December 7 Update

As we walk through life we try our best to do the right things, say the right things, and live the right way. There are things we wish we could take back. But the things we watch, hear, say, can sometimes come back to hurt us or harm us…

Psalms 141:3 “Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.”

"Randy, Your message Friday night was very touching. I can admit that I have been having trouble with my walk with God and when I came to youth convention and heard your messaged I realized that there are things I do need to fix and I want to thank you for the message you gave. Like you said THE THINGS THAT YOU PUT IN COME BACK OUT and I know what that’s like because I have done it and I am not happy with the choice I made. Whether it was the cuss words or talking about the wrong things I have done all of it. And I can't figure out how to get away from it. Do you have any tips for me to walk away from these things? I am ready to walk away and be in a better walk with God. Thank you for all you did this weekend and I hope to hear you speak again sometime soon.”


Mikayla – Kansas

Our prayer during this holiday season is that God will help us guard our speech by filling our hearts and minds with the hope and joy of Jesus, whose birth we celebrate. “Behold I bring you good news of great joy for all the people; to you is born this day in the city of David a savior, who is Christ, the Lord.” Luke 2: 10 & 11

Randy and Lori DonGiovanni

When God is in it, everything falls into place.

“I was raised in the church. I went to Sunday school, I went to youth group in middle school, I was part of the church. Last year, at a retreat, one of the girls in my youth group told me something. She told me that I would never be good enough. She said that I was annoying, and ugly, and that everyone hated me. That was when I gave up. I stopped going to church, I stopped talking to my friends, I stopped trying to have any connection with God because I felt like I would never be good enough for Him to care. I felt like I was one grain of sand in the Atlantic Ocean, and that one would ever give me a chance. On August 15, 2010, my friend Alex invited me to come to his church. I don't know what happened, but I think it was God who told me that I had to go. It was the first time I would be going to church in over 8 months. I can honestly say that Alex led me back to God. It was like getting hit with a 2x4 in the face. God told me right then that I needed to start going to church again. So I started going with Alex, and I became involved with Res. Life and for once, I finally felt like I was part of a family again. But I still wasn't getting the full effect of God in my life. I was invited to come to Uprising, expecting just a fun weekend to hang out and praise God. But it was so much more than that. On Saturday night of Uprising, you talked about dreams, and you talked about how people will always try and sabotage them. I know what that's like. I had always wanted to have more pride in myself, but every time I tried, someone would tear me down completely. That Saturday night, you talked about dreams. That night, I surrendered. I stopped trying to run my own life, and decided let God run it for me. I walked away from Uprising with a new sense of pride, with the feeling that no one can tear me down because I have God on my side. I just wanted to thank you for that. :)”


Caitlin – Grand Haven MI


What I love about God is, he give us a way when there seems to be no way!


Love all of you,


Randy

Update November 9, 2010

“I wanted to share my testimony. It is nice for people to pray for my life and to show people that no one’s life is perfect, but God can change us no matter the circumstances.

My step father and mother argued a lot. I grew up in a mentally and physically abusive household. I was always beaten by my stepfather when my mother was at work

I dated to feel loved by someone. I ended up becoming addicted to sex and tried to please my boyfriends, Four months after my sixteenth birthday on October 27, 2008 I got saved. From there on November 15, 2009 I spoke in tongues for the first time, and on November 16, 2009 I was baptized in water. When I finally knew who God was my whole life changed. It had its up and downs, but God changed me forever. The man who molested me I was able to forgive because of the help of God. God has given me hope, love, strength, faith, and truth. This past weekend in has been amazing. This retreat has been an eye opening for me. I had just recently kind of felt a little lost from God. And since Randy let God use him to speak truth in our lives I got the opportunity to wake up. To again see God in the perspective that he wants me to see him in. God is all things and everything! I am only 18 years old, but the important thing is that God saved me. I like the traveling to help others. I have the passion to do more. I am so tired of sitting. Thank you for breathing into my life and telling me I am someone special! “

Anna –South Jersey

Update November 1, 2010

They say the Dreams are: A series of images, ideas, emotions, and sensations occurring involuntarily in the mind during certain stages of sleep.

Don’t take dreams from God lightly. In Genesis 37 Joseph has a dream. There’s one problem; Joseph shares his dream with the wrong people. People will sometimes sabotage, steal, and even try to make your dream theirs. Even family! Listen friends, when God gives you a dream he will always fulfill that dream. He put action to it. Even if it takes 13 years for that dream to come true; he will remind you of the time he gave it to you.

This is my point: keep dreaming, and don’t let anyone steal or sabotage your dreams. Trust me, they are from God…

 Hey RandyDon,


“It was awesome to get a chance to meet you this weekend! I just wanted to thank you for all that you are doing for teenagers across this country! It was a real inspiration to me and my students. While I really enjoyed the services, I have to tell you that I really got the most out of the 1 hour leaders meeting. I really hope that you will be able to come back and do some leader training with us, I will be asking Joel to make it happen. Also, I wanted to share with you that the final service, where you talked about dreams really brought me right back to where I needed to be. When I started ministry God gave me a dream of being a youth pastor, and actual dream of where I would pastor and everything, and it has come to pass. For some reason I forgot that it happened that way, but when you spoke about dreams I remembered mine and became aware that there was more that I was missing. It doesn't sound like anything incredible to you, I have been struggling with ministry this past year, and God Spoke to me that night and challenged me to remember the dream that he put in my heart, and that he wasn't anywhere close to being finished with that dream. Wow, what a God moment, and it would have never happened if you weren't obedient to God and spoke what you did. Thank you!! I really hope that I get to work with you in some way in the future! I am praying for you, God Bless!!”


