I was something neither of “them” ever wanted again. “They” both had hoped for so much more. By myself I couldn’t give it to “them”. I needed help.

I had been abandoned by both of “them”, but it wasn’t really “their” fault. Not that “they” were perfect or anything but never the less I felt all the sorrow, all the pain, all the anger, all the fear, all the disillusionment, and worst of all I felt the rising up of bitterness. This time I hoped it would be better. I know there is a lot of that going around but I really did hope that this time it would be better.

“They” seemed resistant at first, but as time passed my hope grew stronger. “They” sought counsel, “they” prayed together all the time. “They” even started going to church together. I was certain I would get another chance and it would be good.

I did get that next chance and for six months that second chance was working well. Then the accident happened. Things changed. It was really hard. “They” both wanted to do the right thing and thought “they” were, but I could tell I was feeling some of those same feelings I had felt before and I started to get nervous.

This went on for some time. “They” were really trying but I could feel my security slipping away. Then IT happened. I thought IT was the end. The accident was bad enough, now this….

Once again I was left alone. Only this time I kind of thought something was different.

“They” had both been communicating with the “others” about me! And “they” had done this before IT had occurred. The “others” identified me and for the first time I felt like someone was on MY side. I knew that if “they” would just listen to the “others” and do what the “others” said, God would work a miracle and my worst fears would be relieved.

I watched how the “others” always protected me, always considered me and made me feel important. The process “they” had to go through was like training with a trainer in a gym. You feel really weak and feeble at first and then you begin to get stronger. I could tell “they” were getting stronger as “their” spiritual trainers (the “others”) identified and removed the strongholds that were trying to steal, kill and destroy me AND “them”.

As I observed this process I knew it would not be long and we would all be together again. I also knew that “they” were really going to let God do what He needed to in “them”, and that would be my salvation. The credit really goes to God for the “others” in their willingness to protect me and have patience with “them”. The “others” unrelenting commitment to biblical order and to being instruments for God to bring down strongholds is a testimony to God’s faithfulness. With Him all things are possible and I now live happily free, secure, covered by the Blood of The Lamb, and “they” and “I” are one. It is Gods perfect order and design! The “others” allowed God to make this possible for which “I”, “they” and now “we”, are eternally grateful.

“I” am The Marriage.
“They” The Couple
“The others” are Peter and Toni DePaoli.

Pete and Toni have been blessed with a gifting and a calling to help set captives free. That gift allows God space to heal and restore lives and marriages. Ours was just one. This allegory is true, the facts are real and the names are real and God REALLY protected, saved and healed our marriage with Peter and Toni’s help.

We came in for marriage counseling. My wife was a mess. At RVM they separate the couple and deal with their individual issues and then, periodically, bring the couple back together to work on marriage issues. I thought I was going to sail through the individual part. What I discovered, to my horror, was that I was causing a great deal of my wife's problem. Me. I was the cause. Was it humbling? Yes. But as I dealt with the strongholds in my life, I never felt…feel… so free!

Deliverance. That's needed for crazy people, right? RVC taught me scriptural principles that are necessary for complete freedom from strongholds. It was nothing like you see in the movies. The process was quiet, gentle and so peaceful. Didn't Jesus say that his yolk was easy, not hard? And the peace I received…incredible. I mean, after years of secular counseling done by Christians with little or no resolution of my problems, this was such a relief. And your process didn't take years…I was only here with you for a few weeks. Incredible.

It's gone! It's really gone! I keep waiting to react or perform in the old way and…it's gone, gone, gone! After three months of seeing if this will stick, I'm convinced. Why don't all churches teach scripture like this?

Conversation with an eating disorder counselor: Dietary Counselor: I'm calling because you referred ____ to me three months ago. I've been working with her during this time and it is my professional opinion that she no longer exhibits the symptoms of Bulimia, which is incredible in itself, being that she's suffered with this for over 30 years. My question is that she told me that you had only worked with her for eight months. I told her that she must have been mistaken.

