Testimony
We have been saved, baptized, called
by God to minister to the Japanese.
Nick Zarrella
Salvation
As I grew up, I always “believed” in the name of Jesus, but I never had placed my faith in Him as my Savior. The Bible and Christ were more of good luck charms that warded away evil than anything real or substantial. When I left for college to study business management, the Lord commenced to work in my life and open my eyes to His truth. My grandfather died and I questioned about whether or not he went to heaven. Over the period of one year following his death, I could not escape the convictions of the Spirit of the the Living God. One night, in the summer of ’09 at nearly 20 years old, I knelt down on my knees and, while pondering these things, I cried out to the Lord and asked Him to come into my life and save my soul. It was at that moment in my bedroom that I received the Lord Jesus as my Savior.
Call to Missions
The desire I have to be a missionary is founded and solidified upon a three-fold chord provided by the Lord.
The First Fold of the Chord – The Burden: The Lord Jesus has placed upon our heart a burden for the salvation and discipleship of the people of the nation of Japan. He has permitted us to meet Japanese peoples and to witness their dire need for Christ first-hand. Through the working of the Holy Spirit, the Lord has continually grown our love for them and our desire is that they might know Christ.
The Second Fold of the Chord – The Agreement: As the Lord burdened my heart, I sought counsel from trustworthy sources. After speaking to my Pastor, church family, and my own family, there is a consensus that God is calling my wife and I to full-time missions.
The Third Fold of the Chord – The Confirmation: My personal confirmation came after much prayer and seeking of the Lord’s direction. It was during this time of prayer that the Lord impressed upon my heart His Word in Acts 18:10b – “For I have much people in this city.” Japan is a nation filled with seemingly endless cities with 95% of the population currently residing in urban areas and that number rapidly increasing. With the burden and agreement already cemented within my heart, the Lord had officially confirmed through Scripture His calling for my life as a missionary to the nation of Japan.
Lorena Zarrella
Salvation
I was privileged to be raised in a Christian home with my dad serving as a pastor in a small church in our city, Cabimas, Venezuela. In Venezuela, I was always involved in children’s church, VBS, and other kids ministries where I was continually exposed to the Gospel. It was during this time, I was convicted at an early age and knew I needed to be saved. I prayed for salvation at the age of 6 or 7, but, because I was very young, I had always struggled to remember the exact date. This became a stumbling block for me as I grew older because I could not recall when I received the Lord. Following the turmoil in Venezuela, my family moved to the US and my relationship with the Lord began to suffer. For many years I did not read my Bible or actively pray. Yet, the Lord in His grace grasped my heart and, at the age of 17, after making ungodly decisions in my life; I felt the power of the Holy Spirit convicting me within my soul for my sin. It was at that moment I began to truly walk with my Savior, Jesus Christ.
Call to Missions
When I was young, I heard many missionary stories and was blessed by missionaries serving in Venezuela. From that time, I have always desired to bless others; similarly as those missionaries were to my family and me. At first, I only imagined serving in mission’s work on a small-scale, part-time basis. As I was raised in a close-knit household, full-time, international missions was far from my mind. Yet, after meeting Nick and knowing he would be my husband, I sought the Lord in prayer for many months. Initially struggling with the calling, I waited and watched as the Lord’s gracious hand developed within me a burden for Japanese people. Upon further prayer, He confirmed my calling by bringing me to Isaiah 45:6; which declares, “that they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the Lord.” As Japan is nicknamed “The Land of the Rising Sun,” I was ensured and given peace for His will for my life.
Though I have battled with the Lord, He has taught me that all I ever need is His presence as He often brings to mind, “My grace is sufficient for you…” It is through this reminder and the special calling that He has blessed me with that my desires continue to grow day by day to follow the calling He has placed in our lives.