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TESTIMONY LIST
Candace Anger
Rob and Luann Thatcher
Jessica Walters
Shuntae Williams
Kathryn Hawkins
Charla Atkins
Cheryl Fitzgerald
Dianne Gauker
Paula Chrisman
Stacey Garcia
Sally Neely
Monica Weaver
Janene Steinman
Cheryl Deneschuk
Joya Miller
Candace Anger
Healed from Overweight, Selfishness, Anger
For as long as I can remember food and self were in the center. I remember from a very young age being pulled to food and would often hide it and eat it in secret. My Mother was very thin and so was the rest of the family. When my Mom died at age 12, the outside force that helped me keep that weight down was removed, I came home everyday and ate a half of box of cereal while watching a soap opera - this became a ritual (8th grade) and soon it started to show up quickly on my body. At the same time, I really missed my Mom and there was no one around to point me upwards - I would get told all the time "I am not sure why you have it so hard." "I hope you get to be happy again someday." "You have such a hard life" "I can't believe that you have been through so much and your aunts do not even take care of you - they could do so much more." This was compounded with a year of "counseling" where I was told my Father was this, my Mother was this and I needed to express myself, I was treated unfair etc. blah, blah, blah All this to say - that I bought into it - hook, line and sinker. My whole life then began a search to get my needs met - to be fulfilled - to be taken care of. I became full of self-pity and greed for attention, prideful and self centered. I do remember looking for God in a lot of places but never being able to grasp on to anything and the bible seemed so intimidating - even if I would try to read it - I would not be able to understand it. I was not raised religious, but if I ever got invited to a service I would go - I longed to be around friends who had a faith - Catholic or whatever because they seemed so lucky to be religious, but I never seemed to fit in anywhere. At the age of 27 I walked into a church after being completely humbled - got dumped, lost my job etc. etc. Within a week of attending this church a woman handed me a Weigh Down Diet Book. Little did I know that the answer to all my pain would be opened up through this book and the answers to how to be happy would be completely unveiled - I was about to learn how to love God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength and this book and this Shepard was about to open up the Word of God to me and show me how to walk it out. I had just won the spiritual lottery. Well, that was in 1997 - and I often look back at receiving that book as the single most life changing event in my life. I started losing weight and I loved everything about Weigh Down because the more I applied the principles the more I broke free. I did every class, had every tape etc. I loved it so much; I traveled to Desert Oasis in 2000 to hear Gwen speak live. I was totally and completely blown away. I knew that what I was hearing was totally different and totally true better than anything I had ever heard - in my church - in my life. The Word of God was becoming so real and my mind began to grasp that the bible was something that you could understand. But in some ways I felt alone - others around me in New York except a few fellow Weigh Downers did not feel the same way and if I tried to explain it they seemed so put off or confused. It was like they were blind and deaf. At then end of DO 2000, Gwen talked about the Remnant Church and I absolutely LOVED the video she showed. I was also so bummed that I lived in New York and that Remnant was in Nashville. Finally I found something but it was a 17 hour drive away. They had a meeting about Remnant that night and I attended with a friend at the time. Still I loved it, but believed it was impossible to be part of it because I lived in New York. Another half year passed and a "Remnant Weekend" popped up. I had been dying for my husband to get to experience what I had at DO 2000 so he said he would go. I was blown away that weekend. I never felt so much love and I never heard so much Truth - I never heard so much of God' Word. I never heard anything before in my life that made this much sense. I repented and was baptized that weekend and left a very changed person only wanting God to rule in my life - I wanted a Lordship - I did not want to decide anymore when I ate, where I would go - I wanted to be led by the Spirit - the Holy Spirit - not the blowing of the wind. That was the beginning and on September 13, 2001, my husband and I joined Remnant Fellowship with another couple The Maxwell’s. Since then, God has been so merciful to reveal this very deep self love and selfishness in every area. Through this message of Truth and a leadership that cares about God's laws, wishes, commands and the needs of His people more than anything, I have seen everyone around me break free from long life illnesses, plagues etc. As far as Leadership, I have never in my life seen a more selfless group of people - starting with Gwen. This Leadership truly serves and every day looks to God to see where He is leading and what needs to be done. It will all the sudden be laid on the heart that the marriages need help, or the teens or strugglers. There is no neglect - and that is polar opposite to my old church. No self motivation - that is why they never ask for money or anything from the congregation - again polar opposite. Constant serving and giving because they are not living off of us - they are living off of God. Never in my life have I seen a Leadership and Gwen care more about my salvation than anything else. I know that every leader's home is open at all times, phones at all time, lives at all times - even when I paid for a therapist - I did not get that and that was $80 a hour. Also, all the counsel and encouragement is free - I have never seen that before. I have seen examples in the Leadership of TRUE humility, submission, love of authority, love for children