[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":368},["ShallowReactive",2],{"global-settings":3,"happening-now-events":117,"posts-page-5":180},[4,34,77,98],{"metadata":5,"sys":8,"fields":29},{"tags":6,"concepts":7},[],[],{"space":9,"id":14,"type":15,"createdAt":16,"updatedAt":17,"environment":18,"publishedVersion":22,"revision":23,"contentType":24,"locale":28},{"sys":10},{"type":11,"linkType":12,"id":13},"Link","Space","bl09c27vm5k1","59so28e437Uoeo9gkqXk9","Entry","2021-02-16T04:15:20.955Z","2026-08-16T07:11:35.545Z",{"sys":19},{"id":20,"type":11,"linkType":21},"master","Environment",68,30,{"sys":25},{"type":11,"linkType":26,"id":27},"ContentType","globalSettings","en-US",{"title":30,"id":31,"enable":32,"description":33},"Service Outdoors Page","service-outdoors-page",true,"Show a page for when we do Outdoor services.",{"metadata":35,"sys":38,"fields":50},{"tags":36,"concepts":37},[],[],{"space":39,"id":41,"type":15,"createdAt":42,"updatedAt":43,"environment":44,"publishedVersion":46,"revision":47,"contentType":48,"locale":28},{"sys":40},{"type":11,"linkType":12,"id":13},"58OiZDFg26kUsBwKW4nnCv","2021-02-16T04:16:04.229Z","2026-08-15T03:00:02.656Z",{"sys":45},{"id":20,"type":11,"linkType":21},677,254,{"sys":49},{"type":11,"linkType":26,"id":27},{"title":51,"id":52,"enable":32,"relatedMedia":53,"description":76},"Bulletin","bulletin",{"metadata":54,"sys":57,"fields":67},{"tags":55,"concepts":56},[],[],{"space":58,"id":60,"type":61,"createdAt":62,"updatedAt":62,"environment":63,"publishedVersion":65,"revision":66,"locale":28},{"sys":59},{"type":11,"linkType":12,"id":13},"dKLBPoA7D28BkMMl0KEay","Asset","2026-08-15T02:57:59.409Z",{"sys":64},{"id":20,"type":11,"linkType":21},3,1,{"title":68,"description":69,"file":70},"bulletin 8-16-26","",{"url":71,"details":72,"fileName":74,"contentType":75},"\u002F\u002Fassets.ctfassets.net\u002Fbl09c27vm5k1\u002FdKLBPoA7D28BkMMl0KEay\u002F08085a3dc5eaeaa4701b752efc0bb1a7\u002Fbulletin_8-16-26.pdf",{"size":73},321811,"bulletin 8-16-26.pdf","application\u002Fpdf","Find this week's bulletin here: your guide to worship, announcements, and upcoming events. ",{"metadata":78,"sys":81,"fields":93},{"tags":79,"concepts":80},[],[],{"space":82,"id":84,"type":15,"createdAt":85,"updatedAt":86,"environment":87,"publishedVersion":89,"revision":90,"contentType":91,"locale":28},{"sys":83},{"type":11,"linkType":12,"id":13},"5grdLVvM2ucUswrOr6FIES","2021-02-16T04:14:12.874Z","2021-02-16T05:40:08.871Z",{"sys":88},{"id":20,"type":11,"linkType":21},18,7,{"sys":92},{"type":11,"linkType":26,"id":27},{"title":94,"id":95,"enable":96,"description":97},"Service Watch Page","service-watch-page",false,"Show a \"Watch\" page for online services.",{"metadata":99,"sys":102,"fields":113},{"tags":100,"concepts":101},[],[],{"space":103,"id":105,"type":15,"createdAt":106,"updatedAt":107,"environment":108,"publishedVersion":110,"revision":65,"contentType":111,"locale":28},{"sys":104},{"type":11,"linkType":12,"id":13},"7jdWJFg4ILibfA6f20j5Vl","2021-02-16T04:14:52.366Z","2021-02-16T04:28:27.164Z",{"sys":109},{"id":20,"type":11,"linkType":21},11,{"sys":112},{"type":11,"linkType":26,"id":27},{"title":114,"id":115,"enable":96,"description":116},"Service Watch Zoom","service-watch-zoom","Show a \"Zoom\" link for meetings after online services.",[118],{"metadata":119,"sys":122,"fields":135},{"tags":120,"concepts":121},[],[],{"space":123,"id":125,"type":15,"createdAt":126,"updatedAt":127,"environment":128,"publishedVersion":130,"revision":131,"contentType":132,"locale":28},{"sys":124},{"type":11,"linkType":12,"id":13},"1C3ezHKxvOMqoOooYka2Cy","2018-04-22T04:03:32.106Z","2026-06-20T19:45:18.749Z",{"sys":129},{"id":20,"type":11,"linkType":21},24,4,{"sys":133},{"type":11,"linkType":26,"id":134},"event",{"title":136,"path":137,"primaryImage":138,"startDate":160,"endDate":161,"category":162,"body":179,"link":69},"2026 