A youth pastor with a new passion…

Something to think about,

Be blessed,


RandyDon

Update October 11, 2010

Be strong and let your heart take courage; all you who wait for and hope for and expect the Lord! Psalm 31:24

“I was at the retreat you preached at on the 5th, through the 7th. I just wanted to let you know that at retreat, God really broke me down. I had a lot of hate, anger, and depression built up in my heart so much that there was no room for God. Since then I had no idea what love really was. I was searching to find it in all the wrong places. Through alcohol, popping pills, and relationships; I was hurt and confused for 8 years of my life. This retreat was my break through. I was sitting at the altar on Saturday night crying, tired of being an alcoholic, and a pill popper at 15 years old. Thinking about where the source of all of these things came from stirred up the anger and the hatred again. All of the sudden, I felt this warm presence all over my body; my mind was cleared from all of the hurt. I had no idea what was happening to me. I asked God hat was going on and I could hear him say "Love." That night I gave my heart to God completely. I laid everything down at the altar and surrendered myself to God. I finally knew what Love was, and through Love comes forgiveness. It was hard to do, but God showed me how to forgive my brother and to show Love to him. Now I am a changed, re-arranged, strong woman of God. I know not to turn back to my old ways looking for love, because the only place I’ll find it is when I’m seeking and following God.”
Jenifer – South New Jersey


The best thing about this testimony; Jenifer found the hope of the Lord. He became the source of her strength.

Be blessed, Randy and Lori

Update October 4, 2010

John 15:13 says “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”

Friends are so important to us. Friends like you, our supporters and ministry partners. And, the friends that we make as we are out doing ministry. My father used to say that if you have one good friend, that’s all you need. I feel blessed to have so many friends. This past weekend I made the nine hour trip up to Hancock, MI where I made some new friends. During the week end I had the opportunity to preach to 12 Native American young people from the Barage tribe. Three of these young people came forward for salvation! When God says that heaven will be filled with every tongue and every tribe, he wants us to understand what his kingdom looks like. This weekend I experienced a little taste of His kingdom right here on earth. I am thankful to have had the opportunity to meet and get to know these young people, and to now be able to count them as friends. Your gifts and prayers are what make trips like this possible. You help make the difference in the lives of young people everywhere I go to preach and teach, and make friends for God’s kingdom.

God bless you!


Randydon

July 19

Psalms 118:28,29 “You are my God, and I will give you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you. 29 give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”

I would like to thank God for u man…you completely touched my heart and man did I experience the holy spirit....before apex my life was going down the drain. I was involved where I wanted to commit suicide.. But when I got to apex my life changed I felt the holy spirit go through it was the best feeling wait for next year. 
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!                                                            
Nnamdi - Apex

Remember, it’s all about a thankful heart. Give thanks for the little things in life and God will reward you with bigger things.  RandyDon

July 5

Proverbs 27:19 “as water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man.”

I was completely changed by the sermons you gave, especially on Sunday. It was the one about THE POWER . I had always been the weak Christian not knowing how to stand up for what I believed in. That Sunday night I asked God so many times for the words to speak , because I never knew how to respond to people's skepticism against God and Christ I am so happy , because now I know that as much as I have a hard time standing up for what I believe in, I know that God is there with me , standing side by side , giving me the words to speak .I just wanted to thank you , because God has used you to change my life in ways that you cannot imagine. God Bless, Talita – Apex  

When God begins to work in your life allowing him to have full access to your heart, then you will be the reflection of Christ! – Randy don

Shout outs and thanks!

What a tremendous time with Steve and Mindi Hommerding a few weeks ago at their Upward Basketball Awards night. I love their passion, their love for God, and their reaching out to this generation of young people. To Tim and Shannon Rizor. You are also doing a wonderful work with your Upward Basketball. Tuesday night March 9^th, was just awesome! Thank you Hommerding’s and Rizor’s for allowing me the opportunity to come and share my heart and my passion for this generation.

New Year

A new year is always thought of as a new start, breaking old habits and creating new practices. So many things are promised, so many commitments are broken. Road blocks, failed diets, workouts that go south, relationships that sour, loss of money, and drifting away from God. So why can’t we stick to what we start? Why can’t we be honest with ourselves; become loyal, respectful, appreciative authority, disciplined and just plain focused?

Although it may seem like it, our life really isn’t broken; it’s just that we get bored. We blame others for our failures or shortcomings. Life’s really not broken; we think we need to fix things we cannot change. So what is the answer for each and every New Year? Jesus Christ! The bible says in John 14:6 “I am the way the truth and the life, no man comes to the father except through me.” That’s it. Jesus is the way the truth and the life. Life: isn’t that what we need to experience? We need to live life to the fullest; don’t look back. We need to make the right decisions, the right choices, and the right way to live. If we stay committed to that, just think; this year could be different. Just a thought!

Happy New Year!

10 things that will bring you success in 2010

10. knowing you are forgiven

  9. loving others and looking past their faults

  8. always do what is right – even when it hurts

  7. picking good friends – my father used to say if you have 1 good friend you are rich.

  6. converse with God – share your heart

  5. sing a joyful song to Jesus

  4. find peace in doing something you like

  3. be a peace maker – not a trouble maker

  2. smile – it just might cheer up those around you

  1. live a life honoring and pleasing to God

This is real success!