Reaching the World's Largest People Group

Written by Kristen Maxwell, Bhutanese Children's Ministry Director

Who it is that comprises the largest people group to be reached with the gospel?  Is it some group of people in a foreign land, perhaps people in crowded cities somewhere in Asia or Africa?  As it turns out, some missiologists assert that the largest people group resides everywhere, including right here in Kansas City.  Presently, the largest group with whom to share the Gospel is people under the age of 20.  As worldwide birth rates peak in 2015, children and teens currently make up half of the world’s population!

 Children are worth our attention!  A 2010 study by the Billy Graham School of Missions found that people are most likely to make a decision for Christ between the ages of 4 and 14, and that 71% of Christians make a decision for Christ before the age of 15!

At Mission Adelante we love kids!  As we have observed a number of times, faith is often brought into an immigrant family for the first time by some of the youngest members.  Each week of our Outreach Bible Studies gives us another chance to love kids, build relationships with them, and point them to Jesus. 

We are preparing to launch our summer trimester the week of May 26^th and we're looking for mentors to love and serve the kids of Mission Adelante on Tuesday and Thursday evenings!  For information on how you can help reach the world’s largest people group please contact:

Megan McDermott, Director of Latino Kids Ministries at meganm@missionadelante.org

Kristen Maxwell, Director of Bhutanese Kids Ministries at kristenm@missionadelante.org

Check out some great infographics on the importance of reaching kids with the Gospel: 

http://www.gmi.org/infographics/missiographic-PopulationTrends.jpg

http://www.4to14window.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/4-14_infographic_large_web.png

Prayer needs

• Please pray for the Adelante Thrift Board. They meet next week to discuss location and timing of the store and have some big decisions to make. Please pray for God to continue to guide us in this process as we look to start sustainable community development.

Current needs:

• Spring has sprung, and our grounds could use some TLC.  Please contact Molly at mollym@missionadelante.org if you are interested in weeding and mulching flower beds.

• We are collecting board books for our Bhutanese Mommy & Me early literacy class this summer. Contact Lauren at laurent@missionadelante.org if you can donate new or gently used board books, especially those with counting, colors, first words or ABCs. They will be given to refugee families attending the class.

Important dates:

• Volunteer Orientation & Training: Saturday, May 17, 9:00-12:30 All volunteers should attend this training once at the beginning of serving with Mission Adelante. It's also a great way for someone to become familiar with Mission Adelante's ministry. If you or someone you know is interested in finding out more about what we do, and about our volunteer opportunities, please plan to attend/encourage him or her to plan on attending this informative training, and to contact Morgan at morganh@missionadelante.org for all the details.
• All Volunteer Huddle & Dessert: Monday, May 19, 6:30 p.m. We encourage everyone that will be volunteering with us during our summer trimester to attend so we can prepare for a great launch. 
• Summer trimester programs launch: Week of May 26

Introducing the World to Deaf Refugees

Written by Lauren Timberlake, Bhutanese ESL Director

Guman, Josh, and Chandra

When Guman and Chandra Poudel first came to English class two summers ago, I wasn’t sure we could help them. We have many students who have had little-to-no education, but I had never taught anyone who couldn’t hear. Guman and Chandra are deaf, but they wanted to learn and were so happy to be in class. We paired them with Josh Downing, a first-time conversation partner, and he found several resources to help them begin to understand what we were covering in class.

In Nepal, being deaf is a serious handicap. There is often no education offered to deaf individuals, and they are not able to work or fully socialize with society. Most deaf people have no way to learn a sign language. As refugees, The Poudels have even more hurdles to face than the rest of the Bhutanese community because their life experiences have been so limited. We really wanted them to be able to learn American Sign Language and experience more community and opportunity in Kansas City. We prayed for help, and God sent us Rev. Debbie Buchholz from Deaf International in Olathe.

A volunteer from Deaf International teaches
Guman sign language during ESL registration.

Debbie and a team of volunteers from Deaf International have been working with Guman and Chandra for more than a year. They are teaching them American Sign Language and everyday life skills that are new to them--like using silverware, hand soap, and pushing a shopping cart. Debbie said, “They have been put into a culture where being deaf means opportunity to follow God’s plans and prosper in whatever area God has placed them in. They both want to get married, have a family and drive a car. We say they can….they say they can’t. God has placed us in each other’s lives, and now it is our privilege to move forward in introducing the world to them and them to the world. The key is not giving up.”

