What if the Church Served Together?

A lot happened around Mission Adelante this past week, but the most noteworthy highlight occurred on Saturday. Hoards of volunteers, from professionals to kids, with tools ranging from mops to a 125-foot lift machine, converged on Mission Adelante's property for a work day. There were so many volunteers doing so many projects that I couldn't even count them. My best guess is 200 +. Needless to say the impact was nothing less than a breath-taking aesthetic transformation of our property.

This workday was neither thought up nor led by Mission Adelante staff. Instead it was an inspired experiment of three suburban churches that have recently begun to discuss the disappointing divisions and territorialism they see among American churches today. As the three pastors of these churches began talking and praying with one another, an idea was born. One thing led to another and the Lord led them to develop a three-part series called, "What if the Church...believed together, prayed together, served together?". To drive the message home, each part of the teaching was acted upon in a tangible way. First came the "pastor swap" as they talked about "what if the church believed together?", then a joint worship and prayer service at Shawnee Mission Park, and finally a serve day in which all three churches mustered all the physical resources and volunteers they could to serve at several urban sites in the city. The response was overwhelming, and the name of Jesus was lifted high above the name of any one church or organization.

For Mission Adelante, the physical impact to our property was quite significant. But, beyond that, there were several layers of impact that aren't seen by the casual observer. The immigrant members of our small congregation continue to be awed by love and generosity shown by American Christians toward them. It is something that they don't expect and certainly don't feel entitled to receive. Secondly, the servant-hearted example set by these churches motivates and casts vision to our developing community regarding what it looks like to use out gifts and talents for the kingdom of God. And thirdly, our rag-tag church feels the blessing of knowing that we are not in this alone. We are part of a bigger movement of God in our city, something that is so important for us as we struggle to become established and vibrant.

So, thank you to those who served, to those who prayed, and to those who planned. And thank you to all who have ever served, planned, and prayed for Mission Adelante. We feel the blessings of our partnership with you!

In other news:

• The launch of our summer trimester last Thursday was was another huge success. ESL Level 1 is being held in the building for the first time, which allowed us to admit the largest group of students we've ever had! Furthermore, 45 kids came to Kids Adelante!
• A family for whom we've asked for prayer in recent weeks returned to our Sunday Worship Celebration after a six-week absence. Their volatile lives are a continuous struggle for them, but we rejoiced to see them again!

Prayer needs:

• Three pre-teen Latina girls have joined Megan's summer Bible-study on the topic of purity, while Megan is continuing to recruit more. Please pray for more girls to be interested in the study and receptive to the counter-cultural message.
• Pray for Molly's effort to learn Spanish to be successful this summer.
• Sofie Strohmeier, our third summer intern, will move to the neighborhood this Sunday, June 15. Ask the Lord to allow her a smooth integration into the intern team.
• Pray for God's blessing as Jarrett forms a team of volunteers for the Leaders In Training and tutoring program slated to begin this fall. This will be an opportunity for intensively relational mentorship for a select group of kids.
• A group of at least five volunteers from Warrensburg, MO are coming this Thursday through Saturday to hold an English Camp. Please pray that it runs smoothly and that our English students take advantage of the opportunity.

Current needs:

• Gas-powered weed eater
• Gas grills

Important upcoming dates:

• June 28: Kids Adelante soccer clinic outreach

The Interns are Here!

“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” Jesus spoke those words in reference to the fact that the opportunities for ministry will always exceed the called, equipped and dedicated people available to fulfill those needs.

We recognize that those words are true in Mission Adelante’s context. With this in mind we have launched our pilot summer internship this week. Two interns, Molly Merrick and Megan McDermott have joined us already and Sofie Strohmeier will jump in on June 15th after she finishes her semester at DePaul University. As God continues to give us opportunities to expand our reach within our community we take seriously the responsibility He has given us to be diligent about growing new workers for His harvest.

