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2. Living Light News - November/December 20152
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by Lailani Mendoza
Beneath the interior designer’s smart, confident
and polished exterior was a worn-out soul who
felt ashamed, disappointed and lost. With a failed
marriage, two young kids to support, and a past
she wasn’t proud of, Susan Jaramillo thought she
had long missed the boat.
“I became a master disguiser,” she tells Living
Light News. “I learned to put a smile on my face so
people didn’t know what was going on.”
Jaramillo grew up without a father, and this void
led her to look for love in the wrong places.
“I remember going to my mom from a young age
and asking her ‘Who is my dad? Where is he?’ ” she
recalls. “She would just get angry and tell me it was
none of my business. I never understood that.”
Wanting acceptance, Jaramillo said yes to things
she now regrets. She smoked her first cigarette in
fifth grade, got drunk on Jack and Coke in eighth
grade, and experimented with drugs in high school.
Her desire to find a father figure affected how
she handled relationships. “By the time I was
14, I gave myself sexually to someone not really
realizing the implications.”
When the relationship ended, she felt tarnished
and confused. Yet Jaramillo continued to give
herself away in subsequent relationships hoping
to find the one person who could love her
unconditionally.
But no matter how many partners she was with,
the emptiness and longing for acceptance remained.
In her junior year of college, she faced the inevitable.
“I was dating this guy, and I became pregnant.
I didn’t know what to do,” she says. “I had two
friends who had abortions, and so I automatically
thought abortion was the solution. I called an
abortion facility out of state. And they said ‘Oh
it’s not that big of a deal. You can just come here,
terminate your pregnancy and you can go back to
your life like nothing ever happened.’ ”
Believing this was her only choice, Jaramillo got an
abortion. Over four years, she had three abortions.
“I thought that would solve my ‘problem’ but
all it did was make more problems in my life,”
she explains. “It turned to more promiscuous
relationships. It turned to more drugs and alcohol
to try to soothe the pain because I didn’t want to
deal with reality.”
Still, she persevered. Jaramillo found a job before
graduation and set out to make a name for herself.
Her hard work paid off. She moved up the corporate
ladder, designing for wealthy clients and earning a
six-figure income. Yet something was lacking.
“Through my self-reliance, I had achieved so
much; but at the same time, it wasn’t enough to fill
the empty and broken places in my life.”
Finding herself pregnant again, she married the
child’s father. In 1998, she gave birth to a baby boy.
Two years later came a baby girl. While all she wanted
was the proverbial happy family with the white picket
fence, it didn’t go as planned. After five and a half
years, Jaramillo’s marriage ended in divorce.
This was how the 35-year-old found herself at a
mentoring conference in 2007. The speaker said
something that caught her attention.
“Where Satan has hit you hardest is your area of
ministry,” she said.
“Wow,” Jaramillo thought. “How will [God] ever
use me?” In time she would find out.
“I heard these women talk about this God who
was full of love and forgiveness, someone I’ve
never heard in that context before,” says Jaramillo,
who had the notion that God was “condemning
and full of rules.”
“I struggled in always feeling that I always
had to be perfect – and I could
never be perfect. I don’t think I
quite grasped the concept that
God is forgiving and loves me
unconditionally.”
This revelation motivated
her to know more about Him.
Jaramillo reached out to a
lady from the conference who
prayed for her. That day she
surrendered her life to Jesus
Christ.
“I said to the Lord ‘I give You
all of my life. I give You every
area that I struggle in.’ At that
moment God changed my life.
And I’ve never been the same since.”
Three years later, while
applying for a replacement
social security card, Jaramillo
received the information
she’d been seeking all
her life – her father’s
name. With the help
of friends, she traced
his home and met with
him, hoping to get
answers. Unfortunately,
he wasn’t willing to
divulge anything.
Dejected, Jaramillo
went to her mom who
revealed her secret: she
was conceived in rape.
“She had filled out
the paperwork for
adoption for me, but
when they came to
get me, she couldn’t
do it. She kept me.”
Jaramillo later
attended a nine-
week post-abortion Bible study through If Not For
Grace Ministries, which helped her forgive herself
and process the traumas of her past.
“It was through that Bible study that God had
a deeper healing for me,” she shares. “Now I take
others through that Bible study to encourage them
and show them God’s love and healing for them.”
“God forgives. Not that abortion is okay, because
it’s not, but through that healing, you receive the
truth and you’re set free from that place of guilt
and shame.”
Now at 43, Jaramillo is in full-time ministry
sharing her story while offering encouragement and
assistance to women who deal with the trauma of
abortion. After a trip to Uganda in 2012, Jaramillo
has become a board member of the pro-life youth
ministry called The Remnant Generation.
In 2014, she shared her experiences
in her book How God Rewrote My
Heart. Currently finishing her
Doctorate of Ministry, Jaramillo
is publishing her research study
on the effects of abortion.
She wants women to know
there is healing in Jesus
Christ – even after abortion.
“It wasn’t until God got
a hold of me and started
teaching me His word
and His love as a father
… that I would be
fulfilled in Him,” she
shares. “No person can
ever fill the void and
hole in your life. Only
God can do that.”
“You’re set free from
guilt and shame.”
photobyJillBruss,courtesyHighBridgeBooks
Abortions
ABortions
Led to Her Calling
How
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Hat Trick And Humility Running Back’s Rock
BERKSHIRE, UK – The
Great British Bake Off’s
Martha Collison recently
baked up a storm to help
raise money for Tearfund’s
“No Child Taken” campaign.
Twenty-three delectable
recipes and 21 hours later,
the bakeathon wrapped up
with over £3,600 (or over
$5,500) raised on Oct.
18th, also known as Anti-
Slavery Day. The next day,
Collison tweeted to her over
40,000 Twitter followers a
photo of herself holding a
sign: “£7,250. 201 children
protected.” A year after
winning people’s hearts in
BBC’s hit reality cooking
show, the 18-year-old has
been maximizing her time
while finishing her A level
exams (British equivalent
to GED). In partnership
with Tearfund, a Christian
humanitarian organization,
the Berkshire baker travelled
to Cambodia and Thailand to
learn about the consequences
of sex trafficking and to lead
a workshop that teaches
girls how to bake to earn a
living. Collison also had the
rare opportunity of baking
with the Archbishop of
Canterbury, teaching him
how to make toffee pudding.
A devout Christian (“It’s
such a big part of my life
that I couldn’t hide it and I
wouldn’t want to”), Collison
is grateful that God has
given her a unique platform
to share her faith and is
enjoying opportunities
to help others. “I can’t
even describe my last 12
months. It’s just been so
unexpected and so exciting.
Every day I just wake up
and I think, I can’t believe
this is my life now … to be
given all this at this age.”
DENVER, CO – Spencer
Nee was raised in a loving
home, graduated from college
and even owned a business.
But when Nee’s business
venture failed, he turned
to alcohol to deal with his
issues. “I was self-medicating
a lot of holes in my life,” he
told Guideposts. “[Alcohol]
just slowly started to rule
my life.” His vice spiralled
out of control and he became
homeless. One morning, he
woke up beside a dumpster
with trash liquid dripping
onto his clothes. In this
moment of desperation, he
cried out to God, “If You’re
out there, I need some help.
I have nowhere else to turn.”
Reaching out to his estranged
parents, Nee was connected
with Providence Network,
a Denver-based Christian
organization, where his path
tosobrietybegan.“Ultimately,
it was my relationship with
Jesus Christ … and the Holy
Spirit’s guidance is really
what changed me and made
me go on to live seven years
and counting sober,” he
said. Now an ER nurse, Nee
recently completed a 4,000-
mile bike ride across America
raising a total of $55,000
for Providence Network’s
recovery home for homeless
youth. He also plans to
make a documentary of the
trip to share his personal
transformation. For details,
visit bridgetobridgeride.com.
Flying High With Faith
Hero Of The Homeless
Journey To Sobriety
TORONTO, ON – After
almost two decades of
playing in the Majors,
RA Dickey knows how
unpredictable a career in
baseball can be – not unlike
his signature knuckleball
pitch. Since being drafted
in 1996, the starting pitcher
for the Toronto Blue Jays
has experienced some
unbelievable highs in his
career (winning the Cy
Young Award in 2012 and
the AL Pitchers Gold Glove
Award in 2013) as well
as some devastating lows
(discovery of a missing a
ligament in his throwing
arm that led to a huge pay
cut from Texas Rangers). So
when his current team went
through the recent emotional
rollercoaster of almost
making it to the World Series,
Dickey may have been
disappointed, but he certainly
wasn’t fazed. Besides his
years of experience (at 40,
Dickey’s the oldest player
in MLB history to play in
the postseason), Dickey
has learned the best way to
deal with the pressure is to
rest in God. “At the end of
the day, whether in word or
deed, I’m working as if I’m
working unto the Lord,”
he told 100 Huntley Street.
