Stories of Life Change

South Hills Assembly is filled with people whose lives have been completely transformed by God through the power of the Holy Spirit! As you get to know the people of our church you will hear story after story of physical healings, deliverance from addiction, miracles of protection and provision, and most importantly the stories of a life with Jesus that is exciting and fulfilling! We are a community of people who are continually in awe of God's goodness and power in our lives. Here are just a few stories, and as you listen or read, let God change your life . . .

__________________________________________________________________

Testimonies from "40 Days of love" . . .

This is a letter we received in response to balloons that our 2nd - 5th Graders released during kid's church on March 1, 2009. The balloons contained a note that said, "Love is Kind - 1 Cor 13:4 - Be kind to someone today and tell us about it", with our contact info on the back . . .

I found one of your papers, I assumed you placed them in balloons, however
we did not find a balloon, in a Willow Hill, PA wooded area.  It was like
God had it sent to me because I had to make a presentation that very next
day in our church regarding a practical evangelism class on acts of kindness
that I will be teaching.  This was my first time in front of an audience and
a microphone so you can imagine how anxious I was.  This is also my first
teaching job.  When I picked up this little paper I realized how awesome God
is and I just depended on Him to get me through the presentation.  Guess
what!  After my presentation (with the Lord playing the bigger part) the
other teacher that was presenting his class didn't want to present.  He said
he wanted to be in my class!  I have approximately 25 in my class to date
and we will be using Steve Sjogren's Conspiracy of Kindness book.  It is
servant evangelism doing deeds instead of using words to touch the hearts of
people with the love of God. 

May God bless your youth group as they continue to plant the seeds of
kindness.

By the way, I attend the Mt. Olivet U. B. Church in Chambersburg.

May God bless

Carol Mayer

__________________________________________________________________ 

Testimonies from the youth missions trip to Denmark . . .

Carlie Alescio – “I’m praying that God will prepare me to go on this trip & that when I come home, I’ll be more aware of what He wants me to do with my life.”

Nicole Beck – “I have a strong desire to share the Word through compassion…helping people, building something, serving food...to feel that I can contribute.”

Stacie Celender – “I think that it is such a great privilege to share with others the goodness of God!  I want a sense of knowing that I made a difference in at least one person’s life.”

Connor Dickey – “The interest that I have in this mission’s trip is to witness first hand what it is like in other countries that truly need Jesus...it will put things into better perspective of what life is like.”

Danielle Duncan – “I can help with mostly anything… watch kids, paint, go door-to-door & talk with people, clean or just anything that needs to be done.”

David Ethridge – “I hope to do whatever I can to bring God to this secular society…where the faith is not widely accepted…to further the Word of God & fulfill the Great Commission.”

Sarah Henderson – “When I watched the video, the missionary spoke about Europe…only 3-5% are Christian, that really struck me!  By going on this mission’s trip, I feel I can bring the Light that I walk with everyday to people who might never otherwise hear it.”

Adam Hochendoner – “Whatever we do for the least of the people on earth, we have done it for God as well.  I will apply this to serving those we meet during the trip.”

Aiesha Husaini – “I need to step out of “comfortable Christianity”.  I am ready to do something different for God…this seems like the perfect opportunity…I expect He will show me how to serve Him in new ways.”
Jenna Liberati - “I am praying that God will work in and through our team and that He will give me the strength to be a bold witness.  I am so eager about telling others in Copenhagen about the joy God gives me and the purpose He fills my life with!”

BJ McGraw – “I expect his mission’s trip will help me not take for granite the blessings I have…and help me be more compassionate and helpful to others.”

Brock McGraw – “I hope to see many, many people come to know Jesus Christ in a better and more personal way.  And, to see many lives changed forever.”

Caitlin Moeller – “How often do you get a chance to go to one of the (spiritually) darkest countries in the world to chare God’s love with them?  Not very often.  This trip is not about me.  It’s all about God and what He wants…”

Katie Ocel – “God’s Word says to go into all the world and preach the good news about Christ.  My prayer is to do something great and worthwhile for Him…”

Brandon Powell – “This trip will be an eye-opening experience to how much people need Jesus.  I’m willing to do anything to win people for Christ and to show them that there are at least two people who love them, God and me.”

Jenny Rupprecht – “I feel God is calling me into the mission’s field.  I can’t wait to see how God is going to use each one of us.  I am thankful for the opportunity to go and I’m ever so grateful that my parents are willing to let me.”

Sharon Sabo – “I am fully prepared to work hard and put my all into every moment of everyday I’m there.  I think that you need to take what you’ve learned, apply it to your life, and then figure out how to relay it to someone else.”

Jessica Sikes – “I love Jesus, I love telling people about what He’s done in my life and I love to travel!  The trip will allow me to obey Jesus’ words in Matthew 28.”
Hannah Starnes - “There are so many people that have no idea what they are to do with their life, no idea what is for them in the after life.  I know that there is eternal life in Jesus Christ...I want to go and be used to change someone’s life.”

Marissa Swiech – “Almost 80% don’t practice any sort of faith…they are trapped in darkness.  But, I believe with all my heart that I can show the light of God while we are there…not because of my own skills or talents, but because Christ lives within me.”

