Devotional

Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.  As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.

He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”

They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

“What things?” he asked.

“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”

He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.

When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread. Luke 24:13-35

Everyone was talking about it. Eye witness accounts told the news that Jesus had been resurrected from the dead. The two that encountered Jesus were talking about it too, with Jesus who came along and joined them while keeping His identity hidden. Jesus revealed to them through scripture how Moses and the prophets foretold the things the Messiah would have to suffer before He went onto Glory. Passion burned in the hearts of the two men, until finally, Jesus revealed Himself resurrected when He broke bread with them.

When the Holy Spirit reveals things through scripture to us, we experience a fire in our hearts, just like the two men. Consider how our fellowship grows as we talk about Jesus together. We witness this especially in small groups. We build each other up as we continue to meet. We would not have fellowship with an extended family if not for Jesus. Life would be self centered and will ultimately come to a dead end if not for Jesus. How blessed we are that we get to walk with Jesus and fellowship with Him and with each other.

Prayer

Jesus, I am endlessly amazed at your closeness in all things. You walk by my side, day in and day out. You walk with me and you talk with me. I never tire of being with you or talking to you. This world would pull me away from you and often succeeds in distracting me from your presence. But when I remember and turn to you, my heart burns brightly within me. How can I ignore that which ignites such passion? How can I be silent about so great a love? I cannot. I want to shout it from the rooftops – my heart is yours! Holy Spirit, kindle in me the fire of evangelism that I may share your love with all those you set in my path. May I never hide your light and may it burn bright for all to see.

Scripture Memorization

Jeremiah 20:9 But if I say, “I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name,” his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.

Photo Credit: Bill Zielinski @zphotobc

Music Credit: You Won’t Relent – Misty Edwards

Devotional Written by: Sambi Katano

Prayer: Pastor Deborah Downs

Devotional

“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.” Psalm 91:1-8

Every person should experience the protection of the Father growing up. Sadly there are children who grew up without that experience, leading to a life full of doubt and difficulty trusting in others, including God. We grow up thinking like the world of our fathers until a certain point in our lives. Earthly fathers provide limited protection, but God’s protection knows no such bounds. We can rest in His security even when things aren’t seemingly going well. We are sheltered under His wings, and no harm or punishment can come to us who seek shelter in the LORD. God is indeed our refuge and our fortress.

What can mankind do to deserve such love? How can God dote on us so much when we are so rebellious? God is Love, He loved us first, and there is nothing we can do to make Him love us more or less. Nothing. God created mankind, and loved us, even though He knew not all will love Him back. Those of us that love Him back will fully experience His love and protection, until one day, we will be with Him for eternity. God is our help in time of need. That time may even be today, but we will pull through because of Him.

Prayer

Father, forgive me for doubting in your faithfulness. My hurt runs deep and the wounds reopen often. My instinct is to withdraw in order to survive. But I want to do more than merely get by. I want to be by your side, in your shelter and shadow. Protect me as I draw near to you and bring healing to my soul, that I may love and trust you more.

Scripture Memorization

Psalm 91:2 “I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Photo Credit: Bill Zielinski @zphotobc

Music Credit: By Your Side – Tenth Avenue North

Devotional Written by: Sambi Katano

Prayer: Pastor Deborah Downs

Devotional

“Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm;
for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave.
It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away. If one were to give all the wealth of one’s house for love, it would be utterly scorned.” Song of Songs 8:6-7

One of our weaknesses is our inability to comprehend the power of God’s love. As it stands, we typically put filters when we love someone or something. We seek merit, as an example, so it is easier to love someone or something as long as it serves to fulfill us in some way, shape or form. Our love is conditional, for if circumstances change, so may our love for whomever or whatever. God’s love does not work this way. Nothing can stop God’s love, for it is literally an unstoppable force. The closest we can get is perhaps our sacrificial love for our children. But even that doesn’t really come close.

God loves His creation. He makes it rain on both the righteous and unrighteous. He loves us when we are still His enemies. Many will argue if God loves us so much why would He send us to hell. Well God so loved the world that He gave His only Son. We were once all destined to hell because of our sin, so God made a way. Those who put their faith in Jesus will spend eternity with Him. Those that reject God’s love will spend eternity without God. Our job is to tell others so they can at least have an opportunity to choose. Why beg God to seal our hearts in His courts? He already has. It’s those that don’t know of God’s love that we should worry about.

