In May, saints and leaders from Heritage Christian Church in San Clemente joined Joshgen Upstate in South Carolina for a weekend of fellowship, worship and prayer. There was a wonderful sense of unity and family that was built, and a beautiful space created for people to encounter God and find greater freedom over the course of the weekend.

Here are some testimonies from saints who were there:

“We felt this weekend would be one of “building and blessing” and the Lord absolutely exceeded our hopes in every way! Family roots were deepened as we met in homes and loved one another. God called us into deeper waters and into greater levels of freedom as we gave Him control.

I felt 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 for our two separate churches on opposite sides of the country, at once intently united in Christ: “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many.”

My favorite thing was seeing all kinds of people from all kinds of places and all kinds of backgrounds uniting together in their pursuit of Christ and growing together in love. Sharing testimonies and praying for one another knitted our hearts in a way I would never have imagined. They truly feel like family.

I felt that there was an invitation into a freedom that not only freed us from bondage but also invited us into the more. Those who said ‘yes’ and responded by running to the altar were free to dance and sing. There was a joy that broke out over us. I almost feel like, in some sense, the fruit of the unity and the strengthening of relationships came out in worship and every conversation. Where there is unity, the Lord commands a blessing – and we have been abundantly blessed this weekend, above what we could have dreamed or imagined.”

– Bekah Senn (Joshgen Upstate, South Carolina)

“Going from Heritage to Joshgen Upstate, I witnessed how quickly the Spirit moves, after having been there two months earlier for an Equip. I could see the shift and change in Joshgen Upstate – their roots were deeper down with encouraging one another in Christ and loving each other so well. They received us with open arms and open hearts.

Before we left on our trip we had a meeting, and some of the people who are very new to Four12 were like, “Oh, we’re going to set them free” and “We’re going to minister to them.” They had this concept of what the outreach would be, and I just smiled. I just knew in my heart that it was really all about linking hearts together and connecting and understanding that you can have family, even if it’s not blood-related. It’s just Christ’s blood related. And living out what the New Testament shows by loving one another well puts a new spin on when you read the letters by Paul and how he says his heart aches to be there with them. I can say that. Just even being there twice and then coming for the conference, I can understand what he’s talking about. It’s true. To watch us mix together and minister to one another with freedom, and to see the breakthrough, was breathtaking and beautiful.

I felt like not only do we abide in Christ, but we also abide in a family all over the world. The day I left, I felt my heart ache, as I was leaving a piece of it there until I return again.  I can truly say I fully understand what family now means, even if it is across a continent. We went open-handed to see what God would do and left with full hearts.”

– Sara Mista (Heritage Christian Church, San Clemente)

“On the Friday night, I just went for it because I really wanted more freedom. I didn’t totally know why I was there, because there were so many amazing people on the team and I felt so inadequate, but I knew I wanted more freedom. Then on Saturday morning the ladies met together and we felt that the Lord wanted to lift burdens off us, to bring us into deeper levels of freedom and the more of the Lord. The Lord reminded me of a word Sara had had for me a while ago, about there being a light at the end of the tunnel. And there was light at the end of the tunnel for me this weekend. I was so hungry for more of the Lord and I just ran to Him. When I repented and forgave, a weight lifted off me and I felt so much peace. He took something off me but gave me so much more. I woke up on Sunday morning four pounds lighter, like physically four pounds lighter! The Lord did a beautiful work.”

– Jodi (Heritage Christian Church, San Clemente)