Testimonies

We believe that 2012 is the year of the testimony. So, here, with permission from those the stories are about, we will highlight and celebrate the Father's goodness.

Have an incredible story of how God has radically impacted your life? We would love to hear it.

Stories

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ACCEPTING CHRIST IN A RESTAURANT

I was at lunch with a local student pastor and as we were discussing Jesus and ministry, a woman near us was listening to the conversation. She called the student pastor over to her table when we got up to leave and he sat down to talk to her. I left to go to work and when I got back to work, I received a phone call letting me know the woman just accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior! The young woman in the booth next to that conversation overheard the Gospel being shared and was crying and praying for the pastor and the woman. The Lord showed up and showed out at Schlotzsky's that day.

SHOWING LOVE IN NICARAGUA

While in Nicaragua we were able to pray over 12 women individually who have been rescued from human trafficking.  It was amazing to hear their stories and pour Father's love on them.

TESTIMONY OF BROTHERS

This summer I received a call from my brother, and he informed me he had gall stones. While in the process of removing them, the doctors found that he also has a case of incurable liver cancer. This sent me into prayer mode faster than Superman can fly. My community & I started getting on our faces and praying that Jesus would wither this "fig tree" like He did the one on the road to Jerusalem when He was going to be crucified. The next week we had a conference call prayer meeting asking that Jesus wither this cancer and totally confound and confuse the doctors. Four days later, I spoke to my brother and informed him of all the prayer going out for his complete healing and removal of this sickness. He said that on Tuesday morning he felt like something had left his body but he wasn't sure what it was or what it meant! I asked my brother, a confirmed Buddhist at the time, the only question that means anything, "If today is the last one, where are you going?" This was asked with tears in my eyes. His response was "No worries, I've come back home!" What a relief this was to me! Please be in daily prayer for my brother. He has one more test before chemo starts and I am praying without any doubt that this cancer is already been healed to the glory of our King Jesus.

SHARING THE FAITH

I have had the opportunity to live, work, and share my faith with 10 other students this summer. All of them have varying views of who God is, but it has been such a blessing to see some of them come closer to the Lord through reading the Word and through conversation. Please continue to pray for them!

 FREEDOM THROUGH FORGIVENESS

During Pastor Rich's series on prayer and relating to God as a Dad, I realized that in all my seeking I had not experienced this special Father-child relationship with God.  I have struggled in my prayer life because I have felt like God is too far away or that he doesn't hear me.  Through all that happened to me and that I experienced as a little girl and into my early twenties, one message was repeated to me and burned in my heart, a message that I am of no value and no one sees or hears me.  Though I have worked through most of that, the enemy brings it back to me from time to time. For months, I have been struggling with some old and new hurts from my dad.  I had no idea that I was also holding these same offenses against my heavenly Father.  When Rich had the altar call to have a fresh start with Father, I quickly went up. One of your prayer servants stood quietly behind me with her hand on my back and as Rich began to pray over our hurts I felt her hand and arm begin to shake.  She leaned forward and whispered in my ear, "I'm sorry for ignoring you." And moments later, "You deserve better."... "You are WORTHY."   She spoke several apologies to me that were specific to my hurts and with each one I doubled over in tears.  I was overwhelmed that my Father in heaven wasn't so far away after all, that He actually saw how much I'd been hurting and He wanted to make it right.  He told the woman praying with me exactly what to say to me and she walked me through forgiveness.  Because of the way God chose to show me He cares, and that I am worthy of his love, I am so FREE!  I have enjoyed spending time talking with Him!  For the first time in my life I can laugh with Him, cry to Him and just talk sweet simple talks with Him like He's right there holding me in his arms. I just love Him and I love the way he loves us in such special ways.

COMMUNITY HELPS HEAL

Over the past several months my husband and I have been struggling over some pretty serious issues in our marriage.  I am blown away by the support we have received from our community at City Church.  Breakthrough has come and is continuing first because the Father is faithful, and second because our community is faithful in prayer for us and encouraging us to faithfully persevere.  The culture at City Church is one of acceptance and love despite circumstances we have faced.  We are blessed to be a part of such a strong body.  Staff and friends have been weathering this storm with us and how precious it is to know we are not alone.

OBEDIENCE TO THE HOLY SPIRIT

While getting my morning caffeinated beverage on Pelham Road, I drove past the Boiling Springs Fire Department and I felt the Holy Spirit tell me to go there with a message from Him, that it would be a matter of life or death for someone. He gave me a picture of someone on the battle field down for the count and someone standing beside them offering a hand to help them stand up. I felt a little chicken and called a sister in Christ for encouragement. She prayed for boldness and I went to the Fire Department, walked in and told them that God had sent me with a message of encouragement. There is more to the story but suffice to say it was so cool! The person I ministered to burst into tears and went to the bathroom to recompose. The fireman that walked me out had more words that confirmed that I had heard from God.