Indeed, our internship is not only an opportunity to have a little extra help around here this summer, but is really more focused on equipping emerging leaders for cross-cultural ministry. It is a learning experience meant to orient interns to the reality of cross-cultural ministry and help them sort out the nudges they’ve been feeling in their heart towards pursuing this as a calling and vocation.

A very important part of the internship includes living in our neighborhood and being available to build relationship with immigrants on a daily basis. Mercy and Truth Medical Missions has provided housing for them in their dorm facility on the property that was formerly the Central Baptist Seminary; a perfect scenario that ensures safety, flexibility, and a very reasonable price. After a couple days of orientation, training, and community building with our staff families, Megan and Molly are already out spending time with kids in the neighborhood.

Heartland Community Church is providing another key component to the internship through their Leadership Training Project. Three mornings a week our interns will participate with Heartland’s interns in devotions and ministry related seminars. What a blessing our partnership with Heartland continues to be!

As you pray for Mission Adelante this summer, please pray that God would raise us workers for his harvest. Pray for a productive summer of learning for Molly, Megan and Sofie. And pray that God would use their service this summer to have a deep impact on the adults and kids in our community.

In other news:

• Registration for summer ESL classes and Kids Adelante was last Thursday evening at 6:30. People began coming at 6:00, and the Level 1 ESL class was full by 6:35, with a waiting list resulting! We no longer promote our ESL program in the community; all the interest is cultivated through word of mouth.
• We'll launch summer ESL classes and Kids Adelante this Thursday evening.
• Bill Campbell, an audiologist who has volunteered in our ESL classes for over a year, offered his help to the father of one of his students last night. The man suffers from job-related hearing loss. Bill conducted a hearing test for him, and will provide him with a pair of hearing aids.
• All 15 L.T.P. interns from Heartland Community Church visited the Mission Adelante Facility this morning to learn about our work in this neighborhood. We enjoyed their visit.
• We're highly anticipating the "What if the Church Served Together?" event this Saturday. The event is a partnership between Heartland Community Church, Westside Family Church, and Cedar Ridge Christian Church, and we're anticipating receiving the help of a large number of volunteers that day, who will undertake various projects at our facility. For more information, check out http://whatifthechurch.shawncm217.com/.

Prayer needs:

• The current economic downturn has lessened the demand in the industries in which many of our Hispanic friends work, creating desperation for jobs. Please pray for God's provision of their material needs, and their recognition that the provision has come from God.
• Megan McDermott is planning a summer Bible study for pre-teen Latinas in our community on the topic of purity. Please pray for God's leading as she plans and conducts the study.
• Pray for God to clarify Molly Merrick's calling and direction as she explores different avenues of serving this summer.

Current needs:

• Gas powered weed eater

Important upcoming dates:

• June 5: Summer ESL classes and Kids Adelante begin
• June 7: "What if the Church Served Together?"

"...Mobilizing them to Serve"

Alberto and his wife Graciela are students in Mission Adelante's ESL program. We've written about them before because God has used volunteers to have a significant impact in their lives. A few months ago, when Alberto was looking for a job, his ESL class was praying for him. Another volunteer made the connections that helped him land a job at a local grocery store, and he was off and running. Ever since that time Alberto and Graciela have been coming to our Sunday night Bible studies and worship services.

More than any other immigrant who has joined our group, Alberto and Graciela have displayed almost perfect consistency. Their growing hunger for God is clear, though their past experience in pursuing Him is very limited. Last Sunday night Alberto stood in front of the group, gave the announcements and led our growing community in prayer. He was clearly nervous, but he did a wonderful job. Alberto is the first male immigrant we've connected with who seems to be showing the characteristics of a future leader. Could he be our first Hispanic teaching pastor? God only knows the plans he has for Alberto, but we are thrilled to have a role in his journey. And we are so thankful for the volunteers who have been involved in his life along the way. We are always encouraged when God fulfills our mission of "serving Hispanic immigrants to Christ and mobilizing them to serve" in the life of even one person. Please pray with us for Alberto as we continue to invest in his growth and give him more opportunities to serve and lead.

