Who Is Our Neighbor?

Just the other day I met a man named Ron. This year he began an outreach to the day laborers of San Mateo. On Saturday Fabiola and I met him by the railroad tracks downtown where the city has funded a semi-permanent structure in a parking lot as a safe alternative for these men to pick up jobs without hanging out on the street or Home Depots parking lot. We were able to spend a few hours offering them some snacks, hearing their stories, sharing the Gospel and inviting them out to a couple of the local churches in the area.

Fabiola and I started by talking to two Mexicans who just came in from Southern California two days before. One had left a wife and 2 children and paid nearly $2,000 to get into the US. He hadn’t yet been chosen to work (they use a lottery system), but was still optimistic. Fabiola was able to speak to him about what really matters—being with the family and not just making money for them and adding to that how Jesus is our provider and yet desires more than anything to be with us.

As Fabiola was ministering to them I struck up a conversation with Isaac, a Salvadorian who has been here for 8 months. As we talked it became evident that he knew a lot of the Bible and was a believer. I encouraged him to share his faith with the other guys—they often have ample time together to interact socially. Soon a Guatemalan, named Cristobal, came over and we were able to direct the conversation a little bit more towards him as we both continued to testify that nothing in this whole world can fill you up from the inside out and give you peace but Jesus. In my contact with each person I hope to impart something in this short time so that those that know Jesus already, like Isaac, can help Ron in his ministry. Ron doesn’t speak Spanish, but has a heart of compassion and love for Jesus and his neighbors that is clearly communicated.

We were stirred up by the opportunity to find a place to enter into meaningful ministry where the truth and love of the gospel were being communicated through service and action as well as the preaching of the Word. Fabiola was stung by a bee at the outreach and her hand painfully swelled up really big for a few days. While we are out extending God’s kingdom we are aware of the very real physical and spiritual oppression and attacks against what we are doing. Please pray for our safety and wisdom and direction every step of the way.

In addition to the 100-150 workers who regularly sign up for work at the center, there are probably an equal number who hang out on the nearby street corners hoping for a better chance to find a day's work. The harvest is indeed abundant.

Here’s what Ron had to say, “These folks represent a unique opportunity and challenge to Christians everywhere. They are largely unchurched young men in rather hopeless situations. Despite their conditions they remain outwardly cheerful and friendly. They have a high sense of honor and while they may be seen on corners everywhere looking for work, they are never seen begging for money.

“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddles masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me: I lift my lap beside the golden door.”

- Emma Lazarus (The New Colossus poem on the Statue of Liberty)

Regardless of our political views on illegal immigration it is rather hard as Christians to deny that these are the exact neighbors Christ commands us to love. Many of us sponsor missionaries around the world to carry the gospel to folks much like these who are in our own back yard within our reach. The only expense we need to spend to address these souls is a few hours of our time.”

“‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien.”

-The LORD your God. (Bible in Leviticus 19:9-10)



Of the workers who utilize the center each day approximately 21% are being employed daily. To date at this one location alone 1,900 workers have enrolled in English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, which are offered while they wait between jobs. Now thanks to the work of Ron and others they can also take a Bible study as well being offered every Saturday and pick up a ride every Sunday on a church van.

The Nameless Multitude Reconciled

What Is Worth Dying For? For What Would You Lose Everything?

Tears stream down my face. My heart feels gut retching pain. All this as God gives me insight into the suffering that people foolishly put themselves and others through as they look for something better, something fulfilling, some purpose in their life. We are prepared to go where we believe God has called us to go and believe it is a cause worth dying for.

Fabiola’s birthday was this Sunday so we spent some good family time and then a bit of time together, just the two of us.

We decided to go see a movie as well. We don’t get out to see movies very often maybe 3 or 4 (End of the Spear, Ratatouille and Fireproof) in the 4.5 years we’ve been married so this was a bit of a treat. We saw the movie, Sin Nombre, which deals with some of the cruelties and terror of gang life in the MS-13 gang (Mara Salvatrucha) and the difficulties and desperation of immigrating from Guatemala and Mexico to the US. The movie is extremely graphic, but I felt God speaking to me throughout the movie.

