I decided to go the extra mile, as giving my wages and savings alone wasn’t painful for me — I knew that I would get them back within a month or so. I wanted to really feel the pain of sacrifice. And so I went all out and decided to sell all my clothes. Now this was painful! Many were designer labels and brand-new still had the tags on them. Looking at all my clothes set out on my bed, the reality of what I was going to do hit home.

I felt sick, weak and was overcomed with tears. But at the same time I knew that this was what God wanted me to do. I had gone far and beyond! This was my personal faith. No one told me or influenced in any way; my only influence was the desire to see God’s greatness in my life. After I had fulfilled my vow, I was filled with assurance that I would get whatever I wanted. There was not a single doubt or accusation telling me that I had kept a reserve. My sacrifice was perfect and it made me unstoppable and bold and ‘no’ was definitely not going to be taken as an answer.

Within three months of presenting my vow, I already saw things that I wanted happening. I received a call that allowed me to take over from a company that had closed down and lost their charity status — the company had literally just started up and had everything in place: equipment, contacts… everything. And I got it all! All they had worked for was handed to me! This became my family centre. And as if this wasn’t enough, I was also able to start up a cleaning company and, within the first month and a half, I made £10,000! My life is just a blessing! And all because I understood God’s will for me: to be great!

Ebony McDonnough

Catford

The post I wanted to be GREAT! appeared first on Campaign of Israel.

However, when things go well, we can sometimes become relaxed, and that’s what happened to me. I became a bit relaxed. The worst moment was when my landlord unexpectedly decided that he wanted the house, and required my husband and me to leave. Even after pleading and trying to reason with him, we weren’t given any explanation, so instead of us complaining and blaming others, I took part in a Campaign again. When the Campaign was announced, I didn’t hesitate to jump headfirst.

The fear to sacrifice was there, because our future depended on it. We barely had a place to live so you can imagine how fear really kicked in. I knew that if God didn’t answer my request, we would be in a terrible situation. I had a passion for hairdressing and I didn’t want anything to kill that dream. After presenting my sacrifice, I still had to fight for what I wanted. There were so many options, but nothing was working. This was until I found the perfect space for a hair salon business, which I can say was truly a blessing.

The place was well located, in a busy area, spacious and newly refurbished. Many people were offering the landlord much more money than we could afford to match. The lease was £150,000, but because of my sacrifice, God opened every door for us. The landlord accepted my proposal; we paid what we could and now I have my own authentic business with a station for a beautician, a kitchen for the staff, a waiting room, a place for manicure and pedicure with so much more. This is only the beginning of greater things to come!

Debora Nepomuceno

Stamford Hill

The post Left with no option appeared first on Campaign of Israel.

Manoel was fired from his job and, a few days later, he was evicted from his house. The very same friends who he had been clubbing with had decided to abandon him in his greatest time of need.

“I had reached the point of complete humiliation. I was begging people for spare change for me to buy cheap booze, sleeping on park benches and even eating food from the bins! I would know which days to go to certain bins and what food I would get out of it. I knew that on Friday nights in Central London, a lot of people went clubbing so in the bins near kebab shops I would find a lot of leftover food to survive on.”

It was six months after losing everything he had that he really hit rock bottom. “I was sleeping in a desolate construction site and I started crying. Something was telling me to go back to the HelpCentre, and I went. I couldn’t take it anymore! I was so fed up of living that shameful life.”

After coming back to HelpCentre, he was welcomed with open arms and received the help that was needed to start getting his life back on track. After taking part in a Chain of Prayer, Manoel was able to get temporary accommodation, which was a miracle in itself after being in the country illegally. A few weeks later, the Campaign of Israel was announced and he saw it as an opportunity to turn his life around, permanently!

“I was happy and scared at the same time when the Campaign came around. Happy because it gave me the opportunity to put God to the test and scared because I knew what my sacrifice would have to entail. I was afraid of God not providing for me and going back to live on the streets if He didn’t. Nevertheless, I decided to take part in the campaign and give everything I had!

