NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST
~About Jr ~
JR believes that John 10:10 is a very powerful, yet seemingly unknown or overlooked, verse by many believers. Jesus said, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
Over the years, this single verse has taken on more significance in JR’s life because it specifically points out who the real enemy is (Satan) and what God really has for His people.
JR was raised with a belief in God and the Lord Jesus Christ and became born again around 8 years of age. While he and his family did not attend church, he did go with a friend on occasion. During one particular Sunday morning service, a thought came to him, “There has to be more to it than this.” As it turns out, there was!
While in his mid-twenties, JR became aware of a Dallas church being expelled from the Southern Baptist Convention of Texas. Following the story on the radio, tv and the newspaper, it turned out that the minister had received the gift of the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues …. which, of course, is in the Bible. The church exploded with growth and reports of healings and miracles to the point where they began to have services in a local venue called the Bronco Bowl, which actually had seating for concerts and other large events. Making a long story short, JR went with Lisa, his-wife-to-be, and literally upon entering the seating area, experienced a warmth that started at the top of his head and went slowly down his body before the service even began. This touch of God really led JR into his future growth in the Word and learning how to follow the Holy Spirit.
Fast forward to early 2015 …
JR was unexpectedly laid off from his job (along with about 400 others) which God turned around for good to get Lisa and him to attend Charis Bible College in Woodland Park, Colorado. Graduating from the 2-year plan allowed JR and Lisa the opportunity to go on a mission trip to Sri Lanka which turned out to be an amazing ministry experience. By this time, God had already opened JR’s heart to literally hear God through reading and meditating on the Word, to hearing His voice.
The bottom line since being in Colorado…
In 2018, at God’s direction, JR became a volunteer county jail chaplain (still serving), and through a dream God gave him, he also started a men’s monthly fellowship which continues to this day. He and Lisa also participate in a home fellowship group, as well as a local church here in the area. These ministry opportunities have allowed JR to minister hope and encouragement to others from God’s Word and through the Holy Spirit. He has seen many salvations and healings take place. The message centers around John 10:10…God has the plan for His people to have and live an abundant life.
~ About Lisa ~
Lisa loves how any person, that believes God, can and will see transformation in their lives by renewing their mind in the Word of God. He is no respecter of persons – He just responds to faith! She has seen many changes in her own heart because of the power of God and how He has always come through for her because of her trust in Him.
Lisa became born again, along with her mother, at the age of 12. She later was water baptized and then received the baptism in the Holy Spirit with evidence of speaking in other tongues.
In her mid to late twenties, she had such a hunger and thirst for the Lord that He started filling her with the truth of the gospel and giving her a revelation of everything Jesus accomplished for her on the cross!
Her life’s journey has taken her through many trials and tests – all of which she has come through in victory because of the revelation God has continued to deepen in her heart over the years.
Being born and raised in Dallas, Texas, and living in and around the area her entire life up until 2015, she had never given any thought about moving to another state — BUT GOD! He had another plan that would change JR and Lisa’s life and put them on a path to fulfill their purpose and destiny that He had ordained for each of them from the foundation of the world.
In August 2015, God came through in a mighty way that was exceedingly abundantly above anything she could have asked or thought (Eph. 3:20) by moving JR and her to Colorado to attend Charis Bible College in Woodland Park, CO. (Read more on this in one of her testimonies).
In April 2017, before their graduation from Charis, they went on their first missions trip to Sri Lanka, another thing she had never considered doing, which was a requirement for 2nd year students. This turned out to be an amazing experience. The people there were very receptive to the preaching of the gospel. Hearts were opened and many received Jesus into their lives and healings into their bodies. And they desire to do more short term missions trips, if that is a part of God’s plan for their lives in the future.
After graduating from Charis, God opened a door for Lisa to do weekly bible studies and some mentoring to women who had just come out of jail and were living in a halfway house. Then in 2018 (to the present time), through the encouragement of a friend, she became involved in the county jail as a volunteer Chaplain doing bible studies and ministry to the women there, as well as one-on-one ministry with other people God has placed in her life.
Ministering at the jail is something Lisa could have never seen herself doing years ago. But it has turned out to be one of the most fulfilling calls on her life. She teaches women in a very simplistic way that even the hardest of hearts can receive from. She has seen hearts softened because of God’s unfailing love and compassion for them through the Spirit of God speaking out of her heart and mouth. There is no greater satisfaction than to see a hard-heart softened by His Spirit and His amazing love and grace.
She knows and believes that her ministry and calling is described in Isaiah 61:1-3, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” (NKJV)
