Word of Life Christian Center- Lifting up Jesus and loving people

Art Defenderfer /// Episcopal /// UCD (Psychology), Christ for the Nations /// Bible, The Vision, and Heavenly Man /// John 17:3 /// "I accepted Jesus into my heart and was immediately filled with joy." /// I grew up in the Episcopal church where I was told to “be like Jesus to my neighbor” but was not told how I could achieve this. Even though I wanted to be like Jesus, I found myself powerless to obey and finally dropped out of church. Like many teens in the San Francisco Bay area during the 1960's, I started using drugs and marching in Vietnam War protests. When I went to UCD in 1970, I was a political activist and searched for truth in Humanistic psychology and Eastern religions. Trying to practice Eastern religion only added to my frustration, since every impure thought adds karmic debt. Althought I wanted to know the truth, I was discouraged when the Zen Master stated that only a few people on earth with an extremely disciplined will could reach enlightenment in this life. In the fall of 1971, my life changed. My ex-girlfriend wrote me a letter telling me that she was a Christian. Because I was skeptical and radically left-wing, I wondered how such an intelligent person could become a Jesus Freak. Since I was committed to knowing the truth and my heart was empty despite everything I tried, I went to see her. My mind was blown because she was completely different, emanating joy and peace. I went to her church, but did not receive Jesus because I had a war inside my gut. I was so amazed at her conversion that I did an Anthropology paper on the Jesus Movement. I visited Trinity Tabernacle and met more “Jesus People”, some of whom were ex-hippies and UCD premed students. Though they had different religious backgrouds, there was a common denominator: Jesus found them and they accepted Him into their heart. Although I was very argumentative and sometimes hostile to Christians, God was working on me. I finished the paper but could not forget about Jesus. One day I said to myself, “ I know Jesus is the truth. If I get run over by a car or train I will go to hell, because I have been fighting the truth.” I then accepted Jesus into my heart, and was immediately filled with joy. I have been dedicated to Jesus,the church and getting people saved ever since. /// See my resume /// Bangor, Maine /// Mexico, Poland, Siberia and the Philippines ///

Ken Bradford /// Presbyterian /// A.A., West Coast Bible College; B.A., Fresno Pacific College /// Anything by C.S. Lewis, Lynn Austin or John Eldredge /// Psalm 1 /// "... the Lord's Spirit had to work a lot on someone as stubborn as me..." /// Through people who cared enough to reach out and share God's plan for each of us -- I was sixteen and a senior in High School -- they shared their testimonies and "The Four Spiritual Laws!" And obviously, the Lord's Spirit had to work a lot on someone as stubborn as me... /// The Holy Spirit -- I think He knew what I needed. Plus I now see that I have always share with the leaders here, the vision to think outside the Christian boxes, strengthen ties among Christians and learn what we can from all, whatever their label -- while staying true to the Word. /// Montreal, Canada; Davis, CA /// Missions: Various First Nations communities in California, the North Slope of Alaska, southern Philippines...

Sherri Tejamo /// Roman Catholic /// UCD Senior, Textile Design /// The Vision, What’s So Amazing about Grace, Captivating /// Romans 8:18 /// “I saw that this whole time that I was seeking Jesus, He was the one reaching out to me." /// When I was in preschool I constantly thought about life and the universe. Even though I was not going to church at this time, I knew that God was out there. I became depresssed thinking that something so great and holy existed but that I did not know how to find him or how to be good enough to please him. Later on my parents started bringing me to Catholic Church yet I did not know that Jesus Christ was my Savior. When my grandpa died, all of my questions about life and death resurfaced. This was God's preparation, because a year later my sister asked me if I knew Jesus. I thought about that all night long, until I realized that He was the answer to all of my questions. I accepted Him into my heart and saw that this whole time that I was seeking Jesus, He was the one reaching out to me. /// Someone once described it as a "hospital--bootcamp" and I agree. I have been to many churches where the Word is watered down, and the focus is on self-improvement or prosperity. Here the Word is given real and true, with a focus on the Greek, laying aside our own interpretations and enabling us to see God's heart. This is the "bootcamp" part that challenges us. At the same time, the body here has a lot of mercy, grace, and acceptance. I have never felt at home at any other church before! /// Stockton, Ca. /// I haven't been anywhere yet, but I would love to go to a Spanish-speaking country ///

Mary McDonald /// Various Protestant Churches /// Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology at U. of Washington /// Event Donkey's Speak, Chronicles of Narnia /// Romans 8:28 /// "Always since that time He has been there for me to get to know more and love more." /// Being raised in a Christian home, I knew about Jesus from my earliest recollection. However, I began to get to really know Him at age 16 when I accepted Christ. Always since that time He has been there for me to get to know more and love more. Sometimes throughout my life, usually in times of trials, I have dilligently sought to know Him more. Many things I do not understand. His love surpasses knowledge, but He wants to make it known to us. /// I came to Word of Life because I needed all of God. My "good Christian" life was being shaken to the core with a myrid of family and health issue. I needed to pray with a group on a regular basis. I was needing to know more of our infinite Jesus. /// Los Angeles, CA /// I work with the mission organization Gospel for Asia (US office near Dallas) and have been twice to India to see the work. ///