connectNOW

Small Group Projects - The Graber Life Group

2011-08-01T13:45:00.000-05:00

On Saturday, June 25, 2011 a group of 13 from our Life Group went to volunteer at a place in West Dallas called Brother Bill’s Helping Hand. Here is a brief description from their website that tells their purpose:

Brother Bill's Helping Hand brings not just a legacy of 70 years of service to West Dallas, but hope for a better life to the more than 25,000 people living in the 75212 zip code. As a faith-based nonprofit that hope comes in the form of Education, Health, and Essentials of Life programs. Partnering caring volunteers with neighbors in need brings nourishment of the mind, body, and soul to all involved.

We were asked to help prepare for the afternoon event Birthday Party in a Bag. Again this description is from their website:

Birthday Party in a Bag

Twice a year Birthday Party in a Bag provides BBHH children all the elements of a birthday party for eight in one decorative birthday tote bag. A bag includes themed paper plates, cups, napkins, favors, hats, candles, cake mix, icing - no gift. Children select their “party” on a Saturday.

Half of our group helped sort the premade party bags into girls and boys and placing them where BBHH needed them for the afternoon event. The other half of our group helped in sorting over 20 boxes of donated books to give to the children to pass out at their party as party favors to their friends that attend their party. These bags of books have a couple of great “God stories” that go into each of their homes. First of all, the way BBHH came across over 20 boxes of donated books is awesome. A volunteer was finishing up and asked BBHH what were some items they needed. The subject of books came up and it just so happened (yeah right) that this volunteer is a Vice President for Half Price Books. Needless to say they took care of the rest. So after an hour or so of sorting and bagging 10 books per bag for both girls and boys, we were way short on the number of books for the girl bags needed. As we were wrapping things up, a lady and her 2 daughters wanted to drop off some items and it just so happened (yeah right again) that they brought just enough books to finish all but 2 or 3 of the girl bags. GOD IS SO GOOD!!

It is clear to me that God is using Brother Bill’s to further His kingdom in very practical ways for this neighborhood. We had a great time serving and we are so proud to have been a small part of a great organization!

Love God, Love People!

Brother Bill's has great opportunities by visiting their website! bbhh.org

Small Group Projects - The Trevino Life Group

2011-08-01T12:49:00.000-05:00

Two weeks ago we didn't meet because we were doing a service
project for Aaron Gentry's dad. His dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease a while back. He has been wanting a garden and the family has been wanting to make a garden for a while and it hadn't happened. Aaron's family had a yard sale to raise money and with that, we were able to get the materials (thanks to Sarah Harn) and go over last Sunday afternoon/evening and then Wednesday morning to build the garden. We had such an incredible time of serving together. We had a great turnout!

Small Group Projects - The Guadagnolo Life Group

2011-08-01T12:48:00.001-05:00

Wednesday, July 20th, our home group went to the Tarrant County Food Bank to pack lunches for the Summer Feeding Program Backpack Lunches for kids. We packed approximately 2,500 lunches for kids that evening. It was very organized, like an assembly line, so I was only able to one quick picture or our side of the line would get behind. This is an ongoing program throughout the year, since they send home the lunches at school on Fridays for the weekend.

For more information about the program, visit their website http://www.tafb.org/Volunteer.html

Small Group Projects - The Riley Life Group

2011-08-01T12:48:00.000-05:00

Desiring to become involved with Connect’s Community Projects, the Riley Life Group met and decided to do an “inside job” and impacted a family within Connect. We chose to serve a single mom and her son with some “honey-do” projects around their home. Jill Chronister also offered her photography expertise to document the event!

The main needs were fence repair, tree trimming, and planting two gardenia bushes. Along with making these repairs, the men of our group also had a desire to mentor her son in how to continue maintaining such repairs around their home.

Because of the financial burden that often accompanies single parenting, our group also decided to share the expense, and pay for any materials needed to accomplish our work. Forgoing our normal Wednesday night routine, we met at the their home, and completed the repairs. To celebrate our accomplishments and further bond with the church family, we treated them to dinner, all sharing a meal at Fuzzy’s Tacos.

Though we did not have our typical Bible study that evening, when our work was complete we felt even more filled with God’s love and presence as a by-product of living the Word and serving our friends! How good it is to be the body! It is truly more blessed to give than to receive!

For more info on project ideas for your group click here!

Haiti Medical Clinics

2011-05-17T14:59:00.000-05:00

The blog entry below is from a partner at Connect Church, Corri Robinson. She is a nurse and photographer.

Our last and final day of our vision trip in Haiti. A day to absorb everything we can before heading home, so we split up to see as much as possible. Mark and Thomas headed out to meet with local pastors to learn more about what their greatest concerns are, what they’re doing to address them, and where they have deficiencies. I, however, being the medical professional of the team, was wanting to visit the clinics. So, I caught a ride with a local who was heading out to the Samaritan’s Purse Cholera Clinic.

We drove into the heart of the most dangerous area of the Port Au Prince outskirts, and entered the clinic through a guarded gate. The clinic compound was surrounded by a security fence and a staff of guards, with access to an emergency evacuation vehicle and plan. It consisted of a maze of blue tents, each housing a particular department or area of specialized medical care, much like a hospital. Each tent was staffed and operated by both SP employees and volunteers.

I was impressed with the systematic, almost cookie-cutter processes that had been put in place. There was a place for everything necessary to provide triage, assessment, diagnosis, treatment, observation and discharge. I feel like those who would be best qualified are highly skilled, independently motivated, compassionate medical volunteers.

I was able to meet with several volunteering nurses, and the physician on duty. Each were friendly and more than willing to share their experience. Teamwork was prevalent, and I sensed an overall unified atmosphere. I got to meet a father-daughter team that chose to volunteer together as a family-service opportunity. They both talked about what an amazing bonding experience that it was for them.

As I processed what I learned, I thought about how it is easy to become cynical and burned out by the inundation of over-privileged, healthy patients that frequent our medical facilities. I left feeling like the opportunity to use my medical knowledge, in a place with such great need, would be both rewarding and fulfilling. I feel thankful for the opportunity to see needs and to begin to pray about future opportunities to go back.

-Corri, Connect Missions

A man named Esaie

2011-05-10T09:44:00.000-05:00

On our recent trip to Haiti, we met a Haitian man named Esaie (Isaiah) (above picture on the right) who works on the Samaritan Purse base where we stayed. Although we spoke with Esaie for only a few moments, we could tell that he is a man of sacrifice and full of the love of Christ. He told us after the earthquake, he went down to a devastated part of the city called Cite Soleil where he saw children running around without parents. His heart broke for the ones who had lost their parents in the earthquake. Instead of going back home feeling bad, he decided to do something. He brought home 15 children and opened his own orphanage called “Jesus’ Name Orphanage”!

God is blessing his efforts... These precious children greeted us as Esaie walked us into a cinder-blocked courtyard. They all crowded around, hugging each of us… but it was in a different way than at Bon Samaritan. Esaie is able to take good care of his kids… physically, emotionally, and spiritually. He manages to feed, clothe and care for all 15 children on his salary from Samaritan’s Purse.

The children live on the backside of his brother’s school. His hope is to build a home for them on a separate piece of property that he owns when he has the money. He walks us over to a hole in the ground that is reinforced with more cinder-blocks. Esaie tells us that he is building a new bathroom for the children because the old one is full of… well… sewage. The old one needs to be sealed off in addition to the new one being built. Samaritan’s Purse has raised the money to build the new bathroom for Esaie! Soon the children won’t have to walk to the neighbors to use the bathroom!

We went to Haiti hoping to meet people like Esaie who are already in the process of doing something in Haiti. We want to come alongside someone like him to help him accomplish his God given vision for his community. These children didn’t have much but they saw the unconditional love of God being modeled thru Esaie!

You can pray for Esaie to be encouraged as he continues to improve the surroundings and the lives of these 15 children. Pray for Connect, as we work through the details of how to encourage, help and respond. The hard part about these stories is that we want to “fix” the problem we see. In reality the problems are deeper and need long term solutions not just money.