and laying their lives down for the poor and needy - the widowed and the orphaned. This leadership of Gwen, men and Jennifer Martin are truly devoted to God with every action and deed. There is not one other place in my life where I have witnessed it and if I did not see it with my own eyes I probably would not believe it existed. True humble servants of God Almighty. I go to God for every want now - I go to my husband for leading. I am convicted everyday to serve upwards to be a light. Instead of looking for my husband to meet my needs - I look to meet His. Instead of looking for my children to fill me up - I am looking to meet all of their needs and help find this connection to God. Instead of wanting to eat in secret - I think of Heaven and know that I am never alone and EVERY action against God is disgusting. Instead of searching and grabbing for vacations, time, money - I now look for the Spirit - where, when, how much God? My prayers at this time are being answered more than every before. I love praying about a situations - hoses, moving, fixing cars, wisdom and discernment because then I get to see how He answers it and brings it to pass. Every morning when I wake up I now realize it is a choice - I can feel sorry for myself or I can focus all my attention and needs upwards on God and my husband and getting something for the Kingdom done - knowing that God will take care of everything. One focus - self pity led to misery/depression - the other to contentment, peace, satisfaction, love. I now love correction - I now love looking inwards. Even early in Remnant - I had a horrible attitude with judging - looking at others and their faults - instead of totally looking at my own. Now I long to see what I can do better I just want to be pure and for God's will to get done. God and serving God has been the answer to peace, joy, happiness, love etc. I cannot wait to live out all my days correcting mistakes from yesterday and the past years. I cannot wait to learn more of this incredible God we serve. I cannot wait for the opportunity to gain the trust and favor of those above me as I lay self totally down and serve for the rest of my life. I pray at my funeral - they say - she was devoted to the One True God and it was proven by her actions and her life. Now there is hope, freedom, true love, and true peace - one that cannot be taken away. I praise God everyday for God, His Son, Jesus Christ, this church, these Leaders - especially Gwen, this body and this chance - to live eternal.
Rob and LuAnn Thatcher
This is a writing of the testimony of what God the Father, and His perfect Son, Jesus Christ, has done in the lives of Rob and LuAnn Thatcher, and their children, Bria and Grant, before and after hearing The Truth on July 11, 2002. Prior to coming into this message, we had settled on attending a church more out of obligation than desire. We were never comfortable in a place, as answers were left unanswered, and tolerance for blatant sin went unchecked around us and in us. The Christian radio we listened to regularly suggested attending a church "for the children." Something seemed out of place. We didn't realize that it would be US that were the ones out of place. In all the years of attending "church," we have never before seen the transformed lives of people who love the Lord. We bear witness to this transformation in our own lives and in this people we worship. Obedience to God's Word (something that is not being taught in nearly all of the church building's of this country) and the fellowship of like-minded, God-fearing people has been the "secret" to the transformation. It is still amazing to us, that when we learn the true meanings of FREEDOM FROM SIN, REPENTANCE, OBEDIENCE, HUMILITY and FAITH, and do what God expects of us, how our life has changed. Our family has "new eyes" for this world and the Kingdom that is coming. We praise God for the blessings and the correction that He is pouring out on our family and the wonderful people we have met involved in Remnant. For LuAnn, God has taken 60 pounds off of her body and continues to refine her beauty. She is friendly, not "catty," and loves her family. Prior to this message, she was a homebody, had few friends, and was not real crazy about the children. Oh, and overweight. Rob has lost a total of 42 pounds, and has been set free from a 20+ year lust driven, and self-driven life. We both drank excessively prior to marriage, then went to the total extreme and abstained (then looked down our nose at others who did drink). God has shown us how to be good parents, allowing us to train up godly (polite, friendly, serving) children. He continues to embolden us to stand for Truth. Our family sees this moment in time as a great opportunity (and call from God) for the Remnant Nation to stand. So what is to be “gained” by standing up? Not reputation, self-gratification, not revenge or financial gain, but simply that the TRUTH is told regardless of the outcome. The current “church system” has failed to do this (homosexuality, divorce, gossip, slander, pride, and other sins serve as evidence). We believe that there are others that left the “church system” because of the heresies in their church. The number of lost sheep cannot be measured, but if God is allowing this to become a national issue, who knows the number of exiles that may come “home.” We say this out of our own experience. If the churches had stood up to the “world” early on, would it look like it does today? Who is to say that if a stand is to be made and it isn’t, this judgment will not be ours? If a stand is to be made, we must stand. Like Paul, David, and Joshua, this people know where we stand, whom we stand for, and with whom we stand. America may be only nation in which His Truth is protected by the foundational beliefs of a country. It is for this very reason (freedom OF religion not FROM religion) that this country was founded. Our family believes it was for this reason Remnant was birthed in America... so that His Truth could be exampled to a hurting nation and world.