“So ultimately, that’s who I
answer to.And if I can lay my
head on the pillow at night
knowing that I did that, then
I’llbeokay.Icankeepgoing.”
Baker’s Blessings
PITTSBURGH, PA – Dr.
Jim Withers used to rub dirt
in his hair and unwashed
jeans before heading out
at night into the streets of
Pittsburgh. His purpose? To
look for homeless people
needing medical care and
give them the help they need
right where they are. With
the aid of a former homeless
man, Withers learned street
etiquette and earned the trust
of his unlikely clientele over
the years. “Healthcare is
about wholeness and healing.
It’s ministry,” Withers tells
Presbyterian Today. “It’s a
way of connecting to other
people in the way that Jesus
did.” For 23 years, Withers
has been serving his homeless
patients right where they are
– making house calls under
bridges, in alleys, and along
riverbanks. In 1992, the
doctor’s outreach became
Operation Safety Net, the
first full-time, street-based
medical program in the
U.S. that connects homeless
individuals with resources
for ongoing medical care,
housing, legal services and
other social services. Since
1992, the organization
has assisted over 10,000
individuals and helped over
1,200 find housing. Withers
also trains medical interns
in street medicine, some of
whom have started their own
outreach for the homeless.
“My hope is that I am a
representative of Christ’s love
to the world,” he says. For
his tireless work in serving
the homeless, Dr. Withers is
nominated as one of the 2015
Top 10 finalists of CNN’s
Hero of theYear award.Voting
continues until Nov. 15th,
with a ceremony and tribute
to all finalists on Dec. 6th.
DUNCAN, SC – Marcus
Lattimore was a force to be
reckoned with. As a South
Carolina Gamecocks running
back, he was three-time
All-SEC selection in South
Carolina and helped lead
the team to their first SEC
championship game in 2010.
However, a series of injuries
– including a major knee
injury in 2012 – robbed him
of the ability to compete at
the pro level. Despite being
drafted by the San Francisco
49ers, Lattimore never fully
recovered from the injury and
retired after two seasons in
November 2014. “I have given
my heart and soul to the game
that I love,” said Lattimore,
“and it’s time for me to move
on to the next chapter of my
life and help others.” True to
his word, the 23-year-old is
reinventing himself a year
after retiring. He now runs
football camps and his own
foundation that helps high
school athletes gain access
to quality rehab for sports-
related injuries. He credits his
faith in God for this dramatic
recovery. “I grew up in church,
but I wasn’t a Christian until
I was about 19. And when
Jesus Christ came into my
life, it was the best thing that
ever happened to me because
I had a constant. I had a rock,
you know, that I could always
lean on,” he told WYFF News.
“When I retired from the NFL,
I knew He had a plan for me.”
LONDON, UK – South
Africa’s Bryan Habana
recently tied the All Time
Rugby World Cup top try-
scorer record, but there are
no airs about him. Scoring
15 tries in the 2007, 2011
and 2015 World Cups,
the South African winger
equalled the legendary Jonah
Lomu’s record. However, the
humble Christian rejected
comparisons between him and
the All Black wunderkind. “I
said in 2007, I don’t think
I can ever be compared to
Jonah,” Habana told ESPN
UK. “The way he changed
the game, you know he was
a class act. He did it in two
tournaments; it’s taken me
three. He became the first
global superstar the game
ever produced and I have
an unbelievable amount of
respect for him.” The 32-
year-old’s humility extends
to his lifestyle. As part of
Vuka Rugby, a program
that mentors youth through
sports, Habana visits Cape
Town’s slums to play rugby
with the youth. He considers
his athletic status a blessing
and hopes to make the most
of it. “It’s so humbling I’ve
been able to do something
with my God-given talent, to
do something I love and to do
it with teammates you have
formed a special bond with
andtodoitforacountrywhere
rugby gives us so much back,
it is a massive privilege.”
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photobyNoelGranado
by Melanie F. Gibbs
Have you ever packed your life
in a box and moved to another
city? Just Moved is for women
who have done just that.
It doesn’t matter if the move
occurred years ago; if you’re
still mourning the place you left
behind, this group is for you.
According to facilitator Janet
Warren, when people join the
10-week class they will find other
women in the same situation
and gain support through the
emotional transition of moving.
“We walk through the stages
of letting go, starting over, and
moving ahead,” she says.
Using the book After The
Boxes Are Unpacked: Moving On
After Moving In by Susan Miller,
the class consists of a video
component, discussion, and a
Bible study.
One week centres on husbands,
as the marriage relationship may
take a beating during a move.
One week is spent on children,
because a move might not have
been their choice. One week is on
how to make new friends.
Warren has moved nine times
in her 26-year marriage – in and
out of the country and across
provinces. When she made the
move from Toronto to Bermuda,
a friend gave her the book. The
mother of two lived in the idyllic
yet isolated islands for six years
and saw how women struggled.
“You go through depression
and cling to your old place. You
need to learn how to cherish but
not cling to the old place; instead,
cling to the Lord,” Warren says,
adding that after moving, women
often find themselves feeling
disconnected. “We help them let
go of where they came from and
start over here.”
Heidi Jansen had relocated from
South Africa to Canada when
she participated in Warren’s first
Just Moved class in Edmonton
five years ago. The mother of
two says she kept comparing her
new situation with the things
she missed. A meaningful lesson
taught about cherishing those
memories without wanting to
go back.
“I knew coming to Canada was
God’s
will for
us,”
Jansen
says.
She
admits
it can be scary to move away
from everyone you know, going
to a place you don’t know, and
not having support, but “it is
easier to do knowing that God
is with you, protecting you,
and He will provide.” Without
that relationship with God, she
maintains, “I don’t know that we
could have done it.”
The distance of the move
doesn’t matter. Regardless of the
situation or age, women are going
through the same thing together,
Warren explains. “You lose your
identity. Nobody knows your
name; you have to start again.”
Warren recalls that her first
move relocating from a small
town to Toronto – was really
tough. “I was so lonely, I learned
how to hold on to God in a
new way,” she shares. “That
relationship had always been
communal, but I got to know
Him one-on-one.”
She advises newcomers that
finding a church is key, because
there’s a community waiting for
you. She acknowledges it can
be intimidating to go to a new
church, even if you’ve been
going to church your whole life.
Participating in groups, like Just
Moved, is a
great way to
get to know
people and
ease the
transition.
Warren says
a great truth for the class is the
promise from Joshua 1:9: “The
Lord is with you wherever you
go.”
“God didn’t bring you to the
new city, drop you at the gate,
and abandon you,” she declares.
“He has a plan for you.”
Just Moved starts at 9:15
am every Thursday at West
Edmonton Christian Assembly
until Nov. 26, followed by a
potluck brunch Dec. 3. Women
are welcome to join at any point.
If you’re moving away from
Edmonton, Just Moved classes are
offered around the world. Learn
more at www.weca.com or just-
moved.org.
MOVINGIN
Janet Warren is helping women that recently relocated to Edmonton in their emotional transition
through Just Moved, a 10-week class that runsThursdays at West Edmonton Christian Assembly.
After
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Do you have an Ephesian 4:11 call of God upon your life? Are you
looking for assistance to launch your new church plant in your city?
have a zeal for
pastoral ministry?
by Bona Zhang
The words “An Edmonton
Christmas” can mean much more
than snow tires and frigid river
valley strolls. For one church in
the city’s southside, it means the
opportunity to make the spirit of
Christmas accessible to all.
An Edmonton Christmas is the
product of a vision at SPA for
Life to connect with people and
share Christmas with the city. The
church’s musical, theatrical, and
culinary talents combine to create
an evening filled with music,
celebration, and a free reception of
homemade treats.
Running from Dec. 11-13 at 7
p.m., with a 3 p.m. matinee show
on the Sunday, An Edmonton
Christmas is a free event with a
seven-year tradition of brightening
the community.
Pastor Jason Archibald,
SPA’s creative arts pastor who
birthed the idea and oversees its
production, sees the value of
celebrating Christmas in
this way. “We do this
for the community
because we think
they’re worth it.”
Far from being
theologically
heavy, the concert
welcomes people
of all faiths and
beliefs as Pastor
Archibald and
his team strive
to share the best
thing any church
has to offer – the Good News of
Jesus Christ.
“The gospel is about the love
of God, and the idea that God
is offering what people need,”
Archibald explains.
For one performer in particular,
the love of Christ was exactly what
she had been searching for.
