Expanding Vision

Eleven years ago, we quit our job, left the comfort of our home and church, and moved ourselves with two children in diapers to Los Angeles to be missionaries to the urban poor and plant churches. We celebrate all that God has done in that time!

God gave us a vision to plant 12 churches in 12 years. While we planted our first church, Fuente para las Naciones, a predominantly Spanish-speaking church called to the barrio amongst the immigrants of South LA, we learned a lot and began to build deep relationships and trust with the community, other churches, and emerging leaders. Now through Evangel (our School of Urban Church Planting) and our network of urban churches we have been able to coach and train dozens of leaders impacting many corners of this vast county (L.A. Country is the largest in the US and makes up ¼ of the population of California), which has led to the planting and strengthening of dozens of churches. Whether it is helping train and coach a church planter and his team or raising up the next generation of leaders from within our own church it is a joy to be able to empower those called by God enabling them to do what they likely never would have had the opportunity to do without an organization like World Impact.

World Impact empowers urban leaders and partners with local churches to reach their cities with the Gospel. Now moving beyond planting only 12 churches in 12 years we want to see a healthy church for every community of poverty – we are looking way beyond Los Angeles, even beyond the US. Over the next 3 years, we as World Impact, are positioning ourselves to empower 50,000 workers in communities of poverty. Just like we can not likely plant a new church every year on our own we understand the power of partnership and multiplication.

Coming alongside men and women that are called to ministry to train, equip, encourage, and coach them is a powerful way for us to multiply our impact. We love being able to invest into the Kingdom in this way. Thinking about all the time and effort that goes into launching a new church, while exciting and life-giving, we know we can do so much more for a city and our needy world when we multiply our efforts. Through Evangel, and other programs we are running, we are raising up those that are called to plant and minister in these dense, complex metropolitan areas of the world.

This month we ask that you pray for our upcoming Evangel schools. Due to concerns with COVID-19 we are piloting an online version of our intensive church plant school and hope for even greater participation. We will continue to offer the same rich content, coaching and group breakouts in a new platform. Pray for the teams, one of which we are sending from our own church, to connect with God and His heart for the lost. Also, pray for a strong vision of healthy church reproduction to be caught by the leaders and their teams as well as the power of the Holy Spirit to fill them up and lead the way to another community impacted by the Good News!

Thank you for your faithful support in prayer, in finances, in encouraging us and sharing what we are doing with others. May God keep you close in His will. God bless!

Challenges of Ministry during COVID

Wow! What a season this has been as we go through COVID-19. We hope you are doing well.

The churches and leaders we work with have had to become very creative and have worked tirelessly to continue advancing the mission and serve their communities. Many extra hours have been logged. Like many of us throughout the world, we have seen and been part of getting food and supplies to those who most need it, training people on how to use technology, whenever possible providing jobs, lots of phone calls and texts to encourage and connect, and implementing new trainings online.

We know it is tough everywhere, but some of the extra challenges of being poor and working in areas of poverty have been amplified during this season. Some have realized they are essential workers and must leave their children to figure out online school on their own as they go off to work. Many more have lost jobs. We work closely with pastors and leaders whose predominant ministry is in the jails, others who work with people paroled and battling addictions, others whose church is predominantly made up the homeless. Pastors have been challenged with how to council families from a distance with increased tension and even abuse in the home.

What has been the most difficult part of this situation for you? What is helping you cope with this situation? What is hindering you from coping with this situation?

In early May, Chad launched a Trauma Healing Group online to help address some of these issues and train up other leaders on ways that they can lead more people through the Biblical process of healing through past and present traumas. The questions above just begin to scratch the surface at talking through deep hurts and trauma that people are carrying. We are just about finished with our current healing group, but as one of World Impacts five programs we will continue to train and empower others to lead these groups so that we might see more people healthy not only in body, but in mind, soul and spirit too.

Thank you for your ongoing prayers and financial support as we work towards empowering and partnering with the urban poor towards the goal of a healthy church for every community of poverty.

Fanning the Flames

When we are not actively teaching one of our church planting schools to equip teams to launch new churches, we are coaching new church planters, working with a cohort of leaders and pastors to equip, empower and encourage them and recruiting new, future church planters. Our end goal is to see a healthy church for every community of poverty.

There are numerous challenges to overcome when working with people living in poverty, but it is breathtaking watching God create beauty out of brokenness and bringing hope and justice out of inequality. Nelson Mandela said, “Overcoming poverty is not a task of charity, it is an act of justice. Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings”

Jesus echoed what is written in Deuteronomy: “⁷ If anyone is poor….¹⁰ Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. ¹¹ There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.” Deuteronomy 15:7-11

Part of our “being openhanded” and “giving generously” is truly believing that the Kingdom of God will advance through the Church, which will have key leaders, men and women, young and old from areas of poverty that will lead people to Christ and help the Church advance.