FEAR REMOVED & PRAYER LANGUAGE RECEIVED

I went to the prayer rooms for the first time this Monday night during HHP and I told them I needed prayer for fear I had about receiving a prayer language. Through conversation with these three people, I realized there were some characteristics of my earthly Father that I was trying to attach to my heavenly father and I caught myself saying that I knew I wasn't receiving gifts from Him because I wasn't seeking hard enough. One of the prayer servants saw an image of a father looking down with admiration for His child and it was the next day that I put together that I was still trying to achieve His love and receive gifts through my own abilities. The next night I felt like the enemy was messing with my mind...All I had to say was NO and immediately following this declaration I felt the Lord give me a three word statement so clearly for my prayer language. I could feel the fire of the Holy Spirit in my heart and I cherished it until I went to sleep. Over the past week I've been embracing this new gifting more and more and I have gotten rid of a lot of the orphan mindset that I have about my earthly father and am choosing to turn to my heavenly Father more and more. Thank you for praying for this step I knew the Lord was wanting me to embrace. They also brought up jobs-which I'm trying to relocate to Greenville from Rock Hill. Their prayers definitely had an impact on my interview the next day.

SALVATION

A girl visiting from France accepted Jesus as her Savior during HHP.

JAW PAIN GONE

All jaw pain left in a woman after a word of knowledge was given in HHP about TMJ.

SHOULDER PAIN FREE

A man's shoulder is pain free and mobile after prayer.

ITCHY EYES HEALED

A child with itchy eyes says that her eyes do not hurt or itch after receiving prayer; she feels all better.

TEETH HEALED

A woman received prayer for her teeth & left saying the pain was completely gone.

FOOT PAIN GONE

A woman with foot pain says her foot is better after prayer at HHP.

HEALING IN CHURCH

On Sunday morning, while I was getting ready for church, I fell. My body ached all over and I felt like something was wrong with one of my ribs.  My daughter was scheduled to work in the nursery, so we continued to get ready to go. I was moving slowly. By the time we got to church, I was in a lot of pain in my ribs. Shawn Thompson prayed for me to be free of pain and that my spine would realign as it was supposed to be so that I could go and worship. I stood through the first two songs, but my rib was hurting. When I sat down I pushed my back up against the back of the chair and I heard a loud pop. Father completely healed my back-rib area and I have been pain free every since! Thank you Abba!

FINANCIAL PROVISION

 After the end of February, my income was cut by $350 a month. For some people, this may not be much, but for me it was a substantial amount. I was concerned, but I turned it over to God and stood firm to what he promised in the scriptures. Every time doubt or worry started to come over me, I lifted the situation to God. Then, to my surprise my boss told me they were giving me a raise! The increase in the net income was enough to cover what I needed to pay my bills. This was totally unexpected. Then, Several weeks ago, after having a few medical tests performed, the bills started arriving. It doesn't take long for these to add up! I have insurance, but a high deductible. I did not have the money to pay these bills and wondered how I would cover the deductible amount. Again, totally unexpected, money came in from three different sources providing enough funds to cover my deductible! Lastly, I needed enough money to make repairs to my home back in Alabama, so it could be sold. I can't purchase a home here in Greenville until this property is sold. Once again the unexpected happened. Last Saturday night when I picked up my mail there was a check for $4,100 in my box! I was in shock and overcome with the goodness of God! He loves us so much and truly cares about us. In the past four months, God has provided over $6,000 to meet very specific needs in my life. Each source was totally unexpected. God is so faithful and true to His word, He does take care of us when we seek Him! Praise Jesus!

NEAR ACCIDENT

A couple of weeks ago, God protected me from a very near miss of an accident. It was so close, but not a scratch on either vehicle. I praise God for His angels that protect us!

HOME FOUND IN CITY CHURCH

My husband and I have been looking for a home church for a long time. We attended another church in the city and although the pastor is a wonderful teacher, I was not growing spiritually. For 20 years now, I have been seeking God on how to grow and mature so that I can fulfill my calling and destiny. Then, I was needing some heavy duty prayer, and I asked the Lord if there was healing prayer in our Simpsonville area like I attended at a church I used to go to in Asheville, NC. Wa-Lah! My mother found City Church on the Internet. Though, I have not attended HHP yet, my husband and I happened to miraculously find a home for rent on Harts Lane, so we decided to start going to Sunday services at City Church. It has been amazing! It is almost like a family welcoming another member back home after being away; the sense of community and love is like nothing I've ever experienced in a church before! My husband and I also just completed Dream Team training. We were asking each other, "Are you sure this is where you think God wants us?" when we heard a broadcast titled "Masterpiece in the Making." It talks about Extreme Spiritual Makeovers that God wants to do in all of us, but He does them in our hearts within a Church body - one that is living in community, walking authentically, living out significantly in purity...the church that is DOING life together in the power of the Spirit, based on the Word of God. God told me at that moment, "Get ready for an Extreme Spiritual Makeover!" and God has answered my question. I KNOW I have finally found a church home because City Church is a prime example of the body living in community just as Christ told us to do. Thank you so much for being who you all are and for listening to the Holy Spirit and living as Christ would want us to live. I look forward to serving as part of the family and walking in the gifts that Daddy has given me.. I finally FEEL like a masterpiece in the making!

