Pastor Shohei's Testimony | Barrington

I am so thankful that Christ Jesus is working in their hearts, drawing them to church. I also want to express my gratitude to Pastor Tom and Griffin for their dedication in providing quality services. Many of our new guests appreciate our style of worship and teaching!

One of our new guests, who comes from a Catholic background, shared his powerful testimony with me. He had a successful career and built a good life for his family. However, he endured a painful divorce, battled cancer three times, and faced many struggles as his children's lives became very difficult. He told me, "I used to believe that I could manage my life through my own strength. But then, my sister, a faithful Christian, gave me a Bible long ago. It had just been sitting on my shelf, untouched. One day, I finally picked it up and began reading—and I ended up reading almost the entire Bible." Later, a friend encouraged him to visit The Orchard. When he first attended, Pastor Tom was preaching on 2 Corinthians as part of a sermon series. In recent months, 2 Corinthians 12:7 had already been speaking to his heart, and now, hearing Pastor Tom preach on it felt like a confirmation from God. He shared, "I truly realized that Christ’s hands were on me, guiding me and calling me to obedience. Now, I am in the process of becoming a member of the church and preparing to be baptized."

Serving at the Welcome Desk has given me the privilege of witnessing how God is actively drawing people to Himself, one by one. It’s humbling and encouraging to see how simple moments of greeting and listening can open doors for deeper connection and spiritual growth. I’m grateful to be part of how God is working through our Welcome Team during the weekend services.



I also know there are countless stories—many that I may never hear—of how our faithful Welcome Team volunteers are prayerfully serving, welcoming, and caring for each person who walks through our doors. God is using their quiet acts of kindness in powerful ways.