| Author | Message | ||
| Helovesme2 Registered user Username: Helovesme2 Post Number: 412 Registered: 8-2004  |
Thank you all so much for reports!! Blessings, Mary | ||
| Raven Registered user Username: Raven Post Number: 377 Registered: 7-2004  |
What an awesome and inspiring weekend! Thanks to all who had a part in making this happen. Colleen gave an excellent summary and I donít think anything was left out. If I had to come up with one thing that touched me most, Iíd have to say it was the ěKnowing Jesusî song. It so perfectly expressed our feelings. Any chance the lyrics could be posted in this thread? Also, it was so cool meeting in person many that Iíve known through the FAF posts, as well as meeting many more new friends. While I realize the group that was there is a very small portion of those of us who have left the SDA church, it was neat being with so many who have and to feel the common bond. We all have such different stories on how the Holy Spirit has worked in our life, and yet itís so apparent itís the same Spirit. It was definitely a blessing that I will treasure. | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 2320 Registered: 3-2004  |
I am not going to try to rewrite my paragraph because Colleen did such a good job. It was so good being there this weekend. The Holy Spirit was felt at all times. My sister went to the Satuday evening session. She did not say much after, but I know God is working on her. I came away with a joy and determination to know God better. Thanks to all who participated. God used you and is continuing to use you to fulfill His purpose. Thank you to all those from Trinity who helped and participated, especially Gary and Elizabeth Inrig. I want to share something that Gary said: J - Jesus E - exactly S - suits U - us S - sinners Thank you God for Jesus. Thank you God for a Spirit filled weekend and the seeds that were planted. I know they will grow in your time. You are always so awesome. Diana | ||
| Melissa Registered user Username: Melissa Post Number: 1299 Registered: 7-2003  |
Knowing you, by Graham Kendrick See words at: Knowing You lyrics We sing that at our church too...wish I could have been there.... Do you have a count of how many were there? Sounds wonderful! (Message edited by admin on February 22, 2006) | ||
| Raven Registered user Username: Raven Post Number: 378 Registered: 7-2004 |
Thanks, Melissa. | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 2322 Registered: 3-2004 |
Melissa, Thanks for the words to that God filled song. I cried when I sang it with the congregation. Wish all of you could have been there. God's Spirit filled the buildings and each person there. Diana | ||
| Leigh Registered user Username: Leigh Post Number: 64 Registered: 2-2003 |
"You're my all, you're the best, your my joy, my righteousness and I love you, Lord... " I love that song, Melissa! We also sing it at our church. Thanks to all of you who posted reports of the weekend. I wish I could have made it this time. Hopefully if there is one next year I will be able to come. It would have been great to have met all you who came in person. Leigh | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 3416 Registered: 12-2003  |
Including Greg, Dale and Carolyn, Mark, Leslie and those that came with Mark, Richard and me, etc., there were about 90 (or slightly more) that participated in the weekend. Saturday night there were more present, but I don't think we got an actual count. There were probably in the neighborhood of 200--maybe a few more. God is faithful! Colleen | ||
| Seekr777 Registered user Username: Seekr777 Post Number: 397 Registered: 1-2003  |
Colleen, I was also wondering if a count had been made of those attending. I didn't do an actual count but as I looked around there seemed to be more than the 90 you mention on Friday night. My estimate was close to 150 but I was just estimating and didn't know the number officially signed up. Maybe there were a few like me that "wandered" in. I was very blessed. On Saturday night my estimate without an actual count was close to 250. Did you get my response card? I turned it in at the table where the material from Mark Martin was displayed. I almost didn't turn one in since I wasn't really sure how I fit with some of the questions.  I don't know how many SDAs were there but it surprises me that you didn't get many cards. I know I didn't see many being filled out. I guess on second thought that I'm not surprised.  I was VERY blessed, I had not heard any of the three pastors speak in person before. In Christ, Richard rtruitt@mac.com | ||
| Jwd Registered user Username: Jwd Post Number: 181 Registered: 4-2005  |
John, Praise God you reached and are making "that" "Turning Point!" Amrs outreached for you with a warm FAF embrace. JWD | ||
| Jeremy Registered user Username: Jeremy Post Number: 1098 Registered: 10-2004  |