Steve Westerman – “I want to give people hope that they can live for something more than themselves.  It’s time for our generation to step up and not be afraid to stand for what we believe in!”

_________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Hi, I have been attending South Hills Assembly since 2002. I have two wonderful girls. When I started attending South Hills Assembly, I was separated from my husband, trying to find focus to my life and I was very angry.
Things were tough. I wrapped pennies to be able to buy diapers. Through the seven years of being here, I found an extended family.
Compassion Connection has played a big part in helping me sort through my life and helping me deal with a great deal of issues. I fell into a deep depression and I did not think I was going to make it. I took a parenting class with Pastor Kay. I was involved in SoulCare, DivorceCare, Financial Management and the Single Parenting class. I also counseled with Pat Mary. Today, my faith is stonger. Fully Tithing 10% of my gross income is part of my life. I've paid off $14,420.29 this year! I've had a World Vision Child for 5 years. God has blessed me so I can bless others. My children are well and serving God. My oldest daughter will be going on her first mission trip this year. God has his hand on me, molding me with the help of my spiritual family here at South Hills Assembly. I love this church and praise God for Compassion Connection. God's love and the love of people has meant transformation in my life.

(Name Withheld)

____________________________________________________________________________  

We live in the city of Pittsburgh and I’m sure you have heard all about the property assessments that have impacted the majority of the city home owners.  We own a small rental house. The assessment caused the city and school tax to double in the year 2001. It more than doubled in the year 2002. We appealed, but had to pay the tax. You know there is that kind message at the bottom of the tax bill, “Penalty and interest if paid after the required time.”

We received a letter stating that the Fair Market Value had been lowered but no money was returned.

Just last week I said, “Now Lord, You are the partner in that rental and we have faithfully paid our tithe off the rent. Please, we need the money.

Praise the Lord! IN Thursday’s mail was a check from the City for the over charge in the year 2001 and 2002!

God taught me to tithe way back in 1953 and I find God’s faithfulness to be one of my greatest joys.

(Name withheld by request.)

_____________________________________________________________________________

During Time to March, we decided to give $200.00 a month. We also are tithing. When To m got his knee done, things were tight. I thought, “Let’s hold off on the $200.00 a month.” We held back, but eventually paid back our past due promise.

On Saturday the mail came and Tom got an increase of approximately $150.00 and the government still owes us another 20% a month

I believe we got this increase in funds because we were obedient to God.

(Name withheld)

____________________________________________________________________________________

Aviation after September 11 has been a challenge. My husband was working over 12 hour days and usually driving at least 4 or 5 hours to different job sites. The company he works for is small and specializes in corporate aircraft engine inspection and engine changes. His employer realized the need to change the direction of the company to include pre-buy inspections and a new engine live.

I have prayed the prayer of Jabez for the business and for My husband's boss and his family. God is so GOOD and faithful, even after the industry slowed down and he was only working 2 or 3 days a week. We had promised to tithe an additional 5% on future bonuses for the building debt. Things just didn’t look promising for us to be able to give the extra 5%. I felt discouraged that we had promised this and would probably not receive a bonus.

I continued to pray for the business and to our amazement and blessing from God, ny husband's employer gave him a bonus check last week! This is truly a miracle, considering the state of the business and the fact that expenses went up after 9/11. The liability insurance went from $41,000 to $150,000. It’s easy to get discouraged, but God is always faithful. We are so grateful for all God has given us.

It felt wonderful to be able to write the check for the 5% to the building fund.

Sincerely,

(Name Withheld.)

___________________________________________________________________________________ 

Soon after we pledged to “Together…we continue the mission,” we received the same amount of money we’d pledged, plus more from an unexpected source. When we made our pledge, we remembered that Pastor Stepp had told us that if we all did some extra, it would help towards the large effort, so our pledge was an amount that we felt we could have faith for.

Tithing has always been a part of my life (as well as my husband’s life.) I can still remember my parents instructing us, though young, to give 10% of any birthday money to God through our offering envelopes. This training continued as we got babysitting and after-school jobs. Later, as a young adult, I was well trained to do this. I believe it only did me good.

My parents often said, “You can’t out-give God.” They liked to remember the times they’d given special offerings and then a good sale was made in my father’s work. I remember too when they once purchased a new home at a very beneficial price. My mother often chuckled about how people said that at that price they’d stolen it! She even referred to a time back in depression days in the 1930’s when her family was very low on food, and a bread truck tipped over outside their house. The driver told them to take all the bread they wanted!

We have seen many benefits from our giving, financially (through employment, unexpected sources, and I count “sales” in stores as returns from God!) and in many other blessings. I even acknowledge fair weather on vacation as a gift from God.

Here’s an unusual testimony. Some years ago we were living in a home that only had a carport, rather than a garage. One morning we came out and found that someone had stolen the hubcaps off our car in the night! We prayed and asked God to make the thieves so uncomfortable that they would have to return the hubcaps. It took a week or two but, sure enough, we woke up one morning to find the hubcaps lying in the grass next to the car! This was a good example of God “rebuking the devourer” for us.

What about protection, God's leading in life, friends and family, and so many other things we take for granted? If we stop and count the blessings we have, we all can see that God truly blesses back

(Name Withheld)