Cornerstone Women's Retreat ","645-womens-retreat-2026",{"metadata":139,"sys":142,"fields":150},{"tags":140,"concepts":141},[],[],{"space":143,"id":145,"type":61,"createdAt":146,"updatedAt":146,"environment":147,"publishedVersion":149,"revision":66,"locale":28},{"sys":144},{"type":11,"linkType":12,"id":13},"3XiQ2Gt10NhqS1Y1tzF9o6","2026-06-20T18:49:44.456Z",{"sys":148},{"id":20,"type":11,"linkType":21},5,{"title":136,"description":69,"file":151},{"url":152,"details":153,"fileName":158,"contentType":159},"\u002F\u002Fimages.ctfassets.net\u002Fbl09c27vm5k1\u002F3XiQ2Gt10NhqS1Y1tzF9o6\u002F6966c5127bf0f136dce18005b9a3b892\u002F0c7c6321-2b38-40c3-8d5a-83a13bba5af4.png",{"size":154,"image":155},174731,{"width":156,"height":157},777,612,"0c7c6321-2b38-40c3-8d5a-83a13bba5af4.png","image\u002Fpng","2026-10-23T00:00","2026-10-25T00:00",{"metadata":163,"sys":166,"fields":177},{"tags":164,"concepts":165},[],[],{"space":167,"id":169,"type":15,"createdAt":170,"updatedAt":170,"environment":171,"publishedVersion":173,"revision":66,"contentType":174,"locale":28},{"sys":168},{"type":11,"linkType":12,"id":13},"1ARhiJjtK0smwIcqMSccsy","2018-04-06T23:24:38.995Z",{"sys":172},{"id":20,"type":11,"linkType":21},8,{"sys":175},{"type":11,"linkType":26,"id":176},"category",{"title":178},"Women's Ministry","Come away for a refreshing weekend at the 2026 Cornerstone Women's Retreat! Take time to grow in faith and enjoy a weekend of fellowship. Space is limited! Registration forms are available now. See a Women's Ministry Team member for more information. ",{"sys":181,"total":183,"skip":184,"limit":185,"items":186},{"type":182},"Array",180,50,10,[187,206,224,242,260,278,296,314,332,350],{"metadata":188,"sys":191,"fields":201},{"tags":189,"concepts":190},[],[],{"space":192,"id":194,"type":15,"createdAt":195,"updatedAt":195,"environment":196,"publishedVersion":66,"revision":66,"contentType":198,"locale":28},{"sys":193},{"type":11,"linkType":12,"id":13},"ruoj5U4aqc0sM6Q40Ci88","2018-05-10T22:17:54.235Z",{"sys":197},{"id":20,"type":11,"linkType":21},{"sys":199},{"type":11,"linkType":26,"id":200},"post",{"title":202,"path":203,"date":204,"body":205},"Recent Surgery","157-recent-surgery","2011-08-27T00:00","Yes it happened to me.  For five years I took meds to stave off the effects of prostate enlargement.  Finally I needed to take action and my doctor did a great job of TURP.  That stands for Transurethal Resection of the Prostate.  After less than a week now I am healing up really fine and should be back in the office shortly.  To give you a little play on words I will say that I have been wonderfully \"relieved\".\r\n\r\nThis was my first real surgery and I am so pleased with the results.  A two hour surgery resulted in about 5 hours in the hospital with no overnight required.  I received great care, lots of personal attention (doting over me every minute) and the wonderful loving service of my beautiful wife.  \r\n\r\nI look back at the surprising blessings which came from my first time ever surgery.  I started out with a cold sneaking up on me and the instruction manual read \"you will be canceled if you have a cold.\"  Thankfully I was not cancelled and in fact my cold ended on Tuesday (I had surgery on Monday).\r\n\r\nAll my symptoms ended in the hospital, no more sneezing, coughing, stuffy nose, or sore throat.  They were all gone.  It was miraculous! (Unfortunately, Pam got my cold, and worse than I when I came home from surgery Monday night).\r\n\r\nThe doctor gave me the latest procedure which reduced any major bleeding to a very little loss of blood.  Thank God once more for healing.\r\n\r\nAnother special blessing was the moments of personal sharing together with Pam that made our marriage even more stronger than it was before.  Going under anesthesia always makes you aware of being totally out of control.  