Author Paul Scherer is quoted saying "To take all that we are and have, and hand it over to God, may not be easy; but it can be done, and when it is done, the world has in it one less candidate for misery.” In this place, our family found not simply the tools to “take all that we are and have, and hand it over to God,” we have found a people who are dedicated to do the same, and clarity in Scripture that calls all of God’s people to do this.
We are so grateful to all of those that came before us, laid down their lives, died to self, and continue to share in the work of bringing the scattered remnant together. We are honored and humbled to stand along side each of you, to do whatever we need to do, including defending the wall of the New Jerusalem with our lives.
Jessica Walters
My name is Jessica Walters and I have to share that my life is so full of Joy since joining Remnant Fellowship in 1999! Before being a part of this church body, I had so many questions that were left unanswered -about life, about being a Christian, about the Bible, about the problems in the world and in my own life. But now those questions have been answered and there is Clarity and Peace in my life! I now have a real relationship with God and I have been shown the path to walk in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus Christ!
This is what my life is like
I wake up happy each day and I lay my head down at night in peace!
I have continual answered prayers!
My husband and I are devoted to each other and our marriage gets increasingly stronger and closer!
I adore my baby daughter! I leap out of bed when she wakes up at night. I love teaching her new things and taking walks in the neighborhood together. She is happy & healthy with parents who love her!
I have learned how to be selfless and how to put other’s needs before my own.
I no longer spend hours worrying about myself or judging other people.
I have good relationships with my extended family.
I get excited about worship assemblies with the church because it is always an uplifting time!
I honor my church leadership as they are “walking the talk” and they are easy to reach for encouragement and advice-which has always given beautiful results.
The friends I have from this fellowship are genuine and honest. No one is trying to out-do one another, rather everyone is giving to each other and looking to the needs of others. (no one needs to worry over food, drink, or clothing!)
I think I could keep going on and on for pages – I hope this glimpse at my life encourages whomever reads it – encourages you to know that there is a place where people are Free from Sin!! And God deserves all the Glory for it!!
Shuntae Williams
This message is Truth- praise GOD! These Leaders are not like any others I've ever known, they turn me from EVERY sin. They have laid down all sin and they have GOD's spirit, HIS wisdom and love to show others how to live a life that is only pleasing to GOD. Before I heard this message that Gwen Shamblin brought, I did not know how to have answered prayers- she taught me to go back and find out what GOD wanted through HIS word and then to do HIS will, and to PRAY for HIS WILL-not mine any longer. Because of this Truth through the Weigh Down Workshop I am no longer afraid of eating certain foods, but I am rather afraid of having any evil in my heart and I love to search for what GOD wants and make sure that is in my heart rather than searching food labels and worrying about what to put in my body and living by those godly principles has kept 30 extra pounds off of me for 5 years without dieting! I understand the scriptures much better know that I have been taught in this fellowship how to apply GOD's word- and I see more and more that GOD Almighty rules and HE has thought of everything!! I have let go of control and anger which is huge and I get butterflies waiting to see where GOD's HOLY spirit will lead me next. Every day I have more passion for seeking GOD's kingdom first. Loving GOD is everything, and I am getting true love returned to me through answered prayers and by having the Truth shared with me.