Prayer

Oh Lord my God, heal my broken heart. Instill in me a heart of flesh that reflects your love and seal it forever for you and you alone. Give to me a sense of urgency to share your love with all those I encounter. May I always stand secure in your love, never questioning or doubting its depth. Give me the words and wisdom to convey your love well to others.

Scripture Memorization

Ephesians 3:17-19 “I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”

Photo Credit: Bill Zielinski @zphotobc

Music Credit: Chris Tomlin – Come Thou Fount (I Will Sing)

Devotional Written by: Sambi Katano

Prayer: Pastor Deborah Downs

Devotional

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”“Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” Matthew 14:22-33

Life with Jesus is an interesting one. In this life we will have trouble, but Jesus has overcome the world. Not only is Jesus a guiding light in the seas of trouble, we get to walk with Him through life. You see, Jesus not only rescues us, He also gives us opportunities to learn and grow. He caught up to His disciples in the middle of the lake walking on water. The wind and the waves must have troubled the disciples, so much that Jesus was perceived as a ghost. Well, who could blame them? One does not typically approach a boat walking on water.

Enter Peter. A man who rushes into things, and often gets his foot in his mouth, asked Jesus to command him to come on the water. Jesus had a lesson already prepared for when Peter doubted and began to sink. His hand rescued Peter, and Peter got the experience of a lifetime. He walked on water, even if only for a short time, before he was overtaken by fear. The other disciples stayed on the boat passively. Jesus calmed the winds and led them safely to shore. All the disciples were rescued, but Peter had taken the extra step. This is how we should walk with Jesus, even if we fail, we may experience and learn something valuable.

Prayer

Jesus, you are the light in the darkness and darkness cannot overtake you. When you call for me to step out in faith, may I do so boldly, not allowing the darkness to intimidate me. May I keep my eyes ever on you and not the troubling seas that surround me. In this world there will be trouble, but YOU have overcome the world. I place my trust in you and walk in your light.

Scripture Memorization

John 1:1-5 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

Photo Credit: Bill Zielinski @zphotobc

Music Credit: My Lighthouse from Rend Collective

Devotional Written by: Sambi Katano

Prayer: Pastor Deborah Downs

Devotional

“As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:4-5

“[You are] members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” Ephesians 2:20-22

From the moment Jesus was crucified, the curtain that separated God’s most holy place was torn in His Temple. Jesus was raised from the dead, and a new temple was erected. He does not dwell in temples made by human hands, but we have become the temple where Jesus dwells. Built on the firm foundation of Christ, our cornerstone, we will dwell with Him together once and for all. Our life will stand firm on Jesus, or we could struggle on our own. The choice is clear.

Jesus resides in us, and we have the potential to become very close to Him. We will learn to recognize His voice. There is a relational experience that can only be understood by other believers. A presence of someone that is not ourselves that speaks, teaches and guides us through life’s decisions and circumstances. Engage Him, not as someone who sits on a cloud looking down on us, but as someone dwelling in the same house. It will transform the relationship.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, you are the cornerstone of this temple. Everything in me is designed to be oriented on you. I confess that I have deviated from your standard and have sought my own gain and way. It is my desire to be in alignment with your mind and will. Continue to transform me, teaching me your upright and blameless ways, that I may learn to perfectly love you and love others.

Scripture Memorization

Isaiah 28:16 “So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation;
the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic.”

Photo Credit: Bill Zielinski @zphotobc

Music Credit: Cornerstone by Hillsong

Devotional Written by: Sambi Katano

Prayer: Pastor Deborah Downs

Devotional

“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.” Acts 17:24-28

There is not a tribe of people anywhere in the world that does not marvel at nature. Our natural response is, there must be a higher power. However, educated people groups will be the first to dismiss that idea, not because of knowledge, but their focus on themselves. How inconvenient would the presence of a higher power be that created everything, when we try to live our self righteous lives? We want to make the rules, even though we could never keep them. It would be more convenient if nothing created the world, although logic should tell us that nothing cannot create something. But when it comes to self righteousness, we want to be in control.

God, who created everything, including you and I for a purpose, desires for us to seek Him. He reveals Himself through His creation, His glory displayed everywhere we look. We respond with awe, and we try to replicate His beauty and design that inspire us. Look how far we’ve come in incorporating God’s design in our modern day world. The difference between God’s children and the world is who is at the center of their lives. We all start out being self centered, but when we seek God, we will discover His purpose and put Him at the center of our lives. The Creator loves us deeply. We cannot go wrong when we put our lives in His hands.

