Welcome to the Abba’s Heart eBeat, the monthly eNews from Abba’s Heart Ministries and the Revival Center. Read on to be informed and inspired about what God is doing!
Querin Family Update
Thursday, March 18, 2010
"It has been two weeks since our boy went on home. I am writing to let you know that this was not his journey, nor was it ours alone......... it was everyone's journey who dared to follow and gain courage and strength from the God we lean upon. Everyone is back at work and forging ahead. Amy's dance company is doing very well, and Donny was proud of her in that and would continue to be so. Thanks for the donations to help her keep it going. Cynthia and Omar are doing well, leaning on the Lord for strength, with appreciation of all the time they had with Donny. Martin is processing each day without his boy and their "bedside chats." I am having a bit of trouble knowing what to do with this time. Time that is supposed to make things better, seems to shout at me, the cause for the need of it is gone... So, the Lord will help me re-direct it to do the things I used to do before Leukemia came. The third book I stopped, I will restart and I will go back out on ministry tour in June... First to Utah.
So, for now, I sit and look at the living room... there is a coffee table there now, where my lionhearted bear cub used to abide and run his blessed world. I will stay in touch, as I know you care. We know in the end, when the prayers were prayed and hope was spent, all that was left was "Jesus Wept" and those tears were collected for a high price of glory for the Lord and Righteousness upon my son. It is still true... "To God be the Glory, for the Great things He has done." Thank you for checking in. We abound.........................
The Last meal out just before the Bone Marrow Transplant, at The Cliff House, in San Francisco. May, 2008
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The Next Chapter
Share your memories of Donny here:
http://www.therevivalcenter.info/donny-testimonials
Stories of Glory
We have been so blessed by all the stories and memories of Donny’s life and his influence on this old world. Click on the link above, even if you don’t have a story to share, and see how God can work through the open channel of a life dedicated to His Glory. You will be blessed.
A Baby's Hug
We were the only family with children in the restaurant. I sat Erik in a high chair and noticed everyone was quietly sitting and talking. Suddenly, Erik squealed with glee and said, 'Hi.' He pounded his fat baby hands on the high chair tray. His eyes were crinkled in laughter and his mouth was bared in a toothless grin, as he wriggled and giggled with merriment.
I looked around and saw the source of his merriment. It was a man whose pants were baggy with a zipper at half-mast and his toes poked out of would-be shoes. His shirt was dirty and his hair was uncombed and unwashed. His whiskers were too short to be called a beard and his nose was so varicose it looked like a road map.
We were too far from him to smell, but I was sure he smelled. His hands waved and flapped on loose wrists. 'Hi there, baby; hi there, big boy. I see ya, buster,' the man said to Erik.
My husband and I exchanged looks,
'What do we do?'
Erik continued to laugh and answer, 'Hi.'
Everyone in the restaurant noticed and looked at us and then at the man. The old geezer was creating a nuisance with my beautiful baby. Our meal came and the man began shouting from across the room, 'Do ya patty cake? Do you know peek-a-boo? Hey, look, he knows peek- a-boo.'
Nobody thought the old man was cute. He was obviously drunk.
My husband and I were embarrassed. We ate in silence; all except for Erik, who was running through his repertoire for the admiring skid-row bum, who in turn, reciprocated with his cutesy comments.
We finally got through the meal and headed for the door. My husband went to pay the check and told me to meet him in the parking lot. The old man sat poised between me and the door. 'Lord, just let me out of here before he speaks to me or Erik,' I prayed. As I drew closer to the man, I turned my back trying to sidestep him and avoid any air he might be breathing. As I did, Erik leaned over my arm, reaching with both arms in a baby's 'pick-me-up' position. Before I could stop him, Erik had propelled himself from my arms to the man.
Suddenly a very old smelly man and a very young baby consummated their love and kinship. Erik in an act of total trust, love, and submission laid his tiny head upon the man's ragged shoulder. The man's eyes closed, and I saw tears hover beneath his lashes. His aged hands full of grime, pain, and hard labor cradled my baby's bottom and stroked his back. No two beings have ever loved so deeply for so short a time.
I stood awestruck. The old man rocked and cradled Erik in his arms and his eyes opened and set squarely on mine. He said in a firm commanding voice, 'You take care of this baby.'
Somehow I managed, 'I will,' from a throat that contained a stone.
He pried Erik from his chest, lovingly and longingly, as though he were in pain. I received my baby, and the man said, 'God bless you, ma'am, you've given me my Easter gift.'
