February 8, 2018

Who we are

Welcome to the Refuge House of Prayer!

We are followers of Jesus who gather regularly in homes, united to each other, to connect with God through teaching, worship, prayer, meditation and reaching outside of ourselves.  We believe He is worthy to be ministered to daily because He is so amazingly wonderful in every way. We love Him and are growing more in love each day. As we are being developed in a powerful love relationship with our heavenly Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit, they respond to us in supernatural ways with their presence, gifts, healings, salvation, and wonders.

God desires us to know Him intimately so that we are transformed by His love, power, and freedom. This enables us to live out our unique God-given destiny that is excellent and better than what we can imagine for ourselves. We believe that our families, churches, businesses, schools, government, arts, and entertainment both locally and globally will be transformed by bringing His presence and love into each area. The Refuge House of Prayer is a place to experience Him intimately, be transformed by His love, and be equipped to make a difference like Jesus did in the world in which you live.

 Dan Steward

Dan’s passion is to know Jesus and to tell others about Him.  Dan was born and raised in Southern California. He started building commercial structures and custom homes in 1980 and became a licensed General Contractor in 1984 in California and in 2005 in North Carolina. He owns and manages a small construction company in Asheville, NC.  In 1988, he helped launch a new church which he served as Associate Pastor at The Crossing Church in Costa Mesa, CA.  Dan started a large recovery ministry there to help adults who desire to overcome addictive behavior for over 12 years in CA. He is a child of a recovered alcoholic and understands the pain of substance abuse.  He is happily married to Eva for over 30 years. In 2005, they were led by God to Asheville, NC where they lead at The Refuge House of Prayer.

Eva Steward

Eva was born by immigrants who fled Iraq due to religious persecution and was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. Living in the ghetto was a great place to learn survival skills and how to get along with a wide variety people and problems. She was raised to love and respect God and others. Her passion is to encounter God more each day and help others do the same.  She’s been married to the man of her dreams for over 30 years. Over the years she has worked as a professional accountant, business consultant, real estate broker, and mediator. She graduated from Bible college at Biola University earning a B.S. in Organizational Leadership; earned a law degree at Whittier Law School; earned a masters degree in Faith and Culture at Trinity International University. Other formal studies include earning a certificate at the International Institute of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France; certified as a Precepts Upon Precepts Instructor at Precepts International Ministries; has completed many courses at Moody’s Bible Institute and Fuller Theological Institute; is a certified mediator, and certified Prayer Trainer.

Statement of Faith

We believe in one God, Creator, and Lord of the universe, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

We believe that the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, is God’s authoritative, inspired Word. It is without error in all its teachings, including creation, history, its own origins, and salvation. It is the supreme and final authority in all matters of belief and conduct.

We believe that Jesus Christ, God’s Son, was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, died a substitutionary atoning death on the cross, rose bodily from the dead, and ascended to heaven, being truly God and truly man, He is the only Mediator between God and man.

We believe in the necessity of the work of the Holy Spirit for the individual’s new birth and growth to maturity and for the Church’s constant renewal in truth, wisdom, faith, holiness, love, power, healing (both in soul and body), and mission. Every believer is called to live and walk in the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit so that he will bear fruit to the glory of God and not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.

We believe that all people are born sinners and cannot fully experience the kingdom of God, except through the new spiritual birth which takes place through agreeing with God about who He is and who we are, repenting from sin, believing in and receiving Jesus as God, saver and leader (Savior and Lord). We are justified to have a relationship with God by His grace when we put our faith in the work of Jesus Christ alone and not by religious duty or acts.  We are rewarded by our good deeds, but it is not sufficient to enter into relationship with God or for Him to save us.

We believe that Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church which is made up of all believers everywhere in the world, and that locally the Church is a group of baptized believers who are organized to minister as priests and kings to do God’s will. Its calling is to minister to the Lord first, live as Jesus did and do the things that Jesus did while on Earth 2000 years ago.  The Church is to advance His kingdom wherever they live, work, and play.

We believe marriage is a sacred covenant created by God between one man and one woman as modeled to us in the first marriage of Adam and Eve.  We believe that same-sex marriage is forbidden in the Word of God and by His Spirit, therefore not permissible.

We believe that in our lifetime, Jesus Christ will personally and visibly return in glory to establish a new government where He rules the Earth in true justice, righteousness, and peace for 1000 years.  All who were given the gift of life on Earth will give an account for their life to God.  Those who follow Jesus will suffer persecution by man, but not suffer condemnation by God.  Those who reject Jesus will pay for their own sins and be separated from God forever.  God will fully manifest His kingdom when He establishes a new heaven and new earth, in which He will be glorified forever and will exclude all evil, suffering, and death.