Prayer

My God and my Creator, all the temples in the world cannot match in magnitude to the works of your hands. You molded the mountains and frosted them with snow. You scooped out the valleys and carpeted them with life. You dug out the seas and filled them with the mighty waters. You formed me with your hands into your image and likeness, breathed life into me, and filled me with your presence. How wonderful it is to be your temple, the place in which you chose to live, and move, and have your being. May I walk upright and blameless in the knowledge of who You are and where You reside – live in me as I live in You. May others come to know and love You through me.

Scripture Memorization

Acts 17:28a “For in Him we live and move and have our being.”

Photo Credit: Bill Zielinski @zphotobc

Music Credit: Breathe by Hillsong Worship

Devotional Written by: Sambi Katano

Prayer: Pastor Deborah Downs 

Devotional

“Praise the Lord, my soul. Lord my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty. The Lord wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters. He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind. He makes winds his messengers, flames of fire his servants. He set the earth on its foundations; it can never be moved. You covered it with the watery depths as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains…

…May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works—he who looks at the earth, and it trembles, who touches the mountains, and they smoke. I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the Lord. But may sinners vanish from the earth and the wicked be no more. Praise the Lord, my soul. Praise the Lord.” (Psalm 104)

God, the creator of the universe, we cannot fathom how great He truly is. The details of creation that we know are only but a portion, and we continue to discover new things even today. We will never be able to uncover them all during our existence. He holds the earth and the stars in His hands, and knows each star by name. All of nature and life cycles are intricately woven into one another, and He commands all things and sustains them. Among His creation are people, made in His image, to rule and govern the earth. He has given us free will so that we may have fellowship with Him. What an amazing God He is!

At some point in our life, God has revealed Himself to us. As His grateful children, we learn about who He is, what He desires, and how He loves us. He is our redeemer, savior and provider. He desires to fellowship with us, and He loves us deeply. Our response is to worship Him with our very lives, working to accomplish His will on this earth. We spread and share His love to others and invite them to belong to the family of God. He weaves our lives into one another just as He does the rest of His creation. What an amazing God we serve!

Prayer

Lord, how can I possibly navigate even a moment of my day without you? You have made all things, know all things, and you guide all things. How easily I forget your majesty and your splendor amidst the distractions in life. Reveal yourself again to me. Set your splendor before me that I may sit in wonder at your awesomeness. It is in your presence that the troubles and trials of this world fall away. Insurmountable obstacles melt under your gaze and are replaced with the fortitude that is faith. Set your countenance upon me, build me up and sustain me in your peace.

Scripture Memorization

Hebrews 1:2-3 “In these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”

Photo Credit: Bill Zielinski @zphotobc

Music Credit: Chris Tomlin – How Great Is Our God

Devotional Written by: Sambi Katano

Prayer: Pastor Deborah Downs

Devotional

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved.But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.” Romans 8:18-30

We are foreigners on this earth. A minority that lives by the Spirit and not by the flesh. We need one another to be whole and we need God to be complete. The sufferings we experience on earth will come to an end when the children of God are glorified. We groan inwardly as our bodies age and weaken, then we will transition from our temporary bodies into our glorified bodies in heaven. We have been promised this, so we anticipate with hope, waiting patiently. The Spirit keeps us aligned with God’s will, for the Spirit knows His will. The Spirit is our helper that will bring us back when we stray.

Even our suffering will be worked out for our good, which includes being conformed to the image of the Son. Not just some, but all things will lead to His purpose. This is why we can endure suffering on earth, like Jesus who saw the glory on the other side of His crucifixion, we are predestined, called, justified and glorified. For those that follow Jesus, these things are a done deal, for God foreknew this. In the meantime, all of creation groans in this fallen world, but God’s will is being accomplished as we speak. Not our will, but Thy will be done.

Prayer

Lord, your Word states that you know all things and that your will is perfect. I believe that and yet I struggle daily to trust that you know what you are doing or that it will be for my good. Life’s circumstances can seem overwhelming and messy, and still you are neither surprised nor deterred in seeing your plans through to their fruition. Help me to trust that your plans are better than my plans and your ways better than my ways. I often think I know best, all the while my plans contributing to the messiness. And still you remain faithful and work all things for my good as I love you and lean into your calling on my life. Lead me through your Word and by the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.

