Heritage pt 2
Some of these people would soon become church leaders and even pastors.
The wild congregation met in a 1500 sq. ft. store-front property next to a restaurant. Everything was cool until revival broke out. The loud, pentecostal evening service took place at the same time as dinner hour. Banging drums competed with the restaurant owner’s hammering fists on the wall. “Hallelujahs” were met with, “Go to hell!”
Despite much opposition, (least being the restaurant) God moved mightily in many people’s lives. Addictions were broken, diseases were healed, and poverty was becoming a thing of the past for many. People were actually experiencing the inside-out change described in the Bible. It wasn’t long before they laid hands on a new generation of leaders and began to plant new churches.
Raul Barajas, a young man from Tijuana, Mexico, felt called to leave his prosperity in the States and return to the very city he left in order plant Templo de Alabanza.
This decision wasn’t exactly favoured by everyone, but he went anyway. Him and his wife Lupita have now planted over 25 churches in Mexico. Did I mention, they raised a beautiful family as well.
Since the Barajas left for Tijuana, over 40 churches have now been planted all over the world from that little shop in Buena Park.
In the midst of all the action, Carl’s son Adam grew up watching people come to faith as well as walking away from it. It was no game to him, it hurt to see people go. He also fought the many claims that he’ll be a pastor, “like his daddy”, But he still knew God had something special for him.
One day during lunch in high school, he stood up on one of the tables and shouted, “I Love Jesus!”. He was greeted with indifference and confusion, but that day would mark the beginning of his ministry. Adam soon became a leader of young people who would do much more than try to make the gospel look cool.