These things have helped him get to where he is now one of the richest people on Earth. But I remember the going to the airport, and getting on this plane, and leaving Mexico City at the age of 10 years old, and coming to America, and being in America. A religious liberty newsletter that is a must-read for people of faith. In the heart of Los Angeles, Raul grew up in a family that suffered much turmoil due to alcoholism, which resulted in verbal and physical abuse. He provides hope for your marriage, your friendships, and your future as you seek to pursue the next calling God has on your life! And I just began to tell God, God, if youre really real and youre a real God and you are a God that can save people as you saved my wife, I want you to come into my life. And you know what blew me away? Select Language: English. May 20, 2022 Raul Ries grew up with an alcoholic father who physically abused him and his mother. So, I got me this big old family Bible, and at that time, you know, the hippies, we had long hair and stuff. To his family he was a time-bomb, ready to explode at any moment, and to those who battled beside him, in Vietnam, he was an angry, bitter killer. Uh, what an amazing testimony of how the Lord can change a person. Furthermore, he also offers Live teachings on Sunday at 8 AM, 10 AM, 12 noon, and 6 PM, with a midweek study on Wednesday at 7 PM. Furthermore, Raul had struggled with an undisclosed illness for nine years which often resulted in seizures. Rediscovering Faith in a Culture of Chaos, 8605 Explorer Drive Colorado Springs, CO 80920-1051, Finding Purpose In Your Empty Nest Years (Part 1 of 2), Helping Your Daughter Embrace Her Inner Beauty, Rethinking Your Parenting Strategies (Part 2 of 2), Balancing Bonding and Boundaries as a Parent. Ries travels to South America, Europe, India, Japan and other countries to participate in and organize Pastor Conferences. Gaffey, and they sent us to our own units, and I went to Alpha Company 1- , uh, and they put me with the 7th Marine Division, uh, 1st Marines, and uh, they put me on this, on this platoon, which was a, um, a platoon that went, uh, actually on specials missions. Raul Ries grew up with an alcoholic father who physically abused him and his mother. And when he would come out, he would be so drunk that he used to have, uh, one of these, uh, European scooters. Im, Im gonna change my whole life. And she finally opened the door, and it took probably about a year and a half to two years for her to watch my life change, to really watch my life change. Furthermore, he and his wife are proud parents of three all-grown-up sons. He took a .22 caliber rifle out of the closet and loaded it. And finally, it came back in September 15, 1967. He works as the senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Golden Springs and he is also the president of Somebody Loves You Ministries. He is the author of several books including Fury to Freedom (translated in to six languages), Seven Steps to a Successful Marriage and Raising a Godly Family in an Ungodly World. Once Raul accepted the Lord, there was no turning back. People named Raul Ries. Raul is worth $4 million. Your email address will not be published. I didnt see any I didnt have any feeling or anything emotional. With such a large congregation, there are many ministries focused on reaching out to our youth, the elderly or infirmed, war veterans and law enforcement agencies. They dont want me on campus. Home Episodes Focus on the Family Broadcast From Prodigal to Pastor. In Vietnam, he was a top-notch fighting Marine, yet a danger to his own commanding officer. Pastor Raul Ries, the enormously impactful Calvary Chapel pastor who overcame a violent and abusive background to lead a thriving church in Southern California, released a Facebook video requesting prayer for a serious long-term illness. As a new Christian you may find yourself somewhat confused as to what your next steps should be. Psychologist Michael Anderson and Dr. Timothy Johanson explain how many parents waste time and energy on parenting strategies that dont work, and offer practical suggestions for more effectively disciplining children and raising them to become well-adjusted adults. Uh, were just a few minutes away from that story, and how Raul Ries went from a terrible, desperate place to becoming a believer in Jesus Christ. Fury to Freedom, the title of Raul Ries autobiographical book and movie, is the most apt description of the change God made in his life. Then Pastor Raul Ries was born, which was a very important time for any of them to be real. (laughs) And so, what happened is that, on my senior year, when I was down in West Covina, I got in a, in a brawl with, um, this guy that, uh, was doing something, you know, with one of my girlfriends, and I went and got all my friends, and we came to the party, and I mean, we ripped the party. Whats gonna happen? One Sunday evening, Raul's life was transformed, taking him from a life filled with fury, to a life of hope and peace, leading him . Program #3748 - Aired in 2022 | Pop-out in Player. NASHVILLE California Pastor Raul Ries of Calvary Chapel Golden Springs shared Saturday evening his powerful testimony of inviting Jesus into his heart after watching Pastor Chuck Smith on TV at a time when he was contemplating violence against his family. He was radically saved after watching Calvary Chapel founder Chuck Smith on TV in 1972. Ive never had a vision in my life. The Holy Spirit fell on that school so heavily that, all of a sudden, as I looked out, there were about three to five to 600 kids sitting on the grass, listening. Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations. God began a ministry in his life with a vision for lost souls. More by Steve Farrar Broadcast CD In the church we have people who do not want to offend but we sometimes need to offend the world with the Word.". And I remember in 1959 Um, my father began to write in 58 to my mother that he wanted to change his life, and that he wanted to come to America and live with us because he missed us so much, and uh, I remember b- being a little kid, 10 years old, hating my mother because my mother said, Okay, to my father. Got a job in L.A., working for the Union Bank, and you know, started doing my thing. Raul sat in his home with his rifle, planning to kill his family, then himself. Ries married Sharon Faith Farrel, whom he met during his senior year of high school. After his experience with flashbacks, his compassion grew and he has been compelled to minister more to the men and women serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the world, along with their families. Raul was bent on a murderous rampage when he had a dramatic, life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ. You know why? I got me the biggest one I could with a leather thing, and I put it on. Yes, he has been