In addition to expert help from Deaf International, Josh (their conversation partner) has spent the last two years as Guman and Chandra’s best friend. He works with them at English class every week, visits their home, often drives them to church (Deaf International Community Church), and has been there when they needed him most. Josh has been learning American Sign Language along with them, too. It’s amazing to see what God does when intentional relationships are formed. Josh has given so much, but he has also been changed by this unlikely friendship. Josh says, "I love Guman and Chandra and have learned so much from my relationship with them. I have worked to teach them English and ASL, but they have given me a class in getting outside myself and communicating on levels that I'm deficient in. Much like how Christ calls me to hear on a level deeper than words, they have helped me to grow in deep hearing, in hearing things that really matter and communicating in ways that really connect."

Guman and Chandra can now write their names and have simple conversations in ASL. They have greater respect from their Bhutanese community and have many American friends, deaf and hearing, in Kansas City. This has given them much joy. Josh shares, "In the last couple years I've seen Guman and Chandra really come more alive and connected as they have grown in their language abilities. One simple example of this growth is that almost a year ago Guman was lost and needed to be able to communicate his name to some strangers. At the time he had learned enough ASL to be able to fingerspell his name to them. A year later, were he to find himself in the same scenario, he would also be able to write his name in English. There is so much power in knowing and being able to communicate your name in the native language. It's incredibly encouraging to have seen Guman and Chandra work to develop this particular skill."

At Mission Adelante, we love people from other places--regardless of their ability to speak English, read, work, or hear. We desire to welcome newcomers to our city, help them see what’s available to them, and shower them with dignity and respect. We are thankful God sends volunteers like Josh and partners like Debbie, who come alongside us in this mission.

Important dates:

• Volunteer Orientation & Training: Saturday, May 17, 9:00-12:30 All volunteers should attend this training once at the beginning of serving with Mission Adelante. It's also a great way for someone to become familiar with Mission Adelante's ministry. If you or someone you know is interested in finding out more about what we do, and about our volunteer opportunities, please plan to attend/encourage him or her to plan on attending this informative training, and to contact Morgan at morganh@missionadelante.org for all the details.
• All Volunteer Huddle & Dessert: Monday, May 19, 6:30 p.m. We encourage everyone that will be volunteering with us during our summer trimester to attend so we can prepare for a great launch. 
• Summer trimester programs launch: Week of May 26

Celebrating

written by David Stetler, Director of Bhutanese Ministries

At Mission Adelante we love to celebrate culture and leadership development, and we especially love to celebrate when our friends from other places “adelantan" (move forward). Last weekend the community of Mission Adelante celebrated the completion of our 2014 Spring trimester, the raising up of young leaders as they took on new responsibilities, the friendships that have grown during the last 12 weeks and the beauty of the unique cultures represented in our growing multi-cultural community! The adult students in our English classes received certificates, the teens and kids received awards and everyone received a little more joy.


We believe that developing individuals to reach their potential as disciples and leaders is how ministry bears fruit. This was so evident in the way that our community leaders came around each part of the events. The Equipos (the teams) led the way at the Latino party and the Bhutanese LTP (Leadership Training Project) teens led the way at the Bhutanese party. It was such an exciting time to see new and growing leaders stepping up to lead in new ways.

As our community keeps growing, we long to continue to create more opportunities for leaders to be developed, disciples to be made and for people from all places to thrive as we use our gifts together to transform our neighborhood.

In other news:

• The Latino party last weekend was a blast! We were so proud of the kids as they performed “God’s Not Dead,” and of our Kid’s Equipo (Team) that led really fun and creative activities to engage the kids during the adult portion of the program.
• Immigrant business owners continue to transform our community. Two refugee business owners have submitted plans to the city to open restaurants. We’ll share when the restaurants open so you can support the community and enjoy some delicious food!

Prayer needs:

• Please pray for a ministry team from Mission Adelante who will be traveling to Q- ba over the next couple of weeks to work together with RAICES at a ministry retreat.
• Please pray for our gap between trimesters to be a time that our staff can rest as well as prepare and plan for the summer trimester.
• Please pray for the Adelante Thrift board as they continue to work through challenges to open the thrift store.

Current needs:

• We’re looking for a source for custom embroidered garments. If you know the owner of a local promotional product business, please email Morgan at morganh@missionadelante.org.
• Our Kids Club board games are beginning to wear out.  We are looking for new or gently used board games and toys for kids in the Kindergarten to 4th grade age range.  Some popular items include Trouble, Connect4, Jenga, Tinker-toys and Lincoln-Logs.  For more information contact Kristen Maxwell at kristenm@missionadelante.org.

