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7JANUARY2015BODYOFCHRISTNEWSandprayedforme.IrememberlayingthereinthemostexcruciatingpainIhaveeverfeltinmylife.Icouldfeelthetearsrunningdownmyfaceandanoverwhelmingfeelingofcompletehelplessness.Thereweretubesandwirescomingoutofmybody.Icouldntcommunicateexceptwithasqueezeofmyhandbecauseofthebreathingtube.TheonlythingthatgavemecomfortwastoclosemyeyesandsaytomyselfJesusJesusJesusoverandoveragain.ThedaywasNovember32013only30monthsaftermyfirstheartsurgeryin2010.IdidntthinkitcouldgetanyworseaftermyfirstheartsurgeryandhereIwasgoingthroughitagain.PeoplehaveaskedmePastorwhydidyouleaveIfeellikeyouabandonedmeImmadatyou.MyheartachesevenmorewhenIhearthosewordsandIamsosorry.Myintentionwasnevertoleaveandbeabsentfromtheirlives.Butsome-timesGodwilltakeyouonanunexpectedjourney.SometimesHewillevenup-rootyoufromevery-thingyouknowandeverythingyoulovejusttogetyoubyyourselftogetyourfullattention.InJanuaryof2009afterourNewYearsEveCelebrationatthechurch...itwasagreatnightbutthenextdayIremembertellingmywifehowtiredIwasphysically.Ididnthaveanystrength.IwenttothedoctormorethanonceandwasalwaystoldthesamethingMr.Leonardyoureingreathealthforsomeoneyourageyouhaveaheartmur-murthisisntuncommonandmostpeoplelivewiththistheirwholelivesevenundetectedyoujustneedsomerest.Restrestwasneverapartofmyvocabulary.Ihadtoalwaysbegoingmovingdoingsomethingdifferent.Itwasallaboutsouls...howtowinmoresoulsintotheKingdom.ButIwasalwaystiredandIdidntknowwhy.IfeltlikeIhadlostvisionandIdidntwantthechurchtosufferundermyleader-shipifIwasnt100.Ifeltthebestdecisionforthechurchsfuturewastoputayoungermanwithvisioninplace.After25yearsinFebruary2010Isteppedasidetoallowanewfutureforthechurchtobebirthed.THEHARDESTTHINGFORAFATHERTODOistohandhisdaugh-terovertoamanformarriage.ThehardestthingforapastoristohandhisbabythecongregationandfamilythatGodbuiltovertosomeoneelseandtrustthemwithit.Withmarriageasaparentyouhavetostepasideandallowthemtogrowandbuildtheirlives.IneverwantedtoleaveHeritagebutIneededtostepasideandallowthenewleadershiptogrow.Ineededtogetoutoftheway.ThatwasverydifficultformeandheartbreakingIwantedtobetheGrandpaintheback-groundbutIprayerfullyandtearfullysteppedaside.In2010weeksaftersteppingdownasSeniorPastorIwastakingawalkwithmywifeandourdogs.Shewaschattingalongusingupher24000-pluswordsadayonmewhensheturnedaroundandsawmehunchedoverontheground.IcouldntcatchmybreathIcouldntstanduponmyowneverythingaroundmestartedtospin.AfterafewminutesMichelewasabletogetmeupandtheshortwalkbacktothecarfeltlikehours.SheinsistedthatwegotothehospitalbutItoldherIwasfineandtotakemehome.ButaweeklaterIhadasimilarepisodeandthistimeMichelewasntsoniceshegavemenochoiceinthematterandtookmetotheemergencyroom.ThemomentIwalkedinthedoortheydidntevencheckmeintheyputmeinawheelchairliftedmeontoabedwithdoctorsandnursesmovingquicklyaroundme...needlespokingmewiresstucktomeoxygentubesinmynosemachinesbeepingwithgraphssurroundedme.AndtherewasMichelewithherarmscrossedshakingherheadsayingItoldyouAsurgeoncameinandsaidMr.Leonardwecantbelieveyouwalkedinhereyourheartrateisonly70over38youhavetohavesurgeryrightawayyourheartisfailing.Ithoughtheartsur-geryAreyoukiddingmeImtheguythattaughtthecongregationtoeatrightIexerciseeverysingledayIeatrightexceptwhenIgotoGoldenCorraloffofHavanaorIpayavisittoSisterErnestineatAAFishMarket.Ijustcanthelpmyselfthatfriedcatfishisridiculous.CanIgetanamensomebodyAftertheheartsurgeryIhadafollow-upappoint-mentandthecardiologisttoldmethattheheartmurmurwasactuallyabirthdefectthatIhadbeenlivingwith.Myaorticvalvewasdeformedthesameheartdefectthatmyfatherhadanddiedfrom.Therecoverytookmonths.ButthemostunsettlingpartwasthatthedoctortoldmethatitispossiblethatIwouldhavetohaveopen-heartsurgeryifthissur-gerydidntworkandwewouldknowin2years.ANDSUREASIAMSITTINGHERETODAYitwasalmost2yearstothedaythatIhadtohaveopen-heartsurgeryagain.Onlythistimetheyhadtoreplacetheaorticvalvewithanartificialoneandthearchoftheaortawasreplaced.YouneedtoprayforyourdoctorIknowIprayedoverminebeforetheyrolledmeintotheoperatingroomthatmorning.MyGodtheyputmeonheartandlungby-passremovedmyheartfrommybodyandrepaireditinanotherroomthenputitbackin.AndthatswherewestartedthisconversationRandybecauseitisinmomentslikethesewhereGodhasyourfullattention.Therecoveryfrommy2ndsurgerytookalmostayear.Mywifehadtodrivemeeverywhereformonths.Thatinitselfmademecrazy.Ikeptask-ingmyselfWhyGodwhyButMichelesaidsomethingtomethatIwillneverforget.ShesaidDennisyouhadbeentothedoctorseveraltimesinColoradoGodcouldhaverevealedyourheartissuetoyoutherebutHedidnt.WedontalwaysknoworunderstandwhyGoddoesthethingsHedoesbuthereweareweneedtotakethistimeandgrowinHim.SoIbecameGodsstudentandsodidMichele.HeritageChristianCenterlaunchedachurchplantinSanDiegoCalifornia.Westartedwith8peopleourfirstSunday.TherewerenovolunteersnostaffwedidnthaveGrandmarunningtheBookShop.ItwasMichelemyselfand8curioussoulswiththesamedesiretodomoreforGod.Launchingthatchurchplanthasmademestepbackandlearnandre-learnwhatthetrueheartofapastoris.Ihavealwayswantedtohelpotherpastorsgrowtheirchurchesandthisexperiencehastaughtandshownmeexactlywheretheyareintheirstruggles.Thechurchtodayisntlikethechurchin1985whenHeritagefirstopened.Theneedsarelargerthechallengesthepeoplefacetodayaregreatertheenemyistryingtobreakapartthefamilylikeneverbefore.TheexperienceinSanDiegohashumbledme.MyheartneverleftDenverIneverstoppedprayingfortheHeritagefamilydailybutGodwantedtogetmyattentionandHediditbytakingawayeverythingIknewandloved.IwascomfortableinmyhomeinColoradobutyouonlychangewhenyouaretakenoutofyourcomfortzone.InOctober2013Ihadrecoveredfrommy2ndopen-heartsurgeryandIsaidtoMicheleImhealedupImstrongIvegotmydrivebackIvegotmyvisionbackIvegotmydreambackandImgoinghomeItwasatthatsametimein2013thatHeritagereceivedasignificantpay-offforitsformerchurchpropertyandthosefundshavebeenusedtobuildanewHeritageChristianCenterinAurora.IknowRandyIveheardalloftherumorstoobutifthereisanyquestionordoubtaboutwhereHeritagehasinvesteditsmoneywritedownthisaddressandIinviteanyonetogocheckitoutHeritageChristianCenter14401EastExpositionAvenueAuroraColoradothatsthecornerofSableandExpositionyoucantmissit.InfactoneofourchurchmembersHudsonevenrecoveredouroldSinnersWelcomeHeresignbeforeitwasdisposedofinthetrashafterIsteppeddownin2010.Ivegotthesignandwereputtingitonthenewbuilding.IHAVEANEWHEARTinseveraldifferentways.ThoughthejourneythatGodtookmeonthepastfiveyearshasbeenalongandarduousoneIamgratefulformyHeritagechurchfamily.Youroutpouringofloveandprayershashealedmeasmuchphysicallyasithasspiritually.IaskforgracefromthosethatfeelIabandonedthemandIaskyoutoforgivemeInevermeantforyoutofeelthatway.OneofmyspiritualsonsBishopQuacySmithistheordainedpastoroftheSanDiegochurchplantandheisalreadydoinggreatthingsforGodinSanDiego.SanDiegowashishomeBishopSmithsdesirewasalwaystocomehomeandserveGodspeoplethere.ColoradoismyhomeIgrewuphereIamgladtobehomeandthenewHeritageChristianCenterinAuroraisnowopen.MicheleandIinviteyoutocomebeapartofwhatweredoingforGodandHiskingdom.Makenewfriendsandrenewoldfriend-ships.ThankyouforwelcomingushomeImlovinmyHeritageDENNISLEONARDHERITAGECHRISTIANCENTERWhyheleftwhyhereturnedFromPage7InOctober2013Ihadrecoveredfrommy2ndopen-heartsurgeryandIsaidtoMicheleImhealedupImstrongIvegotmydrivebackIvegotmyvisionbackIvegotmydreambackandImgoinghome