April update on Project 3133
Work is in progress!
Hello saints, I wanted to publish a progress report on the state of our building project.
We are on the slow and steady plan as we wait for the HVAC and ducting work to be completed. But we got a lot done in the last month. The floors are finally cleared after we battled the ancient carpet glue demons that were in there. The new lights and electrical work are mostly finished. Still on the list are: new ceiling tiles, new bathrooms, new carpet, improved drywall, painting, and a new stage!
Our Current Funding Status
Let’s just say, we are believing God to pour out resources so that we can finish this project. WE are currently behind in our fundraising as outlined in the chart below. We want to encourage your faithful generosity in this season as we are striving to not fall behind in our budget. THANK YOU for all your prayers and giving to make this project happen!
What it Shows
There is only one unpaid bill on this chart for our electrical contractor. We currently owe them close to $6000. When we have the funds, we will write that check. As you can see, we’ve had to pull funds from the normal funds to make this project go forward. There is a $6500 disparity between the funds raised and the funds spent. This is making us fall behind, and we could use some “beyond their ability” giving at this time to get caught up.
“Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: 2 that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. 3 For I bear witness that according to [their] ability, yes, and beyond [their] ability, [they were] freely willing,”
Resurrection Day Reflections
Big thank you’s to all that made our weekend possible!
It was a glorious weekend at The Potter’s House Church in Virginia Beach as we celebrated our Risen Savior!
Preparing for the services is always a lot of work, but it always turns out to be so worth it. I wanted to especially thank the saints who put in all the hard work to make our outdoor service, picnic, and games happen on Sunday. You all made it possible to have our BIGGEST SERVICE EVER, with 73 in attendance, including 14 FIRST-TIME VISITORS. Hallelujah! Here are a few photos of the outdoor service:
Pst. Perry & Josie Dominguez on Taking the land podcast
Pastor Adam Dragoon hosts Perry and Josie Dominguez, who share powerful testimonies of faith and transformation. They discuss their backgrounds, spiritual challenges, and the importance of community support.
These perennial missionaries exemplify the missionary spirit. I recently had the opportunity to sit down and hear the story of their lives and ministry. It is WELL worth your time! Here are some photos they asked me to share for listeners of this episode:
Dominguez photos
Show Notes
Summary
In this episode of the Taking the Land podcast, Pastor Adam Dragoon hosts Perry and Josie Dominguez, who share powerful testimonies of faith and transformation. They discuss their backgrounds, spiritual challenges, and the importance of community support. The conversation highlights finding purpose beyond material success and the transformative power of faith in difficult times. The Dominguez's story encourages those navigating their own faith journeys and family dynamics. Perry and Josie emphasize perseverance in prayer, the power of testimony, and the necessity of patience amid adversity. They recount experiences of restoration, miraculous provision as missionaries, and challenges encountered in various countries. The couple highlights faithfulness, leadership, and the impact of their missionary work. They encourage listeners to embrace their calling, serve with dedication, and trust in God's plan despite obstacles.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background Noise
08:58 Josie's Background and Transformation
15:12 Family Dynamics and Influences
21:00 The Search for Purpose and Faith
27:00 Challenges in Relationships and Faith
33:07 Finding Common Ground in Faith
39:06 Conclusion and Reflections on Faith
49:59 Facing Consequences and Seeking Redemption
56:25 Surrendering to God's Will
01:01:27 A New Beginning and Divine Appointments
01:13:36 The Journey of Transformation
01:20:31 Family Dynamics and Faith
01:27:45 Encouragement for the Lost and Separated
01:36:39 The Power of Perseverance and Prayer
01:45:01 The Journey of Forgiveness
01:51:47 Reflections on Ministry and Family
02:00:00 The Grace of God in Ministry
02:04:54 Pioneering in New Territories
02:09:55 The Need for Missionaries in Peru
02:17:09 The Journey Begins: A Missionary's Call
02:23:39 Revival Amidst Persecution: A Testimony from Russia
02:31:38 The Price of Faithfulness: Sacrifices in Ministry
02:39:04 Discipleship: The Husband's Responsibility
Takeaways
The importance of sharing testimonies in faith.
Family dynamics can greatly influence one's spiritual journey.
Finding purpose beyond material success is crucial.
Community support plays a vital role in spiritual growth.
Transformation often comes through adversity and challenges.
Maintaining faith during difficult times is essential.
The journey of faith can lead to unexpected reconciliations.
Encouragement can come from shared experiences and testimonies.
Faith can provide a sense of purpose and direction in life.
The impact of a supportive community cannot be underestimated. Perseverance in prayer is crucial for spiritual growth.
Humility can lead to significant turning points in life.
Testimonies have the power to inspire and transform lives.
Patience is essential when dealing with loved ones who are resistant to faith.
Restoration and reconciliation can occur even after years of separation.
Miraculous provision often comes when we step out in faith.
The journey of a missionary is filled with challenges and rewards.
Discipleship requires a willingness to pay the price.
Family plays a vital role in supporting ministry efforts.
Faithfulness in adversity strengthens our resolve to serve.
More
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Adam Dragoon (00:00)
Alright guys, welcome back to Testimony Tuesday here on the Taking the Land podcast. This is Pastor Adam Dragoon and we're so grateful that you're here for this episode. We are so grateful and blessed to have Pastor Perry and Josie Dominguez with us. I'm sitting here in Jacksonville, North Carolina, a little coffee shop, 910 coffee shop. guys, we appreciate you coming in and making the time.
Perry Dominguez (00:20)
Thank you. It's privilege to be here with you this morning. yeah, hallelujah.
Adam Dragoon (00:25)
It's not often that
we get the opportunity to have husband and wife together in the same episode. So thank you for joining us. We have a lot of pastors and we have a lot of pastors' wives, but not too many together. So Josie, thank you for joining us.
Josie Dominguez (00:37)
Thank you for inviting us and we're very grateful to be part of it.
Adam Dragoon (00:41)
We were just talking a little
bit before we started recording that you have heard a few of these episodes along the way. Any that stick out, I always like to ask just so our audience can go back and listen if they haven't heard them.
Perry Dominguez (00:47)
That's correct Yeah. Yeah.
Well, recently I heard one from our dear brother Wally Van and he sent that to me. was very encouraging, very exciting. And then I remember some very interesting podcasts regarding Pastor Mitchell. And then there was a few other ones. I think Pastor Campbell. And yeah.
Adam Dragoon (01:12)
That was the
most popular one ever, of course, Pastor Campbell. yeah, for those who haven't seen it, those are definitely some good ones to go back and listen to.
Perry Dominguez (01:19)
Amen. Very
inspirational. Very revealing. Things that we didn't know and that we weren't aware of, details that help us connect the dots.
Adam Dragoon (01:29)
That's amazing. Yeah, well, if that can be a blessing to you guys, that's that's an inspiration for me. So thank you. So you are you are well known down here in Jacksonville, North Carolina, the the door church. You guys are long timers and missionaries time and time again. But for those who don't know you and maybe are not aware of your ministry, can you give yourself a little introduction and just give us the three to five minute conference style version of your testimony and what God has been doing lately?
Perry Dominguez (01:56)
Okay, my name is Perry Dominguez
I'm also, some people call me Paris, that's my official name on my birth certificate. sometimes if you see Paris or Perry, who's the same guy it is, like Jim and James or yeah, Bob or Robert or William, Bill. Anyways, I'm here with my wife, my best friend.
Josephine Dominguez and this May 1985 we'll be married 40 years and yeah it's been an adventure since we got saved and we got saved in 1985. were I first heard the gospel in 1978 I was 14 years old I was a young Catholic boy
grew up in an upper middle class home where the emphasis of life was education and the focus on that was that. But I was trying to determine what's the purpose of life. Are we here just to get an education, work a job, get married, have children, and work, make money, buy a house?
and then retire and die. I said, there's gotta be more to life than that. And I was struggling with the vanity of life, trying to determine what's the purpose, why are we here? I had no doubt there's a God. Even in my childhood, several experiences that happened were very cognizant of the reality of God.
But I didn't know how to connect with him. I didn't know how to be close to him. I didn't know to know his will. But in 1978, there was this, I worked as a junior counselor at a summer camp. And there was another older fellow, senior counselor, he invited me to a pizza gathering where they're going to eat pizza together at some university campus.
Adam Dragoon (03:40)
pizza is attractive to 14 year olds.
Perry Dominguez (03:42)
Well, that's right. And that's really the only reason why I went because he had been inviting me. I guess they had this pizza outreach for every Saturday. And I had been telling him, no, no, I'm busy thinking of all kinds of reasons. I just couldn't understand why he had an interest in inviting me for pizza. But anyways, one day because of his persistence, I just said, yeah, OK. Having no clue.
what was going to happen next. Then we went to this campus and this was a, he was with the Navigators. I don't know if you're familiar with that ministry. And the Navigators have principles very similar to our fellowship concerning morning prayer, concerning evangelism, concerning scripture memorization and having a discipline.
walk with Christ and so I just couldn't fathom how he's being to share some details of his life and I guess maybe I'm gonna start talking too much because this is gonna lead to the testimony how I got saved so maybe I before I go with that I need to share with my wife let her identify herself
Josie Dominguez (04:41)
Hi, my name is Josie Dominguez. I am Paris' wife. I got saved when I was young, very young. I was 15 in my back's lid. so it's because there was no follow-up or anything like that. And I was raised in a Catholic home and my father was in the military, the youngest one of four children and the rebellious one. And so, yes, I thank God because I remember when I met my husband.
I was a wild child, was a wild crazy girl, and we were party animal people in the 80s, that's what she did. so, yeah, I dropped out of high school and met my husband. I was a billiard professional. My brothers taught me well. no, no, no, I've heard. But yeah.
Perry Dominguez (05:20)
Wow.
Adam Dragoon (05:23)
Played with Pastor Campbell.
Josie Dominguez (05:28)
Yes, and so we met and he asked me if I knew how to play pool billiards. And I said, not really, but he didn't know that I was very competitive. And I did. I beat him three times.
Perry Dominguez (05:39)
She was lady.
then not
only that, I made a foosball. So I thought I was the foosball champion. When I was a kid, I won at some PTA meeting or some boy scouts, I don't remember what it was, but some gathering, I won a foosball table. And so we had that in our house and my friends would come over and play foosball and I thought it was pretty good.
Josie Dominguez (05:47)
Yes. Yes.
And yes, he did ask me if I knew how to play football as well. And I said, well, yes, a little bit. But yeah, so I won three times. And I captivated his heart, and that's how we met. And he thought I was very good. was 17. Yes, yes. 19, almost 20, yeah.
Perry Dominguez (06:21)
Yeah.
Adam Dragoon (06:26)
one.
Okay, so what we didn't get was background for you, Pastor. What was your family life like growing up?
Perry Dominguez (06:35)
My family. Yeah, I keep thinking about your family. Yeah, dad is Hispanic, Mexican, and my mom is German with some Scottish and a other things there. They met and then...
Adam Dragoon (06:38)
He said he came from a Catholic background.
Perry Dominguez (06:55)
I'm just telling the story how I heard it from my parents. anyways, my dad grew up in a rough situation in East LA. And he wanted to get out of that. He wanted to get out of that mindset. And so when he got married to my mom, he started going back to school. So he went to community college. from there, he went to USC. And then from there, he went
on to pursue a PhD at MIT. Wow, guy. Yeah, yeah.
Josie Dominguez (07:29)
and economists.
Perry Dominguez (07:30)
He was an economist and then he after that my mother was was working as a receptionist in certain places to help put him through school and in the middle of that when he was going to USC I was born and so we Remember we lived in the Watts area of LA when I was a young kid and then
But as I was growing up, the emphasis in our house was education is everything. And to the point that they almost elevated education as being...
God-like. The emphasis was that's more important than anything in life. So there was a lot of pressure on me and my brother and sister to get... the oldest? Yeah, I'm the oldest. so... Oldest and... Yeah, yeah. And anyways...
Adam Dragoon (08:12)
Yeah, okay.
Perry Dominguez (08:17)
So then my mom went back to school. She became an architect. She went to UCLA. And then she went to MIT and got a master's She did also. Yeah, they're both MIT graduates. having both been both my dad with a PhD from MIT, my mom with a master's from MIT, we kind of entered into a new realm of life where new culture.
and new friends. so again, the emphasis was you have to get an education. So yeah, we grew up, I went from LA to, when my mom went back to MIT, we moved back and forth from California to Massachusetts because MIT's in Cambridge.
So my early years was in Massachusetts and California, then again Massachusetts and California, and then when my mom was going to school, she finished, and we were living in Belmont, Massachusetts, which is a very nice place to live. And I went to high school in Belmont, Massachusetts. And so I grew up in a well-to-do home with my dad and mom had interesting friends.
Kind of the movers and shakers of the world at that time.
Adam Dragoon (09:27)
senators.
Perry Dominguez (09:28)
We met senators. Actually, I met Ted Kennedy. think, yeah. He gets around. Yeah, he does. My dad told me that too. Yeah, we rubbed elbows with lot of different people. But I begin to see the superficiality of that as a young...
Adam Dragoon (09:36)
Here.
Perry Dominguez (09:48)
boy and I started asking some questions as a teenage boy and yeah, okay, education is important.
but it's not solving the problems, the internal family problems that we got at home. My mom and dad were getting some serious fights and there was something missing. We ate well, we lived well, we had all the things that we wanted and needed, but there was an emptiness. And my mom started having my dad take us to Catholic Mass. Yeah, she was more, yeah.
Adam Dragoon (10:16)
She had some history.
Perry Dominguez (10:20)
And I don't know how far I want to go back with this, but when I was three years old, my mom was the first one to tell me about God. And she bought me a children's Bible.
Adam Dragoon (10:29)
know what? These are
the kinds of stories that we never hear. So yes, let's do the deep dive.
Perry Dominguez (10:33)
Okay.
Three years old, I started asking questions. Mom, who's God? And she bought me a children's Bible with small little children's Bible, the illustrations of Adam and Eve to the fall, to Noah's Ark. And she began to sit down and she drew a circle. She says God always was and always will be, Alpha and Omega.
Adam Dragoon (10:57)
She has some revelation.
Perry Dominguez (10:58)
Yeah, she did. And that was quite a concept. How can that be? know, we live in time, linear time. How is that possible? But there was an intrigue and I wanted to know God and I wanted to know this God. And I was fascinated with the creation. I love what I saw, know, the beauty of creation, the insects, the animals.
And so yeah, my mom was instrumental in bringing an understanding that there's a creator and that he's personally concerned about our lives. My mom wasn't saved, she was a Catholic, but she had a reverence and a fear of God and she also understood that being connected in some way to God was very important for the family.
So, but again, when they went to pursue their education, there was a long period, there wasn't any influence for them. However, having said that, my dad and mom had made some friends that were Christians. Born again believers, I didn't know that at this time. We're gonna get a lot of stories here, but grandma got saved and I didn't know what that meant.
Adam Dragoon (11:57)
We're talking
like in your teenage years, you know?
Perry Dominguez (11:59)
Yeah, well, actually, I was probably eight years old when grandma got saved. This would have been right around 71, 72.
Adam Dragoon (12:06)
would have been like late 60s early 70s.
The
reason I ask is because there is like some huge spiritual things happening in
Perry Dominguez (12:16)
Yes, yes, and every corner we were in California, okay, and so I believe that grandma connected somehow to the Jesus people movement on the Baptist wing but but But but we just dad said don't ask your grandma
about her religion. my mom says, yeah, yeah, my grandma's no longer Catholic and she's changed religion and the impression was she's betrayed us all. She's a Jesus freak now. Yeah. And they said, don't ask. So what do we do? The first thing we did when dad and mom weren't looking is...
Grandma, we should change religion. What are you? And I tried to ask, you're either Catholic or Protestant. She said, neither. I said, well, she said, I'm just a Christian. I said, well, we're all Christians. No, no, no, no, she says, I'm a born again Christian. I said, well, what does that mean? Born again, you know? And she started to try to share.
testimony in a way that I could understand it.
And anyways, that night we went to Marie Callender's and we're eating together and we went home and all I know is I went to bed and we're all sleeping except I wake up in the middle of the night and my dad and mom are grilling my grandmother. And my grandmother is crying tears and she said, I'm sorry. I'm, How can my mom and dad be grilling grandma? You know, she's the angel, you know what mean?
this happen?" Then I'm listening to the conversation and my dad is saying, never, never, never evangelize our children. He said proselytize our children. Never talk to them about your religion. You keep your religion and I couldn't understand what? What? What? What? You know, what's the crime here? Yeah. And so
Adam Dragoon (14:14)
on you.
Perry Dominguez (14:17)
Immediately I realized, wow, whatever grandma's got, my dad and mom are totally opposed to it. But I...
When I talked to Grandma, she's got something very good, you know? And so that raised some questions in my mind. And then a couple years later, we went to one of my dad's professors, invited him to some kind of Christian retreat. We didn't know what it was, but it was in the mountains of, I want to say...
Santa Cruz or something. I'm not familiar with that area, but in the mountains somewhere between in Central California. And so my mom and dad, we went there. My sister was a baby at the time. I was a young boy. they wanted to, my mom and dad wanted to spend some time together. They were in the cabin. They sent me down to the...
to the children's hour where they had a puppet show.
Little did they know this was a Christian retreat and this puppet show they're sharing the gospel. I am, wow, this is amazing. I've never heard these things before. I've never heard these messages. And so they're talking about Jesus and how Jesus could help the family and give love and bring peace. And so I came back with a good report and I said, Mom, Dad, they have this puppet show here and they're talking about the love of God. You know, God loves us.
and they're talking about Jesus. And immediately, my dad and mom didn't receive that news very well. They packed their bags and they said, we're leaving. I said, we just got here. We've only been here for a day. They were opposed. They were opposed because the academic system of that time was...
Adam Dragoon (15:45)
So they were very like opposed.
Perry Dominguez (15:54)
Antichrist, anti-gospel, was humanistic in nature. so, yeah, so he was upset and we weren't only in that retreat, we were supposed to be there for a week, we left within the second day.
Adam Dragoon (16:07)
But it sounds like there was part of you that was attracted to that.
Perry Dominguez (16:10)
Very much so, very much so because my dad was a good father, he tried to be, but when he got upset, he had a raging temper and he would say things and I know he's just a product of his influence from his father and you know, his father, my grandfather, in the last years, I believe that...
that he got right with God. I'm hoping he did. don't know. But when he was parenting my dad, was a carouser. He'd get drunk and he was abusive. And so, yeah, my grandfather had like seven wives and then a lot of concubines. Was he a Mormon? He's a good Catholic.
And yeah, he just, and then yeah, my dad would tell me stories one time, my grandpa.
was intoxicated and hit him on the head with a shotgun and you know stuff that was intense and so my dad wanted to break out of that that's why he the only thing he knew at the time was was education and so my dad would I want to say he was faithful to my mom
And that was, that in itself was so impressive and that's, I think, that's a lot of grace was upon our family in lieu of all the other problems. My, you know, my dad was carrying a lot of weight and...
know, issues of unforgiveness from the situation with his father. But my dad tried to be a good father. But having said that, he would get mad easily. And he'd get irritated easily. When he's irritated, you didn't want... It was like a volcano eruption. fear. And he would say things that I know he didn't mean to say, but he would just say things that would just...
Were very hurtful. Yeah, and and then he was physically heavy-handed too. Yeah But I love him dearly and he got saved in the last two years of his life. Yeah Which was a miracle because he absolutely wanted nothing to do he With the church he called himself a Catholic. He went to church a few times with my mom but
He resisted God, he resisted the gospel because it wasn't conducive to his education. Yes, he did. And he was very...
Adam Dragoon (18:20)
So, but he came back around eventually.
This would have been probably after you guys were together and saved.
Perry Dominguez (18:28)
Yeah, this is years down the road and I've been praying for him ever since we got saved every day. My dad had disowned me for a couple years. That's serious. yeah. It was that bad. That bad. When we first got saved. Yeah. Because we weren't going in the direction that he wanted us to go. Okay, right. We, know, first having joined the Marine Corps was...
in his own words, he said he loathed the military. And then I joined the Marine Corps. But when I got out, he had already worked the system so that I could get into the university. My mom was teaching in Baton Rouge, Louisiana architecture, and my dad was doing consulting work and whatnot. I was supposed to, after the military, was supposed to go to the university. of course, Josie and I were just new
and I'm having this battle inside because in my mind it's ingrained that if you don't have an education you're not worth anything and so I felt that I need that for some self-esteem.
