The Upper Room

Super exciting news!  After 3 years of praying we have finally been granted the ability to rent the upstairs of our church building (old home).  This gives us 5 new classrooms and a game area for children and youth programs.  This will also allow us to expand our meeting area for our Sunday services downstairs along with opening up some space for some other ministry plans we have down the road.  

We now have space to more than double our tutoring and English (ESL) ministries.  We also envision doing more with music and can even host larger groups that would like to come server alongside us for short-term mission trips. 

Remember the upper room in the book of Acts?  The disciples obediently spent many days up there praying and awaiting the gift Father God promised.  We have already been blessed with the Holy Spirit, but this new expansion is bringing us more and more to our knees in prayer on ways we can bring the presence of God to others.   Our focus is Jesus.  We so urgently want Him to be made known to the nations.  We want people all over the world to experience His goodness and mercy and welcome Him into their lives personally.  That is why we continue to invest in so many people here in Los Angeles.  So that He may be known and His Word shared far and wide. 

We want one of the rooms upstairs to be used as a prayer room – a place where people corporately or individually can come and meet with God. 

We have had some good maturing in our community group as we have been training them to lead the study and watching them grow in godly character.  This week we were encouraging some of the couples that soon they will be released to lead a group on their own.  We will be sending them out two by two to go teach what they have been learning in this study and in their relationship with God to their friends and neighbors.  There is a lot of excitement in what is to come early next year when this all happens.  

 

The front door opens to this small space.  We’re thinking it would make a nice place for parents to check-in their children before they go upstairs to the classrooms.

 There are five rooms and two bathrooms.  The middle picture shows the space in the middle that leads to all the rooms.  One of our youth that helps with our Fuente Kids ministry is getting excited saying that it would be a great space to have a Kid’s Church service like the adults have downstairs before having the age groups break up into their classes.  

 There is a kitchen space as well. 

Here (above and below) is a peak at 4 of the rooms and the views from upstairs.  The park and most of the neighborhood can be easily seen.  It just stirs up prayer and compassion being able to see out further into the neighborhood from upstairs.  From the other side is a great view of downtown Los Angeles. 

Here Are Some Ways You Can Help

Our church has been working hard to get ready to take on the increase in rent, but we sure could use some help with some of the start-up costs of getting these spaces ready for ministry.  Could you sponsor a room (or part of a room)?  You can either order the item and have them sent to us, or send the money to World Impact (2001 S. Vermont Ave. / Los Angeles, CA 9007) clearly marked for “FUENTE LA”.  We’ve created a wish list on Amazon.com with quantities and comments to help you shop for us.  Click here “Adopt a Room”:

SPONSOR A ROOM (or part of a room): 

Each room needs:

2-3 tables (6’ rectangular/folding)                 $ 76-115 per room                 

10-20 chairs (folding)                                   $ 90-180 per room

Dry erase whiteboard (4’ x 6’)                     $ 150 per room

Garbage can (white; 6 gallon size)                 $ 8 per room

2 plastic bins for storage (~66 Qt size)          $ 20 per room

Bookcase and/or storage closet                    $ 120 each

Blinds (10/18 are broken or damaged)         $ 25-35 each

TOY STORE:

Like last year, we will be putting on a Christmas outreach event that includes a Toy Store.  We deeply discount toys and give parents an opportunity to shop for their children (on average parents or grandparents pay only 20-25% of the original price making giving some gifts possible).  This gives parents the opportunity to choose and pay for the present they will give their child, which is more empowering than just handing them a toy for “boy, age 8”.  Our church organizes the event and puts on a banquet with other fun activities that bring Christ as the focus of Christmas.  With the toys being donated we are also able to raise a little money to help our church in future outreach events too. 

We need 200+ gifts to be able to include all the people we’ve been focused on reaching out to this year.  Would you consider donating toys to our special toy store this year? If it is easier than picking the item out yourself you may give a financial gift (designated “Fuente LA”) and we’ll do the shopping for you (or you may send gift cards – for example, $10 McDonald’s cards were popular for the youth last year). 

