COMMON GRACE: Connecting Supporting & Mobilizing Churches to Effectively Reach their Communities

September 2009 Newsletter

The next five posts make up our current newsletter. Please read them all!

-Common Grace Update

-Neighborhood Ministry

-Guatemala Vision Trip

-Prayer Requests

-How to Support Us
(Our little gardners, Alecia and Justis are shown above!)

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)

Common Grace assists ministries in their work to cooperate with each other and reach the urban community. 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, Common Grace connects, supports and mobilizes church and community leaders as they seek to spread the gospel and address the needs of their communities.

Here are a few activities being carried out by Common Grace:

-Esperanza USA has contracted CG to assist 10 nonprofits in their Hispanic Capacity Program. CG will use their demographics program to help each nonprofit understand their community better.

-CG is leading a missional discussion with seven local ministry leaders who are learning how to reach the least, last and lost and how to be more relevant in their communities.

-Nes continues to work with other youth ministry leaders to facilitate ONE youth rallies leading up to the fall retreat at Camp Andrews in October.

-Nes is presenting CG’s work to ministries and preaching in various churches when invited.

-Through CG, Nes will assist the Timoteo Flag Football League in its restructuring throughout the next year.

-Reload youth leader training through Urban Youth Workers Institute will be facilitated in 2010, possibly partnering with Eastern University.

-The Free Church of St. John in West Kensington has contracted Nes to assist in youth ministry development.

Neighborhood Ministry

Nes is the new block captain! We are excited about partnering with our neighbor, Dessia, who is working with Nes as co-captain. Nes grew up with Dessia on the block. She has come a long way from her past of struggling with addiction. She went back to school, got a security job and is supporting her three children under the age of 6. We praise God for what He has done in her life and pray that she will recognize that He did it. At this point, she has not given her life to Christ, but we continue to pray for her.

We had our first block meeting this summer and sponsored a couple of block parties. We are educating folks on resources that are available and encouraging people to keep the sidewalks clean and recycle.

Raul, Matt and Damon are shown in the picture at our Labor Day party.

We praise God for the blessings on our block: three gardens cared for by various block members, friends for our children, more interest in keeping our block clean and Dessia’s excitement about serving her community.

We hope to do more with our garden next year by expanding it into a neighbor’s lot. We also hope to get more people involved in its care. In addition, we are looking for a way to re-cement the entire block’s sidewalk and curb which is badly cracked and crumbling. We are looking for anyone who would have the ability to help us make this happen. The city will not do it because they say it is the property owners' responsibility.

Like Nehemiah, we seek to rebuild and restore our neighborhood which has long been in a state of disrepair. Pray that our witness to Christ would be strengthened by the tangible love we show our neighborhood.

Guatemala Vision Trip

Thank you to all who prayed or contributed money for our trip. The Lord provided just what we needed and we were able to share resources with ministries down there as well.

The best part about our trip was developing a relationship with a church called Nueva Jerusalen (New Jerusalem). It is exciting to be able to see God at work in a different place and in a different culture. We spent a lot of time with William and his wife Karen who are the youth pastor and the director of their Christian school. William is shown with Dana, Anna and Bell (two young adults from Bethel Temple).

Nueva Jerusalen’s neighborhood reminded us of ours in many ways. Kids often played soccer in the alleyway by our house. Soccer is a staple, but they were excited about trying our football!

While we were there, we also participated in building a house for a church family and teaching the teens flag football.

Prayer Requests

-For a decision on how to funnel our support and receive accountability.

-For a local church facing closure. Nes was set to help them build up their youth ministry, but now the church struggling to stay open.

-Nes will begin seminary in February with Biblical Seminary.

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.

Reaching Out to Youth Through the Ministries of Bethel Temple

December 2009 News:
Reaching Out to Youth Through the Ministries of Bethel Temple
(Pictured above is Hector, a young man who was in our youth group and now attends Bethel Temple as a young adult.)

The following five posts complete our most recent newsletter:

• Camp Andrews 2008: Is it true faith in God?
• "Hood Rich"
• New Ministry Opportunity Coming Soon
• Prayer Requests and Praises
• 2009 Support Need and Where to Send Donations

Camp Andrews 2008: Is it true faith in God?

October 24-26 we had our annual One retreat with seven area churches. This year’s theme for our 8th-12th graders was “The Born Identity” taken from the Jason Bourne movie series. We had about 100 youth and 30 leaders attend this year. It’s always good to take kids to camp for an experience with God. However, after doing it so many times, we can get discouraged when we see youth get emotional for a weekend and then go back home to resume the same patterns.