This procedure of unconsciousness was the catalyst that drew Pam and I even closer together.  That was an unexpected blessing for which we thank God.\r\n\r\nAnother great blessing was the little \"codeine\" version for my pain relief.  I really only needed a few tablets but what a joy it produced every time I took one of those cute little euphoria pills.  Yes I really had the\"joy of the codeine\" to fill my cup to overflowing.  I joked to my friends that when I was finished I would start a new Codeine Recovery 12 Step Program. \r\n\r\nI waited so long for this procedure.  I am now asking myself WHY?  Why wait five years to struggle and groan when I could have done this so much earlier? \r\n\r\nI think God asks us the very same question.  Why wait? \"Come to me all you who are weary, heavy burdened, struggling with life's problems....I will give you rest.\"  Why wait? ",{"metadata":207,"sys":210,"fields":219},{"tags":208,"concepts":209},[],[],{"space":211,"id":213,"type":15,"createdAt":214,"updatedAt":214,"environment":215,"publishedVersion":66,"revision":66,"contentType":217,"locale":28},{"sys":212},{"type":11,"linkType":12,"id":13},"7Wa9EStIVUyAIKyiwwCyG","2018-05-10T22:17:54.237Z",{"sys":216},{"id":20,"type":11,"linkType":21},{"sys":218},{"type":11,"linkType":26,"id":200},{"title":220,"path":221,"date":222,"body":223},"Our Family Almost Had A Terrible Tragedy","156-our-family-almost-had-a-terrible-tragedy","2011-08-16T00:00","It is so hard to even say the words \"near death experience\".  I cringe even thinking about what the results could have been.  It still seems so impossible.  Things like that could never happen to our special Payne family.  I don't even want to enumerate the painful consequences of loss, heartache, grief, anger, disbelief, and despair we would have faced if things were different.\r\n\r\nOur youngest son, Brantley, called it \"What Kind of Idiot Dies in Paradise?\"  That was the name of his recent blog on facebook.  He told the near fatal account of being caught in a riptide on the beautiful island of Kauai.  \r\n\r\nOur 14 member family was on a wonderful vacation having lots of fun together.  Brantley went out for a quick swim without knowing the riptide was just offshore.  That was the problem, an undertoe that kept him from swimming free.\r\n\r\nHe told about all that flashed through his mind, his attempt to powerswim out of the current, the whitecaps slapping him in the face, the salt water in his mouth stealing his breath away, and then finally the panic in the pit of his stomach.\r\n\r\nHe said he pictured his family, his beautiful wife, his precious three year old son, and baby daughter.  Then he saw the safety buoy hanging on a post a few yards on shore and wished he could reach it, but of course that was not possible.  He thought of the rest of his family members in the beach house, and in the hot tub only 100 yards away and wished he was there too.\r\n\r\nHe also saw a couple on a blanket just getting ready to leave.  They were his last chance and they were his only chance so he whistled to the man.  It was a whistle that I had taught him when he was just a boy.  He learned it well and desperately needed to use it in his crisis.  He used up his last precious breath to whistle as loud as he could for help.  \r\n\r\nTo summarize the story, the man heard his whistle and came swimming out to rescue him.  This man was a spear fisherman and had been at this spot many times before.  He knew the waters were bad and the current was strong.  Out of experience he yelled, \"stop fighting the current, stop fighting it\".  So our son took a deep breath, rested on his back and began to sing an old church hymn.\r\n\r\nAs if a miracle happened he immediately drifted to a coral reef and stood up safely away from the treacherous currents.  One minute he was about to drown, and moments later he landed safely on a shallow reef.