MIRACLE FROM A MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT

I wept in church today for no reason. Every time that happens, I know that the Kingdom is going to break through that day in some way! Tonight, on the way home from visiting a spiritual father in the hospital, I accidently turned down a random side street in one of the poorest areas of Greenville. I immediately saw a bunch of people gathered around a man lying on the ground. He had been rear-ended on his motorcycle and flew through the air only to land about 15 feet away from his bike. People were standing around but the paramedics had yet to arrive. I quickly asked the Father whether or not I should get out of the car and He said, "Yes, I am going with you." So I got out and knelt down next to him. He wasn't moving or responding and he quite honestly looked dead. His mouth was even hanging open. So I started to pray over him in the Spirit and he opened his eyes!! AHH! He said, "Sister I am saved! Sister I am saved!" Hallelujah! I asked him his name and if I could pray over him and he said yes so I started to speak healing over his body and to declare that he would not die but live and would proclaim what the Lord had done. He couldn't move his legs so I commanded him to walk in the name of Jesus and he started moving his legs! Praise God! Then I asked him what hurt and he said his left leg so I went to pray for it and felt really hot heat! Then I started to pray for his arm and felt heat too!  By that time the paramedics showed up & took over. HOW GREAT THOU ART SWEET JESUS!! Praise the Lord that He bought freedom from pain and sweet, sweet healing on the cross for us! HE IS SO GOOD! What's crazy is that about a month or so ago I happened upon another man who had flipped his truck three times and landed in a ditch. I got to help him out of his truck and pray over him too. The Father is SO NICE to use us to be His hands and feet!

LADY SET FREE

A lady suffering for 2 years from Insomnia testifies to being healed through a Word of Knowledge at City Church. Her Dr. has removed her from her medication!

GROWTH THROUGH COMMUNITY

A man has grown expotentially since being a part of a City Church men's group for over a year. Abba is now real to him.

HEALING AT HHP

A lady's back was healed at HHP

SHOULDER HEALED

At HHP this last week, a left shoulder was healed of a torn labrum!

WORDS OF KNOWLEDGE

A lady who had come to church for the first time in 4 years received multiple words of knowledge during ministry time and was blown away by the kindness of the Father.

CARPAL TUNNEL HEALED

A lady is set free from Carpal Tunnel in her wrist after receiving prayer on a Sunday morning.

CLEMSON IMPACT

Many Clemson students are touched by the Holy Spirit and healed during a recent Encounter Clemson service.

VELOCITY SERVE DAY

Over 140 people serve our 6 Community Partners in the City of Greenville during Velocity Serve Day 2012.

PAIN OF LUPUS GONE

A North Greenville student was set free from the pain of Lupus after being prayed for by other students.

BAPTISM

12 new believers are baptized at City Church Simpsonville on April 22.

NEW SALVATIONS

On Easter Sunday we had 7 children in the K5 class pray to receive salvation!

SOW INTO THE CITY AMOUNT

We are happy to announce that after our Sow Into the City Offering, each of our 6 community partners who faithfully serve our city in Jesus name will each begin to receive $946.00 monthly in support from City Church. Praise the Lord! Thank you City Church for your generosity!

PAKISTAN IMPACT

City Church pastor, Steve Keyes, went to Pakistan to train 75 pastors to be better Bible teachers. He also got the opportunity to speak to over 6000 Muslim/Pakistani people and over 1000 responded at the invitation to receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior!

MIRACLE HILL THANKS CITY CHURCH

On behalf of Miracle Hill, Shepherds Gate and the many we serve each day here in the Upstate, I want to say a big thanks to the body at City Church for your partnership and for sowing into the city. Thanks also for letting me be a part of the celebration Sunday morning. What a blessing! Each year the part that gets me the most is when the kids parade in and give their offering. I can't help but to picture the smile on God's face. My daughter Morgan (age 9) remembered the kids doing this last year and without my knowledge brought some money with her to church just in case they did it again. Thank you for allowing my daughter an opportunity to worship through giving. I look forward to seeing how God will continue to use City Church in sharing the light of Christ to the dark places of Greenville and beyond. - Greg Hynds from Miracle Hill

FULLY SURRENDERED DAUGHTER

My daughter has been "away from the Lord" for a while. She is a single mom with 2 kids. She came to the City Church Easter service, then went with a friend to Redemption the following week and fully surrendered her life back to God. Her whole countenance and life has changed - she's started tithing and God blessed her with a much needed car. Praise the Lord!