In other news:

• Sam Posladek, an ESL volunteer and A.B. May employee, has really taken care of Mission Adelante’s heating and cooling needs these past few months. In addition to replacing broken equipment, Sam has secured a deep discount for us, further assisting in our building renovation. Thanks so much Sam!
• Bill Gordon of Signature Landscaping donated a ride-behind mower. It will make short work of mowing the lawn at the facility. Thanks Bill!
• We are preparing for the "What if the Church Served Together?" event on Saturday, June 7. The event is a partnership between Heartland Community Church, Westside Family Church, and Cedar Ridge Christian Church, and we're anticipating receiving the help of a large number of volunteers that day, who will undertake various projects at our facility. For more information, check out http://whatifthechurch.shawncm217.com/.

Prayer needs:

• Various immigrant families in our community are experiencing crisis in different forms. Please petition God to care for their needs, strengthen the relationships in their families, and protect their kids from ill effects of their situations.

Current needs:

• gas powered weed eater
• round tables
• gas grills

Important upcoming dates:

• Saturday, May 24 @ 9:00 a.m.: Volunteer Orientation and Training

If your interested in volunteering with us in the future, or if you're a current volunteer who's never had the opportunity to come to the Orientation and Training, please plan to attend! You'll get an overview of Mission Adelante's various ministries, as well as information specific to the area that is of most interest to you.

• Monday, June 2 @ 6:30 p.m.: Volunteer Team Meeting

We ask that all current volunteers attend as we prepare for the beginning of the summer trimester.

• June 5: Summer ESL classes and Kids Adelante begin

A Closing Window of Opportunity for Kids Adelante

Those of us who are parents know how quickly kids grow up. This week I am lamenting how fast our opportunity to reach many immigrant children seems to evaporate. The window of time in which they are receptive is painfully short, and we are still working to establish key elements of our Kids Adelante program.

Children in our neighborhood lose innocence so quickly. In a confusing reversal of roles, the children learn English more easily than their parents, who then become dependent on their children as culture and language brokers. Culture, language, poverty, family volatility, and other factors combine to widen the natural gap that occurs between kids and parents during adolescence. The result is that by the age of 12, peers become the primary influences in the life of a child in an inner city context where gangs, teen pregnancy, and all other forms of human brokenness often prevail.

Nayeli started coming to Kids Adelante last fall. She is already eleven years old and she is changing fast. Her first trimester with us she led the way in memorizing scripture, influencing the others in her group to do the same. She is now about to enter the turning point age where most kids begin to distance themselves from their parents and from adult influence. Have we had enough time with her to make a lasting impact? Does she know God in an authentic and personal way yet? The window is closing with her and others and it seems we are just getting started.

As I think about Kids Adelante I am deeply moved by the opportunity we have to shape these kids forever. But the window is indeed brief. We have done what we can with limited staff resources, but much more is needed. This fall we hope to launch a pilot version of "Leaders in Training" that will include much more interaction with some of the kids in a mentoring/tutoring context. Please pray with me for direction for this new ministry component. Pray for God to raise up new staff for Kids Adelante. Pray for a passionate and committed group of volunteers who will pour themselves out for these kids. And pray for the kids; especially those who are nearing that critical age of adolescence.


In other news:

• Mother's Day is always celebrated on May 10 in Mexico. This year, it fell on Saturday, followed by Mother's Day in the U.S. on Sunday. We honored all the mothers in attendance at the worship celebration on Sunday evening with roses, cake and punch.
• Five volunteers from Jacob's Well Church worked on demolition at the facility on Saturday. All of them had volunteered previously at Mission Adelante, and chose to come back from among other options.
• Thirteen volunteers from Five Star Speakers are at the facility today to spend this afternoon working on demolition. We're grateful for every person that works on the building renovation!

Prayer needs:

• Please pray for immigrant children to be strengthened, in light of the challenges that they face. Pray for God to attract them at a young age and preserve their innocence and enthusiasm, especially as they approach adolescence.
• Pray for Mission Adelante leaders to receive God's direction for future Kids Adelante elements that we envision, such as mentoring and tutoring.