This Week at Mission Adelante

News:

• Bhutanese LTP (Leadership Training Project) students have begun reading through the book of Mark together. This is the first time a majority of the students have opening a bible and read it for themselves. We are excited to see what God will teach us as we read His Word together.
• Janoy, a Cuban member of our Latino church community, preached on Sunday night at our celebration service for the second time.  It is a real privilege to walk with people as they develop their ministry gifts.
• We are in week four of a five-week pilot English class at Laminate Works, Inc, a local business partner.  Laminate Works has provided employment for several members of the Mission Adelante community.  Thank you, Laminate Works, Inc.!
• We are thankful to those that have given to make the LIT reward store a success! The kids received awesome rewards for working hard to improve their organizational skills, to memorize their verses, and to grow in their leadership!

Prayer needs:

• Please pray for the Lord to give us vision and insight as we begin dreaming and planning for the fall season of programs.
• Please pray for wisdom as we work out details of Adelante Thrift, a new thrift store in the neighborhood we are hoping to launch this summer/fall.
• Please pray for Latino teens as they begin the application process this Monday for LTP (Leadership Training Project). We are super excited for this, the newest version of our summer internship, which will invest in the development of teens from our own neighborhood!

Current needs:

• A family has requested a twin bed (mattress, box springs, and frame) through our resource center. If you have one to donate, please contact Molly at mollym@missionadelante.org.

Important dates:

• Bhutanese Spring Party: Saturday, April 12, 5:00-8:00 at First Baptist Church, 2900 Minnesota Avenue, Kansas City, KS 66102. Please come and help us celebrate the accomplishments of our ESL, Teens, Kids Adelante, and L.I.T. students this trimester and honor volunteers with sustained service.
• Latino Spring Party: Saturday, April 13, 5:00-8:00 at Bethany Community Center. Please come and help us celebrate the accomplishments of our ESL, Teens, Kids Adelante, and L.I.T. students this trimester and honor volunteers with sustained service. Bethany Community Center is located on Central Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas (66102) between 11th and 12th Streets, behind the fire station.

Jesus, the Light of Life

Written by Jenny Dunn, Bhutanese ESL Coordinator

Sunday afternoon our Bhutanese ESL team was privileged to meet with a number of volunteers to discuss and consider our Bhutanese friends’ religion and culture. We seek to understand their context in order to relate to, and love, them better. As we looked at the information, we asked ourselves, "How can we reflect some of our friends' innate values, so they can see Jesus more clearly in us?"  Ideas included humility, generosity, hospitality, renunciation, and reverence for God and men. We got a taste of the reverent and sensory aspects of our Bhutanese friends' culture by lighting a candle and incense while we prayed.  Much like some religion offer up incense, we offered up our prayers to God that Jesus would become the Light of life to our friends.

At Mission Adelante, we place a high value on interdependent relationships and are so encouraged by our dedicated volunteers, who value it as well.  They asked many questions and shared many experiences.  Pray with us that as we continue to learn together, God will use our attempt to understand culture as a way to display Jesus’ love to our friends.







In other news:

• The Latino LIT kids had a blast last weekend on their overnight trip to the Omaha Zoo, including fun adventures with bats and a gorilla! It was a great reward trip for the hard-working students!
• The Latino Teens Outreach is planning a cookout to end the trimester.  We are looking forward to good food and family fun!
• The entire volunteer team for our Latino Kid’s Outreach is getting together to celebrate an awesome trimester with some fun and fellowship at Megan’s house this weekend.

Prayer needs:

• Please pray for the the Bhutanese and Latino Outreaches as we are planning our trimester parties during the next two weeks.

Current needs:

• A family has requested a twin bed (mattress, box springs, and frame) through our resource center. If you have one to donate, please contact Molly at mollym@missionadelante.org.

Important dates:

• Bhutanese Spring Party: Saturday, April 12, 5:00-8:00 at First Baptist Church, 2900 Minnesota Avenue, Kansas City, KS 66102. Please come and help us celebrate the accomplishments of our ESL, Teens, Kids Adelante, and L.I.T. students this trimester and honor volunteers with sustained service.
• Latino Spring Party: Saturday, April 13, 5:00-8:00 at Bethany Community Center. Please come and help us celebrate the accomplishments of our ESL, Teens, Kids Adelante, and L.I.T. students this trimester and honor volunteers with sustained service. Bethany Community Center is located on Central Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas (66102) between 11th and 12th Streets, behind the fire station.