After laying down my sacrifice, to my surprise, a month and a half later I received my indefinite leave from the Home Office! Not only did He give me the rights to live in the country but He also put me in the way of the right people to speak to in regards to my housing. I later received a phone call saying that they would give to me one year of accommodation for free!”

Through the power of Manoel’s sacrifice, he was also able to get a job that reflected his passion; he is currently working in a position that pays well, enables him to obtain huge contacts with big companies and is also able to teach others along the way.

Manuel Nunes

Croydon

The post Prodigal Son 2012 appeared first on Campaign of Israel.

Without realising, Lilliana became like a youth carer; just one amongst a large number that take on the role of guardian for an adult who is physically incapable of looking after themselves.

“She literally could not do anything without me helping her,” Lilliana says. “From cooking and cleaning right down to having to help her get into the shower. It was horrible!

At this time, my mum was coming to the HelpCentre and she heard about the Campaign of Mount Sinai. She decided that enough was enough! She couldn’t stand the illness. She couldn’t stand the shame and felt useless. With this determination, she declared that she was going to do everything she could to get better. We didn’t have a lot of money as she is single mum with two children, but she took all that she received from her benefits and placed it as her vow.

From then on, her faith in God coupled with the help of the doctors, my mum began to regain strength. She can do things for herself as she used to and can even run to catch the bus! With this amazing transformation, her self-esteem has grown and the greatest thing I can say is that I am proud to have a mum like her!”

Lilliana Ferreira Camara

Peckham

The post A daughter’s world is turned upside down appeared first on Campaign of Israel.

“Many timesI would sit there watching people walk by, thinking, ‘If only they knew I was in here, if only they knew what I was offering, if only, if only, if only…’”

That was my life story. I was surviving on pittance even though I knew I could be great. I knew that my business could be better, but there was nothing that I could do. I was sharing a place with other businesses and so I wasn’t allowed to advertise. It was a cruel joke. I had the product, but I couldn’t tell anyone about it and for two years this was how I lived! I had a small space in a community centre to conduct my training centre and I could just see that I wasn’t being taken seriously. I didn’t look like the professional that I was and this was costing me dearly. I wanted my own independence and I wanted it fast!

I was attending the UCKG HelpCentre and my prayer was always to have my own building. I wanted to be set free from the shackles that bound me the business) to a life of limitation. I believed in God’s promise that I would be the head and not the tail, and so when a Campaign of Israel was announced, it was as if God weretesting me, testing to see if I really believed. I was convinced that God was speaking to me, so I took my envelope and started inquiring from God what he wanted me to sacrifice.

The answer I got back was not something that I was prepared for. It was a real challenge. What God was asking from me was everything! No holding back, and it hurt! I remember even going to the pastor to ask if I could give my sacrifice by instalments, but he told me to go by my faith, as it’s something personal that God reveals to us individually. I knew deep down God wanted me to give all, but I was trying to find other ways around giving it all at once. God was asking for not only my income, but also all the profits and investments from my business. It wasn’t easy as it was all I had; I was left with nothing. With the financial cuts that were taking place at that time it made things even more difficult for me financially.

After presenting my vow, life wasn’t a bed of roses; things were very hard, but I continued in the faith, reminding God of his promise to make me the head and not the tail. I made Chains of Prayers on Mondays to see this difference, I was faithful in my tithes and offerings and soon after, God fulfilled His end of the bargain.

He blessed me with a property based on the high road making it visible for everyone to see. I finally had my independence! And just when I thought my blessing was complete God opened more doors for me. I got new contracts, and a specific college signed with my training centre saying that if I did welleach year, the contract would continue for 10 for several years! More so the number of paying clients preparing for their British citizenship through the business have more than doubled. Today my business is doing so well that the money that we’ve made from January until now is more than what we made in the last two years combined, and I’m getting more opportunities for more contracts.It’s amazing how God is just opening door after door simply because I trusted Him.

Toyin Sulola
Stratford

The post Sacrifice, an investment with GUARANTEED returns! appeared first on Campaign of Israel.