The eldest daughter of a
church leader, Liwa Agcaoili
grew up in the Philippines
surrounded by the church and the
idea of God. But what she did not
experience was the love of God.
As a child, Agcaoili saw little
of her mother, who had to
work overseas, and suffered and
endured physical and sexual
abuse. As a young adult, she
moved to Canada to practise
nursing, and had hope for a
better life.
“I fell in love with someone,”
Agcaoili shares. “I had no one but
him, so I did everything I
could to keep him. I quit
my job, and I sacrificed
my friends.
And then he found another girl,
and I was left with nothing again. I
had nobody.”
After this heartbreak,
Agcaoili reached her lowest
point. Everyone she loved had
given her nothing but pain
and disappointment, and she
contemplated suicide as she asked
herself over and over, “Why?
Why?”
Her rhetorical question received
an unexpected answer.
Agcaoili’s aunt and uncle
invited her to a two-day
Christian retreat, and
she agreed, not knowing
the extent to which her
life would be changed
because of it.
“I remember the first
talk that was being given
by the pastor,”
Agcaoili recalls,
“It was called,
‘When Life
Sucks,’
and it was
about how
God never
abandons
us and
is always
with us.
It was
amazing;
it was
like it
was
made
for
me.”
Coming home from the retreat,
Agcaoili did not experience a
dramatic, overnight epiphany. But
she began to delve into the Bible
to learn about the God she had
grown up with but had never truly
known.
She realized that the source of
unconditional, all-satisfying love
had been within her reach all
along, and that the amazing love
of Jesus Christ would never let her
down.
Working closely with Archibald,
Agcaoili is now a passionate choir
member and soloist in her church’s
music ministry.
“It was Pastor Jason who
encouraged me to sing my first
solo. I surprised myself, I didn’t
know I could sing!” Agcaoili says
with a laugh, revealing the joyful,
spirit-filled woman God intends
her to be.
Like Archibald, Agcaoili is
excited to participate in An
Edmonton Christmas and
spread the love of Jesus with her
community.
“My grandfather was a
Christian,” she says, “He was
bound to a wheelchair, and he
prayed everyday. As a child, I
laughed at him, saying, ‘If there is
a God who listens to your prayers,
why are you still in a wheelchair?’
“Now I realize he wasn’t praying
for himself, he was praying for
us – for his grandkids to become
Christians. Before he died last
year, he told me that he was so
happy because God answered his
prayers.”
Jason Archibald, SPA’s creative arts pastor, along with choir
member Liwa Agcaoili invite people to watch ‘When Love Came
Down at Christmas,’ a musical celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.
WhenLove CameDownphotobyNoelGranado
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Wellness
by Dr. Cindy Maynard, PhD, RD
Are you at risk for heart disease? Take this
quiz to find out.
1. Are you over the age of 65?
2. Do you have diabetes?
3. Do you have a history of heart disease in
your immediate family?
4. Do you smoke cigarettes?
5. Is your total cholesterol
greater than 200mg/dL or
higher?
6. Do you have a
history of stroke,
coronary artery
disease or have
had a heart attack?
7. Have you been told you have high
blood pressure or take blood pressure
medication?
8. Are you more than 20% overweight or
have a Body Mass Index (BMI) score greater
than 26?
9. Do you feel stressed most of the day?
10. Do you get less than 30 minutes of
exercise per day or less than 3 hours per
week?
How did you do? If you answered“Yes”
to two or more questions, you could be
at risk for heart disease which includes
atherosclerosis, heart attack, coronary artery
disease, and stroke. Read on to learn how
you can lower your risk.
Heart disease is at the top of North
America’s most serious health problem.
Fortunately, it is one of the most
preventable diseases.
As you probably guessed by taking the
quiz, some risk factors are under your
control and others are not. For example,
uncontrollable risk factors include being
male, age, family history of heart disease,
and even race (African-Americans and
Mexican Americans are more likely to have
heart disease than Caucasians).
Controllable risk factors, however, include
those relating to lifestyle, such as weight,
exercise, smoking, and stress and anger.
Making changes in your lifestyle is the best
way to lower your risk of heart disease. Here
are some proven methods to help you lower
your risk and improve your health.
1. Know your
numbers
When you have too
much fat (fatty plaque)
in your blood, it can clog
your arteries and put you
at risk for heart disease. Here
are four main lipids (fats) that
circulate in our blood and their optimal
numbers:
Total Cholesterol: 200 mg/dL or less is
optimal
Triglycerides: 150 mg/dL or less is optimal
HDL (considered“good”cholesterol, the
higher number the better): Between 36-50
mg/dL is normal; above 50 mg/dL is optimal
LDL: Less than 100 mg/dL is optimal
2. Snuff out smoking
Smokers are at double the risk for heart
attack than nonsmokers.There are
several aids to help quit smoking,
such as the National Lung
Association or Smokers
Anonymous.
3. Amp up
the activity
Even moderate
activity such as walking
or gardening can
lower risk of heart disease. Start out small.
Group fitness classes, mall walks, work-out
videos from the library, or community adult
education classes can help you get started.
4. Lose excess weight
Even losing 10 percent of body weight can
help unburden your heart. Increasing
fibre and plant-based foods
such as fruits and vegetables
are helpful with weight loss
and lowering cholesterol.
Cutting down on
processed foods that
are high in saturated
fats and sugar also go a
long way in promoting
a heart-healthy diet. Ask
your provider to refer you to
a dietitian.
5. Release the
stress
When stress becomes a
normal part
of the day instead of a rare occurrence, it can
affect behaviour that leads to heart disease
such as overeating, smoking or high blood
pressure.
Taking a 10-minute timeout, planning
one pleasurable activity into the day, and
expressing gratitude on a regular basis reduce
stress and increase overall life enjoyment.
Living a healthy lifestyle starts in the
mind long before it shows up in our
behaviour. Break big goals into
smaller, bite-size pieces for long-
term success.Think of your changes
as producing a new, better you.
Reward yourself for little successes.
And remember, health is wealth.
Cindy Maynard PhD, RD, is a health
psychologist, registered dietitian and a
health and fitness writer. Dr. Maynard is
passionate about health and wellness and
motivating people towards better health.
Visit her website at drcindymaynard.net.
Heart
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by Crystal Kupper
Unlike his childhood, Jason Avant’s hands are sure and
steady.
No longer the abandoned little boy from Chicago’s rough
South Side, the 32-year-old darts downfield for the Kansas
City Chiefs, cradling the football gently. He knows if not for
his grandmother, those hands could just as easily be gripping
a gun.
“Growing up in Chicago was rough by nature,” Avant tells
Living Light News. “I’ve seen drive-by shootings, my cousins
pulled off the street and shot up. I’ve had cars chasing after
me, rival gangs running at my car.”
With a runaway mother and an in-and-out-of-jail father,
Avant seemed destined to repeat his family’s tragic history. By
sixth grade, he was selling drugs, even as he saw friends and
family members end up either in prison or the cemetery.
“I realize I shouldn’t be here,” the 6-0, 210-pound wide
receiver admits. “You don’t hear me complain much. [My
past] gives me a different grittiness on the inside.”
Avant’s only bright spot was his Grandma Lillie. Time with
her meant a hefty dose of love, kindness and Jesus, and
Avant, desperate for stability, soaked it up.
Then again, he immersed himself on the football field, too.
Buoyed by Lillie’s faith and ever-present love, Avant ranked
as one of Illinois’ best wideouts and played in the prestigious
Army All-American Bowl his senior year of high school.
From there, he headed to the University of Michigan, where
he caught 82 passes for more than 1,000 yards his final
collegiate season. Next came Philadelphia after the Eagles
chose him in the fourth round of the 2006 draft.
With Chicago still fresh in his mind, Avant put in the
work, increasing his receptions in each of his first seven NFL
seasons. Before signing with the Chiefs in 2014, he snagged
over 50 receptions between 2010 and 2012 for the Eagles.
And even though he’s not a rookie anymore, his coachable
attitude and work ethic still define him.
“He can be a blocker, pass-receiver and he gives us a
multitude of skills that we can take advantage of as an
offense,” says Chiefs’ offensive coordinator Doug Pederson.
Going the extra mile is how Avant wants to be known. If
the ghetto taught him anything, it was that life can be given
and taken away in a heartbeat, and the only thing people can
control is their response.
“I work really hard at what I do. Harder than most maybe,
and I’m not always rewarded for it,” he says. “That’s why I
constantly remember who I’m doing it for. My joy is not just
on the football field.”
Nope, it’s at home in Clemonton, N.J., with his wife
Stacy of six years, and daughters Jala and Amya. It’s most
importantly in a relationship that began 18 months before his
grandmother passed.
