Good News from Reston, VA

Good things are taking hold in Northern Virginia. Several years ago, a brother who was living and working in Reston, VA area had a burden for the souls who often visited his repair shop. He quickly realized that the people with whom he had contact had deep hunger for the Gospel. He relayed this to Pastor Josephine McElveen and she began in earnest prayer for this need. Within a few months, the work began with a willing few that met regulalry for Sunday School and a morning worship service. The stories below reflect this exciting and growing congregation in Reston.

Reston's First Sunday Service in 2020

The day commenced with the Sunday Lesson titled "The Fig Tree". The teacher stressed that the Lord expects fruit from our lives. He explained that there are three kinds of fruit:


(1) Fruit of Repentance (Luke 3:8: Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.) (2) Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5: 22 & 23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.; and (3) The Fruit of reproducing other Christians (Mathew 13:23: But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.) Though God may postpone judgment, the time will come when those who do not bear fruit will be eternally punished. We can abide in Christ and ensure that we are bearing fruit through (i) the study of God's Word, (ii) through prayer, (iii) personal consecration and (iv) seeking the Lord's will in every aspect of life. We should recognize that "abiding" is not a passive state- it requires determined effort and persistence in order to be maintained.

Sister Christinah Adeika effectively engaged the intermediate students in their lesson titled "One More Chance", to open they had a tour of the trees around the facility. Sister Victoria Owolabi taught the tiny torts and primary the first lesson of the year titled "Good Words", demonstrating how they should put a gate on their mouth.  

To open the devotional service the choir rendered a song of consecration while Sister Whitney Adeika preceded with a flute solo. Our Elder George Cooper was grateful for uniting his family last year, while sister Damilola Ajayi expressed gratitude to God for delivering her from an armed robbery attack. Sister Christinah Adeika thanked God for healing her three daughters today and God paved way for them to come to church. Brother Emanuel Miller expressed his gratitude for the love in the Gospel as when he was sick last year he received many encouraging calls from church members, while Sister Stela Adeniji was grateful to God for healing her and sparing her life to see a new year. Sister Victoria Adenji equally was grateful to God for bringing her brother to church in his location.

Before the sermon Sisters Damilola Ajayi and Victoria Adeniji sang "He Leadeth Me". God spoke to about 'One More Chance" The text was taken from Luke 13: 8 "And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:". God has spared our life this year so that we can bear more fruits viz-a-viz (i) Fruit of Repentance: Luke 3:8; (ii) Fruit of the Spirit: Galatians 5:22 and (iii) Fruit of reproducing other Christians; Mathew 13:23. God will bless us this year and this decade as we bear fruits and consecrate our life to him. He wants us to bring him more souls to His kingdom. John 15: 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

Need more?

We offer more materials, videos, and reading materials from our Headquarters Apostolic Faith Church in Portland, Oregon.