D.J. Gorena

It was many years ago that I learned of certain individuals who have impacted my life and ministry. The first person who impacted me is, of course, my own Dad, David. He taught me so many things from the Scriptures and just how to do things around the house and especially on cars. The greatest lesson I learned from my Dad is that love covers a multitude of sins (cf. 1 Peter 4:8); for this I am most grateful because he taught me that through Jesus Christ, who is perfect love, all of my sins are forgiven for all eternity. He taught me that Jesus Christ, who died for my sins, was buried, and was raised again according to the Scriptures, can save anyone who will come to Him by faith. He taught me the Scriptures just like his Dad taught him. He taught me about Jesus and the salvation He offers to all.

Another great influence on my life is my grandfather, Dionicio, my Dad’s Dad. He was kind of short compared to others, but he was a giant in my eyes. He was faithful to my grandmother, Fidela, for 63 years before she passed away. And after my grandmother passed away, it certainly did not stop my grandfather from ministering to others. He would always purchase big station wagons in order that he might pick up people and take them to church services with he and my grandmother. He would constantly speak the Gospel of Jesus Christ to whomever he could. He was a diligent worker in everything he did and my grandfather taught my Dad how to be like this and he taught me how to do the same. I would go with my grandfather to the church to help do yardwork. He taught me faithfulness in serving the church.

Another great influence in my life is John Pretlove. He was a professor of Church History and New Testament at Criswell College where I attended for my undergraduate degree. He is from England so I was always interested in listening to his accent being that I had never heard that accent growing up on the border with Mexico. He taught me the doctrines of grace. He helped me to understand how God is Sovereign while inclining our spirits toward Jesus Christ for salvation. He showed grace to me spending time with me when I was only 17 years old in college. He discipled me like my grandfather and my Dad did. Living 12 hours away from home, John helped me to feel alright with being away from the two men who influenced me the most and became the third most influential man in my life. He has been a faithful Bible teacher and preacher and pastor since I have known John. He taught me doctrine from the Scriptures.

Louis Newman was a deacon at a church where I met my wife over 30 years ago. Louis was already 78 years old when I met him. One day I realized that I needed to have an accountability partner, someone who would hold me to account as I was getting ready to marry my wife, Cheryl. I wrote a letter and handed it to Louis on a Sunday morning after the worship service and asked him to read it, pray about it, and then let me know his thoughts. That evening, when we were getting ready for our Sunday evening service, Louis came to me and agreed to be my accountability partner. He had no idea why I would choose to ask him to do this. My response: Because I prayed about who I should ask and it was Louis. He taught me about finances and how to provide for my wife and family. He encouraged me–like my grandfather, Dad, and John–to stay in the Word of God, the Bible. He encouraged me to be obedient to the Lord and how to pray. Louis prayed with me and by doing this, like my Dad and grandfather, he taught me to pray.

There is another deacon that influenced me greatly. His name is David Blackerby. In my first pastorate, David was serving as the chairman of the deacons when I arrived. I asked him if he would pray with me the first week of my pastorate. He obliged and came to my office. He then asked if I would like to meet with him weekly for prayer and I absolutely wanted that. David was an encourager. He would listen and he would love me no matter what was said. He would let me know that he may not have an answer for what I was asking or saying, but he just listened and encouraged me to continue serving the Lord faithfully. He would tell me that he was praying for me daily, and I believe he did. It was 4 1/2 years into my tenure in that church that he had a massive heart attack and died. I have never forgotten the way he just listened to me and encouraged me. He taught me how to encourage others.

Paul McCord is a trustee and a deacon at the church where I currently pastor. He was the chairman of the pastor search committee that contacted me and asked if I would consider coming to this church. When we first spoke on the phone, his calm demeanor and constant encouragement since I started pastoring this church has been a God-send. He listens, has Godly advice and suggestions, and seeks to do whatever he can to come alongside me in ministry. He has taught me wisdom by what he says and beleives and by the way he lives.

Another trustee and deacon is Rody Ryon. He listens and has such Godly advice. He prays with me every Sunday morning but before he prays, he wants to know how my week has been. I can tell him that it has been good or it has been hard, and he always has a word of encouragement and prays for wisdom for me. He has taught me about marriage just listening to what he does for his wife who has certain health issues. He loves and cares for her and has for so many years. This is a great lesson and encouragement to me. He has taught me about love for my wife, my family, and my church.

