The Gift of Being a Parent

One of the biggest blessings, and challenges, in life is being a parent.  Nothing compares to that joy.  This month we were able to celebrate with other parents – during mother’s day – and teach about, impart and celebrate that gift.  As church planters and missionaries we are not only parents to our three lovely children, but also spiritual parents to many people.  This month we would like to share about the Mother’s Day event, but also a little bit about how we are empowering our ‘children’ to use what God has given them to serve Him and grow God’s family to be healthy, bigger and stronger. 

UPDATES

Mother’s Day Pampering Event      

The day before Mother’s Day we had a beautiful event to speak life into mothers and spoil them so that they can hear, feel and know that they are loved and special.  There were 22 women, along with over 30 children (and thankfully some 20 volunteers) that participated in this event. 

 

The women heard a powerful, encouraging message from Fabiola and then were treated to tea, a massage, manicure and pedicure.  Their children were out of sight making crafts, playing games and having a great time allowing the mother’s to have a break.

Then the mother’s had a special luncheon and were handed goodie bags with make-up, creams and other fun things. We saw so many smiles, heard great conversation and really allowed the mother’s to get to know one another and relax.  Even one of the masseuses was in awe of all that was taking place.

Here are some quotes from the ladies:

“Thank you for taking time for us.”

“This is like nothing I have experienced – I have never been spoiled and pampered with tea and massages before.  It makes me feel so special.”

One lady said the following with tears in her eyes, “I decided to come today to celebrate Mother’s Day with you and my time was so special and relaxing.”

“Wow! What a beautiful event. That was my first massage I have ever had in my life.”

“This is my first time having a manicure and pedicure.  What a lovely experience.  It is possible to rest.”

“I’m so glad that I came to listen to this message – it was beautiful.”

“My children had such a fun time.  It was perfect.”

Soon to be a new “mother”

One of the exciting results of this event is that in inviting a group of her friends to this event Yuri realized that she had the makings of a small group.  After being encouraged by another couple who recently launched their small group in their home she shared how God had been tugging at her heart to get involved with a group.  She didn’t know how or when or even who to invite, but then when she was at this Mother’s Day event she realized that she had several ladies right there that she invited that she should ask to join her in a new group.  Yuri has already been through a 12-week training course on leading a group and will be launching a small group this coming week where she will help teach these new ladies about the Word of God, life with Jesus and how to grow spiritually.  Please thank God for this exciting new adventure for Yuri and pray for her and for these ladies that they might all grow closer to God and one another. 

Please Pray with Us…

Preparing our “children” to stay home alone

We continue to make preparations for our absence this summer.  We will be taking time to drive to Northern California, Oregon and Washington to visit with friends and family and strengthen our support team.  (We are currently $1,500/month lower that we need to be to continue ministry at our full support level.) 

We have scheduled a little bit of down time too where we can sit and listen to God about this coming season of ministry.  We have been in South Central Los Angeles ministering for 6 years now.  In that time we have seen God do so many wonderful things.  The church we started several years ago, Fuente para las Naciones (Fountain for the Nations), while not a mega-church is not longer a small Bible study meeting in our home. 

While we are away this summer we will be giving the emerging leaders an opportunity to grow without our guidance and oversight.  We are not envisioning anything from the movie “Home Alone”.  We have prepared, prayed and planned on this…so are anticipating a great report upon our return.  Here are few of the things we have put in order…all things a year or two ago we did by ourselves…and now will be handled by individuals that have been growing up in this church: 

4 Teaching Sunday school

4 Preaching on Sunday
4 Leading worship/worship team

4 Running and setting up sound/video

4 Maintenance and cleaning of building

4 Outreaches in the community

4 Leading small groups/hosting in homes

4 Organizing summer camps, counselors, drivers, fund raising

4 Leading and helping in youth ministry

4 Ushers and greeter ministry

4 Setting-up/tearing-down for Sunday service and Tutoring/ESL ministry

Having all of this in place is a huge relief.  We can now step away for a bit this summer – get our financial support in order, pray for others and be prayed for, share meals…think, laugh, share….and then return to continue doing our part of investing in God’s Kingdom in Los Angeles and beyond.  

UPCOMING EVENTS:

·         Tutoring End of the Year Celebration/Graduation     Sunday, June 7^th

·         Wolyn Family visiting friends/family and strengthening support team  Summer 2015

Thank you for your prayers.  It is an honor to serve God and live life constantly on mission for Him.  Thank you for joining us on this mission – together we can raise-up more and more generations that know, love and fear God Almighty!

Chad, Fabiola, Rebecca, Justice and Beniah