Holy Matrimony

Praise God for those who God is the Lord!

In March I had the privilege in perform my first marriage in the Harlingen congregation where I Pastor. Two wonderful saints, Fillipe and Elsa Ortega were married in Holy Matrimony in 2010.

Our sister Elsa was the first to come to the church. She remembered our Christmas Float during the parade and the testimonies that were given over the bullhorn. She recalled that someone said "that God can change your life and that you don't have to continue on the road your living in." See said to a sister in church "that her life was a wreck and she needed to change course." She answered the alter call and gave her life to Jesus. From that day forward she has linked her heart with the people of God and has gone to several outreaches. There is a genuine conversion that has happen in her life.

After her spiritual re-birth, Fillipe came and gave his life to Jesus. He was amazed on how the saints were so genuinely friendly, kind, and were praying for him. He said that you can feel the sincerity in the church and you can see that these people really care. His conversion was prompted by the testimonies and openness of the people. Kindness, beloved, goes along way.

There was a sermon I preached on the "Sanctity of Marriage" that prompted them to come to me and confess that they were not legally married. Fillipe spoke to me and said that he wanted to do things right and said that Elsa and him were talking about getting married. I told him that I'm all for it and most importantly that God's all for it. I told him that if he is serious, to go down to the court house and get the marriage licence and I will perform the ceremony. Well, the pictures say it all! The people of God rose to the occasion and decorated the church to bless our brother and sister. It was truly amazing.

At the reception, Elsa made this statement to all present at her celebration, "God is a Good God and all this would not be possible without God and my church family." Isn't that awesome. Thank God for His people.

I hope, with permission, to post their full testimonies on our website or this blog. There testimonies are truly amazing and give evidence to the power of God that is still into changing lives. I'm very excited about what God is going to do in this couple and their family.

Please pray for the Ortega's and pray that God will give us more like them!

J.C.H.C.

Pastor Felan