Lawrence Story is another trustee and deacon who faithfully prays for me every week. He has had some health struggles as of late, however, when he is able to be in attendance of our weekly time of prayer, he is there. He is faithful. He loves the church. He seeks to encourage. He tells me about the history of the church and it helps me to know what we need to do and what we do not need to do. He’s faithful to his wife, his children, and to others who have known him for many years. He has taught me about the holiness of God by listening to his prayers.

I have known Linney Patton since the mid-1980s. He has influenced me as well. I tell people that he is my best friend. His aunt Elvira taught him about God’s faithfulness. Linney has faced some hard times in his life, but he chalks it up to God teaching him to live for Him no matter what may come his way. Even when I have sought prayer from Linney for issues that I was facing, asking him to pray for me to get out of it, he rather told me that he would pray the Lord would see me through the hard times. That was not easy to hear, but it was the best thing he could do for me. The Lord showed me His faithfulness as He has shown Linney. Linney has taught me about the faithfulness of the Lord.

These men have influenced me through the years. I love each of them dearly because of so much I have learned from them, been encouraged by them to do and not to do, and just watching them and listening to them has helped me in ministry over the last 38 years. Each of these men are full of faith, full of love, and full of the Spirit. Because of them, I have been a blessed man for many years.

Thank you for making an impact in my life and ministry through the years.

It was March 2021 when I decided to “get the jab” to prevent Covid-19. The main reason is because my wife was going through treatments for cancer. With her going through those treatments, I decided that it would be best for me to get the jab for her protection more than anything. I went to the Hurst Convention Center in Hurst, Texas when I was notified that I could come and get the jab.

It was Moderna. I was asked prior to getting the jab if I was allergic to shrimp. Of course I am allergic to shrimp and I told them so. Did that stop them from the possibility of giving me an anyphylactic reaction to the jab? Of course not! They gave it to me any way.

But I am at fault just the same. When they asked me the question about being allergic to shrimp, that should have registered in my mind that I probably should not get the jab, but again, my sole thought, my sole priority, was to protect my wife.

The reaction took all of three to four minutes before my throat began to close. I could tell that my breathing was becoming labored and my blood pressure all of a sudden was very high. I notified a paramedic who was standing close to the seating area for those who “might” have a reaction to the jab. He notified four other paramedics to come check me out. They took me to a room in the back. My question to them: “You guys aren’t going to try to rough me up to keep quiet about this reaction, are you?” One of them retorted, “Of course not! We want to make sure you’re alright.” They asked me to describe what was going on with me and I told them.

They immediately took my blood pressure not once, but twice. The reading was 225/165. They immediately decided to get an epinephrine shot ready to give to me which I refused knowing that it would cause my blood pressure to rise even higher. They seemed a bit shocked that I knew that and then I told them to give me a benydryl immediately which they did. I sat there for an hour and they wanted to know if I had a cardiologist which I do. They were concerned for my blood pressure as I was, too.

After leaving there, I came home and decided to take another benydryl because I could tell my throat was closing again. I ended up having to take a third dose and decided that if I had to take a fourth, I was going to call 9-1-1 and have them transport me from home to the hospital by ambulance. I ended up falling asleep and when I awoke, I felt like a Mack truch had run over me.

The next day I could tell that my blood pressure was very high. I have never had high blood pressure, but when I took a reading at home, my blood pressure was 175/135. I called my cardiologist’s office and they told me to keep tabs on my blood pressure and to call 9-1-1 if it went as high as it did after the jab. The reading after the jab–as stated above–was stroke level according to my cardiologist. He said that I was “lucky to not have had a stroke and was smart to tell them ‘no’ to the epinephrine shot.”

The doctor ended up having to put me on blood pressure medicine. I have had to be on it otherwise my blood pressure goes out of control like it was for three months after the jab even with the three blood pressure meds my cardiologist prescribed for me. Moderna apparently has caused a number of heart issues for some along with blood clots and I happen to be part of those affected by this untested “vaccine.” The heart pain, the heart cath, the blood pressure and now the meds, have all been as a result of Moderna and I put it on them because I had no serious heart issues prior to the jab. The reason I have a cardiologist is because my Dad has had a heart attack before and heart issues run in my family. I have seen the same cardiologist since I was 40 for this reason.

