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Replacing Fear with Faith

Aug 3, 2017
3 min

Replacing Fear with Faith

David Hogan was exposed to church on and off as he grew up. Various people spoke into his life about God. His grandmother read him stories about the David in the Bible, because his name is David. His sister invited him to youth group, enticing him by saying that there were cute girls there. He did believe in God, but he was not following God. He was never quite sure how to use or live his faith. David says that his sin and the way he felt about church kept him from experienci

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New Beginnings at The City Center

Jul 18, 2017
3 min

New Beginnings at The City Center

A cocoon is a temporary dwelling that provides an environment where God miraculously transforms a caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly. The City Center transitional living community offers a similar abode for people whose lives are in need of a metamorphosis. Within the walls of this temporary housing ministry, God is at work. Ventura Missionary has partnered with The City Center since its inception. Our Rooted Discipleship groups participate in serve experiences there, we

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Setting Hearts Free

Jun 9, 2017
4 min

Setting Hearts Free

Sometimes we equate freedom with free choice, but not all free choices lead to freedom. Some, in fact, lead to bondage. One ministry that Ventura Missionary recently connected with in Mexico is making a difference in a dark place, where people's choices have brought bondage and trauma to all involved. This ministry is inserting God's truth and love in order to bring freedom to the captives. God's Word says, "I run in the path of Your commands, for You have set my heart free."

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Unleashing Hope in Mexico

May 24, 2017
2 min

Unleashing Hope in Mexico

Recently, another YWAM Homes of Hope team from Ventura Missionary spent a weekend using their gifts to share God's love with a family in Mexico. On Saturday, April 1, they gathered on a freshly cured concrete slab, and introduced themselves to the family for whom they would be building a home. At that time, the family of six was living in an old motor home. Martin, Nelly, Martin Jr. (age 14), Linda (age 7), Gael (age 5) and Israel (age 3) survive on a combined family income o

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Future Hope

May 3, 2017
6 min

Future Hope

Gordon Griffith was dedicated to the Lord at VMC on October 19, 1986. He is one example of how the partnership between parents and the church, plays out over time. Gordon is the youngest of three brothers. His early years were filled with turmoil due to abuse in the home. He attended Sunday school at VMC, and Ventura Missionary Preschool and School as well. These ministries and the people associated with them helped provide stability, contributed to his spiritual foundation

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Finding Hope Through Community and Truth

Apr 20, 2017
3 min

Finding Hope Through Community and Truth

Nicole Gonzales' immense, dark, compassionate eyes magnetize you when she speaks of her passions - her husband, her son, her walk with God and her desire to help others who suffer as she does. Her favorite song is, "It's Not Over Yet" by Kings and Country. The lyrics, "This goes out to the heaviest heart...to everyone who's hit their limit...It's not over yet...And even when you think you're finished...It's not over yet," speak volumes about the life of this petite firecracke

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Spring 2017 Rooted Celebration

Apr 6, 2017
2 min

Spring 2017 Rooted Celebration

On April 1, the Spring 2017 Rooted Discipleship Experience culminated with a celebration of what God had done in the previous 10 weeks. 140 participants took part in a spiritual journey which included 10 small groups, a prayer experience, 10 serve experiences at local outreaches and much more. Two individuals accepted Christ as their Savior during Rooted, and nine plan to be baptized on April 23. Here is what some of those who went through this session are saying about Rooted

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Sharing God's Love With the Songhai

Mar 24, 2017
2 min

Sharing God's Love With the Songhai

In 2006, Ventura Missionary Church determined that we were called by God to reach an Unreached, Unengaged People Group (UUPD). We realized that this would not be a short, easy or cheap endeavor. Once an UUPG had been selected, a year-long process, the leadership of the Songhai Project made numerous trips to Nigeria to locate, identify and meet with various tribal leaders of the Songhai. After selecting a village to work in, we met with the village chief to explain we felt we

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Sharing the Gospel in a Closed Society

Mar 24, 2017
3 min

Sharing the Gospel in a Closed Society

This is a story about some very strong Christians living in an environment that is not conducive to being a Christian. The place is Ch-na. Imagine a place that when you visit a church, there is a notice on the screen that says, "This service is only for people with an international passport. If you do not have one, you must leave." And the first announcement reinforces that notice, with a "recommendation of where you can worship." That was my first encounter with the Ch-nese

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A Call to Missions Born at VMC