On May 4, 2003, Avant headed to church as usual, but
this Sunday morning was different. The college kid recalled
time after time when he should have been killed,
kicked out or discarded. Yet there he stood,
his entire future before him, and he
suddenly knew why: God had protected
and loved him, even when the
rest of the world hadn’t.
“The Bible says the goodness of the Lord leads to
repentance. Well, I found His goodness and mercy my entire
life,” Avant says.
“I remember my grandma praying over me at night that the
streets wouldn’t get me. I saw His hand of mercy; when I did
wrong, He would not condemn me or write me off. Finally I
said, I really surrender my life to You.”
Life both on and off the field hasn’t been the same since.
His personal relationship with Jesus isn’t just for Sundays,
either; Avant insists he “needs God’s covering to keep
[him] from danger and injury. The game of football is so
dangerous, it’s not something you want to do on your
own volition.”
The up-and-down Chiefs can attest to the parity in the
NFL. “Our goal is always to win the next game, to focus on
one day at a time,” he says. “And my number one goal is to
play as hard as I can for Jesus Christ.”
Avant is convinced God has blessed him to be able to play
10 seasons in the NFL.
But he sees it being about more than just football. Avant
asks what do touchdowns matter when you’re not treating
the stadium janitor just as well as you treat your coach?
“You’re not going to find a better, more tremendous,
humble person in the National Football League than Jason
Avant,” says Pederson.
“If I make the Pro Bowl, that will one day be forgotten,”
says Avant. “As a receiver, I want to be remembered as
someone who played his heart out.
“But I want to be a light and a witness for Christ more than
anything that happens on the football field. My goal is that
when someone mentions me, they mention God.”
photocourtesyKansasCityChiefs
Kansas City Chief’s versatile
wide receiver Jason Avant is
leaving a legacy that will
extend beyond football.
Sports
Ghettoto Gridiron
“I realize
I shouldn’t be here.”
An 11-year-old drug dealer
defies odds and becomes NFL star
9. Living Light News - November/December 2015 9
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The following organizations and individuals
are sponsoring copies of this newspaper on
behalf of residents in their community! We
encourage you to support these organizations
with your business and prayers.
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GoodNews!
Sharing the
Keepforreference!
B
illionaire, reality TV star, and presidential candidate
Donald Trump said that he goes to church and
believes in the Bible – but is he a Christian?
“People are so shocked when they find … out I am
Protestant. I am a Presbyterian. And I go to church and I love
God and I love my church,” said the Republican candidate.
Millions of people around the world share Trump’s beliefs.
You’ll find them in churches every Sunday, and when asked if
they believe in God, they won’t hesitate to say yes.
At the Family Leadership Summit in Ames, Iowa, Trump’s
faith was put into question. When moderator Frank Luntz
asked him if he has ever asked God for forgiveness for his
actions, Trump replied, “I am not sure I have. I just go on
and try to do a better job from there.
“I think if I do something wrong, I think, I just try and
make it right. I don’t bring God into that picture.”
Unfortunately, he is not alone. There are many people who
have never asked God for forgiveness for various reasons.
Some dismiss it out of arrogance; others believe they don’t
need it because they’re a “good person,” or perhaps they just
believe they’re beyond forgiveness.
People simply don’t realize why asking forgiveness from
God is crucial.
The Bible says everyone has fallen below God’s standards
and missed the mark. It’s called sin – and sin separates us
from a holy God in this life and the life to come.
Every time you tell a lie, talk behind someone’s back, look
at someone lustfully, disrespect your parents – and the list
goes on – you are sinning against God. And sin doesn’t just
distance you from God, it ultimately leads to death.
But there is hope!
The Bible tells us that out of His great love, Jesus Christ
made a way for people to be forgiven of their sins. He – God
Almighty – who was sinless, came to earth and became
human to die on the cross and pay the penalty for our sins
– past, present and future. On the third day, He conquered
death and rose again to reconcile us to God and prepare a
place for His followers in Heaven.
If you are trying to live a good life, hoping one day that
your good works will outweigh your bad and earn your entry
to Heaven, you will be in for a big surprise.
There’s only one thing you can do in order to make it to
Heaven – receive God’s forgiveness while you’re alive. In
order to be forgiven, you need to admit that you’ve done
some wrong things.
The Bible says “If we claim we have not sinned, we deceive
ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins,
He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify
us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:8-9)
Trying to do better and trying to make things right are
commendable, but these actions do nothing to erase our sin
from God’s point of view. Only asking for forgiveness and
accepting what Jesus did on your behalf will.
A shallow belief in God – the type that acknowledges God’s
existence with the head but doesn’t involve the heart – does
not allow a person to experience God’s transforming love nor
earn anyone a place in heaven.
Salvation is about surrendering your life to Jesus Christ as
your personal Lord and Saviour, accepting His forgiveness,
and living a life that is pleasing to Him.
Have you done this? Do you know where you’ll go when
you die? Take a moment to examine yourself honestly
because it’s the biggest decision you’ll ever make. Maybe
you go to church, read the Bible and believe in God but
have always kept Him at arm’s length, or maybe you haven’t
considered God before.
The good news is that if you’re reading this, it’s not too late.
Jesus welcomes anyone with open arms – Donald Trump
included – into a personal relationship with Him. And life
with Jesus Christ is the best experience you’ll ever have –
even better than being elected president.
If you’re ready to start this amazing journey with God, pray
this prayer from your heart:
Dear God,
I have heard about You all my life but I feel like I don’t really
know You. Please forgive me for my sins and for going my own
way. I need You. Please come into my life and change me. Thank
You for giving Your Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for my
sins. I ask for Your divine guidance and strength as I journey
through this life with You from this day forward.
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
photobyGageSkidmore/CCBY-SA
“If I do something wrong …
I just try and make it right.
I don’t bring God into that
picture.”
Is Your Faith Like
Donald Trump’s
10.
11.
12. Living Light News - November/December 201512
by Elisabeth Handley
Lightsaber-fighting kittens, getting sucked
through a vacuum and sneezing candy out
his nose – all in a day’s work for YouTuber
and Vine virtuoso Zach King.
But what can you expect from a guy who
got his first video camera at age seven?
While at Biola University in 2011, King
and a friend were sitting around, watching
Star Wars, and playing with the friend’s two
new kittens.
“We started talking about how funny it
would be if the kittens were fighting with
lightsabers, but figured a video had already
been done,” King tells Living Light News.
When nothing came up after a Google
search, the two started filming right away
and had “Jedi Kittens” up on YouTube by the
next morning.
“We went to class and when we came back,
we had a million views,” he says. “We got
caught up in the excitement and started
learning about what makes videos go viral.”
In 2013, King discovered Vine and
was intrigued by how to tell a story with
a beginning, middle and end in just six
seconds. He found special effects were the
secret to his success, and discovered
yet another fascinating creative
outlet. He challenged
himself to
make
one Vine video a day for a month and never
looked back.
They say the rest is history, but King’s
career is just beginning. His social media
successes have already led to working with
hip-hop star Macklemore, an appearance on
the Oscars’ red carpet and the Ellen show,
and over 3.2 million followers.
And where does he get all his crazy ideas?
Everything is based on collaboration with
his seven-person crew. Some ideas are spur
of the moment, while others take months
to plan out and film. All videos start out as
storyboards so everyone is on the same page,
and which simplifies post-production.
“Generally we can make a Vine in a day or
two, but sometime it takes several weeks,
depending on the complexity,” King says.
“The ones that are most popular seem to
be the ones we did run-and-gun, you
know, make and post right now. Those
tend to get shared the most.”
Believe it or not, six-second videos
can make a person a nice living. It’s all
about sponsorships. King has worked
with Best Buy, many of the snack food
brands you see in his videos like
Pringles, and even has a Red Bull line
of Vine videos.
And that’s good for the newlywed,
who has been married for just
10 months to Rachel, now his
company’s CFO. They met while
students at Biola.
“We met at a dance class, but
neither of us was interested in
a relationship, so we ignored
the sparks we were both
feeling,” he says. “My sister
had different ideas, so she
set us up.”
The couple is currently
filming in London,
so they will miss the
Streamys event, at
which they have
been nominated for
a Visual and Special
Effects award, a momentous
achievement for a company that
started with two buddies and two duelling
kittens.
Growing up, King says his parents gave
him a home video camera to keep him out
of trouble, and his three younger sisters were
his actresses. Without editing software, he
was making the cuts himself, but evolved to
more professional gear and editing software
by age 14.
And yes, he really did choose a computer
over a car.