Fast-forward to the present. I still have chest pain. My cardiologist indicated but did not directly say that my heart was swollen after the Moderna shot. Even though I reported this reaction to both Moderna and the CDC, I have never heard from them even though I filled out everything online for both organizations. I still get chest pains and I still have to take blood pressure medicine but I now only take one blood pressure medicine. And did the Moderna jab keep me from getting Covid-19? Nope.

I contracted Covid-19 and was sick for two weeks straight. I had fever, chills, sweats, brain fog, lung issues, diahrrea, upset stomach, dizziness, headache, aches and pains. I felt like all I could do was sleep but it was never restful sleep. I would wake up having difficulty breathing and having night sweats and chills.

After a week of suffering with Covid-19, I decided to go to the local clinic/ER. They did a PCR test to see if I was positive for Covid-19 and I was. I was also having some terrible pain on my right side and it presented itself as if it might be my appendix. I really was feeling icky still from Covid-19 and was really praying that there would be no need for me to have my appendix taken out. They then transferred me from the clinic to the ER where they thoroughly checked me out. Thank God that my appendix was not an issue. I think my side was hurting from having the runs and not being able to eat very much for a week.

Now I know this may all be “too much information” for some, but I want to document what has happened since last year when I took the first Moderna jab. It has not been pleasant. It has harmed my body. I have gone from 225 pounds down to 184 pounds in less than a year. That may not be drastic for some, but it has been a struggle for me to keep my weight. I have lost muscle mass since the Moderna jab and my allergies are worse than they were prior to the jab. My appetite is not good. I do not like the taste of food or drink since I lost my taste and smell when I had Covid-19. I force myself to eat now but the taste of food is not good to me. The ringing in my ears is louder than it has ever been since I got the Moderna jab.

While those in the medical field may say that I most likely had issues prior to the Moderna jab, I do not buy that notion. I have never had the physical issues that I now have since the Moderna jab. I really think the medical community (not as a whole, but many of them) are believing a lie about these untested Covid-19 “vaccines.” They know like many of us that they were initially called “therapeutics” and not “vaccines.” There are serious issues with many people who have taken the Pfizer, Moderna, or the Johnson & Johnson jabs and they along with the CDC are not reporting the reactions honestly.

Why? It all amounts to money. Government officials and these companies are all pocketing a lot of money from creating an atomosphere of fear over a disease that has had a 96.3% survivability rate as reported by the CDC for over two years. Now they want our children to get the jab when those under the age of 21 have a 99.7% survivability rate from Covid-19, again, according to the CDC. It amounts to money. It amounts to control of the masses. It is fearmongering. It is a disease no doubt, but what the US Government and these companies have done to our great Nation is beyond anything that an outside enemy may attempt to do to us.

Now if you disagree with me I can honestly say that I do not care. I know what has happened to me since I took the first Moderna jab and the effects on my body, especially since Covid-19. I can care less what the medical establishment even thinks at this point. My own primary doctor never returned my calls when I was sick with Covid-19; I am planning on finding a new primary doctor because of this. My cardiologist did not seem to have any answers for me; I am planning on finding a new cardiologist. My urologist actually suggested that I take a lot of vitamin C and D and that I take zinc also and to alternate between acetimenephine and ibuprofen to help keep the fever down; I will not find another urologist.

All of this is to say this: Think through whether or not you will take the jab. Do not be shamed by fearmongers to do something you do not want to do. If you have taken the jab and have had no serious effects from it, that is great news to me. It matters not to me what people think about those who take the jab or those who choose not to take the jab. It is an individual choice and it is a parent’s right to choose whether or not they have their children get the jab. Do what is right for you and for your family. After all, I took the jab initially in order to protect my wife. If I had known then what I know now, however, I would have simply taken other precautions to protect her, but I was going with the information that I had at the time never expecting to have such a severe reaction to the Moderna jab.

This is my story–my experience wit Moderna and Covid-19.

The last of the great Old Testament prophets has made his way to the Jordan River, most likely in the southern region of the land. His name is John and he is sent by God. His purpose is to witness, to testify about the Light of the world, namely, Jesus Christ who is the Word of God (John 1:1).

When John enters the scene, he no doubt speaks of the Light as someone other than himself. He knows that he is not the Light but has made his way to the river to announce the coming of the Light of the world. He is only here to testify about the Light who is now come.