Below is a video from Samaritan Purse which documents Esaie’s story… it’s worth your time to watch, very cool!

Joining you in prayer as we HOPE for Haiti-
-Thomas, Connect Missions

Bon Samaritan Orphanage - Day 1 Haiti

2011-05-04T09:34:00.000-05:00

The blog entry below is from a partner at Connect Church, Corri Robinson. She is a nurse and photographer. We arrived in Haiti late on Tuesday afternoon and we went straight out to Bon Samaritan Orphanage with a medical team. As we arrived, we realized the reality for these 63 orphans was not what we expected...

Late afternoon, approaching Bon Samaritan Orphanage for the first time, I recall my efforts in trying to be prepared for what I might encounter, praying for what God wanted me to see as we would engage with the children at this home. I wasn’t prepared. My American ideals of what an orphanage is were challenged, to say the least. The term orphanage by definition is: an institution for the housing and care of orphans. An establishment or organization, foundation or society devoted to promotion of a particular cause or program. The name itself, “Bon Samaritan Orphanage” is a misnomer, implying that we would be visiting a facility, a building, a home, a place with walls.

We arrived by van, entering a chain-linked, barbed-wired, gated plot of barren land with a honk, carrying medical supplies, a medical and pastoral team, and excitement. We were greeted by dozens of wide, bright-eyed, cheering children ranging in age from 2-12. Ecstatic to be visited, expectant of what we may be bringing, and hopeful for connection. Scrambling to get the first touch, each pushed and shoved to be noticed, to make eye contact, to be embraced! Unable to move through the mob, tears welled inside me as the youngest of all climbed my leg to be held, dirty, diaper-less, desperate. I was confused by the laughter, and joy they each expressed. As I prayed again for God to show me what He wanted me to see. I realized that beyond their impressive greeting, they were homeless, without basic human needs. Without beds, clean water, food, and more than anything else, care givers, someone to love them. They had no voice.

I thought, ‘how is this possible?’ ‘where do they sleep?’ ‘who cares for them?’ I prayed more and I began hearing the answer. We are the answer. We, the church, are the chosen.

Isaiah 58:6,7 says, “Is this not the kind of fasting I have chosen: ... to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter-when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?”

We were loosing daylight, and had to jump right in to meeting the medical needs that we went to provide. We were treating the entire group of kids for scabies, a parasite that embeds itself under the skin of its host, and results in extreme discomfort and itching. We threw down a tarp on the dry dusty ground to work as a make-shift clinic, broke up into two teams: the treaters and distractors. As we swabbed each child’s skin with liquid medicine and I saw their delight, I realized how desperate they were for those basic needs...to be touched, to be clean, to be noticed. My heart was broken, tears were streaming, but somehow I was making a difference. I was holding, loving, medicating and being the hands of Jesus. What a privilege!

The sun set, and I left with a heavy burden, yet with a fullness I cannot convey. We are created for this....reaching beyond ourselves to meet the needs of the hurting, the needy, the hungry.

“if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then ‘your’ light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.”

Corri

Thoughts on Haiti

2011-05-02T09:49:00.000-05:00

Recently, Connect went on a trip to Haiti to seek out new opportunities for our church to be a part of what God is doing there. Our team consisted of: Our pastor, Mark; a partner of Connect, Corri (nurse & photographer); and myself (Thomas, missions pastor). During our three days there, we visited construction projects, orphanages, churches, and medical clinics in and around Port au Prince.

We stayed on the base of Samaritan’s Purse, who has been on the ground since the earthquake. Samaritan’s Purse is a Christ-centered mission organization that is committed to a long stay in Haiti as they partner with local believers in rebuilding communities. It was great to see how we might partner with them!

Over the next couple of weeks, we will be sharing stories to bring awareness of what is going on in Haiti and possible ways that Connect could be involved in the future. Join us in prayer for the current work there and for the workers bringing health, hope, and clean water to the communities of Haiti.

Some may ask the question, “WHY GO?”

Why do we go to places like Haiti, Mexico, SE Asia, Africa…

God asks us to! Here are a few scriptures that are very clear about going to the ends of the world to make Christ known (Matthew 28:16-20; Romans 10:1-15). “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Romans 10)

Christ’s love compels us to GO….and LOVE….and TELL… the people around us and the people around the world.

I hope the stories that are told about Haiti will captivate your heart for what God is doing in the world. He is at work in Haiti. I also pray that God would stir your heart for the things that move Him and that you would see that God has created you with gifts and abilities that He wants you to use here at home and across the world to make much of Him!

Thanks for praying as we went to explore, God is doing something and I can’t wait to see it unfold!

With HOPE for Haiti-

Thomas, Connect Missions

Beach Reach!!!

2011-03-11T16:39:00.000-06:00

**Click here to keep track of live updates

and to worship with the group live each night at 7pm!**

Our group leaves for Beach Reach tonight! Be praying for them as they go to be the hands and feet of Christ by serving people in Panama City Beach, FL. They will be there for a full week providing free van rides at night and free pancake breakfast in the mornings.

-pray for the conversations our group will have
-pray for boldness to share the hope of Christ
-pray for humbleness to serve

Thanks for praying!

Cereal Boxes for Haiti

2011-02-08T14:15:00.003-06:00

Apparent Project - Haiti

Do you like cereal?
Then you will love this project!

For the month of February we are collecting empty cereal boxes to send to Haiti for people to make jewelry out of. The Apparent Project is addressing the increasing orphan crisis in Haiti by employing parents on the verge of having to give their kids over to orphanages. Through empowering parents to make a steady income, they are able to provide for their kids and learn a skill. This is a great way of addressing the issue with a long term solution for the parents.

Our part in this project is to eat as much cereal this month and bring your empty boxes to church on Sunday. This is a great project to teach your family and friends about missions, involve your dorm/ roommates, or your Life group! At the end of the month, we will pack up all the empty boxes and ship them off to become beautiful jewelry. They are asking specifically for cereal boxes to make it as easy as possible for them to make through the customs process.

Our part does not end there! You can go online and purchase the jewelry made from the cereal boxes. Pray for Haiti and for these families to know Christ! To rise out of hard places and to be a light in their communities!

Want to learn more???

Apparent Project's Website

Founder's Blog

Apparent Project's Online Store

A Story From Haiti

2011-01-12T14:34:00.000-06:00

A year ago today Haiti was struck with a devastating earthquake. There is still a long way to go but God is working amongst the devastation. Connect was privileged to partner with HOPE International to send micro loans to help individuals start small businesses in the wake of devastation. Connect collected enough to send 22 $170 micro loans. It was impossible for HOPE to track our specific dollars for us but here is one story about how HOPE is having an impact in Haiti...

Jean Luis Kemdi shares a home with his parents and 10 other family members, and he lives a somewhat typical life for a 12-year-old in Haiti. But he has big dreams for the future. As one of the youngest members of HOPE Haiti’s savings groups, each week he saves 25 cents. When he has saved enough, he hopes to buy a goat to breed. Jean Luis, whose mother is also a savings group member, said he dreams of opening his own business to sell livestock. He also shares the lessons he has learned with others in his family. “I have learned from the group about transparency, trust, leadership, and management,” he says. “I talk with my parents to show them how it’s very important to save money. For example, if you have 50 gourde [approximately $1.24], it’s better to save 25 and use 25.” Jean Luis also places his faith in Jesus Christ. “You can find all you need in Jesus,” he says.

Mission Arlington Christmas Store!

2010-12-06T14:32:00.002-06:00

Every year Mission Arlington hosts a Christmas Store for low income residents of the area. There are lots of toys for younger kids and teens. We would like to change that this year and focus our efforts to make a bigger impact for this age group. Here is a list to get us started and if you find a deal this week for the items below, share it with us on the Connect Church Facebook page so everyone can be aware.

Sunday is the last day we will be collecting at Connect!

Thanks for partnering with Mission Arlington!