\r\n\r\nThere is so much more to the story, but tragedy was quickly averted and Brantley walked away from there without a scratch.  We can only say in utter amazement \"Thank you dear Lord for sparing our son!\"\r\n\r\nEverybody has a wake up call or a reality check that God uses to shock us and get our attention to come home, change directions, stop the madness or the rebellion, or whatever needs correcting.\r\n\r\nOur entire family, all of us, learned two things from our son's ultimate experience.  \"Whistle for help\" and \"Stop fighting\".  That means call on God our helper in time of need and stop fighting life's problems.  It means surrendering to God 100% and He will deliver you from the treacherous currents of life.\r\n\r\nPerhaps you are reading this and God is trying to capture your attention.  If God is giving you a wake up call, then by all means wake up.   Don't delay or deny or deceive yourself to think it is unnecessary.  Some people who do not heed the wake up call suffer tragic consequences.  \r\n\r\nIn the words of our son Brantley,  \"What kind of idiot dies in Paradise?\"  And God doesn't want you to die either.  Whistle for help and stop fighting.  Let God be your lifeguard.  You can do what Brantley did and safely return home.",{"metadata":225,"sys":228,"fields":237},{"tags":226,"concepts":227},[],[],{"space":229,"id":231,"type":15,"createdAt":232,"updatedAt":232,"environment":233,"publishedVersion":66,"revision":66,"contentType":235,"locale":28},{"sys":230},{"type":11,"linkType":12,"id":13},"1OCQlb38POayqOsuUmsugQ","2018-05-10T22:17:54.677Z",{"sys":234},{"id":20,"type":11,"linkType":21},{"sys":236},{"type":11,"linkType":26,"id":200},{"title":238,"path":239,"date":240,"body":241},"Jury Duty","155-jury-duty","2011-08-03T00:00","It is the privlege I love to hate. First of all I never get selected. Pastors are routinely rejected. They are the \"persona nongrata\" in the jury box. I guess they are too rigid in beliefs, too black and white in morals, or too different from the norm to be wanted by either side of the attorneys.\r\n\r\nI received the typical summons and date with instructions to call after 5 p.m. the night before I was to appear.  \r\n\r\nThis kind of appointment is always hard because the next day is such a wipe-out.  I can't make definite appointments or plan to accomplish anything significant in the office because, well, I might not be there.\r\n\r\nSo I was not needed on the first, second or third day.  I was asked to call after 11 a.m. for more instructions.\r\n\r\nSo I am learning all over again.  Life is uncertain.  I am not really in control.  I cannot predict the outcome of any days events.  So I guess I could say my \"duty\" as a juror is just to be on call, be ready, and be available at any time.  \r\n\r\nHmm......sounds like a spiritual lesson emerging in my life.  Am I ready when God calls me?  Am I ready when God gives me an appointment?  Am I ready to serve Him, obey Him, and go when He says go.  \r\n\r\nSo now I called after 11 a.m.  In fact I made many calls and couldn't get through until 12:04 p.m.  Guess what the voice mail man said.  \"Show up at 12:30 p.m.\"  Wow, that's less than a half hour!  \r\n\r\nCan they really do that to a person?  \r\n\r\nAfter calling a real office person, she graciously gave me a new solid appointment.  It was a definite time to come.  No calling, no voice mails, no waiting, no wondering what next.  Now at least I know what is expected.\r\n\r\nOk, God--- I am available for Your plans.  They are much more exciting and fulfilling and I will be called for a definite reason not to sit and wait and finally be rejected by the jury people who always do that to pastors.  I can count on You.  