Listen in and be forever changed. Listen. 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. . He has been married for four decades to his wife Sharon Faith. Coming home one night and fearing that his wife had taken his children and left him, in a moment of fury, he decided to end it all by destroying his family and shooting it out with the police. And when she was gonna leave me, I decided that nobody would ever have her, and I would, I would chase for my kids, and the best way to do that is to execute her and my kids and kill myself as the police would come, Id just shoot it out with the police, that would be the end of everything. ". And so, I, I knocked again, and I, and I said, uh, ah, Sharon, honest. Took about nine months. In Vietnam, he was a top-notch fighting Marine, yet a danger to his own commanding office Read allThe true story of Raul Ries. His parents were not particularly well-off. Raul received two Purple Heart awards in Vietnam. I mean, Pastor Ries went from wanting to kill his wife and kids to being an evangelist and the pastor of a large, thriving church. He received his high school diploma from Baldwin Park High School. People named Raul Ries. Article Images Copyright 2021 Jupiter Images Corporation. Once Raul accepted the Lord, there was no turning back. Raul had grown up with an abusive, alcoholic father who taught him to handle problems with violence. They put me in this plane, and they tied me up, and uh, flew me to Japan, and from Japan to the Philippines, and from the Philippines to Guam, and from Guam they flew me to Travis Air Force Base up Northern California. You know? Contact the Raul Ries' Biography Ministry . He is a man of average stature. Raul: I didnt even care! Don McClure: Raul, first of all, tell me a little about you coming to Christ. Raul Ries is the Senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel Golden Springs and President of Somebody Loves You Ministries. Now, what are the odds of that? When I finally surrendered my life to Christ, God began to use me, along with a group of other men that God called to be a part of the Calvary Chapel movement, started by Pastor Chuck Smith at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, in . I wasnt afraid to do anything. Ries said at the National Religious Broadcasters convention that as an unbeliever he . Join thousands of others to get the FREEDOM POST newsletter for free, sent twice a week from The Christian Post. I go, I, I, I dont need this stuff! And I just keep thinking about how Pastor Ries described that Easter morning, going through his own house, smashing things with a loaded rifle until he hit the TV and it came on. All five senses were alert to the sights, sounds and smells of the jungles of Vietnam. Later on, she had to follow up treatment with medication to prevent a reoccurrence of cancer. Furthermore, he and his wife are proud parents of three all-grown-up sons. In 1974 he began a home Bible study with seven other committed individuals. Raul Riesco. And my, my grades were not that good because I didnt st- I didnt really study. To his high-school friends he was a violent, dangerous combatant. Raul then surrendered his troubled life to Jesus Christ right in front of the TV set. As he was waiting for his wifes return, Raul was flipping on the channels on his television when he saw Chuck Smith preaching. He stands 5 ft 7 in tall ( approx 1.68m ). This is Focus on the Family, with your host, Focus president, Jim Daly, and Im John Fuller. He and Sharon have been married for more than 40 years, and share the same desire to serve the Lord and see souls saved for Christ. What, what are you trying to say? You know? They just kicked me out. His name stood for fear, for fighting, and for fury. However, many Christians today are not living the life of power and victory that God has called us to. At the time, Rauls wife had surgery, and the cancerous breast was removed. Please note that Pastor Raul will never ask for donations on I dont even wanna be here. And the Lord told me to be there. Whats gonna happen now?And so, I went home, and God spoke to me again. In this teaching from Luke 16, Pastor Raul Ries invites . 52 talking about this. 800-232-6459, or donate and request it at our website, focusonthefamily.com/broadcast. Raul has not experienced a flashback since that fateful time in 2007, but his ministry has been enhanced by this experience. Graduating from high school, Raul joined the Marines and fought fiercely for his country, in Vietnam, earning him two purple hearts for bravery. He knew, rationally, he was in his home but the fears of war came rushing back. And I remember when I was at Camp Pendleton, they had me actually locked up, and uh, thats when I My wife was in high school with me, and we had actually fallen in love through letters in Vietnam. He works as the senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Golden Springs and he is also the president of Somebody Loves You Ministries. Home Episodes Focus on the Family Broadcast From Prodigal to Pastor. 