Many parents wisely don’t share all of the deep, heavy issues of life with their young children. Later when their children are more mature and a relationship of trust has developed a father might share something with his son to give insight and depth to what is going on in his heart. I felt like God held me the entire movie and cried with me over the issues presented—showing me how hurt he was over the insane violence and thoughtless disorder—how he hated the confusion and obscurity that people walk through daily on Earth. He showed me part of His heart—I feel closer to Him and I know there is a responsibility in knowing how His heart feels.

Above: Many Central American’s and Mexicans travel to the border atop trains for part of the journey north.

Above: MS-13 is a criminal gang that originated in Los Angeles and spread to Central America (6 countries) and parts of the United States (33 states). The gangs' names are commonly abbreviated as MS, Mara, and MS-13 they are composed mostly of Salvadorans, Hondurans, Guatemalans, and Nicaraguans. The FBI has declared MS-13 the world’s most dangerous gang. One of the most common hand signals displayed is the "devil's head" (formed by extending the index and little fingers of the hand while tucking in the middle and ring fingers with the thumb), which forms an M when displayed upside down.

(If you’re interested go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBzu3mOFOvo for a 4 minute informative video on the gang.)


Part 2 – Hope Extended…Our Part

The movie ends with one of the main characters making it to the US after losing everything. People she loves dearly have died along the way. The movie ends with her at a phone booth calling her only contact—dialing an unknown person’s phone number she was made to memorize along the way. That’s where we come in. Will we be there for her?

In Los Angeles, we will meet a girl very similar to this…with a background we can’t ever really fully understand—much more difficult and painful than we can take in, but we serve a God who became one of us and so we come representing Him to the immigrant and the gang-banger. We will have the opportunity to show God’s compassion and love—tell His story and explain what really is worth dying for. She is! We are! God loves us that much. He is worth living and dying for.

I stayed long after everyone else left, through the end of the credits until the cleaning lady came in and began to clean up. I just sat there and wept praying to God for these people who were represented in this movie. “Give us wisdom to do what we have no idea how to do. Teach us to be merciful, compassionate and a servant to the least. Give us your heart oh Lord, lead us to those who need you.”

The myriad of people represented by the few characters in this film are nameless, without names, unknown…lumped into a category and seen as part of the thousands like them—maybe never to be known as the individual that God knows them as. Do these many people without names have an identity? Of course they do in Christ and He calls them by name. We must help open their eyes and introduce them to their Creator so they might know their true identity and purpose.

Gang Members: They are willing to do crime, time and even die for their homies and their neighborhood for the seduction of belonging—in fact many think of themselves already dead. They are precious in God’s sight. He hurts with them and hates to see their hearts hardened at a young age.

“This is what the Lord says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of his oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the alien, the fatherless or the widow….” Jeremiah 22:17

“This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other.’” Zechariah 7:9-10

Illegal immigrants: Leaving everything behind in hopes for gaining something greater. Many are willing to risk death, imprisonment, hardship and permanent separation from loved ones to cross into the “land of hope and opportunities.” Jesus wants to be their hope, their opportunity, their all. He wants to be sought after and pursued in the way that they make the all-out sacrifice to cross the border. Why do they die as numbers and not as people? Was it worth it?

What Do We Throw?

There were two scenes that illustrated our choice in how to treat immigrants or any other people ‘passing through’ our lives. As the poor, dirty and hungry Guatemalan immigrants were traveling on the top of the train they passed through two very different towns. At the first town they were greeted by the people with kind words, friendly cheers and sweet, refreshing fruit thrown at them to enjoy as they passed through the town. The greeting from the people of the second town was much different. The immigrants had rocks, empty bottles and hurtful, vulgar and unkind words thrown at them.

The Ministry of Reconciliation

Earlier, the same day as viewing this movie, I had the opportunity to go into MacLaren Youth Correction Facility, where many of the guys I visit weekly at the Juvenile Detention Hall (JDH) are relocated to do the length of their sentence. I was able to participate in a church service and ended up with the opportunity to speak to the group of about 60 guys. God put 2 Corinthians 5:11-21 on my heart. We talked about the old being gone and how we are a new creation. As a new creation we have been deputized as ambassadors of this ministry of reconciliation and true justice (Zech. 7:9). Just as Jesus reconciled us to the Father we now must see that all know this Good News. We also must find and maintain reconciliation between one another. It grew very quiet when I challenged them to forgive one another and those ‘on the outs’ (outside of jail) that had hurt them. This is the beginning. The beginning of violent and hopeless cycles being broken. The beginning of restoration and healing. The beginning of kind, sweet words being exchanged and lived out—in true reconciliation.

