Emerging from the Shadows

It was as if they were getting their first breath of real air or seeing their own reflection for the first time.  Isn’t it amazing what the gospel can do?  It transforms people.  It draws them out of what they thought was “them” to the reality of who God really sees them to be.   

Through camps and outings, one-on-one times studying the Word and praying….through home visits, church fellowship times and challenging people to step-up and try something new people are being transformed more and more into the likeness of their Heavenly Father.  They are emerging one by one out of the shadowy darkness that once was their home – a place of hurt and pain, a place of lies and deception. 

Celebrate with us as we continue to witness this next generation of life-changers emerge from the shadows…people that are catching the vision as they feel the Father’s touch to “go and do likewise”.

Updates

Men and Boys Camping Trip

Maybe this event was planned, at least in part, as an excuse for Chad to get out into the woods again….a place he loves to be.  It was a trip that none of us will quickly forget.  It was a pivotal time in going deep in God and establishing deeper relationships between each one of us. 

None of the others (a father, a son and another youth) had ever been camping before.  Seeing the stars, cooking on a camp stove and being in God’s awesome beauty was a powerful experience for them.  We worshipped God with the guitar and a cajon a lot and had some powerful study time and personal prayer times.  One of the neighbor campers came by and asked us about our music and the boys were able to talk more about their faith.  God spoke to them through the Word and through the experience of being ‘closer’ to Him.

Summer Camps (Grades 1-3)

We took four girls: Rebecca, Valerie, Stephanie and Angie to the first of three summer camps.  Each one grew in their relationship to Jesus – these girls might be little, but they are fire balls of compassion and sincere love for God. 

Summer Camps (Grades 4-6)

 

We had two mothers help as counselors and four children: Diego, Dorian, Michelle and Pamela go to the second camp.  There were a lot of powerful breakthroughs in each one of their lives.  It was exciting to see so many smiles (and tears) and deeper relationships forged.  The theme of the camp this year is “Time to Trust” and several biblical characters like Moses come to visit them through a time machine…very engaging and memorable. 

Sport’s Day Camp

The thrilling part of this year’s sport’s camp was in the way so many different people from our church came together using their gifts and abilities to put it on.  We were able to see so many people shine in their strengths - areas that we didn’t previous know about.  Many of our youth grew a lot as they helped coach and mentor the smaller children that came out to camp.  Our adults were busy evangelizing and preparing meals and snacks for everyone involved. 

 

Other News

This month we also hosted the WOW Jam, which like the sport’s camp was a time for our church to really engage in service and one-on-one evangelism. 

We preceded all of these events with a day of prayer and fasting which was a time for break through, intercession and intimacy with God. 

We have also had 5 weeks of Friday night movie nights.  This has been a place for families to gather, youth to come in and stay off the streets and for visitors to peek in and check us out.  

 

Morales Family Visit

We had a family from Portland, Oregon – the Morales – come share a week of their vacation with us.  They have a heart to move down and serve God and this community with us.  We are praying with them for the timing.  It would be a huge blessing and help as we really could use some more laborers to get their hands dirty with us in this needy mission field. 

While here the Morales ministered powerfully in song and in the Word and prayed for and talked with as many people as possible.  It was a great blessing for our family and for our church to have them around. 

Please Pray with Us…

 

ü  Upcoming Events

o   High School Camp: 5 youth   July 28 – August 2

o   Marriage Conference: The Art of Marriage Video Conference (Family Life)                      August 2-3

o   Yard Sale: To get to know the neighbor more and make some money for our church.  August 10

ü  Emerging Leaders

Erika and Nancy are doing a great job leading the youth and doing some of the other responsibilities they have taken on. 

We have a handful of other people getting more training and taking on more responsibilities. 

Please pray for these emerging leaders that they may continue to walk close to God, growing and developing as leader’s inside and outside of the church.

ü  Family

With the Marriage Conference coming up (and our 9^th anniversary just a couple weeks away) we want to press into God more and walk out fully what a godly marriage should look like…to give glory to God, bless one, live out an example to our children, and to be powerful witnesses and teachers through our example to the people God has entrusted us with to pastor and mentor. 
 

ü  Finances

We feel a bit stuck.  We still have not broken through the 75% level of our needed support.  Please continue to lift this need up in prayer.

Also consider if you might be able to give monthly (or a one-time gift) to help enable us continue ministering here in the city.  See information below on how to give. 

Thank you for partnering with us to help more and more people breathe that first breath of air and see themselves as they really are in Christ's reflection. 

Chad, Fabiola, Rebecca and Justice

Please send any financial support to: World Impact / 2001 S. Vermont Ave. / Los Angeles, CA 90007  (Please make check payable to “World Impact” and designate #2242 on the memo)  OR   You may also give online at: www.worldimpactla.org/wolyn

Taking Students to the Next Level (Tutoring)

With 10 years of experience teaching in the public schools and social justice issues on our heart so much that we named our son Justice it may not be a surprise that God kept stirring our heart about helping being part of the solution to the horrible education options available in our neighborhood (Out of 57 schools within a 2 mile radius of where our church meets the mean average ranking is 3 out of 10. www.greatschools.org)

God helped put things in line with key contacts at the schools and volunteers willing to help, so at the start of the last school year we launched the tutoring program that now serves the children and youth of the neighboring schools. We started with a handful of students and now have grown to be able to mentor 16 students every week (with more on the waiting list). 

As the parents sit in our waiting room anywhere from 30-60 minutes we have the opportunity to get to know them better and share the gospel. We are able to counsel and help families through major life bumps as they open up to us as a result of reaching out to their children.  As a result of the tutoring ministry there are two families that are now a regular part of our church.

The mothers of these two families will be serving at our sport’s camp the first week of this month and then going with a bunch of our elementary aged kids to summer camp the following week.  They are learning so much about God and have been joyfully open and willing to serve and give back to the church and community.

Please pray for the families we get to serve through the tutoring program and that we would have the resources and volunteers we need to keep offering this important and fruitful ministry.  Also join us in prayer as we minister to over 100 kids from our community - sharing the gospel and spending quality time teaching sports - this month.  Lastly, join us in prayer for the four groups of children and youth we will be taking up to summer camp to grow together in God this month.

Summer is such an exciting time!

Chad, Fabiola, Rebecca and Justice Wolyn