Thank God!",{"metadata":243,"sys":246,"fields":255},{"tags":244,"concepts":245},[],[],{"space":247,"id":249,"type":15,"createdAt":250,"updatedAt":250,"environment":251,"publishedVersion":66,"revision":66,"contentType":253,"locale":28},{"sys":248},{"type":11,"linkType":12,"id":13},"7tj0KUrnTqy4cI6OEUu02I","2018-05-10T22:17:54.153Z",{"sys":252},{"id":20,"type":11,"linkType":21},{"sys":254},{"type":11,"linkType":26,"id":200},{"title":256,"path":257,"date":258,"body":259},"Limits And Margin","154-limits-and-margin","2011-07-05T00:00","Our Leadership Team just saw a great vidio series about limits by Andy Stanley. Here are a few things I learned.\r\n\r\n1) Everone has limits, if you don't set them someone else will and you won't like the results.\r\n\r\n2) Our limits should reflect space for us to have some margin. Margin gives us room to do other things like relax and receive the unexpected and have a quiet conversation with family and others withour being pushed. Also margin gives us time to see what God is doing in our lives.\r\n\r\n3) Stress is one of the big results of not having any margin in our lives. I get stressed out emotionally, physically, spiritually and especially with emphasis....FINANCIALLY!!!!! when margin is gone.\r\n\r\n4) Relationships suffer because we have precious little time for them. No margin-- no time left for important people in our lives.\r\n\r\n5) Finally when I have no margin left then God also gets squeezed out. We all know what that feels like. God is the one who holds it all together and I sure need Him before everything crashes big time. \r\n\r\nNow I am working on setting limits and making margin in my life happen.\r\n\r\n",{"metadata":261,"sys":264,"fields":273},{"tags":262,"concepts":263},[],[],{"space":265,"id":267,"type":15,"createdAt":268,"updatedAt":268,"environment":269,"publishedVersion":66,"revision":66,"contentType":271,"locale":28},{"sys":266},{"type":11,"linkType":12,"id":13},"72cWhnAZwcCge6sSS8WsAc","2018-05-10T22:17:55.017Z",{"sys":270},{"id":20,"type":11,"linkType":21},{"sys":272},{"type":11,"linkType":26,"id":200},{"title":274,"path":275,"date":276,"body":277},"Temporary Change","153-temporary-change","2011-05-31T00:00","And now for a commercial announcement.......  We are getting the word out in as many ways as possible.\r\n\r\nSunday Worship will temporarally change to a new location for a few weeks this summer while the Middle  School is being remodeled.\r\n\r\nStarting Sunday June 5th 10 A.M. we will meet at Nichols Elementary School at 1301 S.  Crescent Ave.\r\nThis is very near the Carl's Jr. on Kettleman St. In fact Crescent runs into Kettleman at Carl's Jr.\r\n\r\nMost Sunday's we will meet at this school for June and July. But there are two exceptions. June 12th and July 3rd will be Outdoor Worship and BBQ events.\r\n\r\nJune 12th our time changes to 5P.M. at Peterson Park for an outreach to park attenders. This will be Music and BBQ with Testimonies and gospel presentation. NO 10 A.M. SERVICE only one 5 P.M. outdoor ministry. We hope this change will be a great way to connect with our community. We encourage our own folks to come and bring potluck dishes to enhance the BBQ meal for everyone.\r\n\r\nJuly 3rd is Independance Day weekend. That Sunday will be our annual outdoor event at 2411 Diablo Dr. We will also do a BBQ and Worship Celebration at 10 A.M.\r\n\r\nAll other Sunday's the church will meet at Nichols Elementary on Crescent Ave.  Plan to join us for  our summer ministry. ........ and now back to our regular programing.",{"metadata":279,"sys":282,"fields":291},{"tags":280,"concepts":281},[],[],{"space":283,"id":285,"type":15,"createdAt":286,"updatedAt":286,"environment":287,"publishedVersion":66,"revision":66,"contentType":289,"locale":28},{"sys":284},{"type":11,"linkType":12,"id":13},"1oqHvAJhAwAeu6gEQOKOeK","2018-05-10T22:17:55.054Z",{"sys":288},{"id":20,"type":11,"linkType":21},{"sys":290},{"type":11,"linkType":26,"id":200},{"title":292,"path":293,"date":294,"body":295},"Sad Day You----- Know What I Mean !","152-sad-day-you-know-what-i-mean","2011-05-25T00:00","What a sad day for Christians. The May 21st fiasco was so very sad for believers. No one knows the mind of Christ or the day of rapture or day of judgment.