This time, a youth named Damon particularly caught my (Nes’) attention. Damon came to camp following a friend and not really knowing what the camp was about. The guy he came with turned out to be very disruptive and we had to send him home. Damon’s friend asked him if he was going to leave too. Damon turned him down. This was Saturday, a day into the camp, and without knowing anything about the camp, he wanted to stay. Why would Damon, who also was acting very tough, want to stay?

That morning during our session we talked about family, and that might have drawn him to stay. The speaker touched on how some have parents who are not around and don’t seem to care. But God has given the kids youth leaders that care about them and their soul.

When I stood up to conclude the session, I started to cry as I thought about how much this is my heart for the youth. I was also thinking about Carlos Jr., who was killed in a car accident in May and was missing at the retreat. His dad came as chaperone, bringing his stepson. I shared how we as youth leaders desire for the youth to love God with all their heart, soul and mind. As I was sharing I couldn’t hold my composure—a combination of one of our dearly loved youth passing away this year and wanting to see youth living for Jesus today, right now.

That night at the camp fire, I spoke with Damon about his experience so far. He started to say that it felt good. I continued asking questions to engage him in the conversation. At the end he said he wanted to come to church and give God a try. Sunday morning he shared it again during the open mike time. A youth leader asked me later if I thought he was being sincere. I told him we should continue to work with him. Let’s not question what is real since God knows that, and we will know that in time. Let’s continue to work with Damon. Pray for Damon. We planted a seed and water it, but only God’s Spirit changes his heart and causes him to grow.

“HOOD RICH”

Recently a youth was talking to Nes and called him “hood rich”. He made the comment when he noticed Nes’ new car. (We just bought a ‘97 Ford Escort wagon so that Nes can leave me with the van to get around with the kids. He nicknamed it "night rider.")

Though I had never heard the term before, I knew exactly what he meant when he said “hood rich.” However, when I look at the little Escort and sit down to pay the bills every month, I don’t feel rich. But I realized again what I had forgotten. In our community, ”the hood,” we ARE rich. There are many things we have access to that make us rich—financially and otherwise.

It sometimes can be embarrassing when kids come in our house and see all that we have compared to what they have. They also find some of our family rituals strange—like holding hands to pray at dinner or giving our children quiet times in their rooms. But we pray that they might see the ultimate wealth we possess. Hopefully by our lives, we would tell the story of Christ’s love.

When Jesus was born on earth, He demonstrated an important aspect of His love. He came to us and lived among us.

“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels... [and] ...we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses…” (Hebrews 2:9 and 4:15)

Jesus was also from Nazareth and of very modest means. Let us never become too “rich” that we cannot sympathize with those around us. But let us continue to increase our eternal wealth by loving people the way Jesus loved us.

New Ministry Opportunity Coming Soon

For some time, Nes has been collaborating with several churches nearby to form the group ONE. His desire has been to expand that effort, and it seems that it might finally come to pass.

Nes, along with two other men, Coz Crosscombe and Bill Krispin, have spent many months hashing out what that might look like. Through this, Common Grace is being created. The hope is that there might be a unified and diverse Body made up of many churches all engaged together in and for their local communities resulting in vibrant children, youth and families in vibrant communities.

Common Grace’s work would include:
· Research and publications
· Collaboration, networking and partnerships
· Resource identification and allocation
· Empowerment of local leadership

The primary target will be marginalized and under-served communities in East and North Philadelphia, then expanding to whole city and region.

Please pray for us as we prepare to step down from Nes’s position of Youth Director at Bethel Temple to work with Common Grace full-time. The elders have given us their blessing. We have also made the announcement to the youth and congregation that this will happen in June of 2009.

We ask for your continued prayer and support as we are feeling sad, but also excited about where God is leading us. We will remain living where we are, continue raising support and continue attending Bethel Temple.

If you have any questions about this, please free to contact us. We will share more in the coming months.

Prayer Requests
ONE Youth rally: 1/16
Guidance through our upcoming transition.
For the spring Timoteo flag football season.
For all the youth leaders and Sunday school teachers at Bethel.

