Testimony October 25, 2009: Reunited with the wife

(Audio: Spanish, English) ->Original

SUMMARY: Rick shares his testimony about how he came to Team Challenge broken and looking for a quick fix, but instead found a new life in Christ. He shares how God spoke through a pastor to him, prophesying that God would soften his wife's heart, and how God was faithful to His word. Rick encourages others to present their bodies as living sacrifices to God and to be transformed by the renewing of their minds.

Rick: Good afternoon everyone. My name is Rick and I'm from Boston Team Challenge Performer: Good afternoon. My name is Rick and I'm here from Boston Team Challenge Rick: I've been in Team Challenge for three years Performer: I've been for 3 years in Team Challenge Rick: I came in broken and chained to bones. I mean just completely crashed Interpreter: I came broken and in chains, destroyed Rick: I came into Team Challenge thinking that I would solve my problems and could quit in about 30 days but like any recovery place I went to but that wasn't what God in mind. He had a whole different plan Interpreter: I came to Team Challenge thinking that in 30 days I was going to try to fix my problems but it wasn't like that, God had another plan for my life

Rick: As the fog started to clear from my mind Interpreter: and the world of God enter my heart and my soul Interpreter: When the word of God began to feed my heart and mind Rick: I started to see what Jesus had in mind for me Interpreter: I started to see what Jesus had in mind for me Rick: My life was his Interpreter: That my life was his Rick: Not mine. Performer: Not mine Rick: As I surrendered to the will of God Performer: When I surrendered to the will of God Rick: I started to do ministries like this but out of the State Interpreter: I started doing ministries like this but out of state Rick: We had a DAT team, I don't know if you have seen us on store fronts with a table we read literature Interpreter: I don't know if you've seen us sometimes in seats in shops with tables Rick: We went to Virginia in a two weeks' lift Interpreter: We went to Virginia in a two week Rick: The Pastor that spoke on a Sunday, he wasn't supposed to be there because the Pastor of the church took ill Performer: The Pastor who was there shouldn't be there but the one who was going to be there got sick Rick: He started to prophecy on one side of the church and the church is crowded –600 people Interpreter: Prophesying crossed him from one side, from a corner of the church and it was full about 600 people Rick: I was still a new student about 5 months into the program Interpreter: I was a new student about 5 months into the program Rick: And the Pastor from Africa started to come towards me Performer: The African Shepherd started walking towards me Rick: and I said, “Please Lord don't let it be me ” Performer: And I said “Please, Lord, don't let it be me” Rick: He came right two feet in front of my face, pointed at my chase and said: “Wait upon the Lord that he will soften your wife's heart” Interpreter: He came before me and said: “Wait on the Lord, the Lord It will soften your wife's heart” Rick: And I stayed in agreement because I knew the trouble I caused at home Interpreter: And I agreed because I knew the problem had caused at home Rick: My brothers around me knew through my testimony they knew what happened Interpreter: had caused at home Rick: But I couldn't understand how the Pastor knew Interpreter: But I couldn't understand how that Pastor knew

Rick: But I knew right that moment that God spoke through the Pastor to me because those words got to my heart… Interpreter: I knew that the Lord That prophet was using that Pastor because his words hit my heart like a lightning bolt Rick: So for 20 months I wrote letters home to my wife and my daughters Interpreter: For 20 months I wrote letters to my wife and daughters Rick: Telling them how great Jesus has treated me and how I'm changing and I'm a better man Interpreter: And telling them what great things Jesus has done in my life and how I am a better man Ri ck: No reply at all from my family Interpreter: But there was no reply at all from my family Rick: After 20 months of being in the program I got divorce papers Performer: After 20 months of being on the show I got divorce papers Rick: I was devastated. I looked up and I said: 'Lord, you said you'd soften my wife's heart Interpreter: And I was destroyed and I told him: “Lord, you said you were going to soften the heart of my wife” Rick: But because of the Team Challenge I learned about God and I learned God never falls through on his word. He always stays on Interpreter: But I learned that through Team Challenge God always keeps his word Rick: So for the next 30 days I I still believed that God was gonna do what he said he would do Interpreter: And for the next 30 days I kept believing that God was going to do what He prophesied to me, what He told me < /p> Rick: As I went to the Court Room my wife was there Interpreter: she Rick: I said 'Lord, I can't. In 15 minutes we will be in front of the divorce judge' Interpreter: And I said “In 15 minutes, Lord, we will be in front of the divorce judge” Rick: 'And you said…' Performer: “And you said…” Rick: ' You'd soften my wife's heart' Interpreter: 'That you were going to soften my wife's heart' Rick: What shall I do? Interpreter: What do I do? Rick: And he said: 'Pray' Interpreter: And he said: “Pray” Rick:< /b> It's what I also said Interpreter: It's what I also said Rick: I said: My wife doesn't want to look me in the eyes because of all the things I've done Interpreter: I said: My wife can't even look me in the eye because of all the things I've done Rick: So I was sure of his word and my wife Valerie is right there Performer: And here is my wife Valerie Performer : Glory to God Rick: Thank you Jesus Interpreter: Thank you Jesus Rick: The Lord said: 'Pray', so we prayed together Interpreter: The Word said: “Pray and we pray together” Rick: And the blood of Jesus just covered us, comforted us Interpreter: And the blood of Christ covered us, comforted Rick: What it took from the City Hall Plaza to South East Station Interpreter ete: What it took from City Hall Plaza to the station Rick: A 15-minute-walk Interpreter: About 15 minutes Rick: Took 2 and a half hour for my wife to take the train home Interpreter: It took 2 and a half hours for my wife to went home Rick: We were holding hands Performer: We were holding hands Rick: Talking about our future Interpreter: We were talking about the future Rick: And 3 hours earlier my wife didn't want to look at me Interpreter: And two hours before my wife didn't even want to see me Rick: But God Interpreter: But God Rick: He said Performer: He said Rick: He softened my wife's heart Performer: He softened my wife's heart Rick: And he stood on those words Performer: God was true to his word Rick: The Lord changed me

Performer: The Lord changed me Rick: Through the basis of Team Challenge Performer: for this instrument of Team Challenge Rick: And I'm not the same man Performer: I'm not the same man Rick: That walked through that door Interpreter: That walked through that door Rick: I'm a new creature of Creation Performer: Now I am a new creature in Christ Rick: I'll leave you with an inscription? Interpreter: Shall I leave you with a script? Rick: Romans 12:1-2 Interpreter: Romans 12:1-2 Rick: “Thee for I pledge you rather in God's mercy to offer your bodies as living sacrifices” Interpreter: “I beg you to present your bodies as living sacrifices” Rick: “Holy and pleasant to God” Interpreter: “Holy and pleasant to God” Rick: “This is a special act of worship” Performer: “That this is a pleasant service to sacrifice Rick: “ Do not conform any longer to the bounds of this world” Performer: Do not conform to the practices of this world Rick: “But be transformed by the renewing of your mind” < /p> Performer: But be transformed by the renewing of your mind Rick: So you can test and approve what God Performer : So they can check and approve things Rick: “This will impliciting a perfect will” Interest Prete: All that perfect will of God will be verified in your lives Rick: Amen Interpreter: Amen