Stories of our Faith
Our Spectrum Church community has been encouraged to write, share and remember how God is working in our lives through a then/now series. This is a way to share our testimonies and acknowledge how God is moving all around us. We hope this encourages both the reader and the sharer in their walks of faith. Or, if you have a story you would like to share, please contact info@spectrumchurchirvine.org.
JACOBY FAMILY 🤍 | THEN VS. NOW
Ten years ago, saying yes to Jesus meant marriage, adventure, and big dreams. Along the way came loss, grief, and the hard question: Is Jesus still enough?
God met us there—bringing beauty from ashes and faith that runs deeper than circumstances.
Listen to the Jacoby’s story here!
NOAH’S STORY: THEN VS. NOW
Ten years ago, trusting God meant understanding that He loved me unconditionally – even when I messed up. During that season, I struggled with fitting in and often sought attention from my friends. Today, trusting God looks different. It looks like confessing my daily need for His love, grounded in the salvation I have in Him. I've learned that faith isn't about what I can do for God, but about what He has done for me – for 26 years and counting.
"It is written: 'I believed; therefore, I have spoken.' Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak." 2 Corinthians 4:13 NIV
WAYNE’S STORY
Ten years ago, I completed the Perspectives on the World Christian Movement course—an experience that fundamentally shaped my understanding of God's global purposes. It opened my eyes to the "unfinished task" of reaching unreached peoples and showed me how this mission connects directly to my own life and calling.
I was drawn by two things at Spectrum Church Irvine: the commitment to clear, faithful Scripture teaching and a genuine heart for the nations. I joined the Global/Local Outreach (GLO) team when it was first formed, and I'm continually encouraged by the breadth of our reach—from Southern Africa and Asia to Nicaragua and Mexico, as well as closer to home in Altadena, Compton, and at the Orange County Rescue Mission. It's truly remarkable that our church regularly sends teams on short-term mission trips around the world.
My introduction to the Moravian Daily Texts came during short-term mission trips to East Germany in the late 1980s and early 1990s. I began incorporating them into my daily devotions about 20 years ago and have used them ever since. Over the past two years, I've dedicated more time each day to studying and unpacking the meaning of these Scripture passages. This daily practice continually reminds me how much more there is to learn about God's Word—a realization that keeps me humble yet ready to grow.
ETHAN’S JOURNEY
Ten years from now, Ethan hopes his life will reflect one thing clearly: God’s love. Whether through art, his future career, or the passions he enjoys, his prayer is that God would use his life to point others to Him.
A heart willing to be an ambassador for Christ — wherever the journey leads. Listen to Ethan’s journey here.
JIM’S STORY
Jim reflects on God’s perfect timing in his life as he thinks back on the time when his father was dying from pancreatic cancer. Click play to hear Jim’s story. God IS amazing!