I saw them laugh to each other as I mentioned we’d be going to South Central LA. To many of them that is the capital of their world—the center of gangs, lust, drugs, violence and the ‘free’ life. I spoke to them about how God calls us to do impossible things through Him. The pastor their then challenged this group of young Christians to be praying for us as we go to Los Angeles in these coming weeks. Many responded affirmatively to the call to pray for us. Isn’t that exciting news?! There are Christians scattered not only through the United States, but in different parts of the world and now even at lock-down correction facilities praying for us and praying for the “nameless”. Some of those young men have a perspective and insight that will enable them to pray with clarity and power for others like themselves and to help us be fruitful and safe.
So do you! We appreciate your unique perspective and insight. Please continue to pray with us as God leads you.

Prayer Needs:

-Discernment, Direction, Wisdom. We will be coming into Los Angeles as greenhorns. Please pray for protection and spiritual eyes to see and ears to hear how God would lead us.

-Captured Opportunity. Fruit. Transformed and Restored Lives. We will be arriving to Los Angeles in the summer months a time of year when street life may be more active—please pray that we would be able to take advantage of the youth being out of school, the people out on the street, please pray for contacts with key people who are in need and open to the gospel. That the nameless—the people passing by us would not remain anonymous, but would be known by us and they would come to know God.

Important Note: We don’t necessarily recommend the movie. It is rated R and due to the themes and content would definitely leave you depressed without the hope of Christ. It is not something everyone would be able to handle or ‘enjoy.’ It is also entirely in Spanish (with English subtitles).

The Dam Has Broken

We have a great testimony to share with you today. Prayer has released the provision of God.

A visual of God’s ‘more than enough’ provision pouring out to us, breaking out over the dam.

Many dear friends and family members have been pouring into us faithfully these last 10 months since we officially began raising support for our mission work in Los Angeles amongst the urban poor. We have been blessed financially and materially, encouraged emotionally and spiritually and watched over, walked with and prayed for by more people than we can even count. We are so thankful for every person’s contribution. God has called us to a great task and we cannot accomplish anything meaningful without our friends, our brothers and sisters in Christ—that is the design of the Body.

The waters behind the dam (prayers for spiritual and financial blessings) have been steadily rising. Many of you have been praying and giving and watching excitedly as our needed financial support has gone from 20% to 30% to 40% and on…our goal for the end of April was 70%. Yesterday, the dam broke!

A World Impact board member, whom we don’t even know, responded to our need (as shared with him by our director in Los Angeles) to get us on the field and church planting in Los Angeles as soon as possible. He pledged $2,600 a month for a year. We would have written this update yesterday when we heard the news, but Fabiola and I were in shock…in fact it hasn’t fully set in yet.

We are now changing gears as we prepare to transition as quickly as possible to Los Angeles (more to come on that later). Praise the Lord!!!

We credit this amazing news not only to God’s faithfulness and your generosity, but also to the many months of prayer stored up behind the dam (see the extra section of quotes on prayer below). We think back to the personal emails, calls and visits we’ve had with words of encouragement and faith from the Lord—birthed and bathed in prayer. We also remember with humble awe the thousands of people in Mexico praying fervently for us and the needs of the people in Los Angeles just a few weeks ago. Our time has been used well these last 10 months…God has spoken to our hearts at many levels and has continued to teach and train us valuable lessons in this season. Our prayers—yours and mine—have been heard and answered.

We still need, if not more than ever, prayer for all that is ahead of us. While our focus now will primarily be on our move, saying good-bye and beginning the work the Lord has put on our heart in Los Angeles we cannot forsake, and ask your prayers for, the need for continued and new financial support. Our God can move mountains. Without an army of monthly supporters and prayer warriors we’re not in a position to be able to minister long term. Since this gift will last only a year we ask that you’d pray for 25-50 new monthly supporters to gradually take the burden and bridge the gap of this $2,600 over the next months.