\r\n\r\nThe atheists, comedians, skeptics, journalists and all doubters in general had a big day making fun of  very serious coming events on God's calendar.\r\n\r\nYes, Mr. Camping was so very wrong! Yes, he brought ridicule to the name of Christ!\r\n\r\n Yes, we need to pray for him!\r\n\r\nOne good thing! Mr. Camping did believers a favor by reminding us that the rapture is real and will really come some day in God's own secret time.\r\n\r\nWe can get excited about God's coming promise. We can live each day as though He will soon return. We do have a fantastic future and it is on the horizon.\r\n\r\nWe will meet again, here, there, or in the air!",{"metadata":297,"sys":300,"fields":309},{"tags":298,"concepts":299},[],[],{"space":301,"id":303,"type":15,"createdAt":304,"updatedAt":304,"environment":305,"publishedVersion":66,"revision":66,"contentType":307,"locale":28},{"sys":302},{"type":11,"linkType":12,"id":13},"VAzSl72KkMqQSQCqKgK8E","2018-05-10T22:17:55.082Z",{"sys":306},{"id":20,"type":11,"linkType":21},{"sys":308},{"type":11,"linkType":26,"id":200},{"title":310,"path":311,"date":312,"body":313},"Weird","150-weird","2011-05-10T00:00","Yes \"WEIRD\" that's the name of the book I'm reading by Craig Groeschel. The first few chapters are about the use of time.  Most people are normal and spend 28 hours a week in front of the TV and 16 hours additionally each week in front of their computers.  That is an enormous amount of time. Craig says believers should be \"weird\" and use their time more wisely.\r\n\r\nCraig wrote \" we have enough time to do everything God wants you to do\", wow! When I complain about not having time maybe my priorities are all messed up with computer time and TV time?\r\n\r\nThis book is convicting because he talks about how I can be so very busy and not get done the important things necessary. Sometimes I wonder how I can get it all done in a day or a week. But Craig is reminding me that my use of time is out of balance. \r\n\r\nGod says to me \"Be very careful, then, how you live-not as unwise but as wise, making the  most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish but understand what the will of the Lord is\" Eph. 5:15-17\r\n\r\nIf I am careful I will not run out of time! If I am careful I will not make foolish choices! If I am careful I will be aware of the evil which is out there every day waiting to assault me!  If I am careful I will know the will of God and use my time to honor Him.\r\n\r\nI recommend this book to read and there is no time like the present. \r\n\r\nNow I know what you are going to tell me.  \"I wish I had time to read it!\"",{"metadata":315,"sys":318,"fields":327},{"tags":316,"concepts":317},[],[],{"space":319,"id":321,"type":15,"createdAt":322,"updatedAt":322,"environment":323,"publishedVersion":66,"revision":66,"contentType":325,"locale":28},{"sys":320},{"type":11,"linkType":12,"id":13},"66o2Ft58w8uSk2W6KKmQwS","2018-05-10T22:17:55.087Z",{"sys":324},{"id":20,"type":11,"linkType":21},{"sys":326},{"type":11,"linkType":26,"id":200},{"title":328,"path":329,"date":330,"body":331},"Results Of Resurrection","149-results-of-resurrection","2011-04-20T00:00","1. The writing of the four gospels including 30 chapters on the last week of Jesus life.\r\n\r\n2. The boldness of the apostles to preach the gospel everywhere inspite of persecution.\r\n\r\n3. The beginning of the Christian church which spread very rapidly.\r\n\r\n4. The proof that Jesus is who He claimed to be.\r\n\r\n5. The miracle of multitudes of transformed lives throughout history.\r\n\r\n6. The promise of our own resurrection in the future which may be soon.