Refuge Church Ojai Valley

What if the life God is calling us to is bigger than the comfort we’ve settled for? This week we launch our new series, 1 is Greater than the 99, a journey through the heart of Jesus — the Shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine to pursue the one.
As we begin, we’re asking a foundational question:
Will we choose comfort, or will we answer the call?
Following Jesus has never been about staying safe, staying still, or staying comfortable. It’s about joining Him in His mission — stepping into the places He is moving and becoming people who carry His hope to those still searching.
Join us as we kick off this new series and explore what it means to live with a calling that is greater than comfort. #1GreaterThan99 #CallingOverComfort #RefugeChurch #InOjaiAsItIsInHeaven

This Sunday, we’re looking at the powerful stories of women in Scripture whose lives reveal what it means to walk in the Spirit.
Through obedience. Through surrender. Through suffering. Through faithfulness. From Eve to Hannah, Ruth to Mary, we see that God has always worked powerfully through mothers willing to trust Him—even when the road was costly. Their stories remind us that anointing isn’t about perfection or ease. It’s often forged in sacrifice, shaped through perseverance, and revealed through steady faithfulness. This message is a powerful reminder of the calling, strength, and spiritual impact of mothers—and what their lives teach all of us about following God.

Two big, absolutely essential words. Intercessor. Advocate. Words that reveal something powerful about the heart of God toward us. When life feels overwhelming, when anxiety is loud, when fear takes over, when you don’t even have the words to pray—the Holy Spirit is already at work. He knows. He sees. He speaks on your behalf. And when shame tells you to hide, the Holy Spirit doesn’t lead you deeper into denial. He leads you toward truth, freedom, and the kind of grace that changes everything. This week, we’re diving into what it means to have the Holy Spirit as both your Intercessor and your Advocate—and why understanding these two words changes the way you understand God’s love. #holyspirit #RefugeChurch #faith #churchworship #LiveStream #spirituality #spiritualrealm

Where do you go for comfort? Is it control? Success? Proving yourself? Or something deeper? Jesus didn’t leave us to figure life out on our own. He gave us the Holy Spirit—our Comforter. Not comfort through autonomy… but through surrender. Not comfort through ego… but through mercy and peace. He meets us with truth when we need direction, with perspective when life feels overwhelming, with a reminder of who we are, and with the nearness of God Himself. The question isn’t if you need comfort. It’s where you’re looking for it. This week, we’re talking about the Holy Spirit as our Comforter—and the kind of peace you can’t create on your own.

As we step into this message with our Associate Pastor, Derry Brooks, we’re reminded that the Holy Spirit is not distant or abstract—He is God with us.
He is the Counselor Jesus promised. He dwells within His people and is actively at work in their lives. The Holy Spirit is personal. He is someone you can know and respond to. He guides you into truth when life feels confusing. He convicts, not to shame you, but to lead you into freedom. And He transforms hearts in ways no one can manufacture on their own.
In a world full of noise and competing voices, everyone is being led by something. But the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth, always pointing back to Jesus. He empowers ordinary people to live boldly and faithfully—not just for personal growth, but for the spread of the gospel. So the question isn’t whether the Spirit helps. It’s whether you’re willing to humble yourself, trust Him, and follow where He leads. 

Do you believe the Holy Spirit is real… or just an idea?
Not a force. Not energy. Not something to control.
A Person.
One who speaks, guides, convicts, comforts—and lives in you.
So what does that actually mean for your everyday life?Who are you really relying on?And what might need to be surrendered so you can actually grow?
This week, we’re diving into the person of the Holy Spirit—and why your relationship with Him changes everything.

Hope has a name. Today we gather to celebrate a hope that does not end at the grave — a hope that meets us in our wounds, speaks into our questions, and holds us when we feel like we are running out of strength. A hope that reaches into yesterday, steadies us in today, and stretches far beyond what we can see. A hope not built on what we can earn, but on what has already been finished. Come and behold the hope of Jesus.

In a world full of competing loyalties — religion, culture, comfort, success — Jesus doesn’t ask for part of us. He invites all of us.
This Palm Sunday, we’re stepping into the tension of a crowd that shouted “Hosanna” one day and “Crucify Him” just days later. As we open Scripture, we’ll wrestle with an honest question: what are we really sold out to? Is it Jesus… or something we’ve built around Him? A version of faith that feels safe, successful, or in control?
This week, we’ll see that following Jesus isn’t about religion, cultural approval, personal comfort, or even our own plans — it’s about surrendering to the One who is better than all of it. Because Jesus isn’t just part of life — He is our only hope for real life. No matter where you’re coming from, this is an invitation into deeper honesty, deeper surrender, and a faith that doesn’t shift with the crowd.
 
 #ChristiansAre #TransformedByGod #RefugeChurch #1Thessalonians #holiness #LiveStream #palmsunday

In a culture full of mixed messages about identity, love, and sexuality, God offers something different — something better.
This week, we’re talking about holiness — not as restriction, but as invitation. An invitation into a life marked by honor, freedom, and wholeness. As we open Scripture, we’ll explore how God’s design for our lives is rooted in His love, His wisdom, and His desire to protect and restore us.
No matter your story, you’re invited into a life of faithfulness — where your body, your desires, and your relationships are shaped by something deeper than culture: the transforming work of the Holy Spirit.
#ChristiansAre #TransformedByGod #RefugeChurch #1Thessalonians #sexuality #holiness #LiveStream

Transformation isn’t just about changing habits — it’s about becoming more like Jesus in every part of our lives.
This week in our “Christians Are…” series, we explore how God works in us to shape our hearts, minds, and communities with our associate pastor Zack Totten. From receiving the Word with joy, to turning away from the patterns of the world, God’s Spirit is at work making us new, reflecting His glory, and building a reputation that honors Him. When God transforms us, it doesn’t just change us — it changes the way we live, the way we love, and the way the world sees Him.