over some of his needs for his new store (I sell market equipment to pay the bills). I was afraid that this was going to be a complete waste of time and effort. I had already been there twice before and sent him 10 pages of quotes and we really didn’t seem to be getting any closer to doing business. I threw up one of those traditional prayers like I always do in this situation— “Lord just give me favor in their eyes—don’t let this be a complete waste– I really do need something out of this—anything”.

At that point I really had little hope that I would see anything in the way of sales for all of the time and effort I had invested. The owners were Middle Eastern Muslims and usually the business climate is full of mistrust and similar warfare in these cases. The only time in my experience that I really receive any large sales from Middle Eastern folks is when I have already done some business with them in the past or with a relative and received a good referral. These were folks that I didn’t know nor did they or any of their relatives know me.

Right after I threw up that short prayer, the owner that I had been dealing with said— “I want you to come meet the big boss.”  We went to the front of the store and there was a circle of folks drinking tea with one guy obviously at the head of that informal table—he was wearing a teashirt that said “Jerusalem” and had a picture of the Dome of the Rock mosque on it. My heart sunk a little seeing that as I was introduced to “Ali” the big boss and money man of the operation—the one who makes the real decisions over anything substantial.

The moment we shook hands he proclaimed—“I just saw a vision of you standing with a Bible preaching or teaching—are you a Bible teacher?”

I was totally shocked and amazed and blurted out: “I am a Bible teacher!”

Ali shouts out- “I knew it, I knew it!”

Then he turns to those around the table and says: “This is a man we can trust—give him an order”.

And it was a very nice order indeed–Praise the Lord!

Michael D

-Praise Reports: Great Fellowship, Family Found, Cancer Healed, Project Finished

-08/16/09

Praise God, my daughter is now enjoying coming to the fun events with the high schoolers.

Cherie F.

 

-08/16/09

I found my lost children, Reed and Joseph, 18 and 20 years old!

Joseph C.

 

-No Date

Bob Kinaga was healed of throat cancer.  The radiation treatments helped. 

Chad prayed over him and he got healed and saved. 

God is awesome.

Anonymous

 

-08/16/09

Praise:  My savior Jesus is always faithful and by my side.  I was tested mightily this passed week…with an employment opportunity that sounded good, but fraught with compromises and undue demands.  He answered my ‘fleece’ request and gave me the strength to walk away from the temptation to take this job offer.  The Lord delivers those who move in faith and rewards those who abide in HIS timing.

…I pray for the movement of the Holy Spirit in this area.

Praise the Lord.

Joe I.

 

-08/09/09

My artist friend and I just finished illustrating three stories-in-rhyme of heavenly places that I have written:

• Celebrating Me
• Singing Me
• Recording Me

I am praying for a publisher and all the divine connections for it to go everywhere that God wants it to.

Carla M.

-Praise Reports: Walking without Crutches, Starting a New Career

-08/16/09

I tore a muscle in my calf yesterday morning and could not walk.  Some people prayed for me and I could hobble a little. Yeah!  I went to the hospital, there the doctor diagnosed the problem and said that it would be a 2 – 6 week recovery.  He gave me crutches to uses.  So many people prayed for me and loved me.  I could feel God healing me inside and outside.  Today, 24 hours later, I am walking without any crutches! Yeah God!  I have been so loved through a family I didn’t recognize that I had.  I am overwhelmed with thankfulness.

Sabrina O.

 

-07/26/09

Our son, Daniel, was accepted into the Fire Academy training Aug 15, 2009 to May 2010 in Santa Maria, California.  He returns from Wildwood, NJ orientation on August 1.  Jocelyn and I will spend the weekend with him up there. 

I have recovered from a cough, that started last week.  …and our KSOM kinship is off to a great start on Thursday nights.

Dave B.

-Lost Keys Restored

On June 27th I did a dumb thing.  I accidentally left my car keys hanging in my car door after I got out my transponder for a trip with my friends to Palm Springs in their truck.  When I returned 36 hours later, the keys were gone.  I felt confident that they would be returned, because, believe it or not, I had done the same thing a few months before, and someone–I never found out who–had hung them by my door–so I didn’t worry too much about it.  However, as time passed, and they were NOT turned in to the manager, or otherwise returned to me, I started to cry out to the Lord in earnest!  This was really affecting my life: my mail key, weekend work keys, etc.!

One week later–on Independence Day–I picked up my purse–the same one I had on my trip, and the same one that I had thoroughly searched and emptied in my desperate search for my keys–and I noticed that it was heavy, considering it was empty!  I looked inside and there my keys were!!  I live alone and no one has access to my purse–except angels!

