Power Made Perfect...

“I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it for the last four days. God’s presence was here in such a real way during the service [on Sunday]. Did anyone else notice?” asked one of our emerging leaders to the rest of the small group last week. Heads nodded and little by little everyone began to share about how tears were shed, heart’s convicted and called to confession of sin, vision was stirred up and one lady shared a word picture God gave her of the church being protected and powerfully consumed by a ring of fire around it. People were able to identify the moment in which this took place.

I (Chad) knew God was working, but it was more ‘by faith’ than by sight. I was leading worship, but felt like I was more of a distraction to the presence of God than an invitation. My fingers were heavy and clumsy like hammers on the keys and the pedal was slipping away from my foot; my voice was hoarse and the sound levels and monitors weren’t right. It was one of those times (and yes I admit I was complaining). But then it happened. God came and met us where we were right as we corporately shifted our focus off of ourselves and onto Him – He who is so amazingly worthy of our praises. He delights in calling and using us despite our weakness to get the glory. We have been praying for that! Thanks be to God for what He is doing despite us.

But he said to me,“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. [Paul, 2 Cor. 12:9-10]

UPDATES

Pastors & Leaders Conference: Taking Cities

Fabiola and Norma, another lady on our church planting team, spent a week in Mexico at a conference for pastors and leaders called “Taking Cities”. They both came back refreshed and excited about taking Los Angeles and other cities for Christ.

Fabiola was also able to minister at a women’s Bible study and make some visits to some of Chad’s ex-students from when he taught English there in 2003.

No Need to Survive on Peanut Butter Sandwiches!While Fabiola and Norma were in Mexico the rest of the church took care of me and the kids. I never asked; they were never told. Instinctively everyone came earlier, left later, dropped off food, and helped in the details of making our services run smoothly. It was such an honor to be
loved in this way. It really shows the maturing of our congregation as they become more sensitive and willing to love one another and count the ministry as much “their” as “ours”.

Praying for the City
Part of taking the city is covering it in prayer. While the government must do its part we are charged with the task of praying for our government authorities. We realize that the spiritual elements are essential in ensuring success. We took five emerging leaders from our church to the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast with some 1300 other Christians gathered to help them get a bigger vision of what it is really means to be part of the Church – this army of people praying— to take the city of Angeles and other cities in this dark world for Christ.

Above: Los Angeles Mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa

Children Memory Verses
What a delight to have a group of our elementary aged children get up in front of the church and recite three memory verses they have been working on over the last couple weeks.

After School Drop-In Center (Investigating Tutoring)
We’ve made some great progress with our Teen After School Center. Jim, one of the guys on our church plant team, has been organizing more and more activities to engage and connect the
youth creating more community.

We met with some potential volunteers that can help us start some weekly tutoring help for the youth of the high school we minister right next to. Pray that those doors open up in a good time
and we can effectively be a help as we minister in word and deed, helping with practical needs as well as spiritual needs.

Guitar Classes
I started teaching two new students guitar. They are excited and learning quickly. One of the students is 13-year old Angel. We just met their family about two months ago and they are getting more and more involved in the church. It was an honor being invited to his birthday party (see picture below) and this bridged the relationship with his father who then came out to church the following Sunday for the first time. Pray for this family and the guitar class as the vision is to raise-up worshippers and not just musicians.

Please Pray with Us…..

Snow Trip
Many of the families we work with have never seen snow. There is suppose to be some fresh snow up in the mountains so we’re taking all our families up for a day trip bonding and memory making experience. Pray for our safety and for powerful, enriching and deep fellowship.

Easter Week
· Monday – Thursday
Vacation Bible School (VBS) in the park as an outreach to the community.
Bible lessons, games, songs, crafts, snacks and lunch!

· Good Friday
We are planning a special interactive service involving different people from our church.
We hope to invite a lot of new people that we meet from the VBS.

· Easter Sunday
A special celebration including a drama written and acted (not to mention with stage props, scenery and costumes made) by the congregation. We will share an Easter meal together and are praying for a lot of new people to be added to the church that day.

Fabiola’s Birthday Party Outreach
Fabiola is turning 30! (April 26th)

True to her heart to bring Christ to the world she dreamed up an excuse to invite as many 20-somethings as possible to that house and celebrate life. No boyfriends or husbands allowed. We will provide childcare, but the party is for the young ladies to celebrate life.

The theme is New Life symbolized by the butterfly. The women will be pampered; play games and have a great time. At the end of the party Fabiola would like to invite the young ladies to sign-up to do a book study on a topic related to their identity.

We’re praying to reach a lot of young singles, single mothers and young married mothers who have not yet connected with any church in the past. We are looking into connection at Cal State L.A., families of friends, ladies from Justice’s pre-school and several other places.

· Please pray for a great turn out and powerful deepening of existing relationships and lots of new relationships that lead to NEW LIFE!!!

· We still have a lot to do….let us know if you want to help out with this event in any way (from near or far).

Thank you for your prayers and loving support!

Boasting all the more gladly in our weakness,
Chad & Fabiola