\r\n\r\n7. The joy of experiencing Jesus promise to now live inside each believer.\r\n\r\n8. The blessings of knowing His power on a personal basis.\r\n\r\n9. The assurance that Jesus can now be trusted in everything He says.       \r\n\r\n10. The knowledge that we have a great life beyond the grave for all eternity.\r\n\r\nWhat a wonderful life we have because of the resurrection. Enjoy every minute of it each day of your life.",{"metadata":333,"sys":336,"fields":345},{"tags":334,"concepts":335},[],[],{"space":337,"id":339,"type":15,"createdAt":340,"updatedAt":340,"environment":341,"publishedVersion":66,"revision":66,"contentType":343,"locale":28},{"sys":338},{"type":11,"linkType":12,"id":13},"2HIuFB6j9uM0AAyMSEw4Y2","2018-05-10T22:17:55.126Z",{"sys":342},{"id":20,"type":11,"linkType":21},{"sys":344},{"type":11,"linkType":26,"id":200},{"title":346,"path":347,"date":348,"body":349},"Looking Back On Haiti","148-looking-back-on-haiti","2011-04-06T00:00","We had so many blessing of that trip. I wanted to detail just a few\r\n\r\nWorking with the Haitian Pastor Marc was great . Seeing his dedication and diligence. He started the church from zero  and now five years later has approx 100 faithful believers including some who left the Voodoo cult.\r\n\r\nMeeting Haitian villagers as we visited from door to door and seeing how they actually live their lives on a daily basis. Several of them were ill and just lying outside on a mat spread out on the ground. Life is so simple for many people.\r\n\r\nObserving the joy of Christians who also live in the dirt but have Jesus and an eternal perspective on daily living. We all could learn from them.\r\n\r\nSeeing Haitian believers make real decisions of commitments to trust God for healing, teach their children the Bible, keep Satan out of their houses, improve their marriages and in some cases get married in a Christian manner. We also prayed with Simone a 19 year old youth who came to Christ on our last day before leaving.\r\n\r\nWatching all our team members sacrifice and serve wherever needed on long days of visitation and ministry. They were great and practiced the motto \" can't get tough enough to complain \".\r\n\r\n\r\nAlso  knowing our team members Nina and Justin Fischer have felt the call of God to prepare for full time ministry possibly in Haiti in the future. Now that is the ultimate blessing of service.\r\n\r\nYou can see our video and photos on our website. Click on Media to access the pictures.",{"metadata":351,"sys":354,"fields":363},{"tags":352,"concepts":353},[],[],{"space":355,"id":357,"type":15,"createdAt":358,"updatedAt":358,"environment":359,"publishedVersion":66,"revision":66,"contentType":361,"locale":28},{"sys":356},{"type":11,"linkType":12,"id":13},"4tljbcn2PKSQSGW84I8eCg","2018-05-10T22:17:55.226Z",{"sys":360},{"id":20,"type":11,"linkType":21},{"sys":362},{"type":11,"linkType":26,"id":200},{"title":364,"path":365,"date":366,"body":367},"Back From Haiti","147-back-from-haiti","2011-03-21T00:00","It was another world.  We traveled outside the city of Port au Prince, about a one and half hour drive.  It seemed like we were on another continent.  It felt like a different cosmos. Our experience was totally new from last year where we lived in the earthquake ravaged capital city.  \r\n\r\nOur trip to the village of Merceron was a total shock.  This is what we saw.  I will just give you a list of things and let you absorb it the way we saw it when we were there.\r\n\r\nWomen carried water in buckets on their heads. The  burros in the village carried rice, beans, bananas, potatoes, sugar cane from the fields.  Children played naked all around the village.  Women and children bathed in the gray ditch water where they also washed their clothes, let their pigs wallow in the same water, and cleaned their bicycles or anything else they thought could use a good dousing.  