But I just got saved and I realized something very powerful happened and I knew that this was the way. And I know there's this kind of gap here. I got saved when I was 14. I back slid for seven years. But when I came back to the Lord in 1985, I totally surrendered to Christ. And I realized that there's only one.
true direction, one true way. the other way is death. Christ, Jesus is life. And I chose life. I want to live. I want to live and I want peace. I want love. I want joy. And so that was in the military when I was in what was called Correctional Custody and I surrendered to Jesus.
Josie Dominguez (20:04)
Thank
Perry Dominguez (20:05)
Yeah, but I'm jumping around here. I'm sorry about that. It's okay. But when I got saved, I prayed for my dad every day and it seemed like an impossible situation. He was not interested. I remember when he disowned me the first two years that we were Christians and...
Josie Dominguez (20:26)
when we
arrived from coming from Okinawa, Japan as we got saved in Okinawa, Japan under Don Bishop. When we came back to America stateside, first of all, when we got married, they were against us getting married because I was from another country, raised different and not like him. And we were very totally different in the opposite way of, I mean, different cultures.
Perry Dominguez (20:48)
We
are totally different.
Josie Dominguez (20:49)
Yeah.
Adam Dragoon (20:50)
since the track, right?
Josie Dominguez (20:52)
And I grew up to where my parents really loved me. They took good care of us as children. We all went to private schools and my dad was in the military as well. And so but and he was a good dad and my mom was a businesswoman. And so I didn't grow up like any other people where they experienced pain and things like that. I was I think overly loved.
Adam Dragoon (21:17)
little shelter.
Josie Dominguez (21:18)
Yeah, I was very So yes, I was kind of like very spoiled I guess Well, it's because we're
Adam Dragoon (21:27)
Not too many amens, okay?
Josie Dominguez (21:30)
I guess growing up, when my mom got pregnant with me, I didn't come until like nine years later after my brother. And so my mom didn't want any more children because she was busy with her life. But when I came along, and so I was very sheltered. I was always sick when I was growing up. And so everything that they've got, they poured it on me. But there was times that in my mind I'm thinking,
I can't wait to get out, you know, when I was 14, 15 years old. And so I got involved with different things. And yeah, we're totally raised different. I mean, we were raised Catholic and everything. But yeah, we I just he was, you know, his parents had problems were with my parents. I'd never seen my parents argue in front of us. Yeah. And so they were not safe.
Perry Dominguez (22:20)
I saw my parents argue all the time.
Josie Dominguez (22:22)
So, you know, I did not experience that to where, you know, I did not experience going hungry because, or there's no food to eat at home. No, we've always had, you know, all my parents took good care of us children. And so I cannot sometimes say that. no, I did. They did not go to Japan. I left my family. I ran away from home. wow.
Adam Dragoon (22:40)
How did your family get to Japan?
Wow.
Josie Dominguez (22:47)
So I went with my friend from school and one day I was still in my uniform and I told you know everybody I was I took my suitcase my parents suitcase and The neighbors were asking where are you going? I said I'm going to my uncle Tony's house Because you know I'm going to stay there for a little while. I was lying. I was I guess the professional liar
But I did leave home and I was afraid to go back because I've never got spanked in my whole life. Never dead. never even.
Perry Dominguez (23:19)
Thank
God for his grace and his work.
Josie Dominguez (23:22)
Yeah,
so, know, spanking, I never had any pain in my life, you know, so growing up.
Perry Dominguez (23:32)
I he married me.
Josie Dominguez (23:33)
Well, because the word no was never in my vocabulary. My dad would always buy me things whenever I wanted something. I mean, we were not rich, but we had pretty much everything what a family will have. And for Filipino, that's pretty good.
Perry Dominguez (23:50)
Her dad was a fisherman. They had many boats. Yeah. And
they had a pretty good fishing.
Josie Dominguez (23:57)
Yeah, so we, yeah. But when I left home.
I was very afraid to go back because my parents also, they wanted me to finish school. You need to go to a nursing school as many Filipinos do or become a nun. My dad wanted me to become a nun and I said, no, I don't want to do that. And so anyway, make a long story short, I left home and I met my husband. mean, I was like, I was in drugs. was not very nice. No, in the Philippines, in the Philippines.
I was there. Yeah.
Perry Dominguez (24:31)
She was with the Marine Corps.
Adam Dragoon (24:32)
station there.
Perry Dominguez (24:34)
Yeah. Okay. And I would travel to the Philippines on a regular basis to party.
Josie Dominguez (24:38)
Yeah, on the weekends. see. On the weekends.
Perry Dominguez (24:41)
on the weekends and that's where I met my wife.
Josie Dominguez (24:44)
Yeah.
so when we met, you know, I was very young and I was just a party girl, you know, want to have fun, do drugs.
Perry Dominguez (24:52)
I was attracted to the party girl because again she beat me at billiards in Foosball. This is interesting.
Adam Dragoon (25:00)
That's
a pretty good intro. were you guys serious like right away?
Perry Dominguez (25:06)
Yeah, I guess it was intrigued because this pretty girl beat me and I thought I couldn't be beaten. And so yeah, she captured my heart.
Josie Dominguez (25:04)
He was, I wasn't.
I was smart and sassy.
I captivated his heart over two games.
Perry Dominguez (25:24)
Yeah, I was a progressive.
Josie Dominguez (25:26)
Yeah, so eventually I left the Philippines because I wanted to leave. I didn't want to go back because I remember they put me in missing person and I remember when my parents found me while my sister and my mom, they wanted me to go back.
And I said, no, because I don't want to go back. can't do that anymore. I'm a, you know, just imagine it kind of like I disowned my whole family. And that was like very hard because I was like the only black sheep of the family and they could not understand why I went that way and why I went astray, you know, from the family where, you know, we have a good, you know, a good loving family. And,
I think I was searching for more. And I remember when I was 15, like I said, I got saved. But I became a Christian, it's because of my cousin Tony.
He was a drunk and he would always beat up his wife and drag his wife on the street. And the only person he feared was my father. And so when my father was around, he would not get drunk and he would not do anything bad. But when I saw him one day and he was changed, I asked him and I said, what happened to you? Are you all right? Are you sick or something? And he said, no, I became a Christian. Which was really totally, you know, for us Catholic, you know, it was like Christian.
You know, we're all Christians, you know, and we know about Jesus. And so when he told me that, I started going to his church, but because I was going to Catholic school, and especially my mom, she was like, you can't be going there. What are you doing, looking for a boyfriend or something? I was like 15 years old, you know, in high school. And so eventually I backslid. I was saved for five months. And after that,
Perry Dominguez (26:48)
you
Josie Dominguez (27:11)
You know how the Bible says seven more times would be worse after you could say it when you backslid.
I think that's what happened to me. I got into the wrong crowds. And from there, when I met my husband, I remember I left the Philippines and I forged my parents' signature because they would not consent with me leaving the country and also me getting married at that young age. And so I hired a lawyer. We paid him. she's a pro. Yes, yes. And I forged all my signature, my parents. And I went to Japan with him.
That's where
Perry Dominguez (27:43)
Yeah,
we're trying to build a life as a couple.
Josie Dominguez (27:47)
A false religious.
understand that under what and so anyway we we got married three months
Adam Dragoon (27:59)
long after you met.
Perry Dominguez (28:02)
No,
we met in October. In May of 1984.
Josie Dominguez (28:05)
well, it was like a few months later.
Yeah, Yeah, pretty much. So, yeah.
Adam Dragoon (28:10)
Okay, so like six months.
out.
Perry Dominguez (28:17)
Well,
it was a process.
Josie Dominguez (28:18)
Yes,
it was a long...
Perry Dominguez (28:20)
divine grace of God miracles. We both got saved but going back to the when I was going to that pizza dinner at the by the Navigators
Josie Dominguez (28:23)
miracle.
Perry Dominguez (28:32)
I was with this guy that invited me. said, man, this guy's got, he's an interesting guy. He's got a lot of compassion and love and he's very patient. But he's got a strange life. He reads the Bible every day, gets up at 5.30 in the morning to pray and he talks to everybody about Jesus. It's just, wow. I'm thinking, what? It's odd. then when I got to that campus, I walked into an auditorium where there was about maybe 200
I I in I I I was in in the church the the church church was church and I was church was the church and was church and I was in the church I church was in church and I was the church was in the church and I was the church I was in the and was the was in and was church and
ever experiences feeling in my house, with my family, in school, at the Catholic Church. These people got something that I don't have and what they got is really good and it's pure. It's full of life, full of energy, full of joy. And they begin to testify as we're eating pizza, how Jesus changed their life and how Jesus is working in their life.
And what I think the first thing that floored me is...
How can these people have such a close relationship to Jesus? It's like they ate breakfast with him. And my thoughts is God is so far and you go through the priest. And so that was just revolutionary for me to hear these people talk about Jesus so intimately. A personal God. Yeah, a personal God, exactly. And so after that, after we ate pizza, this fellow, this would have been August of 1978.
He sat me under a tree and he began to open the Bible and he said he'd be able to share the gospel with me and he said would you like to be saved and forgiven? I said well I love to be forgiven because I you know at 14 years old I knew I wasn't right with God.
And I was concerned about my, if I was to die, that I wouldn't be in God's presence. I'd be far from God. And I knew I was a sinner. so I said, but listen, I don't want to lose my Catholic faith. I'm a Catholic and I was patriotic and I'm going to die a Catholic. And so he shared the gospel with me and I prayed a sinner's prayer. And I felt like a way
was lifted off my shoulders. And then he asked me the question, says, so are you saved? And I said, well, I don't know. I feel better, yeah. I feel like a ton of bricks is off my I feel better. He said, well, are you saved?
I said, I hope so. I don't know. I have no clue. I want to be, but I still want to be Catholic. But no, I don't know. And then he opened the scripture to 2 Corinthians 5 verse 17. And I read that, if any man is in Christ, he's a new creature. All things pass away and all things become new. And I so desperately wanted that for my life.
He said, what does it say? And I began explaining, you what it if you're in Jesus. Well, didn't you just give your heart? Yeah. Why are you saved? And I said, well, I don't know. He said, put your name where it says, if any man. And then I said, OK, and read it out loud. If Perry is in Christ, then Perry is a new creature.
Then all old of Perry's life has passed away and everything has become new in Perry's life. And when I read that, I think I read it two times. He asked me, did you really sincerely open your heart and give your heart to Christ? Yes, I did. Do you believe his word? Yes, I do. What does that mean? And I realized that means I'm forgiven, I'm saved, and my faith...
became alive. I appropriated the promises of God and it was just like rivers of living water just begin to flow into me and I started bursting in tears. I said, I'm saved. I am truly saved. I'm saved. I started telling him, I'm saved. And he goes, yeah, yes, you are. I can't believe this. And I just besides myself full of joy, full of tears. I could have spoken tongues at the time, you know.
And I just, and he took me out for some ice cream afterwards and then he brought me home and I'm just like, I can't believe I'm saved. I am saved, I'm forgiven. And I got to the house. My mom and dad were getting ready to go out to eat and I opened the front door. My mom is combing her hair, brushing her hair and she looked at me and she was in a state of shock. She said, what?
happened to you?" I said, Mom. saw it. She saw it on Yeah, yeah. And I said, Mom, I'm saved. She said, Saved from what? And I said, I don't know how to explain it, but Jesus is in me. He saved me. He's alive. And she began to shake her head and it was in shock. And she said,
I don't know how to explain it either, but you're glowing like the sun. I've never seen you like this." And I said, Mom.
I'm saving I and she was like, uh-huh and my my As the days progressed both my mom and dad were saying what has happened to our son? and they were trying to make sense of that because I started being a good son I I wanted to I started helping my mom with the dishes I I am
I started cleaning my room. I started being very respectful. And my dad was, what has gone on with my son? And then they started murmuring, and maybe he's got involved with the Hare Krishnas or the Moonies or what. He's just, this is not our son that we know. And then my dad was concerned. said, I don't want you hanging around those people anymore. And I don't want you reading the Bible or anything like that.
And eventually, yeah. But unfortunately, because there was no follow-up, there was no, I'm not blaming that, I didn't go to church and eventually I began to backslide. But something supernatural happened and that experience was so profound, it lasted for about three to four months.
And then I grew weaker, weaker, and I didn't know what to do and then began to go back to the old. But what I did know is that in the seven years that I was back sitting from 14 to 21, I knew that Jesus was the truth. And I knew that Jesus was the
Adam Dragoon (34:47)
you
had a real experience.
Perry Dominguez (34:48)
Right,
yeah. And I knew, so when I was in the Marine Corps, I had a few near-death experiences, brushes with death, where I thought I was going to die. And I called out to God, and I made a deal with God. I said, Lord, if you will get me out of this and save me from this situation, I will serve you. And I didn't know how to serve God, but I just knew that it meant that I had to come back to Christ.
And God miraculously helped me on many occasions until the last occasion where I wanted God to bail me out of these problems that I got myself into because I made some very bad decisions. And I ended up going to a military correctional custody. And I was expecting God to kind of bail me out of that situation. you know you make these
Adam Dragoon (35:40)
Okay,
so was before or after you guys were married?
Perry Dominguez (35:43)
This
is before we got married, but we were living together at the time.
Josie Dominguez (35:43)
We got married. Okay.
Yeah, we were processing our papers. I'm sorry. Before we got married, actually, we kind of like, he was going to church, he started going to the Potter's House Church. Someone invited him in Okinawa, Japan. That was, yeah.
Adam Dragoon (36:00)
So this was when you got in trouble.
Perry Dominguez (36:03)
going to
church. I had gone to church a year before that because of a movie. was in correction. I started going to
Josie Dominguez (36:11)
So
anyway, yes, but
Perry Dominguez (36:14)
Well, let me just
say this, is that when I was going to Christ of Chastity, I went to church with my wife because I was like, okay, Lord, we were walking, we were walking by the church, actually the church is located in the basement of a bank. were going, yeah. And we were walking by the church and I felt, I told my wife, we need to go in here.
And so she said, what's this? I this is not church.
Josie Dominguez (36:41)
I say, that is not
a church. There is no church here. I say, no, that is not a church. Because it was like under, it was underground basement. And we had to go underground and I'm thinking, I'm used to Catholic church, you know? And, and so anyway, we went and it was funny because. Yes, yes.
Adam Dragoon (36:55)
just don't do it.
way to go party or something.
Perry Dominguez (37:06)
I
stopped in because I knew that I needed God's help. We needed God's help. And I knew that Jesus could help us, and He helped me several times before. And so I'm thinking, we're going to church, and I'll ask God for His help, and God will be gracious to us, and then we'll continue on with life.
Adam Dragoon (37:24)
Okay, okay, okay.
Josie Dominguez (37:25)
Yeah, so we are.
Perry Dominguez (37:26)
But
the point is, I was facing some non-judicial punishments. had to go, like in a couple weeks they were gonna, maybe even court martial, but it didn't go that, thank goodness, they just get the Dayton's IP. But I had to...
I got, I went before the Colonel and they put me in correctional custody for about 40 to 60 days, I don't remember about it, almost two months. And it was there that I thought I lost everything and they told me they were going to take everything. And at that time the military would not, well the military had to approve of your marriage. They had a saying if the Marine Corps wanted you to have a wife, it would have issued one
Josie Dominguez (38:11)
It would have been.
Perry Dominguez (38:12)
Yeah. And so we had a marriage package that was put together and when I got the, when I got sentenced at the NJP they said we're not approving of your marriage, we're taking all this money from you and we're reducing your rank to this, this, this and well so, so I thought well this is, this is the end of...
Adam Dragoon (38:13)
Exactly.
Perry Dominguez (38:30)
you know, relationship with my wife, we weren't married at the time, but this is gonna be an obstacle. And then I was thinking of all kinds of things, how to get out of this. that's what I, we walked into the church and I was hoping that God would step in and help us. Like he had helped me in times past when I was facing some very close calls, near death situations, and God had helped me. But this time God didn't help me. And so.
Adam Dragoon (38:56)
So I was letting a few people know that I was going to interview you this morning. And one of them was Wally Vanteen. So he told me to ask you about signing your own leave papers, which I have to do with this.
Josie Dominguez (39:06)
Gosh.
You know something.
Perry Dominguez (39:07)
Something
I didn't want to say on the podcast.
Josie Dominguez (39:10)
That
was very dangerous. we don't yeah, that was something that was
Adam Dragoon (39:16)
We might
Perry Dominguez (39:16)
Yeah
Adam Dragoon (39:16)
be on the statute of limitations here.
still can if you'd like that.
Josie Dominguez (39:23)
He worked at a supply. So he worked at a supply and everything. that was.
Perry Dominguez (39:28)
I was a sinner.
Adam Dragoon (39:29)
Well, sinners are going to sin, I suppose.
Josie Dominguez (39:31)
A lot of grace in our lives. We did some stupid things.
Perry Dominguez (39:32)
But.
So anyways, yeah, I traveled to the Philippines almost every weekend on Space A flights.
When I went to Correctional Custody, there was a transforming moment because, again, there was a time, I can share a few stories, but I thought I was going to die.
and God miraculously stepped in and saved me. And I remember that and I would say, thank you, Lord. I'm going to serve you. But it was just a short amount of time before I went back to my old routine. And so when I was facing these NGPs and facing the consequences of the things I was doing, I was hoping that God would bail me out. And it didn't work like that. So when I was in correctional custody, I started feeling sorry for myself. And I started
questioning God, where is he? Why isn't he? And was like the heavens were brass. But thank God, one of the guys from the Potter's house that came to visit me in correctional custody encouraged me. And we had two guys in the
Adam Dragoon (40:38)
You had contact
with the local church there and they were sending somebody to come visit.
Perry Dominguez (40:42)
Yeah,
well, they.
Josie Dominguez (40:44)
was
assigned as a drill instructor. And it was Jeff Marty. Jeff Marty was.
Perry Dominguez (40:51)
Well, Jeff Martin was new convert. He was a new convert, but he was saved. But he's still rough. But there was another fellow who was from Oceanside, California, in our church that was there. And he was truly saved, filled with the Holy Ghost. And he had led Jeff to the Lord. But they were both my watch standers, which were like drill instructors in Correct Supercity. So obviously they had to do their duty.
But they, I remember at the end, we had taps, when we went to bed that...
in the evening after a couple of weeks, a boule came up to me and he called me out of the rack and he took me in room and I said, no, he's going to try to, you know, beat me up or hit me on the head or, you know, or dog me out or have me do the obstacle course because they'd wake up in the middle of the and we'd do obstacle courses. They found ways to make your life miserable and they had a rock pile and they'd make big rocks into little rocks and yeah.
And Jeff Marty would run us through the obstacle course at midnight. And so when he woke me up and took me into the room and he reached into his back and I thought, he's gonna slug me. He's gonna try to correct my attitude. And he reached him back and pulled out a New Testament. And I was like, what?
Adam Dragoon (41:49)
government at work.
Perry Dominguez (42:05)
And he says, praise the Lord, brother. And he called me brother. Wow. And I said, brother, does he know me? He called me brother. That's amazing. But he began to say, says, you don't understand why you're here. It doesn't make sense. But God's got a purpose in all this and God's going to help you.
And he says, and by the way, senior watchstander Jeff Martys, a Christian too. I'm thinking, he didn't seem very much like a Christian. And Jeff showed me no mercy, he showed me no grace, he treated me just like everybody else. In fact, he was a little bit meaner to me than he was to the other guys.
Adam Dragoon (42:30)
out at him.