Thank you all so much for the wonderful reports about the weekend. I was watching the live webcast of Calvary Community Church in Phoenix last night, and they were singing "Knowing You," and I was wondering if (and hoping) it was sung at the FAF Weekend--it is really a great song for former Adventists. There are several other contemporary worship songs that also seem like they were written just for us. Pastor Mark was back already and gave a wonderful sermon, even though I'm sure he was dead tired. I'm so glad to hear that the weekend went so well. Praise God! Jeremy | ||
| Seekr777 Registered user Username: Seekr777 Post Number: 398 Registered: 1-2003 |
jeremy how do I get the webcast of Pastor Mark? Richard rtruitt@mac.com | ||
| Jeremy Registered user Username: Jeremy Post Number: 1100 Registered: 10-2004 |
Richard, to watch the services live, you can go to http://www.calvaryphx.com/ and click on the big "Calvary Live" link (on the left near the bottom of the page), during a service. Otherwise, the direct links to the video feed (which you can put into Windows Media Player) are as follows, depending on internet connection speed: mms://vid.calvaryphx.com/live_low mms://vid.calvaryphx.com/live_medium mms://vid.calvaryphx.com/live_high The service times (Mountain Standard Time) are listed at: http://www.calvaryphx.com/church/ServiceTimesInfo/tabid/116/Default.aspx Video archives of the services are not available, but audio archives of one week's worth of sermons are available below the "Calvary Live" link (yesterday's services aren't up yet). Audio archives from further back are available at http://tm.calvaryphx.com/. Jeremy (Message edited by Jeremy on February 20, 2006) | ||
| Seekr777 Registered user Username: Seekr777 Post Number: 399 Registered: 1-2003 |
jeremy, Thanks, I'll check them out.. Richard | ||
| Esther Registered user Username: Esther Post Number: 293 Registered: 5-2004 |
Since I was out for the weekend and only back today I was hoping and longing that someone had posted something about the FAF weekend. Bless you all for sharing the experience. I am crying tears of Joy just hearing how everything went...and am also "jealous" of not being there myself. Your accounts were awe inspiring... | ||
| Freeatlast Registered user Username: Freeatlast Post Number: 463 Registered: 5-2002 |
The FAF weekend was everything I had hoped for, and so much more! I am still abuzz... It was a tremendous pleasure to meet many of you for the first time in person. I hope to keep in touch outside the realm of this form. Each of you who were there are my friends and family. It was a special blessing for my wife Audrey to hear the personal testimony of others - that I am not alone in my own history or struggles. She was shocked and amazed at many of the things she heard, and how "familiar" it all felt to her. The experience of this weekend has deepened our intimacy as a couple, and for that I thank all of you who organized and attended. We formers are truly a blessed bunch. I can't wait til next year! | ||
| Snowboardingmom Registered user Username: Snowboardingmom Post Number: 37 Registered: 11-2005 |
There's not much that I can add to this thread about the weekend! It was such an awesome experience for my husband and I. We were so BLESSED to be able to hear the testimonies all throughout the weekend. All of them spoke to us in special ways. It was just amazing; words can't do justice to the way we felt by the end of Saturday night. One of the many principles I took away from this weekend was one that Pastor Mark Martin had mentioned on Friday night. He read from Luke 6:22, 23: "Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you, and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man's sake. Rejoice in that day and LEAP for joy!" He mentioned what an honor it is to be misunderstood, and called "bitter", and excluded -- it's an honor because it's all for the gospel of Christ. Rather than feel sorry for ourselves by hanging our head at the "persecution", we should LEAP for joy! It reminded me of a favorite passage of mine in Acts. "So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name." Acts 5:41 This was right after the apostles had been beaten. Anyway, the whole weekend was awesome. We were touched in so many ways, by so many different people. And we learned a lot too. Praise God! | ||
| Riverfonz Registered user Username: Riverfonz Post Number: 1337 Registered: 3-2005 |
Welcome John to FAF--you have been such a blessing to us at our Friday night FAF Bible study! I am really happy you have joined us in cyberspace as well. Stan | ||
| Patriar Registered user Username: Patriar Post Number: 214 Registered: 3-2005 |
John: Praise God! Welcome to FAF. I don't believe I had the pleasure of meeting you at the FAF weekend...it seems there are so many I missed meeting... Patria | ||
| Madelia Registered user Username: Madelia Post Number: 151 Registered: 2-2003 |
I am catching up on reading posts and was so glad to read the summary of the weekend. I certainly hope this is an annual event and that I'd be able to attend. And Stan, I have a very hard time believing it was cold last Friday. Here in Minnesota it was subzero weather |
