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Friday, February 15, 2013

From Generation to Generation

“Those who have a passion for Jesus, who are continuing to learn about Him, drawing closer to Him, are the most contagious people in the world –they will infect everyone they touch with a passion for God, including their children.” (Rick Joyner) 

We want to be a family that has a passion for Jesus and His Kingdom.  A family that is infectious and impacts not just our own children, but our grand children and great grand children.  This is not just a vision or value we talk about, but something we live and are instilling into those that we have the privilege to minister to and train. 


Updates

Youth Winter Camp
One of the highlights of last month’s Youth Winter Camp was when Alex, our oldest high schooler, took on more of a leadership role for the group.  This was especially evident during the flag football competition where our church group was looking like the underdogs and Alex lead the boys and the girls to work together and get organized.  There was some spiritual growth that took place as well during the cabin times after the night sessions.  The nine youth really grew closer as a group during that weekend.

Fuente Youth Group at Winter Camp 2013 
Alex took great leadership both on and off the field.
A few of the youth took advantage of the skate park at the camp.
There was great fellowship and fun – especially during the meals.
A group of our youth at the teaching session.
During free time the youth painted special pottery.
  Church youth groups competed in a mud-filled obstacle course, the flag football tournament, as well as paintballing and a graffiti competition.  
The whole group went on a night hike the last night hiking up to a large cross at the top of the hill. 

Keep the youth in your prayers as they are now back in their schools and homes with all the old challenges.  We have had a larger group come out for Friday night youth group lately…pray that this growth will remain and lead to more salvations and baptisms. 


Mexico
Our family went to Puebla, Mexico for a very special week.  Fabiola’s home church celebrated its 23rd anniversary and the senior pastor handed the church over to his son, so that he can dedicate himself to overseeing other churches and church plants.  It was beautiful to see the investment of the father into this church and his son and the respect the son had for his father.  What a great example of fruitful, healthy generational ministry!

We were involved in a lot of ministry during our time there, but were also able to visit with Fabiola’s family.  The highlight was being able to worship God with 3,000 other people and be a part of such a beautiful church transition.  We were able to learn a lot during some pastoral sessions and be in rich fellowship.  We returned refreshed in Spirit and renewed in vision and passion for evangelism, church planting and training-up leaders.


Fabiola leading a prayer meeting at one of the churches in Puebla.  We had prayer meetings every morning from 6:30-9:00am and then another meeting in the evening from 7-9pm.  


The Sunday service was something special. It was held at the government building at the site of the forts where the battle of Cinco de Mayo was fought – symbolic of the Spiritual victory in Christ we are walking into.  


We were able to lead and enjoy wonderful times of fellowship, prayer, counseling and encouragement as we visited with family and friends.  


The four of us enjoying a new corner of downtown Puebla. 



Promoting the Family
As we mentioned, a core value we have is the family.  We desire to live and model as well as help others achieve godly, whole, blessed families.  One simple thing we have started doing every 4-6 weeks is putting together some type of family activity.  In the city, families do not spend a lot of time together.  We have engaged the youth in planning out and inviting their families to events or activities.  This month a group from our church got discount tickets and went to a Hollywood theater to see Peter Pan (see pictures below).  Families were able to enjoy one another and interact with other families building great memories that will last.  



Worship
Another exciting development is that of a greater interest and initiative being taken in the area of worship.  We have a group of five of us meeting every week to rehearse and learn more about the musical and spiritual elements to leading and participating in worship.  We also had another special music workshop where more people were able to get a taste or improve upon an instrument they are interested in learning.  

During our music workshop classes were offered in acoustic and electric guitar,...

...keyboard,...

...percussion: drum set (above) and Cajon (below)...

 ...and electric bass. 

Sunday Worship Service

We enjoyed a special visit by Pastors Phil and Judy Jaquith from Mexico.  They are currently working on the second edition of their book on the family and they shared a special teaching time about God’s plan for the family – touching on the youth, marriage and many other very relevant topics. Couples and individuals were deeply moved and received prayer and even asked for counsel.  

Please pray that they would continue to press into God’s plan for their lives…there are so many broken families and broken individuals that desperately need Jesus.   


We continue to creatively look for ways to make the most out of what seems to be again limited space in the building we meet in…and we pray that God would continue to draw hungry hearts to be filled by Him. 


Teaching and Training the Children
We had a great turn out of parents, grandparents and youth for a mini-conference (see pictures below) on how to teach children.  There is a greater interest and willingness to take more ownership in the children’s ministry.  We learned some skills on how to teach different ages, a bunch of new songs, and some fun activities.  Most importantly we heard the heart and caught the vision of what teaching children is all about.  We want to minister to these children and share the Gospel with them in a way that they can understand and embrace.                                



Please Pray with Us…

Transitions and Church Planting
-Our missionary teammates will be transitioning out of our church plant by the end of the school year.  
-This will create a lot of new needs that we are hoping the congregation will be able to take over. 
-Please pray that this will be a smooth and healthy transition.
-We also have it on our heart in the near future to see another church birthed.  We don’t know yet what this could look like, but appreciate your prayer as we believe this church we are planting will plant 12 churches in the next 10 years. 
  
Preparations for Easter
-Our church is buzzing busily preparing for our Easter service and the week leading up to it with an outreach in the park and other special events. 
-Pray that we would take advantage of these opportunities to effectively train-up ministers within our church and win more people for Christ from the community. 

Family
-Please pray with us for protection, health and quality times together.
-Pray that our children might sleep through the night without any bad dreams.


THANK YOU for your PRAYERS and LOVE…..together we can reach those lost in the shadows of darkness and despair. 


May our passion and love for Christ be forever contagious,
Chad, Fabiola, Rebecca and Justice

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