Building a strog base is critical.
Pray with us that we'll be able to continue to build a deep and wide financial support base to enable us to minister to the lost and huring of Los Angeles.
We're on the road. We'd hate to have to stop or turn back to figure out how to fill in the gap.

Thank you for rejoicing with us and continuing to love us and pray for us in this exciting season.

Thankful we serve a BIG God,
The Wolyns
Chad, Fabiola, Rebecca and Justice

The Generosity of Mexico, Flesh to the Vision

So an amazing thing transpired. We got an invitation to come to Mexico to share our vision at a pastor’s and leader’s conference and then at several different church services in Puebla and Veracruz. We just got back.

Puebla, Mexico is a city of over 1.5 million people situated in a large valley surrounded by mountains and volcanoes. The city is located 67 miles east of Mexico City. The photo on top is a picture of the most active volcano Popocatepetl. The photo on the bottom is looking back at the neighborhood I (Chad) lived in when I came to minister in Puebla 7 years ago.

We were blessed beyond our imagination by the great reception we received. Fabiola’s home church in Puebla invited us to share with the congregation what we’ll be doing and they have agreed to support us $500 a month as a church and many individuals have also made a pledge to support us with what they can 50 pesos or 100 pesos a month (about $3.50 - $7.50 USD). They have put us in on their weekly prayer agenda and are excited about reaching the world through missions in Los Angeles, California.

We were taken care of very well – much of our trip was paid for and extra offerings that we received helped out as well. It is amazing how many people in Mexico know of somebody in LA. We now have some possible contacts (family members, friends, business partners, etc.) to start with once we get there. During our three weeks there we met with about 90 different pastors and leaders and spoke in front of and were prayed for by about 2,400 people in various churches.

Veracruz, Mexico

(located 3 hrs. east of Puebla (driving) and 250 miles east of Mexico City on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico).

While in Veracruz during a Saturday evening service after we had shared with the people and invited them to join us in prayer they took time out of their service to pray intensely for this mission. While they were praying, Fabiola received a picture from God of gang members coming off the street throwing down their weapons and money and coming to embrace the cross.

Veracruz, Mexico – March 21-22, 2009

Top: Church Service on Sunday Morning Bottom: Men’s Encounter Retreat

We also participated in a powerful Encounter Retreat for the men of Veracruz on our last weekend. It was there after sharing our vision to plant churches in urban America amongst the poor, the gangs and drug addicts that a man came up to us and shared his story with us. His name is Alberto.

Alberto came to the United States like many looking for opportunity, a better life and more income. Instead, upon arriving to Los Angeles he found drugs, violence and a life of crime. He joined with the mostly Hispanic gang called 18th Street (also seen as XV3, XVIII, 666, dieciocho, etc.) and sold and used drugs in and around MacArthur Park.

MacArthur Park in Los Angeles, California is known for its addicts, gangsters and homeless.
World Impact currently has a church plant meeting at this park every Sunday.

He got a job at Burger King and continued selling drugs even from the drive-through window. He lost his wife to a heroin and crack overdose and then was arrested with major charges while hiding out at a hotel for the possession of drugs and 2 firearms. He was originally sentenced to 15 hard years, but then had the sentence lowered to 7.5 years. Eventually Alberto ended up only serving 3.5 years bouncing around to 3 different, but hard - he emphasized - prisons. He met Christ through another inmate in jail and was deported after serving his shortened sentence. He moved to Veracruz, Mexico and began to work and has been doing well—he is remarried and has two kids. He is active in his church and continuing to pass on the good news of Jesus Christ to others.

The 18th Street gang has grown to be California's most fragmental and largest street gang, with membership in the tens of thousands, with many satellite gangs. Out of this, it is estimated that about 60% of its members are illegal immigrants, according to a confidential report by the state's Department of Justice.*

The story of this man of God, Alberto, and his journey to become a Christ follower filled us with so much more hope and even more urgency as it put flesh to the vision we have to see men and women brought to Christ and restored and then raised up to serve God in the capacity they were made to serve Him. We desire to plant a church that will reach the Nations—we believe that in Los Angeles we can see that vision realized. Please join us. The Mexican people we spent these last 3 weeks with were praying so sincerely and so intensely. Let’s join their prayers and believe God to transform one our largest cities so that within this “city of Angels” we, the growing body of Christ, might be a fountain of life and hope to the world.