Remote Control Vehicles

Baseball, bat and glove

Basketball

Football

Soccer ball

Frisbees

Hacky Sacks

K Nex blocks

Legos

Sports Jerseys/T-shirts

Jewelry

Bratz Dolls

Cassette/CD players

Brain Teasers/Puzzle Mania

Books

Cassette/CD players

Christian CD’s

Make-up

Cologne gift baskets

Squishy Pillows

Sweaters

Purses, Belts

Gift baskets (bath, hair, nails, etc,)

Jackets

Jeans, Jeans, Jeans

2010-07-14T15:52:00.000-05:00

We are collecting new and gently used jeans for all sizes, kids to adults. All the jeans that we collect will go with our kids to camp this month. They are participating in a mission emphasizes that will help replenish the Rainbow Room in Tarrant County. The Rainbow Room is a clothing closet for kids that are pulled out abusive family situations without any of their clothes or belongings. We will be collecting jeans on Sunday July 18th and the 25th. Then our kids will repackage them at camp and send them to Rainbow Room!

Thanks in advance for being a part of teaching our kids about missions!

Amarillo - Day 2 & 3

2010-06-24T07:39:00.000-05:00

What a great couple of days it has been! We are painting some education space at Fuente Viva Church where we have meet Pastor Freddy who is from Chile. Great man of God that is full of joy and vision for his community. He has one of the only Spanish speaking churches in the Amarillo area, which he helped plant about 10 years ago and has grown from his family to about 175 people! He loves to invest in the lives of the people that are around here! Our students are loving the opportunity to paint the rooms and even did some splatter paint designs in the youth room yesterday (with Freddy's approval)!

In the afternoons our group splits into 2 with one group staying at the church and the other going to an apartment complex. At each location we do a Kids Club for 2 hours that include games, crafts, Bible stories (taught by our youth!), and of course lots of getting the kids wet! Our students are rising up and doing a great job of learning the Bible stories and retelling it in their own words. What a great thing to take with them back home!

Thank you for praying for our group this week, here are a few ways to continue to pray for our last 2 days in Amarillo...

-Pray that we continue to have opportunties to build relationships with the kids that are coming to Kids Clubs and that we are able to plant seeds of the hope of Christ

-Pray that as we get tired, we continue to rely on God's strength

-Pray our students are changed forever by the power of God as they rise up in their faith and that God gives us boldness to share His love

Thank you for praying!!!

Amarillo - Day 1

2010-06-22T07:37:00.001-05:00

We arrived in Amarillo around 4:30 yesterday and unloaded the trailer. The staff from the Multi Housing Outreach joined us and took us through a quick training to prepare us for the week. The picture above is how to make sure our kids stay cool in the afternoon heat!

Today we start work at Fuente Viva Church, painting some Sunday School rooms! In the afternoons we will split into 2 groups to do kids clubs. One group stays at the church and another goes to Amarillo Garden Community. Pray for our group as we share the hope of Christ to the kids and parents that come to the kids clubs. Pray for our youth as they learn how to take the scripture and tell it as a story from memory. I'm excited to see how our time here will grow our students and adults while having a lasting impact on the Kingdom of God!

Thanks for praying!

Partnering with HOPE Tutoring

2010-06-03T10:00:00.000-05:00

Kim, a local fifth grader, hadn’t made a grade above 75 in any of her classes through the first semester of school this year, had never passed the TAKS test in Math or Reading in her school career, and had no interest in school, often easily distracted when doing her homework at home.

After getting homework help at H.O.P.E Tutoring for two months, , Kim’s raised her grades to A’s and B’s, with one ‘C’ in Math, which had previously been a dismal ‘F’. She later passed the TAKS exams, receiving a commended performance on the Reading portion. To celebrate her achievement, her parents took her out for dinner at her favorite restaurant. But the best reward for Kim was that she began to look forward to going to school, realizing that she had learned the skills that she needed to excel.

H.O.P.E. (Helping Our Students Excel) Tutoring was founded in 1996 when the congregation of Aldersgate Methodist Church wanted to help the young people in their neighborhood. H.O.P.E. Tutoring soon became a non-profit agency and a community-wide organization that currently provides free tutoring for children in grades three through eight in seven different church locations in east Arlington. Many of the students come from families where English is not spoken in the home, making it difficult for struggling students to get help from non-English speaking parents.

In the 2009-2010 academic year, H.O.P.E. Tutoring served 147 children from 46 different schools. Volunteer tutors provide not only help with homework but serve as healthy role models and listening ears to this next generation.

As an incentive for staying focused on their academic work during tutoring sessions, the students earn “H.O.P.E. Bucks” that can be “spent” on sporting goods, board games, learning activities and toys that are “sold” at the H.O.P.E. Bucks Store. At the end-of-year party held for the students and their families, the students enjoy the fruit of their academic labors as they excitedly shop with their hard-earned H.O.P.E. Bucks.

This year Connect Church provided a generous financial gift to fund many of the purchases for the H.O.P.E. Bucks store. Over 60 children who attended the party happily celebrated their academic accomplishments and hard work, thanks to the generosity of the Connect Church family.

Another way God has given Connect Church the opportunity to Love God, Love People.

Nicaragua Team Start Well Work Today...

2010-04-19T08:19:00.000-05:00

Our worship leader, Trae Castles is blogging from Nicaragua as much as he can while down there. Check out his blog for the latest stories from the trip! http://traecastles.tumblr.com/

Trae also posted some pictures from the first two days on flicker here! Check out the team giving the baseball equipment you provided to the local church there!

Thanks for praying! Today starts the well repair portion of the trip...

Pray for...
-safety as they work
-opportunities to share Christ with people they meet
-the group to stay flexible as the work gets physically demanding

Nicaragua Trip Leaves!

2010-04-17T06:45:00.000-05:00

The team left early this morning for Nicaragua where they will spend the week repairing broken water wells throughout the country. Jesus talks about the need of water with the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4. In verses 13 and 14 he talks about the water the woman was there to retrieve, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst again. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

As a church, we are praying that our team will be able to share this truth with the locals as they repair water wells. As the team repairs the wells, they will express to the people how they were broken at one time in their life and Christ repaired them to live a new life in Him. Christ can make all things new!

We will have updates on how the trip is going throughout the week.

Pray for the team...

Trae, Chris, Jimmy, Don and Jeff

Lasting Impact From a Past connectNOW

2010-04-12T16:34:00.000-05:00

In January of 2009, Connect raised enough money to fund the translation of Luke chapter 1 and part of Chapter 2 for the Abbi IG Cluster of South Asia. The team has just finished translating the gospel of Mark and have started work on Luke. They hope to have the first half of Luke completed and ready for review by the middle of this summer! The picture of above is people from the Abbi IG cluster reading the gospel of Mark in their language... imagine reading the Bible in your language for the first time! Thank you for being a part of literally bringing the gospel to unreached people around the world!

Pray as the work continues...
    -for wisdom in relating to the local church leaders
    -for translation to continue to move forward over the coming months
    -for God to continue to grant spiritual fruit from the distribution of Mark's Gospel (& soon Luke!!)
    -for translation teams to work together well and with one heart

Beach Reach Last Night!

2010-03-18T15:57:00.000-05:00

The above picture is the line for the free pancake breakfast that spills out to the parking lot!

We have our last night of van and street ministry in Panama City Beach tonight! The week has been awesome, the team has grown in confidence in sharing their faith with the spring breakers. Thank you for committing to pray for this week and for our boldness, without your prayers the week would have been even more difficult.

Pray tonight for salvation!
Pray for protection from the darkness that covers the city.
Pray for boldness and openness.

In the morning, we will be leaving for home. Pray for our travel and that as we return home that we would continue sharing our faith like we have this week. Pray for opportunities with our friends and family that do not know Christ. We look forward to being home and thank you for your prayers...

they have been HUGE!!!

Beach Reach Day 3!!!

2010-03-16T10:10:00.000-05:00

We have reached the midway point of the week!

Two full days behind us and three nights of ministry left!

