<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-2316" alt="Bria Summer" src="http://raylsmith.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Bria-Summer-230x300.jpg" width="230" height="300" />Age: 20

Address: North Carolina Central Univesity, Junior

Birthplace: Greensboro, NC

House of Prayer Member

Since I have joined House of Prayer Ministries, my walk with Christ has become tremendously more profound and stronger than ever. Before joining my new church family, I had recently left my former church and was in the midst of searching for a new church home. During my search for a new church home, I had been going through a lot of doubt that had kept me from being in community with my brothers and sisters in the faith. Because of that, it  hindered my relationship with God in the process. Over the summer, this past May, I had worked at the University that I currently attend, to pay off my tuition. Unfortunately, I had been in a hostile environment, living with a former church member who had blessed me with free stay, but was experiencing a lot spiritually as well, which had hurt our relationship more than helped. Because I did not have my own transportation, I was forced to walk to and from work each day. Thankfully, Carlton, a brother in Christ, had been instructed to invite me to Watch Night Prayer - unaware that I was in the area at the time. I accepted Carlton's invitation to watch night prayer at the Worship Center, believing something amazing would happen.

I had hoped and prayed to get my relationship back on track with God, but I needed to be in an environment that welcomed the presence of God faithfully. When I got there I began to pray for hours. I began to talk to God and He had heard my prayers. My prayers to release doubt, confusion, unhappiness and bitterness toward the woman I was currently living with. After I had prayed, I felt a long-awaited release. I felt like I was floating on a cloud, even though I was physically here on Earth. In that moment, I had an overwhelming sense of peace, and my joy and faith in God was restored. While leaving the Worship center, my second encounter with Ms. Tinita, (currently one of the ministers at the House of Prayer) was a confirmation of God's Word. I immediately knew, while talking with Ms. Tinita, God shared with her my struggles.

She said, "You know you need to be in a place where God will take you higher right? You know where you need to be." Since my first visit to House of Prayer in February, I've known that am to be part of a ministry that is solely reliant on God's Word. In fact, God had spoken to me and wanted me to read the book of Acts in the beginning of February. During my fasting and reading Acts, it became clear to me what the church was supposed to be like specifically. House of Prayer matched that description like a glove. This ministry allows the Holy Spirit to be in control of everything; from the sermon to the music selection. Pastor Ray and Pastor Alice Smith are faithful, allowing God to control every aspect of their ministry. They are not boastful, nor traditional; leaving God the opportunity to do as He pleases. Every visit to House of Prayer, is filled with love and most importantly God's overflowing presence. This experience completey changed my demeanor and perpetually uplifts and motivates me to remain steadfast in the Lord.

The presence of God strenthened me and compelled me to gird myself with His truth. I no longer experienced pieces of God, I now experience all of God. We are all on one accord. God is present in this ministry; not for one person or a few people, but for all of us. Over the course of eight months at House of Prayer, I have seen an angel for the first time, heard a word of wisdom from God Himself, receive the gift of tongues, and my spiritual eyes have been opened as well. I now attend a church where my experience far exceeds my expectations. Pastor Ray and Alice's mission is not just to motivate us, but to usher us into God's presence. This is what God was showing me in the book of Acts. The church is God's people, allowing God to take complete and utter authority, not over a few things, but over everything; and because of that we will always triumph and grow stronger in our faith everyday.

I am so grateful that God has blessed me with such a faithful and strong church family and community. He loved me enough to take me out of the hostile enviroment I was living in and placed me in an environment surrounded by love, peace, and joy. God even blessed me with a new car, so that I no longer have to walk or constantly get a ride. He has truly given me the desires of my heart, which are mostly spiritual (love, joy and peace) but even physically, God continues to provide me with all the things that I've needed and even the things that I want. Even through my time of struggle or discomfort, God is there, comforting me, strengthening me, and giving me brothers and sisters in the faith to encourage me; and that is the best thing any believer in Christ could ever have.

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