King’s parents are both Christ-followers,
and King made the choice to
follow Jesus himself at age seven, though he
admits to mostly wanting the colouring book
offered at Sunday School that was given to
new Christians. “When I went home I talked
to my Mom and Dad about what it really
meant,” he says.
Following Jesus can be tough in the film
industry, but King says he was advised to
write his values down as a college freshman
and that has undeniably helped guide him.
“I try to stay really strong to those values.
No nudity, foul language or adult content,”
he says. “We have a very young audience so
we are mindful of what we create.”
King’s entire crew all believe in Jesus and
feel like their work is both a calling and a
mission field.
“My biggest advice to Christians that feel
somehow guilty that they’re not living in a
hut
doing missions work
is to live your everyday life with the
realization that you are a missionary in your
neighbourhood, your job or your school,” he
says. “That’s your mission field – where you
are now. We often overlook the neighbour
right next to us.”
While his videos aren’t focused on
featuring Christian themes, King says
the credibility he has created online has
provided even more opportunities to tell
people about his faith in person at speaking
engagements.
“Everyone wants to know where I get my
creativity,” he says. “I tell them I’m inspired
by Jesus, the ultimate Creator.”
Sights&Sounds
“We went to class and when we
came back, we had a million views.”
FruitOf The
Vine virtuouso Zach King
shares the secret to his
viral six-second videos
Vine
photobyTheZachKingTeamandStarMaxInc.
YouTube
13. Living Light News - November/December 2015 13
JORDAN FELIZ
Beloved EP
jordanfeliz.com
Review by Lindsay Williams
Jordan Feliz comes out of
the gate with a serious dose
of experience under his belt.
The California-native garnered
a loyal West Coast fanbase
as part of a mainstream rock
band. The singer decided
to strike out on his own to
Nashville, where he now resides with his wife and newborn
daughter.
His first EP, Beloved, introduces Feliz as a straightforward
faith-based pop artist with production so smooth, one wonders
why Feliz’s mainstream tenure went relatively unnoticed.
Lead single “The River” outdoes the average pop anthem with
its sparkling intensity and pulsating beats. Meanwhile, the
passionate pleas of the title track are dedicated to his daughter,
reminding her she is unconditionally loved. “Satisfied” slows
things down to reveal the calibre of Feliz’s flawless tenor.
Although Beloved is technically an EP, it serves up 10
cuts, including four bonus “Song Sessions.” Stripped
down versions of the title track and “The River” round out
the set, but it’s covers of Ed Sheeran’s “Photograph” and
NEEDTOBREATHE’s “Brother,” reimagined as a soulful
ballad, that steal the show.
BIG DADDY WEAVE
Beautiful Offerings
bigdaddyweave.com
Review by Josh McConnell
Big Daddy Weave is one
Christian music's biggest
groups. Their last album, Love
Come To Life, yielded four
consecutive No. 1 singles,
plus a Dove Award and
Billboard Music nominations
for “Redeemed,” the band’s
bestselling track to date.
Their latest release, Beautiful Offerings, feels like a natural
progression for the five-man band. While their last album
conveyed the forgiveness and redemption found in Jesus Christ,
lead vocalist Mike Weaver says this album is about focusing
on what we’ve been redeemed for. “It’s a message of hope that
calls us out of where we used to be into a new place.”
“I Belong To God,” inspired by a young man they met
in Cambodia, shows the group’s southern roots. The bright
techno beats of “Glory Unspeakable” echo the track’s uplifting
message, while the funky beats and guitar-driven melody in
“Praise You” encourages believers to worship God in every
circumstance.
Fans who enjoyed Big Daddy’s past releases will find the
same passion behind the lyrics and music in Beautiful Offerings.
It’s a tried, tested and true formula, something that many will
enjoy.
RYAN STEVENSON
Fresh Start
ryanstevensonmusic.com
Review by Lindsay Williams
New artist Ryan Stevenson
already has an advantage on
debut Fresh Start, thanks
to a No. 1 single (“Not
Forgotten”) ahead of its release
and a smash hit recorded by
TobyMac (“Speak Life”) – his
ace in the hole.
In fact, “Speak Life” essentially jumpstarted the former
paramedic’s career. He co-wrote the single with the Grammy
winner, and that relationship led to a label deal with Toby’s own
Gotee Records.
On Fresh Start, Toby’s fingerprints are felt on nearly every
track, including “Not Forgotten” on which he guests. Funky
grooves, pulsating beats and even spoken-word rhymes permeate
Stevenson’s debut for a 10-track effort that helps define hip-pop,
a sub-genre that Toby’s pioneered. The bright title track sets the
tone for the cohesive album with a chorus that feels ready-made
for swift choreography. Meanwhile, “From the Ground Up
(Bonanza)” pays homage to Stevenson’s small town roots and
reveals his prowess as a storyteller.
Fans of TobyMac, Mat Kearney and Lecrae should have no
trouble seamlessly adding Stevens onto their electronic playlists.
TIM TIMMONS
Awake Our Souls
timtimmonsmusic.com
Review by Lindsay Williams
Every day is a gift for singer/songwriter/worship leader Tim
Timmons, who lives with cancer that remains incurable apart
“from the healing hand of God.”
On his sophomore offering,
Awake Our Souls, Timmons
relies on his unique life-
and-death perspective and
pop/folk melodies to invite
listeners into an adventure as
he expounds on the abundant
joy and grace found in the
Kingdom of God.
While the record leans more
pop than Americana, there are
some country-tinged tracks.
Foot-stomper “Everywhere I Go” will get stuck in your head for
days, while the sassy “Like I’ve Been Changed” takes a retro
turn.
The depth of the album’s lyrics reveal Timmons’ heart, as
evidenced by pop-centric “Spring Up,” with a bridge that
shouts, “If I believe it, am I living it out?” Closer “All I Really
Want” is enthrallingly poignant, stripped of shiny production
and giving Timmons’ low register centerstage.
Timmons offers a satisfying set of songs that challenges all to
dig deeper into what they believe and why.
TREE63
Land
tree63.com
Review by Josh McConnell
Kickstarter is definitely a
game-changer for musicians,
whether in helping start their
career or connecting them
with financial resources for a
successful indie comeback – as
in the case of South African
band Tree63.
Previously signed with InPop, the band enjoyed success in the
North American market before disappearing from the public eye.
With more than 300 backers raising just over $20,000, Tree63
effectively funded their return on the music scene through the
popular crowdfunding website.
Titled Land, the 12-track effort feels like the band has been
bottling up new music for some time – seven years to be exact.
The first half of the disc comes out swinging with darker,
alternative rock influences comparable to the band Muse
(“Alive”, “A Whisper”). Meanwhile “Standing On It” has a
strong southern twang to it, while “Ship” exhibits a bit of The
Police’s musical influence.
Although, the final few tracks peter out a little, Land is a
welcomed return for Tree63, with a new take on their sound and
a ton of potential.
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14. Living Light News - November/December 201514
by Sarah Chestnutt
Summer starting to feel like a distant
memory? Trying to remember what it’s
like to go outside without bundling
up? Dodge the snow and head to the
rainforest!
Board a plane destined for the Juan
Santamaría Airport, centrally located
near San José, the capital city of Costa
Rica.
Instead of feeling like you should
keep an eye out for polar bears, you’ll be
scanning the canopy for toucans, howler
monkeys, and sloths. November is the
beginning of the driest and warmest
season, so booking early is a good idea.
Immerse yourself in the Costa Rican
culture in San José with museums,
theatres, art, and more.
Don’t let the imposing architecture of
the National Theater put you off – the
shows playing within are must sees. The
Bellavista Fortress was used as military
barracks in the 1948 Costa Rican Civil
War, but now houses history as the
National Museum. In fact, visitors can still
see bullet holes in the walls.
If you’re in town the last week of
December, you’ll be in the right spot
for Festejos Populares. Carnival rides,
games, and food fill the Zapote district
– topped off by bullfights. Similar to a
rodeo, bulls are not killed in these fights
and spectators even jump into the ring
occasionally.
Convert your dollars into colón and
head to Galeria Namu for one-of-a-
kind, fair trade handicrafts that make
perfect souvenirs. Looking for something
more traditional to take home? Swing by
the National Artisans Market, a long
covered alley filled with the more typical
T-shirts and mugs.
There’s more than just city living in
Costa Rica. Public transport may be the
cheapest way to get around, but it can
take over twice as long to reach your
destination as private transportation. San
José has several rental companies and it’s
just $40-$100 to rent the recommended
4x4. Worried about getting lost? Take a
shuttle run by Gray Line or Interbus.
With the city in your taillights, head out
towards volcanoes, white and black sand
beaches, rainforests, and waterfalls.