Thank you for all your prayers this week. The students are doing a GREAT job in reaching out to the spring breakers and we are looking forward to the next few nights. The first two nights on the strip were busy! We have been having great conversations with spring breakers and opportunities to share our faith with them. Many spring breakers have feelings of hopelessness and carelessness. Many do things they know they will regret but don't care right now. When we pick them up in the van, we have 5 to 15 minutes with them to listen to their stories and share the HOPE we have in Christ! Our team is gaining confidence in sharing their story through each conversation.

Pray for salvation today! It is close at hand and it is why we are here! But God wants us to pray for people's salvation and He will be faithful to save. Last night, one of our ladies prayed that our vans would be filled with girls instead of guys. She wanted the opportunity to minister to them. So last night we did not even pick up one group of guys all night! God is faithful to answer our prayers when we are praying with His heart, so tonight we are praying all out for salvation!

Thank you for praying...
Expecting God to do great things tonight!

Beach Reach Day 1

2010-03-14T15:00:00.001-05:00

Thanks for praying!!!

We arrived yesterday in Panama City Beach to an amazing number of people and cars. It took us an hour to go the last two miles to our hotel because of the beach traffic! Every hotel is sold out this week and there will be recorded crowds. There are more than 350 Beach Reachers here to provided free van rides and free pancakes in the morning! Our team from Connect is excited to start our ministry tonight. Be praying as we will have a street team and a van team from 9pm to 2am tonight and tomorrow night. Pray for conversations to turn to God and that our students would boldly share the hope of Christ. Pray for the Spring Breakers that God would prepare their hearts

to hear the good news!

Last night we prayer walked the strip and our students were able to see the darkness that hangs over this city. But even more, they saw that Christ is the hope for all people. That we are all fallen and lost people and need a Savior. Pray that we would share this openly!

Thanks again for praying, you can see live prayer updates at www.beachreachlivepcb.com and also see a live stream of the worship service at 7pm. Our van name is VannaWhite which you will see on the live prayer updates from time to time.

Beach Reach Team Leaving!!

2010-03-12T23:37:00.000-06:00

The Beach Reach team is leaving tonight! Pray for our time traveling from Arlington to Panama City Beach, FL. We will prayer walk and hand out free van ride cards Saturday night and then start the free van rides on Sunday night! Sunday at Connect, we will have prayer cards for you to pick up that will direct you to ways you can pray specifically during the week. Beach Reach will be updating a live blog each night with prayer requests from each van ride throughout the night. This will give you the opportunity to pray along with us as the night goes on!

Check it out at beachreachlivepcb.com
We will also update this blog with ways to pray this week!
Thanks for praying along with us!

20 micro loans funded!

2010-02-25T09:37:00.000-06:00

Wow!

Connect had a goal to fund ten $170 micro business loans in Haiti and instead we funded TWENTY loans!!!

As we have walked through the series on leveraging our stuff for Christ, God is obviously showing us how that applies in our lives. It is great to be a part of a church that loves people for free and uses its resources to further the gospel through meeting physical and spiritual needs. Stay tuned in the months ahead for an update on how the money is being used in Haiti. Let's continue to be challenged to find ways to leverage our stuff to share Christ with people.

Next up for connectNOW...

We will be sending a group of our college students out on mission over spring break. Start praying for Beach Reach in Florida, March 13-19!

8 Micro Loans Funded!

2010-02-18T13:49:00.002-06:00

Thank you for your continued desire to help in the rebuilding process in Haiti! After two weeks we, as a church, have funded eight $170 microloans for small businesses in Haiti. We wrap up our connectNOW project this week, so we have one more opportunity to partner with the people of Haiti. Check out HOPE International's website for more information on their work in Haiti.

Progress for Haiti

2010-02-12T11:09:00.000-06:00

Last Sunday, we kicked off a new connectNOW to raise money for micro loans in Haiti. We were able to collect enough money last week to fund 2 $170 micro loans!! What a great way to start the project off! Our goal is to fully fund 8 more micro loans over the next 2 weeks to help rebuild Haiti. Check out the video from HOPE International in our previous blog post for more information on their work in Haiti over the past 5 years. On Sunday, come see the connectNOW table in the hallway to help Haiti!

See you Sunday!

Rebuild Haiti

2010-02-06T11:47:00.005-06:00

We kick off our next connectNOW on Sunday, February 7th! We are partnering with an organization called HOPE International who has been working in Haiti over the last few years to enable the poor to create their own businesses. Did you know that Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere? HOPE International loans money to the poor who have ideas to create their own small business but do not have the money to start. An average loan is $170 per person and Connect Church is raising enough money to fund 10 loans!

Here are a few facts about microloans for small businesses...

Average loan is $170/ person
The person receiving the loan has six months to pay it back
HOPE International takes the money that was paid back and creates another loan so the money keeps making a difference in Haiti!
99.6% of loans are paid back in full
80% of loans are given to women because they are the caretakers of the children usually

HOPE shares the love of Christ with loan candidates and walks with them as they build their business. Check out the connectNOW table on Sundays for more information and watch this video to hear about some success stories in Haiti.

Haiti Relief

2010-01-14T14:53:00.008-06:00

We have all seen the pictures and videos of the devastation in Haiti from the 7.0 earthquake that hit near the capital city of Port au Prince. Relief efforts are under way to recover people from the rubble.

A few ways for us to pray...

Pray for the people of Haiti, safety, comfort from the lose of loved ones, and provision of their basic needs.

Pray for relief workers as they risk their lives to help clean up and recover people.

Pray that God would be seen amongst the devastation... that salvation would come!

How can we do something...

We can donate through several different organizations online, some of those are...

compassion.com

salvationarmyusa.org

or you can text Haiti to 90999 to donate $10 to the Red Cross in Haiti (Charges will be reflected on your next cell phone bill)

Connect Church has donated to Compassion International to provide 10 families their basic needs for the next 3 weeks as they walk this difficult journey.

Lets pray for God to move...

Thank you from Grace Street Church

2010-01-05T10:26:00.006-06:00

From time to time we receive letters from organizations that we support through prayer and financial means as a church. One of those places is Grace Street Fellowship which is a Mission Arlington Church led by Pastor Jim Burgin. Below is a recent letter thanking Connect Church for the monthly support that we gave to them this past year. You may also remember that we gave 80 kids Bibles to them this summer so that their kids would have a Bible to read of their own! Thanks for being a giving church...

Thank you for giving to Grace Street Fellowship. Your prayers for us are making a difference in many lives! As our church continues to grow deeper spiritually, we are seeing families begin to come to church for the first time, people who have been dealing with addiction turn to God to fill their deepest needs, relationships are growing and children are being nurtured in God's love.

We feel privileged to be a part of a family of faith that extends beyond the walls in which we meet and includes each of you who give generously, pray faithfully and choose to follow our Lord. With Him, there are no boundaries to His love and grace!

God Bless you,

Pastor Jim Burgin

Thank You!!

2009-12-22T13:14:00.004-06:00

Thank you for giving so many toys and clothes to the Mission Arlington Store! We stacked them up at the office and took a picture of the overwhelming gift to our community. Thanks for being a giving church!!

Thank you to all the 70+ people that came to volunteer their Saturday morning this past week at the Christmas Store! We had a great time loving people in our community by walking through the store with them, re-stocking the shelves, and unpacking the boxes at the Christmas Store.

Merry Christmas!

Mission Arlington Christmas Store

2009-12-01T09:47:00.003-06:00

We are collecting toys and clothes for ages newborn to 18 years old to help stock the shelves of the Mission Arlington Store. Bring your unwrapped gifts to church on Sundays, December 6th & December 13th! Each year Mission Arlington creates a store for parents to shop through for their children that would not have any gifts otherwise. This year we are partnering with Mission Arlington to provide these gifts!

We also have the opportunity to serve at the Christmas Store on Saturday morning, December 19th from 9:30 am to noon. We will at the parking lot on the southeast corner of UTA Blvd. and Pecan Street south of Mission Arlington. Come as a family, life group, or with friends as we serve together. There are all types of jobs for everyone! Email thomas@connectchurch.com to let us know if you are coming. Thanks!

