by Erik Samborski
The Words in Red
I was terrified to die and be separated from my body into what I perceived as black nothingness. I had these thoughts from the time I was 6 years old until 12 years of age. I could hardly sleep at night, always waking my parents with my fears. My dad told me that he had no idea what to do for me except tell me to read the Bible. He told me that the words that were in red were the words of Jesus. I decided to read all the red words. While reading the words of Christ I remember sensing his presence in my room and enabling me to sleep.
I was terrified to die. My dad had no idea what to do for me except tell me to read the Bible. I decided to read all the red words.
My pursuit was music. My passion was to be a rockstar. I got mixed up in drugs and alcohol and lived to party and play music. Suffice it to say God had different plans for my life. I ended up going to school in Arizona for Recording Engineering, planning to eventually have my own recording studio where I could produce my own music and that of others.
Nowhere Else to Turn
I started to go back to church and read the Bible. The church I was attending did not seem to be evangelically minded. The only way I could sleep at night, however, was by reading the Bible even though I understood very little of what it said. I understood enough to be convicted about certain areas of my life.
Eventually, I came to see the enormity of my sin and the dread terror of hell before me. But the thing that broke me was the fact that in spite of all of my sin, Jesus love me and died for me. I couldn’t understand why Christ died for me but it drew me to Him.
I was truly saved on the kitchen floor of a couple that attended the Pittsfield Pilgrim Holiness Church in June of 2007. I started attending that church faithfully because of an insatiable hunger for God now in my soul. I also started to realize that there was still a problem within my heart. I told my pastor what I was experiencing. He told me that I needed to seek God for Him to sanctify me wholly.
Finding God But Hungering Still
Through this time of searching, one thing God dealt with me about was my music recording. I thought that I would record music now for the glory of God. However, God asked the question whether I would record music or preach. I told him I would preach! I got rid of all my recording equipment and haven’t turned back.
I then read a book by Andrew Murray entitled “Absolute Surrender.” That phrase unlocked the key for me! I bowed down at my bedside and poured out the innermost contents of my heart with all the ugliness of the confession of carnality within. I finally got to the place where I told God that I had nothing left to give Him and with that the sweet assurance that I had done my part. About 20 minutes later the Lord so filled me with the Holy Ghost that I couldn’t even be on my knees anymore. The love of God that I felt inside of my soul was unlike anything I ever experienced before. I started testifying to my family and some of them were saved and Sanctified wholly.
My Vision for Rome, New York
The Lord has presently called me to Rome, NY. I want to share with you my vision for this exciting new work. This vision extends beyond my time there and I realize that all of this may not materialize while I’m there; however, this is what I envision for the church and this is my motivation for the work:
I see a warm, inviting atmosphere for hurting souls. I envision a place where God is known and felt among His people and, in turn, known and felt by all those that visit.
I see the whole church as a ministry team. A church willing to be equipped in the Word of God and obedient to the call of God for their individual lives, families, and collectively as a local church.
I see a church made up of people filled with the Spirit of God and hungry for more of God. A church of people that doesn’t need to be prodded to do the work of God but are constrained by the love of Christ.
I see a warm, inviting atmosphere for hurting souls. I envision a place where God is known and felt among His people and, in turn, known and felt by all those that visit.
I see the families of our church being training grounds for devoted followers of Christ. I see fathers taking their position as head of the household, guiding their families in what is right and being a godly example that cannot be gainsaid. I see wives being helpmeets to their husbands that their husbands may become the leaders of their generation. I see husbands so loving their wives that the picture of Christ and his Church may be realized to onlookers.
I envision this church building to be filled to its capacity. It shall be filled with people from all walks of life, different ethnicities, and different ages. I see the poor grabbing hold of the great riches of Christ and never letting go. I see the rich counting all their gain in this world as dung that they might win Christ. I see drunkards, drug addicts, those addicted to pornography and sexual immorality, backsliders, and those indifferent, repenting and receiving full salvation. It will be a church filled with members that are sanctified wholly.
I envision a church that has such a real experience with God that they cannot help but seek out the lost and lead them to the same Christ they know and love. I see this church as a breeding ground for workers in the Kingdom. I envision sending out international missionaries as well as home missionaries.
I see a church that is a worthy expression of the name of Christ whose name we bear and proclaim. In a word, I see a biblical church: nothing more and nothing less!
Excited to see what God has in store for Rome NY!
God bless you and your new endeavor in the Lord. I love to hear about kingdom building. I am excited to hear great things to come as result of your vision for the people in NY.
Rev. Hery Santiago, Pastor under FEA Ministries, Inc.