UPDATES
Evangel Church Planting School
One of many highlights over these
last two months was our Evangel Church Planting School. Chad has been certified
as a church planting coach and has the honor to work alongside two church plant
teams as they dream up and launch their new churches.
Photos of
Evangel Church Planting School and the 11 church plant teams and coaches.
One group, led by Pastor Gustavo,
is a Spanish-speaking church. Gustavo and his wife Consuelo spent some time in
our church before they launched off and took with them one of our founding team
members Norma. It is such a privilege to be working with them and helping them
along as they navigate God’s will for the community He has called them to. It
is fun to see some of the similarities in their church to ours, but we also see
how God has given them a unique vision and focus.
Above: Pastor
Gustavo and team strategize at Evangel Church Planting School.
Below: Gustavo shares with the other church plants some of their vision and plan.
Consuelo just graduated from The
Urban Ministry Institute (TUMI), a ministry of World Impact, which is a huge
accomplishment since she had never attended a day of school in her life growing
up. She was always working to help her family in Mexico and didn’t have the
time or money to study. Now she has graduated from TUMI, which is a close
equivalence to a 4-year seminary. The
entire team is bi-vocational and has a heart to reproduce themselves in new
leaders and new churches. The number of “ah-ha!” moments during the Evangel
Church Planting School for this team was amazing.
Chad praying
for Pastor Gustavo, Consuelo, Norma and the rest of the church plant team.
The second group Chad is coaching is led by Pastor Philip. Many years ago doctors told him he had only a small part of his heart and liver working and wouldn’t live much longer. He is still going strong and with more determination and resolve to live every moment for Jesus. Philip opened up his house, even giving up his own bedroom, to prisoners coming out on parole. His house is now known as Hallelujah House and is a discipleship and training home for men and women recently released from prison who feel the call of God on their lives for ministry. One ex-prisoner, who had been sentenced to life, but was released early, recently was ordained and commissioned to start a new church…in fact, he just left the Hallelujah House this last week, but has a powerful ministry and is now mentoring other ex-offenders and addicts.
Pastor Philip surrounded by some of his Hallelujah House guys and now church plant team members.
Philip and the Hallelujah House
had recently connected with Jenny and brought her along to Evangel. Jenny grew
up as a Buddhist, but while serving time in prison came to know Jesus as her
Lord and Savior. With a heart full of gratitude, she began a ministry where she
collects donations from different grocery stores and weekly serves meals to the
homeless living in Skid Row. She lovingly gives them food and assures them of
the love and closeness of God by saying, “Jesus knows your name.” This is the
name of her ministry.
The Hallelujah House now comes
down and works alongside Jenny preaching the Word of God, worshiping with song
and investing in people one-on-one. God provided them a parking lot where they
can bring people in for service so it isn’t all on the street. They are now
moving towards planting a new church or maybe even multiple churches without
any walls.
Pastor Philip,
Jenny and their team strategize and talk through core values.
The lady who helps lead worship from Hallelujah House has a unique connection to the White House. Her sister is one of the longest-standing chief of staffs to the President. What is even more exciting is how God’s favor is on his people and how these new expressions of His Church are being birthed throughout Los Angeles and beyond.
The team with
Chad at the commissioning service.
Youth Leadership Transition
Another highlight was the
transition in our youth leadership that took place on Father’s Day. For several
years, our good friends Joshua and Rocio, have been working with us and serving
the youth. They stepped in during a critical time and have really helped our
youth group mature. In the last season God began to speak to a couple in our
church, Hugo and Yuri about serving in the youth ministry. Yuri and her son
Diego came to faith in Jesus through our tutoring program 3 years ago. Then at
a family camp Hugo tagged along, but wasn’t “interested.” Later Hugo shared
that God was tugging at his heart during that camp, especially when his wife
got baptized. Hugo has since pursued God and grown in his faith.
God spoke to Hugo through some dreams
about one-day ministering to the youth and leading the ministry with his wife
(who also had this desire growing in her heart)…others in the church have
confirmed that calling as well. When we challenged them to move into youth
ministry they shared their dreams and how God had been speaking to them – it
was a powerful time of confirmation! This first month with them as leaders has been
a great time of coaching and encouraging them through the process…Hugo, Yuri
and the youth group are all flourishing.
At the transition service we had a great time honoring Joshua and Rocio. Many of the youth came forward and shared stories, appreciation and encouragement to Joshua and Rocio. Hugo and Yuri also shared their heart (which is big) for the youth of our church and the community.
Some of the
men of Fuente…celebrating Father’s Day.
Hugo and Yuri teaching the youth.
Baptism
Always one of our favorite things is celebrating baptism as a church family!
Life in Christ! Nothing beats that!!
A hug from her mother who cam from Mexico to be a part of the baptism.