Josie Dominguez (42:42)
he used to
tell me I hate this guy whenever I would go and visit him he would tell me I hate this one particular guy and I'm like who he's like Jeff Marty and I'm like no don't and you
Perry Dominguez (42:55)
Well,
when I was in there, I'm feeling sorry for myself, asking God, why didn't you help me this time? I was a kid, 20 years old, and just a new, a back-sider just recently come back to the Lord. And well, so here at Main Correctional custody in Jefferson, you're just a punk. You're just a punk. And he knew how to trigger.
some emotions in me and I thought, man, when I get out of here, I'm gonna get my revenge somehow, you know? And I was really angry at Jeff Marty, you know? But, you from a sinner's perspective and just, but when I got out,
I had surrendered to Jesus in correctional custody because here there was about the third or fourth week in this. I'm feeling sorry for myself. I feel like there's no hope. The Marine Corps said they're not going to approve of my marriage with my wife. That meant my wife would be going back to the Philippines. I wasn't going to have any income so I couldn't travel or do anything.
the uncertainty and all the interruptions and my plans I thought well and and I was upset and I was upset at God and and I'm sitting here feeling sorry for myself we're in the chow hall you can't in in that structure you can't communicate yet to finish your food within three minutes yet to just look at your plate and you can't talk or and so
I lifted up my hand and staring out into the sea. were on the hill in McTuris, Camp McTuris. And I said, God, if you're real, why am I going through this and why is this happening? And you've helped me in times past. And I felt the voice of God speak deep into my heart. And God said, all these times you called out to me and asked for help.
I realized I was a back-sider. My first encounter with Jesus Christ was amazing at 14 years old, but now I'm back sitting and lived far from God. And many times when I was in difficult situations, I said, God, if you just give me more time, I'll come back to you. And so the Lord spoke into my heart and says, all these times you called out to help for help, and I've helped you. But when are you going to serve me?
not because I help you, but because you love me. And I thought about that and I said, Jesus, Lord, I don't see myself as a Christian. I don't see myself living like a Christian. I don't know how, but I surrender. I give up, I surrender. Whatever you say, whatever you want, whatever your will is, I surrender to you.
And that was a transformative moment in my life because at that point I said, I yield all rights to you.
Josie Dominguez (45:42)
Yeah,
but that was after you took the pill.
Perry Dominguez (45:45)
Yeah, well I didn't want to talk about that story, but... Yeah, but... Yeah, that was after, yeah. Because I was... I had all kinds of... I had all kinds of crazy plans on how to get out of this. And I thought, you know, I'll escape out of here. I'll take my wife and we'll go to the Philippines and I'll be UA and AWOL.
Adam Dragoon (45:47)
Story number two
Perry Dominguez (46:11)
But well, I'll just live in the Philippines as an immigrant and live my life with my wife in the Philippines. And all kinds of crazy thoughts. And the guys in there said, hey, if you want to escape, this is what you got to do. got to either feign a suicide and you can drink some bleach. And I said, I don't want to drink no bleach. Yeah, that is not in the equation. And well, you can take some asthma. And I thought, well,
I don't want to do that. You you just, you take a little bit and then you flush the rest down the toilet. So, that's, I didn't want to really share that moment, but I tried to feign that. And they took me to the hospital and put tubes down me and pumped my stomach. Yeah. And,
Josie Dominguez (46:48)
pop tits.
Adam Dragoon (46:53)
That sounds good.
But
all of this was leading up to that moment.
Perry Dominguez (47:00)
Well, yeah,
yeah, so I was trying all I could to get out of this my way because I did not want it I didn't I didn't want the Marine Corps to prevail and and I was I convinced this was not the will of God and and I was just a new believer and I just come my my whole thinking was warped I was just it's just about God helped me and and and and then let me live my life a very selfish mindset very
me focused. so anyways, when that didn't succeed, I figured for sure what they'll do is, the thinking was after that stunt, and that was a stunt, they're going to have compassion on me and they're going to file me for discharge and then... Right, right. And they didn't. On the contrary...
Adam Dragoon (47:42)
That guy's crazy.
Perry Dominguez (47:46)
Two watch centers, like drill instructors, greeted me at the hospital and said, Dominguez, get your clothes on, get your uniform on, let's go. I, this is not going according to plan. so that was, that was just like that alarm. Yeah. And that was a rude awakening.
And I realized, I'm not getting out of this. I'm going to be here for the whole stint.
Adam Dragoon (48:07)
funny how
God it's like he brings you to a corner where the only place you have look up to him.
Perry Dominguez (48:11)
Right. exactly,
exactly. And so I just, I said, Lord, I surrender. give up your will, not my will. And that was a transformative moment. And so there was a few hiccups along the way when when we get out of, when I got out of correctional custody, I was trying to
I mean, I knew that God was in this, and I knew that God had spoken to my heart, and I knew I made a promise to the Lord, okay, I surrender to you, whatever you say. But when it was the final day and a few other guys were getting out, they said, hey, we're getting out, we're gonna celebrate. And what are we gonna do? Well, we're gonna go out and get drink, go to the disco. And I said, yeah, and I said, well.
God wants me to be happy in my warped theology and Jesus turned water into wine and after all I've been here for like 60 days and so I'm sure the Lord wouldn't mind if we, Lord you understand what I'm wanting to celebrate and so, and my wife, we weren't married again at the time, we got married, we were in the process. But what the miraculous part here is,
Josie Dominguez (49:21)
process of getting.
Perry Dominguez (49:25)
when I surrendered to Christ, something totally changed. The first sergeant who didn't like me, and the colonel who didn't like me, and people who didn't like me, all of sudden they said, son, we're changing your situation. We decided to drop all the charges. We're not going to take the money away from you. We're going to approve of your marriage package.
And so, and you're not gonna lose your rank. And I was like, wow. Yeah, yeah, and so I was like, wow. And so the night that I got out of Crescent Custy, I'm seeing my wife, my fiance, and she's not converted, but I've got this.
Josie Dominguez (49:51)
And we're going to give you a housing allowance.
Perry Dominguez (50:06)
conviction. I made a commitment to the Lord. this is where follow-up is so instrumental because a couple that was instrumental in visiting us came to our door that Friday night. we were planning to go out to party and he knocked on the door and I was like, it's the people from church.
And how to answer that. I am, hey, Carl, how are you? Carl Markey, Carl and Paul Markey. And Carl says, what are you tonight? And I said, is there church tonight? And he goes, no. I said, well, and I lied. I said, I have no plans. And he says, great, let's go bowling. Bowling?
And I said, well, well, let me talk to Josie. And then I went in the back room and I said, Josie, you know, that couple from church are here and they want to take us bowling. We're not going bowling. We're going out to party. And I said, well, they're outside. can't tell them no. know, they're always kind. They visited me when I was in correctional custody. She said, well, I'll tell them no.
Yeah. And I said, no, no, no, you're not going to do that. This is the plan. We'll go out with them for two hours. And then afterwards, we'll go. Yeah, split the baby. Yeah, right. And so, so, so, OK. And so we're to go out with these nice church people that that visited me and they had compassion on us. And but something happened when we went bowling with we had a wonderful time.
and this man's compassion and love for my soul.
just impressed me so much because he had again he had visited me a couple times when it's correctional custody he prayed for me and I you know I was puzzled by what is his motivations but I concluded his only motivation he just wants to see me saved and that so captivated my heart and we had such a good time with him we forgot about our plans and our friends that were waiting on us and we started spending more time with this couple and I'm so glad that he came at that time because I believe that
was also a critical time we could have made some bad decisions and and then I I begin to say I be just begin to yield to God's plan and yeah
Josie Dominguez (52:13)
Yeah, I think it was the appointed time really for us because if we would have gone partying that night, I don't think, I mean, we be saved. That was like a crossroads moment. Exactly. So I think that was like a decision, divine appointment of God for us to make the decision to whether we're going to go for God all the way or not. Because when I remember going to church at the potter's house,
I was going but not really converted. And I remember I would just smoke in the bathroom the whole time while the service was going. And I would just stay there.
when he got out of CC and I remember when that couple came and he was like, I can't tell them no. And I'm like, well, I'll tell them to go away. But with that decision that we made, I think God knew that if we did not say yes to this couple, who knows what would have happened to us.
we would not probably, perhaps, well, probably be married, but not, you know, saved. And...
Perry Dominguez (53:17)
I also
felt in my spirit that when this couple was following up on us and I made that commitment and heard the voice of God speaking in my heart, I felt that this was like a last chance opportunity. I just intuitively felt that if I didn't make good on this opportunity of grace and all the things that God had
done and Gracie showed me that I could die and enter eternity without Christ. And so that's, I begin to see things in a different light and more soberly.
Adam Dragoon (53:56)
So when did you have a transformative experience?
Josie Dominguez (53:59)
It wasn't until about two weeks, two months later.
Perry Dominguez (54:03)
Yeah, let
me add to this and say, we started going to church and there was a battle because we liked this couple, they were good friends, but we didn't really, I knew that I had to be in church, but my wife wasn't on the same page, she wasn't on board. So a couple times I said, well I'm going to church, and she said, well if you go and you get too committed to that group, I'll leave you.
not gonna have anything to do with you. I, yeah. And so there was like these moments where had faith, where I had to say, okay, who am I trusting? My wife and my feelings or God and His will. And so I said, well, I don't want you to leave me and I don't wanna lose you, but I'm gonna live for God. I made a decision, I'm gonna live for God. And so I...
Adam Dragoon (54:29)
That was a threat,
Josie Dominguez (54:47)
but I love gong.
Perry Dominguez (54:48)
I love Jesus more. And so I would start walking to church from our apartment in Okinawa in Urasoy City and then my wife, lo and behold, she was about 100 feet behind me cursing me all the way, saying this and that, this and that.
Adam Dragoon (55:06)
I'll
Josie Dominguez (55:07)
I'm following.
Perry Dominguez (55:14)
And I'm thinking, this is not pleasant. then... Those those who are persecuted. Yeah. And so we come into church on Sunday morning.
And then she was sitting next to me. And then she'd get up a few times and go to the bathroom. And in the service, we're smelling cigarette smoke. she's smoking in the woman's bathroom. people are wondering, where's that smell coming from? And then she'd say, come on, let's go. And I said, no, no, I'm here. I'm going to stay. And it was like every time the preacher, this was Don Bishop, would preach, I'm thinking,
Who is spying on us? How does he? He knows everything about... Yes. Who's the spy? Is Karl Marquis sharing our secrets? And then, and then I'm under deep conviction of the Holy Ghost. And then my wife started sharpening some pencils and started jabbing me in the thigh with her pencils. Come on, let's go. Let's get out of here. Let's get out.
Josie Dominguez (55:52)
pretty tall.
pencils.
My brothers taught me this. I used to carry a blade and I transformed.
Adam Dragoon (56:11)
this is your weapon. okay.
Perry Dominguez (56:12)
Yeah. Yeah.
Well,
yeah, well, it was a sharp pencil and she tried to get me out of the service on several occasions and on one occasion the pastor would stop in the middle of his preaching. He'd look, he'd smile and he'd continue preaching and I'd be like, no, he sees what's happening. But then my wife got, got...
Josie Dominguez (56:33)
was
really completely the grace of God because I remember one night Sunday evening they showed a movie and it was about the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. You know as Catholic you've seen all those things you know. But that night when they showed that movie it was by Johnny Cash movie. It was Gospel Highway or whatever. Matthew, Mark, and John. And so I'm watching the movie and I knew that Jesus was crucified and all of a sudden
I'm watching the movie and then this Bible verse kept coming to my head, for God so loved the world. But then, you know, I mean, went on that, you know, he didn't come condemn the world, but to save, you know? And it's like I'm having this moment of memory, Bible verse that I've learned from my cousin's church. And all of a sudden it was like...
God convicted me and the pastor was calling for people. He didn't even have to finish. I was just crying. I went up to the altar and I was crying because before that I would not talk to anyone. I was a very rude person. Whenever they would ask me my name, I would just not say anything. I would just stare at them. yes, I was like, and they would go away. And so,
Adam Dragoon (57:42)
I've had you in my church service a few times.
Josie Dominguez (57:46)
You know, in that moment of time, that night, I I truly really got saved. And I remember nobody had to tell me to quit smoking or anything like that, to quit doing drugs. And it was totally gone. I mean, it was like God took all the desires away from me and I was transformed. And two weeks later, I got filled with the Holy Ghost.
Perry Dominguez (58:07)
And I got filled with the Holy, another transformative moment was I got filled with the Holy Ghost and that totally transformed me. And now I'm not ashamed to share that I'm a Christian. I I did tell my friend, my best friend in the Marine Corps that I used to party with that I,
wanted to know what are we gonna do tonight and I said I'm not gonna I'm gonna go home I'm not gonna do anything he says well what are you sick or what's going on what's wrong with you and I said well I I became a Christian well we're all Christians no no no I'm born again and he said
You speak in tongues? I said, not yet. You go to one of those churches speaking in tongues? Yeah. You're going to be a Pentecostal? And I said, well, I don't know, but if that's God's will. He said, get out of my car. And he told me, get out of my car. And he kicked me out of his car, and I had to find another way home. And that's an interesting story in itself. But he came back about a couple months later.
Adam Dragoon (58:59)
reaction.
Josie Dominguez (58:59)
Thank
Perry Dominguez (59:10)
with a case of wine and wanted to... And liquor and he wanted to party. And I said, no, Stacey, we're not doing that anymore. We're new creatures, we're new creation. And so, yeah, but how did I get on that thought? We were talking about just...
Josie Dominguez (59:25)
talking
about conversion.
Perry Dominguez (59:27)
True conversion, you're transformative. Transformative. So that time was difficult for me to, I knew I had to make a decision, let him know I'm a Christian. But when I got filled with the Holy Ghost, I was able to start going on outreach. we would go to... that boldness. Yeah.
Josie Dominguez (59:43)
Yes, I meant.
Perry Dominguez (59:44)
And also my prayer life changed. My prayer life went from three minutes to five minutes to 30 minutes, 40 minutes, and that was a transformative moment. And then my wife got filled with a Holy Ghost.
Josie Dominguez (59:58)
I got filled with the Holy Ghost but I was still a little bit rough and rude and so there was some tenderness in my heart but yet I was still you know not completely surrendered I guess and I remember when we came back stateside when we got to Jacksonville yeah
Adam Dragoon (1:00:15)
So you got orders to come to Jacksonville?
Perry Dominguez (1:00:17)
Yes.
Adam Dragoon (1:00:17)
You got here?
Perry Dominguez (1:00:17)
We didn't want to go to Camp Lejeune. We had a lot of friends that were from the church that was there in Oceanside. And it was a fellowship church that was doing really well. yeah, and a lot of the brethren were from Oceanside. Unfortunately, the leadership of that church at that time went south and started undermining.
Josie Dominguez (1:00:28)
were in Oceanside the first.
Perry Dominguez (1:00:39)
some very leadership and principles of our fellowship, which are principles of the New Testament, amen. And I think it was God's grace that kept us from getting orders there. We ended in Campel June, and the church here in Jacksonville was just a new pioneer work. 15 of us, they called us the dirty dozen.
Josie Dominguez (1:01:00)
like 15 of them.
Perry Dominguez (1:01:03)
Dwayne Dean had just turned it over to John Camus. John Camus had arrived probably two weeks before we arrived. So everything was like new and we were there in the very beginning of the church in Jacksonville. The church at that time was only about a year and a half, approaching two years. And so we're new in this thing. Our first church was in Okinawa, Don Bishop, and then when we got to North Carolina,
Pastor John Camus. And then Jeff Marty was there, who was instrumental in many things. he, the year was 1985.
Adam Dragoon (1:01:33)
was.
So that's exactly 40 years ago.
Perry Dominguez (1:01:38)
Yes. Yeah.
Josie Dominguez (1:01:39)
almost in August will be.
Perry Dominguez (1:01:40)
Seems like yesterday.
Adam Dragoon (1:01:42)
Okay, well
let's bring it full circle because we started this story talking about your dad and how he was so resistant to... it seemed like every time God was moving in your life he was speaking against it or opposing it. Right. But you mentioned that before he passed away that he ultimately...
Perry Dominguez (1:01:58)
Yeah,
so let me share some thoughts. My son was born in 1989, so that was four years after we got married.
Josie Dominguez (1:02:04)
Yeah, but
let's go back. Before this coming back to America, we were traveling. We landed in San Francisco and then traveled, went to LA, picked up this car. And first time in America, yeah. And you know, I was a teenager. And so no fear.
Adam Dragoon (1:02:16)
And this was your first time in the States?
Josie Dominguez (1:02:24)
So we were driving cross country because some of his family were in California. Grandma Darcy was in California. Yeah.
Perry Dominguez (1:02:31)
Yes, right. Can I give my grandmother?
see grandma. I'm saved. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. And and so she was very thrilled and happy that we're Christians now. And and she was Baptist, though, and we were Pentecostal. But other than that, she was just so thankful because she had been praying for me.
Adam Dragoon (1:02:35)
the same one?
She saw real transformation.
Josie Dominguez (1:03:01)
So when we arrived in America, we were traveling cross-country. Both of his parents were teaching at LSU. Louisiana? Yes. And they lived right next to Jimmy Swaggart. And so they would call us the Swaggarts. In general. Yeah. Christians were Swaggarts to them. So that night, I remember the second night or the first night, was it?
Perry Dominguez (1:03:16)
They didn't call us, they called Chris.
knows we were there for two days.
Josie Dominguez (1:03:28)
Yeah, the second night they got into an argument about him being a Christian, him not going back, going to university and things like that.
Perry Dominguez (1:03:38)
I can't give my
dad a clear answer. Because I just felt that I've given my heart to Christ now. And so now I need to, what has God want? And so I didn't know exactly what that was going to result in and lead to, but I just knew I belonged to Christ. And so I wasn't so...
prepared to make any commitment to going back to school. I just said, we're going to do what God wants us to do, and God's going to reveal that in time. Keeping your future open. Yeah.
Adam Dragoon (1:04:08)
Yeah,
Josie Dominguez (1:04:09)
Yeah, and so
when we arrived in Louisiana, both parents, mom was a professor of architecture and dad was a professor of economics. So they really both wanted us to go back to school. So anyway, needless to say, they got into an argument and we left the following day. We drove all the way from Louisiana to North Carolina.
Perry Dominguez (1:04:31)
Mr. me some advice. says, your parents aren't saved and they're not going to think like you think as they're not under the influence of Holy Ghost. if your wife, your bride is uncomfortable, need to, your first priority is to take care of her. And so if she's uncomfortable, you just need to move on.
Adam Dragoon (1:04:47)
good advice. Good phone call, huh?
Perry Dominguez (1:04:49)
Yeah,
yeah. And so I told my parents, said, we're planning to be there for about a week and a half. I said, we're not to leave. And they were upset about that. But I just saw that we're not seeing eye to eye and some things. And so we went to Jacksonville.
Josie Dominguez (1:05:03)
So
from that point, from that day, like until I had my son in 89, from 85 to 89, there was no communication from his parents.
Perry Dominguez (1:05:13)
There was a phone call because my dad had pulled some strings to get me into the university. I said, Dad, I'm not going. And he said, what? I said, no.
Josie Dominguez (1:05:22)
you get out of it.
Perry Dominguez (1:05:30)
I'm gonna do what God has called me to do and I think he's called me to preach. so the phone went dead for about 30 seconds and then he started cursing and he said, I disown you and you're no longer my son. I want nothing to do with you. And I was like, wow. Well, by that time we'd already been saved for about a year and a half now.
And I had some, my faith was being strengthened and my understanding of the Word of God and God's purpose was being, what's the word, well, God was strengthening these things in me and giving me understanding. And so I just said, well, I know I'm on the right page.
I know I'm going the right direction. Obviously, I don't want that rejection of my parents and my dad, but I know that this is going to happen because I made a choice to truly serve God.
And so there was no communication with my parents. It was lonely feeling, you know, but it is what it is. My dad prevented my brother and sister from communicating to me, and I was the black sheep of the family. so, but... were outlawed, by Yeah. But when my son was born in 1989, my mom convinced my dad...
We need a visit, Perry. We need to come down and visit them. So they drove and visited us.
Josie Dominguez (1:06:50)
brought
everything for us. Yes, they brought a lot of things for the baby.
Perry Dominguez (1:06:52)
What?
Yeah
Adam Dragoon (1:06:56)
Okay, grandkids have a way of solving...