RVM Counselor: Oh, I think you misunderstood her. Dietary Counselor: Oh, I thought so. RVM Counselor: Yes, I only worked with her for eight weeks not eight months. Dietary Counselor: Eight weeks?!!! That's impossible! What did you do? RVM Counselor: I just put God square in the middle of her life. We have a very big God. Would you like to hear about the process we take our clients through?

I became very depressed. I grew more and more psychotic and soon found myself in the Psyc Ward because I was suicidal. The Elders from our church came and prayed, my friends and family prayed and I prayed. "What was I doing wrong?" I wondered. Why couldn't there be some relief? My family was in constant crisis. The many, many different drugs I was taking nor the counseling I was receiving worked. Again I found myself in the hospital. Eventually, I started having ECT (Electro Convulsive Shock Therapy). This was helpful but very expensive and became unavailable because it was such a specialty. The depression lasted 10 horrible years. During that time I studied the Word and wrote. I wanted to feel Jesus' presence but there was nothing but a black, oppressive, painful void. One day, a friend of mine asked me how I was doing. When I told him the depth of my dispair, he recommended that I go see Toni at RVM.

Now, mind you, I had been to a lot of "counselors" before. Some of them were Christian counselors, some psychologists and some psychiatrists. I was not so much skeptical as I was tired of hearing the same old things. These educated people always said the same thing. 'You are depressed.' I knew that!! After going to RVM just two times I felt completely whole again. I have not been depressed since. That was almost two years ago. I have since completed the entire RVM program and have had the privilege of leading others through it as well. I have been there to see healings and am overwhelmed with honor to have been involved in Gods amazing work.

I called myself assertive. Others said I was aggressive. I said I was firm. Other's said I was bitter. In my heart I knew they were right, but I just couldn't face it. After I had alienated myself from my family, my church and most of my friends, I went to RVM. I had been to many other counselors; very educated professionals like psychiatrists and psychologists. Mind you, I only went to the best. When it came down to it, they didn't help me. I wanted God to intervene. As you can imagine, I wanted God to show everyone else how right I was. The RVM staff member was point-blank frank with me, but even more so, she was sure that my God, our God, could set me right. She was so confident. I felt different after the first visit, but I was sure that was just because she did a quick-sell job. After the second visit, my family noticed a change…then my pastor…then my friends! It's a miracle, and I don't say this lightly.

I am a pastor. I was not only addicted to porn, I had a list of sexual sins as long as my arm. I knew I couldn't go to my denominational leadership because another pastor had gone to them with an issue far less serious than mine and they removed him from his pulpit. I went to a pastor's conference in Oregon where RVM was one of the featured speakers. After hearing them confidently utilize God's word to bring the scripture to life, I decided to sign up for one of the counseling sessions that they had after their times of speaking. The minister that spoke with me was so understanding and so hopeful that I could be free of this lifelong addiction. Praise God! There is hope for me. There is hope for you. God is our hope and RVM brings God's hope to His people.

My marriage was stagnant. My children had estranged themselves from me. I went to RVM to get comfort. What I got was…confronted. So, because I was so sure that they were wrong, I didn't return…but I sent a sibling of mine in to see them because my sibling's life was such a mess. I saw immediate change in my sibling. Okay, I thought, let's see if this lasts. It did and my sibling kept getting better and better while I kept getting bitter and bitter-er. Finally, a year later, I sheepishly returned. The minister at RMV was so gracious and told me that she had been praying for me to see my life through God's eyes. When I humbled myself to God's word and His direction, my bitterness disappeared. My husband's attitude hasn't changed much towards me, but my attitude toward him has changed drastically. My children have resumed fellowship with me on a regular basis. I have peace that passes understanding. God has truly touched my life.

The amazing thing about RVM, the thing that makes them different than any other Christian ministry that I've tried that provides direction in a counseling mode is that it's not all about them or all about their process…it's all about God. My counselor wasn't the one who set me straight. He was simply a facilitator, a discipleship facilitator, like his card said. He taught me God's word, boy did he teach me God's word, and showed me how to apply it to my life. And in that, in God, there was the freedom I sought for over 30 years.