'Came to My Rescue' (The Power of a Phone Call)

We recently came back from our youth winter camp. God is in hot pursuit of the youth, but it is really in the context of the church and people reaching out – even in simple ways – that they are being brought in and feeling that needed Father’s embrace.  Here are two testimonies that our youth recently shared with us:

I would never have imagined that she would call me.  I was ready to kill myself.  I had a plan and had locked myself in the bathroom.  As I looked into the mirror the hurt and pain that was looking back at me surprised even me.  I was going through a very dark time.  A knock at the door startled me.  My mom was yelling at me that there was a lady on the phone.  “Who?”  I yelled through the door annoyed in some way at the interruption.  ‘Oh, the youth leader from the church.  Why would she be calling me?’ I thought.  I mumbled some things into the phone and later that afternoon she picked me up and took me to youth group.  It was that night while the worship song ‘Came to my Rescue’ was playing that I gave my life to Jesus.  What a difference; from death to life.  I will never forget that day. 

Another student who gave her life to Jesus for the first time at camp shared the following.  Some people showed me how to put an app on my phone so I could get Bible verses every day.  I did not even want to go to church, but then I saw it was fun.  The verses were not important to me.  But then while I was at the camp and had some quiet time the verse in John 11:25 popped up on the screen.  “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.’”  All of a sudden it all totally made sense.  It was like a light bulb went on and I could see and understand it all. This is what it is all about.  Jesus is life.  I had so much fun at camp and came back to Los Angeles changed.  My life is His!

Thank you so much for praying and giving financially so we can reach out to more youth, children and adults in this community. Together we get to share Jesus with them, train them up and empower them to in turn do the same for many more!

Please pray for us this month as we reach out to the community and prepare for Easter week. 

·         Vacation Bible School (VBS) at the park the week leading up to Easter,

·         Visits and prayer at a new apartment complex that just opened up down the street,

·         Starting new home groups that we hope to fill up quickly with all the new people that we meet and introduce to Jesus Christ as Savior, Lord and Friend. 

May God bless you and give you strength to do something as simple as make a phone call or help somebody download an app….because the Spirit of God is moving and wants to use us in many ways for His glory so that more may be saved.

Chad & Fabiola

Just One Coal Will Start A Fire

“I have never finished reading a book before,” shared Francisco, “and now I’m starting my fifth book in five months!” His mouth was cracked into a small grin and his eyes wide and twinkling showed the awe of this new accomplishment. Francisco, a man in his 50’s, has finally taken some steps towards the calling God has on his life.  He just led his first conference too – another big first.  He taught three sessions. We were there every step of the way to guide him, watch him be stretched and cheer him on. 

The preparation behind-the-scenes has been constant: weekly mentoring meetings, Bible memorization, fasting several times a week and much more.  At the end of the year not only will he have read 12 books, but all 66 books of the Bible too. It took us a month and a half to work on those 3 sessions he taught, but next time he will need less guidance. Now we are working on his first sermon. Francisco is so thankful for this push, this opportunity to pursue and be guided in something that a year ago seemed like only a dream. Please lift him up in prayer. Pray that God would continue to work on his character through this process. 

Last month we also had our first-ever men’s meeting.  Since we began ministering in South Central Los Angeles over 5 years ago we have been praying for the men to rise-up in this community and in our church.  This is a huge prayer need.  There are a lot of strongholds, yet we know God has great plans. We saw a great glimmer of these plans as we came together in prayer, the Word and fellowship. It takes just a small, hot coal to start a large fire – we desire to be that coal for our community and families.

We are positioned to train-up numerous leaders in the city so that more people can hear the gospel.  So that more disciples can be trained and matured.  And so that more churches can be planted throughout the city and world.  Please pray with us this month as we continue to work with Francisco and look for others that God has been calling.  Others that nobody has yet taken the time and effort to come alongside of and encourage and shape and release.  This is our passion. 

As it is the month of love and friendship we will have a special teaching time on marriage and family.  We have also been working with some couples through the pre-marital or tune-up phases of marriage.  Please continue to keep these times of teaching, counseling, and life-on-life mentoring in your prayers. 

Your prayers and financial support make every bit of difference in enabling us to do what we are doing.  Thank you!

May God bless you and keep you strong and close to Him this month and always,

Chad, Fabiola, Rebecca, Justice and Beniah