Love the City

Update: Los Angeles Mission Week

Our church’s youth group took their second missions ‘trip’ during spring break.  We were able to do local outreach and keep the costs down by having them stay in our church building.  They grew as a group and as you’ll see from the pictures below they were busy spreading God’s love throughout the city.

Vacation Bible School at South Park

Every day during the week our youth group helped a visiting youth group put on a vacation Bible school (VBS) outreach at the park.  They were able to help doing crafts, sing songs, play games/sports, tell and act out story time about Jesus’ last week, death and resurrection, and interact with the children and adults at snack time and at the check-in table.

It was great having bilingual youth helping out that knew the community.  A couple of them even had classmates show up with their younger siblings, which made for a great opportunity for them to minister to their peers as well. 

Each day before the VBS our youth did a service project….

Service Project Day 1: Cleaning up the Neighborhood

Our neighborhood is riddled with trash and an attitude of ‘who cares’, but as our youth went around the park and surrounding streets picking up trash they were able to witness to others about why they care and want to help the neighborhood look better.  There was even another father and his kids from the community that after hearing what they were doing decided to join them. 

Service Project Day 2: Visit to a Convalescent Home

What a joy to see our youth ministering at the convalescent home! They brought an art project to do with the elderly, they played games and exchanged stories, but it was mostly about spending some quality time and affirming that Somebody cares about them. 

 

Service Project Day 3: Evangelism & Hygiene Packs

The following day our youth stuffed bags full of hygiene needs and other staples to hand out at MacArthur park – another park notorious for homelessness, gangs, drugs and other major problems.  Their assignment wasn’t to hand out as many bags as possible, but to take the time to share the gospel and pray with as many people as possible.  Small groups went out and were able to be led by God to specific people that they sensed needed to hear that they are loved and have a bigger purpose in this life.

 

Service Project Day 4: Food Prep. & Service at Skid Row Mission

Waking up at 4:00 AM is not easy for most people, but our youth did a great job getting up and doing the prep. work and service at the Fred Jordan Mission in Skid Row (downtown L.A.).  They were exhausted when they returned, but still impressed with the opportunity to serve and show God’s love in a practical way to so many homeless adults and children.  

 

Meals – Learning and Getting Help / Fun Night Out

Apart from the VBS and service projects they had morning devotionals and nightly teachings.  The youth took turns preparing their meals too – some cooking and washing dishes for the first time in their life.  For the dinners different families from the church prepared the meals and came to eat and fellowship with the youth – hearing about their adventures of the day.  On the last day of the week the youth went and had a fun night out at a park.  The six youth that participated in the L.A. Mission Week are pictured at a fountain below (Fountain for the Nations is the name of our church). 

 

Good Friday – Worship Night (Prayer & Fasting)

We had a church-wide day of prayer and fasting (our first ever) with a powerful worship service on Good Friday. There were a lot of new families that came out as a result of our VBS outreach during the week.  Nobody from our church had ever fasted before, but the testimonies resulting were amazing, showing how God loves to work in humbled hearts.  

Easter Morning Service & Drama

The drama put on by a key group of emerging leaders from our church was well done and presented clearly the reason and joy of the resurrection.  Again, we had a lot of new visitors both invited from the VBS and friends and family that joined us for the special celebration.  

Toddler’s Class

We don’t get to peak in to the toddler’s class too often as more and more of that responsibility is being taken over by a handful of ladies in our church, but it is a joy to see those little ones learn the Bible, sing and play and interact with one another.  The gospel is truly being presented and lived out throughout our church.

Baptisms

On Easter Sunday we also baptized four people who are whole-heartedly committed to following and growing in God.  One lady shared a powerful testimony of God’s faithfulness in her life through so many trials both personally and with her family.  What a blessing that we got to be the ones that were able to find her and offer Christ’s hope, love and forgiveness and a healthy church at just the right time. 

We also had three youth get baptized.  It is always powerful hearing their convictions declared and see the twinkling, proud eyes of their mothers watching on.  

Carne Asada & Fellowship

We are big believers in the importance of fellowship – and Hispanic food is always a plus making that fellowship all the richer!  

All of our people were engaged in one way or another serving one another using their different gifts and abilities – from the outreach and food preparation during the week to serving in the drama or children’s classes everyone was giving and receiving love. This makes our heart so happy and full.  We are praying for a continued increase and maturity as we move through these next seasons. 

Please Pray with Us…

Transition

In about 7 weeks the other three World Impact missionaries that have been working with us to plant this church will be leaving to focus on other church plant or ministry activities.  That makes for a really important transition season where they are handing off more and more of their responsibilities to people from the community. 

Pray that God would prepare hearts for this change and that not one person would be lost to this transition…. 

…In fact pray with us that there would be growth in numbers and in people walking into new areas of ministry….

…And that everyone would deepen in their intimacy and faith with God as a result of this transition. 

Family

Fabiola’s birthday is this month (April 26^th to be exact).  YEAH!