Trinity Kids

2009-07-14T16:08:00.006-05:00

Camp is this week, July 12-17!

Pray for...
God’s Protection in all aspects of camp, for great weather so kids can enjoy all the activities
God’s Strength for the staff & guides, it’s a long, hard,& emotional week
God’s Grace to handle difficult children with unconditional love Pastor Mike as he shares God’s truth

Thanks for lifting the children and workers up to God!

God's Word

2009-06-22T10:21:00.002-05:00

Thanks for providing God's Word to the children at Grace Street Church. We are providing 80 Bibles to the Mission Arlington Church that they will use to bring truth into lives of children. Thanks for writing an encouraging note inside the Bibles to spur them on to learn more about who God is and His purpose for our lives!

Bibles for Children

2009-06-02T16:21:00.009-05:00

Over the next 3 weeks, our Connect Now project will focus on the children of Grace Street Church in Arlington. Grace Street is a Mission Arlington Church that is reaching out to the community and serving people in the name of Jesus Christ! Most of the children who attend do not have their own Bible, we as a church are going to help supply some. Connect has already purchased 80 children Bibles and need you to write a short note of encouragement to a child that will receive the Bible inside the cover!

We will also have some prayer cards that you can take with you to know how to better pray for the children that attend Grace Street Church.

Thanks in advance for providing God's truth to these children!

Praying for NAME

2009-04-06T08:52:00.006-05:00

This week we kicked off a new Connect Now for the NAME region (north Africa & Middle East). Here are a few facts and ways to pray this week for the people of this region:

Facts...
-26 countries, 428 million people make up the NAME region
-93% do not know Christ
-11 of the 26 countries have 1% or less Christian population
-Islam is the main religion in this region
-Islam requires their followers to satisfy the five pillars of their faith in order to have salvation
~The five pillars are Testimony of faith, prayer, Alms (giving to the poor), fasting, pilgrimage to Mecca
-Even then, there is no guarantee that they will go to heaven

Pray...
-for the brothers and sisters that are sharing Christ in this region today
-for the hearts of the 93% that don't know Christ, that they know God's truth & salvation
-for the people that believe they have to work their way to heaven and don't know of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross for our sins

If you didn't get a chance to pick up a prayer card this week, pick one up next week at the Connect Now table...

Thanks for praying!

Sports Equipment Arrives

2009-03-09T09:39:00.004-05:00

Jay Harley sent a quick email today about the teams first day in Peru with pictures. See below...

Today, the women's soccer team worked at Collique Community Center in one of the poorest areas of Lima. We were able to do a short program for the kids with singing, a skit, and a testimony from Emily Evans. Then, the Lady Patriot Soccer Team played a fun game with some ladies from the community.

We were also able to present the staff at the community center a bag of soccer balls, volleyballs, and basket balls.

See attached pictures! We had a great day! Thank you for your prayers.

2009-03-03T11:29:00.003-06:00

Thank you!

You gave over 100 items to ship to Lima, Peru with the DBU teams! Thank you for your giving hearts to help the orphanages and giving the DBU students another tool to share the Gospel.

Be praying for the group from DBU as they leave on Saturday for the week long trip.

-Pray for opportunities to share the light of Christ with the teams they play and the orphans they hang out with.
-Pray for their safety as they travel
-Pray that their hearts would grow closer to God and that they would make His name famous in Peru!

Peru

2009-02-18T10:09:00.002-06:00

Thanks for such a great response to this month's Connect Now. If you missed out on grabbing something to bring back you can go buy a soccer ball, volleyball, basketball, chess/checkerboard, or a air pump and bring it with you this Sunday and next Sunday, March 1st. DBU will take all the sports equipment with them over Spring Break to give to the two orphanges in Lima, Peru!

Remember we need all the equipment by Sunday, March 1st...

Thanks for being a giving church!

Lima, Peru

2009-02-12T11:11:00.003-06:00

We kick off a new Connect Now this Sunday, February 15th for
Lima, Peru.

You don't want to miss out...

More details on Sunday!

Luke Chapter 1 Translated!

2009-02-06T15:14:00.005-06:00

Thanks to everyone who gave to translate Luke chapter 1 for the Rowba language group! We were able to translate the whole first chapter of Luke through your giving. If you signed up to receive prayer updates, the Seed Company will be sending those out to you to help us know how to pray for the Rowba language group and the ongoing translation of the New Testament!

Thanks Again!

Luke 1

2009-01-12T09:59:00.006-06:00

How awesome it is that we have God's Word in our language for us to read any time and as much as we want! But there are over 2,200 languages that do not have one verse of the Bible translated into its language. It takes $26 to translate one verse into a new language. That pays for the time and supplies it takes for someone to translate and publish the scripture. As a church we are taking part in this work by raising the money to translate Luke 1 which has 80 verses. That means we need to raise $2,080 to translate the whole chapter!

Please come and help us raise the money to help a people group in South Asia be able to read the scripture in their own language for the first time! You can come by the Connect Now table the next two Sundays to make a donation of any amount and pick up some materials on how to pray for the people group we are translating for...
What a great opportunity for us to meet a great need for people across the world...

Thanks for partnering with us!

Bustamante Christmas 08

2008-12-29T16:16:00.003-06:00

Check out the video from Bustamante this Christmas!

Christmas 2008

2008-12-26T09:49:00.003-06:00

Thank you so much to the prayer partners for faithfully praying for this group. We arrived home Tuesday around 5pm after a great weekend that saw 200 shoeboxes full of gifts being wrapped by our wonderful group, and the completion of a concrete porch for the church and Miguel and Ana! The trip got delayed at the border by 9 hours but God showed us some great things during the weekend in Bustamante!

Please continue to pray...

-Miguel and Ana are the only workers there and they needing more volunteer help from people that live there
-For the people of Bustamante, that they would turn and follow Christ!
-For the many kids that Miguel and Ana are reaching each week

They are so thankful for our friendship and partnership. They pray for Connect often and send their thanks for the prayers from the people of Connect! I attached a picture of the group in front of the concrete porch that we poured this weekend, our group did an amazing job in getting it done (108 wheel barrels full of concrete in just over 2 hours)!

Thanks to all who went and prayed! There are many more stories to tell so grab someone who went on the trip and ask them to tell you how God moved this weekend, they would love to share!

Feliz Navidad!

2008-12-19T14:49:00.004-06:00

A group of 25 people are leaving Friday night, Dec. 19th for Bustamante, Mexico. The group will deliver shoeboxes that are full of gifts for the kids in the town, hangout with the people of the town, work on a concrete porch for the pastors, and celebrate Christmas with the church!

Please pray for...
safe travel
the pastors of the church in Bustamante, Miguel and Ana
our time their that God would use us for his purposes
us as we build relationships with people in the town
for the cultural and language gap

Thanks for praying!!!

Calling all boxes!

2008-12-11T13:57:00.003-06:00

Do you still have a shoebox that needs to go to Bustamante next week at your house?

We need those boxes to be filled and returned to the office by Tuesday, December 16th.

Thanks for your help in filling those boxes!!!

Turkeys!

2008-11-20T15:06:00.005-06:00

If you have bought an extra turkey or want to buy an extra turkey, Mission Arlington still needs about 2,000 turkeys before next Wednesday. They deliver uncooked Thanksgiving meals to people in Arlington the morning of Thanksgiving and are still in need of turkeys. If you can help, please drop your turkey off at Mission Arlington (in downtown Arlington). http://www.missionarlington.org/

Thanks for your help!!

Applications & Deposits Due Sunday!

2008-11-11T10:39:00.002-06:00

Interested in going with us to Bustamante, Mexico
from Dec. 19th-Dec. 23rd?

Applications and $100 deposits are due this Sunday!

The total cost of the trip is $225 per person.

Space is limited, so please turn in your applications and deposits this Sunday, Nov. 16th in the Art Room directly following the second service.

We look forward to a great trip!

Don't forget!

