Peter Hanadi, Chairman of GIA “El-Shaddai” Building Fund Committee

Our Lord performed many miracles. He made the water turn to wine, the lame to walk again, and the blind to see again.  He multiplied a few loaves of bread and fishes to feed many people.  But God did not stop performing His miracles there, the fact that God still performs miracles today is proven at 2041 Palo Verde Avenue, Long Beach, Ca 90815. On that very spot stands a beautiful miracle known by those in the Indonesian community as the Church of Isa Almasih “EL-Shaddai”.   This place of worship is there due to the prayers and hard work of a few faithful congregations who strongly believe that God is still performing miracles. 
He hears our prayers and starts to work on our behalf...
A few years ago, we were allowed by Grace Community Church to worship together in this church.
At the same time, we have been looking for a church to buy.
We found many churches and warehouses that could have been converted to churches for sale. We went to work,  praying and setting up fundraisers such as selling food, having Bazaars, collecting coins known as Love Bread, and having Car Washes. Unfortunately, we could not buy the church due to the high price,
and the funds we had were low if not non-existent.
We decided to stop looking for a church, instead we remembered this: “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” 2 Corinthians 9:6-7. This bible verse has been printed on our building fund offering envelope for a long time. 
So we decided to give 10% of our building fund money to ICCM (Indonesian Cross Cultural Ministry), Earthquake victims in Yogyakarta, Tsunami victims in Indonesia, helping to fix Grace Community parking lot and their kitchen, and giving scholarships to the School of Theology “Abdiel” in Semarang.
Indeed miracles had happened in our church. One of our elders had a kidney transplant, and a congregation member was cured from stage four cancer.
Also my wife was cured from thyroid cancer, and my big kidney stone, as big as a bean, came out without surgery.
But, the big miracle came when Grace Community Church offered to sell this church to us.
"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows", James 1:17 .This will be a perfect church and gift for GIA El Shaddai. fixed income. We had no idea where the money would come from, but we knew God would provide. We are blessed that God gave many of our congregations the talent to cook so that we can have many food fundraisers. One of our famous recipes is Martabak Manis (Sweet Thick Crepes). People have to wait at least thirty minutes to get the warm and delicious El Shaddai Martabak Manis during the ICAA Chinese Bazaar or other food festivals; it is always sold out. It was not that selling food at the bazaar did anything special that made the difference, but it was the faith of the congregations in God that made a difference.   In amazing fast, our Building fund has raised over 160K.  Then another one of God’s miracles happened when we got loans without interest from our congregations.   God provided more than what was asked for when Grace Community Church would be willing to carry the rest of the loan when we were not qualified to borrow money from the banks. As if all of these miracles were not enough, God wasn't through yet. God either sent the supplies, donators, or fund needed for the current renovation of the church.   From start to finish it took seventeen long years to have our own church.  Today, On May 16, 2009 the church is dedicated to God.   At this happy moment, we also would like to thank Pastor Jack Ostermann, Pastor Edward Crossett, Elders and congregations of Grace Community Church.   God shows His love through the warmth and kindness of special people like them. The pastors, elder and congregations of GIA El-Shaddai knew we were blessed to knowing them all. The Attendance at 2041 Palo Verde Avenue is now running in the high 60's to mid 80's on a regular basis.