Praises
We thank God for many who have given generously to support the ministry.
A thoughtful family made a donation which allowed us to buy a second car.
Alecia is adjusting to kindergarten well, learning to read and write Spanish!
Bethel Temple has agreed to pay for our health insurance.
Bryant, who is a senior in our youth group, received his first 2 college acceptance letters! (pictured above with Dana, Justis and Alecia)

September 2008 News

The Next six posts contain the following contents of our most recent newsletter, Reaching out to Youth Through the Ministries of Bethel Temple:

• Surviving on their Own
• Eagles Win Timoteo Flag Football Championship
• Death is Raw in the Hood
• Children of the City
• Praises and Prayer Requests
• Support Needs and Contact information

Surviving On Their Own

You have most likely heard the statement that kids in our neighborhood raise themselves. But what does that mean? Does it mean that they are orphans living in boxes on the street? Do you picture parents doing drugs in front of the TV, while the child fixes dinner for himself? Though these situations exist, they represent a very small number.

Take, for example, the way Nes grew up. At age five, his father died. His mother never had anymore children and raised Nes on her own. She never did drugs, always provided his physical needs and taught him right from wrong. She sent him to church and scolded him when he stayed out too late. She gave him chores around the house and found a tutor when he needed help in school. So why does he feel he fended for himself? It certainly was not that she didn’t care or didn’t try.

He tells me he had to figure out most life skills for himself. His mom lacked many resources to pass on to him. She did not attend church regularly or have a healthy spiritual life. His mom lacked a high school education and could not speak English well. He did not have a father.

Look at one of our youth named Samir. His mother worries about her 15 year old son. His father is in jail, and Samir struggles with anger and rage. She has told Nes and I on more than one occasion that she breathes sighs of relief when she knows Samir is hanging out with us. She is very reluctant to come to church. Please pray that she will surrender herself to God. Without Him she just doesn’t know what to do with Samir and lacks the resources to figure it out.

Still, God has showered His grace on this young man. His brain is a sponge and he takes in every bible study lesson. He has been consistently involved in Timoteo football, Sunday school and helps us with our kids and our garden. He is surviving because God is working in him.
We praise God for defying the worldly odds with many of our youth. And we pray for them to receive the resources that their parents didn’t have.

Samir is pictured above on the far right next to Mike and Danielle.

Eagles Win Timoteo Flag Football Championship

I am not trying to brag, but my husband is the greatest coach I have ever known! He pushed these guys to surrender their self-centeredness, play as a team and be an example of what it means to live for Christ. In the end, they accomplished an undefeated season as an added bonus!
Some of these guys are Christians and others are still searching, but we pray that the lessons learned will draw them closer to becoming what the Lord desires for them. Many live within a block of us and we continue to have many opportunities to interact with them.

Pictured above are Bryant and "Snoop" who play on the Timoteo Eagles team. They are wearing their new high school team jerseys for this fall.

For more on the Timoteo Flag football league visit the site at Timoteofootball.com

Death is Raw in the Hood

Lyza, a classmate to kids in our youth group, committed suicide. A young girl died of a heart attack one block from our home. A church family’s 10-year-old son died. Carlos, a young man who came up through our youth group was killed in a car accident. Ciso, a man from our block who grew up with Nes, was tortured and killed as revenge. Another young man was shot one block from the church.

All of this happened this year. Whether it happens to the “innocent” or to the “delinquent,” our community struggles to make sense of it. At the same time, there is numbness. The news seems to communicate, “There goes another one.” Unless it is a cop. Then coverage lasts for weeks.

In another neighborhood, you can watch countless neighbors on television in shock, wondering how this could happen. In ours, neighbors build shrines of teddy bears and candles and balloons—left to soak in the rain.

How does God call us to respond to people’s grief in a place like this?

We must share the gospel and explain the hope that is in Christ. We need to encourage folks to share with their families. Then, we can take the advice of Paul: “...we do not want you...to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.” I Thessalonians 4:13

Children of the City

Fingerprints and noseprints left on the storm door glass by friends peering in. Chalk scribble on the sidewalk. Trips to the corner store for a treat. Ice cream trucks playing music in the distance. Four preschoolers chattering around a sprinkler. These are images you cannot replicate. These are the experiences of raising children in the city.

Someone recently told me that the reason he moved out of Philadelphia was because it just got to dangerous for his daughter. I told him that our children are safe only because God takes care of them. Of course we have our share of fears. But God calls us to be grateful for the pleasures the city gives us and trust Him for the rest.

“The city streets will be filled with boys and girls playing there." This is what the LORD Almighty says: "It may seem marvelous to the remnant of this people at that time, but will it seem marvelous to me?" declares the LORD Almighty.” Zechariah 8:5,6

(Pictured above are our children playing in the school yard near our home.)