Please pray with us about the following:

·A continued increase in monthly support…that God would unite our hearts with others that desire to see God’s kingdom advance and have the means to give – even sacrificially to the cause.

·Wisdom on a move date to Los Angeles—God’s timing.

·Key future leaders would be touched and set apart by God for His glory…and that we’d be able to connect with them and help them effectively become productive and powerful members of the body of Christ by God’s power once we get to LA.

Inspired by God’s sacrifice and love-His goodness and grace,

The Wolyns

Chad and Rebecca with an old Kid Links disciple, Miguel, and his sister much grown up since our days together in Mexico in 2002.

*"Southern California's Largest Gang Aims for Dominance", The Los Angeles Times November 17, 1996

A Dusty Trail & Wagon Wheels

We have so much to share about what God is doing presently, but that will have to wait another week…here is a bit about our journey and part of the reason and strategy of what we´ll be doing.

A DUSTY TRAIL, WAGON WHEELS

Several times on this adventure we have felt a bit like the pioneers of the 1800s, at great risk of loosing the comforts of home, leaving everything and going west or in our case south. Making preparations to leave our home, friends and church to go to a new place is an odd feeling. We´ve counted the cost. The way I see it is if you are going to leave everything behind you either have to be chased out by the poor conditions or situation (poverty, persecution, need a new start, etc.) or the belief that there is something much greater ahead that warrants the hardships and risks. We by no means fit in that first category—so what is this greater thing laying ahead? In our case it isn´t gold or land, but the desire to follow our God wherever He leads us. We know that as we march onward we will see many crowned with beauty, gladness and praise instead of crowns of ashes, mourning and despair (Is. 61:3). We know the trail is dusty, that special or important things will have to be tossed out of the wagon, and there are real dangers ahead. We cling to Jesus as He is the hope and reason we move forward.

Keeping with the theme, let us share a bit of our strategy and reason for going to Los Angeles. With the movement of people around the world due to people seeking economic opportunity or fleeing war or persecution, the opportunities for us to reach the world for Christ has changed some. Imagine with me a wagon wheel, which for this illustration we´ll call an ethnic wheel1. This illustration will help explain how using the natural relationship connections (the spokes) between immigrants and their homeland we can see new Christians and churches rise up in new locations throughout the world. The hub of an ethnic wheel is the home location (country) of an ethnic group. The rim is the city where people from this ethnic group or nation have relocated, in our case Los Angeles, which allows us to have connections with many people from many nations by first generational contacts (family members, friends, past employers, etc.) to the hub nation. We anticipate reaching many people groups and being able to train up leaders and send people out to influence the entire world for Christ by positioning ourselves in this strategic city of immigrants and bicultural people. As we do what we´ve been called to do—raise up leaders and plant a strong local church—we believe many of the people we come in contact with will bear much fruit through relationships within their ethnic groups, a task that would be much more difficult for us (traveling around the world, learning language and cultural norms, buildling trust, etc.)


STATISTICS SPECIFIC TO LOS ANGELES

· There are 130 different languages spoken in Los Angeles Unified School District representing 190 people groups. These 190 people groups represent 99% of the earth. If we could plant a church in each people group there would be first generational contacts with most of the world—allowing nations to be touched by God.

·In Los Angeles there are more American Indians and Samoans then anywhere else in the world. There is also the largest population of Mexicans, Guatemalans, Salvadorians, Thai, Pilipino and Korean outside of their country (in this one city!)

·Los Angeles has more Mexicans then every city in the world except for Mexico City.

·Los Angeles has more Africans and African-Americans then all the nations in Africa except for one.

·3.5 million of about 9.5-10 million people in Los Angeles County are foreign born (not counting undocumented illegals). That is 36% of the population...and of that 3.5 million 2.1 million are not citizens. By a reasonable estimate if we add in the illegals it takes it up to 66% of the population of the county is foreign born.