I said nothing more than a muttered thanks. With Erik in my arms, I ran for the car. My husband was wondering why I was crying and holding Erik so tightly, and why I was saying, 'My God, my God, forgive me.'
I had just witnessed Christ's love shown through the innocence of a tiny child who saw no sin, who made no judgment; a child who saw a soul, and a mother who saw a suit of clothes. I was a Christian who was blind, holding a child who was not. I felt it was God asking, 'Are you willing to share your son for a moment?' when He shared His for all eternity. How did God feel when he put His baby in our arms 2000 years ago?
Letter to the Editor
To The Community:
It has been three weeks since our Donny has "gone ahead of us," and we wanted to let everyone know that we are doing well. If you were blessed to cross paths with Donny, you know what an amazing hole he leaves in our hearts, but we are advancing to the Cross of Christ where all wounds are healed.
We would like to thank Dr. Bruce Trevino and his staff at Tri-County Medical for their amazing service to us as a family. If Dr. Trevino had not admitted Donny to the hospital when he did and pushed for a diagnosis and lined up the Oncologist, we are told that we would have lost Donny just a couple months into the battle with Leukemia and not had these precious last 3 1/2 years with him. The last few months, particularly weeks, were hard on Donny with more pain than he ever expressed; but it was our privilege to comfort him and hold his hand as he reached for the other side. Dr. Moffet of Cancer Care Associates was a steady hand who held a tender heart and Fresno Community Hospital and Clovis Community Hospital have been a source of kindness and resource for us. We were grateful to be under the care of the Doctors at UC in San Francisco for a time, but never left the care or concern of the Kingsburg and Fresno Doctors.
We thank the Kingsburg Cancer Society for always being there with a gift card for gas or drugstore and most help that we never had to ask for... they were just there. What a valuable resource our community has in them. The CVS and Walgreen’s Pharmacy were always there for us, staying late, working hard to keep Donny in supply of what he needed. The anti-rejection medications were very complicated after the bone marrow transplant and they were very through in their endeavors to be sure Donny was taken care of.
The Kingsburg community as a whole has been an amazing entity. Moving and breathing upon our needs and wants. Each card and financial help has been a blessing beyond face value. Donny would have loved the abundance of it all. Thanks to Creighton's for their unbelievable sensitivity. Ben, as always, you are amazing and to Leslie and the whole Berman's staff. Thanks to New Life Ministries in Kingsburg for tending to any need we had during this trying time and to The Revival Center of Clovis for making sure things ran smoothly throughout the process of honoring Donny. Cattlemen's in Selma not only donated food for 40 people after the family's private viewing time with Donny but then they delivered it. I made a call to Pastor Rod Haro at The Worship Centre in Fowler and could barely finish the sentence of my request and he let me know the facility and his staff were at my disposal to honor the man. Thank you Pastor Rod and Pastor Patrick. It is surely a Kingdom work that we accomplished together at Donny's Celebration of Life in your facility. We appreciate you for allowing so many to come and bless the Lord together as we honored Donny. You made it easy, and for that we are eternally grateful. Even down to Blockbuster videos... when we were in San Francisco and didn't have time to return some of Donny's favorite movies and they ended up in Kingsburg with us... you took them for us and did it with a smile. I suppose I could go on and on... Tom, Donny always loved the "free Donny donuts" you sent over. To the end, he could always "handle" one of your apple fritters! As Donny would gladly say, "We are family." Thanks for allowing that to be the truth by the way you have all behaved. The best of family. You gave when you didn’t have it to give and showed concern when it would of been easy to be busy. Thank you.
We abound in Christ and are grateful to the Lord for sending mercy just in time and for all in the community who have held us with a tender touch and faithful heart,
Martin, Sandi and Amy Querin, Cynthia (Querin) and Omar Reynoso.
Spiritual Body Builders
We are currently studying John 16-20. The first Monday in April, start reading John 21 and Psalms 28-31. If you would like to be a Spiritual Body Builder, contact our office for a brochure with instructions, or download it by going to the link below. Recordings of many of the discussions are available in the Audio/Video Media System. The Body Builder scriptures are the basis for the Wednesday Night Bible Study, which is taught by Rev. Sandi Querin.
www.theRevivalCenter.info
www.abbasheart.com/avms.asp
Matthew 6:24-27
"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”
Ministry News and Opportunities
Giving Link
It is a blessing to give and to serve God through our finances. For those of you who would like to help the Querin family with final expenses for Donny, give to the work of the Revival Center, or share in one of the other areas where funding is needed, click on the link below.
http://www.abbasheart.com/donationlist.asp
Tell Your Friends!
