Step Into the Water

Written by David Stetler

When the Israelites came to the riverbank of the Jordan, the Lord commanded them to first step into the water. As soon as their feet touched the water, the river began to dry up and the people could cross on dry land.

Often times the Lord asks us to take a step of faith, to step into the water first and then to wait and see the faithfulness of God. This year we have taken a step of faith in the launch of the Bhutanese Outreach Pilot project. We stepped into the water and waited to see the faithfulness of God unfold right before our eyes.

This project was a pilot ministry. An experiment, so to speak. An experiment to see if Mission Adelante's ministry model was reproducible to a new immigrant population and to see if God was calling us to expand the ministry to this new growing refugee population right here in our midst. After 6 months of watching his incredible faithfulness, we believe it is safe to answer that question with a big "YES!" in true confidence in the Lord. The Board of Directors has approved ending the pilot season early and continuing this new ministry as a permanent part of what Mission Adelante does. We believe this is truly where God is leading us.

As we finish up our second trimester we are thrilled to report that we have over 40 students in our 3 levels of English classes and over 35 kids at our Kids' Club. In addition to the growth of the Tuesday night outreach we continue to see friendships deepening with our Bhutanese friends, Bibles studies starting, meals being shared, community forming and Jesus being shared through both word and deed.

We love them so much that we are delighted to share with them not only the gospel of God but our very lives as well, because they have become so dear to us. (1 Thessalonians 2:8)

We continue to seek the Lord's guidance and blessing in this amazing adventure.

In other news:

• The Mission Adelante Missionary Team met on Sunday for one of the first times since the Bhutanese and Latino outreach teams have been combined. The team is comprised of volunteers and staff people who are deeply committed to developing the mission and the church sides of the ministry, and many of whom have relocated to the neighborhood.
• Volunteers Rachel Schwagerman and Kristen Maxwell, along with staffer Molly Merrick have just leased a house very near Mission Adelante. In addition, volunteers David & Brooke Coon have a contract on a neighborhood house and are lined up to move in at the end of August!
• Over 45 people are registered to come to the seminar featuring Dr. Danny Carroll this Saturday, and there's still space available. This training opportunity is one of the best things Mission Adelante can offer our volunteers and friends! To get all the details about this seminar covering a Biblical overview of issues related to immigration and to register, follow this link.

Prayer needs:

• Violence in Mexico has claimed the life of the husband/father of one of Mission Adelante's families. Please pray for that family as they try to work through the loss, and for our church to support them in just the right way.
• Alberto, a leader in our church community, received notice of an appointment to take his citizenship exam sooner than anticipated! Please pray for his preparation for this final stage of the immigration process.

Current needs:

• A rocking chair for our new church nursery

Upcoming dates:

• Saturday, August 14--Bhutanese Trimester-end Party at Bethany Community Center
• Sunday, August 15, 4:30 p.m.--Latino Trimester-end Party at Wyandotte County Lake Park

All Star Volunteers: The Holland Family

written by Jason Schoff

"Lord send me." This simple statement reveals a willingness to go anywhere and take risks. Individuals who speak these words are always welcome members to any team. Jacob and Michelle Holland exemplify this type of individual.

I met the Hollands two years ago as they began to investigate Mission Adelante. They were looking for more than just a place to volunteer; they were looking for a place to invest their lives and make a kingdom impact. What the Hollands had done two years prior to meeting anyone from Mission Adelante was to take a risk for what they believed God wanted for their lives: they moved into our neighborhood without really knowing anyone! This was a huge jump, from being students at K-State and having never lived in Kansas City to a multicultural urban core filled with Hispanics.

Once we met the Hollands, it was an immediate connection. They were looking for a place to make a greater impact and we were moved by their bold convictions to serve. Jacob began volunteering with our ESL programs and Michelle jumped right into the mix of Kid's Adelante. Their involvement has only grown since that initial encounter and our community only continues to grow fonder of them and the part they play in our church, our mission, and our missionary community. When God added to their family during the past two years, they did not look for a reason to step away from serving but have found creative ways to serve as a family. Please join us in thanking God for the Hollands and their impact on Hispanics and our lives.