2008-10-23T10:54:00.005-05:00

Info meeting this Sunday, October 26, at noon (immediately following the 10:45 service). Thomas will meet with all who are interested in going on the Mexico Mission trip in December. The meeting will be brief and will be held in the ART ROOM at the Duncan Center.

Check out the video from the last Christmas trip!!!

The wheels on the bus go round and round....

2008-10-19T15:03:00.005-05:00

Thank you for giving so generously- we filled three tubs FULL of candy for Mission Arlington's Fall Festival!! If you still have candy to give, drop it by the church office of Monday. We are taking it up to Mission Arlington on Tuesday morning. Please be praying for this event next Saturday, October 25th. Many people young and old all over Arlington will come and all will hear the message of salvation and hope. Pray for those coming as well as the workers who will be preparing this week. -Pray for Salvation and Restoration-

We are challenging all the men to come out this Saturday and help drive a van for this event. (Guys 21 or older please!) You will be picking up children from all over town and taking them to the event as well as returning them home after it is over. If you are interested, please call the church office at 817-842-9035 or email thomas@connectchurch.com.
This Saturday, October 25th from 10:30-5:00- it will be a great time of serving and fellowship for the men of Connect! GUYS:: we hope to see you there...

Candy!!

2008-10-13T10:17:00.004-05:00

Mission Arlington is hosting a Fun Fall Festival on Saturday, October 25th. They have asked us to partner with them to provide individually wrapped candy to give out as prizes for the kids.

We are collecting the candy for one week only...
this Sunday, October 19th.

Bring your candy with you to church on Sunday and toss them in the tubs outside of the main worship room, at the Connect Now Table. Thanks for partnering with us to help reach the community through this great event at Mission Arlington!

Praying for Korea

2008-10-13T08:49:00.006-05:00

North Korea is a Communist country that is closed off completely to any true religious freedoms.

Here are a few facts about the country:

-Population is 23.4 million
-Traditionally Buddhist and Confucianist
-Currently no religious freedom
-Official religion is Juche (a mix of several religions that deifies the country's leader and his father)

People are being creative in the ways they bring the gospel to N. Korea. When the gospel does land in the hands of N. Koreans, they take on a great risk by possessing the Word of God. So as the Word of God lands in N. Korea by whatever creative method, let us pray together as it is unfolded and read for the first time... and each time...

"The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding..." Psalm 119:130

PRAY:
-for true freedom for North Koreans
-for the few Christians there and the persecution going on there
-for religious freedom and basic human rights
-for renewed ties with the South Koreans

Christmas Mission Trip to Mexico

2008-10-06T10:47:00.016-05:00

This December, Connect will be taking a short mission trip to Bustamante, Mexico. Here are some of the details:

When: Christmas 2008, Dec 19-23 We will depart Friday at 10:00 pm and return Tuesday the 23rd at 4:00 pm.
Length: 4 days
Cost: 225.00 per person- includes most meals, gas, hotel, van rental
Who can go?: Families, singles, college students, minimum age 6 (minors must be with a parent)
Size: space is limited
Purpose: Building up the church plant in Bustamante, Mexico, prayer walking, showing Christ's love, delivering gifts for the church to give out to the people in the community and possible construction project. We will have the opportunity to worship with the church, as well as participate in children's activities.
Needs: 3 translators- (habla espanol por favor), shoe-box presents- (Connect NOW project for November & December)
Leadership: Don Kelly

Interested? Pray about being apart. Got Questions?

Informational meeting after
church in the art room, Sunday October 26th

South Korea

2008-10-06T09:27:00.006-05:00

South Korea is a free republic that has experienced explosive growth among Christians recently.

Here are a few facts...

-The population of South Korea is 48.3 million people, despite the country land size being the equivalent of the state of Kentucky.

-11 of the 12 largest churches in the world are located in Seoul.

-85% of the countries population live in the metropolitan areas.

-There are 3.2 million university students in Korea, which makes up the highest percentage of students in one country in the world.

-South Korea sends out the second most Christian missionaries around the world, only second behind the United States.

The Passion World Tour will be holding an event on Oct. 11 and 12th for university students in Seoul. This will be a great event to help mobilize the students to reach their campus and city for Christ!

The local church faces a hard struggle against false or cult churches that look and feel like Christian churches on the outside but are actually false churches that distort the message of Christ. This is one of the biggest prayer requests coming from the country that the people would know truth and not become part of a false church.

Pray:

-For Larry, Lisa, and the Passion Team as they work together with the local church this week to organize the Passion Tour in Seoul.

-For the two day Passion event for university students on Friday and Saturday (Oct. 10-11)

-For the country's spiritual climate, that people would continue to come to know Christ.

-For the local church, that they would continue to reach the population and people would be able to discern the true churches from the false churches.

2008-09-29T11:30:00.002-05:00

Young Life seeks to carry the message of Jesus Christ into the tumultuous tide & points teenagers toward life as they were created to live it. Since 1941, the dynamic that has characterized Young Life is its commitment to relationships - Young Life leaders meeting kids on their turf in the interest of friendship. As leaders get to know teenagers, they are able to share the love of Jesus Christ through platforms like Young Life club*, campaigners**, & trips to camp.

Whether kids are seeking answers or just acceptance, Young Life is there for them, armed with a desire for fun & the ultimate message of hope.

*Young Life Club - As relationships are built with kids, Young Life leaders invite them to weekly meetings called Club. Young Life club offers kids an evening of songs, skits, laughter, & fun culminating in the sharing of the message of Christ.

**Campaigners - When kids express a desire to grow in Christ, staff & volunteer leaders organize a weekly small -group bible study called campaigners. Campaigner Bible study focus on discipleship, the need for active involvement in a local church, & topics pertinent to the teenager attempting to be a Christian in today's society.

Connect has a goal to raise 1,000 to help with the fall retreat! We are almost there!
To find out more about young life visit them at www.younglife.org

The calling of Jesus

2008-07-31T09:26:00.004-05:00

Things are going well in SE Asia. Rick and Sarah have had many opportunities to share their faith! God is at work. Evil is too. Pray for our brothers and sisters as they push back the darkness. Pray for the walls and barriers of evil and lies to come crashing down!!
May men, women, and children respond to Jesus- and bring worship of God to this land!

Jesus said, " It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Matt 9:12-13.

Sushi and Boldness

2008-07-28T20:35:00.002-05:00

(Saturday)We had such a great night last night! I don't think they know what to make of us. I was able to answer some questions regarding the importance of a Godly marriage... Please be praying that God would work through those "snip-it" conversations. They are taking me shopping Wednesday! Be praying for more open doors...

(Sunday) Today was awesome! We visited a local church and Rick and I were brought to tears by their worship. Please pray for their boldness in their own community. Later they took us out for SUSHI!!!! I had never had it before!!!! Rick was nice enough not to tell me what I was eating!

We are really excited for tomorrow afternoon! Rick is racing boats with Abdullah!

God Bless!

Rick & Sarah

Home Sweet Home

2008-07-26T18:30:00.002-05:00

Just heard from the group that they are passing through Waco- Almost home!!!

Don said that their celebration service last night was incredible! He knows of a handful of kids that accepted Christ as their Savior. Praise God! The team is anxious to be home and they have many stories to share- be sure to ask them about it this week!

Thank you for your faithfulness in prayer...so many unseen and seen evil was fought...thank you for pushing back the darkness.

Looking forward to hearing some stories tomorrow at Connect. We plan to have a debriefing time later next week, so that the students can share what God shown them, as well as pictures- We'll keep you posted.