Worship & Music Training

We have had another wave of interest in learning instruments and desire to participate in worship.  We had a Saturday workshop this month to help some of the new students get oriented to the basics and give some of our more experienced musicians an experience to grow even more.  Continue to pray that we could foster hearts that worship Jesus in spirit and truth and a musical gifting that would bless all who hear us.  

Youth Group Our youth group had a guest speaker come share her testimony with them this month.  One key point they took away from this time was being bold in sharing their faith with others.  We have since seen an increase in invites and visitors to the group.  Also, it has been a lot of fun watching the youth worship team develop and mature.  They sing many of the same songs the whole church sings on Sunday, but they sing them in English on Fridays.

Our Church Anniversary - Celebrating 4 Years

This month we celebrated the transformation that God has done in individuals and families through the church we are planting, Fuente para las Naciones.  It was great to take time out to look back and see what God has taken us through for His glory.  We also looked ahead at some of the great things God has in store for us.  We had first time guests as well as old friends join us.  There was special music, a time of testimonies and the children shared Bible verses that they had memorized.  At the end of service we all went upstairs to pray and dedicate the new space to the Lord.  

Family News

Here are a few fun fall pictures from this month.

Please Pray with Us…

Pray for our upcoming events that will strengthen our church family as well as give us opportunity to reach more people for Jesus Christ:

o   Thanksgiving Outreach (A special service with drama and full meal) – November 23

o   Christmas Banquet & Toy Store Outreach – December 14

o   New Years Outreach (park outreach) – January 3

We are praying that you may continue to have those upper room experiences – the emotion of waiting on the great surprises and blessings the Lord has for you as well as the realization of these hopes and desires. 

We are thankful for you.  We hope you have a great Thanksgiving celebration. 

God’s rich blessing on you,

Chad, Fabiola, Rebecca, Justice and Beniah

FL!P & House of Prayer

One night at Bible study as we sat in a circle sharing stories of how God answers prayers a new prayer ministry was born.  We saw and heard how God moves….and wanted more! Instead of taking the reins and starting something ourselves we made way for a couple from our church to follow the burning in their hearts. They now fill houses throughout our neighborhood every week with people hungry to be with God. And God keeps answering their prayers.

Just last week I (Chad) was moved to tears seeing people standing with arms lifted high, kneeling, sitting, crying, laughing and really experiencing the goodness and faithfulness of God. Many homes do not have very large family rooms (if any), but somehow we have been able to fit 20-30 people in most of the homes. More first time visitors have been coming because they want to lift their needs before the Lord as well. The fellowship afterward is richer than we have experienced in any other setting. 

Francisco, the gentleman leading these times of prayer, is also in our one-year leadership intern program. He is being challenged to follow God wherever He calls. In this program (called FL!P: Fuente Leadership Intern Program) we work on forming godly character as well as training up the intern in competence for ministry. Francisco is working on the focus area of preaching and teaching the Word of God. This year we ask that you would please pray with us for Francisco.  That he would grow in intimacy with Jesus as well as his capacity to humbly serve others.   

Having our church visit one another’s homes during the week for prayer has also stirred up a group of women to open their homes for a time of sweet fellowship and study. While their children are away at school they can learn from the Word of God and from one another. We are seeing the ladies take more ownership of these groups – leading discussion and prayer times, being very hospitable and inviting their friends and neighbors to participate as well. 

There are so many other wonderful ways we are seeing our investment into people and into this neighborhood produce fruit. Many times we have seen practical needs met without us having to get involved – the church is aware and caring and engaged.  Worship has become a language of the heart. When we began, worship was such a foreign language, something people did because we told them it was important. Now worship is personal. Worship is something that is stirring in hearts and carried with them throughout their days. 