Current needs:

• 8-foot folding tables
• round tables
• gas grills

Important upcoming dates:

• Saturday, May 24 @ 9:00 a.m.: Volunteer Orientation and Training

If you're interested in volunteering with us in the future, or if you're a current volunteer who's never had the opportunity to come to the Orientation & Training, please plan to attend! You'll get an overview of Mission Adelante's various ministries, as well as information specific to the area that is of most interest to you.

• Monday, June 2 @ 6:30 p.m.: Volunteer Team Meeting

We ask that all current volunteers attend as we prepare for the beginning of the summer trimester

• June5: Summer ESL classes and Kids Adelante begin

Outreach Opportunity with Mission Adelante

The Mission Adelante Resource Center is an outreach program, which provides resources for immigrant families by securing donations of new and lightly used items through a network of individuals and churches. The purpose of this ministry is to demonstrate the love of Christ through relationship and giving to meet specific physical and material needs of immigrants.

About one and a half years ago, one of our English students came to us with a specific need. Two of her daughters had just arrived here from Mexico. They literally had the clothes on their backs and nothing else. We rallied support from area donors and were able to take care of their physical needs. Besides the need for clothing, we were also able to help them avoid a financial crisis through our benevolence fund.

By meeting this family's physical needs and developing a friendship, they accepted our invitation to join our Sunday night Bible study. The week of Christmas 2006, they decided to follow Jesus. Their lives have not been easy since then and we've been able to walk through new challenges with them. However, the work Christ has begun in their hearts continues and the opportunity for outreach in our neighborhood through sharing resources continues, as well.

The Resource Center currently contains donated clothing, toys, baby items, furniture and appliances. In addition to these goods, immigrants in our community regularly need other staples on an ongoing basis, such as food and consumables for babies, including formula and diapers.

Toward the aim of broadening the impact of Mission Adelante's Resource Center, we need to fill some ongoing volunteer positions, including:

Pickup and delivery: Volunteers who would be willing to answer occasional calls to pick up donations in the metro area and deliver them to our facility.

Sorting and collecting: Volunteers who would help us receive, organize and store donated goods.

Staffing the resource center: Volunteers who would be able to "staff" the resource center while it's open for drop-ins and appointments with immigrants who want to see what we have available.

If you, or someone you know, is interested in volunteering with Mission Adelante's Resource Center, please contact Seth Sears at 913.568.9280 or at seths@missionadelante.org. Also, a volunteer training event is coming up Saturday, May 24 from 9 am to noon. It would be a great opportunity for interested potential volunteers to learn more about Mission Adelante and our outreach programs. Please respond to Morgan Ham to RSVP or get more information.

In other news:

• Sofie Strohmeier will spend this summer as a Mission Adelante intern with an ESL focus. We're very pleased that she'll join Megan McDermott and Molly Merrick in the neighborhood!
• Jarrett and Kristen Meek hosted all three Bible study groups in their home Sunday evening for a cook-out. We enjoyed a good turnout of friends, nice weather, and fellowship.

Prayer needs:

• Please persist in interceding for M & V, who continue to experience crisis in their marriage and family. After a year and a half in the Mission Adelante community, their personal struggles are causing them to isolate themselves. Ask that the Lord's peace would saturate their home and that they would choose to persevere in their faith.
• Pray for Megan, Molly and Sofie as well as Mission Adelante staff members Jarrett and Jason as they prepare for this summer's internship program, which begins May 31.

Current needs:

• 8-foot folding tables
• round tables
• gas grills

Important upcoming dates:

• Saturday, May 24 @ 9:00 a.m.: Volunteer Orientation & Training
  If you're interested in volunteering with us in the future, or if you're a current volunteer who's never had the opportunity to come to the Orientation & Training, please plan to attend! You'll get an overview of the various ministries of Mission Adelante, as well as information specific to the area that is of most interest to you.
• June 5: Summer ESL classes and Kids Adelante begin