New Fall Ministry

Reconciliation. It isn’t easy, but it is so necessary. This month the Holy Spirit is moving through different people and stirring up in them the need to be reconciled to Him, to ask people for forgiveness and just make things right after years of sweeping things under the rug. God is so good at working through situations and circumstances. While areas of the neighborhoods we walk and pray, preach and proclaim still are very hardened…we are seeing some new tenderness to God.

Please join us this month as we pray for more open, tender hearts and for more reconciliation. Salvation is made available to all, but we still need to go out and cast more seed…pray for the soil of their hearts and for us to be able to raise-up more workers with a heart 4 the city.

October 2015 - UPDATES

We have been instilling vision into the church to do what they were made to do: love others and share their gifts. We want to equip and empower them to do what they’ve been called to do no matter what form ‘their’ ministry takes. As a result, some fun new ministries have emerged this fall. We’d like to share a couple of those this month:

 

Boxes of Love: In a neighborhood where there is so much physical and spiritual need it is exciting that recently a desire to collect resources to give away to the elderly and neediest families has been birthed within our church. We are asking local businesses to donate, but we’re also giving from our own pantries as a church. Every other week a small group from our church will go and deliver the box full of staple items (food goods, toiletries, etc.) and pray for and share the love of Christ for this family. It is a way for us to practically share the love with people on a personal and meaningful way.

 

Cooking Class: Using his talents in the kitchen, Chef Jorge, decided to organize an outreach where he will be teaching techniques and recipes (think: live cooking show). If this is a success, we may continue with more classes. There will be a time for sharing the gospel in a creative way and this class will involve most of the church in one way or another.

Pray that this event is a success – we are praying for 50 people to attend and for several new families to accept the Lord and become part of the church as a result of this class. Pictured above is Chef Jorge preparing some food at Chad’s birthday party last month.

Yard Sale: We’ve been holding yard sales for some time now to help us engage with the community. They provide some extra income too which we invest into our outreach efforts, but most importantly it serves as an outreach. We have been able to hand needed items to families or provide great discounts…but even more exciting are the conversations over deeper, inner needs. It is really the ‘public market place’ where people can come and chat and share hurts, burdens, and be prayed for and connected to a spiritual family. Omar, who has been leading this ministry, has been doing a great job of training up some other individuals in the church to help. This is exciting because we want to see discipleship and reproduction in every area of the church life.

 

Fuente Leadership Intern Program (FLiP): Our new school year is off to a great start. We only have one intern this year, but he is doing really well. He is being challenged, but we wouldn’t want it any other way. We have already seen huge growth spiritually and relationally with his family and the church body through these first two months. It is exciting discerning God’s will for his life with him as we take him through many opportunities, experiences and lessons this year.

We had a powerful time prayer walking the neighborhood this last week (picture at top). There is so much need! Our hearts were both broken anew for the people that live here. In our brokenness God will do great things!

(The picture above is a small memorial to the man who was shot and killed outside our church last month – see last month’s update for more information. www.heart4thecity.blogspot.com )

Youth: It has been fun watching the youth mature in their faith. Each Friday they gather for youth group and study the Bible and have fun and fellowship. There is a group of 6 youth that have been developing as they lead worship each week. They are beginning to make preparations for the Youth Winter Camp in early 2016 already. 

Above: Joshua, one of our youth leaders, teaches out of the Gospel of John. Below: Rocio, another youth leader (Joshua’s wife), talks with a group of youth during Chad’s birthday party. 

Multimedia Training: We’ve been piecing some computers together to create a mini-lab and have been training a group on how to use different programs that will allow them to create worship slides, bulletins, fliers, handouts, Sunday school lessons, and videos. For many of us who work (and play) on computers all the time these are tasks that are relatively basic, but for many in our church they have no knowledge or experience with a computer, not even using programs like Word or PowerPoint – so while it is a process we are equipping this group with some skills that will serve them well in ministry and even help them with future job endeavors.

Chad's Birthday: Fabiola put together a special 40th birthday party for me (Chad). It was fun having some people from all over the LA area come out and celebrate what God has done and will be doing in my life. It was good to have missionaries from World Impact, folks from our church Fuente para las Naciones, as well as a variety of many other friends, ministries and churches represented. Thank you for all the notes and wishes from afar as well.

Chad, Fabiola, Beniah, Justice and Rebecca Wolyn celebrating Chad's birthday.

Justice’s Birthday: Justice turned 8 this last month. His desire was that we celebrate with the church by sharing cake with everyone after the service.

 

Church Planting Conference: I had the chance to go to a conference on church planting as we continue to prepare and pray into when and where our next church will be planted. It was a good time of teaching and fellowship.

There were representatives from all over Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Brazil, Hawaii, Chicago, Philippines, Singapore, New Zealand, Canada, and Cuba…and of course I represented Los Angeles. 

Coming up:
*New Members Class                              October 31

*Rebecca’s 10th Birthday                        November 5

*Cooking Class w/ Jorge A. (Outreach)  November 14

*Jorge E. to preach (1st Time!!!)             November 15

*Thanksgiving Meal (Outreach)              November 22

*Thanksgiving Box Distribution             November 24-25

*Toy Store                        We are planning our 3rd annual toy store.

 

We have found that the toy store is the best way to allow parents ownership and dignity in choosing and purchasing (75% off) a gift for their children for Christmas. It is a fun, practical way that helps us celebrate Christmas with many people as we share the love of Christ.

**We need donations of new, unwrapped toys for this event. If you do not want to ship, we can also do the shopping for you if you give us enough time. Send your gifts or checks to: World Impact (C/O Chad Wolyn)/ 2001 S. Vermont Ave. / Los Angeles, CA 90007 / If a check, please write “FUENTE” in the memo. We need toys/gifts for boys and girls ages 0-18. If you would like a specific gender/age, please email us and we can give you some more specifics. Maybe you could get your whole small group or church involved!


Please Pray with Us…

*Pray for all of these new creative ministries that have been birthed by our church…. more importantly pray for those leading and helping with them. We want to see growth in the individuals and healthy, fruitful evangelism and discipleship taking place through each one.

*Pray for the upcoming Cooking Class, Thanksgiving Outreach and Toy Store to bless and reach many new people for Christ.

Thank you for your prayers!
Let us know how we can be praying for you too.


Serving with you in Los Angeles,

Chad, Fabiola, Rebecca, Justice and Beniah