Arenal National Park is 2.5 hours
from San José and the home of Arenal
Volcano. One of the most active volcanoes
in the area, you’ll likely see smoke and
ash rising above the rim (not to worry –
its last major eruption was in 1968). The
easy to navigate trails in the park roam
over former lava fields and are great for
kids or those with limited mobility.
The 70 foot La Fortuna Waterfall
($10US/person) will take your breath
away. Fifteen minutes hiking down steep
stairs (or by horseback if you’re still trying
to catch your breath) leads to a picture
perfect place to take a swim.
The rainforest canopy is filled with
birds and wildlife you can’t see from the
ground. At Mistico Arenal Hanging
Bridges Park, get up to their level on the
16 bridges hanging up in the trees, from
eight to 98 feet long.
While you’re in the area, stop for a bite.
Restaurants such as Soda Viquez offer
local classics like gallo pinto (a breakfast
dish of rice and beans with eggs) or
casados (chicken, beef, or fish with side
salads or plantains).
Budget hotels Hotel Monte Real and
Hotel Cerro Azul (run by a local family)
are great places to rest up before heading
out the next day for more adventure.
Looking for more of a thrill? Costa Rica
is great for adventures with sport fishing,
river rafting, ziplines out of the canopy,
cave tours, and more! Travel agents
or local tour guides can help get thrill
seekers set up.
What’s a tropical vacation without
bumming around a beach? Manuel
Antonio National Park ($16 US/person)
is the place to go.
Playa Manuel Antonio, named the
second best beach in Central America
by TripAdvisor 2015, is a stunning cove
with white sand beaches and crystal clear
water.
While in the Park, keep an eye out for
wildlife easy to spot from the road, or
explore with a guide to make sure you
don’t miss what’s hidden just behind those
incredible plants. Hotel Vela Bar (just a
short walk from the beach Playa Espadilla)
and Hotel Verde Mar are great choices for
rooms that won’t break the bank before
you get home.
Weekly farmer’s markets (Quespos
Feria) are filled with fresh pineapple,
avocados, papayas, mangoes – and plenty
of fruits and vegetables you’ve probably
never seen before. Ask the Costa Ricans,
or Ticos as they prefer to call themselves,
for tips on what to eat and how to cook it.
With the sound of howler monkeys in
your ears, the taste of fresh fruit on your
tongue, a camera full of waterfalls and
toucans, and memories you won’t be able
to stop talking about, winter will be the
last thing on your mind when you’re in
tropical Costa Rica. At least, until it’s time
to board the plane back home.
If
Getaways
photoscourtesyCostaRicaTourism,CostaRicaGuide.com,GuillermoA.Duran/CCNC-ND2.0
AnywhereCostaRica
310-853-1167
anywherecostarica.com
ArenalNationalPark
888-456-3212
arenal.net
CostaRicaTourism
(506)2299-5800
visitcostarica.com
LonelyPlanet
lonelyplanet.com/costa-rica
ManuelAntonioParkInfoCenter
(506)2777-2100
manuelantoniopark.com
CCO�FERE�CEO�FERE�CE AACTIVITIESCTIVITIES I�CLUDEI�CLUDE::
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15. Living Light News - November/December 2015 15
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16. Living Light News - November/December 201516
by Melissa Yue-Wallace
In a small Kitchener, Ont. basement, an artist carefully
decorates a canvas using paper napkins, applying a technique
called decoupage.
Damaris Vezentan sells one-of-a-kind canvases, candles and
coasters through Love Gives 3:16, and uses a portion of the
proceeds to fill shoeboxes with gifts for children in need.
Last year, this busy, homeschooling mother-of-three led
a group of 85 volunteers in packing 858 shoeboxes sent to
developing countries through
Operation Christmas Child
(OCC). She makes the effort
because she knows what they
mean to children.
After all, she received a box
when she was nine.
In 1989, Vezentan, along with
her brother, sister and parents
were living in Lupeni, a small
city in the mountains of Romania.
Communism was coming to an
end and the president at the time,
Nicolae Ceausescu, was executed
on national television.
“As happy as my parents were that
the Communist regime would end,
they had no idea what it would mean,”
Vezentan recalls. “The whole country
was in turmoil, fear and confusion.”
Vezentan was only in Grade Two and
shared how sadness and uncertainty
were reflected by students and teachers
at school.
Her father, who often helped out at the local church, was told
that there would be a delivery of gifts for children. “My parents
were Christians but I didn’t want to be known as one because,
during Communist times, Christians were persecuted, some lost
their jobs and kids were made fun of at school.
“We only went to church because my parents told us to. I
decided Christianity wasn’t what I wanted.”
Vezentan found it hard to believe that there would be gifts
for kids at church as this was unheard of. But sure enough, the
shoeboxes arrived and she was struck by the atmosphere of joy.
“For us, receiving a shoebox let us know that we weren’t
forgotten and that someone was thinking of us, which was
amazing,” she says. “Every child got a gift. I was so used to
sharing with my little brother and sister that I didn’t expect to
get a gift that would be just mine.”
Vezentan was so touched by the fact that she received a
shoebox that she didn’t look inside of it for
several days. Instead, she would repeatedly
open the lid of the golden patterned box and
close it again.
When she finally did pour out its contents, she felt that
the box was truly meant for her. It contained a porcelain doll,
soap, coloured pencils and crayons, “girly things,” and her
most prized possession, a journal.
Vezentan’s father had searched several stores for a journal for
the budding writer’s birthday, but had been unable to find one.
At the bottom of the box was a picture of the family who had
packed it. On the back of the photo, they had written a Bible
verse John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave
His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not
perish but have eternal life.”
“I had a Romanian Bible and wanted to memorize the verse
so I could feel closer to the family, but it was hard
for me to memorize it in English. All I could
remember was, ‘God loved, God gave.’ ”
Eventually, she realized that love gives. She
began sharing the items in her shoebox with
others.
“It’s amazing how God found me,” she says.
“He wanted to show me that He cares even
though I wanted nothing to do with Him.
“God changed me through that
shoebox and it rocked my world.”
In 1996, Vezentan’s family
moved to Canada and
decided to reside in
Kitchener to be closer to
her father’s brothers.
Shortly after moving,
Vezentan was at a
gospel concert with
her mother when an
OCC commercial
came on.
“We both started
crying and I said,
‘Mom this is them! These are the
people who sent me the shoebox!’”
Vezentan’s family began packing
shoeboxes for other families from then on.
After getting married in 2000, Vezentan
began volunteering to pack
shoeboxes for the organization,
which has a warehouse in
Kitchener.
Vezentan is now an OCC
ambassador, speaking at
churches about the difference
a shoebox can make. In 2013,
she and a team delivered
shoeboxes to children in Senegal.
“I got to live that verse when
Jesus said, ‘It is better to give
than to receive,’ ” she says.
“When you keep giving, it seems God
multiplies and becomes a little bigger in
your heart.”
On returning home from that trip, Vezentan
was so impassioned that she wanted to do more.
Love Gives 3:16 was born out of that passion.
Vezentan had an extensive collection of paper napkins
(more than 10,000) and wanted to do something with them
using her arts and crafts skills. She began teaching herself
how to decoupage napkins on canvas and found that people
loved her finished products. Her items range from $5 to $50,
with a portion of proceeds going to purchase items for OCC
shoeboxes.
Her children are also involved with packing shoeboxes and
Vezentan hopes they will learn to live a life of giving.
“I want them to place someone else’s needs before their own,”
she says. “You’re never more like God than when you give
because that is what He has done for us.
“By giving us Jesus, God gave His best.”
To pack a shoebox for Operation Christmas Child, visit
packabox.ca or donate at
samaritanspurse.ca/occ. To
support Vezentan’s efforts,
visit lovegives316.com.
photoscourtesyDamarisVezentan
Lifestyles
“It’s amazing how
God found me.”
Love Gives
DamarisVezentan’s business Love Gives 3:16 is helping to raise money
to buy Christmas gifts for underprivileged children around the world.
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18. Living Light News - November/December 201518
Special Events
Family Fun Night
Nov. 13, 7-8:30 p.m., Spruce
Grove Alliance Church main
campus south atrium, 1011
Cloverbar Rd. Meet others
in a relaxed, casual setting. A
gathering of about 50 people.
For information, call 780-962-
4700.
100 Huntley St. Celebration
Nov. 19, 1:30-4:30 p.m.,West
Edm. Christian Assembly, 6315-
199 St., Edm. 100 Huntley St.
will be celebrating the broadcast
of their 10,000th episode. No
charge.To reserve seating, call
Shel at 780-433-3118.