Josie Dominguez (1:06:58)
They'll
anything for the grandkids or grandchildren. They'll do anything.
Perry Dominguez (1:07:02)
So,
but my dad refused to come into the church. And we were dedicating my son and he refused. He met us in the parking lot, him and my mom. We went out to eat at Swansboro and we took some good pictures that we have with us today. And my mom kept.
And it's interesting, 18 years later my son got married and she brought out that picture when we were in Swansboro and my dad who said, I'll never step foot into your church. Now he's in the church. He's watching my son give a testimony and his wife give a testimony. He's watching this marriage ceremony and he's hearing the gospel.
and he's weeping, and my mom is weeping, and they didn't get saved then, but it was a profound moment for them because, you know, they come against us, but here's their grandson.
and he's marrying a good girl and they're saved, they love God, they're testifying to Jesus and they were very quiet after that. But it was after that moment that now he's in church, the church he said he'd never stepped foot in and weeping and crying and after their hearts became very tender and so I was able to share.
with him the gospel and shared truths with him from the Word of God and my wife too. And in the last two years of his life on earth, my dad got gloriously saved.
Josie Dominguez (1:08:26)
through
the years of steadfastness in Christ, know, of testimonies because we never compromise with them and
Perry Dominguez (1:08:33)
moments like
when we were pioneering in Charleston, South Carolina. My son was what about three years old and they came to visit us and they were upset that we have no TV and we're depriving our son from communication to the world.
Josie Dominguez (1:08:53)
being our
Adam Dragoon (1:08:57)
gonna get Sesame Street.
Perry Dominguez (1:08:58)
Yeah, right.
And so we invited my mom and dad, were staying in a hotel in Charleston downtown and we invited him over to the house for dinner and my dad brought a bottle of wine and he was walking in the house with his brown bag and a bottle and I said, hey dad, what's that? And I knew this, I was wrestling, I don't want to...
Josie Dominguez (1:09:06)
Brother one.
Perry Dominguez (1:09:17)
I don't want to ask my dad, should we say something or not? But this is not good. This is my house, you know.
Josie Dominguez (1:09:23)
not compromise.
Perry Dominguez (1:09:25)
I said, well that's wine, and your mom and I, we always have wine for dinner. I said, well, that's fine, that's your choice, but this is my house and I don't want wine in my house. so, he was very upset. He said a few curse words and he says, come on Karen, let's go. And he took my mom by the hand. so he never came.
Josie Dominguez (1:09:51)
do it again until our son got married.
Adam Dragoon (1:09:53)
How long was
that in between them?
Perry Dominguez (1:09:56)
That was about... Okay. Yeah, I'm sorry. I said 18 earlier. he's 21. Okay. Yeah, yeah.
Josie Dominguez (1:09:57)
Martin got married when he was 21. 21.
Adam Dragoon (1:10:06)
18 years in between something wow
yeah so and how old what's your dad's name by the way John John and how old was he when he finally surrendered
Josie Dominguez (1:10:09)
Yeah.
Perry Dominguez (1:10:13)
John.
He
was 70, what?
Josie Dominguez (1:10:20)
I don't know.
Perry Dominguez (1:10:21)
37
Adam Dragoon (1:10:22)
Born in 37. Okay, so the reason I'm asking is that's compelling to me because I wonder if you guys had not taken some of those righteous stands that he probably would have never.
Perry Dominguez (1:10:23)
Yeah, I'm born in 37.
No, no, no, he was hardcore. But my brother got saved too. And he said, he called me up when we were missionaries in Russia, he said, Perry, I got what you got.
Adam Dragoon (1:10:45)
Seriously.
gosh, okay, you're have to send me this photo, because I want to send it to our audience so they can see it also. whenever they hear this.
Perry Dominguez (1:10:54)
So my dad passed
in 2017, that he was born in 37. So, right.
Adam Dragoon (1:11:00)
Yeah.
Josie Dominguez (1:11:00)
July 37.
Adam Dragoon (1:11:03)
So 78. And then died
when he was 80. Wow. Okay, so all right. So let's take this, we're gonna wrap up this first half. Which is, I would like you to take the moment to speak to two people. Number one, want you to speak to the person that was in your, in both of you, in your situation where you had a genuine experience with God, but.
walked away from that for a time. And maybe someone who's in that phase right now and you want to encourage them to open their heart like you guys did. speak to that person. But also, I'd like you to encourage somebody who has a lost loved one like your dad was and having to make some of those righteous, difficult stands that bring separation for a time. So I'd like you to talk to both of those people right now and encourage
them and and let them know why it's worth it.
Perry Dominguez (1:11:50)
By the way, a few of those.
of their hearts changing. On the contrary, it seems like their hearts getting harder. I would say be patient. Be patient.
and don't stop persevering in prayer for your loved one because in the process of time, God is so faithful and he hears those prayers and he doesn't forget them. Just like Luke 18.1 when Jesus is encouraging his disciples to persevere in prayer and gave the illustration of the widow woman and the judge, the unjust judge. And God is faithful and those prayers are being accumulated in heaven and God's gonna move, God's gonna create
circumstances that's going to bring your loved one to a place of humility and if you will just stay you stay faithful you be a testimony you be patient don't react in as a new believer sometimes I would react and as a more mature believer I learned
and learning not to react and to trust God and to be proactive in sharing the gospel, but not being reactive to their arguments or reactive to their, to whatever reasons they try to justify their circumstances. And so,
I would say be patient and keep praying, persevere in prayer. And in the process of time, God's gonna do something. I just tell you with my dad, one day, my brother's a Christian and now by this time in my dad's life and he's in retirement, he just went in retirement. I'm not speaking about the present moment but back then. And he said something to my brother who's, he says, I don't wanna hear about you and your brother's religion.
anymore, tired of it, you know, I'm a self-made man, I don't need God." And my brother was trying to witness to my dad and he says, Dad, without God, you cannot stand, you know, and it's the grace of God that you are standing in. And what happened, my dad said something that day, he said, I don't need God. Yeah, I believe that there is a God.
But I brought myself to this place. I'm a self-made man and I don't need God and I don't need your brother's religion and I don't need your religion. And then that day, the following day, my dad was at the house with my mom and he fell to the ground and he couldn't get up and my mom couldn't pick him up.
Josie Dominguez (1:14:15)
this.
Perry Dominguez (1:14:24)
and he couldn't stand up and he was posturate and he had a problem with his back and his body. He just couldn't get up. So my mom called my brother. My brother had to pick him up and that was a turning point because, a humbling moment, because my dad began to realize, no, it is by the grace of God that you are standing and the prayers of other people that you're standing.
And so that was a turning point. And that's when my dad's health began to decline, but it was also when he began to think differently and he began to be humbled and his pride began to...
be worn away. then when he, I began to preach to him and then he went into hospice care for about a year and in those tender moments in the middle of the night when it wasn't convenient to witness, I could hear him.
He was knocking on the walls and he wanted my mom to talk to him. My mom was sound asleep and I'd come from overseas to visit my parents for a couple weeks and spend some time with my dad. And the Lord said, this is your opportunity.
And so it's not convenient, it's three o'clock in the morning, four o'clock in the morning, but this is the opportunity. And I put on preaching. My dad listened to the sermons with me and I began to share my testimony and all our experiences as pastoring and as missionaries. My dad said something interesting because we talking about Indonesia and I was just sharing some of the interesting things about the countries, Cambodia.
And I was talking about this snake called the green viper. And it was in the jungles of Indonesia. And my dad said to me, said, I think I can embrace your religion, but it'd be a cold day in hell before I become a missionary and start dealing with green vipers. And I said, well, dad, I wasn't trying to say that that's part of the assignment.
But that evening I led my dad through a sinner's prayer and he truly opened his heart to Christ and he stopped and he paused and he says, that simple? I said, that's simple, but it is the beginning of a new life and you'll never be the same dad. You're forgiven, you're saved. And so he began to think about that and meditate on that and then...
Josie Dominguez (1:16:13)
Thank
I cry.
Perry Dominguez (1:16:33)
He cried, yeah. And then I visited him a few months past and I visited him a couple of weeks, for a couple of weeks after several months. And I said, Lord, I just want a confirmation that this just wasn't a foxhole sinner's prayer, but this was a real conversion because that's what I've been praying for for years. And out of the blue, my dad said, son, I want you to know something.
Uh-huh. I love Jesus. Wow. And I love you too. So that was such a blessing.
Adam Dragoon (1:17:09)
and to look forward to seeing him again.
Perry Dominguez (1:17:13)
Yes.
That's the wonderful thing. I said, Dad, I am... And that's what I... At the eulogy, and I was trying to comfort my mom, because my mom was totally devastated. And I said, Mom, I know where Dad's at. And I know he's more alive than he's ever been. And I know that I'm going to see him again. But I'm concerned about you.
Josie Dominguez (1:17:25)
for 55 years.
Perry Dominguez (1:17:36)
And so my mom, she passed away a few years later, but she got saved.
Adam Dragoon (1:17:43)
What miracle.
you can't see it at the time, You can't see the strategy of God, you know, when you were struggling in those early years. yeah. But what God was trying to do is not just save you and your family, but also your parents.
Perry Dominguez (1:17:47)
You get it
Exactly,
and I can tell you there are times when the devil wants to totally depress and discourage you and you if you reference off their emotional reactions and the things in the words that they're saying and you let that be the narrative that you'll be totally discouraged but we had to believe God and persevere and trust God and I just want to highlight in patience and in perseverance and prayer God is faithful.
He hears, he's listening, and if he will just stay the course and stay focused.
Adam Dragoon (1:18:29)
Okay,
so this question will be for both of you then because you experienced kind of the similar thing. So this is perfect lead-in because we see the strategy of God that he was trying to reach your parents through you. But that would not have happened unless you rededicated your life and God brought you into the...
Perry Dominguez (1:18:45)
that corner that we about. we
had not, and you know that's interesting, my dad's stepsister got saved, and so he's got these people that are- Right. All around him. Yeah, and one of his professors got saved, and he's got these people that are, and then his son got saved, but I believe-
If Josie and I had not gotten saved, no, they would have continued in their carnality and they would have been lost. And I'm not trying to give us much credit here, but my dad, as the firstborn, he had lot of expectations for me. And he was very connected with me, even though he was very angry and said some very unkind things in times past.
But our testimony.
Adam Dragoon (1:19:27)
Yeah.
Josie Dominguez (1:19:28)
Well, you don't get your emotions involved.
Perry Dominguez (1:19:31)
But
our testimony and then just seeing his grandson, his first grandson saved, married, living for God and just our testimony. Yeah. And then my wife also was very good at ministering to him too.
Adam Dragoon (1:19:41)
changes family trees man.
Josie Dominguez (1:19:46)
I got along well with him.
Adam Dragoon (1:19:48)
you brought pictures. Look at this. Wow. Okay, so you gotta let me share this with the audience if you don't mind. Yes. And we'll have some links in the show notes so you can see what I'm seeing right now. Of course. are photos of... my goodness. Look at this. So things have changed? Yeah.
Perry Dominguez (1:20:01)
This is when we were younger.
Josie Dominguez (1:20:06)
Yes,
yes, yes, we're not old.
Adam Dragoon (1:20:09)
Okay, so what I wanted you to share before we close this off and bring this in for a
Perry Dominguez (1:20:14)
I was able
to see his great grandson too.
Josie Dominguez (1:20:16)
The first child. And
my husband and I, pretty much have the same kind of story, but a little bit different, like I said. With my parents, I was kind of like the one who just owned them. Reverse.
Adam Dragoon (1:20:27)
Okay, so. we don't
like you stay away, but in the other case it was you saying, I'm out.
Josie Dominguez (1:20:34)
Yes, I
was that person. I was a rebellious child and totally just I mean I did not disrespect my parents but in a way it was kind of like disrespectful to them. So I told them just think of me as you guys have never had a daughter like me. wow. And I remember my dad crying when I left and I remember that and also my everyone and so I told them I'm never coming back you know and all that stuff. So years later.
We're now pastoring, you know, and everything. And I've done so many hurtful things to my parents, you know, and I felt like I've given them hell. You know, I mean.
Adam Dragoon (1:21:10)
restoration
that needs to happen.
Josie Dominguez (1:21:11)
Yes,
yes. And so I remember asking God, forgive me, you know, because I was not very kind to my parents. You know, they've given me so much, but yet here I am very, you know, you know, thankful. And so I remember we were already pastoring in ministry. And I remember telling him, I need to see my family. And he had never met my family. Never.
Perry Dominguez (1:21:35)
That was a miracle
too because we didn't have the finances. And we were missionaries in Puerto Rico. And my wife would cry herself to sleep sometimes. I need to go back.
Josie Dominguez (1:21:39)
Amen.
God
was convicting me.
Perry Dominguez (1:21:49)
family.
And so now we are missionaries in Puerto Rico but at that time the Patex of the Congregation was smaller and this was their first missionary expression. So, we went there with the understanding that we would work, that I would work a job and that the Church would help us with Church expenses.
Josie Dominguez (1:22:04)
for you.
Adam Dragoon (1:22:09)
But you would
have to work a job.
Perry Dominguez (1:22:11)
And so
with my income and the ticket prices to bring my wife and our son who they'd never seen in the Philippines, it was, it just, it did, I didn't see how this was going to happen. And so,
Adam Dragoon (1:22:20)
to Philippines, right?
Perry Dominguez (1:22:27)
I finally, in desperation, began to seek God desperately and say, I don't know what to do, but I need a miracle. And for the sake of the ministry, for the sake of my wife, for the sake of my son, and just for the dignity of her family, we need to go. And I was praying and seeking God in the middle of night.
And then the next day I went to work and I got this phone call. And it was a big construction company called Dillingham out of Pleasanton, South Carolina, Pleasanton, Southern California. And they said, hey, do you have any technicians or engineers that are available to go to Singapore? And I said, well, I don't know. And he said, well, we've got a project at the embassy, US Embassy in
Josie Dominguez (1:23:14)
He did an engineer to go. He working as an engineer.
Perry Dominguez (1:23:16)
We need somebody to
And for,
we need somebody to go in for two weeks to take care of some problems and commission the system there. And I said, well, Singapore, where's that? And he says, that's over in Southeast Asia. I said, is it by the Philippines? And he says, yeah, as a matter of fact, it's about two hours. And he says, why are you from that area? No, my wife's from that area. We just started small talking. And I said, wow.
Yeah, and he asked me some questions. Really, how'd you meet your wife? And I went into the story and then And I said and I just out of the blue. I was just sharing my heart Yeah, my wife hasn't seen her parents and yeah, I don't even know my my my in-laws and we haven't seen it She hasn't seen it for 13 years. I've never met her parents and and and my son has never seen his grandparents and so and I think that we we got back to business and and and he says well I said I can't make the decision you got to talk to the
He's not in right now, but you can call back later. So then he calls my boss and he says, I want this man to go and I want him to do this and I'm...
And I'm gonna pay his way and so my boss, okay, yeah. And so my boss came and said, this is odd, he wants you to go and he's gonna pay your way to go there and all that. And so, and you know, obviously he's gonna pay the company for the services rendered. But so then he called me up directly after talking to my boss and he says, listen, I'm gonna buy you a business class ticket.
which you can convert into coach tickets and that's the extra money. And so was all the money we needed to process our new passports to get coach tickets for my wife and for my son. And so the trip was paid in full.
Josie Dominguez (1:25:07)
Yes,
it was an answer to prayer because it was actually over 13 years I have not seen my family and no contact and they thought I've died already because I was you know
Adam Dragoon (1:25:21)
no contact with them. they had totally cut off from them.
Perry Dominguez (1:25:22)
Yeah, that's before the internet, you know.
Josie Dominguez (1:25:26)
Yeah.
Perry Dominguez (1:25:27)
You had landlines
or snail mail.
Josie Dominguez (1:25:31)
And they thought I had OD on drugs because I mean, was, you know, and so and even that they were not, you know, there was nothing really. And so anyway, thank God it was an answer to prayer because when we went, I remember. Yeah, I remember crying and asking.
Perry Dominguez (1:25:36)
My name was Letter.
That was 1998.
Adam Dragoon (1:25:52)
I saw
this one.
Josie Dominguez (1:25:53)
Forgiveness, yes, and asking God to really forgive me. I had to ask my grandmother for forgiveness, my dad, my whole family for forgiveness. It's because I was...
you know very rude to them when I left. did not leave with good terms. so I remember they all cried and you know that Bible story, I mean in the Bible you know it speaks about the prodigal son. I felt like I was the prodigal daughter for three days they partied, they prayed, I mean they cried.
They did everything, know, and that's the reason why you never give up, you know, even though, and then, you you have to apologize if you've hurt people. And I remember because of my testimony, my parents also became Christians later on in years.
Perry Dominguez (1:26:41)
That's right, that was a miracle because they very staunch, hard-core Catholics. just, you know, they, they, what is this, this new thing that you
Adam Dragoon (1:26:42)
Yes.
Josie Dominguez (1:26:50)
Yes,
and so my mom, loving money all the time, she truly got converted. mean, even in her last days of life, she told everyone that she doesn't love money, that she loves Jesus, and that was truly a conversion. And my dad, I remember we were missionaries in Russia.
When he passed away and I didn't know what was going on, but I felt that he had gone You know and I remember crying and telling him, you know, I hope my dad was saved I hope that he was a Christian before he passed away and I remember talking to my sister when I went to Prescott conference I remember that my dad he told my sister in her office because she works at a government office and so on he went and told her
don't worry about me, got things right with God. And I tell you, it was such a blessing because throughout the years we would pray for both of our families. And I remember saying, God, I thank you because, you know, in the book of Acts, you know, it says that, you know, the promise is to you and your family that we'll be saved. Yes. And even though they may not get saved now, but they can get saved later on.
you know, because if you stay focused and if you stay just how God wanted you to be, you know, and just say, God, you know, I'm committing my family to you and God will do that, you know, and we've seen that with our both of our parents and.
Adam Dragoon (1:28:10)
beautiful.
Yes. God brings a full circle. what I'd like you to do then is speak to the person who's in that valley of decision and not sure whether they're thinking about serving God or not, whether it's worth it to serve God, you know, to go all in like you both of you had to make a decision and maybe make the case for those who are not saved or those who are thinking about it. What's, what is the reason that they need to go all in for Jesus?
Perry Dominguez (1:28:32)
Because when you go in all in for yourself, you end up bankrupt, empty, in a life of vanity with no purpose, no hope, no understanding.
and sin eventually is like a cancer. It eats away at you and you lose your senses and you become blinded. I remember, I think I alluded to this earlier when I was sharing my testimony, when I was back then,
I was talking about this yesterday with some guys from the church after the conference. one young man who's now pastoring, says, I was a church kid. I didn't know how hard my heart was even when I was in ministry.
And he asked me about how did I experience, what was my experiences. And I said, well, being a backside, when I first heard the gospel, my heart was so tender and so full of joy. But having backslidden, been backslidden for seven years and coming back to Jesus, I didn't have great emotions and my heart was hardened because of the way I'd lived. It was a process of time just making that commitment and saying,
Lord, I just know that you are the way, the truth and the life and there's no other way and I don't want to go back because going back is death. And like the Bible says, the wages of sin is death and there's no life. Sin gives you pleasure for a season but it leaves you empty, bankrupt.
and not even happy with yourself and a lot of insecurities, a lot of fears, but there's such great joy, peace, and hope in Jesus Christ. And a lot of people today, they're looking for hope and they're not finding it because they're looking at all the wrong places. And so when I came back to the Lord in 1985, I remember we'd been going to church for about a month and then
All of sudden it dawned on me. I had this like epiphany, revelation. Man, I was lost. And I didn't understand that when I first, you when I came back in 1985, I thought, you know, I'm no, a sinner. I know I need to get right. I surrendered to Christ, but I wasn't that bad. I wasn't as bad as some other people, you know.
But when I had this revelation, this is right after I got filled with the Holy Ghost, think, after I got filled with the Holy Ghost, I realized, whoa, I was really a slave of sin. I was really bound. I couldn't see myself. And I didn't think I was that bad, but I know I, and then this fear, this holy fear came upon me. Whoa, I was under a great delusion and I don't want to ever return to that state.
