A Criminal Zip Code

“It's criminal when I can look at your zip code and tell what kind of education you're going to get,” said Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.  We live in a part of Los Angeles known for its lack of many things from a lack of good medical care to a lack of prospering, quality businesses and even the lack of general cleanliness.  Yet one of the biggest lacks is that of a good education.  Of the 41 closest public schools only three are passing the state standard – none of which are in our zip code.  The average school ranks 2.7 (out of 10) in South Central LA and a pitiful 1.3 in our neighborhood.  (Source: L.A. Times)

Our desire as missionaries and as church planters is to provide the best education that we can for the children, youth and even the adults in our community.  Our team is too small for us to be able to offer any formal tutoring or training at this stage, but we are praying to see how God might want us to get involved or who He might bring alongside us to help us accomplish these lofty, yet urgent needs. 

One amazing thing that we have been able to do with the help of our two interns is provide a high quality, content rich and relationally deep Christian education for our children and youth.  Over the last nine months that they have been with us, both Jessica and Monica have helped us take ministry here to the next level.  Unfortunately, their internship ends at the end of this month.  Now, as they leave, we ask that you pray with us for direction and guidance for the leadership and Biblical education of the children and youth at our church, Fuente para las Naciones. 

Monica and Jessica met with all of our parents last month one-on-one to share with them the amazingly great things that they see in their children, to speak encouragement and life into them and share more deeply what they have been studying over these months in their classes. 

Many of our children and youth have given their life to Jesus!  The kid’s in Monica’s class love to sit and soak in God’s presence and hear from Him, worship through singing and simple rhythm instruments and pray for one another.  Many of these children are bringing their parent’s to church and not the other way around. 

Jessica has done an amazing job mentoring and discipling the junior high and high school youth.  One of them will be entering a Leadership In Training program through World Impact for the next three years where he will be mentored weekly by us and working on special ministry projects.  Pray with us that the next phase of Monica and Jessica’s lives will continue to be blessed and all the fruit that they have seen produced will be fruit that will remain; good fruit that will reproduce one hundred times over. 

We are excited about how God will continue to impart knowledge, wisdom and understanding to this community and provide for all our needs as we continue to grow as a church! 

Thank you for your prayers and support,

Chad & Fabiola