Continue to keep our family lifted up in prayer please.  There is an ever-increasing amount of ministry that we must balance with this above mentioned transition that we are still figuring out (what needs to be dropped, what needs to be handed-off and what needs to be carried by us). 

Pray for grace, grace, grace and lots of wisdom and unity. 

We hope that you are encouraged by what God is doing through His people here in South Central Los Angeles amongst those that were once estranged and poor, but now are walking in the riches of God’s goodness. We pray that your light would shine bright for Jesus this spring in whatever city, town or village you live in.

We so appreciate your prayers and all the love and support!  Keep it coming…

Chad, Fabiola, Rebecca and Justice

P.S. We have had a slight increase to our support this last month (thank you!), but still need more to be able to reach 100%...so please consider joining our financial support team with a monthly or one-time gift and pray that this need would be met. 

Something Exciting

The core-group of youth at our church has been meeting four times a week to study the Word, pray and fellowship.  They are sharing mini-reflections and teachings to one another based on what God is speaking to them.  A group of them have been returning after service on Sundays to go out to the park and help us lead the Bible club outreach.  They have been even insistent on going up to all the adults they can find and telling them about Jesus and inviting them to our church.  God is doing something exciting through the youth. 

One of our indigenous leaders began calling all the men together and we began meeting at the church every Friday night.  It began as a time to work on projects, turned into deeper fellowship and now is a consistent time for us to grow an interest we all share – worshipping Jesus.  We are forming a worship team as we help one another learn the songs, sing and even learn new instruments.  God is doing something exciting through the men.

After years of rebellion and self-inflicted destruction one of the ladies we met in the community came to know God.  She has caught the grace and mercy of God and it has changed her life.  She has invited at least one new person (or family) to church every month since connecting with God.  Though a single-mother she is still one of the last to leave every meeting we have as she cleans up the building.  The women in the church are catching the vision for wholeness in Christ and for raising-up healthy, God-loving children.  Some are meeting on their own for book studies.  Others have begun to volunteer in the children’s ministry.  God is doing something exciting through the women. 

The children in the elementary aged class at church asked their teacher if they could begin to help serve in the toddler’s class.  We now have a rotation of junior teacher assistants (7-10 year olds) helping in the toddlers class.  They love to pray for the little ones and share the Bible stories that they have learned in the ‘big class.’   God is doing something exciting through the children.   

As we celebrate the new life we have in Christ please continue to pray for us and with us as there is still such a lurking presence of darkness in our community.  There is an obvious and heavy bondage destroying families and individuals through alcohol and drugs.  We also feel God calling us to see unity and reconciliation be made a reality – so join us as we pray against racism and other divisions that are holding us back in this community.  Pray also that those that came out to our Easter service would not just be visitors, but get connected into the Body life and if they have not given their lives to Jesus would submit their whole lives to His love and direction.  Thank you for being a part of the “something exciting” that God is doing here in the inner city.

Redefining success as going after God with all our heart and leaving the rest to Him,

The Wolyn family (Chad, Fabiola, Rebecca and Justice)

Cracks in the Cement

Living in the inner-city of one of America’s largest conglomeration of people can get us worked up about the injustices that we see.  The lack of opportunity and added unnecessary pressures in the life of a person living in our neighborhood is distressing.  We are, however, encouraged with the task we have been given to preach freedom to those in captivity and realize that while life might not be fair, often times these injustices or hardships are an ideal seedbed for the Gospel.  We shouldn’t have to twist people’s arms to believe in the Creator of the Universe, our Great and Amazing Loving Father; we simply proclaim the Truth and people will respond if they have the ears to hear.   We are praying for fruit – for lives to be forever changed and transformed by the powerful love of God.  Despite the added challenges of a lack of access, opportunities and resources, God is bringing life out of the cracks in the cement.  We did not come to take people out of the city, but to bring God in and allow Him to transform and renew.  We may get frustrated at the cracks in the cement, but it is amazing how God brings new life out of even that brokenness. 

“Wildflowers don’t move to find sun’s rays.  God makes them fruitful wherever they are.”                             -Frère Christian de Chergé

Updates

A Family Being Changed

There is wonderful family that has made our church their home.  We met them at the park.  The teenage son was the first to give his life to God and get involved.  Then the younger sister and her cousin got connected through our tutoring program.  During a recent tutoring session in the parent’s waiting area the aunt began to share with the other moms how life-transforming the church has been for her family.  The other ladies who have not yet visited during a service mentioned how they sensed a peace every time they set foot into our building. 

The father – who was the last of the family to make a commitment - shared how much peace he felt being at church.  He participates fully at Bible study even when he is tired.  He is also typically one of the last to leave because as he says, he wants to soak up as much as he can before going back to his oppressive work days.  The daughter, to the delight of her teachers and family, has completely come alive.  She was being diagnosed by the school psychiatrist and now has made so many changes – without medicine or counseling – just by coming to know Jesus!