Dear God, and I remember sharing with the guy who followed up on me, Marquis. Carl, I'm afraid now because I realize even in my back-sitting state when I thought, well, know, God and I have an understanding. No, I was delusional. I was under a spell. And now it's like I woke up and I don't want to ever return to that, but I'm afraid about going back to being, you know, I don't want to backslide anymore.
And he says, that fear is a good thing because that'll keep you on that. Amen. Exactly. That was a fear of God. Amen.
Adam Dragoon (1:31:35)
Wow. Well, I think this is a wonderful place to take a pause here. You guys have shared your hearts and I'm looking at some photos here on the table that we're going to share with the audience also.
Josie Dominguez (1:31:46)
These are my siblings, my mother, my sister, and my brother. And then I came.
Adam Dragoon (1:31:48)
some great memories.
Amen. And so yeah, we want to go ahead and check the show notes to we'll share a few of these with with the audience as well. But I have a I have a little quote here. So just to give a tease for for our part two, it's going to be quick, but
So I'm going to read this and then let you guess who it might be. Are you ready for this? OK. It says, I recommitted my life in his living room on Sunday morning. And he gave me my first opportunity to preach and cover a service when I was 15 or 16. This man saved my life. Any ideas?
He also said, I'm a preacher because of him. He taught me how to put Bible studies together.
Now the fact that you're thinking about so many people is amazing.
Perry Dominguez (1:32:32)
Yeah.
Adam Dragoon (1:32:34)
I don't know. Puerto Rico is your next clue.
Perry Dominguez (1:32:38)
Okay.
One and two. Wow. Trini?
Josie Dominguez (1:32:39)
Wangan tonyo!
Adam Dragoon (1:32:41)
It's not.
Josie Dominguez (1:32:47)
That's right. forgot of it's Ollie. It's Ollie. I was gonna say Ollie. Yeah
Adam Dragoon (1:32:54)
When we come back we
want to hear some more of your ministry experience. We're going to take a quick break and this is going to be for our premium subscribers only. So if you are not subscribed you're not going to hear the rest of it. It's only three bucks a month. We'd encourage you to join up and everything goes toward World Evangelism. So if you want to hear the rest of this we will be right back. And for our free listeners thank you for listening and thank you guys for joining us. Thank you.
Josie Dominguez (1:33:14)
Thank you.
And responding.
Adam Dragoon (1:33:16)
All
right, well, we are back here for part two and the Dominguez family have been very generous with their time and some amazing stories, origin stories and stories of how God brought them to salvation. So thank you guys again for making the time for us and for sharing. That's so powerful. And so what we want to talk about with this with this session that's only for our premium subscribers is I want to jump into some of your ministry experience, which is exhaustive.
There's a lot to talk about here and not a lot of time, but I want to first of all recognize not just all the places that you've been, which is amazing by itself, but the influence that you've had over the years is, I mean, undeniable. So I mean, I can think of people, like even Pastor Morales last night as we were praying for you, by the way, if you're not aware, the Dominguez's are going again to be missionaries in Lima, Peru.
Josie Dominguez (1:34:05)
These.
Adam Dragoon (1:34:05)
That's amazing.
Oh my gosh, so we're launching them out in conference last night and and pastor Carlos Morales who is you know, pastoring a major church in Norfolk, Virginia and You know the church is out and he says I wouldn't be who I am without your without your witness and without your ministry And then you know, we think about we just mentioned only you know, you know Raza from Puerto Rico He says I wouldn't be this guy that I am without your ministry and I'm sure
we could go back and think about many many people like that. I think about Denis Vasiliev, we talk about him who wasn't saved under your ministry but definitely discipled under your ministry and he was your translator. Sakhalin and Rybinsk, amazing and so now he's a missionary.
Perry Dominguez (1:34:41)
Right, right,
Yes, yes, wonderful. Wonderful blessing to the Succulent Church.
instrumental
in our outreach over there too.
Adam Dragoon (1:35:00)
Yeah,
and then my first experience getting to know you guys was, I don't know if you remember this, but you were in Chicago. Chicago, I remember. And we came on an impact team from Chandler, because we had two churches in Chicago at the time that we were supporting, and we got to meet you sitting around a pizza table. Not too much different than we are right now, right? So I want to ask you to talk about the influence that God has allowed you to have over the years and what that has
to you and what is thinking about those things, what is special to you and what stands out.
Perry Dominguez (1:35:34)
Okay.
Josie Dominguez (1:35:35)
Well,
To me ministry was, I remember when my husband first said he was going to be in ministry and I thought there is no way. I am not It was not automatic? Yes, exactly. And I said no because I can't. know most pastors wives are very kind, very loving and I'm very patient and I didn't see myself being a pastor's wife. There's no way. Wow. And you know I'm very, I mean I'm
Adam Dragoon (1:35:54)
Peace out, Louis.
Josie Dominguez (1:36:02)
very vocal, know, I speak my mind. And so, and I can be friendly, yes of course I can be, but at the same time I will tell you the truth. And so I remember... In love.
Perry Dominguez (1:36:12)
You
Josie Dominguez (1:36:13)
I
remember when he told me that and I said, there's no way, never. And so anyway, make a long story short, we got into an argument that time and I remember there is no way, no, no, no, no, no, can be. And so he to church, started praying, praying for me apparently. And so I remember when we entered the ministry, it was not an easy road as many people would say, oh, it's awesome, it's wonderful. It is such a blessing and it's a privilege.
I remember praying God, I don't think I could be that person, but you will help me because I want to be a help to him and to be able to minister to other people because I knew that God has a calling in our life. And I remember when we first moved to Jacksonville, North Carolina, I remember that I remember crying, seeing the place because it was, yes, and all woods.
Adam Dragoon (1:37:02)
It was so small.
yeah.
Josie Dominguez (1:37:05)
And
coming from a city, mean, you know, I know was like I cried. So anyway, besides all that.
Adam Dragoon (1:37:11)
only one
Perry Dominguez (1:37:12)
Yeah
Josie Dominguez (1:37:14)
And
so the church was growing and everything. I remember Pastor Fowles was our pastor. Well, first it was John Camus and then Pastor Fowles took over and then Pastor Suspansky came and he's the one who sent us out in 92. yeah, ministry was very not because we chose to be in ministry, but we knew that God has a calling in our life. And I remember when we were younger, we would say if God would open up doors into Russia.
or into Asia or Vietnam or Cambodia. And we would say we would go. It would be like a joke and we would be like, yeah, we would go. Someday we would go. And when it became a reality to where we were confronted with it, but we were willing. We say, God, if you want us to go, we will go. so we were in, we were discipled for seven years. It took us seven years to be discipled because I was not, you know. And anyway, we were doing Bible studies to follow up.
And follow-up is such a good ministry, you know, to start in your home church because that's when you get to know other people, not because of, you know, who you are, but God using your life. Yes, it is. And so when we were involved in those, we were involved in trauma, many things, you know, and we fellowshiped, fellowshiped quite a bit. And he would invite people for cheesecake.
Adam Dragoon (1:38:20)
discipleship, right?
Josie Dominguez (1:38:32)
Just a fellowship, you know? And so ministry was something that we didn't choose and say we will do it for ourselves, but it was God. And I remember answering to God and I say, God, if this is your will, you know, if we want to use our lives to touch others, and then I would, you know, I would go with support. Now, I remember when we first got sent out to Charleston,
It was not because we want to be in the limelight and things like that, but we had a heart, you know. And it wasn't easy at first, but God helped us.
Adam Dragoon (1:39:05)
How many churches did Jacksonville have out at the time?
Perry Dominguez (1:39:08)
We were the third
church. under John, no, no. Dave, that Pastor Dave Fowles came and took over the church from John Camus. I think at that time we had about 50 people in church, 50 to 55. And then Dave Fowles came and the church went up to about 100, 110. And then Pastor Suspanski came in 1992.
Excuse me, Gabe Fowles and his wife were kind of like surrogate parents to both my wife and I. Cindy was like a mother to my wife and and
Adam Dragoon (1:39:42)
Just to keep in
touch with them.
Perry Dominguez (1:39:43)
Yes, yes. And Dave Fowles was like the father that I... I mean, my dad was a great provider, know, solid and faithful to my mom, but Dave Fowles was the father to me. A spiritual father. Yes, spiritual father. And that was very... What's the word I'm looking for? It was a time of formation and a very...
Adam Dragoon (1:39:57)
Father.
Perry Dominguez (1:40:09)
helpful time in our lives and in building us and faith, character and yeah, right.
Josie Dominguez (1:40:16)
Well, teaching us how to be.
Perry Dominguez (1:40:18)
And one of the things that really sticks out with me with Pastor Dave Fowles was that he was very spiritual, led by the Holy Ghost, believed in the supernatural. Pastor Camus was more of a disciplinarian, which was good, it was necessary because we had to, you we had lot of loose ends. But when Pastor Fowles came in and Cindy, Cindy was like a mother to my wife and just helped us.
It was a very time of healing. When you live in sin, you live in these crazy mindsets and bad attitudes. Some of those things get deep rooted into your heart. I think in the process of time during Pastor Fowler's ministry, we started dealing with lot of those things.
Josie Dominguez (1:40:47)
a good family.
But there
was three churches out.
Perry Dominguez (1:41:06)
Yeah, I'm sorry. I got distracted. we, Pastor Rouse had sent out our crew and Crystal and then they went to New Bern and then they sent Lane and Wally to Greenville and then we, when Pastor Suspension arrived, we were the third. think Pastor Rouse was planning to send us out.
Josie Dominguez (1:41:12)
in Elaine and Walter.
Perry Dominguez (1:41:25)
Pastor Szczepanski arrived in February. The conference in New England in April. When Hyannis was in April and we were sent out. after he had just taken over the church two months and he said get out of here. He gave us a boot.
Adam Dragoon (1:41:35)
Yeah, and sending you out.
Josie Dominguez (1:41:42)
So
we've been out since 92. We were in Charleston since 92. We stayed there until 94. And then they sent us out to Puerto Rico 94 to 2000. And 2000 we went to Russia.
Island.
Adam Dragoon (1:42:04)
And for those
who don't know, that's all the way on the East Coast.
Josie Dominguez (1:42:07)
Yeah,
far east, the far east. Yeah, the coldest part of the world. And we pioneered in Sakhalin and then we took over a church in Rebens. It's the motherland next to Moscow. It's like two, four hours away from Moscow. And so we pastored twice in Russia. And then in 2005, we came back and he assisted pastor for eight months. And
Perry Dominguez (1:42:34)
I
you had enough.
Josie Dominguez (1:42:37)
And
for eight months and then we were sent out to Chicago. That's where we met you. Right, right. Yes, and that's where we met. Yes, I love Chicago. I love Chicago besides Puerto Rico. mean, I love Puerto Rico of all the places that I lived in. I love Puerto Rico the most.
Adam Dragoon (1:42:44)
A great nation of Chicago?
Perry Dominguez (1:42:55)
So yeah, then we went to Chicago and then I became an evangelist for about eight months. Six months. Six months. And then we were launched into Cambodia.
Josie Dominguez (1:43:05)
And we were there the longest, almost 11 years.
Adam Dragoon (1:43:06)
Gloria. Wow.
Perry Dominguez (1:43:10)
2008 we arrived in October and December.
Josie Dominguez (1:43:12)
left 2019.
and Judy.
Perry Dominguez (1:43:15)
Yeah, well
make sure you visit Joe in the Tuckin' Mouth Church, Joe Michelle.
Adam Dragoon (1:43:20)
Okay, that's the church you guys were in.
Josie Dominguez (1:43:23)
Yes.
Perry Dominguez (1:43:24)
wonderful,
wonderful time. They just had a rally with Pastor Dave Szczepanski and it was just really, really exciting and just it was a Buddhist nation but tremendous miracles of conversion and supernatural things.
Josie Dominguez (1:43:38)
and that's when they end up adopting four children from Cambodia. The family goes to the church.
Perry Dominguez (1:43:44)
I would say pseudo-adoption.
Josie Dominguez (1:43:46)
So, well, two of us, two of them still with us.
Perry Dominguez (1:43:50)
But yeah,
we love Cambodia, we love the Cambodian people. I'm sorry.
Josie Dominguez (1:43:54)
So in ministry,
in ministry really it's not of what you can do for yourself, but it's what you can do for other people.
and also what you can do for God because everything that we do is for God and to reach people. And I remember when we were in Russia, it was not very easy. There was so many things that was going on. The KGB was after him because they thought he was a spy.
Adam Dragoon (1:44:23)
I would think he
was a spider looking at it.
Perry Dominguez (1:44:25)
Thank
you.
Josie Dominguez (1:44:27)
So
even now in Kazakhstan, we have to deal with that again and again and again. We went to court three times in Kazakhstan already, which God has always intervened. And so, like I said, we don't do things. We don't go out in ministry because of us, but what we do for Christ. this, therefore, there's a grace of God in ministry.
Perry Dominguez (1:44:30)
We had to deal with that.
I want to highlight the grace of God because when you, you know, I never planned to go to Russia. You know, I was intrigued by Russia, by the old Cold War circumstances in Soviet, circumstances when we were in the military.
But one day Pastor Fowles, when the Iron Curtain fell, Pastor Fowles says, we're going to plant churches in Eastern Europe. There was a picture in the newspaper of Czechoslovakians who became two different countries, Slovakians and Czech Republic, praising God because of their independence from the old Soviet system. And he says, we're going to plant churches in these regions and we're going to plant churches in Russia. And I thought, wow, Russia.
Adam Dragoon (1:45:25)
That was some inspiration.
Perry Dominguez (1:45:26)
Yeah, and I said, wow. Then I said in my spirit, said, Lord, I don't see how, but if there's a need, well, we're available. And so, and little did I know that that whisper in my heart got heard and later brought it to pass.
Josie Dominguez (1:45:41)
Yes, amen.
Adam Dragoon (1:45:42)
amazing so
so from from Cambodia you guys went to Kazakhstan and you've been there now for six years almost six years and so we just announced that a local pastor is taking over there and was this a person that that was saved in under your ministry there
Perry Dominguez (1:45:53)
That's great.
No, it's not a disciple from our church, the interesting is... From Volodogda Church. He's from the Volodogda Church. Volodogda. Yeah, but he pioneered in... Vladivostok. Well, no, Vladivostok. Vladivostok. And the person took over the church of Vladivostok that he started was a disciple from our church in Sakhalin. Yeah.
Josie Dominguez (1:46:07)
public.
Adam Dragoon (1:46:17)
Wow. It all connects. Okay, so he's coming to take over your church and so now you guys are planning to pioneer in Peru. So, amen, amen. So, I also have a very good friend who lives in Lima, Peru. That's Paul Alvarez. don't know if you know him, but he's been there for three years or something. Wonderful. Got wild success there. God's really
Perry Dominguez (1:46:26)
Yes. That's right.
Josie Dominguez (1:46:28)
By the grace of God. Amen.
Alvarez-San.
for Bob Alvarez.
Adam Dragoon (1:46:42)
Yes,
exactly. Wonderful. So I'm seeing photos of them. They've got, you know, 100 plus people in their church already and they're planting churches already and disciples. We were there a couple of years ago and it was still less than a year. And even at that time, they had they had discipleship happening and 80, 90 people coming. So very powerful move of God. I think it's a it's a good time to be in South America. Amen. And a good time to be in Peru specifically. Yes.
Perry Dominguez (1:47:08)
you
Josie Dominguez (1:47:08)
that.
Adam Dragoon (1:47:10)
What was the inspiration? What attracted you to Peru?
Perry Dominguez (1:47:14)
Actually we didn't have any particular attraction to Just a need, Yeah, just a need. From time to time we thought about different places, but I don't think Peru was on the radar.
Josie Dominguez (1:47:25)
was never,
South America was never our, I mean, you we would travel throughout Europe, the Eastern Europe. Peru was never really in our radar, you know, because we were way out there and so we would travel like the Eastern Europe in nations or the former Soviets and that appealed to us more and also Indonesia.
Perry Dominguez (1:47:47)
Yeah.
Josie Dominguez (1:47:47)
At one time we were sent to Indonesia, Manado, and we were redirected to Kazakhstan. That's quite a redirection. Yes, we kind of like rerouted.
Perry Dominguez (1:47:58)
Well,
there's a story. The reality is we were announced to Manado. We had made a couple trips to Indonesia. Things were going really well for us in Cambodia, and I was getting a little comfortable. We'd been there 10 years. We had good church, good disciples, and had a real breakthrough in the Buddhist community. Supernatural things. We were having rallies. so then,
talk to pastor.
And so he was open. He said, well, I thought you guys were probably staying in Cambodia for the rest of your lives. I that's interesting. But we went to Indonesia and we had this perception that Indonesia was a Muslim country. But we realized that actually that's not true. There's whole islands in enclaves where it's not like that. And missionaries had gone in there in the 1800s and also in the early 1900s before World War II. So tremendous revival. It's a very diverse place.
It's very diverse. There are some obviously strong Muslim influences in certain regions and they would like to Islamify the whole region. There's a I don't know if people are aware of this, if you look go on Wikipedia there was a time when
the Europe and the United States were trying to see Indonesia actually become two nations, East Indonesia and West Indonesia. But I forget the president's name, what's his name, he's well known. The old, no, no, that's the new one. Suharto was against that. And the United States tried to, through CIA, to,
Josie Dominguez (1:49:14)
love.
Perry Dominguez (1:49:19)
to see an independent eastern Indonesia. Reason being is it was divided about religiously. One region was predominantly Protestant and Catholic and the other region was predominantly Muslim. Anyways, we saw that some of these Muslim
Politicians and groups are aggressively trying to redistribute the demographics and change it. And they would like to create like a Malaysia situation. But when we went to, my wife had said in 2015, it's our 30 year anniversary. haven't done anything really special.
Josie Dominguez (1:49:45)
many Indonesian does not want that.
Perry Dominguez (1:49:55)
So I said, well, let's go to Indonesia. And prior to this, I went to a rally in Malaysia. I met one of the pastors, missionaries from Australia who was pastoring in Indonesia. Is that John No, wasn't John Perry. Well, Zach is now pastoring in that church. Zach, a wonderful guy. He's Indonesian himself, and both him and his wife and his whole family speak Bahasa. But I was impressed because I met a person and I said, you don't look like the typical
Adam Dragoon (1:50:05)
John Perry.
Perry Dominguez (1:50:24)
Indonesian fellow, you look like you're from another culture. He yeah, he says I'm Batak. And Batak are like Samoans or Maori people, big Boan people. And there was a tremendous revival that happened with the Bataks in the 1800s by German and Swedish missionaries that I wasn't aware of. so the whole Batak people, for the most part, identify as Christians. And then this in other places of the islands, likewise.
They identify as Christians, but they're like third, fourth generation, fifth generation, sixth generation. And so they're just Christian in name, much like when we were Catholics, but they're sinners. They're lost. They have no understanding what it is to be born again. And so we saw a great opportunity to minister there. And we took a trip. First trip was to Medan, then we went to Monado and we met some key people that are in the church in Monado today.
under Pastor Ricky Samuels and Audrey.
Josie Dominguez (1:51:16)
because I wanted
to see the orangutan in a while.
Perry Dominguez (1:51:19)
Well that
was one reason, that wasn't the only reason. But all monkey business aside. We went to Monado and I had the privilege, well we went to, we saw some...
Josie Dominguez (1:51:25)
Stop it.
Perry Dominguez (1:51:32)
There's a lot of stories. For time's sake, don't know. Yeah. We had some miraculous connections in Medan. We had the privilege of leading one lady by the name of Mary and her husband to the Lord. And she's now there interpreting for Pastor John Ramos.
Josie Dominguez (1:51:50)
So
we have fruits everywhere we go.
Adam Dragoon (1:51:52)
Amazing, yeah.
Perry Dominguez (1:51:53)
And then when we went to Monado, I prayed with Jojo and Jackie in the church in Monado. But we saw the need and we made ourselves available. And I mentioned the pastor and we were sent out to go there. And so then after the conference on Saturday, morning prayer, pastor,
Josie Dominguez (1:51:57)
tour guide Jojo. Jack.