North PointeTrade Show
Nov. 21, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., North
Pointe Comm. Church, 14120-
167 Ave., Edm.Vendors will be
on hand for your Christmas
shopping pleasure. For info, call
780-235-3646.
Christmas Craft Sale
Nov. 28, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.,
Centrepointe Church, 5940-
159 Ave., Edm. About 100 local
crafters in one location with the
finest handcrafted products. For
info, call 780-722-5693.
Winter Ignite
Dec. 11-13, Brightwood Youth
Ranch (1 hr.W. of Edm.)
Opportunity for youth to enjoy
crafts, ice fishing, sledding, skating
and videography. Cost: $80-$93.
Visit calvarycommunity.ca/youth.
Regular Events
Drop-In Sports Nights
Mondays, 7 p.m. - Basketball
(ages 14+),Wednesdays, 7
p.m. - Floor Hockey (ages 18+,
Beverly Alliance Church, 12235-
50 St., Edm.Visit bac.ca.
Babes with Babes
Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m., Beverly
Alliance Church, 12235-50 St.,
Edm. Come out and meet other
moms and their little ones. Call
Carrie at 780-474-0476.
VictoryTips Program
Thursday nights, 7 p.m.,The
River Community Church,
11520 Ellerslie Rd., Edm.This is
a Bible-based recovery program
on anxiety and depression.
For info and to download
a program workbook, visit
victorytipsprogram.com, or call
780-800-1109.
Ball Hockey
Thursdays, 8:30 p.m.,
Northpointe Comm. Church,
14025-167 Ave., Edm. Drop-in
ball hockey night for adults. No
charge.
International Students
Fridays, 6:30 p.m – dinner, 7
p.m.-Bible study, McKernan
Baptist Church, 11103-76 Ave.,
Edm. Join international students
for a free dinner & Bible study.
Call 780-465-5991, or email
got@telusplanet.net.
Deliverance Ministry
Fridays, 7 p.m., Promised
Land Ministries, 12145-67 St.,
Edmonton. Deliverance through
Jesus Christ can transform your
life.Visit us to find out how.Visit
jesusdelivers.com.
Conversation Cafe
Saturdays, 10-11:30 a.m.,
Millbourne Community Life
Centre, 2101 Millbourne Rd.
W., Edm.This is a safe place to
practice everyday English skills
for free. Call Pat at 780-893-
2120 or Matthew at 780-462-
2575 or email conversationcafe.
mw@gmail.com
Men’s Breakfast
Nov. 21, 8:30-10:30 a.m., Beulah
Alliance Church, 17504-98A
Ave., Edm. Special guest speaker:
Ryan Walter.Topic: Phil. 4:8
Principle:Think on these things.
Cost: $15. Online registration
available at beulah.ca.
Seniors Fellowship
Luncheon
Nov. 24, 11 a.m.-1:15 p.m.,
Beulah Alliance Church,
conference rooms, 17504-98A
Ave., Edm. Rev. Ron Brown will
challenge us to share the gospel
with the nations that have come
to us.Tickets: $11/door.
Seniors Supper
Nov. 30, 6 p.m., Sherwood Park
Alliance Church, South Gym,
1011 Cloverbar Rd.. Features a
musician and speaker designed
to encourage and enlighten.
Tickets: $15/person. For info,
call Cathy at 780-467-8404,
ext. 322.
Music & Drama
MercyMe with the ESO
Nov. 28-29, 7:30 p.m., Jubilee
Auditorium, 11455-87 Ave.,
Edm.This Grammy-nominated
Christian group will perform
with the Edmonton Symphony
Orchestra.Tickets: $50-$95,
available at ticketmaster.ca.
Handel’s Messiah
Dec. 4 and 5, 7:30 p.m.,
Winspear Centre, 9720-102
Ave., Edm. British conductor
Christopher Warren-Green
makes his ESO debut leading
a Canadian quartet and
the Richard Eaton Singers
in presenting Handel’s
oratorio.Tickets: $30-$75,
edmontonsymphony.com.
Steve Bell ChristmasTrio
Dec. 6, 7:30 p.m., Beulah Alliance
Church, 17504-98A Ave., Edm.
An evening with the Steve
Bell Trio highlighting his 25th
anniversary album, Pilgrimage.
Tickets are $21 available at
stevebell.com,
Soweto Gospel Choir
Dec. 14, 8 p.m.,Winspear
Centre, 9720-102 Ave., Edm.
Celebrate the inspirational
power of African Gospel music.
Visit sowetogospelchoir.com.
Tickets: $41-$51, available at
winspearcentre.com.
Classes/Seminars
Alpha
Tuesday evenings, 6:30 p.m.,
starting Oct. 13, Mosaic House,
Blue Quill Comm. League,
11304-25 Ave. Edm. Each
evening includes a meal, a short
talk, and discussion. Call 780-
850-6672.
Conferences/
Retreats
Thriving Marriages
Conference
Nov. 12-14, Southside
Pentecostal Church, 2821-109
St., Edm. Featuring speakers
Arnold and Gwen Tackett, and
Vince and Cindy D’Acchioli.
Tickets: $165, namecanada.net.
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Call 780-468-7088
Or visit www.wallbeds-etc.com
Christmas is Coming
Now you see it Now you don’t!
and so are your guests!
780-468-7088
10414 - 172 St.
Edmonton, Alberta
www.wallbeds-etc.com
105 Ave.
170St.
172St.
MayfieldRoad
103 Ave.
102 Ave.
Stony Plain Rd.
NOW YOU SEE IT NOW YOU DON'T
Christmas
is coming!
Where
will your
company
sleep?
029SI1_The Kitchen Studio and Wall Beds-h.indd 1 8/16/2011 2:08:25 PM
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Platinum
Sponsor
Snyder & Associates is a long-established,
mid-size law firm located on the 25th floor of
Sun Life Place in the heart of downtown Edmonton.
Our firm provides high quality results-oriented legal
services and our lawyers take pride in helping our clients
find effective solutions to their legal problems.
Please feel free to explore our web site, learn more about
our firm, and discover how Snyder & Associates can help you.
For a free consultation,
please call 780-426-4133.
W I L L S E S T A T E S R E A L E S T A T E I M M I G R A T I O N C O R P O R A T E
E X P E R T L E G A L C O U N S E L
C O N S T A N T L Y W O R K I N G F O R Y O U
SN Y D E R
& ASSOCIATES LLP
Barristers & Solicitors
#2500 Sun Life Place
10123 - 99 Street, Edmonton, AB T5J 3H1
Tel. 780·426·4133 Fax 780·424·1588
www.snyder.ca
Trust in the LORD with all
your heart, and lean not on
your own understanding;
In all your ways
acknowledge Him, and
He shall direct your paths.
PROVERBS 3:5–6
SSilverSponsor
19. Living Light News - November/December 2015 19
Meeting: Sat. @ 6pm
10105 - 153 St
Pastors:
Mark & SherryAdams
Gord & Dawn Hancock
780-483-2665
www.fusionfellowship.ca
DIVERSITY WITH ONE HEART,
ONE VOICE, ONE PASSION
First
Christian
Church
(Disciples)
13407-97 St.
Edmonton
780-476-5238
Sunday Services
Bible Study: 10am
Worship: 11am
Sunday School:11:15am
Pastors Steve
& Carmen Lynne
Family Service:
- Sundays at 9:30 a.m. / 11:00 a.m.
at 205 Main Street, Spruce Grove
- Sunday Evening Service at 6 p.m.
Youth, women,
married couples,
single moms,
groups meeting
during the
week.
Connections
Global
Church
Fully accredited Bible college
Call 780-960-9077 for more info
www.gcccanada.com
Promised Land
Ministries
12145-67 St. NW
Edmonton, AB
780-944-0526
www.jesusdelivers.com
Walk in Victory!
Deliverance & Healing
Centre
Sunday Service:
10:00 a.m.
Sunday School
& Bible Study
11:30 a.m.
Pastor Forrest Stroup
4638 - 117 Ave.
780-477-2894
Lutheran Church
EMMAUSWAY
EMMAUS LUTHERAN CHURCH
Welcomes you to visit
our Spirit led, Bible based and
family oriented congregation.
5015-144 Ave., Edmonton
Contemporary Worship,
Sunday School,Youth Corner
Sundays at 11:00 AM
780-478-8697
Pastor Glen Carlson
IT’S A PLACE FOR YOU!
Worship Service
Saturday, 11:00 am
780-905-1124
http://edmonton.wcgweb.org
Come Celebrate Christ!