In other news:

• Coming up on Saturday, July 24, Dr. Danny Carroll will present a Biblical overview of issues related to immigration, especially relevant for all Christians who have a heart for serving the stranger in our midst.
  The event will be held at Grandview Park Presbyterian Church, 1613 Wilson Blvd., Kansas City, KS 66102, located just a couple of blocks from Mission Adelante. Please note that a fee of $20 per person will be collected at the door and child care will not be provided. The schedule for the day is as follows:
  
  
  8:30 Doors open
  9:00-12:00 Seminar by Dr. Daniel Carroll
  12:00-1:00 Lunch, provided at the church
  1:00-2:30 Policy discussion by Jenny Hwang

Space is limited! You can register by filling out the form at this link: Register Now.

• Our Bhutanese and Latino ESL classes and kids programs saw great attendance last week following our break week. Praise God for bringing everyone back!
• Jarrett and Jason enjoyed the opportunity to give a seminar at Westside Family Church on Saturday about creating a great volunteer culture.

Prayer needs:

• Please pray for the July 24 seminar with Danny Carroll to draw many attendees, as the discussion has the potential to affect change that can impact our church community.
• Join us in praying for our friends in Cuba who are experiencing discouragement in their ministry.

Current needs:

• A baby changing table and pad for our new church nursery
• A twin bed for a family in our worship community

Adelante Missions Institute Presents: A Seminar on Immigration

I am extremely excited to announce a special training opportunity to take place on Saturday, July 24 on the timely and important topic of immigration, sponsored by Mission Adelante, and co-sponsored by the National Association of Evangelicals and Grandview Park Presbyterian Church. We have invited Dr. Danny Carroll, author of Christians at the Border and distinguished professor of Old Testament at Denver Seminary, to present a Biblical overview of issues related to immigration, especially relevant for all Christians who have a heart for serving the stranger in our midst.

Leith Anderson of the National Association of Evangelicals writes, "Immigration issues grip American politics and opinions. But what does the Bible say? What is at the heart of the Christian view on immigration? Danny Carroll's voice on this issue is like no other."

If you are interested in seeing a snapshot of Dr. Carroll's presentation, follow this link to see his talk at Willow Creek's Compassion and Justice seminar. Dr. Carroll was also a speaker at the annual Christian Community Development Association conference in 2009.

In addition to Dr. Carroll, we will also hear from Jenny Hwang, Director for Advocacy and Policy for World Relief's Refugee and Immigration Program and co-author of Welcoming the Stranger: Justice, Compassion and Truth in the Immigration Debate. Ms. Hwang will present a policy discussion on Immigration.

The event will be held on Saturday, July 24 at Grandview Park Presbyterian Church, 1613 Wilson Blvd., Kansas City, KS 66102, located just a couple of blocks from Mission Adelante. Please note that a fee of $20 per person will be collected at the door and child care will not be provided. The schedule for the day is as follows:

8:30 Doors open

9:00-12:00 Seminar by Dr. Daniel Carroll

12:00-1:00 Lunch, provided at the church

1:00-2:30 Policy discussion by Jenny Hwang

Space is limited, so please don't delay to register and to spread the word to anyone whom this event may interest. Because of limited space, we may not be able to accommodate walk-ins on the day of the seminar. You can register by filling out the form at this link: Register Now. This is the only way registration will be accepted.

Again, we are extremely excited about this event and feel that God has provided us with a unique opportunity to explore a Biblical perspective on a challenging issue that is especially relevant for our ministry. We would love for you to join us!

In His Grace,

Jarrett Meek

Executive Director, Mission Adelante

In other news:

• Our Latino church community celebrated Independence Day together after the service with a cookout and fireworks in the parking lot on Sunday evening. We were encouraged to have our typical turnout for church in spite of the many options families had for entertainment that evening.
• David Stetler invited a bunch of Bhutanese kids to his house to watch the fireworks. Having arrived in the United States during the past few months, it was the first time the kids had viewed fireworks, so it was an exciting experience for David to be able to share with them.