Kathryn Hawkins
I have been in this message since its conception in 1999, but I wasn’t a PART of this message until a few years ago when I really applied the message of "not my will but God's be done". When I was growing up, my family and I never went to church and if we did, it was on Easter and that was it. I hated church and felt like I could always see the hypocrisy in the church. It was made very clear to me when in 1994 I switched from the public school system to a private Church of Christ school. This was the most exposure I had ever had to religion and the counterfeit system. We were required to attend “chapel” every day and listen to a variety of speakers, which often times included the students or faculty. To the naked eye, these people seemed so nice and I thought they must be great Christians. However, when I really got to know these students at my private Christian school, they were full of gossip, slander, jealousy, eating problems, drug problems and sexual relations… in MIDDLE SCHOOL! I certainly was not blameless in my actions, but seeing that made me lose all hope! I always knew there was a God, and I knew that I was not going to make it to heaven because I did not know him! I was scared, but I didn’t know the answer!! During my freshman year of high school, in 1996, a new student joined our school. There was something very different about this girl and I wanted to know what it was. She claimed to be a Christian, and I could tell that she meant it by her life. Michelle Shamblin (now Elizabeth Hannah), was full of love and I never heard her talk bad about any other student. She was genuine in her every word and action. Through Michelle I learned how to fall in love with God and how to have a relationship with Him! She taught me how to look for Him in everything. I had never been so happy in my life!!
In 1999 the Shamblins and the Martins pulled out of the counterfeit system in order to start the Remnant Fellowship, and I followed right along! This was the summer before my senior year. It wasn’t until a few years later, after I quit running cross country, that I realized I had greed in my heart. I went from 114lbs up to 138lbs, on a 5ft2in girl, that’s a lot! Although I was in this message, I was not a part of it, for I hadn’t laid down my idols. I would lose weight, only to gain it again. I was humiliated, and though my idol was very obvious, I would never want to talk to anyone about it. I thought that if I didn’t talk about it, no one would notice. I was wrong, very wrong, and it only allowed me to stay in my sin longer. I hated the way I felt, and it started to affect other areas of my life. I was lonely, only because I was self-focused. I would listen to the lies of Satan instead of obeying God and getting out of SIN!! Praise God that He allowed me to be miserable, because it made me want out of the prison I was in. When I finally started obeying God, I realized how much BETTER it was than obeying the FOOD! I felt free and no longer self-focused! I wasn’t afraid to talk to other people because I KNEW that I was being obedient! When I finally started obeying, it was the fear of messing up that kept me from sinning. I went back to what I learned in the beginning, and that was how to fall in LOVE with God. I switched my focus OFF of the food and my weight, and I turned it onto God Almighty and finally got out of myself!!! It was the best feeling in the world!
Since losing 30lbs, God has blessed me tremendously! I was able to get accepted into Dental Hygiene school (I graduate in May), I was able to meet and marry my husband, I am no longer self-focused, and I am more in love with God than ever! Obeying His commands is AWESOME and I wouldn’t have it any other way! I am nothing and I know that my will only make me miserable! I now know that I am part of this message because I am changing everyday and the fruit in my life backs it up!
Charla Atkins
My life is completely, totally, and wonderfully CHANGED thanks to the Bible based teaching of Remnant Fellowship. I have been taught in the most loving manner I have ever experienced, how to live out what the Bible teaches. I have learned how to live out the Lord's prayer (Matthew 6:9). Our dear leaders have taught me how to put God's needs and wants first. Remnant Fellowship is the only church I have ever been to that the leaders truly DO what they say. There is no hypocrisy amongst the leaders, and they are always willing to help anyone in the Fellowship at ANY time! It is so beautiful! I have experienced a total life transformation as a result of learning how to live for God and by DOING it! Life is so FUN now!!! I have peace, joy, love, and HOPE!!! I know that there is really a GOD who loves me and cares for me. He truly does know what I need and is the best Father ever!!! I never knew that GOD spent so much time, love, care, and concern over every single person He created! How could I not return that love? May this world know that GOD is Lord, Jesus Christ is his devoted Son, and that Remnant Fellowship wants nothing more than for GOD to receive the glory that is due to Him alone!!!