We are thankful for your prayers and financial support. Without that foundation we would not be able to build up these beautiful families and consequently they would not know Jesus and the power of gathering together in prayer, fellowship, study and worship. We pray that this month as we celebrate Thanksgiving you would know how grateful we are for you.  We also pray that you would be able to gather with others and share the love of Jesus and see His hand move in answering your prayers.  

Light Destroys Darkness

"I have come face to face with evil and what part it plays in our lives, past, present, and future. I am realizing, though, that God is God and He is purposeful in destroying what evil intends for harm." Mary Beth Chapman

Part of having a heart for the city is exposing ourselves to real people with real needs.  Not hiding oneself out of self-preservation, but allowing the light and hope of Christ to penetrate through evil. While this is the example Jesus gave us through his life on Earth it is not always easy, comfortable or painless. While we celebrate the joy and truth that beauty will come out of the ashes, we also feel the pain sin can bring to a community transitioning through the darkness into the uncontainable light.  

Some highlights this month of how we’ve seen light shine in the darkness:

Continued evangelism:

New people being brought to the women’s meeting, prayer meeting, Sunday service…

Continued growth in emerging leadership and in the church:

Youth growing in leading worship in English and Spanish

People are growing in ministry and doing more independent of us as missionaries.

For example:

·         Leading mid-week meetings
·         Opening/closing the church
·         Sharing their faith with friends, family and even others they don’t know
·         Presenting ideas to help grow the church and putting them into practice

One of our classes in the tutoring program

Some of the ladies practice their English in our ESL – English class

Fabiola honors and trains the teachers and assistants that work so hard to teach our children about Jesus.

We baptized two people this month: Jose & Michelle (and enjoyed a great celebration afterwards)

Family News

Rebecca turns 9 on November 5^th.  She is a great help at home.
Justice turned 7 years old this month.  Very creative and full of love!
Beniah turned 7 months.  It is super easy to get this guy to share a smile. J





Please Pray with Us…

This month there have been more pastoral care needs arising.  As we grow as a church there are new ways we need to feed, lead, protect, guide and discipline the believers. 

Pray for wisdom for us and also for spiritual growth and maturity through the ‘growing pains’ and attacks of the enemy. 

Pray for our upcoming events that will strengthen our church family as well as give us opportunity to reach more people for Jesus Christ:

·         Worship music workshop – November 8
·         Fuente Church anniversary service.  Celebrating 4 years of meeting as a church! – Nov. 9
·         Thanksgiving Meal Outreach – November 23
·         Christmas Outreach – December 14

 

Thank you for your prayers.  We need you! 

We recently polled our church to see how they felt we could better help and equip them. One of the answers we heard over and over again was pray for us…pray for us more! 

We would ask the same of you – please pray with us that we could lead more people to Jesus and that new believers and emerging leaders alike would grow in strength.  And also pray for us – we need that support. 

May God richly bless and encourage you!

Chad, Fabiola, Rebecca, Justice and Beniah

The Power of our Testimony, Encouragement and Baptism

So many wonderful, transformation things have been happening, but one that seems to stand out in our minds is that of a recent baptism of four individuals:

Laura has a passion for Jesus.  She had not been allowed to get baptized by her parents and she wanted to respect that until she was older.  Finally her time came.  She shared how she felt that God had done a miracle allowing this day to finally come.  Others in the church, much older than her, shared how her faith, sincerity and encouraging words had helped them keep going strong when things got difficult in their lives. 

Antonia was the first in her family to be baptized.  She came out of the waters crying with joy realizing the reality of this eternal transformation that she has undergone, for this new life she is experiencing.  She wants to be an example for her family in obeying Jesus and living a life of service to Him.  She is faithfully involved in various aspects of our church life. 

Claudia thinks worshipping God is one of the best and funnest activities she could possibly do with her time.  (We would agree!)  She is rejecting what society is telling her she must be as a young lady and pursuing Jesus and a life of service to Him with an increased hunger.