·1% of every Latin American city claims to be Evangelical. Less than ½ of 1% of Latinos in Los Angeles claim to be Evangelical making LA the most unevangelized Hispanic city in the Latin world.

Please pray with us about the following:

·A continued increase in monthly support. We´ve set a goal to be at 70% by April.

·Key, strategic contacts with ´people of peace´ (Luke 10:5) in Los Angeles.

·We know how important it is to lay a foundation of prayer over the church we are going to plant. Marinate it with us with God´s blessings, His will, etc.!)

That the whole world may know Jesus,
Chad & Fabiola Wolyn
and Rebecca (3) & Justice (1)

(1The wheel concept was initially developed by David Boyd in You Don´t Have to Cross the Ocean to Reach The Wolrd).
(Sources of statistics: US Census Bureau; US Dept. of Homeland Security; Out of Ashes by Keith Philips)

Smuggling Justice Out

It is better to be a whore in the US than poor in another third world country. That is the argument used recently by a prosecutor in a case where 10 young women (5 who were under 18) were smuggled into Los Angeles. “A federal court jury convicted five people in connection with a plot to lure impoverished young women from Guatemala to the US with the promise of legitimate jobs, only to then force them into prostitution to repay their supposed debts for being smuggled into the country.”—LA Times (2/11/09) It is typical for individuals to have to pay over $5,000 to be smuggled into the country, but usually at the expense of abuse, neglect, prostitution or worse. These women were expecting to work as baby sitters, housekeepers and waitresses, but their hopes for a better life in the US were exploited by others. “In often tearful testimony during the trial, the victims described having sex with up to 30 men a day. Several testified that they were forced to work while ill or menstruating, or both.” They were threatened with violence and witchcraft if they tried to escape. One 17 year old girl, Esperanza, (whose name in Spanish means “hope”) was told her legs would be cut off and here entire family killed, while another was told acid would be thrown on her face. These are girls that were still decorating their bedrooms with stuffed animals even after being taught how to dress and work like a prostitute.

Many men, women and children travel to the US from all across the globe looking for a better future,
yet what guarantee is there that they will find a future that offers hope, peace, justice and love? (Source: Corbis)

Justice is what love looks like in public.

Smuggling justice and love out…what looked hopeless, what looked damaged, what seemed ruined God has rebuilt. People are coming into this country both legally and illegally looking for something. Generally it is peace from war, relief from famine or poverty, freedom from oppression or just a better life with hope for the future—money, health benefits, security.

We, as a family, want to love and care for the immigrant—legal or illegal. We want to see broken lives restored by God’s mercy and grace. We want to see prostitutes restored and able to feel and serve God with their whole lives—no longer living in fear, hardened by pain and numbness.

Our strategy is to go into one of these hot bed cities (Los Angeles) where people are daily arriving wave after wave and fill them up with the love and goodness of God—the restoration and redemption of Christ. Then, after ministering to them effectively and training them up, we seek to send them out—smuggling them out to return to their countries of origin or fellow people living around them so that they can effectively reach their families, neighbors and culture for Christ.

• Each year, an estimated 14,500 to 17,500 foreign nationals are trafficked into the United States. The number of U.S. citizens trafficked within the country each year is even higher, with an estimated 200,000 American children at risk for trafficking into the sex industry.
  (U.S. Department of Justice. 2004. Report to Congress from Attorney General John Ashcroft on U.S. Government Efforts to Combat Trafficking in Persons in Fiscal Year 2003. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Justice.)
  
• The largest number of people trafficked into the United States come from East Asia and the Pacific (5,000 to 7,000 victims). The next highest numbers come from Latin America and from Europe and Eurasia, with between 3,500 and 5,500 victims from each.
  (U.S. Departments of Justice, Health & Human Services, State, Labor, Homeland Security, Agriculture, and the U.S. Agency for International Development. 2004. Assessment of U.S. Government Activities to Combat Trafficking in Persons. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Justice.)
  

Robbing a girl’s innocence and childhood. Los Angeles is a city of opportunities and pitfalls.
From left, child prostitutes from Ningxia, China, Tijuana, Mexico and Poipet, Cambodia.
(Photo: From left, Mark Leong/Redux; James Whitlow Delano/Redux; Q. Sakamaki/Redux )

Rejoice for these answered prayers:
· Our monthly support has gone up 10% in the last 2 weeks.
· Chad has had two weeks of non-stop substitute jobs and has 2 more weeks already booked.