“I went through each day in a blur, burping and slurring my words. I felt as if I were walking on uneven ground as I staggered with every step I made. I couldn’t function without a drink. I couldn’t sleep, eat or do anything. I needed alcohol as much as I needed air. And when I needed an extra fix, I turned to cigarettes and smoked at least 60 cigarettes a day; and when this wasn’t enough, I turned to weed. I was on a constant high!

Though I was attending the UCKG HelpCentre and had even taken part in a Chain of Prayer, where I attended the sessions at the HelpCentre consecutively to break my addiction, but nothing worked! The power that alcohol had over me was just too strong. That was until the Campaign of Israel was announced and I thought to myself, ‘I haven’t been able to kick my bad habits because I hadn’t done something drastic to show God how much I wanted to change.’ And so I decided to go all in. I decided to give all that I had. However, the thought came into my head that, if I gave everything then I wouldn’t have anything to buy alcohol with… that I would be with alcohol… — this petrified me!

But then I thought of how terrible an example I was setting for my children, and that pushed me on to fulfil my vow. Then I was attacked by doubts, what if it doesn’t work? What if I stop for a while and then fall back on the wagon? And again I fought to get rid o f those doubts. I climbed the altar and made my vow, and as soon as I came down, I was shaking and thought I was going to fall. And days passed before I realised that I had gone through the day without drinking. Thinking it wasn’t going to last, I decide to test things out. I took just half a glass of wine and immediately I felt sick. I was ill for two weeks! I couldn’t believe it! I had drunk every day for years, but now just a small taste of it made me sick — it was unreal! I also couldn’t smoke either! The sleepless nights also stopped and finally I was able to get my life back on track!”

Lenna Edah

Bullring

The post Off the wagon! appeared first on Campaign of Israel.

“We had the same passion for sports and the same vision – we didn’t want to work for other people. Why spend time making someone else rich when we could be investing all our efforts in making ourselves rich? So we had an idea to open up a sports academy called Pro Excellence Sports Academy (PESA). We started from absolutely nothing! No investors or sponsors, no equipment and no clients.

But we believed. In 2011, we started a summer camp, but had zero attendance for three weeks! Putting it simply, we were failing. Filled with thoughts of giving up, we chose to ignore them and instead took on another partner – God. The Campaign of Israel was announced and we decided to give our all to see our business coming off the ground. We saw the Campaign as a great opportunity to really take things to another level.

So we both gave all that we had financially and, spiritually, we were praying, asking God to make a distinction. After presenting our vows, we went in full force to gain entrepeneurs. We formed links with CITY Young Man’s Christian Association (YMCA) who provided PESA with a lot of recourses such as equipment, support and guidance. This was the first stage of our steady rise to success.

As time went on, we were able to secure a year’s worth of football coaching bookings, which was supported by Islington Council. Then, in August 2012, we started coaching during the school holidays and we were breaking all projected targets! Seeing our success, PESA was nominated for ‘Youth Project of the Year’ and the other was for ‘Sporting Team of the Year’. And we won both of these awards!

As it stands, there is a complete difference between where we are now and where we were a year ago! Because of the sacrifices we made, we currently have projects running through out Islington Borough and recently our funding bid was accepted to start boxing and Muay Tai.

We also work with professional football clubs recruiting young aspiring footballers. We’re growing from strength to strength and are very grateful for the Campaign of Israel, as without it our business would still be in the dumps!”

CEO Julious Joseph and MD Caric James, Finsbury Park

The post Islington Council grants double-award to partners of God appeared first on Campaign of Israel.

Then, unexpectedly, I became very ill, and according to the doctors, there was no cure for my condition. At this time, I met a very special man. He attended the UCKG HelpCentre and he and his mother started to pray for my healing. Soon after that, I got better and started to attend the HelpCentre with him.

