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Gratia Concludes Discipleship Training with Testimonies

Gratia Church concluded 3-day discipleship training in Colorado on May 22. It was full of grace and testimonies of God’s work in the students.

Pastor Walker wrapped up the discipleship training with closing service, encouraging students to live with the greater righteousness and love of God for the Kingdom.

During the testimony time, every single student gave testimonies of God’s grace that was poured down on them through the discipleship training. Brother Moses shared his gratitude towards God that he received through Bible Studies and receiving the gift of tongues. Sister Chinyce testified how she was pierced in the heart and how God unconditional love of Jesus came to her. Sister Carina was in tears sharing the love of God that she received and wanting to share God’s love with others. Brother Abel shared gratitude and greater vision of God’s Kingdom that he was able to see. Brother Bill shared grace opening up his heart in a greater loving relationship with God.

One overarching theme in all of the testimonies was a deep gratitude to God, a deep gratitude of the Bible Studies, a deep gratitude towards the pastors and ministers.

Please pray for the discipleship training students and ministers to keep the grace receiving deeply in their hearts and grow as a fruit of love of God, being guided by the Holy Spirit for God’s Kingdom.

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Gratia Has Graceful Thursday Bible Study

Gratia church held graceful Thursday Bible study with regular attendees on April 28 and all of them received abundant grace. They wanted to walk the path of faith by following the examples of the ancestors of faith. A member shared her reflection.

“Today’s Bible study really spoke to me and helped me to realize the strength of God’s love. He doesn’t care what wrongs you have done in the past, but he will always help to guide you in the right direction. Self-righteousness is something we should be aware of because it may lead us to become selfish with God and not accept and serve others in the way that He wants us to. I hope to continue learning Bible.” shared by a member.

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Gratia Easter Service: Joy of Resurrection

On April 17, 2022, Gratia Church held a graceful Easter service to celebrate the joy of the resurrection and the victory of the Lord. The service began with a special Easter song that young members of Gratia had prepared.

The sermon delivered by Pastor Walker Tzeng, was on John 21:1-14 entitled, “Palm Sun It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn”. The sermon focused on the Lord’s grace in guiding us from the cross towards the resurrection. He encourages us to be fishers of men with a new net and boat, which is the Word and belongs to Church. We are a living sacrifice in living communion with God through the victory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Following the baptism, members had communion together with the service of bread and wine, which Sister Kellie organized. It was a beautiful time when the body of Christ could celebrate the Lord’s love and life that he gave to all of us.

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Gratia Holds Graceful Easter Retreat 

Gratia held a graceful Easter retreat on April 16, 2022. During the Easter Retreat, Pastor Walker preached on John 20 over two Bible Studies. The first Bible study focused on Mary, John, and Peter’s witness of the empty tomb. The second Bible Study focused on the receiving of the Holy Spirit and doubting Thomas. Members were exhorted to go beyond the cross and live a life of resurrection.

After the Bible studies in the morning members hiked Mt Davidson where there is a big cross on top of the mountain and enjoyed the beautiful nature. Everyone received abundant grace through this time and wants to celebrate the risen Christ.

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Gratia Spring Retreat Concludes with Overflowing Grace 

Gratia Church concluded spring retreat with overflowing grace from God. They gathered in the mountains of Yosemite and the theme of the retreat is “The Path of the Cross” studying through the recording of the path of the cross from John 18-19.

During breaking bread fellowship time, many of the newer Bible Study students testified to understanding the suffering of Jesus more deeply. Meal times were full of grace because retreat attendees had spent a long two days with one another and now know each other more deeply as a spiritual family and could share grace in fellowship together.

As retreat attendees parted ways, many spoke about wanting to gather again more frequently. Please pray for all retreat attendees take a leap of faith towards God’s glory and Kingdom through the grace of God given at this spring retreat.

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Christmas Retreat : The Birth of Jesus, Fellowship, Prayer

On December 19, 2021, Gratia Church continued its Christmas Retreat and members and Bible Study students from all these regions are gathering in the mountains of Lake Tahoe to enjoy God’s Word, fellowship, and prayer together.  

Day 2 of this graceful retreat featured the opening services, Sunday service, and multiple Bible Studies.  The opening services was delivered by Pastor Nancy who spoke about spiritual blindness and the importance of opening our eyes and heart to Jesus Christ. 

Pastor Walker and Julia Tzeng did several Bible Studies on Matthew 1-3.  Pastor Walker’s message on Matthew 1 was also the Sunday service and focused on the birth of Jesus as the coming of infinite eternal God into our limited and finite world.  Jesus is Immanuel, God with us.  Pastor Julia message on Matthew 2 emphasized this fallen world in which Jesus came.  Whereas many want to just leave this fallen world, Jesus came to save this world with amazing love and grace.  

Following a full day of Bible Studies, the retreat featured fellowship games where the members to celebrate in laughter and joy.  Also, in between Bible Studies, were plenty of time to take walks, sit in fellowship, and have meals.  Through these times, members could speak deeply about faith and understand a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

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Gratia Family Celebrates Thanksgiving with Students

On November 25, 2021, Gratia Church family celebrated Thanksgiving with Bible study students who were not able to go home for Thanksgiving. Moses and Levi both said it was their first ever Thanksgiving celebration, since they do not celebrate Thanksgiving in their home countries. Other members of Gratia celebrated Thanksgiving with their families. Gratia members are so thankful for God’s grace upon the church in this year.

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Thanksgiving Retreat Overflowing in Grace, Gratitude

On November 20, 2021, Gratia held a Thanksgiving mini-retreat that was overflowing in grace and gratitude to God. The mini-retreat Bible Studies were led by Pastor Walker Tzeng who preached two messages on Joseph from Genesis 37-50. Through the stories of Joseph, Pastor Tzeng emphasized important aspects of faith such as purity, receiving the love of God, focusing on the Word, and receiving the dream of the Kingdom of God.

The mini-retreat also featured time of praise and prayer. Following the Bible Studies, students had breaking bread to reflect on the message.  Members testified overflowing grace of God through the Thanksgiving retreat.  After the retreat, some members had further fellowship by going to the San Francisco beach together.

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Monday Group Bible Study

Gratia church held a Monday group Bible study on October 25 and they studied Romans 8. There were two newcomers who joined it along with regular attendees and the sharing after the Bible study was very touching and graceful.

“ This Bible study is really deep and touched me so much. When I think about the comparison mind governed by the flesh versus the mind governed by the spirit, it hits me how I am living. I obey God in order to get things from God versus I obey God to get God and to delight and resemble him in love is a huge difference. I want to find back my original relationship with God by reflecting this message.” shared Alice.

We pray that all members can continue to grow deeper in the Word of God and experience God’s grace every moment.

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