Drama Club

There is a group from our church working hard to put together a special drama presentation for Easter.  This is becoming a tradition as it will be the third year now – every year a little different and a little bigger production. As I sat in on a recent rehearsal I just realized how much the process – while time consuming – was bringing these individuals together.  There was laughter and shared stories, a focus on bringing the gospel to their friends and neighbors and lots of good wholesome fun. 

Griffith Park Family Day

Last month we shared a lot about our value to minister to and minister with the whole family.  This month’s family church activity was to go to a large park in Los Angeles and spend the day together.  As missionaries we live and teach the importance of prayer and Bible study, faithfulness to your local church and serving God, but also work hard at building community and a place where people can enjoy one another – especially in the context of their families.

Though the event was from 10am-5pm everyone was saying it was too short.  Everyone wanted to stay longer and soak up that good relaxing sensation of godly fellowship and community.  

We first stopped at the visitor center to see all the flora and fauna of the park.

We then set up an area and had a picnic lunch and talked while the children played together.

We had organized games for the children, youth and adults to all participate in.  

And then we took a hike to see the old L.A. Zoo (open between 1912-1965) and the surrounding area.

Some of the youth near the old zoo site.

The hike brought us out near an old carousel that many of the families enjoyed together.

We then finished our day at a train museum where we were able to climb up on the trains and take a small scale train ride around the museum.   

Please Pray with Us…

ü  Los Angeles Mission Week  (March 25-29)

-Our youth group will be spending a week living at our church building and serving the community through a vacation Bible school (VBS), serving/feeding the homeless, serving in an elderly care facility, and doing yard and maintenance projects. 

-They will have morning devotions and nightly teaching times.

Pray that they would grow a deeper heart to reach the lost and serve those in need.  We want to teach them how to do missions in their back yard and in other cities and countries.

ü  Easter Week (March 25-29)

-Several families from our church have ‘adopted’ the youth and will be providing a home cooked dinner for them during their LA Mission Week. 

-Our entire church will be helping with the VBS every afternoon in the park sharing their faith with the adults that come out. 

Pray for a great turn out and that the Holy Spirit would minister to people in the park through our church….leading to genuine, lasting life-change.

ü  Good Friday Service (March 29)

-We will be having a special praise, worship and prayer service on Good Friday – something we’ve never done. 

Pray for God’s presence to come powerfully and minister to people.

ü  Easter Service (March 31)

-As mentioned in the update there is a team busily working on the drama for Easter.

Pray for them to continue to grow in their personal faith and be able to powerfully present the gospel so that many may be saved.

-On Easter Sunday we will have baptisms and a huge meal together along with the special service. 

Pray for a large turn-out, salvations and retention of those that come to visit. 

ü  Family

-Pray that Chad and Fabiola might be loving parents that truly model a Christ-centered, God-loving life to Rebecca and Justice.

-Pray that Rebecca and Justice would have pure hearts, be quick to obey and be overflowing with compassion, generosity and love towards others. 

-UPDATE: Thank you so much for praying for Rebecca and Justice’s dreams- we’ve seen massive improvement in that area.  Praise God!

That our lives might be a seedbed for the spreading of the beautiful gospel wherever we go and whatever we do…even in the hardest of cement there are cracks where flowers can grow and hope will show.

May you have the most joyous Easter.  HE IS RISEN! 

Chad, Fabiola, Rebecca and Justice

Praying through the Five E's

This month would you please join us in prayer over five areas:

Endearment (of God and others):

Pray that our intimacy and dependency with God would continue to increase.  Pray that we might effectively pour out of the abundance and not move forward without God.  We know that nothing done of the flesh or in our strength will last.  Also pray that we would have God’s heart for the city…that our heart would continue to break as His does for those in bondage and brokenness. 

Evangelize:

We love to share the Good News with other people, but it has been a couple months since we have led somebody to the Lord.  We know that there are seasons of harvest and seasons of preparation…we just want to always be ready for the harvest and continue to be bold witnesses for Jesus to each individual that we encounter throughout our day.   

Equipping (Follow-up):

We are training people in small groups and one-on-one to follow Jesus.  Pray that these times would be rich and Spirit-led.  Pray that people would fall in love with the Word of God and hear and obey God’s voice. 

Empowering (Discipleship. Seeking reproducibility):

We do not just want to equip, but also release and empower these disciples of Christ to minister to others.  We want to see our spiritual grandchildren and great-grandchildren loving and serving the Lord.

Embrace (Association):

As we grow as a church we want to continually bring people together within our church – to build deeper ties with one another.  Such a community is essential for the church’s health.  In order to impact the world as we have been called to do we must grab arms and work together in unity with other Christians, churches and ministries.  Even as our church grows, we need to embrace the idea of helping and loving one another for God’s Kingdom purposes. 

Thank you for taking time to pray with us over these five areas this month.  We believe that together we can impact thousands of people and touch the nations with the bondage breaking Good News.

In Christ,

Chad and Fabiola