Words of encouragement from members of the church.
Quinceaños Celebration (15th birthday)
We were glad to see that as Christ has become the focus of their family over the last few years this celebration also had a focus of thanking God and re-committing Natalie’s life to His ways. It was also a great opportunity to minister to extended family and friends.
Membership Sunday / Membership Class
We had seven new members added to the church last month.
Teacher Training
Ever sharpening our swords and
with the vision to offer the best children’s Bible teaching in our neighborhood
we were blessed to have 3 teachers come in and provide a half-day training to
better equip us to teach the many, wonderful children he has brought to us.
Fabiola has also added two new teachers to our team of volunteers, which is great as she continues to raise-up leaders from within those ranks to eventually work herself out of a job.
Rebecca finishes 5th Grade
We are
so proud of our daughter Rebecca for finishing 5th grade with
straight A’s. We can’t believe she is going to middle school next year, but
know that she is ready for the new challenges that await her!
Church Camping Trip
We had a fun time taking six
families from our church to experience camping in the ‘wild’. It was every
families first time. Shared adventures like this give so much bond to our
community. They create memories and conversations for years to come. The
worship and talks late into the night around the campfire were definitely a
powerful time where we could see God moving through people’s lives.
Yard Sales
Raising funds for summer camps.
Off to camp (4th – 6th Graders)
Our first group of campers had an
amazing time and came back full of a new heart for evangelism. Our 1st
– 3rd graders are at camp this week. We send off a group of 20 youth
to camp the first week of August as well. Please
keep all these campers and their counselors in your prayers.
Volleyball Fun
On 4th of July and
then again that next Sunday we got together for a meal and volleyball. Kids v.
Adults went in favor of the adults, but everyone had a great time.
Sponsorships for Camps still needed!
We do not want to turn away any
of our youth or families for the upcoming camps. Everyone has been working very
hard to pay their way. Two youth made and sold donuts door-to-door to make the
$120 each that they needed to pay their way! We’re proud of their efforts – that’s
a lot of donuts! But not everyone has been able to make their goal. We also
have families that are saying they won’t be able to join us for our weekend up
at the Oaks Camp where we are going to have an amazing time of teaching,
worship and fun – each family only has to pay $200 (but for many that is too much).
If you can help out with a full
or even a partial scholarship for a youth ($120 – one week of camp!) or a
family ($200 - 4 people for the
weekend), please respond to this email as soon as possible. Thanks!!!
Coming up:
Wedding
@ Fuente July 23
Children’s
Hunger Fund training July 30
Youth
Summer Camp July 31 – August 5
Chad
& Fabiola’s 12-year anniversary August 14
Fuente
Family Camp August 19-21
Prison
(Norco) visit (candidate assessment) August 25
Urban
Church Association (UCA) dinner August 26
End
of Fuente leadership internship August 27
Fuente
worship team leading worship at UCA pastor’s breakfast September 3
Please Pray with Us…
1.
Family Camp (Aug. 19-21)
We
are hoping our whole church can come to this camp. We are believing for
life-change. Our last family camp was one of the biggest catalysts for
spiritual growth and unity we have ever had as a church. We are praying to even
supersede that because there is a lot of need and know our God can do that! Please pray with us along those lines!!
2.
Coaching
Pray
for us as we coach, mentor and encourage other church planters. Especially pray
for Pastor Gustavo (and his church, La Viña del Señor) and Pastor Philip (and his church, Hallelujah! Jesus Knows My
Name).
3.
Further identifying,
training and releasing of leaders
Rejoice
with us for the successful transition in the youth ministry (Hugo & Yuri),
some new teachers in our children’s ministry and continue to pray for us to
have eyes to be able to call out more ‘fishers of men’ from among our
community, church, the jails and anywhere else God may lead us.
4.
Housing/Future
Please
pray with us for peace as well as God’s will, wisdom and timing. Pray that
whether we stay in the home we are currently living or move that it would be a
house of refuge and would feel like “home” for all of us.
A possible move…We had a larger home open up to us (with a
room for each one of our children) a few blocks away from where we are
currently living, but unfortunately we were not able to raise any money to make
this a possibility. The house needed some repairs and new paint/carpet to make
it ready for our family after being used for many years without this attention.
It looks like that window has closed, but there may be another house opening up
in the next months that is in similar condition. Since these homes are owned by
World Impact we wouldn’t have to pay rent, but do need to raise the funds at
the front end to make the repairs to make them livable for our family. If this
is something that you would be interested in helping us with, please contact us
and we’ll keep you up to date on the process.
Thank you for
your love, prayers and for supporting us in so many different ways.
We rejoice that you are in our lives.
Together we are making a difference and bringing Jesus to people!
Chad, Fabiola,
Rebecca, Justice and Beniah