Thank
Perry Dominguez (1:52:13)
He said, show me where the Monado is on the map. And I showed him with the big map that's in the... And then he says, and tell me where did you meet those students that you said that were from? Where is that place? Kazakhstan? Over here. And here's this big country, nation Kazakhstan, that's a Russian speaking nation. We spoke Russian. And it was a weird thing. We both started staring at Kazakhstan.
Josie Dominguez (1:52:18)
Deploy.
Perry Dominguez (1:52:36)
and
Adam Dragoon (1:52:36)
dangerous for
people with missionary hearts. Yeah.
Josie Dominguez (1:52:40)
It's dangerous
when you go to church. I always say, God, here I am. But send them.
Perry Dominguez (1:52:47)
So, we're staring at the map and we're like in a trance. And then I wake up and I look at Pastor and he looks at me, kind of startled. He said, Dominguez, you thinking what I'm thinking? I said, yeah. He says, I'll talk to Pastor Mitchell. And so, that's how it goes.
Josie Dominguez (1:53:03)
Pastor Mitchell
Adam Dragoon (1:53:03)
Kazakhstan.
Josie Dominguez (1:53:06)
agreed to. So we were.
Adam Dragoon (1:53:08)
amazing.
Perry Dominguez (1:53:09)
So
we were rerouted, yeah.
Adam Dragoon (1:53:11)
Okay, well for the sake of time, I think we can probably spend 30 minutes on each place that you've been and all that God has done, but what I was really wanting to hear from you guys is, you know, I think about your experience and so this would be your sixth time going as a missionary, right?
Perry Dominguez (1:53:33)
We planted churches, this would be the fifth international expression, planting churches eight times, right?
Adam Dragoon (1:53:42)
if you count Chicago,
which is very, to me, almost the same international type of, I remember when I was there feeling like, like, cause I mean, but my question is like, this is not normal.
Perry Dominguez (1:53:45)
Okay.
Yes.
Josie Dominguez (1:53:51)
very diaper.
Perry Dominguez (1:53:55)
You
Josie Dominguez (1:53:56)
Okay
Adam Dragoon (1:53:58)
And that's
okay. We're not shooting for normality here. We're shooting for obedience. But I guess, know, how do you believe, like, why do you believe God has led you guys to do this over and over and over again?
Josie Dominguez (1:54:03)
Thank
Wow.
Perry Dominguez (1:54:12)
Let me answer that. When I was a young convert in Okinawa, Japan, just recently saved and now filled with the Holy Ghost. Josie and I are attending church now regularly and God's helping us. Out of the blue, Don Bishop gave me a word out of Genesis.
Josie Dominguez (1:54:29)
No,
he was looking and then he looked at it and said...
Perry Dominguez (1:54:34)
He said,
brother, God's got this word, and he quoted this scripture. And I didn't understand. I didn't even understand some of the words that were in the text. I'm trying to, after the service, I'm trying to dissect what that means and asking the brothers. And so I had no clue. But in the process of time, after we had been, you know,
Josie Dominguez (1:54:50)
I like.
Perry Dominguez (1:54:59)
think when we got sent out and the first time in Charleston, and in the process of time, even before that, we were in Jacksonville, God began to put upon our hearts that that was gonna be the foundation of our ministry and being overseas and going to the nations.
Josie Dominguez (1:55:18)
It's
like a fire starter type thing so where other people can go in and I think
Perry Dominguez (1:55:24)
So yeah,
I've had a, you know, that's been a reference point for me, that prophetic word, Rima word, from the Logos work. And so, yeah.
Adam Dragoon (1:55:35)
Do you ever find it frustrating?
Perry Dominguez (1:55:37)
Well, yeah. Yeah, with so many frustrations, so many frustrations. I wouldn't mean that quite.
Josie Dominguez (1:55:42)
you know, not quite.
Well, you know, it's kind a lot of frustration. Yes and no. There is frustration of course in ministry. Everything that you do there is frustration. You know, especially when you have children with you. Our son pretty much grew up in ministry in mission field. And so.
Perry Dominguez (1:56:01)
frustrations
from my wife's part perspective and my perspective we have different different understanding frustrations but we have common frustrations.
Adam Dragoon (1:56:10)
of
Josie Dominguez (1:56:11)
So,
yeah, there's frustration, of course, in ministry. In everything that you do, there is frustration, you know.
Adam Dragoon (1:56:17)
missionary work
you're always adjusting to a new normal right new culture new new foods and yeah and so like you guys just take this in stride this is like part of it
Josie Dominguez (1:56:23)
Yes.
Perry Dominguez (1:56:29)
Well, after
you've been to a few countries, you just get used to some things that people are not used to. In America, we're used to getting everything done on time. You can pay your electric bill online. Everything's done in an expedient, professional fashion. When you go overseas, it takes you half a day to pay your electric bill.
Adam Dragoon (1:56:52)
I still have PTSD, to this day, from paying bills in area.
Josie Dominguez (1:56:56)
I think frustration is not really a frustration when you cannot minister the Word of God. That's frustrating for me. In other places we've been into the frustration for me was that what was the frustration for me?
Perry Dominguez (1:57:09)
Well, I think
in Russia it was the, we came up, we started experiencing great revival with young people. Yes. And then the more intense the revival was, the more intense the persecution was. And then the local government and the KGB began to target us and began to spread all kinds of...
I don't know if it's it's just lies in the mass information. On the newspaper, on the TV channel they gathered some soldiers because they couldn't fill the auditorium so they gathered some soldiers who had nothing to do in the auditorium. They said they had a full auditorium but they are going to try to help the Russian people understand that any church that is not Russian Orthodox is a sect, a cult. And then not one of these people ever been to a
Church. they said, and Victory Chapel is a cult. And we were laughing. But you know what is interesting is we were going through that difficult time and we had an interesting, the Church started really interesting, miraculous concerts on the street, people getting saved. We would gather 150 to 200 people on the streets just doing concerts and testifying, having altar calls. And the freezing cold people get saved.
and we had a half of the church was bandits, prisoners, former prisoners, not existing prisoners, mafia types. And the other ones were college students and it was quite a combination. We had the college students and the bandits. Anyways, when we came under persecution, severe persecution, they started writing newspaper articles about us.
Josie Dominguez (1:58:35)
We have the education.
They
say that he was in prison for five years in Mexico, which never lived in Mexico. We don't even know.
Perry Dominguez (1:58:51)
They said I was a CIA spy and what not. But anyways when we came under that the college students got a little bit, they were concerned. What are my parents going to think? But the guys that came from a criminal background they said, pastor you're our hero.
Josie Dominguez (1:59:14)
What was frustrating to you?
Perry Dominguez (1:59:16)
Well, I think the frustration was that we had to deal with the constant persecution in the newspapers and then the KGB. it's like we're trying to make steps forward, but they're trying to put all kinds of obstacles in our path. And that was a frustrating part, I think.
is the false accusations and the persecution. But it wasn't coming, but we were seeing tremendous miracles, converts. And that kept us, that was a fuel that kept us focused because our guys, they thought it was a blast. We were just trying to make sense of this and this is not fun, but they thought it was hilarious and they thought it was great. And they were saying, man, Pastor, you and your wife are our heroes. In other places, I think in Puerto Rico, for me,
I mean, I love the people, I love the culture, but the crime was intense. The crime every day, three or four people being assassinated. But it was also a wake-up call because we understood the first year we were working with people that we had to take to church and if it rained they didn't want to go to church. And I'm desperate and not much is happening. And my wife said, well, if you want to go back, let's just go back. And I said, well, no.
I don't want to throw the towel. God sent us here. We're going to press it through." And she said, okay, well then let's press it through. And so I had to see God and God opened my eyes and said, you're focusing on the wrong group of people.
You see all these people that are in the newspaper dead on the asphalt. These are the youth between the ages of 15, 25. And you need to focus on reaching them. And we had revival with the youth. And one of the key people that came into our church from an outreach from Craig McLaughlin when he was in Marietta, Georgia, they sent an outreach team to us. And Juan Antonio Ramirez got saved, gloriously saved.
Josie Dominguez (2:01:01)
second.
Perry Dominguez (2:01:01)
He was our key convert. Of course when he first came to church he was 16 years old in my mind I think, punk kid, know, because he said to me, said, pastor, I want to let you know I'm not religious. And I said, well neither am I. And he said, well, no, I'm just not the religious type, you know, and so I see you have services three times a week. I don't know if I can, I won't be able to come to home. I can come on Sunday morning sometimes. And I said, okay, okay.
Josie Dominguez (2:01:22)
When Ollie
did the Bible study, you entrusted him with the Bible study.
Perry Dominguez (2:01:26)
Yeah, yeah, that was a little bit later. But what happened was Anthony got filled with the Holy Ghost and his testimony became alive.
He stopped stealing his fellow students' lunch money and doing bad things to them and terrorizing the Padre Rufo school. And a lot of these people said, what happened to this young man? And one day Anthony called me up when I was working and I was in the office and he says, Pastor, I've got a lot of my fellow students who want to come to church tonight. It's a Wednesday night, but the buses stopped running at nine o'clock. Can you get them right home? I said, okay, all right. And I wasn't expecting much.
And then Anthony arrived a little bit late. We were already finished with finishing our song service, I think. And he came in and in he walks in and behind him 10 to 12 other teenagers. And they are listening with passion and enthusiasm and their eyes are wide open.
Josie Dominguez (2:02:20)
I
these are the kids that are coming from stateside.
Perry Dominguez (2:02:24)
They're
like fish out of water. They're Puerto Rican, but they're American Puerto Rican. So they're Spanish.
Josie Dominguez (2:02:29)
So they.
Perry Dominguez (2:02:32)
was not on par with the Puerto Ricans. So, they went to this school called Padre Rufo, which was like an Anglo-American school. So, sometimes those are the people you have to focus on. And they were the key to reaching the Puerto Rican youth that was indigenous. But anyways, it was electric and after the service people, I want the Holy Ghost. I want to get baptized in the Holy
Adam Dragoon (2:02:58)
Yeah, yeah.
Perry Dominguez (2:02:59)
and with a crime.
Josie Dominguez (2:02:59)
It was frustrating, yeah.
Perry Dominguez (2:03:01)
The
crime, the intensity crime, we'd have a baptism and then on way back from the baptism, there's a car that's all shot up and there's a corpse on the side of the road. When we first arrived, I've only been in the country a week and I had to push my son on the floorboard of the car because two guys are running through the town with pistols and shooting things up. When the Marietta team came, they're doing a rap concert and all of a sudden there's a shootout.
out, you know, and it was intense. Every night you go to sleep, you're hearing gunfire and automatic gunfire. That, and I was held up in front of my house after Bible study. I went to somebody up. I was supposed to pick him up for church and the guy said, I started witnessing to him and he was going to take a knife out and he says, you're a pastor? I said, yeah.
Man, I can't do this. I said what do you mean? And he says I was gonna rob you but I can't rob a pastor nice and I said well, and I started well you this is you know, said you need Jesus and I start preaching him anyways, you got out of the car, but Yeah experiences like that were a little bit
Adam Dragoon (2:04:15)
Harry, can you talk about the price? You guys have paid high prices to be in all these different places. What I've discovered is people who pay the high price, there's a reason why. Like when you pay a high price for something, it means that it's worth something to you. Can you talk about some of the things that you've...
Perry Dominguez (2:04:21)
Yeah.
Adam Dragoon (2:04:33)
You've had to, I mean, you can't be a missionary six times without giving something up for that. And can you share with our audience why you've chosen to pay that price and why you continue to do?
Perry Dominguez (2:04:44)
Well, I want to thank Jacksonville for the prices that they paid. And Pastor Sispansky for his patience and his prayers. But having said that, to answer your question,
Adam Dragoon (2:04:48)
They've been sponsoring me.
Josie Dominguez (2:04:52)
Believe they're not.
Perry Dominguez (2:05:03)
I think there's just something as we begin to grow in our faith, I realize I surrendered my heart to Christ. Our life is not our own.
Adam Dragoon (2:05:12)
Amen.
Perry Dominguez (2:05:13)
And I'm just so thankful that Jesus has saved me and my wife. And I was so thankful for my son because he was a miracle to be born. And I just thought, what else can I do? I'm committed to the cross, meaning that eliminates my ego, my plans.
But that enables me to be filled with Christ and God's plans and God's will. You know, I mean, there's some things I don't want to do and don't cherish. And the older you get, some things you don't want to deal with, some things. I just like, I think it was somebody penned that poem, Only One Life to Live.
Josie Dominguez (2:05:41)
Don't enjoy.
Perry Dominguez (2:05:52)
It will soon be passed and only what's done for Christ will last. And I've been tremendously inspired by some of the missionary stories, the the Eliots going to the Acha Indians.
Josie Dominguez (2:06:06)
not only that, our own fellowship.
Perry Dominguez (2:06:09)
Yeah.
Pastor Harold Warner. Pastor Mitchell's. You know, one of the things I would say is that this is very helpful for any wives that are listening. Sometimes you get in these places and a thousand demons are whispering into your ear. What are you doing here? When we were in Suckling, you're crazy. You brought your wife here and your son here to this frozen, remote place.
These people don't like you. They don't like Americans. You're their Cold War enemy and they're not interested in your message and they're absolutely not interested in and you're bringing them. And I was like, dear God, I need to hear from you. And we, I got on my knees, I said, praying God, I need a word from you. And Lord said, open your Bible. And immediately it in the book of Acts.
where Jesus was, and says, look, and Jesus was speaking to Paul, and he says, do not fear.
I brought you this place and I have many people in this place. And so that was a confirmation. Okay, Lord, I know you want us here. But my wife was very instrumental too because sometimes in frustration, despair, barrenness, uncertainty, she put in some old tapes of Pastor Mitchell. Wayman Mitchell.
Josie Dominguez (2:07:21)
preaching no matter
where I go the preaching
Perry Dominguez (2:07:24)
And what I want to say is that when I was, before I was pastoring, I tended to gravitate towards some of the flashy preaching, some of the evangelists, know. There was an evangelist named Fury, Al Fury, and then there's a few other evangelists. And I liked those messages, but I couldn't quite wrap my arms around Pastor Mitchell's preaching. But when I became a pastor,
When I began to really understand the focus of the calling and the responsibility of pastoring and preaching this gospel, man, my favorite preacher was Pastor Wayme Mitchell. My wife would put these cassettes and all of a it was like, oh, yes, now I know why we're here, what we're doing, and I'm to put my hands to the plow and go forward.
It was very instrumental and I thank God that my wife had the wisdom to do that because that helped.
Josie Dominguez (2:08:18)
the wisdom is a matter of knowing that this is your life. So wherever we've gone, I always have Christian music, praise and worship, not those hallelujah thing, but praise and worship that speaks about God, the goodness of God, of how God has delivered people.
Perry Dominguez (2:08:35)
In name of Jesus.
Josie Dominguez (2:08:36)
And
also the preaching is, wherever we've gone, I've always had preaching. mean, preaching is what keeps me going. It's a lifeline. Yes, exactly. Amen. so there's many times that I say, my goodness, I can live better in America. can't be good. We only have one child, you know, and I have grandkids now.
Adam Dragoon (2:08:45)
That's why we do this.
Perry Dominguez (2:08:46)
Yes.
Adam Dragoon (2:08:58)
The price gets higher.
Josie Dominguez (2:08:59)
And so, you know, and then again I said, God, can I stand before you now and say I did everything I could for you? Of course not. You know, and so there's many things that, you know, you take things for granted, of course, you know, when you're in America or things like that, when you live overseas, it's totally different. But your lifeline is the preaching, you know, reading your Bible. I mean, I'm not a super spiritual woman, you know, I mean, don't, but I do.
I every day. wake up six o'clock in the morning. I grab my Bible because it's my lifestyle. You know, I'm not like saying, okay, look at me. I'm going to do this. No. Wherever we've gone, that's what I've done, you know, this whole time because that's what I know. And as a Christian, as a wife, you're supposed to be a godly wife. so it helps us a lot in our ministry. I mean, I'm not an angel, of course. I mean, but there's times that you...
Perry Dominguez (2:09:48)
Yeah,
my wife is coming along waiting. You know, this is going to sound odd, but this is for all the people that, the sisters who are wondering why is there no female discipleship events? I used to ask that question naively too when I was, even as a young pastor, know, some...
Ladies in the church would ask, why is it just for the men? But I had an epiphany of revelation. Years down the road, a minister was talking to my wife and I said, know, you've really changed. You've become a great disciple of Jesus Christ. So then I started...
naively thinking, know, okay, well, who's been the influence in your life? Is it this pastor's wife or that pastor's wife, you know, and she paused for a moment, said, which sister, you know, and she stopped and she said, it's you. And all of sudden, those...
Adam Dragoon (2:10:50)
Wow.
Josie Dominguez (2:10:51)
Yes.
Perry Dominguez (2:10:54)
previous questions and all these thinking that now I understand clearly why there's no female
Discipleship meetings and the wisdom of Pastor Mitchell and I understand why we don't need Joyce Myers. God bless you if you subscribe to that. But I realize it is the husband, the father, the husband's responsibility to influence and disciple his family, disciple his wife, disciple his children.
You don't need Joyce Myers to influence your wife. Husbands, you are the biggest influence. And your wife is the potential to be your best friend. And your kids are your heritage and you need to disciple them.
Adam Dragoon (2:11:36)
Yeah,
and so much of that comes from just the willingness to step up and that was the problem in the garden the original Adam didn't didn't step up and protect his wife and this you know men have been Leary of filling that role right it does require supernatural strength to do that Holy Spirit right because we don't do it naturally right that's that's our fallen nature yes so I could spend another two hours with you guys but we're out of time okay I just want to close maybe by
Josie Dominguez (2:12:02)
Thank you.
Adam Dragoon (2:12:04)
praying for you guys and looking forward to the next chapter as you're going I guess you're gonna go back to Kazakhstan and gather your belongings and close out some some things there and then from there going to Peru so a whole new chapter ahead of you maybe you can give me and the audience a couple of things that we can be praying for for you guys
Perry Dominguez (2:12:05)
Peace.
Josie Dominguez (2:12:07)
Yes, amen.
Yes, we.
Perry Dominguez (2:12:14)
Yeah. And make a transition. Right.
Josie Dominguez (2:12:26)
fruitfulness, people, couples. Because that's what I pray for all the time whenever we go to another country I pray God give my husband couples, disciples to work with. And I'm always thankful because wherever we've gone we have people, men, that he trains and thank God for that.
Adam Dragoon (2:12:29)
Yeah.
Perry Dominguez (2:12:44)
I would say I totally agree that the Lord would open doors that we'd have key people that would be fruitful but also I would ask that you pray for my wife for her health for my health and and for our protection and and and yeah that we could have discernment and wisdom and be effective stewards with our time and the resources that God has given us and so that we could establish
establish a church there, not just a church, a Catholic church, a church that's sending churches and enlarging the kingdom of God.
Adam Dragoon (2:13:18)
Amen.
Okay, well, I'd to pray for you guys quickly and then if you wouldn't mind maybe you guys could say a prayer for the audience that's heard this and lift them up and then we'll close it out. Thank you guys. Father, come by the precious name of Jesus Christ. I thank you for Perry and Josie, Lord, for their testimony, God. I pray that you would just bless and help them, God, as they are traveling, as they are making this transition. I'm just believing you, Lord, to help them, give them your mind and your heart, God.
I pray that you would bless the church in Kazakhstan as they come under new leadership.
Perry Dominguez (2:13:53)
Yes,
yes, yes.
Adam Dragoon (2:13:56)
praying
as they enter this new field of ministry in Lima, God, you would give them open doors, miraculous healing and supernatural ministry there, open doors, God, key converts, Lord, and fruitfulness. God bless them for their years of faithfulness and obedience to you, God. You see the heart, the labor, the burden, the prices that have been paid in secret places, God, and Lord, that you would just bring supernatural covering over them as they go. God, pray for
their their bodies, their minds, their spirit, that this time, God, this chapter would be filled with your glory and your power as they go forward. And bless all of those who've heard this today, God, encourage them. And we thank you for this opportunity in Jesus' name.