Cheryl Fitzgerald
It will be difficult to describe or list all that God has changed in me and our entire family since coming to this message in this limited venue. For me, the biggies were: PRIDE, ARROGANCE, SELF-FOCUS, PRAISE OF MAN, RESISTING AUTHORITY & GREED! I knew I was a mess, I knew the church was a mess. Neither the church nor I ever lined up with what the scriptures taught and what I was even teaching others. I wanted to believe that God would be true to his Word, but I was close to giving up the search for it. I thought He had removed His Spirit from this country because it had become so evil. I wanted to be like King David-a (wo)man after God's own heart; to be pure and holy, but I didn't know how. I would almost cry when my family wanted to visit another church. I truly had been looking all (most) of my life for this truth! My first draw to Remnant Fellowship was not for the weight loss-but PRAISE GOD for this also. My daughter, Kellie, was searching because of a previous stint I had with some weight loss a few years earlier. She came across the website for Remnant Fellowship. God allowed her to read both the legitimate comments as well as those from people who couldn't understand this truth. She called me at work, so excited, to tell me there was a church that seemed to line up with what we had been searching for. Long story short: within a short time, it was evident by the lives represented in this fellowship, that God truly had brought a people back to himself-to live pure and holy before him. I HAD FOUND IT!!!! I now LOVE authority-our house is now in order, I ADORE the praise of GOD rather than man, pride and arrogance has been done away and replaced by a sincere love of the brethren. And, 70 pounds of weight came off when greed was destroyed! PRAISE BE TO THE GOD AND FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST! I truly am the "happiest girl in the whole USA" (a song God gave me). I love all of you and our wonderful leadership!
Diane Gauker
I want to give all the glory and all the praise that I even have a testimony! That is amazing and so beautiful of God Almighty to have reached down to the pit of self and rescue me! I love Him more than I can express and I owe Him my everything....He has saved my life!!! Before hearing this message of Truth, I was always focused on the wrong thing, the negative thing, the thing that I didn't have. I didn't want to be like that, but I didn't know how else to be. I was soooo sad all the time and full of sorrow as I would know that things in life and in my life weren't right, but again, I never knew how to get out of myself. I cried all the time and that would make me focus more on myself which was a continual downward spiral of self pity and sorrow that I knew no real end to. There were better times, but they were short lived and I never knew true peace until hearing this message. Before there was torment and voices of people telling me what to do and the accusing voices of demons lying to me to keep focusing on myself. I went from tape to tape, ministry to ministry, book to book, I could do word studies in Greek and Aramaic, but NOTHING EVER TAUGHT ME TO CHANGE MY HEART!! Until taking a Weigh Down class. My whole life changed and my eyes were truly opened to see that I could change even while my circumstances remained the same, or got worse! I used to wake up every morning with the voice of what went wrong the day before playing a continual loop in my head. Now I wake up to unspeakable JOY! LOVE! and I-CAN'T-WAIT-TO-GET-OUT-OF-BED-TO-BE-WITH-GOD bursting out of my heart!!!!! I am not kidding!!! I LOVE MY LIFE WITH GOD!!!! He answers prayers and shows me what to think about and then what to do to please Him and that is ALL that matters to me now. If I think I have hurt Him or disappointed Him in any way, I cannot stand it. I have found my purpose in life, and in living for something bigger and way better than self. It is true peace. It is looking at everything with a whole new perspective and that rocks because the way I was perceiving things before wasn't effecting anything positive at all. Relationships are so much better as I seek to serve rather that to be served, love instead of be loved, give instead of receive. The only pain I feel now is when I know I've caused God any pain, and I cannot stand it until I make things right again. It is so fun to be A-L-I-V-E!!!! for the first time EVER!!!!!! The WEIGHT of pounds (60) the weight of sorrow, the weight of drowning in feelings, the weight of self is FOREVER GONE!!! AS I CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON GOD AND WHAT HE WANTS!!!! I LOVE this message of Truth, I LOVE this messenger of Truth, Gwen Shamblin, who always points us to God Almighty Who IS TRUTH!!! He is AMAZING AND BEAUTIFUL AND FORGIVING AND LOVING AND GRACIOUS AND TO BE LOVED, HONORED, AND PRAISED FOR EVER AND EVER AND EVER!AMEN!!!!! With much love and thankfulness, Diane Gauker
Paula Chrisman
I was handed down a love for food and for peace with man over God almighty.
I was incredibly needy to my husband and children, and the only "self" time was with my food. They were my idols. I would serve my family and wait for them to return this love. This love was never returned. The only break I would take from this "worship" of family, was when the kids were down for their naps I would "Serve myself" some food. I was lonely, needing and wanting a love that would love me back. I knew that eventually if the house was clean enough and the right dinner was made...my angry husband would finally be happy. If he was happy...THEN I could finally be happy. Every day he would return home to disappoint me again and again. I poured myself into my children and hung from every approval that they gave to me. They were spoiled and did not return this love. My food did not love me back either. It only made my husband and I even more distant.
