He heard his child call . . .

For the last two years I have attended Celebration, I have prayed everyday that my husband, the love of my life would seek the goodness in God.

The first year I attended, my husband would not come. It saddened me that he was missing God in his life. But I knew it had to be when he was ready.

Last Easter he attended and loved the vibe of the church; from Pastor Stovall’s message, to seeing the love of God fill the sanctuary. From that point on he attended with me and our children every Sunday, yet he hadn’t fully given himself to God.

But I continued to have faith that Pastor Stovall, Celebration and God himself would reach him when he was ready to really open his heart.

This New Years we shared our goals (as we always do) and the one that hit me the most was he wanted to give himself to God. Amen!

We both shared in the goal of the Lord by fasting together and praying.

It was an incredible feeling of joy!

Recently, at one of the Sunday services, Pastor Stovall asked who wanted to given themselves to Lord in front of everyone. My husband stood up, walked to the front with a hundred others to stand before God and he gave himself.

Tears of joy ran down my face as I was watching my wonderful, loving, caring husband truly commit to our heavenly father.

Bring it to God first - good things will happen. Mark 9:14.

Thank you Celebration for being the eyes for my husband and showing him the greatness of the Lord.

I have a story to tell that is not my own, but Rachael’s. I’ve asked God how to share “her” story, but can only communicate it from my experience.

In the eyes of the world, Rachael was born with many physical handicaps. Among them she is deaf and unable to speak. I have watched this beautiful gift of God for 21 years and she has far exceeded what the doctors ever thought possible for her to accomplish.

I’ve often thought that she tries so hard for us to hear her; to communicate what she is thinking and how she is feeling. There is just so much that we don’t know.

Rachael’s brother started attending Celebration with my son a short time ago. His mother (my friend since the second grade) has seen a change in him and has been saying that she wanted to come too.

This past Sunday was the plan.

Sunday morning arrived and they were running a few minutes late. I thought if they don’t hurry up then it’s going to be next weekend. I wanted to be on time only thinking of getting my “seat” for the service.

As we drove, I could see something was wrong with Rachael. Was she excited or upset? Would she disrupt service? I knew they would be taping for TV. Would she have an outburst during the time Pastor was speaking?

As we settled into our seats and the music started, I watched as she held tight to her precious mother’s hand. She sat so quiet and still.

I forgot all my worries as I heard the message.

At the end of the service, Pastor asked if anyone had not asked Jesus into their heart to stand. Rachael stood up! I could see that her mother started to reach for her but stopped. As her head raised and she gazed towards heaven, her mother and I both knew she had been touched by the Holy Spirit.

God had spoken to Rachael’s heart in a way that only she could HEAR!

We have cried, rejoiced and shared this miracle with friends and family. Last night her mother asked her in sign language, “did you feel Jesus in your heart?” Straight faced and without distraction, she said YES!

How does she tell us that she got saved? How does she give her testimony?

I felt compelled to tell you that “the line” was shortened last Sunday and Rachael got saved. I look forward to her continued awakening as she starts her walk with Jesus and with her new family at Celebration Church.