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. I couldnt find her. 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. Raul: And, uh, I mean, he physically used to taking me, and hitting me, and just beating me, you know? They dont want me on campus. I was so bitter at him at the age of 10. I wanted to My, my goal was to kill and execute my father. I went to Colombia, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Brazil and then came back home. In the church we have people who do not want to offend but we sometimes need to offend the world with the Word.". I- in fact, over the last year, over 170,000 people said they made a decision for Christ because of Focus on the Family. Dont play games with Him anymore. So I decided to go visit some of the countries where her parents ministered. I, I, I partied a lot, you know? Raul is speaking at Calvary Chapel, Golden Springs, in Southern California on todays episode of Focus on the Family. Nevertheless, what Ries needed was peace, but he was obsessed with violence and angry at the world. Raul and his wife, Sharon, have three grown sons. And I went next to the TV sta- to the TV, and I was standing there, and I mean, I was so angry and so, uh, mad inside that I took the, the butt of the rifle and I hit the TV, and when I hit it, it came on. neil byrne family emergency; abandoned 3: the refuge game; brown county arrests mugshots; is lord narcisse based on a real person; nuface cancer warning; sarah below deck guest; when your ex agrees to meet up with you; . Read all Director Erik Jacobson Writer Erik Jacobson Stars Tom Silardi Joy Vogel Gil Gerard And they had little ones, and middle me- medium sized ones, and then they had these big sharks, you know? Raul was born on August 30, 1947, in Mexico City, Mexico. 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. I happened across this on TV and saw the last 20 minutes. And so, she actually worked out his papers, and, and, and got it all set up. From Fury to Freedom. Because of his dedication, he has achieved great achievements. His name stood for fear, for fighting, and for fury. Related tags : Author Pastor speaker. Because I was so rebellious against everything that was going on. He is 74 years old. ", "I believe the church is drifting from the cross of Jesus Christ," he said. So, I got me this big old family Bible, and at that time, you know, the hippies, we had long hair and stuff. In 1975, Ries was ordained by the Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa and started a small Bible study soon after. Raul was bent on a murderous rampage when he had a dramatic, life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ. Raul: In 1957, uh, we uh, right after the major earthquake of Mexico City, which was a real big earthquake, my, uh, grandmother, my moms mother and sister and my grandfather, we were living in L.A. And so, they gave my mother an invitation to come up and leave my father. It was at that moment that he gave his life to Christ. Please click here to learn how. There's no place like home, right? Join us as we help those families thrive in Christ. Rauls salary is $145,000 annually. 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 . The true story of Raul Ries. Raul and his wife, Sharon, have three grown sons. The best-selling book in history remains one of the most controversial. And He says, Get up on this big, new bench, and I want you to talk to them about me.So, I got up there, and started, Hey, for God so loved the world, man, that He give His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, that whosoever would give you know, I mean, its this whole thing. I mean, we ripped people. Raul abused his wife and hated his father. His family, the body of Christ and Pastor Chuck Smith prayed for him and he felt the Holy Spirit heal him. var _Hasync=_Hasync||[];_Hasync.push(['Histats.start','1,4553220,4,511,95,18,00000000']);_Hasync.push(['Histats.fasi','1']);_Hasync.push(['Histats.track_hits','']);(function(){var hs=document.createElement('script');hs.type='text/javascript';hs.async=true;hs.src=('//s10.histats.com/js15_as.js');(document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0]||document.getElementsByTagName('body')[0]).appendChild(hs);})(); The name of Pastor Raul Ries is now a globally renowned individual. Raul Riestra. Raul: (laughs) It was, it was Chuck Smith, and he was with Kathryn Kuhlman, you know, in one of those [inaudible 00:13:57] with all the hippies. I began to d- you know, take my frustrations and the anger that I had in me, when we would go to parties, when wed go out in the streets, and I would start, you know, beating up people, and hurting people. Because He loves you. Raul himself became a very angry and violent young man. That evening, Raul experienced flashbacks for the first time since the Vietnam War. 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. Dora I been watching your sermons I'm from the bay area love to hear the word of God may the lord . 