In 2000 I came to this message and lost 70 lbs! I continued to serve my family...but with out expectations of return. God had become my love! He is my source of all now! The relationship with my family has returned seven fold! God is my everything!
He has brought me from a marriage on thin ice, to a marriage that made it thru an entire house remodel and the death of a child. The world would say this will split a family. Well I say, not when the family puts God first. After worshiping a child for years, I was able to freely give her back into the arms of my Father. NO ANTIDEPRESANTS REQUIRED!
I Praise God for this relationship. It is his grace that he would show me how to turn from the love of this world and into obedience to him and his perfect, satisfying, an fulfilling love!
Stacey Garcia
Before this message, I was depressed, lonely, and my weight was beginning to rise. I had tried drugs in high school, but I knew I couldn't live like that for long. In college, I drank & partied. But mainly, I kept running to relationships with people, thinking that if I just found the "right" relationship, that I would be happy & life would be great. I praise God often that he never allowed any of those relationships to be "right" because I can imagine now where I would be if they had. YUCK! I grew up in church. But I've always had questions about the trinity and about the scripture in Revelations that says He will spit you out if you are luke warm. When I was 15, we left the church because of the hypocrisy we saw in the leaders. As a young adult, I went from church to church, trying to find the right church. In the meantime, I was continuing to run after human relationships & continuing to sin. I knew I was sinning. I wanted to stop so bad. But I didn't know how! I would try, and it would work for a while, but I would always end up going back to it. In 2000, I had a baby out of wedlock. I knew I had to turn this around. I started praying and asking God to really know him. I prayed, that if God was really the Trinity, that he would show me in his word. I studied my bible & talked with people I regarded as pious, but I could never see it. I still kept trying to find a church...and I still kept running to relationships with people. I thought that, if I could just find a good "Christian" guy, then it would be "right"...wrong!!! In 2002, my mom, Lydia, found Remnant. When she first started telling me about it, I thought it sounded kind of weird. I listened in to a conference call, (this was before webcasts). I didn't understand what Gwen meant when she talked about being a prophet. I thought, "Isn't a prophet someone who can predict the future?" And the 'New Jerusalem' sounded like a compound in Nashville! What did I know?! I told my mom that I didn't hear anything wrong with it, but that the first time she started talking about moving to Nashville, we were going to tie her up and de-tox her. HAHA!!! Anyhow, she kept listening to Remnant services & telling me about it. Finally, about 3 months later, I decided to come check it out, just so my mom would leave me alone about it. Oh My! I loved it! Remnant was exactly what I had been looking for my whole life! They actually opened their Bible & read large sections all together. They discussed what God was doing in their lives. I felt like I finally had "permission" to NOT believe in the trinity, which made the scriptures just come to life! Now I could read the Bible and it made sense and it didn't contradict itself! The best part of all, is that this message thought me HOW to stop my sin! That is so major. In the endless line of other churches I had attended, no one could ever tell me how to stop! Well, needless to say, from that day forward, I never wanted to be anywhere else. Now I really have found the "right" relationship & I know it has to be with God Almighty! And its so exciting to get to know that He never changes. If I am ever down & out these days, I know I am the one that changed, for the worst, & I just need to turn it back around to focusing on finding His will to get back to the peace and the joy. Oh, and by the way, I live in Nashville now...no de-tox necessary, thank you!
Sally Neely
Hi, my name is Sally Neely and I live in middle Georgia. I was raised in a church going family where that didn’t really mean much except it was an activity we did nearly every week. It had no true impact on how we lived our lives. Even from my teen years, outwardly I appeared as a “good kid” but I was full of selfishness and envy—never satisfied with anything. Through the teachings of the Weigh Down Ministry and Remnant Fellowship I can say that I am no longer that kind of person. I have lost 105 pounds, and simply put, that is merely icing on the cake. I never realized how manipulative, discontent and empty my life had been; I just could not see it until I changed my focus from my self to that of our Great and Most Merciful God! In seeking to please Him, He has given me a new heart and a new life. Before I was a selfish, lazy parent. Now I gently teach my children how to obediently please God. Before I was fat and miserable. Now I am fit and active and feel great. Before I was a manipulative wife. Now I love to serve my husband and my family. Before I was lonely even when not alone. Now the love and peace that can only come from our Heavenly Father fills me with great joy. I really am happy! Before I had every kind of greed. Now I am content in all circumstances.
