I see a lot when I see the kids. They’re not just an abstract source of inspiration for me. I took Jesus seriously when he said, “You want to be great?” And he took a child and set it in front of them, and said, “Here you go, here’s your focus.” So for me, they’re the focus. That’s why personally, everyday, I teach at the Academy. I have a ton of things to do. And seriously, almost everyday I’m thinking of how I can get out of teaching at the Academy, but I know it’s good for me and I get there, and I do it... and it’s a reward every time, and I thank God for that. That’s the truth.
What do you consider to be one of the greatest successes of G.O.D. International?
There’s a lot to say here. We have such a tight knit group. When I get together with the members of this organization, you can just feel the bond. I remember reading in Ephesians, “Maintain the unity of the Spirit given to you in a bond of peace.” I read it for years, and it was by faith that I wanted to achieve that within our ministry. Through challenges and triumphs, loss and gain, we’ve seen how God was shaping and cultivating our community to get to where it is now. I can with full confidence say that when our members get together, there is this bond of peace the Scripture speaks of.
And people are going to do whatever they need to do, to ensure that our community experiences these blessings of God. Blessings that he noted in places like Deuteronomy 8... that we would have well-being, that we would have qualitative and quantitative growth, and that we would be able to have dominion over the land in which we possess.
The transformation of the Hopewell neighborhood has been truly remarkable, and anything but abstract. These kids in our after school program planted a garden for one of the widows in the neighborhood.
And when I see us getting together and taking care of our elderly neighbors and cleaning up this neighborhood, and helping each other... I mean, a bunch of guys came over recently and helped me build a fence in my backyard. I didn’t have to spend thousands of dollars. These were my friends who helped us do that because they care, and they love. This happens all the time in our community. When I think about success, I think getting to witness the reality of God’s Word is a success. It’s not an abstract. It’s not a hypothetical. It’s not a thing by some distant... faith. I don’t have to sing the song “One Day” and think purely in the future.
There are aspects to the “One Day” kind of prayer, that I hope for, but there’s so much right now we’re experiencing.... right now, as a result of doing God’s Word. So I feel an incredible success attached to my children growing up in an environment where the Word of God is being realized. Not just preached, not just hoped for, but realized. I don’t say it to boast, I give glory to God. But, man, should I not talk about it? Should I not share the joy that comes from witnessing such a thing? I just know we will take care of each other. There is a success there.
I think it’s been awesome to be able to work with my parents, and also work with my kids. Both generations, the one before me and the one after me are involved in this ministry. I can see the future with my kids. This summer, I did a Bible study with the kids who were born in 2006 and before. Every week I had them over at my house. I know that sounds like an interesting year, but after 2006, the kids exploded. In 2006 there was 7. In 2007 there was like 15. 2008, there was 25 of them. It just gets crazy after that. But the kids at that age, at this point they are at least 10 years old, so I would do Bible studies and worship with them. So, this one day we had a really powerful worship service. The kids had hands lifted in the air, they were crying and they were praying for each other and the LORD was really moving in their midst. And I got to ask them, “What were you sensing? What were you feeling?” Every single one of them noted a future responsibility in God’s kingdom to take care of the weak and vulnerable in the world, as a result of what’s being invested in them. I did not program it into them, I did not say anything to them. This was something growing in their soul. And my own kids were there. So to see that in your children, and in your friends’ children who you love like your own, as much as you possibly could, it’s a success.
Connecting the generations: Robert Munoz Sr. visiting his granddaughters at the Academy for G.O.D.'s Grandparents Day. Robert's son, Rob, has been a part of the ministry since the early years. We welcome Robert as a regular visitor who worships with us, grateful for the thriving place his kids have made home.
We just had a Grandparents Day. I would say throughout the day, if you were to look around, you wouldn’t have missed a grandparent crying. And they shared that they were so moved because they could see what’s happening with their grandchildren. Connecting generations I think is an incredible success. It’s hard to do. When we started this ministry, the LORD spoke to me at a specific event... it was to celebrate the Jesus Movement in California with the Costa Mesa Church... and I was so moved by the LORD. He spoke to me that with the ministry we were going to have there were a bunch of things we needed to transcend. And one of them was the generational issue. And I’m not saying we are there yet. Most of us are Millennials. But it feels like we are getting closer and closer. In my early twenties, I wondered, “LORD, why do we not have older people here? I’m 23, and I’m one of the oldest people in our community. What are we gonna do?” And at that time the LORD spoke to me that we would grow into becoming our own old people. And I’m about to turn 40 and it’s happening. I’m still one of the oldest, within the top 10, and for the most part, other people are within a year or two older than me. I know that we have some grandparents who are involved, and I’m so thankful for them, grandparents of our kids. But I think there’s going to be an incredible success with connecting generations.
“ Everybody told me when I started the ministry that I was pipe dreaming. “Young people will give you two years and then they leave.” So they said I should just do a program that anticipates their two years and let them move on with life. But I knew I wasn’t like that, so I believed there were other people who weren’t going to be like that. ”
Other successes would involve the way we are formed as an organization, it’s been structured in such a way that we could continue in this vocation. Everybody told me when I started the ministry that I was pipe dreaming because I was only going to get two years out of people. “Young people will give you two years and then they leave.” So they said I should just do a program that anticipates their two years and let them move on with life. But I knew I wasn’t like that, so I believed there were other people who weren’t going to be like that. I knew there were other people who could stay the course, see the long-term, and envision what’s possible with God... with people who stay invested and really give their life over to God, up to the end, to see these things happen. And I think it is quite the success to measure how many people have been around for such a long time. I’m telling you, they are just as, if not more, enthusiastic about what God’s doing here than when they first got here. That’s even for people like yourself Brett... 12 years here, and the introduction you gave me prior to this interview officially starting... man, it inspired me because, as you said, you’re inspired to still be a part of what we’re doing. That’s gotta be a success. I can’t attribute any of these things to having done anything other than obey. And I would tell anyone who is trying to do ministry, to just stop trying and just be obedient. And let God have the successes. And just appreciate his successes. And be glad to be a part of them. That’s all I feel right now. I just feel happy to be a part of it.
<“jesus, son of god, son of man” song plays in the background.> This song...my sophomore year of college, when the LORD prompted me to stop going out on Friday nights and just stay back and start a Bible study, which snowballed into this ministry, I would listen to this song that asks, “Who is Jesus? Who was he?” And I had to think about that. And the more I thought about who he was, the more I saw somebody who was other than anything or anyone I’d ever known. And then to know this humble servant, who was not promoting himself but promoting the will of God, drawing people to the Father in prayer, and turning the hearts of people to righteousness and living well and doing good for God--I just wanted that. I wanted to follow that guy. And to follow that guy was going to mean staying close to him. To stay close to him and walk with him away from the very conventional ways of being great in our world. Anybody can do that. There’s no special prerequisite. You just have to be willing. So I pray and hope that anyone reading this could get that. Drop the drive to be successful, to do something great, just obey. Follow Jesus and share in his success. Share in his greatness because you’re not going to find anyone greater.
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