Pr.Victor's Testimony

blocks_image_2_1For many years, I wandered in my mind about life. When I look back, it's amazing how all things can lead up to a moment which changes your course. If someone told me that I would pastor a church one day, I'd probably have a good laugh. But I've come to know personally that God is truly sovereign and in control. Even if things seem out of control.
As a kid, I could remember the fun we had singing praise songs in our midweek school services. I remember learning about Jesus and what He said. His words always made sense to me. I felt close all the time to God.
But as the years went by, trying to figure out who I was, alcohol and drugs became my friend. Some how, I just managed to get through the day better half inebriated than sober. But as the Bible says, our lives have seasons. And sin has pleasure only for a season too. That season came to an end in my life in 2001, because I found no more pleasure in a bottle.
At the age of 34, I found myself crying like a kid again for the God I knew when I was young. And He heard my cry and restored my soul that morning. The desire for alcohol left, along with the depression and anxiety. I can testify that Jesus Christ is not only alive, but He saves our life from destruction.
I am now living the best years of my life. For the first time in a long time, I can say that life is awesome! But only with Jesus Christ. Now I now what He meant when He said "In Me, you can do all things. Without Me , you can do nothing." (John 15:5) I urge you to come to the Savior as you are. He'll take care of the rest.

Pr.Victor Barreira

Paulo's Testimony

Paulo “I thought that a life of gambling, and the lust of the world was the only way to live life on this earth.”

At an early age, cigarette smoking became part of Paul's young life. Paul quit school in grade 9 to work. “I got so consumed with material things, that money became my life.”
Paul soon began using credit cards to keep up his ‘hi-standard of life’.
“My life changed for the worst. I thought I had more money then I could handle and it led me into a life of gambling.”
Paul’s gambling addiction escalated until he found himself losing everything. “I would leave my wife at home while I went and spent all our money.”
Carla was called to Carisma Church through her sister and brother in law, which are now the Senior Pastors. She started to attend a cell. Shortly after, Paul began feeling a tug in his heart to attend Pr. Victor's cell. “The more I attended, the more I found myself wanting to learn more about God.”
 “And then one day in April, on an Easter weekend in 2002, I attended a service in Toronto which changed my whole life. I felt such a presence of The Lord that I began to cry uncontrollably. I felt a heavy burden taken off my shoulders. I started to look at my life in a different way.”
In a short time, The Lord broke Paul’s smoking, drinking and gambling addictions. And their marriage was wonderfully restored…better than before!
Today, Paul plays bass in the Worship Team, helps lead with the Youth Ministry, and uses his other gifts to bless God’s work at Carisma Church.
“Now I worship God and not the world. I have never turned back to my old life. All I want is a life with God. We must learn to put our trust in God and not in the things of this world.”
“I thank God for what he has done in my life and I believe that there is so much more for me in this walk with Him.”

Paulo Oliveira

Rui's Testimony

Rui2 “All I was looking for was peace but I was never able to find it.”

 Rui Coelho was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba. By the age of 15, Rui was introduced to a life style of gangs, drugs and alcohol. “I started selling drugs, fighting, and doing heavier drugs like cocaine, ecstasy and others.”
It got to the point where Rui needed to leave Winnipeg and start a new life in Toronto. But soon, Rui became depressed and lonely and eventually turned back to crack cocaine.
“All I was looking for was peace but I was never able to find it.”
One day Rui was lying in his bed with no money, no food, depressed and high. “I cried out to the Lord with nothing to offer him.”

“The following day my phone rang and was led to Carisma Church in Toronto through a friend. A few weeks later I accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of my life. But for three years I continued in my worldly ways.”
“I turned to stealing from liquor stores to support my habits. I would even lie to my family and say I needed money for living, and it would instead be for drugs.”
Through a friend, Rui moved to Hamilton and begin fellowship at Carisma Church. Rui attended a conference to MCI in Montreal with Carisma Church.
“During a service there, I heard The Lord tell me, ‘I am with you.’ I had so many questions. As I was there the Lord began healing my heart. It was there that I surrendered everything to Him and since that day my life has never been the same!
I’ve seen The Lord restoring my family and I just pray for everyone to experience the same thing I’m experiencing.
I hope my testimony touches your heart and helps you choose to seek Him because ever since I found Him, my life has never been the same. God Bless

Rui Coelho

Samantha's Testimony

Sam2 “HI. I’m Samantha Coelho from Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Before I came to Christ, I was the type of girl that was never home. I pretty much based my life on being around friends. In Grade 9, I got introduced to drugs and alcohol. I did these things because I thought that it would fill the empty void in my life and make me feel accepted. But it really never did. I never got along with my family. I would rebel by locking my self in my room or running away. I had a really bad addiction to my computer. I would be on there from 3:30pm till 6am. My father and I were like sand paper. We never had a father-daughter relationship. I felt like my friends were my only family, but all they did was get me into trouble. While being out-on-the-town with them, there was a voice inside of me telling me that I should go home, but I never did.
In summer of 2006, my brother Rui invited my family and I to come to Hamilton, Ontario. My brother had received Christ at Carisma Church prior to my visit. I knew my brother’s past, but when I visited him I could definitely see something different. It drew me to wanting to learn more about Jesus Christ.
After the week passed, I went to Carisma Church on Sunday September 4th 2006. From that day forward my life changed. After I accepted Christ, I felt a really big change in my life. Soon after, I asked God to take my computer addictions away from me and He did instantly! The Lord led me to begin separating myself from friends of the past. He showed me that the things I use to do were never right, and he was the one that filled the empty void that I had in my life.
 The Lord promised me that he was going to restore my family, and that’s exactly what he has been doing. My father and I now speak to each other with love. Its like I can feel the love of God around us, its no longer yelling and fits of rage. My mother and I now have a mother-daughter relationship.
The Lord has also blessed me with amazing new Christian friends whom I can share life with as they pray with me. I’m so thankful that the Lord brought me out of the world before it was too late. I know that God has a lot more work to do in my life and I’m ready to receive what ever he has in store for me. There has never been a greater high then walking with Christ!"