Before I bought into every false teaching out there – dieting, New Age, and attended at least 6 different church denominations. Now I only turn only to the Bible and seek guidance from those will keep my focus on God for direction on how to live my life.
Before I looked for all the wrong things to fill me up – food, alcohol, drugs, relationships, money, things… Now I only look to God. The Remnant Fellowship is a church that when you look around the congregation you see nothing but changed, joyful lives. We are constantly encouraged by each other. We are taught how to be loving servants of God and are given the tools to really live it out. We are surrounded by examples of people who do not just say the right thing but actually do it. It never occurred to me that a place might exist where there is no arguing, jealousy, manipulation and mind games, but I thank God every day that He led me to it. Leave the muck of the world behind. You can change. Turn, repent and find true love with God Almighty. He will not disappoint
Monica Weaver
This Church is DIFFERENT! For as long as I can remember I have been going to church. My earliest years were spent in a Catholic Church and School. I remember going to confession as a class and thinking, "Why can't I just go to God directly with all this stuff?" My mother got "saved" when I was in elementary school and so began our church hopping. I've seen it all, Christian, Missionary Alliance, Pentecostal, Baptist, Non-Denominational, Methodist, you name it I've probably visited it at one time or another. I went to a Baptist college and continued to church hop. My favorite was the "Church of the Woods" or the "Chapel in the Wind". My roommate and I would much rather go hiking on a beautiful Sunday morning than sit in a stuffy church just because we had to write it down on our church report. Oddly enough, I always felt much closer to God on those walks than I ever did sitting on a pew trying to focus and pay attention. Whenever I went looking for a church my main goal was to find one with people my age and good music. If the pastor was decent that was just a bonus, but definitely not one that I really focused on. When I finally thought I found a home it was at a church where there were several people that I went to college with, the music was upbeat and modern, there was a large choir I could join, I taught Sunday school, you name it I participated in as much as I could. Was I changing? Absolutely not! I was never a "bad girl" in the worlds eyes; no smoking, drinking, partying, sex, but what I was doing was even uglier. I was lying, prideful, angry, not honoring my parents in the least bit, greedy for food, controlling, selfish and all those things in the heart that people say you just can't get rid of.
It wasn't until my Mom and Dad started meeting in their living room listening to a service in far away Nashville that I found a home in a church and my heart REALLY started to change. We had found a church called Remnant Fellowship that was based out of Nashville, TN. We were able to conference call in to the services from our home in Ohio. It was in THIS church that I really learned what it meant to have a fear of God and to TRULY love him. It was in THIS church that I learned how to honor my parents. It was in THIS church that I was taught how to get rid of greed, praise of man, pride and anger and to turn that all into a love for God. It is only in THIS church that I have learned to really die to myself and live for God's will ONLY! It is in THIS church that the people in leadership love me enough to tell me the TRUTH that I can and must stop sinning, and not just say you're okay and you'll never stop sinning. This Remnant Fellowship is a true church of change and of love. I've never been at a church where they din’t ask you for money or pass a basket during communion. I've never been at a church where the people were the same outside the building as they were inside during the service. In fact, in most churches the people would practically run out of service to go out to eat or go watch the football games. At this church, we LOVE being with each other. It is the same spirit of God that brings us together and allows us to worship and fellowship and not worry about time. It is truly Heaven on Earth!! I can't imagine, nor do I want to imagine worshipping or being anywhere else!
Janene Steinman
I might look like the same person I was 20 years ago but the inside (and I think the outside) is completely transformed. I have lost 30 lbs along with a ton of dieting and food rules that I tried to force on my husband and children.
I use to be totally anti authority…(but sweet). I had my own rules and laws and they did not match with the law or my employers. I believe the biggest change is that I have found something I was looking for all of my life. I remember always asking how to invest money. I would seek media and parent on how to raise happy children. ,I have searched friendships, business and worldly magazines looking for this. The answers was there in print or on the lips of someone, but it never reached into my heart. Thru this teaching I have peace in all areas of my life and I can teach my children how to find God which has taught me that that is the answer to all of my searching. still remember taking my 1st Weigh Down Workshop and being taught about a God that was loving and personnel, I fell in love immediately and wanted more. That was February of 1999. I continued to stay in any class offered. By 2003 I was trying to find the people (even leaders) in my church that had the same love for God that I had found through this teaching……….they weren’t there……sooooooo………I left.