Yessica’s face has been glowing and radiating an amazing peace and joy.  She looks like a different person, similar to the one we use to know, but now full of life.  Her faith – so real and vibrant – has helped others enter into faith as well.  She has been able to invite several people to church through her different contacts and activities throughout the neighborhood.  

So many in our church have been maturing in their own walks with Jesus.  All who were gathered were lifted up by strong, encouraging words of exhortation that gave life to those coming out of the baptismal waters. These words were shared by their spiritual family, this amazing church that is growing in an area of such darkness and hopelessness.  We remember back just a few years when we were baptizing the first few people in this community and how everyone watching was still far from Jesus. They were attending out of a curiosity, but not out of a hunger or desire to participate.  Now some of them and many others have given their lives to Jesus.  These maturing Christians that we have baptized are now sharing wisdom and guidance to those coming behind them. 

We sincerely thank you for your prayers. Please join us this month in prayer for those mentioned by name in this letter as well as the many more that have gone before them.  Let’s also lift up those that are yet to be added to the family of God through our church Fuente para las Naciones and future churches and outreaches that will emerge from this growing church.

Chad, Fabiola, Rebecca, Justice and Beniah 

Transforming Lives - Transforming Communities

Over the last two months we have continued to call out to Jesus for the harvest – more life transformation, more lasting change, more neighborhoods released from the claws of darkness and set free to experience true, life-giving community.  We are continually in awe of what God is doing.  He loves to answer these prayers.  Thank you for praying with us.  Faith can move the mountains!

Updates…

Youth Summer Camp

The third of our summer camps was focused on the youth of our church.  We have been putting the middle and high school students together and it is fun to see how they interact and help one another.

We had great Bible teaching and devotional times.  Five of the youth gave their lives to Jesus.  One of the girls kept sharing how clean and light she felt afterward.  Once we returned home her mom could hardly stop from sharing how changed her daughter was as well.  A couple other youth rededicated their life to Jesus.  Everyone had a powerful encounter with God.

There was plenty of fun.  Specialty classes every day (arts & crafts, dance, drama, swimming, graffiti, sports, coffee making and much more). Adventure sports were every afternoon (paintball, going to the lake to go tubing).  They had field games every evening.  And even camped out in tents one night.

Cabin time was rich with fun, fellowship and some really deep times with God that we will not quickly forget.  There is nothing quite like spending a week with a group of teens – you really get to know and hear them at a whole new level.  Thank you to those that helped sponsor our teens – we could not have done it without you.

Family Camp

We took 17 families – 64 people – up to family camp this year.  The majority of us made it up to the camp on a school bus we were able to rent due to a generous financial gift.  

·      We had powerful worship times, great teaching times (9 sessions in that weekend), life-changing ministry times, early morning devotionals that were both instructional and relational.  

·      There was a funny and powerful drama that Fabiola organized with two other ladies hitting home some powerful points during out teaching time. 

·      We played some games together as a church on the field that helped us get to know one another better.  Everyone also enjoyed cooling off with some good family time at the pool.

·      We did night hiking, stargazing, watched a movie together and had great fellowship times. 

·      People were ministering to one another and encouraging one another. 

·      Our theme was: Transformed in Christ (focusing on Romans 12:2 and talking about taking off the old and putting on the new). 

·      Some families brought their unsaved spouses or children.  The positive and friendly faith-filled environment really helped people grow closer to a place where they can make a decision to follow Jesus for themselves….and see that the church is not such a scary place after all.  J   

·      We ended the weekend with four baptisms and then a powerful testimony time (filled with tears of joy and shouts of praise. Powerful prayers and words were spoken):

o   One family had their first family Bible study and devotion time together – something they want to continue into the future.

o   One lady shared: “I came with my cup empty, but now it has been filled.”

o   One man shared: “I hardly spend time with my family and this was a good time and place to spend time with them.”

o   One man shared that his knee was healed during the weekend.

o   There were a number of testimonies of how God provided financially and gave favor in getting time off of work to be able to come to the event.