We started dating and, after a year together, suddenly he decided to move abroad seeking for new opportunities. I was extremely apprehensive because I was afraid that our love would not survive the distance, and many questions took over me. It wasn’t fair! Finally I had met the man of my life and then he moves to another country! It really wasn’t fair but I had no choice but to accept the situation… that was until the Campaign of Israel was announced. I decided that, instead of crying about the situation, I was going to do something about it. I made my vow of 2 month’s wages and presented my request to God. This was my personal faith to show God I was serious. I asked God to solve the problem — after all, everything was very uncertain between him and me. Two months down the line after presenting my vow, he proposed to me! And I was elated! Then we found out that there was a Brazilian law that allowed us to get married even though he was overseas — this was just unbelievable!

We got married and later on I moved to London and now we are happily married. It was all worth it because God had a better plan for us in another country, a plan that we couldn’t have imagined. Today I have a man of God who loves and respects me.”

Lívia da Silva Santos, Finsbury Park

The post My Campaign for true love appeared first on Campaign of Israel.

Since I wasn’t getting the comfort and care that I was supposed to receive from him, I turned my full attention to pornography. I would find myself fully indulged by the images of pleasure that they were portraying and I couldn’t stop watching it. I would arrive late to work and finish early just to fulfil this vile addiction.

Another addiction I had was stealing. Many times I found myself stealing the simplest things. I tried to stop, but could never find strength to do so. There was even a time that I got caught and it was very embarrassing! The shame and humiliation of being labelled as a thief dipped my self-esteem to a new low, which stirred up my anger. This was another part of my character that many people hated, especially my work colleagues. I always saw the need to start random arguments with them. If not my work peers then with my own manager. It was just a vicious cycle that kept producing disastrous results.

Apart from all of these problems, I had a lot of internal struggles as well. My insecurities led me to have suicidal thoughts. I would have gruesome images in my mind of me throwing myself under a truck! It was as if my life were no longer my own. I couldn’t control my actions, thoughts or tongue! What was going on?! I knew that I needed to change, but where was I going to get help? Where would I find people to have the patience to help me?

One day the place where I worked was sold and the new owner was a member of the UCKG HelpCentre and invited me to attend. At first, I was a bit sceptical about it. I was invited to make a Chain of Prayer and, as I kept attending the weekly sessions, I was beginning to see positive changes within myself but I still wasn’t free to be the woman I wanted to be. I didn’t have the strength.

The Campaign of Israel was annouced and the more I heard the testimonies and the meaning behind it, the more I was sure that I needed to be a part of it. I found this drive in me to sell everything Ihadinmyhomeandtowalk2hoursto work daily to give everything to God! My intention was to show God that I didn’t want my old life or my present one. I wanted to be a brand new Dorothy, a woman of character, strength and self control. I placed the ball in God’s court and I knew that He had to bless me! That very same day, I can say that I received a new frame of mind and a positive spirit. Problems don’t dictate me, I control them! I am happy being me and not many can say that! If a change was possible for me, then it’s more than possible for you!”

Dorothy Monteith, Wood Green

The post Addiction became my middle name appeared first on Campaign of Israel.

Then the ‘Born and Bred’ Campaign of Israel was announced and I knew that I had to take part to see my dream of becoming my own boss come true. My faith was to take all the money that I had been saving up to open my business and give it to God. Though it was very painful and somewhat insane, as it was the money I had earned working overtime and weekends, I had every assurance that God would take care of me. From there, I started thinking about business ideas and thought of opening a business in the field that I specialised in: a pharmacy. But things didn’t work out and I even lost money pursuing that venture. Nevertheless, I didn’t give up; I knew God was with me.

Then, an opportunity came to take part in a make-up course with a professional make-up artist, hosted by the Godllywood group, and I took part. In just one afternoon, I learnt so much and really enjoyed it and that was when the penny dropped. I decided to pursue make-up artistry as a business venture.

After the training, I started applying what I learnt on my daughter and myself, and people started noticing the difference. I was flooded with compliments and so I decided to take the training one step further by enrolling on a diploma course in make- up application. I passed it and received a certificate.

Now I have my own registered business Clear Difference Make-up Ltd, which is mobile, at the moment. And I’ve already started to build a clientele with weddings and occasion bookings!”

Monsurat Fashola, Peckham

The post My nice little earner has made a clear difference! appeared first on Campaign of Israel.