Aloha from Bustamante

2008-07-25T15:45:00.004-05:00

Connect Prayer Partners: Thank you for your faithfulness to pray for the Bustamante Team this week. Of course, God has been faithful to move- He has heard our prayers. Here is an a portion of an email from the Team Leader, Don Kelly:

we just finished up our evening devotional. i do not have the time necessary to tell all that has happened the past few days, but it has been absolutely incredible. hope we will have an opportunity to allow some of our group to share some of the awesome things the lord has shown and done this week - he has shown up mightily in bustamante. our group, especially the younger people have made relationships with many here in bustamante and the local kids are seeking out our team members at vbs and in town. while we were finishing up devotional time this evening, we had kids at both ends of the hotel entrance waiting to join our youth for a late evening soccer match at the pavilion. i am so proud of our young people and the way they have conducted themselves on this ministry, they have allowed the lord to receive the glory and i am 100% convinced that it has been their awesome attitudes and spirit of service that has made such a positive impact on this town.

work on the church wall has been ahead of schedule since the first 10 minutes of the project on monday morning. even though we did not work on the wall today due to rain, we are still ahead of what we promised miguel and ana and still have time to do so more tomorrow morning. our group is really looking forward to our time with miguel and ana and the pastors from monterrey tomorrow evening. not sure what they have planned for us, but know the lord is going to blow us away with his power. from what mike dunbar, our primary translator told us this evening, miguel has pulled him aside many times this week with tears in his eyes with the joy of things he sees happening. we expect to hear from him directly tomorrow night about his feelings for the lord, our group and the work here in bustamante. i am expecting something powerful to happen tomorrow night. please continue to pray for mike as he has the assignment tomorrow night of translating not only the words, but the feeling in which they are expressed. -don kelly

ALOHA!

This week, the students led over a hundred students in vacation bible school each day. During these 2 hours, the "Hawaii" themed party led the kids through a series of crafts, recreation, and story time. Every day, these kids heard the gospel! WHAT A GREAT TESTIMONY: The pastor of the church in Monterey, Juan, came to know Christ when a group came and led vbs when he was a young boy. Praise God for the impact He is making on these young lives! Imagine the seeds of HOPE and LIGHT that were planted this week!

"Now to Him, who is able to do more than we could ever hope for or imagine..to Him be glory in His church and in Christ Jesus- forever and ever! " -Eph 3:20

God of this City

2008-07-24T06:45:00.006-05:00

Wednesday's VBS- this is Miguel, pastor of Prince of Peace, sharing a story with the children. There were 120 kids on Wednesday- more than they have ever had in years past! Praise God for bringing the children to hear about Him! Pray for this final day of VBS!

This is the trailer that the people of Connect bought for the church. The Mexico team painted it some fun colors, and they have used it to pick up kids all week. Notice the beautiful Sierra Madre Mountains! This is the beautiful view at the church.

The team leader says that they are ahead on constructing the wall! They all worked hard on Wednesday to try to beat the storm... Things are looking great! Below is the back gate.

Our team is praying these words over the town of Bustamante this week. Will you join them?

You're the God of this City
You're the King of these people
You're the Lord of this nation, You are

There is no one like our God!
There is no one like our God!

Greater things are yet to come-
Greater things are still to be done
In this City...

God of this City words written by
Aaron Boyd, Richard Bleakley, Peter Comfort, Peter Kernaghan, Chris Tomlin

Open wide the floodgates...

2008-07-22T13:57:00.006-05:00

The Mexico team has been hard at work today. They began the morning with working on the wall for the church. Pictured below is the gate that will be the entrance for the church. This gift means so much to them, and they have expressed over and over their gratitude to God for His provision.

This afternoon, the second day of VBS begins. The team is working with the Mexican church workers to put on a fun experience for the kids of the town...In fact, they will be loading up the trailer soon to pick up all the kids...(Praise to God for providing the trailer!)

How you can pray today:

Pray for the team right now as they lead VBS. Pray that God would speak through the words of the Bible stories and songs, and that God would draw these children to Himself.
Pray for the weather in the coming days. Hurricane Dolly may try to dump lots of rain( the VBS site is covered, but the wall construction will be delayed, if this happens). Pray for God's will and flexibility of the team.
Pray for the floodgates of heaven to open...that many will see the Light/experience the Light/have the Light and hope of Christ!!

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. " Malachi 3:10

Mighy to Save

2008-07-21T16:50:00.007-05:00

"Savior, He can move the mountains, our God is mighty to save! He is mighty to save! Forever- Author of Salvation, He rose and conquered the grave...Jesus conquered the grave!
Shine your light and let the whole world see,
We're singing for the glory of the risen King! "

From the Mexico Team Leader: Thank you for your prayers, the Lord has shown us much mercy since Friday night. we made it to the border with no problem and were able to get thru 90% of customs. the last 10% was only possible with the Lord's help. there was a paperwork problem with truck and trailer, so the truck and the trailer with all our gear, supplies and food was not being cleared to cross. our group prayed that God would show us what he wanted to have happen and to lean fully on Him.

We will be excited to share the details of all that has happened in just 48 short hours when we return, but our time with Miguel and Anna (pastor in Bustamante) and Juan and Shelly (Pastor in Monterey) and their families has been a blessing straight from the Lord. They fed us close to 400 tamales last night for dinner and Chinese stir fry for lunch today. They are the sweetest, most hospitable servants of the Lord you can imagine and have made us feel so welcome. We were able to worship with them this morning and we sang, prayed and studied together and the Lord was able to somehow eliminate the language barrier. We knew what they were saying even though we did not know what they were saying. we spent Sunday afternoon on the streets of Bustamante talking with people and handing out vbs flyers. we are excited to see what the Lord is going to do tomorrow at vbs!

Miguel and Anna are so appreciative of our gifts and believe they are answers to prayer. Our team looks forward to providing you more updates as the week unfurls. Please pray that our group remains healthy and that the Lord will continue the show his favor and pour His Holy Spirit on this place.

God is mighty to save!

Don Kelly

Our team- Workin on the Wall:

Bustamante- Power of Prayer

2008-07-19T14:05:00.008-05:00

42 men, women, students, and a whole lot of gear departed last night for Bustamante, Mexico.
Their mission: To make God famous!
HOW: Through building walls, playing with kids, helping with Vacation Bible School, and prayer walking the streets of Bustamante.

These 42 have worked very hard to get ready for the week ahead. They are through the border crossing (Praise God) and will be arriving at their destination this afternoon. As the week progresses, we will be updating prayer requests right here, so stay tuned.

Cool story:
The team arrived at the border at seven-thirty this morning. All 42 were allowed through with their paperwork. As the students and leaders sat in the vans waiting, they realized that it was going to be difficult to get the truck and trailer through. The group began to pray that God would make a way for them to get through- God answered their prayers!! The Mexican authorities allowed our group to pass! Praise God for His power and for teaching us about prayer...

How you can pray for them today:

2 Cor 2:14- that they would give thanks to God, who leads them in triumphal procession and through them spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ.
Phil 4:4- no matter how uncomfortable or tired...they would rejoice in the Lord always!
Ephesians 2:8- remembering that it is by grace they have been saved, they are God's workmanship, through faith not of themselves, so that no one can boast, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for them to do.

Giving Thanks

2008-06-13T07:55:00.005-05:00

Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Through the faithfulness and giving of the people of Connect, God has provided for Bustamante! Connect will purchase the vehicle soon! This is amazing!! Thank you for responding with helping provide the crafts and money to give to the church in Bustamante, Mexico.

Please continue to pray for the Children's Bible School plans for this July. The Mission Team is working hard on planning and organizing. Pray that they would have God's direction.

Arlington Pregnancy Center

2008-04-30T21:41:00.003-05:00

Arlington Pregnancy Center is a place where women can go for counseling and direction after an unplanned pregnancy occurs. In today's society, young women can be pulled in so many directions and the Arlington Pregnancy Center points them to healing and restoration in Christ.
Volunteers from all walks of life counsel young girls and share their stories of faith.

Connect has been a long-time supporter of this ministry. A portion of the offerings given to Connect go to APC each month. This month, Connect will be dedicating time in prayer for the Arlington Pregnancy Center.

www.arlingtonpc.org

PRAY FOR HOPE
Pray for the young women who find themselves
pregnant and feel hopeless. Pray that they will
find hope in Christ.

PRAY FOR WISDOM
Pray for the counselors at the center, that they
would offer grace to all they counsel. Pray for wisdom
from God as they help young mothers.