·      Steve and Jenny, a great couple that came and volunteered for the weekend, did so many fun activities with our children and taught them some Bible lessons allowing the adults to focus on what God was saying to them.  And the kids had a blast!

·      God was and is definitely calling people to Himself!  There were a lot of cleansing tears shed and great joy and thankfulness at the end. 

New Ministries & New Starts

School is in session and while it doesn’t feel like fall here in Los Angeles (record heat) we have launched off into some new ministries and re-started some others. 

Please be in prayer with us for each of these ministries:

·       Usher Ministry: We have launched a new usher ministry which helps get more people in our weekly services involved and will help us do a better having eyes and hands ready to welcome and serve the people that we are inviting to come worship with us.  There are over 12 people involved in this and we will be training people up as we go. 

·       Training Home Group Leaders, Facilitators and Hosts: We have begun the process of intentionally training 8 people for leading or helping in our home group ministry.  We hope to start several new groups in the new year.

·       Prayer Group: We have started a community prayer group that will be hosted at a different house every week.  We will intercede for the needs of the church, the family whom we are visiting and the community.  As we continue to strive to empower and train-up others in ministry we are so encouraged that this is a member-led ministry. 

·      English Classes:  We piloted an English (ESL) class last spring and are now ready to launch this needed class for the adults in our community come the first week of October.

·      Tutoring: We are starting the third year of our tutoring program.  We hope to increase the number of students we serve once again this year and continue to take them to the next level academically and spiritually.

·       Worship Team:  We have a small group of worshippers that are meeting weekly to rehearse and will be leading worship for the first time this month.  We are excited as we see their growth in understanding the power and intimacy of worship.  They have been developing musically and in their ability to lead others into God’s presence. 

·         Internship/Leadership Program: We will start our second year of the Fuente Internship this month. 

  

Youth Beach Trip

Enjoying the last days of summer before school starts Joshua and Rocio, our youth leaders, took a group of the youth and some of their parents to the beach for some fun in the surf, time on the sand and a stop at the local arcade. 

Work being done around church

Over the last months we have been plugging away at some projects at the church. 

It is always great to get outside help for some of the things we can’t do on our own – whether because of our lack of the proper finances or skills. 

Pictured above – getting help to put a safer/cleaner ground cover under our play structure.

It is even greater when we see our own people take ownership and work with their hands and minds and buy the needed things to make improvements in our facility. 

Pictured above and below: Our church taking the initiative to install new blinds and do a deep clean throughout the church.

We see that God is moving through the outside help and the inside growth.  The Church family throughout the world is an amazing thing!

Family News

Beniah is 5 ½ months old.  

Chad & Fabiola just celebrated 10 years of marriage (August 15).

We were able to go to Mexico and visit Fabiola’s family a couple weeks ago.  They all love Beniah!  Our church did awesome without us!  While in Mexico we were able to teach an internship class and impart some vision to a new group of leader’s at Fabiola’s home church in Puebla, Mexico. 

Rebecca started 4^th grade this year.  Justice is in 2^nd grade and will be turning 7 in a few weeks (October 4^th).  Chad is also turning older this month (Sept. 28^th)….yikes!

Please Pray with Us…

Our purpose for being here in the city is to evangelize the lost, empower and equip those that have come to know Jesus and plant churches. 

We cannot do this alone.  Without prayers we grow weak and doors in our community do not open.

Really we cannot do this alone! Without your financial support we could not focus all our time and energy on these precious people – imparting vision, teaching the Word of God and modeling a godly life.  Thank you for all that you do!

Please keep each of the “new ministries & new starts” listed above in your prayers this month.  Keep our family in your prayers as well. 

May each life that is transformed by Jesus be a seed that transforms many more families and communities here in Los Angeles and throughout the world.  Thank you for being a part of this vision!

Chad, Fabiola, Rebecca, Justice and Beniah