Uncovering the Treasure

Jesus came to give life and life more abundantly.  Not everyone knows that.  We came to the city to tell them.  We are here to share this message and help dust off the dirt of shame and ignorance along with the debris of sins of the past and present.  There are tremendous treasures to be uncovered. “We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures” Thornton Wilder).  This month we have been able to see people come alive in the realization that they are loved, have a purpose and are not alone….because Jesus came to give life and life more abundantly to them. 

Updates…

Tutoring Graduation

We started the year off with about 9 students and without any effort in getting the word out we were able to end the year with over 30 students.  There is a great need – and we are just barely scratching the surface, but with the help of a strong team of volunteers we are able to provide this much needed ministry to the community.  Our hope in the coming year is to keep growing and also provide English (ESL) classes for the adults.

 

 
 
 
 
 
We ended our school year with a Celebration of Student Achievement – but everyone pretty much called it a graduation.  There was such celebration and affirmation of each and every student.  Parents, family and friends came and were able to hear special words, memories and achievements shared over each student.  This event was soaked in prayer; we were speaking life into these children and their families. 

 

 
 
 
 
Parents were given the opportunity to put together bouquets of flowers and write a special card to their children and present them as a gift.
 
 
 The children got to make graduation caps out of paper and decorate them writing notes of encouragement to one another on the top.

 

 
 
  Students also were able to “cash in” the stickers they have been earning over the last semester for fun prizes.

We had a wonderful meal and time to sit and talk and enjoy one another.  We also had a photo booth so that families could take pictures together and leave with a silly or serious (or both) memory.

 
 
 

No Box Society (Youth) Talent Show

How much of the real Christian life is about being real, open and vulnerable?  It’s not easy, but definitely that is part of growing personally and developing relationships in a thriving community where the church is not just about which mask you should put on. 

Well that is what the No Box Society is all about.  Taking the barriers away.  Allowing us to grow and develop like God originally intended.  The No Box Society is a group of teens from the high school 3 blocks from our church.  For the last few months they have been meeting at our church to write songs, poetry and other creative expressions to help them tap into what really get’s their heart beating.  There have been some powerful God-times during these interactions.  

 

Our church hosted their talent show and Chad teamed up with this group sharing some rap & spoken word of his own.  It was powerful hearing the songs, poetry, essays, raps and reflections of these high schoolers.  Through this event we were able to meet parents and friends and get inspired about really reaching this next generation of young people for Jesus.  

 

Music Classes

We continue to teach and train-up children, youth and adults in music and worship.  We had a half-day training this month and have begun a special summer series for our Academy of Worship and Music (ADAM) with the hopes to have a small worship team ready to lead semi-regularly in the fall.  

 

Youth Group

On Wednesdays our youth group is student-led.  On Sundays the youth are serving as teachers or assistants in the younger classes.  On Friday night they all come together and have a time of teaching, fellowship, fun, food and student-led worship.  Powerful!

 
 
 
 
 

 It looks like at least ten of our youth will be going to summer camp this July, which we pray will continue to solidify them as a group and mature them spiritually in their relationships with Christ.

They have done two car washes and other fund raisers to help them raise money for their camps.

 
 
 
 
 

Out and About

Even in a small church it is hard to keep up with all of the birthday parties and other invitations – but whenever we can we love to stop in and ‘have church’ with everyone in their homes or the parks celebrating and sharing life together.  There are always opportunities for great conversations that we don’t get to have before, during or after a church service.  We also get to meet new people.  Summer is a great time for more of these shared times.  

 
 

Family News

Beniah is growing quick – he is now 3 months old!  He follows us around with his eyes and gives us the best smiles ever. 

With the kids out of school we are creatively scheduling activities amidst a very busy ministry schedule.  Since we do the majority of our ministry as a family we have some really great times serving God together…and then we spend time together just the five of us creating memories and enjoying one another.

Rebecca and Justice will both be going to summer camp with our church – this is the first year Justice will be going.  (He is already packed….two weeks early!!!)

Please Pray with Us…

Our purpose for being here in the city is to evangelize the lost, empower and equip those that have come to know Jesus and plant churches. 

Please pray for each of these events as each one has a strategic part in evangelizing, empowering, equipping and eventually planting more churches:

·         Sports Camp: June 23 – 27

·         WOW Jam: June 28

·         Summer Camp (Grades 1-3): July 1-4

·         Summer Camp (Grades 4-6): July 6-11

·         Summer Camp (Grades 7-12): July 20-25

Looking for and discovering buried treasure is a lot of fun!  There is a lot of digging required but once people get a glimpse of how God sees them it is all worth it. 

Thank you for your love and prayers for our family so that we might be strong, healthy and focused on Christ. 

Thank you for praying for these events and more importantly that more treasure would be uncovered.  And as more treasure is uncovered that these precious people would then go out and uncover even more hidden treasures!

Chad, Fabiola, Rebecca, Justice and Beniah

The Spiritual Gift of Food

Every month we have a fellowship meal after Sunday service.  These meal times are a highlight for our whole family and church.  It is a great time to invite somebody new to service because there is FOOD.  While food is exciting, it is the ministry and fellowship that takes place that sometimes bring us to tears and fill our heart with joy. When we first began these meals things were cold, cliquey and a bit boring, but as Jesus transforms people and we continue to share the vision and example of Christian community things are changing. 

Just this last month I was able to observe a handful of different people from our church minister to visitors.  One was at our book and resource table.  Several others spread around at different tables.  Another in the kitchen.  None of these conversations were with people they had personally invited.  One man shared about the need to press into God deeper on days when we feel it as well as days when we do not feel the need or desire.  Another lady was encouraging somebody who had just given her life to Jesus during the service and had been going through a difficult season. There was prayer, encouragement, counsel – words from the Bible were shared, time and laughter, tears and hugs were also exchanged. 

Another woman was sharing about how God carries us through the hard times and how the church is a family that helps one another live a victorious life, the type of life that God wants us to have.  Another lady was sharing her testimony with a visitor.  We were not sitting at that table, but it was powerful to watch and observe the richness of the conversation from afar.  It is amazing what the Holy Spirit, food and God’s people can stir up in just a short time after a worship service.  Lives continue to be changed as they confront the reality of God’s grace and love and His plan and purpose for them. 

Please pray with us this month for an even greater increase in these God-connections and relationships.  It is exciting to see how new relationships are being forged in the church and they do not need to depend on us anymore.  We are getting to meet spiritual grandchildren and soon hope for great-grandchildren.  Our school year is winding down and as we prepare for summer we look forward to a season of deeper relationship building.  Most of the families we work with are unable to take vacations so often there are more opportunities to connect with one another in the city during this season.  We have a sport’s camp at the end of this month, and then next month will take our children and youth to summer camp.  We will be spending more hours in homes visiting people and doing other activities out and about during these longer days. 

Thank you for your prayers as we continue to minister the love of God and share the vision of restored relationships through Jesus in South Central Los Angeles,

Chad, Fabiola, Rebecca, Justice and Beniah