We have already worked with many of these leaders and are astounded at what they are doing…and often with so little. In a coaching time recently, I asked one emerging leader to draw out a life map indicating pivotal moments that have led him to be where he is today in ministry. Instead of a map or timeline he chose to draw a tree full of fruit; each fruit representing a key, life-changing experience that taught him or prepared him to love more deeply and have the skills and character needed to lead a group of people. His “map” was so unique to the life in the city that he has lived, yet there was no doubt that God’s fingerprints and guiding were all over it. While he didn’t have what might be the ‘normal’ training and preparation because he lacked resources, education, connections and opportunities, God still called and is equipping him to be a leader that not only leads and loves well, but also trains and empowers others to do the same.

Thank you for your ongoing prayers and financial support to help us empower the urban poor to change this world with the Gospel.

It feels like it has been a long time since we sent out an update. Things have been very busy here with an expanding sphere of influence, growing ministries and our addition to our family (our niece).

Here are some quick bullet point updates on the last 3+ months:

Ministry with World Impact

Ø  Trained 13 teams in our Evangel School of Church Planting representing 17 US cities and other nations.  Their combined vision is to plant 1,200 over the next 3 years.

 Ø  Coaching 9 people in church planting and ministry development.

 Ø  Led 2 workshops with 12 ministries/churches involved on helping churches integrate the formerly incarcerated in their churches.

 Ø  200 men at men’s retreat (Interpreted all sessions into Spanish).

 Ø  150 women at women’s retreat. (Fabiola helped with interpretation.)

 Ø  We just handed out over 300 turkeys & food boxes to 25 church/ministries ministering amongst the urban poor. Thanks to all the churches and individuals that donated towards this and prayer for God’s provision!!

 Ø  Chad was invited to preach at a local church’s Cultural Unity Day.

 Ø  Successful deputation time visiting supporting churches, friends and family this summer:  Currently 92% funded.

Ministry with Fuente para las Naciones

Ø  Launching an English service (pilot for the first 3 months of 2020).

Pray for our launch day, January 12)

Ø  Church-wide Serve Day leading up to Thanksgiving.

We went out to the streets and handed out 100 meals to the homeless and most needy in our community.

Ø  Christmas Banquet & Toy Store and other outreaches coming up in the next few weeks.

There has been an increase in visitors checking out our church, being invited by friends. During times like Christmas these events give us more time and opportunity to build relationships and share about Jesus and our church.

Christmas Toys Needed

Are you willing to help us with our Toy Store? 

This annual event gives families from our church and community the opportunity to come buy a gift or two at deeply discounted prices (up to 75% off). This makes getting a special gift for their children more attainable, but still allows for them to feel the ownership and dignity of choosing and buying the gift themselves. There is a real special feel as our church really makes the space festive and hospitable and a group from our church does all the follow-up afterwards to help make a deeper connection for these families.

We need 100+ toys and gifts for boys and girls from 2 years – 18 years old. You can send or drop off gifts, order them online and have them delivered directly to us or send us a check and we’ll do the shopping. Please have money or gifts to us by December 14^th at the very latest.

If you are able to give towards this special event, please send your gift to our church: FUENTE PARA LAS NACIONES (note this is different than our normal support giving sent to World Impact):

Fuente para las Naciones

C/O Chad & Fabiola Wolyn   

2001 S. Vermont Ave.                        

Los Angeles, CA 90007

Family Life

Ø  Rebecca is absolutely loving high school. Thank you to all who helped pray and give to make this possible. She is on the volleyball team and a student ambassador. She loves her Bible, art and theater classes.

 
 Ø  Our niece Angela has slowly been adapting to living her life in Los Angeles with us, she is in 8^th grade. There is a lot more laughter and activity with her in the house. 

 Ø  Justice has been creating short animated videos with his Legos and is doing great in 7^th grade.

 Ø  Beniah started Kindergarten and claims preschool had better toys but has new friends and is doing great…and getting ready for his first Christmas Pageant. 

 Ø  Fabiola is busier than ever with home, school, extra-curricular and church activities. She loves finding a few moments for coffee time in the mornings. 😊

Thank you for standing with us in prayer. We are grateful to you and our God for how we’ve been sustained and able to minister here in the city. It isn’t always easy, but the need and move of God to meet that need is undeniable.

We hope you have a great Thanksgiving and blessed Christmas!

Chad, Fabiola, Rebecca, Angela, Justice and Beniah

Church Planting Amonst the Marginalized

Our heart beats for those that are underrepresented and forgotten, marginalized and abused. We also love the church and know that through the church people will come to know of the hope, love and transformative power of Jesus, will grow as disciples of Christ and leaders can be developed and deployed. That is why it is so exciting to be part of a ministry where we train, equip, empower and walk with so many leaders that share that same burden and calling to the dark corners of society.

Over the last two months we have had two Evangel School of Urban Church Planting events where we have been able to train and send out church planters and movement leaders all over the US and world. Here is an example of where new churches will be planted soon through these leaders: New York, Orlando, Oklahoma, Phoenix, Riverside (Calif.), San Bernardino (Calif.), San Diego, Houston, Seattle, Wichita, Mexico City, Guadalajara (Mexico), Cuba, Ghana, Kenya, India, Bangladesh and various in the Los Angeles metro area. Looking over the next 1-3 years these leaders are projecting around 205 new churches. Isn’t that exciting?! 

