Day 5: Mike Barbosa

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.” John 1:29-30

I want to begin this testimony by first acknowledging God IS in Grace Chapel. God brought me to Grace Chapel in June of 2023 and since then I have been blessed with so many firsts in my life- all thanks to His grace. I could never have imagined so many different blessings in one year at this stage of my life.

This year during Father’s Day, my wife Kelly and I learned of our first grandchild to be born in January, then a few weeks later we learned she was having a girl. This was easily the most amazing news in my life and I couldn’t be happier-or so I thought. Fast forward a few months and we were surprised at the news from another daughter. In November, she made us aware of her pregnancy too-another girl! Previously, when speaking to our children about having babies, there would be resistance, so the news of not just one, but then two coming grandchildren was completely unexpected.

I give all credit to the Light of God in the lives of my wife and myself. The love of God we have tried to express has blessed our girls to be excited and embrace motherhood. One of our daughters gave us a card where she had written “it looks like God saw that we have a lot of love to give because He is blessing us with two grandchildren.” I was blown away when I read it and saw her speak of God. We’ve made some missteps training our children in Jesus but we have been committed to changing that. I believe Gods blessings were made possible for Kelly and I because our girls experienced His love through us. We can never stop affirming the goodness of Gods gifts (like babies) even though the world pushes against it.

Matthew 19:26 -Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

I have also been very blessed to be a part of many things at the church like Tuesday morning prayer meetings. The group is comprised of believers from the church where discipleship of Jesus is at the center of all prayer. We meet weekly and I truly believe in the power of intercessory prayer. It is alive today in all the prayer groups at our church. We have received testimony from people who said that the group’s prayers have been answered for them.

I’ve also begun to volunteer at the Hoving Home, made possible by contacts in the church. I was a professional mechanic so I’m able to use my experience to help repair different kinds of equipment for them. George Roser and I go every week and I am blessed by the time we get to fellowship and work together. We probably talk about God 90% of the time and I love it (I’m sure some days are 99%!)

I’ve also been able to help with needed work here in the church.

Also, Pastor Dave and Pastor James have graciously given me an opportunity to receive theology training through the church. Every single boast in my life this year is due to God and Grace chapel.

Before arriving to Grace chapel, I had not attended church in decades and was very hesitant about even going. Now I look forward to Sundays with excitement because we get to celebrate Jesus together, and at Grace, we are a family of God.

Since being at Grace I keep hearing stories of people who were lead there by “coincidence”- which is code word for GOD. Every single time I have been in our church I know the presence of God is there and I feel very strongly about that. For example, at a Bible study this year, I remember a young man getting a phone call on the way to our class (a wrong number call) which was not intended for him (but was absolutely from God!) After the person realized he had called a wrong number, conversation ensued and within a short time the individual in our bible study was praying in his car for a stranger-it was a man calling from inside the Newark jail! God is good!

If you or anyone you know at Grace has experienced any kind of disappointment or church hurt, I would implore you to surrender to Christ and let Him reign instead. Don’t miss out on spirit-filled worship and fellowship at Grace Chapel. God is our creator. He is everywhere around this world, and I also believe He is definitely in our church.

Beloved Jesus, our mighty Savior. We are so blessed to know You and love You; I pray that anyone who reads this is overcome with the love and grace that only God can provide to us. I pray that lives would be restored and souls would be healed. I pray that we would all have a boast of God so that we would never forget who You are to us. Lord, please bless those that are in places like Hoving Home with courage to endure to the end. I will never forget you Jesus, please give us the strength to be bold in carrying Your gospel of truth to the world so all could see the majesty of a living God who chooses and loves us. Blessed be your name Jesus