Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Common Grace Philadelphia


Helping Churches Work Together to Effectively Reach their Communities

May 2009
News

Take a look that the following four posts which make up our current newsletter:

Our New Journey: Common Grace Update

Thank you to all our Supporters!

Praises and Prayer Requests

Guatemala Vision Trip and Support Needs

Our New Journey: Common Grace Update

From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (Ephesians 4:16)

This passage in Ephesians 4 is at the core of what Common Grace is being designed to do. Nes and his partners David Crosscombe and Bill Krispin are passionate about assisting ministries in their work to reach the urban community and cooperate with each other. In order for each part of the body to be effective, all parts need to work together, be equipped and value each other’s gifts.

In order to accomplish this, they will be informing, resourcing and mobilizing urban church and community leaders as they seek to address the needs of their communities. A few examples are:

1. Utilizing a demographics program to help churches and ministries understand their communities.

2. Getting to know unique ministries that are not well-known and connecting them to others. For example, Young Life has asked for help in connecting with inner city churches.

3. Facilitating various trainings in order to equip leaders. For example, Nes will soon be leading a training for a small church that wants help in restructuring their youth ministry. Nes will also continue to be involved with RELOAD Trainings.

4. Helping churches of different ethnic and economical backgrounds to collaborate and value each other.

5. Training church planters.

Nes has also been working hard for some time to develop relationships with a variety of ministries and churches in the area. It is important that many close relationships are developed so that Common Grace can work to bring together resources and help people to collaborate. This is one reason why this new position is such a good fit for Nes. Nes loves meeting new people and is very good at networking. We are excited about this new use of his gifts!

As our transition in July comes closer, we do ask for your prayer. Please pray for the Bethel Temple family that is going through a lot of difficult changes lately. Please pray that God will give the elders the strength and wisdom they need.

Please also pray for the teenagers, and those who will continue to coordinate Sunday school, youth group and discipleship ministries for them. We know that the Lord will continue to work in each youth’s heart, and we pray that they will grow to serve Him more

Thank you to all our supporters!

I was recently speaking with a woman who attends bible study with me at Bethel. She’s been struggling for a few years to find a job that is full-time and can consistently pay her. She is a real life example of the statistics you hear about. Last month, she had to move out of her apartment to live with a friend. She just couldn’t afford to pay bills by herself.

It made me think about the desperateness I hear about everyday on the news. The stable jobs, home values, and 401Ks that people once thought were their security are now falling from under them.

Over the years that Nes and I have been involved in ministry, I have longed at times for a stable job, predictable paychecks, a 401K and no need to solicit for support. But time and time again, God has shown me that He is in control. We have never had to fail in paying a bill. Most of all, God has taught me to find my security in Him.

It is true, we never know what we will have on our check from month to month. But I see that now as a huge blessing. I have had to learn to trust that it will be enough. And it has been.

As the economy of our country and the world struggles, I don’t feel afraid.
What amazes me even more, is that our support level has not dipped like the stock market. Many of you have supported us monthly, with one-time gifts or by giving your time to mentor us or work on our house. This has not declined. In some cases you have increased your support.

God is totally in control and we praise Him for giving you to us and for giving all of us what we need.

Thank you for who you are to us. We appreciate everything, including all the prayers. Last week we were visiting my home church in Grantham, PA and someone told us she had just been praying for us the night before. I was humbled and amazed. God is truly caring for us!

Praises and Prayer Requests



Praises


· Many good connections are being made with folks interested in partnering with Common Grace’s work.

· A successful Jr. High Retreat was led by young adults that Nes has been discipling over the years. They pulled it off without Nes!

· Nes facilitated RELOAD, the one-day youth leader training in March with 200 attending.

· Common Grace is continuing to develop and we will transition in July.

· Nes is enjoying once again coaching his guys in the Timoteo Flag Football league.

· Bryant is now registered for the fall to attend Kutztown University!

Prayer Requests

· Guidance through our transition in July.

· For an organization to act as our mission agency to provide us accountability and resources.

Guatemala Vision Trip and Support Needs


Guatemala Vision Trip


In July, we will participate in our last official project as staff at Bethel Temple. We will travel with six other folks, who have been working with Nes in the youth ministry at Bethel, to Guatemala City. We will visit Strategy of Transformation, an organization with which two former Bethel Temple leaders work. “Strategy” focuses on those who are often considered in Latin America to be the least, last and lost such as gang members, street youth, drug addicts and those caught in the trap of extreme poverty. One of the most urgent needs is the empowerment, equipping and mobilization of grassroots leaders who serve these vulnerable communities. This is what they do.

We will learn how God is working through this ministry and how He is using Latin American Christians to transform lives. We will also be experiencing this alongside young adults whom we have been discipling and with whom we have been leading the Bethel youth ministry. They will be looking forward to next year when they hope to organize a youth and young adult trip for more people. Those traveling with us are:

Eric and Nancylee Desamour, who have been teaching the Senior High Sunday school class at Bethel will come with their 18 year old daughter, Adrianna Gonzalez.

Also Rob Rodriguez, Yesbel Duran and Victor Santiago, young adults who head the Junior High youth ministry will join us.

2009 Support Needs

Our support raising goal for 2009 is $4500/month.


We ask that you consider how you might be able to give in 2009 and fill out the enclosed slip to return to us. For now, support will continue to be funneled through Bethel Temple. We will let you know when that changes.


Also, if you are able to give an extra gift, we are raising funds for our trip to Guatemala. The cost for all participants is $9600. We have already raised about $4200.


Checks can be made payable to Bethel Temple Community Bible Church and sent to Nes and Dana Espinosa, 2928 N. Fairhill St., Philadelphia, PA 19133.

Please note in the memo whether it is for Espinosa Salary or Guatemala Vision Trip.