The Onesimus Workshop

We are passionate about intentionally empowering and releasing leaders. We have recently begun working with other pastors and leaders to help churches welcome former prisoners into the life of their church for the building up of the body of Christ. Chad helped lead The Onesimus Workshop which equips these churches with the beginning steps towards effectively incorporating former prisoners into the church community.

We had 40 pastors, leaders, and students from our TUMI (The Urban Ministry Institute) that were former prisoners who participated in this workshop. TUMI students start their ministry study in prison through our partnership with Prison Fellowship and can either graduate there or can continue their study when they are released at one of our satellite locations. Our workshop was a powerful time bringing people together with the desire to make a larger impact in one of the more underrepresented populations in churches. 

 

Since the initial workshop we are working with churches in the Los Angeles area and at least 4 other counties that are preparing to launch this workshop to either start or support a ministry to returning citizens (formerly incarcerated) in their church/ministry context. Please join us in prayer for these ministry leaders.

 

At the church we planted, Fuente para las Naciones, one requirement of our leadership intern program is to lead a ministry project. Hugo was really impacted when we have gone out and fed and prayed with the homeless near our church. So, he organized a group from our church to do something similar. When we had just about run out of food, drinks and hygiene packs one of the ladies in our group recognized one of the homeless as the daughter of her friend and asked permission to ‘knock’ on one of the tent structures. A couple of us walked over there and what ensued was a lot of crying and deep ministry through hugs, prayer and words of affirmation. We just never know who will be affected by homelessness, addiction, incarceration, loneliness, depression, or poverty. Sometimes we just need a hug and to know that somebody loves us. God does that for us; we want to do that for others.

 

Thank you for loving us well, so that we can continue day in and day out hitting the streets to minister to the least of these all the while encouraging and empowering other leaders in the city to do the same.

 

Please be in prayer for the following:

Our 2 church planting schools coming up (in English and Spanish)

Our Easter outreaches

Protection, provision, wisdom and grace for our family as we minister in the city