Perry Dominguez (2:14:38)
Amen. And Father, I'm praying for all those that are maybe listening to this podcast, present and future. I pray, God, that any seeds of revelation that have been imparted to us, that have been shared, can be a blessing, resulting in fruitfulness, resulting in understanding and knowledge and blessing.
that this podcast would bring hope and encouragement because Lord we know that you can do wonderful things with broken vessels and use them for your glory. I remember Mark 16, 15 we know that is a great commission and the Lord confirmed them with signs falling but right in that same chapter is Mary Magdalene who the Bible says Lord you cast seven demons out of her and she was the first to see you.
resurrected. And Lord, you use broken vessels. And I pray for those that are listening who come to some points in ministry of despair, discouragement, even depression. Right now I rebuke those demonic arguments in Jesus' name. I plead the blood of Jesus upon these precious souls that are listening, these ministers of the Gospel. And I proclaim liberty to their hearts and their minds and hope in Jesus' name.
And I pray God that you would bring them encouragement that as they put their hands to the plow and don't look back and trust you and seek you, that you will surely open many doors. Lord, we understand the reality, just as Paul said in 2 Corinthians, in the conclusion chapter, the Lord has opened doors, but there are many adversaries. We understand we have to deal in a spiritual battle.
in the spirit realm, but Lord we are so thankful because we know you open the doors. And we know that as long as you are there with us, you have enabled us and equipped us for victory. And as 1 John chapter 5 verse 4 says, everyone that is born of God overcomes the world and this is our victory, even our faith in you Lord Jesus. And Lord I pray God bless those listening, make them fruitful, raise them up, inspire their heart.
to do your will in Jesus' name we pray, amen.
Adam Dragoon (2:16:39)
Amen.
Thank you guys. You guys are a blessing. My prayer is that somebody who hears this would be inspired by your story, not just to be saved, to get serious and submitted to Christ, but also that there would be a continuation of that missionary spirit. And you don't have to go to another nation to have a missionary spirit. You can go across the street.
Josie Dominguez (2:17:00)
Yeah, your neighborhood.
Perry Dominguez (2:17:02)
Chicago.
Adam Dragoon (2:17:03)
Chicago
or Miami missionaries that's right and that willingness that boldness to preach the good news where it needs to be heard and so I want to thank you guys for your labors I want to thank you guys for your example and long-term faithfulness is is not something to underappreciate that you guys are an amazing example and even though you you spend a lot of time far away from home but there's a lot of people even like me that
I'm glad I got to spend this time with you and get to know you little bit better. even people like me who don't know you that well, we are inspired by you guys and your story. we appreciate it.
Josie Dominguez (2:17:42)
Well, we thank
God for the fellowship. We thank God for the fellowship. Example ship. Really our leaders. I mean, I really thank God for them. Pastor Campbell, especially with Connie's wife. I mean, I appreciate them so much because to me they are like my kind of like a father. So whenever I would see Pastor Campbell, I give him a hug. So is Pastor Mitchell and all of them. And I'm very, very thankful because they're the one who inspired us to be faithful. I mean, to really serve God.
I mean, you can see other people and, but with their example ship and other pastors are pastors and other pastors that have pastored us and all the leaders that we have.
Perry Dominguez (2:18:21)
I want to
say I thank my pastor, Dave Szczepanski, who's been my pastor since 1992. he has demonstrated with his leadership, his walk with Christ, faithfulness, liberality, sober mindedness, and just perseverance in the storm and fruitfulness. And he has hope.
for people and I appreciate his leadership and his testimony that has been a reference point for us and Vanita. Amen. And Vanita's wonderful hospitality and just...
Josie Dominguez (2:18:51)
We're thankful for that.
Thank God for those who support us. You guys, thank you.
Adam Dragoon (2:19:01)
Thank
God. I'm so grateful that we have a fellowship that believes in work and supports that. We don't just send people out, we support.
Josie Dominguez (2:19:07)
Yes.
Perry Dominguez (2:19:13)
something
that a lot of times people take for granted until they step outside and look at the religious world, my goodness. And we have to be very thankful for the model that was established in early days by Pastor Mitchell, by Pastor Warner, by the early pioneers.
Adam Dragoon (2:19:33)
go to a Baptist school and so when walking through their fellowship hall they have a hallway that's filled with missionaries, pictures and letters. But you realize that these are people that they had come through their church. They're not directly connected. I mean they know of them, but they're not, it's not the same.
Perry Dominguez (2:19:52)
Exactly.
Adam Dragoon (2:19:53)
These
are people that they can put on the wall, but they don't know them. They don't know their stories. And so what we have in our fellowship, I'm saying that to say this, is so unique. Yes, very powerful. And the fact that you guys can can spend so many years as missionaries out in other nations like you have, it's a testimony to your faithfulness, but also, like you said, to Pastor Suspansky and to the Jacksonville Church and many others who have supported you in finances. What an incredible thing. So.
Josie Dominguez (2:20:19)
So thank
you. Thank you everyone.
Adam Dragoon (2:20:21)
Yes, thank God. And thank you to our listeners who made it all the way. We're almost three hours into this. So thank you. Thank you guys for sticking with it. And you are the reason why we have this podcast for being premium subscribers. Thank you for your faithfulness. And I know that you're going to hear something during this episode that inspired you. So I would encourage you to share it with somebody. And thank you for your time, guys. You had wonderful time.
Perry Dominguez (2:20:44)
I think.
Josie Dominguez (2:20:45)
Thank you
for having us. Thank you very much. bless you.
Adam Dragoon (2:20:49)
God
bless you all and we'll see you next time on Taking the Line Podcast.
Construction begins – Let’s go!
I wanted to give you a current report of how our building fund is doing and what we need going forward
Last Saturday was a magnificent display of the Spirit of God inspiring dozens of people to come together for the work of the Lord. Take a look at the video report:
Click to enlarge
I wanted to give you a current report of how our building fund is doing and what we need going forward. I’ve put together this chart to show our current income and expenses.
What it shows:
You have been generous! Thank you for your support. It has allowed us to get things rolling.
At this moment, we still need to raise $5650 within the next month to remain above board.
This chart does NOT include all of our anticipated expenses. The biggest ones to expect are:
Bathrooms - I am expecting a cost of $5K to get the bathrooms ready
Flooring - We already have a huge pile of carpet tiles that have been donated, but we will probably need more - $2K-$3K.
Lumber for the new stage. Hopefully we can get what we need for about $500.
We’ve come a long way, and we have enough to cover the first phase, but we will need you to dig deep with us to get this building across the finish line.
Could God speak to you to free up some assets to help finish this project? Is it time to have a garage sale and donate the proceeds? Whatever you can do to help us in this critical moment would be GREATLY appreciated.
With love,
Pastor Adam
Convenient Vs. Covenant: Navigating Life's Promises and Pitfalls
In our spiritual journey, we often come across a crossroads where we must choose between what feels convenient and what aligns with a covenant. This decision is vividly illustrated in the life of Abraham, the father of faith, as detailed in Proverbs 3:1-8 and Genesis 16. Here, scripture not only guides us but challenges us to reflect on our own life choices.
In our spiritual journey, we often come across a crossroads where we must choose between what feels convenient and what aligns with a covenant. This decision is vividly illustrated in the life of Abraham, the father of faith, as detailed in Proverbs 3:1-8 and Genesis 16. Here, scripture not only guides us but challenges us to reflect on our own life choices.
The Covenant Call
God's call to Abram (later Abraham) in Genesis 12 is a call out of comfort into an adventure of faith. "Get out of your country, from your family and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you," God commanded. This wasn't just a physical journey but a spiritual one, trusting in God's promise over human understanding—an echo of Proverbs 3:5-6, "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."
The Convenient Choice
When faced with the delay of God's promise of a child, Sarai and Abram took matters into their own hands, introducing Hagar into their marital covenant. This was not just a cultural norm but a stark deviation from the divine path. Genesis 16 narrates this detour, showcasing the immediate consequences: strife, jealousy, and a fractured family dynamic.
Understanding the Pitfall
The name 'Hagar'—meaning flight or escape—is a metaphor for the shortcuts we take when God's timeline doesn't align with ours. In our lives, these shortcuts can manifest in various forms:
For Young Men: Opting for the instant gratification of video games or pornography instead of pursuing meaningful work or relationships.
For Young Women: Relying on physical allure for attention rather than cultivating inner beauty and godly character.
For Many in the Church: Choosing passivity over active participation in God's kingdom work.
For Parents: Handing over a device to entertain rather than engaging in the hard work of teaching patience and discipline.
For Addicts: Choosing temporary relief over addressing underlying issues.
God's Timing vs. Human Timing
Isaiah reminds us, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," (Isaiah 55:8-9). This scripture encourages us to embrace God's higher, often mysterious, ways over our immediate, human solutions. The story of Job further illustrates this; his trials were not for his downfall but to showcase his faith and God's sovereignty.
Repentance and Redemption
Despite the missteps, God's story with Abraham didn't end in failure. The birth of Isaac, as promised in Genesis 21, reaffirms that God’s covenants are never nullified by human error. Yet, the aftermath of Ishmael's birth shows us the complexity of undoing human solutions to divine promises. Abraham's heart was torn, yet the decision to send Hagar and Ishmael away was necessary, highlighting the painful yet necessary alignment with God's plan.
Conclusion
Choosing covenant over convenience is difficult, especially when the world offers immediate solutions. However, the life of faith Abraham lived teaches us that waiting on God, even through decades of silence, leads to outcomes we could never engineer ourselves. As we navigate our personal journeys, may we choose the path of covenant, understanding that God's promises might not align with our timelines but will always lead to true fulfillment and peace.
Call to Action
Reflect on areas of your life where you might be choosing convenience over covenant. Pray for wisdom, patience, and the courage to trust in God's timing. Share this story with someone who might be struggling with a similar decision, reminding them that God's ways are higher, His timing perfect, and His promises sure.
From Dream to Action: Powerful lessons for christians from the example of Martin Luther King Jr.
Dr. King's commitment to non-violence, justice, and love mirrors the teachings of Christ, offering us a blueprint for living out our faith in a modern world.
Since learning about his story when I was young, I have always been fascinated by Dr. King’s story and message. It's imperative for us, as followers of Jesus Christ, to consider how his teachings and actions resonate with the messages found within the Bible. Dr. King's commitment to non-violence, justice, and love mirrors the teachings of Christ, offering us a blueprint for living out our faith in a modern world.
Love Your Neighbor: Dr. King's philosophy was deeply rooted in the Christian principle of loving one's neighbor, which he demonstrated through his fight for civil rights and equality. In Matthew 22:39 (NIV), the Bible commands us, "Love your neighbor as yourself." King took this command to heart, advocating for the rights of all people regardless of race. As Christians, we are called to live this out by fighting for justice, equality, and love in our communities. Action Point: How can we show love to those different from us, breaking down barriers of prejudice in our daily interactions?
Peace Through Non-violence: King's strategy of non-violent protest was not just a political tactic but a spiritual one, reflecting Jesus' teachings on peace. In Matthew 5:9 (NIV), Jesus says, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." King's peaceful resistance during the civil rights movement was a live enactment of this teaching from the Sermon on the Mount. For us, this means pursuing peace in conflict, using words and actions that heal rather than harm. Action Point: Reflect on disputes in your life. How can you approach them with peace rather than confrontation?
The Courage to Stand for Justice: King’s courage to speak truth to power is a lesson in courage for every Christian. Proverbs 31:8-9 (NIV) urges, "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy." King's life was a testament to standing up for justice, even at significant personal risk. As followers of Christ, we are called to advocate for the marginalized and oppressed, using our voices and resources to uplift those in need. Action Point: Identify one issue in your community where you can advocate for justice. How can you make your voice heard?
Faith in Action: James 2:26 (NIV) tells us, "As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead." Dr. King's faith was active; it led him to march, speak, and write. His faith propelled him to act, showing us that belief without action is incomplete. We must embody our faith through deeds that reflect Christ's love, justice, and compassion. Action Point: What tangible action can you take this week to demonstrate your faith through service?
The Dream of Unity: King's dream of unity and brotherhood echoes the Christian vision of the Kingdom of God, where all are one. Galatians 3:28 (NIV) says, "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." His dream aligns with the biblical vision of unity in diversity, urging us towards inclusivity in our church and beyond. Action Point: How can we become a beacon of unity, reflecting the diverse body of Christ?
Martin Luther King Jr.'s life and teachings provide a profound example of what it means to live out the Gospel in our world today. His legacy challenges us to examine our lives, asking if our faith is merely spoken or actively lived. Let us carry forward his dream, not just in memory but in action, striving to make our communities places where love, justice, and peace reign, as Jesus taught.
Let's dream, but more importantly, let's act.
Questions for a Year of Transformation
God loves us too much to let us stay the same. This year, change is coming—whether we embrace it with joy or resist it in frustration is up to us. Remember, not all change is good, but when it’s directed by God, it always leads to growth, healing, and greater glory.
Photo by Chris Lawton on Unsplash
As we step into this new year, let’s reflect on a powerful truth: transformation isn’t just a moment; it’s a process. Spiritual transformation requires persistence, intentionality, and a willingness to embrace change.
The Apostle Paul reminds us of this ongoing transformation:
“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 3:18 NKJV)
This year, let’s pray hard, seek deeper, and embrace the changes God calls us to make.
The Necessity of Transformation
When we accept Christ, everything changes:
We are born again (John 3:3).
Our perspectives shift, and our values align with God’s Word (2 Corinthians 5:17).
The Holy Spirit works within us, guiding us to let go of the old and embrace the new.
Transformation is rarely comfortable. The Israelites resisted Moses’ efforts to lead them out of slavery. Even Jesus, at the pool of Bethesda, asked the paralytic, “Do you want to get well?” (John 5:6). True change demands desire and courage to step into the unknown.
Questions to Spark Transformation
Jesus often used questions to provoke thought and inspire transformation. Here are some of the questions He asked—and how they might guide us this year:
“What do you want me to do for you?”
(Mark 10:51)Are you clear about what you’re asking God for in this season?
“Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
(Mark 4:40)How can you surrender your fears and trust God more deeply?
“Who do you say I am?”
(Matthew 16:15)What does your life say about who Jesus is to you?
“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”
(Luke 6:46)Are your actions aligned with your declarations of faith?
“Do you love me?”
(John 21:15–17)How is your love for Jesus reflected in your daily life?
Seven Transformational Questions to provoke change
To grow in Christ this year, consider these questions:
Lord, what needs to change in my life?
Psalm 139:23-24 reminds us to invite God to search our hearts and reveal what’s holding us back.
Does my heart truly desire God?
Proverbs 4:23 warns us to guard our hearts, for they are the wellspring of life. What is your heart’s deepest desire?
Do my daily habits draw me closer to God?
Reflect on your prayer, Bible study, and worship habits. Are they nurturing your soul?
Do I live with a hopeful, heaven-focused mind?
Are you anchored in the hope of eternity, allowing it to shape your perspective on earthly challenges?
Do I refuse to let any enemy dominate me?
Are there habits or desires that have gained too much control over your life?
Am I building relationships in obedience to the one-another commands of Scripture?
Are you actively loving, serving, and encouraging others in your community?
Do I make Christ known to friends and neighbors?
Are you stepping out in faith to share the Gospel with those around you?
Embrace the Change
God loves us too much to let us stay the same. This year, change is coming—whether we embrace it with joy or resist it in frustration is up to us. Remember, not all change is good, but when it’s directed by God, it always leads to growth, healing, and greater glory.
Let’s commit to a year of transformation, praying like David in Psalm 51:10: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
Are you ready to let God transform your life this year?
Just Because It Has Been, Doesn’t Mean It Will Be
In the Atacama Desert of Chile—one of the driest, most desolate places on Earth—something extraordinary happens when conditions align. Known as the "Desert Bloom," this phenomenon transforms the barren landscape into a vibrant sea of wildflowers. Seeds that lay dormant for years spring to life after an unusual amount of rainfall, attracting insects, birds, and lizards. It's a stunning reminder that even the most lifeless environments can host hidden potential.
This natural wonder provides a powerful metaphor for our spiritual and personal growth. Just as the desert’s bloom requires rain, we, too, need an outward force to break us out of stagnation and into motion. As Newton’s laws of motion remind us, an object at rest stays at rest unless acted upon by an external force. The question is, what force will we allow to propel us forward?
In the Atacama Desert of Chile—one of the driest, most desolate places on Earth—something extraordinary happens when conditions align. Known as the "Desert Bloom," this phenomenon transforms the barren landscape into a vibrant sea of wildflowers. Seeds that lay dormant for years spring to life after an unusual amount of rainfall, attracting insects, birds, and lizards. It's a stunning reminder that even the most lifeless environments can host hidden potential.
The normal state of the Atacama Desert in Chile
A rare desert bloom that occured this year after an unusual amount of rainfall
This natural wonder provides a powerful metaphor for our spiritual and personal growth. Just as the desert’s bloom requires rain, we, too, need an outward force to break us out of stagnation and into motion. As Newton’s laws of motion remind us, an object at rest stays at rest unless acted upon by an external force. The question is, what force will we allow to propel us forward?
The Call to Let Go of the Past
Isaiah 43:18-19 encourages us: “Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”
This passage challenges us to release the grip of past failures, regrets, or even successes that hold us back. Dwelling on the past is like living in a museum—fascinating but stagnant. While it’s important to learn from history, we must resist the temptation to remain stuck there. To move forward, we need to fix our eyes on what lies ahead, much like racers who focus on the finish line. As Hebrews 12:1 exhorts, let us “lay aside every weight” and run with endurance.
“Dwelling on the past is like living in a museum—fascinating but stagnant.”
Embracing God’s New Vision
When God says, “I will do a new thing,” He invites us to see beyond the visible and trust His promises. Consider the stories of faith throughout Scripture:
Abram lived over 70 years as a wealthy farmer before God called him to a covenant that changed the trajectory of his life.
Moses spent 40 years in the desert, only to be summoned back to Egypt as a deliverer of God’s people.
After 400 years of prophetic silence between the testaments, God sent John the Baptist, then Jesus, as the ultimate fulfillment of His promises.
Time and again, God shatters expectations and brings life out of what seems lifeless. Like a seed buried in soil, what appears dormant often holds immense potential.
How to Move Forward
To align ourselves with God’s new plans, we need to:
Stay Spiritually Alert: Be sensitive to God’s voice in prayer and through His Word.
Discern the New Thing: Seek clarity on how God is working in your life.
Embrace Change: Be willing to step into the unfamiliar, even if it’s uncomfortable.
Just as the desert’s transformation begins with rain, our lives can experience renewal when we open ourselves to God’s direction. Let us pray hard, remain expectant, and trust that He is creating rivers in the desert of our lives. Change may not always be easy, but it’s the catalyst for growth—the “rain” that helps dormant seeds bloom.
When Christmas Hurts: How to Bring Hope to the Grieving This Season
Christmas is often portrayed as the most wonderful time of the year. The lights, music, and gatherings create an atmosphere of joy and celebration. Yet, for many, this season is anything but joyful. For those grieving a loss, battling depression, or enduring financial hardships, the holiday can amplify their pain. As believers, we are called to be sensitive to these realities and extend Christ’s love to those who are hurting. Romans 12:15 provides a foundation for this call: "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn."
Here are three ways we can embody this Scripture and care for the hurting during Christmas.
Christmas is often portrayed as the most wonderful time of the year.
The lights, music, and gatherings create an atmosphere of joy and celebration. Yet, for many, this season is anything but joyful. For those grieving a loss, battling depression, or enduring financial hardships, the holiday can amplify their pain. As believers, we are called to be sensitive to these realities and extend Christ’s love to hurting people. Romans 12:15 provides a foundation for this call: "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn."
“For those grieving a loss, battling depression, or enduring financial hardships, the holiday can amplify their pain.”
Here are three ways we can embody this Scripture and care for the hurting during Christmas.
1. Recognize the Pain Amid the Celebration
While Christmas is a season of rejoicing, it is also a time when many people feel the weight of their struggles. The empty seat at the dinner table, the memories of better times, or the challenges of financial instability can cast a shadow over the festivities. As followers of Christ, we must open our eyes to the pain around us and be willing to sit with others in their sorrow.
