Stories

Sacred stories are those of transformation, they are stories that draw us closer to the Lord and the Heart, and they help us to see our connection to all things.

There's a saying in the Jewish tradition that the shortest distance between a human and God is through a story.

So if storytelling is a journey, sacred storytelling is a pilgrimage-a pilgrimage to a place called Hope.

At this point therefore let us begin our narrative, without adding any more to what has already been said; for it would be foolish to lengthen the preface while cutting short the history itself.

Many have seen the Glory now your about to read the story.

The stories you are about to read are intimate details of peoples lives that are being shared via this venue with the hopes of encouraging your life.

 Ric Small

Good Samaritan Christian Center is pivotal in my development of sensitivity toward the needs of others.  For the first time in my Christian experience I have found a body of believers that practice the "great commandment" in accordance with the "great commission" to an extent that is worthy of mention.  Under the leadership of pastors Richard and Evelyn Ramirez, I have experienced the liberty of the Holy Spirit in my ministry as worship leader that is also impacting my motivations within the market place. I am honored in the relationship we share and look forward expectantly for greater developments in my life under their leadership.

Janelle Rodriguez

Born and raised on the Lower East side I experienced all the challenges that would arrive at the life of a young person living in an urban environment. By the grace of God I never sub-came to any of life's detrimental offers. However this did not mean that life cease in challenging me .I grew up in a broken home my parents marriage dissolved when I was young adult and their misfortune had an enormously negative effect on my life. Because  of my parents divorce my young adult years created in me feelings of abandonment, resentment and anger. These negative emotions evolved in my life thus creating in me a passive- aggressive  behavior. On the exterior I was a polite, quite, easy going young lady. However only I and those whom I allowed to get close enough to me knew that I was really a young lady who felt cheated out of life. At the age of  eighteen  I became pregnant with my only child , while I loved my child at times this moment in my life was overwhelming. I was eighteen  years old , I was not employed and I was still living with my mom I knew that I had to do something with my life so I registered in college and four years later after many, many tears I received my degree in nursing . Becoming a registered nurse was an exciting moment in my life and it gave me a sense of accomplishment, However three years ago I started to notice that my sense of accomplishment did not create in me a sense of fulfillment. I knew that my life and the life of my little man (my son)  was in need of something that no educational system could offer me.

It was during this cross roads in my life that I was invited to visit GSCC a visit that would change my life forever. It has been three years since I visited GSCC the place that I now call home. It was in this place of refuge that I met my spiritual parents. I often tell people I have been privileged to have  two sets of parents. My biological parents that gave me existence and my spiritual parents the ones that birthed me in the spirit. Today I give God all the Glory and the Honor for finding me and giving unto my life that which the locusts and the cankerworm came to steal. I am a  happy fulfilled single parent, My son is a terrific nine year old , I live alone with my child, I am the singles ministry coordinator and currently I am in college once again seeking a  new carrier in the fashion industry all this while serving my Lord and savior Jesus Christ. I will conclude by encouraging any person who can identify with what I have just shared. With God nothing is impossible!

If your living what I have just shared remember this: Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it.

Stay encouraged, He's able!

Manny & Selena Ruiz

If I had to pick one thing to testify about it would have to be how God has taught us how to trust in him.  We have been married for six years and out of those six, for four years we thought we had everything under control.  It was not till we realized with the help of the best pastors in the world, that we knew nothing.  When we began to trust in God and not take things into our own hands, our lives individually and as a couple began to change.  For us the key to a happier marriage and a closer relationship with God was surrendering it all.

Brian & Angelina Davis

In October of 2005 I was diagnosed with a brain tumor.  I underwent brain surgery and by the grace of God it was successful.  The pathology report showed malignancy so I received treatments of chemotherapy and radiation.  My husband and I walked into Good Samaritan Christian Center (GSCC) in November of 2005 and were embraced by open, caring arms.  The outpour of love and prayers we received were immeasurable.  We knew immediately that we needed to be a part of God's family- "GSCC".  In April of 2006 my husband accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior.  As we continue on our journey with our GSCC family to strengthen our relationship with Christ, we are still in the midst of a storm yet we know that with God all things are possible.                                   

Michael and Lillian Perez

It has been six and a half years since my husband (Michael) and I (Lillian) have been attending (GSCC) Good Samaritan Christian Center along with our three children. Our tenure at GSCC has been an on-going growth experience in our married lives our family life and in our walk with the Lord.  Upon entering GSCC we were just commencing our walk with the Lord, we had recently had an encounter with God yet like many young couples many were our challenges. We have weathered storms together that only our Lord and Savior has saved us from. We have come to understand that being in the Lord is a continuous growing process that entails humanity's effort working in conjunction with divinity Grace. It has been an honor to have been able to be one of the founding families of GSCC we have seen our church evolve from a humble group of seven people to a growing diverse community of believers. The word of God tells us that ZECHARIAH was engaged in the building of the temple. When its foundations were laid, it struck everybody as being a very small edifice compared with the former glorious structure of Solomon. The friends of the enterprise lamented that it should not be so small; the enemies of it rejoiced and uttered strong expressions of contempt.

Both friends and foes doubted whether, even on that small scale, the structure would ever be completed. They might lay the foundations, and they might rear the walls a little way, but they were too feeble a folk, possessed of too little riches and too little strength, to carry out the enterprise. It was the day of small beginnings. Friends trembled; foes jeered. But the prophet rebuked them both--rebuked the unbelief of friends, and the contempt of enemies, by this question, "Who has despised the day of small beginnings?" . This one question by the Prophet Zechariah has been a resounding statement of truth for our family concerning GSCC "Who has despised the day of small beginnings?".