Women cooked over open fires, burning sticks and bushes gathered from the fields.  Villagers ground their corn in the same manner as people did in the Bible days.  They also beat their piles of bean bushes with a long stick until the pods split open.  Then they collected the beans after they had fallen to the ground.  They scooped them up and separated them from the dirt and prepared to cook them later on or whenever needed.\r\n\r\nSome of the villagers openly worshiped the religion of witchcraft and followed the high priest of Voo Doo.  Their village life took us back hundreds of years to any primitive civilization you would read about in an anthropology book.  However, among the villagers we surprisingly found a few people with cell phones and a solar panel like the 80 year old gentleman who seemingly knew how to use it as he held it in his hands when we visited him in front of his house.\r\n\r\nOur team visited from house to house in the village and became acquainted with these very gentle and congenial Haitian people.  Even the family of the high priest of Voo Doo welcomed our team into their home.  Christian believers in the village were well-mannered and carried huge smiles on their faces.  (Except when being photographed they put on their best sober look ).  The genuine believers in Christianity dressed with cleanliness and admirable demeanor.  These Christians lived in sharp contrast to those who were still in Voo Doo or those with no faith in the living God.\r\n\r\nOur team came to the village bearing gifts of medicines, soccer balls, clothes for children and adults, self-generating flashlights, and great hope as we shared God's love with everyone in their bamboo with mud-covered homes.  The team also shared stories of faith at the worship service outside under an awning that was ripped and torn. On the family day of activities many villagers from all of the area showed up to see and hear from the unusual Americans.  \r\n\r\nThere were a surprising number of Christians in this outcountry village but some were clearly not interested in the message of Christianity or a hope for a new way of life.  One stern looking man after hearing about Jesus said \"What will you pay me to become a Christian?'  Pastor Ron responded that Christianity is not about money, it's about faith.  He told him that faith in God would change his life and solve his problems including money problems.  \r\n\r\nThe members of the Cornerstone Mission Team included team leader Dale Grenie, Justin and Nina Fischer, Pastor Ron and Pam Payne.  Team members on this one week venture stayed in a very nice guest house (motel) on the outskirts of the capital city of Port Au Prince.  They enjoyed wonderful meals which consisted of Haitian delicacies such as goat meat, sea food from the conch shell, white fish from the bay, chicken prepared Haitian style.  They were also treated to tropical fruit juices of six different kinds of trees which grew in the area.  The freshly squeezed treats were guava, papaya, mango, passion fruit, and an unusual citrus drink offered up each morning for breakfast.  \r\n\r\nThe owner of the motel, Gerard Chatelain often said to his guests \"when you go home if you weigh less than when you came, I will refund your money.\"  He was joking of course but all of the meals were very excellently prepared so that Americans with delicate stomachs would not get the dreaded \"tourist disease.\"  \r\n\r\nCornerstone plans to send a team again to the same area this time next year.  They will be under the excellent supervision of an experienced Haitian national  Pastor Marc Hancey of the Merceron village. It is a trip of a lifetime for those who are willing to experience the power of God in a very primitive culture.  God is alive and well and clearly stronger than the Voo Doo high priest or his temple in the Merceron village.",1786964479967]