Scripture Memorization

Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Photo Credit: Bill Zielinski @zphotobc

Music Credit: Beautiful Things – Shane & Shane, The Worship Initiative

Devotional Written by: Sambi Katano

Prayer: Pastor Deborah Downs

Devotional

“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?” For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.” Romans 11:33-36

Nothing and no one surpasses God Almighty, for He has created the heavens and the earth. He has created the universe and even time itself. God is eternal. No one created God. Nothing can compare to Him. God cannot be contained, nor can He be fully comprehended by our finite minds. The fact that we are not in total and complete awe of Him 24 hours a day, 7 days a week is proof that we cannot fully understand how great our God truly is. Yet God is concerned with the well being of each and every one of us. Mankind resides on a spec of dust in the vast cosmic map of the universe. Yet He loves us? How can this be?

We cannot see God, but we can appreciate the beauty and splendor of His creation. It’s a measurable characteristic that allows us to experience a foretaste of His own beauty and splendor. God is indescribable and incomparable, and He is real. He reigns over everything, He reigns over everyone. He loves all in the fallen world so they could be rescued by Christ’s sacrifice. God is so amazing. How do we even begin to serve Him? Well God thought of that too. He simply wants us to love Him back (obey His commandments) and love others (tell them about Jesus). What an awesome God He is.

Prayer

God Almighty, I feel so small in the grand scheme of things. So insignificant and ignorant. And yet you tell me that I have infinite value to you. You tell me wonderful things about who you are – things I could not possible know or grasp in and of myself. But you don’t stop there. You tell me and then you show me incredible attributes of your being – things I cannot even begin to express or describe. How is this even possible? Only you, God. And for the things that I cannot understand, the mystery of your ways and depth of your wisdom and knowledge, I rely on my trust in you. I believe that you know all things and I trust that your plans are greater than my plans, your ways greater than mine. Strengthen my faith today with your continual presence and reassurance. My hope is in you and you alone. Amen.

Scripture Memorization

1 Corinthians 2:16 “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”

Photo Credit: Bill Zielinski @zphotobc

Music Credit: Indescribable – Chris Tomlin

Devotional Written by: Sambi Katano

Prayer: Pastor Deborah Downs

Devotional

“But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior…Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it. I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:1-3, 18-19.

When we go through trials of every kind, God is there beside us. His protection is upon us whether we are going through the waters or through fire. He will keep us from harm. What have we done to deserve such a blessing? Absolutely nothing. It is not by what we have done, but by what God has done. Not only will God exchange nations for our ransom, but He sent His Son to die on the cross for the ransom of many. We were bought with a price, the blood of Christ that was shed. In exchange, we receive the free gift of salvation. There will never be another deal like this one. We no longer need to dwell in our past. God is doing something new here for us to focus on. He makes the Way in the wilderness, becomes our living water in the wasteland, and He makes us a new creation. We worship Jesus because we are grateful.

Yet, some of us fall away. Our faith is put to the test when we lose those precious to us. Does God not love us anymore? It may even feel like God is failing us. What we are lacking is a (reverent) fear of the LORD. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused to worship the giant golden statue of the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar under penalty of death by the flames of the furnace. They declared their God can keep them safe from the flames, but even if God didn’t save them, they will still not bow down to the golden statue. Will we stop loving God if He doesn’t save us or our loved ones? Or will we develop a (reverent) fear of the LORD in our faith and declare, even if He doesn’t I will love and honor God? By the way, God did save them from the flames in the end.

Prayer

The waves are real. The fire is real. Trials and tribulations are real. No amount of denial will remove their presence. But you, O LORD, are with us in the storm. You are the fourth in the fiery furnace. You walk alongside us in life’s challenges and struggles. We are not alone, nor have you forsaken us. You are with us. You have created, formed, redeemed, and summoned us – we are yours. We believe this and we ask that you reassure us in our moments of unbelief. Give us the confidence and certainty of your ever-present company. Make yourself known in all circumstances, building us up and empowering us to do great things for your kingdom.

Scripture Memorization

Isaiah 43:18-19 “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it. I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

Photo Credit: Bill Zielinski @zphotobc

Music Credit: Resurrecting – Elevation Worship

Devotional Written by: Sambi Katano

Prayer: Pastor Deborah Downs