Praise God for His bountiful grace and mercy!  "For the Lord is GOOD; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endures to all generations!"  PS. 100:5

Sherri S

-Receiving God’s Favor and Living in His Kingdom Economy

2009 has been a difficult time for our family. 2008 wasn’t so good but then 2009 rolled around and the bottom fell out of the economy in So. California. At one time or another this year, all 4 of my adult children have been out of work—we ended up with 3 extra adults living with us along with 2 grandchildren. Meanwhile my business and income dropped 30% while our expenses with 5 more mouths to feed increased exponentially.

By the end of June we were in a crisis with far more bills to pay than money. I really didn’t know what to do but continued to pray for some answers which didn’t seem to come.

I went to that last Marketplace prayer service of the month rather down and with little hope. That morning Pastor Hudgins gave me a word that my work was going to get a whole lot easier and that I and my family were going to receive God’s favor. Unknown to Pastor Mike, the previous 3 months had been the hardest I had ever worked for the least results. I wish I could say that I received the word in faith but I didn’t—this is not a ‘name it and claim it’ testimony. I left with a wait and see attitude.

Immediately our situation began to miraculously change. The same day I sold two huge orders and had more referrals than I had all year. In 4 days we had enough money to pay the bills for the month which had seemed so hopeless.

One son who had been unemployed for 4 months but couldn’t get any unemployment money—his application was lost– then found–than delayed because of a technicality–he finally got a check the next week and better yet, the other two started new jobs—praise God.

Meanwhile, with the economy going one direction—downhill, my business is now going in an entirely different direction and I look forward to see what miracles the lord is going to bring each new day.

Blessings, Michael D.

-Soaking Prayer Training School and The Father’s Blessing Conference

May 28, 2009

To the pastors and leaders

Vineyard Community Church

Laguna Niguel, CA

Regarding: Perfect Water Testimony

A million million thank you’s for the life changing conference last weekend. We were at the soaking prayer training at VCC.  We are completely undone in the right way and everyday of our lives and every decision, and moment will be affected from now on.  We found the sparkling Bride of Christ and our new spiritual family and our new home, that we’d e been looking.for and didn’t know was under our nose. The 10 Virgins parable confused and scared me every year that I read it in my daily reading. John’s explanation of it was so enlightening. 

I was the man with the neurological damage from the kayak accident, so that I have had involuntary jerky movements throughout my body for about 2 years. The devil tried to kill me because of the inner child work that we are carrying.  The Father’s love touched me so that my feet and legs are 80% quieter now.  Once my Doctor sees how quiet my feet are now, we will have tell him all about the King of Love, and ask him if he has gotten his invitation yet? We can begin to lower the appropriate meds with the goal of getting back to driving. Presently I am on disability, I can’t drive. So I plan to spend 1-2 hours a day in soaking prayer, expecting God to continue His healing touch until it is completed!  We are carving out time so that Gayle can get an hour or 90 minutes of soaking time also, each day.

On Memorial day I went Kayaking with my brother, exactly two years after the accident and we had for the first time in our lives ‘perfect water’ We caught every wave we took, could maneuver at will, pick and choose our waves, the power of the waves was perfect, and there was no current, We normally stay out for 45 -60 minutes. but we were having so much fun, that we stayed out 21/2 hours – the longest session ever, and weren’t tired or cold when we came in. I said ‘Thanks, Lord’, I told the Holy Spirit you are the perfect water that we need to heal. So the Kayak accident led us to the perfect water.

Next day I heard my mouth blurt out these words before I could stop them, ‘Thank you for the Kayak Accident’, and it came from my heart. Before I felt embarrassed about the Kayak accident so I didn’t talk about it much. What was the worst that the Devil meant for harm the Lord has turned into Good.- be cause his name is Good, that’s what he always does. He specializes in turning our mess into a message. Now I want to tell everybody. “Hey, can I tell you about my kayak accident? – and how loving and strong our Lord Jesus is.

During the first few hours of my soaking prayer that week the Lord showed me my own heart and what has been preventing me from getting heart to heart with him. Now it’s gone. That same night I was enveloped for about 3 hours in what seemed like a warm cozy blanket that I never wanted to leave. It was God’s love,that I have never felt before. What value can you put on that? I feel like I’ve found the pearl of great price all over again. I don‘t want to miss another day of my life without that face to face time, heart to heart time. Now I can see everything so clearly- what’s important and what’s not –every day. It’s just like when I first found the Lord, and the Holy Spirit, but it’s 1000 times better. It’s the fulfillment of all that and why they happened in the first place….to go get a purified bride.from all her junk. There is only one thing I can say to all of The Lord’s people – GET TO A SOAKING SCHOOL AS FAST AS POSSIBLE. You will thank me forever. They are at tacf.org.