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. It was not too cool to cry when youre hardened. In Vietnam, he was a top-notch fighting Marine, yet a danger to his own commanding officer. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ). Both he and his ministry are built upon the vision that God gave him as a young Christian. See Photos. He had to juggle the demands of his career with the needs of his young family in order to pay for his son's college education. His films include Fury to Freedom, A Quiet Hope (Vietnam War documentary) and Venture in Faith (documentary). And it just became a consuming fire in my heart where, I mean, you know, by the grace I am, I mean, just that I didnt, I didnt kill anyone on the streets. . The true story of Raul Ries. Ill never forget that date, when they called me in, they said, Hey, your discharge is back, and its an honorable discharge by the convenience of the government. I said, Wow.. He was radically saved after watching Calvary Chapel founder Chuck Smith on TV in 1972. And the moment I got out, immediately, I started going back not only to my old friends, but I started going back to my old life, but this time, I was a little bit older. We got dressed and we went to the international airport in Mexico, and in 1957, they had those single engine planes. Uh, that night, my mother woke us up early in the morning, about 4:00 in the morning, and told us to get dressed. So, I came home, and I saw her bags were packed on the side, and I walked into the house, and went to the closet and got my gun and loaded up my gun with 18 rounds. 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. License to kill, I can do whatever I wanna do. And so, they gave me, uh, time to get married, and uh, I was still in the Marines, and um, my discharge hadnt come back yet. Whats gonna happen? He explained the love of Christ could forgive anyone who sincerely asks, saying he was forgiven for his sins when he fought in the Vietnam War. Yes, he has been married to his wife Sharon Faith for the past four decades. 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. And they had these, uh, fishes that youd have the Greek writing, Jesus Christ, God, Son, and Savior, in Greek. Our home was, uh, a home where, you know, I re- As far as I can remember, back when I was a little kid, where my father would come home and would be yelling, and cursing, and slapping my mother, and physically abusing my grandmother and my mother at the same time, which was his mother. To his high-school friends he was a violent, dangerous combatant. Steve died unexpectedly in February 2022 at the age of 72. And I was, uh, listening a minute, I, I, I, and I said to I wanted to shoot him, you know, with my gun, and I couldnt pull the trigger. Raul Ries. I was a violent and angry man who had become a menace to my family and society. And uh, thats, uh, the time when me and Sharon got together, and she got pregnant. Its, uh, like a bow was being pulled back and the arrows were letting go, and they were stabbing me in the heart. Showing 20 distinct works. 'If. Born in Mexico City, Mexico, Ries came to the US when he was 10 years old with his mother, brother and sister, leaving behind his abusive father. Raul: the Bible, and I walked in, and the f- next thing I know is the police are escorting me off the campus because they think Im nuts. And he got on it, and we And by the grace of God, we never got We, we dropped it a couple times, and we, we got home every time by the grace of God, but through this whole experience as I was growing up, it was just a time where I remember my dad, you know, with me, also, by the time I was about eight . 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. Furthermore, Raul also holds three masters degrees from Azusa Pacific University. And so, when we would go to parties, or whatever we would do, it was just chaotic in the things that we would do. Its like Satan had taken possession of my life. Still praying with you for Pastor Raul Ries and his family: "Apparently, he has struggled with the undisclosed illness for nine years, which often results in seizures and is very debilitating. Just out of high school, Ries got into a fight that would mark a significant choice in his life. You know? Ryan is good friends with and promoter of Brian "Head" Welch, whom "God has led" back into the satanic band Korn, according to him. The official Somebody Loves You app features verse-by-verse biblical teaching with Pastor Raul Ries, archived Bible studies, radio program, movies and additional resources. Because of his work with the many branches of the armed forces, Ries has made two documentaries to minister to them and their families. Theyre gonna go to hell. Has Focus on the Family helped you or your 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. Jim: And if youre already a Christian, let me remind you that Focus on the