10162 152nd Street
Pastor Bob Millman
CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
A Grace Communion International Congregation
Grace
Service – Sunday @ 10am
Children’s Ministry –
2-12 yrs (supervised nursery)
Mid-week: Connection
Groups, Youth Activities
9004-153 Ave. Edmonton
780-456-7890
www.necf.ca • necf@necf.ca
Learning together to
“live life in Jesus” and to
“live the Jesus life.”
“Where you can Begin, Believe and Belong!”
Sunday Worship at 10:00 am
Sunday Children Education (Pre-K to Grade 6) 10:15 am
Wednesday 6:45pm - Children and Youth Worship and Teaching
• Parenting Class • International Friendship Club • Divorce Care
9333-199 St. • Edmonton • 780-451-3881
www.westmeadows.org
Pastor Kevin Schular
B A P T I S T C H U R C H
10405 - 142 St.
780-454-3463
*
We invite you to join us!
*
Morning Worship@ 10:45
*
www.faithcom.ca
Fort Saskatchewan
Life Church
#111, 10421-99 Ave
Fort Saskatchewan
780-992-9673
www.fslifechurch.ca
passionate,
generational, God
- centered worship
and preaching
“Where you can
feel at home and
cared for, living in
His Presence.”
Sunday Service @ 10:15am
WeareafamilyofGod,multiplyingdisciplesof
Jesus,andwejoyfullychoosetoputrelationshipsof
loveaheadofeveryotherconsideration.
Wemeetweeklytoworshipon
Sundaysat9:30,andwemeetweeklyto
serveonWednesdaysat5:30
8505 - 142 Street, Edmonton, Alberta
780•483•5366 info@lhbc.ca www.lhbc.ca
Sunday Worship
9:45am - Coffee &
Conversation
10:30 - Contemporary
Worship
5940-159 Ave, Edmonton
780-454-1936
info@centrepointechurch.ca
www.centrepointechurch.ca
Calvar y
Baptist Church
“A Caring Community”
7215 - 97 St.
Edmonton, AB
Sunday 9 am & 11am
FORT SASKATCHEWAN
“ I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me…
will have the light of life.”
-Jesus (John 8:12)
...
end!
NEIGHBOURS
...Invite you to
CHURCH
them this week
WORSHIP WITH US AT
Edmonton Family
Worship Centre
10605-96 St.
Sundays 10:00 am
780-424-6422
www.efwc.org
A Church with a Heart
- In the Heart of the City
Contemporary, Charismatic, Caring
Children’s Ministry for Nursery to Grade 6 available at all
services unless otherwise noted on website.
The Gate Community
Saturdays at 6:15 pm (Grade 7-9)
& 7:30 pm (Grade 10-12 & Recent Grads)
heartlandalliance.ca
780-467-7005 • general@heartlandalliance.ca
53105 Highway 21, Sherwood Park AB
(NE Corner HWY 21 & Lakeland Dr)
Weekend Services
Saturdays - 6:15 pm
Sundays - 9:15 & 11:15 am
Congregation
Beit Mashiach
9125-50 St NW
(The King’s University)
We are a Torah observant
community endeavouring to walk
in the fullness of the Jewish roots
and heritage of our biblical faith.
Shabbat Service
Saturday 10:30 am
Pastor:
Andrew Ketel
780-901-5859
beitmashiach.com
![Living Light News - November/December 20152
12736 St. Albert Trail NW
Edmonton, AB
780-454-2727
524 Riverbend Square
Edmonton, AB
780-488-3456
110, 8005 Emerald Drive
Sherwood Park, AB
780-464-2366
G GoldSponsor
a r t i s t r y b l i n d s . c o m
by Lailani Mendoza
Beneath the interior designer’s smart, confident
and polished exterior was a worn-out soul who
felt ashamed, disappointed and lost. With a failed
marriage, two young kids to support, and a past
she wasn’t proud of, Susan Jaramillo thought she
had long missed the boat.
“I became a master disguiser,” she tells Living
Light News. “I learned to put a smile on my face so
people didn’t know what was going on.”
Jaramillo grew up without a father, and this void
led her to look for love in the wrong places.
“I remember going to my mom from a young age
and asking her ‘Who is my dad? Where is he?’ ” she
recalls. “She would just get angry and tell me it was
none of my business. I never understood that.”
Wanting acceptance, Jaramillo said yes to things
she now regrets. She smoked her first cigarette in
fifth grade, got drunk on Jack and Coke in eighth
grade, and experimented with drugs in high school.
Her desire to find a father figure affected how
she handled relationships. “By the time I was
14, I gave myself sexually to someone not really
realizing the implications.”
When the relationship ended, she felt tarnished
and confused. Yet Jaramillo continued to give
herself away in subsequent relationships hoping
to find the one person who could love her
unconditionally.
But no matter how many partners she was with,
the emptiness and longing for acceptance remained.
In her junior year of college, she faced the inevitable.
“I was dating this guy, and I became pregnant.
I didn’t know what to do,” she says. “I had two
friends who had abortions, and so I automatically
thought abortion was the solution. I called an
abortion facility out of state. And they said ‘Oh
it’s not that big of a deal. You can just come here,
terminate your pregnancy and you can go back to
your life like nothing ever happened.’ ”
Believing this was her only choice, Jaramillo got an
abortion. Over four years, she had three abortions.
“I thought that would solve my ‘problem’ but
all it did was make more problems in my life,”
she explains. “It turned to more promiscuous
relationships. It turned to more drugs and alcohol
to try to soothe the pain because I didn’t want to
deal with reality.”
Still, she persevered. Jaramillo found a job before
graduation and set out to make a name for herself.
Her hard work paid off. She moved up the corporate
ladder, designing for wealthy clients and earning a
six-figure income. Yet something was lacking.
“Through my self-reliance, I had achieved so
much; but at the same time, it wasn’t enough to fill
the empty and broken places in my life.”
Finding herself pregnant again, she married the
child’s father. In 1998, she gave birth to a baby boy.
Two years later came a baby girl. While all she wanted
was the proverbial happy family with the white picket
fence, it didn’t go as planned. After five and a half
years, Jaramillo’s marriage ended in divorce.
This was how the 35-year-old found herself at a
mentoring conference in 2007. The speaker said
something that caught her attention.
“Where Satan has hit you hardest is your area of
ministry,” she said.
“Wow,” Jaramillo thought. “How will [God] ever
use me?” In time she would find out.
“I heard these women talk about this God who
was full of love and forgiveness, someone I’ve
never heard in that context before,” says Jaramillo,
who had the notion that God was “condemning
and full of rules.”
“I struggled in always feeling that I always
had to be perfect – and I could
never be perfect. I don’t think I
quite grasped the concept that
God is forgiving and loves me
unconditionally.”
This revelation motivated
her to know more about Him.
Jaramillo reached out to a
lady from the conference who
prayed for her. That day she
surrendered her life to Jesus
Christ.
“I said to the Lord ‘I give You
all of my life. I give You every
area that I struggle in.’ At that
moment God changed my life.
And I’ve never been the same since.”
Three years later, while
applying for a replacement
social security card, Jaramillo
received the information
she’d been seeking all
her life – her father’s
name. With the help
of friends, she traced
his home and met with
him, hoping to get
answers. Unfortunately,
he wasn’t willing to
divulge anything.
Dejected, Jaramillo
went to her mom who
revealed her secret: she
was conceived in rape.
“She had filled out
the paperwork for
adoption for me, but
when they came to
get me, she couldn’t
do it. She kept me.”
Jaramillo later
attended a nine-
week post-abortion Bible study through If Not For
Grace Ministries, which helped her forgive herself
and process the traumas of her past.
“It was through that Bible study that God had
a deeper healing for me,” she shares. “Now I take
others through that Bible study to encourage them
and show them God’s love and healing for them.”
“God forgives. Not that abortion is okay, because
it’s not, but through that healing, you receive the
truth and you’re set free from that place of guilt
and shame.”
Now at 43, Jaramillo is in full-time ministry
sharing her story while offering encouragement and
assistance to women who deal with the trauma of
abortion. After a trip to Uganda in 2012, Jaramillo
has become a board member of the pro-life youth
ministry called The Remnant Generation.
In 2014, she shared her experiences
in her book How God Rewrote My
Heart. Currently finishing her
Doctorate of Ministry, Jaramillo
is publishing her research study
on the effects of abortion.
She wants women to know
there is healing in Jesus
Christ – even after abortion.
“It wasn’t until God got
a hold of me and started
teaching me His word
and His love as a father
… that I would be
fulfilled in Him,” she
shares. “No person can
ever fill the void and
hole in your life. Only
God can do that.”
“You’re set free from
guilt and shame.”
photobyJillBruss,courtesyHighBridgeBooks
Abortions
ABortions
Led to Her Calling
How
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