Mar 23, 2017
6 min

A Call to Missions Born at VMC

Bob and Dallas Creson have a hard time remembering when they were not a part of Ventura Missionary Church. Bob started attending with his parents, Bob and Betty Creson, nearly 55 years ago! Dating through most of high school, they attended after they were married. Leonard DeWitt, then senior pastor of VMC, helped officiate their wedding. Dallas' parents, Windsor and Jeane Lacewell, also attended VMC. After graduating from college, Bob went into business with his dad doing pip

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In Step With God's Interruptions

Mar 16, 2017
3 min

In Step With God's Interruptions

Ezekiel is our full-time missionary in the village we have adopted in Nigeria. He lives on-site and shares the love of Christ with the Songhai, an unreached people group, on an ongoing basis. From time to time, Ezekiel travels to meet with key leaders and ministry partners. This story is about one such time. After some initial meetings, Ezekiel was traveling with a fellow missionary and their driver. The missionary asked the driver, Alue, if he had a relationship with Jesus.

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Alex Mills - Worshiping the God Who Heals

Mar 7, 2017
4 min

Alex Mills - Worshiping the God Who Heals

Alex Mills was recently hired to be our new part-time Worship Leader at the 9:30 and 11:00am worship services and at Youth Group. In May, he will graduate from Azusa Pacific University with a Bachelor's degree in Commercial Music and audio Recording. He didn't originally anticipate serving at a church in Southern California, because his roots were up north. But through a series of "divine" circumstances, VMC heard about Alex, and Alex heard about VMC. Even though he had his o

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Expanding Our Reach

Mar 2, 2017
3 min

Expanding Our Reach

When Jesus lived on earth, every encounter He had with people was powerful and impacting. In the stories we read about Jesus, we see His incredible ability to get to the heart of the matter, to perceive unseen needs and bring transformation and healing to those who were willing to receive it. Ventura Missionary Church is passionate about sharing the transformational love of Jesus with as many people as we possibly can. We know the power of His love first-hand, and we want to

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God's Grace Through the Messes of Marriage

Feb 13, 2017
1 min

God's Grace Through the Messes of Marriage

Seven years ago, Linda Selvey's 83 year-old mother left the hospital and came to live in the Selvey home for long term care. Linda, her husband Chris, and their three teenage children, had five very difficult years. To normal life pressures such as work, finances, illness and teenagers, they ADDED a re-arranged home, doctor appointments, late night ambulances, adult diapers, estate and legal action, decisions that hurt, and messes of all sorts. Linda says, "This stressed our

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Beat the Odds Participants Report Back

Jun 15, 2016
4 min

Beat the Odds Participants Report Back

From ages 10 to 87, nine volunteers took the challenge during our recent "Beat the Odds" series. Each participant was given $100 and asked to: 1) Recognize the money belongs to God, 2) Use it to build God's kingdom, 3) Involve other people and 4) Report back on what happened. Last Sunday, we heard from these volunteers. 87 year-old Clyde Smith said he had never volunteered for anything in his life. When considering what to do with the $100 he had been entrusted with, he dec

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Beat the Odds - Challenge Accepted!

Jun 13, 2016
2 min

Beat the Odds - Challenge Accepted!

On May 15, Pastor Chad invited three volunteers from each of our services to a "Beat the Odds Challenge." These participants were given $100 and asked to: - Recognize that the money belongs to God - Use it to build God's Kingdom - Involve other people - Report back on June 12th about how they invested the money. Ten year-old Jillian Zollar was one of those volunteers, and she took the challenge seriously. She knew it was a big responsibility and she wanted to do well. She sta

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The Rooted Experience

Jun 2, 2016
1 min

The Rooted Experience

On April 14, Ventura Missionary completed its second pilot session of Rooted, a ten-week discipleship experience designed to help people connect with God, the church and their purpose. It's an experiential journey into the rhythms of Jesus in the context of community. 119 people completed our Spring session. Out of that, 19 became members of Ventura Missionary, 3 were baptized on May 1, several renewed their commitments to Christ, and 1 accepted Christ for the first time! We

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Miraculous Connections

May 25, 2016
2 min

Miraculous Connections

If Bobby and Will didn't know God cares deeply for the needs of children in foster care, this truth became very evident after a weekend as counselors at Teen Reach Adventure Camp. Bobby and Will themselves had difficulties in their backgrounds, and God had already done a work in their lives. As Bobby got to know the camper he had been assigned that weekend, he realized something amazing. Bobby's mother had started a rehabilitation facility, and this camper's mom was in that v

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