Also thank you to the hundreds of you who have prayed, fasted ,interceded, and went to war in the spirit, and danced – for my healing these last two years. Keep praying for God’s shalom – “Nothing broken – Nothing missing.’

Eternally thankful.

Terry Haugh

-An Incredible Creative Miracle: Jacob’s Lung is Healed!

Here’s the testimony of an incredible ‘creative miracle’. A creative miracle is when God does the impossible and re-grows dead or missing tissue-like a missing arm or in this case replaces dead lung tissue. The following is a first-hand account from Jacob’s mother:

PRAISE GOD !!!

Jacob had his appointment with the Pulmonologist this morning at CHOC.  Dr. Y. was STUNNED by the incredible difference in his CT Scan!!!!

The prior CT Scan showed his left lung was 90% filled with Nasty Battle-Droids…I mean Pneumatoceles.  The Doctors could not see ANY healthy lung tissue.  They “hoped” if they did surgery to remove the dead lung tissue and the HUGE Pneumatoceles they may be able to salvage a portion of his lung and healthy lung tissue “might” re-grow. 

Also, the border of Jacob’s lung was so damaged that it was allowing his lung to push into his heart causing pain.  The Doctor’s were worried that Jacob’s dead left lung would damage his healthy heart.  That is why then called the heart and lung surgical expert, Dr. Palafox.  If they were removing the lung and the heart had been compromised he would be the best man to take care of them both while he was inside Jacob’s chest.  They planned to remove the “dead-lung” to save the heart.  You have two lungs and can live with only one…the heart is a non-negotiable. 

The healthy lung tissue is now THERE and the Pneumatoceles are NOT!!

God did not need to wait for surgery to clear anything out of His way… He just created NEW HEALTHY lung tissue just like HE did when he formed Jacob’s lungs originally 8-years ago!!  The border of Jacob’s lung is now strong and his heart is not being touched in any way.  Praise GOD!!

Our Pulmonologist is recommending NO SURGERY!!  She made it clear she is deferring the final decision to Dr. Palafox.  But as she was leaving she squeezed my shoulder and told me that Dr. Palafox highly respects her opinion and they are usually on the same page.  Yea, GOD!!

Only one more Doctor to get through!!  Dr. Palafox – Monday, March 2^nd 3:30.

I had FAITH that Jacob had been healed, but seeing the incredible contrast in the CT Scans, and the shock and happiness from our Pulmonologist (Dr. Y. teared up when she showed us the CT Scan – She had spent a great deal of time with Jacob at CHOC)  I was completely overwhelmed. 

I knew God COULD heal Jacob; I am so thankful that He chose to. 

The incredible relief hit me when I got in my car to drive back to work.  I had to sit in the parking structure at CHOC for a long time sob my THANKS and PRAISE to God. 

When back at my office, I received a call from our first surgeon Dr. Kabeer.  He was SPEACHLESS!!  He kept says that he had NEVER seen such a dramatic change.  He said it was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!  (He said ABSOLUTELY AMAZING five times…)  He has no medical explanation for the improvement. 

Dr. Kabeer laughed and reminded me that Dr. Palafox did not want a new CT Scan because they had already confirmed that Jacob had a “Necrotic Lung”… Jacob’s lung was medically dead and that much damage just does NOT reverse itself. 

I told Dr. Kabeer that I would not let Dr. Palafox cut Jacob open until they confirmed he had not been healed.  Dr. Kabeer said he was just ordering the CT Scan to humor me and that he did not think they would see any significant improvement.  Dr. Kabeer said lung tissue does not just “re-appear” after it has been liquefied….

Dr. Kabeer now wants to get hard copies of the CT Scan from Hoag and all the medical records from when Jacob’s journey began in the Emergency room on December 20^th.    He wants to do a medical write-up on Jacob because he has NEVER seen anything like this before…He had consulted with Internationally renowned expert Dr. Grossfeld while we were in CHOC and got numerous other opinions.  The best-of –the best did not think this was possible.  Dr. Kabeer wants to meet with us and plans on using Jacob as a case study for further research.  I told him you can not always prove things out medically.  Sometime you just have to have FAITH.  He said he had a feeling I would say that!  My God is so cool!!