Prayer needs:

• Please pray for a woman in our church community that is seeking discernment about whether to keep her job. She has been facing pressure in her workplace and wants more time with her family.
• Please pray for participants in our outreach programs to return enthusiastically this week following the break last week.
• Five teenage girls came to the first summer Bible study last week and had meaningful discussion. Please pray for their study tonight as they learn about the lies of the deceiver.

Current needs:

• A TV and a DVD player for use in our kids program
• Christian books and DVDs such as Veggie Tales that are suitable for small children
• Fans to help cool our classrooms and offices (We're trying to save money on electricity!)

Light in the Dark

Written by Andrew Pollock and Rachel Schwagerman, Mission Adelante summer interns

The Prescott neighborhood is across the street from Mission Adelante. The historic neighborhood is tight-knit with cute old houses, but over the years has become run down and is now home to many immigrants and aliens living below the poverty line. All of the problems that parallel poverty, such as drug abuse, drunkenness and gang activity have made it a less-than-desirable neighborhood. This is where many of the Mission Adelante families live. Last week we had the great privilege to host one of our kids camps in the neighborhood park and had the great help of the youth group from Emmanuel Baptist Church (EBC). For three evenings, we took over the park, which included playing, dancing, singing, running, and laughing with around 40 children, transforming it from darkness to light for a couple of hours these evenings. To be able to provide that experience for those kids is such a great feeling, because certainly no one else is. We sang fun Bible songs, and neighbors drove by, some gawking and some smiling through their windows. These summer events are our outreach time and having the youth of EBC to help was a great blessing. As a result, several new kids came to Kids Adelante on Thursday night and hopefully they will keep coming throughout the year.

One of my (Rachel) favorite things about living in this immigrant neighborhood and serving as an intern for the summer is the availability that I have for the kids and families who live right in my own back yard. Getting to surprise-visit kids who have been sitting all day in their homes dying of boredom really excites me when I knock on their door and they see my face. One little girl who I spent a lot of time with this week by taking her to the kids camp was my sweet friend, seven year old Galilea. Previously that week, I promised her a visit and she grew in excitement. When I showed up at her door, she was ready to go in less than 30 seconds. We first took a trip to the Paleteria, a famous ice cream shop that is right behind Prescott Park where we had planted our kids camp. I got her a cool treat before we spent the next few hours playing games outside. The joy that she had on her face and the excitement that it brought me when seeing her participate in fellowship with her friends and singing songs, encouraged me for the rest of the week. I see the work of the Lord everywhere, even in places where you least expect it.

I (Andrew) have been playing around like a kid with several of the Adelante boys this summer, and I believe it is the most valuable work I do. There are so many heart-wrenching stories of lost dads, older brothers in jail and all kinds of traumatic events that fill our kids' lives. So when I can spend an afternoon riding bikes, or an hour kicking a soccer ball with one of these guys, I know my time is well spent because of the smile stuck on their face and the joy in their eyes. In a world that constantly crushes these families, having hope is a struggle. That’s why God blesses us by giving us hope and faith. The freedom that Christ brings us can be made real, here and now! Therefore, the Gospel is of tremendous worth to these young souls, and mine too, and even more so now that I have joined them in a small way in their experience of living as outsiders.

In other news:

• Immigration seminar on July 24: We're very excited to announce the next Adelante Missions Institute Saturday Seminar on Saturday, July 24. Dr. Danny Carroll and Jenny Hwang will speak on the timely and important topic of immigration. Please follow this link for all the details and to register!
• Two of the summer interns are celebrating birthdays this week. On their own initiative, they used the occasions to host a birthday party here in the neighborhood last Saturday and invited our whole Latino community to celebrate with them! We are so proud of the way they're fully engaged in Mission Adelante's vision.
• Last weekend the Board of Directors approved the Bhutanese outreach pilot as a permanent component of Mission Adelante's ministry! This came sooner than expected because of the obvious viability and relevance of the outreach. The approval opens the opportunity to begin to hire staff to fill key roles.