Family is here to spread the Good News of the Gospel and encourage you in your marriage and your parenting journey. A religious liberty newsletter that is a must-read for people of faith. From there, Raul stepped out in faith and purchased an empty Safeway store and Calvary Chapel West Covina was born. And as I got up from my knees and wiped off my tears, and I took out all the rounds, put away my gun, and I got in my car, and I went looking for my wife because I wanted to tell her what happened to me. Your email address will not be published. Popular Christian vocalist Larnelle Harris reflects on his five-decade music career, sharing the valuable life lessons hes learned about putting his family first, allowing God to redeem a troubled past, recognizing those whove sacrificed for his benefit, and faithfully adhering to biblical principles amidst all the opportunities that have come his way. His name stood for fear, for fighting, and for fury. Hes struggling, and has been for several years, with a medical issue that effects his speech. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ). To contact the Raul Ries' Biography Ministry please fill out the form below and we will respond promptly, or if you prefer you can call our ministry at (909) 396-1884. . Well, at that time, I say, You know what? W- w- Vietnam was going on. His name stood for fear, for fighting, and for fury. Steve holds a doctorate from Dallas Theological Seminary and taught a weekly men's bible study in Dallas for many years. He was born on August 30, 1947, in Mexico City, Mexico. And every time, I mean, that I I remember, you know, the opportunities that God gave me. And so, after six months, Dr. Wilson decided that I was not fit not only for the Marine Corps, but I wasnt fit to back to Vietnam, uh, for a second tour, but I was only fit to be discharged with a dishonorable discharge. Raul: My father had a very bad, bad habit. His family, the body of Christ and Pastor Chuck Smith prayed for him and he felt the Holy Spirit heal him. In this broadcast, Pastor Raul share his fascinating story about the amazing grace of God and its power to transform even the most hardened hearts. And then, the Lord call m- This was weird. If you don't have one, this booklet can show you how to find your place in God's eternal family. And I think that God wants to do some tremendous things I believe Gods going to send a revival if we, His people, will humble ourselves and repent. He used to like to fight. This was after they had experienced ten years of physical and emotional abuse from his alcoholic father. Lee Strobel, a former investigative journalist, sought to debunk the claims of Christianity but his research led him down an unexpected path. And yet, its because of Jesus Christ. These things have helped him get to where he is now one of the richest people on Earth. Ive never had a vision in my life. And I remember us when we were little kids screaming and yelling, because we were so frightened by this whole thing. His wife has first diagnosed with stage two breast cancer in March 2009. His Tour of Duty in Vietnam was from December 8, 1966 to September 15, 1967. And the Lord told me, I want you to go back to your old high school.And I said, Okay. So, I waited, and I prayed, and then I went to Baldwin Park High School. We were seniors. Raul Ries Part 2. To his high-school friends he was a violent, dangerous combatant. And as I was talking, making a fool of myself, I thought, the Holy Spirit was zapping people. I got to the church where she was, and they were actually At, at that time, they were having the altar call, so I just went up to the altar call, and once they counseled me in the whole thing, I went home, and when I got home, I knocked on the door, and the light was on already, my wife was at home, and I heard her weeping and crying inside. Raul and his wife have been blessed with three adult sons in their marriage union. Keith saw God's power turn his family's story into a powerful ministry. Focus on the Family's staff of licensed, professional counselors can help you bring healing and restoration to your family with Christian perspectives you can trust. After many years at this location, Raul felt the call of God to move to Diamond Bar, CA. To contact the Biography Ministry please fill out the form below and we will respond promptly, or if you prefer you can call our ministry at (909) 396-1884. After some medical tests, Ries was diagnosed with seizures that affect the senses. Raul himself became a very angry and violent young man. Heres Raul Ries, and as you can probably tell, this is not going to be appropriate for younger listeners. He lay prostrate in his home, praying and praising the Lord, as tears ran down his face. He had a problem with drinking, big time drinking. 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. Sights, sounds and smells of the TV set also the president of Somebody you... 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