Cheryl Deneschuk
My name is Cheryl Deneschuk and my life has totally changed since hearing the truth taught at Remnant Fellowship Church and learning how to practically apply Godly principles every day. Before attending Remnant Fellowship there was no church or school I attended that could ever give me the answer of how to turn from my sin of greed, self-focus, materialism, anti-authority and depression etc and turn to God for answers. I grew up ‘church hopping’ always seeking God, but feeling like I never could find Him. I had always wondered what “do the will of God” meant, but never found the answer. I chose to attend a private Christian University in hopes to find God, but did not find the answers in a classroom.
I had been enslaved to dieting and exercising since I was 11years old. Counting calories, fat grams and exercising 2-3 hours a day was a profession that consumed my life. I grew up trying to find a ‘purpose’ for living. I had no peace, no true friends, no direction, and no happiness. I ended my freshman year in university totally miserable because I had gained ‘the freshman 20lbs’and was no closer to finding a relationship with God. My last attempt at weight loss was to join the varsity rugby team. I ended up tearing my ACL- I could hardly walk. A week later God answered my prayer and found the Weigh Down Workshop. For the first time the Bible made sense and I found the answer to permanent weight loss!
The teaching at the Remnant Fellowship Church lines up with the Bible 100%. Leadership are true shepherds, that lovingly turning people from their sin and back towards God. Now I finally have the answer to how to ‘find and do the will of God’ and it has made all the difference!
Joya Miller
I tried to fill my empty heart with everything in this world that feels good for only a minute, but the only thing that I was left with was guilt, loneliness, and a hollow heart. Growing up I was always so disobedient to my parents and doing only the opposite of what they wanted. Choosing to obey my flesh and lusts, I ended up pregnant outside of wedlock. I got married before my daughter was born but ended up divorced 2 years later.
Being a young single mother, I turned to sexual relationships, partying, traveling, over-drinking, over-shopping, and spoiling my daughters to mask the pain of being empty and hopeless. I wanted to be loved so bad, but none of this loved me back. Boyfriends only used me; partying left me feeling guilty in the morning; over-drinking left me with a splitting headache and regretting the things that I said and did; over-shopping left me with debt; and spoiling my children with things didn't make them love me because all they wanted was cuddles and to see me happy instead of crying.
I praise God that all of these things that the world glamorizes are so painful because the pain and emptiness made me cry out to God. I have given an all natural birth, and birthing pains pale in comparison to the pain in my heart during my life without God.
January 1, 2004, the day after a lot of New Year's Eve partying, I couldn't get off of the floor. I was crying so hard face down on the floor. I tried to pick myself up, but I physically couldn't. I had hit rock bottom. Nothing was wrong with me physically; it was the pain of my heart and hopelessness that I couldn't get up.
I called my sister Elisabeth from the floor begging for help. She told me about an orientation class for The Last Exodus that was going to be starting the very next day at Pat Sanchez's house in Denver, Colorado. I was so desperate that I actually obeyed and didn't do the opposite of what she said. God was so merciful and generous to let me find hope while face down on the floor.
I hung on to every word that Gwen Shamblin said in the videos and on Constant Encouragement. I wanted the joy, hope, peace, and love relationship with God that Gwen and everyone in Remnant had. I have been a member of Remnant Fellowship now for two years. I have never had more peace and purpose, learning that a great life comes from dying to my will and surrendering to God's perfect will.
I have had the opportunity to sit down with Gwen Shamblin a lot and ask her questions about how to treat people, my attitude, mothering, and falling in love with God alone. She always takes the time sit down with everyone and teach how to deeply, wholeheartedly love God first, then truly love others even when they don't love me back. It is fine when others that I shower with love don't like me or falsely accuse me because I get to prove to God that I will love Him through the good times and the hard times; and God's approval, favor, love, and answered prayers is all that I need.
I have been looking to be loved my whole life, and once I learned (through Remnant) to have no idols/loves besides Him, the love that God gives makes me so full that I can't help but to show so much love for others. I have learned to look inward and change myself and quit blaming everything around me. It is so freeing to take responsibility for my own actions.
Now I have two beautiful daughters that love serving, memorizing scripture, reading the Bible, love going to church, and they love God. I can't believe that they got to learn to have no idols/loves before God, and to go to God for every feeling at such a young age. I have also been taught to spend within God's boundaries as well. God has given me a job, and I am not to spend outside of my means. In obeying with this, I have been able to pay off so much debt. I am here to testify that God blesses obedience!
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