married to his wife Sharon Faith for the past four decades. "So many people today compromise the gospel of Jesus Christ. Just knocking down everything. While there are several Christian approaches to the finer details of exactly how the Atonement restores our broken relationship with God, all agree that the Atonement involves God providing us with an opportunity to restore our broken relationship with Him through Christ. To others he was a kung-fu expert, but to his family he was a time-bomb ready to explod See production, box office & company info, Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen, I'm sure Jesus is embarrassed by this attempt at film-making. As his small home Bible study grew, it moved from his home to his Kung Fu studio; onto the Fox Theater. I didnt see lightening. Whats gonna happen now?And so, I went home, and God spoke to me again. Raul and Sharon Ries, back in the early days of his ministry after he accepted Jesus as his Savior. And when you give a donation of any amount, well send you the CD of this testimony from Pastor Raul Ries with extra content. Jonathan McKee offers parents practical advice and encouragement in a discussion based on his book If I Had a Parenting Do Over: 7 Vital Changes Id Make. However, through the grace of God, Ryan repented and changed his life to follow Jesus. He got married to his wife Sharon Faith Farrel whom she met during his senior year at high school. Thats how my ministry started. If you don't have one, this booklet can show you how to find your place in God's eternal family. Raul: So, they came to hi- the high school the next day, and the police came and picked us up and they took us in, and they booked us, and we had to go to court, and the whole thing. And all of a sudden, man, incoming missiles Cake Milk. Lee Strobel, a former investigative journalist, sought to debunk the claims of Christianity but his research led him down an unexpected path. He went on to receive his Doctorate of Ministry in 1992, at Fuller Theological Seminary. Everybodys doing their own thing, and we have no PA, and Im not a screamer. And at the same time, I remember my dad taking me at the age of five years old because I was his eldest son, taking me to the night clubs and the bars, and I remember my father just I mean, he was a brawler, you know. The police told me if I come back again, theyre gonna put me in jail. Go back to Baldwin Park High School. Okay. Well, have a great weekend, uh, with your family and your church family as well, and be sure to join us on Monday when Carol Kuykendall offers some hope and encouragement along with personal stories for launching your teens into adulthood. I never thought, I never expected, that God would do such a tremendous work that He has done over the last 25 years. Having an aggressive nature, he sought to become a fierce street fighter and this desire lead him to the Kung Fu studio of Grandmaster Jimmy H. Woo, where he became a first generation Master of the art. Raul: And, uh, I mean, he physically used to taking me, and hitting me, and just beating me, you know? Shell give insights and advice to parents on how to help their daughters counter negativity and know their identity in Christ. All five senses were alert to the sights, sounds and smells of the jungles of Vietnam. What blew me away is I didnt expect God to use my life, cause who was I? I, I, I partied a lot, you know? At the time, Rauls wife had surgery, and the cancerous breast was removed. by. Even though I was only 21 years old at that time, uh, its, its amazing how the war had matured me tremendously. You know? From there, Raul stepped out in faith and purchased an empty Safeway store and Calvary Chapel West Covina was born. Help keep The Christian Post free for everyone by making a one-time donation today. And his words knocked Raul to his knees, and the amazing transformation began right there on his living room floor. Its, uh, like a bow was being pulled back and the arrows were letting go, and they were stabbing me in the heart. And I remember how happy I was because, man, now I, were rid of my dad. And this went on for, for the four years of high school. But I mean, there were times that we left people laying there, and we thought they were dead. You know, it took eight hours to get from Mexico City to L.A. Today, it takes three and a half hours. They then converted a Safeway Market into Calvary Chapel West Covina and eventually moved to Diamond Bar, California in 1993, becoming Calvary Chapel Golden Springs. Ministry, Vietnam War, Violence . His life was completely transformed, his marriage restored and he was empowered by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, to others. sort by. John: Today on Focus on the Family, weve been hearing from Raul Ries, senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Golden Springs and president of Somebody Loves You Ministries. About a week later, the Lord call me, and I mean, I, I didnt hear His voice, but I had, like I was sitting there, reading my Bible and praying, and I had, like, a vision. Dont play games with Him anymore. And uh, when I got to Dan Nang, to the airport, w- w- to actually board a one- a C-130, uh, they, uh they came out the end piece and they put shackles in my feet and my hands. In 1972, on an Easter Morning, Raul came home filed with rage thinking his marriage was over. His intentions were to kill his wife and children, then shoot it out with the police to end his life. However, God intervened through Pastor Chuck Smith. He is 74 years old. And it became sort of a sort of like a n- I, I, I cant say a game. After many years at this location, Raul felt the call of God to move to Diamond Bar, CA. The great commission that was given to the apostles is always at the forefront of Ries mind, But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Acts 1:8. However, his ability to serve the Lord almost came to an end in February 2007. I went to Colombia, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Brazil and then came back home. At his Wednesday evening service, Raul knew something was wrong physically but what lay ahead was unexpected. At the age of 19, he entered the United States Marines and soon after shipped off to the war in Vietnam. While working on a new documentary, Taking the Hill: A Warriors Journey Home, to minister to veterans of all wars, Ries experienced flashbacks for the first time since the Vietnam War; he was alone and surrounded by the enemy in Vietnam. Raised in an abusive home, Raul Ries grew up to be a man of extreme anger and violence. That could have been the end of his ministry, but his family, the church and Pastor Chuck Smith prayed for him. In Vietnam, he was a top-notch fighting Marine, yet a danger to his own commanding officer. I accepted Christ. She shut the door in my face, you know. 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