A happy picture indeed, a family united in Christ.  But Grandpa Tony's baptism was not brought about by ordinary means. Like so many conversions it took the miraculous hand of God for the faithful prayers of the East Region to bear this fruit.

Grandpa Tony's conversion began years ago when granddaughter Denise met the Church on the Fullerton campus in Orange County, California. Immediately Denise went after her family with much love and fervor but it would not be easy, they were a tough crowd.

July 12, 2008 Dear Father God… Today is perhaps the most different day in my life, different from any other I have lived. Today, I say my final farewells to your son, Big Lou Martinez, my husband, friend and lover of almost 46 years. I know that he is already resting in your eternal rest, Father, (Hebrews 4:9-10 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his.) but today, we’re putting the vessel in which his soul resided, to final rest in the ground. 101.jpgI can’t say it’s not difficult because it is.

Proverbs 22:6 – “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it”

I recently celebrated 60 years of life with my family and friends. And being able to celebrate it as a disciple made it so much more special. My family had organized a surprise Birthday Party that was nothing short of but stunning! The event expressed a love that is far more valuable than gold and silver.

It all started almost 12 years ago when my uncle Al began studying the Bible and got baptized. Shortly after this he invited my mom and she too began studying the Bible with some single sisters in the church. I was curious about what my mom was doing and I asked to join them in one of my mom studies. After that first study about the cross I was so impacted that I wanted to learn more. Being that I was only 14 at the time, I was introduced to sisters in the teen ministry. Soon after this my mom was baptized on July 7, 1996 and I was baptized just two weeks later. 

During the month of June the East Region is focusing on a principle that is common in scripture, it is described by a word that is used frequently but when you ask individuals what it means you will often hear a variety of definitions. That word is “Worship”, we are directed through scripture to worship but can be confused as to exactly what we are supposed to do.

The first time the word is used in the bible is in twenty second chapter of Genesis by Abraham Gen 22:55 He said to his servants, "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you." NIV