Uriah’s Youth
We are starting a new group for seven- to ten-year-olds which will meet once a month just like Gideon’s Girls and Manoah’s Men. Information with dates, time, and location will be sent to the parents of those who attend the Revival Center.
The Website is Getting a Facelift!
Our Revival Center home page is getting a whole new look. Check it out!
http://www.theRevivalCenter.info
We are still under construction, so check back often. You may still access the pages you are familiar with at:
www.abbasheart.com/revivalcenter.asp
Guardian’s Gate
The next Monday Flex class, Guardian’s Gate, begins April 7 and goes for six weeks. Click the link below to learn more about the Monday Flex classes.
http://www.abbasheart.com/mondayflex.asp
Fellowship Groups
There is something for everyone at the Revival Center! Small groups meet on a monthly basis for fellowship and Bible study.
Uriah’s Youth - Children ages 7-10
Manoah’s Men - Boys ages 11-17
Gideon’s Girls - Girls ages 11-17
Ebenezers - Ages 18-40
Sisters of Encouragement - Women ages 18-40
Titus Two Women - Women age 40 and up
The Journey - Men of all ages
Information about meeting times and locations is available on the website calendar, and if you are on the RC mailing list, you will also get printed and emailed information.
Facebook
Become a “fan” of the Revival Center! http://www.facebook.com/groups.php?ref=sb#/pages/Clovis-CA/The-Revival-Center/52488823471?v=wall&viewas=1144762363&ref=share
S.H.A.R.E.S. Cards
We have S.H.A.R.E.S. Cards which you can use at participating stores, including Save Mart, Lucky, Food Maxx, and Smart Foods. When your card is swiped at checkout, three percent of the total of your purchase is given to the ministry. Reply to this email and ask for one! You can also pick one up at the Revival Center or the ministry office in Kingsburg.
Don’t Miss Out:
Clean DVDs
Clean Play is going out of business, but there are still some DVDs with all the things you don’t want to see already taken out. There is a $5.00 instant coupon for first-time customers you can click on.
www.cleanplaydvds.com
King Camp
This year’s Men’s Retreat will be May 28-30, 2010. Registration is open! The cost is $195.00 per person and a $50 deposit will hold your spot. Full payment is due by April 28.
www.abbasheart.com/registrations.asp
Queen Camp!
Queen Camp 2009 was amazing! We have opened registration for 2010. The cost is $395.00 per person, and a non-refundable $50 deposit will hold your spot.
We are anticipating a very special time again at the beautiful Tenaya Lodge. It is such a blessing to worship the Creator in the midst of all the natural wonder of that area. As always, the retreat will be filled with worship, life-changing messages from God’s Word, powerful prayer times, fun, great food, plentiful chocolate, and amazing interaction with godly women. Spend Saturday afternoon in a cozy fireplace area, getting pampered in the spa, riding horses, hiking, soaking in the jacuzzi, or enjoying a long, snoozy nap. Maybe you will be the Queen for a Day and get all the great benefits that go with that. For those building a library of Christian resources, we will have some inspiring books for sale, as well as your favorites.
Register early and start making payments of $65 a month so that you won’t have the “I Can’t Afford It Blues” on October 5 when the full amount is due.
To register online, visit www.abbasheart.com/registrations.asp, or you can call Dora in the ministry office at 559-897-9575, Mondays-Wednesdays.
Revival Center Ministry Schedule in California
Sundays Worship Service at the Revival Center, Clovis, CA 11:00 am
Tuesdays Prayer Meeting 7:00 pm
Wednesdays Bible Study and Communion 7:00 pm
(Staff meeting from 6:00 to 7:00 pm)
Fridays Miracle Crusade @ Revival Center 7:00 pm
See the calendar >> for monthly activities and Sandi’s guest speaking engagements, which will resume in June.
To see photos from recent events, including Donny’s Memorial Service, visit www.theRevivalCenter.info and find the albums on the left navigation.
If this was forwarded to you and you would like to be added to our e-mail list, or if you would like to receive occasional mailings, send your e-mail address and/or your mailing address to brenda@abbasheart.com.
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For more information about Abba’s Heart Ministries, The Revival Center, Miracle Crusades, Reverend Sandi Querin, or anything else you read about here, visit www.abbasheart.com.
The Revival Center
2221 Villa Avenue, in Clovis, just south of Shaw.
Mailing address: P.O. Box 740, Kingsburg, CA 93631
Ministry Office: 1516 Draper Street, in Kingsburg
Phone: 559-897-9575
Email: theRevivalCenter@abbasheart.com
Fax: 559-897-9576
Web: www.theRevivalCenter.info