Chad (in middle of back row) with a group of commissioned church planters and their coaches from one of our most recent Evangel School of Urban Church Planting events.

Evangel isn’t just about a school or training, but about a relationship and partnership with these urban leaders.  We have the honor and privilege to walk with the leaders in a coaching relationship for at least a year holding each team accountable and encouraging them along the challenging process of starting new Gospel communities in the cities of the US and world.

So please keep these new churches, the leaders, their communities and our coaching relationship in your prayers this month. 

Strategic planning for another Evangel to train up more church planters in San Bernardino through Pastor Harold Hines church and network.

We would also appreciate your prayers for the Spanish Evangel October 11-12 & 18-19 (an opportunity to train and send out more church plant teams!) as well as our Women’s Retreat October 25-27.

Chad is pictured here with this team of Bengali pastors who have a vision to plant over 150 churches. (In the last year they have already planted 3 new churches.) 

Thank you so much for partnering with us to reach more people with the Good News here in the cities of the US and beyond!

 

Upcoming Ministry

We are just returning from a wonderful trip that took us to Oregon and Northern California. Thank you for your prayers. It was great seeing so many friends that we haven’t seen in a long time. It was sad to not be able to connect with everyone though. If you missed us, maybe it is time to come visit us in Los Angeles! We’d love that!

 

The months of August and September are packed full of ministry. Please join us in prayer for these events:

Evangel: School of Church Planting (English)

 

Evangel: School of Church Planting (Spanish)

 

Dean Training in Wichita

Chad will be teaching classes and coaching/mentoring teams at these 3-4 day intensive schools as pastor and leaders are trained and sent out to plant churches. The Dean Training is to get more training to be able to expand our reach and impact in multiplying the planting of more urban churches.

 

Recording of church planting videos (Spanish)

We hope these recording will give us a larger reach to train church plant teams throughout the US and the rest of the Spanish speaking world.

 

Onesimus Workshop (Long Beach, CA)

 

Onesimus Workshop (Moreno Valley, CA)

Working with the local church in these cities, Chad has organized all-day training workshops where we are training representatives from various local churches to welcome and incorporate former prisoners into the life and ministry of the church.

 

City Leaders Conference

 

Regional Men’s Retreat

Chad will be teaching workshops at these events and helping organize and run them. The Men’s Retreat was a powerful time for the men at our church (as well as many other churches) last year and we hope to bring even more men and see a greater impact this year.

Other family things you can keep in your prayers and celebrate with us:

·        Rebecca’s start to High School (Aug)

·        Beniah’s start to Kindergarten (Aug)

·        Chad & Fabiola’s 15^th Anniversary (Aug)

·        Chad’s Birthday (Sept)

We sincerely appreciate all your prayers and financial support.

May God continue to use us to transform communities together and empower urban leaders!

Walking with Pastors

We all go through tough times from time to time in our life. We are so thankful for you - friends and family who lift our hands up, pray for us and support us. Sadly, not everyone has such a rich support system. We work with people, many of them pastors and leaders, who have very few people to turn to for support.

One of the privileges of our job is to be able to take time to walk with people through their hard times – in life or ministry or whatever. These might be emerging leaders in the church we started out of our home years ago or the new network of pastors and church leaders we are pouring into now.

 

After a very hard day, we walked through an area riddled with drug dealers, prostitutes and people without homes. We were walking to invite people to a job fair for the formerly incarcerated. But the time walking together was more than just ministry to those on the street – we were able to minister to one another. Soon after leaving the church property, we ran into a colorful group of individuals in front of a local drug home. They were initially intimidated by us, but once they heard we were from a local church they dropped their guard and shared their stories with us.  As we continued on our walk, we shared our stories – leader to leader, pastor to pastor, person to person. We walked through a city full of hurt and pain and yet we were able to share our own burdens and encourage one another in this tough journey of serving the least of these. On a day when you may feel like you just can’t go on any longer, having somebody walk with you and speak life can make all of the difference. We want to see every leader flourish and accomplish the mission God has given them.  

 

The very next day the setting changed completely, the smells and sights improved. I got to meet with another leader, not on the streets this time, but in a nice café in a different part of the city. There sipping our drinks we were able to talk about the ups and downs of life and ministry. We strategized and put some resources together for future church planting efforts that will reach more people than either of us could ever do on our own. We then lifted one another up in prayer leaving each other encouraged and ready for the next challenge to come our way.

 

A couple mornings later, as we sat around the makeshift table eating a Salvadorian breakfast, we introduced ourselves and began to share about our ministries. In no time we discovered our similar passion to reach the lost in our city and empower the people in our communities. This mission coupled with an understanding for the need for encouragement, relationship, accountability and resourcing is really at the core of our Urban Church Associations. While we are involved in many aspects of ministry here at World Impact pouring into future and current leaders and helping them be more healthy and fruitful is a big and important part.

 

Please keep us and these other leaders in your prayers…we all go through tough times from time to time.

Please be in prayer for the following:

• Our family as we drive up to Oregon/Northern California for a few weeks to connect with friends and supporting churches and continue to raise funds for our mission work.
• Our Men’s & Women’s Retreats (in September and October).