Please pray with us about the following:
· A continued increase in monthly support. Our goal is $700 of new monthly support by March.
· Freedom to the captives! There are men, women and children in literal and spiritual slavery that must be set free. Join with us as we weep over the injustice and cry out to God for mercy. We want to be part of the solution. Use us God!!!

Thank you for sharing these moments with us as we shared our heart.


That the lost might find Jesus,
Chad & Fabiola Wolyn


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A compilation of some verses that have given deeper faith and direction to our prayers this week:

“The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed.” Psalm 9:9

“He will defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy.” Psalm 72:4

“He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight.” Psalm 72:14

“Yet their Redeemer is strong; the LORD Almighty is his name. He will vigorously defend their cause so that he may bring rest to their land…” Jeremiah 50:34

“…Morning by morning He dispenses his justice...” Zephaniah 3:5

Trains, Graffiti & Prayer

We are still on the road of raising the support we need to begin serving and living amongst the poor and broken of South Central Los Angeles. Sometimes we feel like this train parked in the train yard in the picture below—not at our ‘final’ destination yet…still being loaded up. The wonderful thing, however, with our everywhere God is there is no lost time in looking out the window of our train and praying.

Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times
The MTA (Metro Transit Assassins) graffiti on the L.A. River between the 1st St. Bridge and the 4th St. bridge on Jan. 28.

I’ve recently started glancing at the LA Times for articles of interest to fuel prayer and understanding of the vast metro area we are going to serve. A recent article on a notorious tagging crew caught my eye. Seven members were arrested for their vandalism. Authorities say the Metro Transit Assassins (MTA) created the city’s largest tag along the concrete banks of the Los Angeles River. The painting is three stories high and half a mile long! This might sound strange, but as I pray for Los Angeles and the people in every corner—especially those in the poor, dark, cold, forgotten corners of this huge expanse of cement and noise… the big vision and uninhibited expression that these taggers have is the type that I want to see and watch Jesus breath into as we train up leaders for Christ’s Church. I would love to help mentor and train these guys as they show me some of their skills with the paint can—I’d like to take them from adrenaline addicts who have no respect for the laws of the land to Jesus lovers with a heart that breaks for their city—black and white, Latino and Asian. There is so much potential, so many souls struggling to know Life. I’d love to have these 7 guys be the first in our new church…the up and coming leaders. I imagine them melting in the arms of a loving, accepting appreciating God—the one who gave them their artistic skills, the one who wants to take great risks for Him – to make His name, not their moniker, known.

Mel Melcon / LA Times “It is estimated that it took 400 gallons of paint to create this MTA mural.”

If you have not yet given financially to support these lives that God has called us to bring to Him and train up in love, service and leadership please don’t wait any longer. We need as many people as possible to join the team. Once we get to the city we’ll hit the ground running, but we can’t get there until we have all of our support. Every penny given goes to what we’ll be doing in Los Angeles. We love special gifts—they’ve helped us get closer to our goal, but it is the monthly gifts that will sustain the work for the longer haul. Please ask God what you’re roll is in saving the abandoned and abused single-mother, immigrants struggling with spiritual and social oppression, and the many ‘orphaned’ youth living on the streets caught up in the ‘adult world.’ We’re preparing to be Jesus’ hands and feet – an outward and practical expression of His love to the dirty, unthinkable, hurting place in the inner city and the inner hearts of many.

Please pray with us about the following:
-An increase in monthly support. We’d like to see a jump from 28% to 50% by March.
-Substitute jobs to continue coming in to support us while we remain in Portland, OR.
-Grace over us as a family in this time of transition and preparation.
-God’s timing and bringing together of our team that we’ll be working with in Los Angeles. We haven’t formed anything formally yet…please pray that God would knit our hearts together with like-minded people that share our vision and heart to do the work in South Central LA.

Thank you for caring. We pray that God is moving in, on and around you in new and wonderful ways. Let’s press in more and more to His goodness and make it known to all the world!

In Christ. For Christ,
Chad & Fabiola Wolyn