Empathy starts with acknowledgment. Instead of assuming everyone shares in the joy of the season, take time to listen and understand their experiences. Like Job’s friends, who sat silently with him in his grief (Job 2:11-13), we can offer a ministry of presence by simply being there for those who are hurting.
Practical Tip: Reach out to someone you suspect might be struggling. A simple “How are you really doing this season?” can open the door to meaningful connection.
2. Share Christ’s Love Through Compassion and Presence
Galatians 6:2 reminds us, "Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ." One of the most powerful ways we can love others during Christmas is by shouldering their burdens. This doesn’t always require grand gestures—often, it’s the small acts of kindness that mean the most.
Jesus modeled compassion throughout His ministry. He wept with those who were grieving (John 11:35), healed the sick, and reached out to the marginalized. We are called to follow His example, offering a listening ear, a comforting word, or a helping hand to those in need.
Practical Tip: Consider practical ways to support someone who is mourning or struggling. For example, you could invite them to share a meal, send them a thoughtful note, or simply spend time with them.
3. Offer Hope and Light in the Darkness
While we acknowledge the pain others are experiencing, we also have the privilege of pointing them to the hope found in Christ. Christmas celebrates the arrival of Emmanuel—God with us—a reminder that even in our darkest moments, we are not alone.
Jesus calls us to be the light of the world (Matthew 5:14-16). For those navigating grief or depression, the light of Christ’s love can shine through us. This doesn’t mean offering clichés or shallow solutions but gently reminding them of God’s presence and promises.
Practical Tip: Share Scripture or a Gospel tract that invites them to a future service. Let them know you are praying for them and that they are not forgotten.
Closing Thoughts
This Christmas, let’s remember that while many are rejoicing, others are mourning. By recognizing their pain, showing compassion, and offering the hope of Christ, we can embody God’s love in a deeply meaningful way.
Take Action This Season:
Pray: Ask God to reveal people in your life who may need support during the holidays.
Act: Be intentional about reaching out and offering practical help or companionship.
Share: Remind those who are hurting of God’s love and His promise to be near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18).
As Romans 12:15 reminds us, we are called to share in both the joys and sorrows of those around us. Let’s be the hands and feet of Jesus, bringing comfort and hope to those who need it most this Christmas.
7 Shocking Truths About the Nativity Story That Will Change How You See Christmas
The Nativity story is one of the most cherished narratives in history. Each December, scenes of Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus fill churches, homes, and public squares. But how well do you really know this timeless tale? Some details might surprise you and deepen your appreciation for its powerful message. Let’s dive into some of the most unexpected and fascinating aspects of the Nativity story.
The Nativity story is one of the most cherished narratives in history. Each December, scenes of Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus fill churches, homes, and public squares. But how well do you really know this timeless tale? Some details might surprise you and deepen your appreciation for its powerful message. Let’s dive into some of the most unexpected and fascinating aspects of the Nativity story.
1. Mary Was Likely a Teenager
It’s surprising to think that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was probably just a teenager when she gave birth. In her time and culture, it was common for young women to marry in their early teens. Imagine the immense faith and courage it took for someone so young to accept her role in such a divine plan. Mary’s willingness to embrace this responsibility makes her story all the more extraordinary. (Luke 1:26-38)
2. Joseph’s Quiet Heroism
Joseph’s role in the Nativity story often gets overshadowed, but his quiet heroism is worth celebrating. When he learned Mary was pregnant, he initially planned to divorce her quietly to protect her from public disgrace. However, an angel appeared to him in a dream, urging him to stay by her side. Joseph’s steadfast faith and humility exemplify strength and devotion, making him an unsung hero of the story. (Matthew 1:18-25)
3. The King of Kings Was Born in a Stable
Jesus, the Messiah and King, was born in one of the humblest settings imaginable—likely a stable or cave. His first bed was a manger, a feeding trough for animals. This astonishing detail defies expectations of grandeur and emphasizes the humility of Christ’s mission. The setting of His birth serves as a powerful reminder that greatness can emerge from the most unassuming places. (Luke 2:6-7)
4. Shepherds Were the First to Hear the News
Shepherds, often considered lowly and marginalized in society, were the first to hear about Jesus’ birth. An angel appeared to them in the fields, proclaiming the good news. This moment highlights the inclusivity of the Nativity story, emphasizing that the message of hope and salvation is for everyone, regardless of social standing. (Luke 2:8-20)
5. The Mystery of the Star of Bethlehem
The Star of Bethlehem is one of the most debated elements of the Nativity story. Scholars and astronomers have speculated whether it was a comet, a supernova, or a rare planetary alignment. Regardless of its nature, the star’s guiding role symbolizes divine intervention, leading the Magi to Jesus and demonstrating God’s active presence in the world. (Matthew 2:1-2, 9-10)
6. The Wise Men Didn’t Arrive on Christmas Night
Contrary to traditional nativity scenes, the Magi did not visit Jesus on the night of His birth. Their journey from the East likely took months or even years, and they found Jesus in a house rather than a stable. This timeline sheds light on the broader narrative and the dedication of these scholars or astrologers who recognized the significance of Jesus’ birth. (Matthew 2:1-12)
7. The Dark Side of Herod’s Reign
King Herod’s reaction to the news of Jesus’ birth adds a chilling layer to the Nativity story. Consumed by paranoia over losing his throne, Herod ordered the “Massacre of the Innocents,” killing all male children under two in Bethlehem. This tragic event underscores the stark contrast between earthly power and the peaceful mission of Christ’s arrival. (Matthew 2:13-18)
Why These Surprises Matter
Each of these surprising details adds depth and richness to the Nativity story. They remind us of the humility, faith, and divine purpose woven throughout this remarkable event. As you reflect on the familiar scene of the manger this Christmas, consider these lesser-known facets that make the story even more awe-inspiring.
Important Updates on Giving Tuesday | New Building Fund!
Happy Tuesday! I wanted to share a few important updates with all of you.
The season of giving is here, and we certainly have a big project to present to you. I’m happy to announce that we have our sights set on a NEW BUILDING! This is a unique opportunity that I believe the Lord is leading us toward. The location is a five-minute walk from our current location, just across Lynnhaven Pkwy, behind the Dollar Tree. There is a building with a lot of potential for both our current and future ministries.
Current street view of 3133 Magic Hollow Blvd
We’ve started the process of renting 4,000 sq ft on the street-facing first floor of this spacious building. Future plans include a modernized lobby with a full coffee shop. The second floor will be available for a nursery, Sunday school rooms, or even leasing opportunities for Christian businesses. The possibilities are endless.
We Need Your Help!
Our path ahead will involve extensive demolition and renovation. We estimate the costs will be between $30,000 and $40,000 over the next 3 to 6 months. While this might sound like a large number, we know that God is a generous Father, and He is already beginning to pour out resources into the hands of His children to make this project happen. We believe there are kind-hearted business people, Kingdom-minded entrepreneurs, and many everyday soldiers in the Lord’s Army who see the opportunity to respond to the need in front of us. Want to join? As always, all donations are tax-deductible.
7 Reasons Why You Should Attend Revival Meetings
The church is a place of hope, renewal, and spiritual growth, and one of the best ways to experience this is by participating in revival meetings. These gatherings aren't just another event on the church calendar; they are a time for us to come together, refresh our spirits, and reignite our faith. If you’ve been on the fence about attending, here are seven compelling reasons why you should make revival meetings a priority:
A Fresh Encounter with God
Revival meetings are more than just services; they are an opportunity for a fresh encounter with God. When we gather together with open hearts, seeking God’s presence, we often experience Him in new and powerful ways. Revival meetings are designed to break through the routine and help us reconnect deeply with God, reminding us of His love, grace, and power.
“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” –James 4:8
Spiritual Renewal and Restoration
Life can be draining. We often get so caught up in daily responsibilities and challenges that our spiritual energy runs low. Revival meetings are like a spiritual “reset,” allowing God to replenish our hearts, minds, and souls. Whether you’ve been feeling spiritually dry or simply want to grow closer to God, these meetings can be a source of deep spiritual renewal.
Powerful Worship and Prayer
There’s something incredibly uplifting about coming together with fellow believers to worship and pray. Revival meetings create an atmosphere where the Holy Spirit can move freely among us. The songs, prayers, and shared moments of praise have the power to uplift our spirits, break strongholds, and bring peace that surpasses understanding. When we worship together, the burdens we carry can be lifted in God’s presence.
A Chance for Personal Breakthrough
Revival meetings are known for being times when people experience significant personal breakthroughs. Whether you’re struggling with doubts, battling anxiety, facing life’s challenges, or simply longing for more of God, these gatherings provide an opportunity for God to move in your life in miraculous ways. When we gather with an expectation that God will show up, He often does.
“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” –Matthew 18:20
Strengthening Community Bonds
Church is not just about the individual; it’s about the collective body of Christ. Revival meetings are an excellent way to strengthen the bonds of fellowship within our church family. As we worship, pray, and seek God together, we grow closer not only to Him but also to one another. These meetings can lead to lasting friendships and a deeper sense of belonging within our church community.
Reviving Your Passion for Ministry
When we are spiritually revived, our passion for serving others often increases. Whether you are actively involved in a ministry or considering how you can serve, attending revival meetings can reignite your desire to share God’s love with those around you. The inspiration and motivation gained during these gatherings can carry over into your personal ministry, enabling you to serve with renewed enthusiasm.
Preparing for a New Season
Revival meetings are often a precursor to new seasons of growth, both personally and for the church as a whole. By attending, you position yourself to receive God’s direction for your life and be a part of the new things He is doing in our church. It’s a time to pray for the future, seek God’s will, and align your heart with His plans.
Join Us and Be Transformed!
Revival meetings are more than a church event; they are an invitation from God to experience His power, grace, and love in a deeper way. Whether you’ve been walking with God for years or are just starting your journey, we encourage you to set aside time to join us. Come expectant, come open, and watch how God transforms your life.
Revival with Dave Johnson Starts tonight and continues Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Please join us!
Columbus Day: Worth Celebrating!
Today is America's 80th official #ColumbusDay! He's a flawed man (just like the rest of us), but he left an indelible legacy of courage, adventure, and exploration.
His name lives on in more ways than you could count. 23 of the 50 United States have a town or city named after Columbus. A university, a great river, our nation's capitol, a Canadian province, a movie studio, a record company, a broadcasting company (CBS), a sportswear company, a space shuttle (which disintegrated on re-entry in 2003), a Los Angeles-class Navy Submarine, and a South American nation share his namesake, Columbia. In fact, our nation was known mainly by the name Columbia in the 1700s. Our unofficial national anthem was "Hail, Columbia"
He quite easily had more of an impact than every single one of his modern critics combined — times a thousand. These are the people we give holidays to, or used to. The people who shaped the world. And say whatever else you want about Columbus, he did more than almost any other single person to shape the world we live in today.
He was a devout Christian who sailed, in part, to fulfill a religious quest. Columbus’s voyages were intense religious missions. He saw them as the fulfillment of a divine plan for his life—and for the soon-coming end of the world. As he put it in 1500, “God made me the messenger of the new heaven and the new earth of which he spoke in the Apocalypse of St. John [Rev. 21:1] after having spoken of it through the mouth of Isaiah; and he showed me the spot where to find it.”
Was Columbus also a deeply flawed man? Could he be brutal and unjust? Yes. Sure, Columbus captured slaves. He executed both Spaniards and Indians under his rule. He took gold. He was by all accounts a bad governor. This was a common flaw of explorers of the era. Many of them were brilliant on their ships but incompetent or downright horrible on solid ground.
There is nothing wrong with acknowledging the flaws of men like Christopher Columbus. Nobody is suggesting that we should honor them as perfect people or worship them as gods. The point of the statues, the monuments, and the holidays is to remember and celebrate the indispensable role they played in establishing the civilization in which we all now live — a civilization that just so happens to be the freest and most prosperous in the history of the world. Columbus, through his navigational brilliance, boldness, courage, vision, and determination, is one of the men we have to thank for that.
Credits: Matt Walsh, Christian History Institute
God is Good! Vanessa is CANCER-FREE!
VBPH joined the Richardson family at the Sentara Oncology office to officially ring the bell and declare our sister cancer-free! Our God is so faithful to help us through all our struggles. This victory reminds us of His faithfulness towards His people. Be encouraged today!
Grand Opening Revival in Kempsville!
I am excited to invite you to our baby church's grand opening revival services in Kempsville! This will be a joyous celebration of Pastor Dave & Caitlin's new building and a culmination of years of prayers, outreaches, discipleship, and ministry training. It's also a perfect opportunity to see our vision at work and to impart it to the newest members of the Kempsville congregation!
As a part of our church family, your presence at this event is extremely important. We want to unite as a community and celebrate this milestone together. These special revival services will allow us to thank God for bringing us to this point and look forward to the future with hope and determination.
So, please join us tonight at 6:30 PM then Monday through Wednesday nights at 7:30 PM. Let's come together and make this a memorable day for everyone involved and the budding congregation in the Kempsville Church as they begin this journey together!
Thank you for being a faithful part of our church and your continued support. We look forward to seeing you there!
Many Blessings!
Preaching Trip to S. Africa & Mozambique: PART 1
It Has Begun! Prayers Needed..
Train Ride from Norfolk to DC
Today is the first day of a long journey. I will be in motion (on and off) for the next three days to reach my final destination for the first half of this trip: Cape Town, S. Africa.
I have anxiously anticipated this venture since the tickets were booked months ago. I am caught between the reality of my limitations and the possibilities of the supernatural, empowered by the Holy Spirit. In short, if all I’m bringing is me, it’s not enough to meet the demands of ministry before me. Both churches I’m visiting are thriving centers of revival. My impression of the Cape Town church under Pastor Hector Ortiz is that it is a discipleship and church planting machine, shepherded by a dynamic and effervescent leader. The Maputo church also has a legacy of soul-winning and discipleship since it was planted by some of my personal heroes, Pastor Scott & Kerri Grabowska.
It’s not the travel; some part of me wishes I could be in a new place every day. I suppose my intimidation comes from knowing the weight of the ministry before me these next couple of weeks. My fears stem from the thought of being an unworthy instrument for the task. I especially don’t want to waste the investment of time and resources that have been poured out for this trip. My prayer is that it will be worth it! For the pastors who’ve invited me, the congregations that will receive me, the precious people that need to hear from God, those who’ve given, those who are covering for me in the VB church, and ultimately, for the Kingdom of God!
If you read this while I’m still en route or while I’m still on the ground there, I would urgently ask you to please pray that Jehovah Jireh would provide to me the strength, wisdom, and anointing that I need and could never deserve to fulfill the enormous task ahead.
I feel like one of those random, unremarkable, smooth stones David pulled out of the brook before the battle with Goliath. Unfit and unable on its own to do anything to defeat hell and bring victory to the Kingdom of God. But in the sling of the young shepherd, it was launched with precise direction and sufficient velocity to cause fatal damage to the Philistine champion. The only confidence I have is in the hands of the Master. Lord, strike Your target!
God help me!
Give Now Using Cash App!
Here at The Potter's House, we are always looking for ways to make it easier for our members to give back to our community and support our ministry. That's why we're excited to announce that we are now accepting donations using Cash App. This popular mobile payment app makes it easy to send and receive money from virtually anywhere.
By adding Cash App as a donation option, we are expanding our giving options to include the technology many people use daily. With just a few taps on your phone, you can now make a donation to support The Potter's House wherever you are.
If Cash App is not your thing, we can still receive tithes and offerings via cash, check, or our online giving platform: give.vbph.church
Try it Out:
If you haven't used Cash App before, don't worry! It's easy to get started. Here's what you need to do:
Download the Cash App on your smartphone and create an account if you haven't already.
Link your bank account or debit card to your Cash App account.
Open
Use $vbph as the cashtag to give to, or scan the QR code below with your smartphone.
Scan Now to Give to $vbph
Of Bears And Boys
“Elisha left Jericho and went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, a group of boys from the town began mocking and making fun of him. “Go away, baldy!” they chanted. “Go away, baldy!” Elisha turned around and looked at them, and he cursed them in the name of the Lord. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of them.” -2 Kings 2:23-24 NLT
There is a powerful principle here that you shouldn't miss: God is not mocked, you will reap what you sow.
The failure of this scripture is not with the short temper of the prophet, Elisha. But rather, with the parents and teachers of these boys, who never taught hem to have any reverence for God or His prophet. I suspect the reason is because the parents held little regard for the man of God either, and potentially spoke evil of him in the privacy of their homes. Jesus told us that what is whispered in the secret places will be shouted from the rooftops. I think that's what happened in this account.
Be careful to train your children and your new converts to have a healthy dose of honor and respect for the leaders that God has placed in your life. If you don't, you may be setting them up for a horrific attack down the road.
It Is Good to… Learn an Instrument!
One problem I am noticing in churches today is the lack of people striving for music ministry.
David was a remarkable man. He was a shepherd, a warrior, and a king. But he was also a musician. This was a vital part of his faith going back to his days tending the sheep. Without his musical prowess, we might not have this excellent book of Psalms, prayers set to music. David’s encouragement here is: “It is good to give praise to God, accompanied by musical instruments.”
“It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to the Most High. It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening, accompanied by a ten-stringed instrument, a harp, and the melody of a lyre.” –Psalms 92:1-3 NLT
Our fellowship was birthed in the Jesus People movement of the late 60s and early 70s. There were many challenges in discipling young hippies, but one challenge they did not have was in music. Everyone seemed to have an acoustic guitar on their back and a tambourine in their purse. So when they were born again, they could immediately put their skills to use on the worship stage.
Fast forward to 2022, I see very few people with a heart to learn instruments or to improve their singing abilities, even fewer young people. Maybe it’s because so much of today’s music is produced and polished by computer programs that when someone does pick up an instrument, it doesn’t sound good at first, and they are discouraged from pursuing it further. I see many churches with “legacy” song-service workers, people who have been in their post faithfully for 15, 20, or 40 years. While it is terrific to have long-term faithfulness, we must also encourage newbies to rise up and take their places in the church.
Worship ministry is so critical to the life of the church. It can cause a service to soar or sink. For this reason, I challenge all of you aged 25 and younger to pick up an instrument or a microphone and allow God to use your life to be a blessing to your congregation.
In my own life, I was always a music lover, but I never seriously tried to play or sing before I was saved. As a new convert, I picked up a bass guitar for the first time when I wandered into a choir practice at church. It was never something I considered until that moment. But learning that instrument led to singing in bands and groups and, later on, picking up an acoustic guitar and learning how to hack some chords into a halfway decent presentation. Today, I play guitar in every song service in our church. What if I had never picked up that instrument?
Don’t let the fear of failure or the initial disappointment of bad-sounding music discourage you from pursuing musical proficiency for the Kingdom. If you are musical, invest in your God-given talent by taking lessons or committing to YouTube instructions. There are far more opportunities now than at any other point in human history. Bless your church, bless your pastor, and bless the Kingdom by becoming a good musician and living right.
One Wicked Queen Can Defeat a Man of God When 400 False Prophets Cannot
H/T Action Bible
Fresh off of a brilliant victory over 400 prophets of Baal,
Elijah’s spirit is shredded by the threatening words of the wicked queen, Jezebel. There are some interesting lessons to be learned here:
1.Don't underestimate the power that women hold over men.
Part of Eve’s curse was that her desire would be for her husband. Twisted by corrupted human nature, much evil has been accomplished by weak men under the carnal influence of domineering women. Elijah successfully overcame a multitude of pagan priests but was reduced to a crust of bread by Jezebel’s threats. Pastors and leaders of the church must be aware that they, too, can be easily manipulated and overcome by Jezebel’s disciples today.
2. Observe the path of the fearful prophet
First, fleeing to Beersheba (the same place Hagar was ostracized to by Abraham).
Next, he leaves his servant; discipleship is cast aside, training ceases, and the future of his ministry is put in doubt.
Then he goes ALONE into the wilderness to throw himself a pity party (no one else is ever invited).
Lastly, Elijah asks the Lord to take his life, surmising that his usefulness for the Kingdom has been sapped. No doubt the enemy is whispering a bevy of lies to his isolated mind.
IT IS NOT GOOD FOR MAN TO BE ALONE!