We continue to praise Jehovah-rapha, The God WHO heals, for His incredible MERCY and POWER!!

Story Continued-Provision for the Family:

We are also praising Jehovah-jireh, the Gods WHO Provides, that I still have my job…

My company filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy last Thursday.  We have laid-off over 90% of the company (1,000+ families). 

Mercifully,  I am one of the remaining 86 employees…I am thankful for insurance coverage for Jacob and that I have a job to come to. 

However, it is day to day and the bankruptcy court has to approve our restructure plan, our G&A costs…everything. 

I appreciate your continued prayers for PEACE and PROVISION.    

We believe that YOU have had a front row view and have played a huge part in God’s MIRACLE for Jacob and our family!!

God has heard and honored your prayers and we will be eternally grateful.  Jacob will be a “walking and talking and praising God” reminder for your faithfulness, diligent prayers, and God’s awesome POWER!!! 

“Your AWE-INSPIRING deeds will be on every tongue; I will proclaim you GREATNESS!!”  Psalms 145:6

Amen to that!!  We are shouting it from the mountain tops.  Our God HEALS!!

It is supposed to be 80 degrees tomorrow and the Craig Boys will be boogie boarding near Newport Pier tomorrow afternoon.  We would LOVE for you to rejoice with us!

Love,  Nedra

-Testimonies of Deliverance and Healing

Dear Friends,
Thank you so much for your prayers. We just finished three days of ministry and equipping at a church in Riverside. Wow, God was so good. Friday night was amazing. Not only did we have so many prophetic word but the best was at the end of the evening and then on to the streets the next day. God showed up with so much power. I put two testimonies below but there was so much. Salvations, deliverances and a whole bunch of healings.  It was fun to hit the streets again. My power evangelism, basic training manuals were a big hit too, so that was encouraging. We also had people come up to us and give us money which we really needed. God is good and you can never out give Him.
Blessings,
Stuart and Cathy

DELIVERED FROM THE SPIRIT OF FEAR
A women came up after we closed the meeting and said she struggled with fear. I began to ask her, “What kind of fear? What does it look like?” She said, “All kinds of fear, I never know when it’s going to show up.” I asked her, “Why do you have this? Tell me if anything major has happened in your life?” She went on to tell us she along with her mother, when she was in high school, were held at gun point and had knives put to their throats during a home invasion robbery. Stuart told her there is a spirit that came in during that time but it’s simple to get rid of. So he walked her through deliverance. At the point he looked at her and told that spirit to come out she began to scream in terror. He grabbed her and said, “You have got to go! Leave now.” We calmed her down and then Stuart again said, “There still something here can you feel it?” She said, “Yes, I think you’re right.” Then Stuart said to her, “What did they say to you when you were robbed? Did they say anything.?” She said, “Yes, they said they would kill us.” He said, “That’s it, were going to break that now, in Jesus name!” He broke off the word curses, command the spirit of murder, death and fear to leave. She coughed up a few things. (I don’t want to be to graphic here ) Suddenly it was over and she was completely free! She knew it and so did her friends and family. They wept and all hugged us so tight I thought were going to knock me down. They were all so happy to see their friend set free. She was so grateful and we were left once again in awe of what God was doing. Praise God!!

HEALING AND THE FIRE OF GOD IN WAL-MART
We broke the group into six teams and sent half to the mall and half to Wal-Mart. Before leaving we asked the Lord to speak to us and received words of knowledge including women’s hair dye, neck pain, back pain and right eye pain among many others. So I told my small team let’s go the beauty department in Wal-Mart. We arrived just in time to see a women picked up a box of hair color. We went to her right away and asked if we could pray for her. She said, “Sure you can pray my family will be blessed.” Immediately I felt impressed to ask her if something was wrong with her physically. She went on to tell us she had been in a car accident and had neck and back pain. We began to pray for her and fire of God came on her so strong she started sweating and fanning herself and kind of crying out, “Oh, Oh, Oh, It’s so hot. It’s so hot!” She was completely healed and then said she had eye pain. She didn’t have eye pain until we prayed. I felt the Lord tell me it was witchcraft. I rebuke it and she was completely healed. She went on to tell us that she was desperate and asked the Lord to send someone to her to pray for her but she never thought it would happen in a store? She was so grateful. Needless to say we drew a crowd around us as the fire of God and his presence was on her she could hardly stand up! Wow, we spent some time with her and her daughter and it was so awesome to see the Lord move on their behalf. Amen!! That was our testimony but there were so many more and we just praise God! Thank you Lord.