Prayer needs:

• Praise God with us! A Latino family that we've been pursuing for four years through our English classes and Kids Adelante outreaches took the step to come to our worship celebration for the first time on Sunday. Please pray that they would be moved to worship with us again.
• Please continue to pray for deep discussion and for the young people's understanding of spiritual things to be nurtured as Latino pre-teen girls, teen girls, and teen guys meet in separate Bible studies throughout the summer.
• Pray for refreshment for staff and volunteers during this break week, and that our outreach programs will not have suffered any loss of momentum when they meet again next week.

Current needs:

• We're looking for a couch to help furnish the home of a Bhutanese family. We can pick it up anytime during the day this Monday, July 5. If you have one that you would like to donate, please e-mail David Stetler, and attach a photo of the couch if possible.

Important dates:

• Today, June 29: Mid-Trimester Break. No Bhutanese outreach programs.
• Thursday, July 1: Mid-Trimester Break. No Latino outreach programs.

Partnering to Bless Neighborhood Kids

It's no surprise that Latino children love soccer, but it was obvious last week that Bhutanese kids also share this passion! Goran Hunjak with Victory through Soccer ministry teamed up with Christ Community Church and Mission Adelante to offer a three-day soccer camp to the kids of our community. Despite some challenging logistics because of rain, the camp was amazing.

On Tuesday night around 130 kids from our neighborhood converged on Regan Field near Mission Adelante, and participated in what to me was a community spectacle. Youth from Christ Community Church served as volunteer coaches, Bhutanese and Latino children moved from station to station practicing drills, and parents sat in the stands and marveled that their children were being loved by this group of young strangers who might just as easily have rejected them as different if not for Jesus.

One of the stations brought about more excitement than the others; it was the station where each child received a new pair of soccer cleats and a backpack with Mission Adelante's logo embroidered on it! As I watched the event unfold I was filled with thanksgiving for what God is doing among our immigrant friends, for the amazing staff and volunteers that He has brought to serve with us, and for the generosity of so many people who give so that we can serve and bless the Mission Field in our Own Backyard!

In other news:

• We want to give a big "Thanks!" to the Alexander family for spearheading the cleat collection that allowed each child at the soccer camp last week to receive a pair!
• We also want to thank Matt Totsch for answering our call for computer networking support! Thanks to Matt, things are running more smoothly around here.
• This has been the month of summer VBS activities for our kids! The youth group from Emmanuel Baptist Church kicked off this week's evening activities Sunday with supper and a movie on our soccer field.

Prayer needs:

• Mayra and her family have been a faithful part of our community for a couple of years. Last week her brother was killed in Mexico. The tragedy was compounded for Mayra by her inability to return to Mexico for the funeral and to be with the whole family. We held a memorial service for Mayra's brother on Saturday, and the family was comforted to be surrounded by so many supportive friends. Please pray for continuing comfort for Mayra and her family, and that they'll find God faithful and their faith will be strengthened during this difficult time.
• Please pray for safety to cover everyone present at the evening kids' activities this week. For the sake of outreach, the activities are held in a local park, but it is known for gang activity.
• The Latino teen guys and gals will be in separate Bible Studies for the course of the summer, which begin this weekend. Please pray for them to go deep in discussion and in seeking God.
• Pray for the Mission Adelante Board Meeting this Sunday, for wisdom to make decisions pertaining to the Mission's future direction.

Current needs:

• A 13" or larger T.V. with a built-in DVD player or a separate DVD player for use in our children's ministry.
• Books and DVDs with Christian content suitable for small children, such as Veggie Tales.
• Fans to cool our offices and classrooms (we're trying to save money on electricity!)

Upcoming dates:

• June 29: Summer break. No Bhutanese outreach activities.
• July 1: Summer break. No Latino outreach activities.