PRAY FOR HEALING
Pray for the women who are living with the pain
and guilt of abortion. The center's group called, "conquerors"
deals with post-abortion. Pray these young women would
experience God's healing and restoration.

"Jesus was willing to share in another's suffering to bring about healing"
- John Ortberg
Love Beyond Reason

Beach Reach '08

2008-03-09T14:54:00.004-05:00

PANCAKES
&
JESUS

This week (March 14th through 21st) sixteen young people from Connect will give a week of time to serving other young people in Panama City Beach, Fla. They will provide safe van rides, free pancakes, and share their faith in the process.

Pray for our team: safety, endurance and boldness as they share God's love and what Christ has done in their lives.

"I became a servant of the gospel by the gift of God's grace given to me through the working of his power. This grace was given to me: to preach about the unsearchable riches of Christ and to make it plain, for everyone to see." Ephesians 3:7-10

Practical Pencils

2008-02-12T13:01:00.000-06:00

Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, Jesus gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to set before the people. They all (5,000) ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
Luke 9:16-17

Jesus feeds 5,000 people before He preaches a sermon! Keyword: BEFORE.... reminds us that Jesus was not only concerned with spiritual needs, but also the physical needs of people. As followers of Jesus Christ, we strive to be like Him in the world around us. We desire for others to know of God's unfailing love, His grace, and His salvation for all men. God may ask us to pray, to give, and/or to do something. Our goal? To make Jesus famous.
We have the opportunity to show love and concern for the children of Arlington by providing them with pencils to take the TAKS test next month.

Connect-NOW will be collecting no 2 pencils for the next three weeks. These pencils will be given to low-income area schools for this purpose. Let's see how many we can collect for the schools!
May God find us faithful to take every opportunity we get to show His love and concern for our neighbors.

"You are the LIGHT of the world"

Bibles for China

2008-01-29T19:22:00.000-06:00

Today, persecuted Christians around the world are quietly gathering names and addresses. These addresses are from their local communities, businesses, factories, universities and even government offices. Names and addresses are being gathered from China to Colombia and from Cuba to the Middle East and submitted to The Voice of the Martyrs for what could become one of the most significant ministry outreaches of our time.

Connect is partnering with Voice of the Martyrs through their Bibles Unbound program. We have committed to pray and send 220 bibles over the next three weeks.

"Remember those in bonds as bound with them." -Hebrews 13:3

Christians in today's hostile countries are frequently beaten or arrested for sharing their faith in Jesus Christ. However, they will not back down. They are ready to share their faith with curious neighbors, co-workers and even those opposed to the gospel. Until recently, all that most Christians in the free world could do was pray for their safety and courageous efforts. Now through Bibles Unbound, we can put actions to our prayers by partnering with them in the direct distribution of New Testaments.

"It is often difficult and dangerous to speak openly about my faith. That's why the Bibles Unbound program is so important to me. I know everyone in my village enjoys getting mail and loves to read, so when they get a New Testament in the mail, they are intrigued, and many will begin to read it. Then when I, or others from our church, speak to them about Christ, they will have questions because of the New Testament that was already sent to them. Thank you for this incredible program that helps us further the gospel of Jesus Christ."

-Wu Xiong, a former prisoner for Christ and a leader of a Chinese house church

For more on this, visit www.biblesunbound.com

ONE GREAT LOVE

2008-01-14T21:05:00.001-06:00

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
1 John 4:11-12

Thanks for reaching out!

2007-12-15T14:00:00.000-06:00

2 Corinthians 2:14

“Thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those being saved and perishing.”

It is an amazing thing to be a part of God's movement around the world. Thank you for participating in the Feliz Navidad shoebox drive. The group (27 people) is leaving this Thursday, December 20th, to deliver boxes of toys, encourage the local church, and pray over the town of Bustamante, Mexico.

Pray for:
Traveling safety
Easy border crossing
Opportunities to pray for others
Insight into how we can help the church there
Opportunities to be the LIGHT in a dark place

Blessings!

The Tardys and South Korea- pray for Unity!

2007-11-02T12:31:00.000-05:00

Last night Lisa and I attended the college worship service at Serang Church, one of the largest churches in the city of Seoul, Korea. On Sunday we will attend one of their services. On Sunday they have services at 6am, 8am, 10am, noon, 2pm and 4pm. the worship center seats around 2500. There were around 200 in attendance last night. So intimate and passionate in worship.

They began in reverence 5 minutes with worship leaders helping people focus and keyboard behind.
Followed by a great band,

who led us in worship for an hour….started with Open the Eyes of My Heart, followed by Holy, Holy, Holy,
then I spoke for about 25 minutes…
followed by an hour of prayer and worship combined. you would love it.

all in Korean……

some songs they would sing English for a portion of the song.

like Once Again…..all in Korean…then all of a sudden they would sing “Thank you for the cross, thank you for the cross…. in English.”

It will truly be a worship experience that I will never forget.

I really loved in one song we sing that we used to sing…. “the alpha and omega, beginning and the end..” “alpha / omega” I understood….
also, HALLELUIA, is HALLELUIA in KOREAN!!!!!
Great worship time, passionate, real, expressive, etc. you can see the Korean text on the screen with image mag. Band was genuine, expressive, enjoyable, and really good.

The common thread of each of our conversations has been the need and desire for unity among leadership….leadership of churches and leadership of campus ministry organizations. It would be easy to fill the venue with a lot of people from advertising, but Passion is about “grassroots” and God bringing those who need to be there…and who are college age. By talking with those in leadership (from small organizations and churches to large ones) we are seeing the need, the purpose, the reason we are here. Pray for that God would direct our paths and conversations during these last two days. We are confident that he has called us to this place at this time.

Feliz Navidad!

2007-10-29T21:51:00.000-05:00

...we are getting ready...For the next few weeks, Connect is distributing shoe boxes. These boxes will be filled with gifts for children and will be delivered by a Connect Impact Team to Mexico. If you haven't picked one up yet- get one on Sunday! If you are interested in the Mexico trip, please contact rachael@connectchurch.com The deadline is November 18th.

The Impact Team will be serving the church in Mexico by delivering gifts, encouraging the church, and partnering with them to pray for their town.... It's amazing what God does through us- that He invites us to be a part of how He is moving around the world!

"Let the glory of the all-glorious God mean everything to you"
- Andrew Murray
19th century prayer scholar

FELIZ NAVIDAD !!!

Shoeboxes and Shoeboxes

2007-10-26T11:53:00.000-05:00

Last Sunday was the first week to pick up a shoe box for "Feliz Navidad" to children in Bustamante, Mexico. So many of you responded to the need- Thank You!

We are collecting 200 shoe boxes, due December the 2nd. Our team will be delivering them the weekend before Christmas. If you are interested in joining the mission team, our first informational meeting is October 28th after the second service.

"Share with God's people who are in need"
- Romans 12:13

Opportunities to serve the world....

2007-10-03T17:30:00.000-05:00

**Don't forget to pick up a prayer reminder for the Dalit people of India- this will be the last Sunday!!

This December, Connect will be taking a short mission trip to Bustamante, Mexico. Here are some of the details:

When: Christmas 2007, Dec 20-23 We will depart Thursday at 6:00pm and return Sunday the 23rd at 3:00 pm.
Length: 3 days
Cost: 220.00 per person- includes most meals, gas, hotel, van rental
Who can go?: Families, singles, college students, minimum age 6 (with a parent) age 12 if your parent is not on the trip
Size: 16 people
Teaching Purpose: Going into a culture of need and serving with hands- putting feet and actions to our faith, Building community with others, introduction of missions-prayer walking, we are asking God to teach us about Himself and His love for others, flexibility!!
Serving Purpose: Building up the church plant in Bustamante, Mexico, prayer walking, showing Christ's love, delivering gifts for the church to give out to the people in the community. We will have the opportunity to worship with the church, as well as participate in children's activities.
Needs: 3 translators- (habla espanol por favor), shoe-box presents- (Connect NOW project for October and November)
Leadership: Josh and Sarah Seefeldt

Interested? Pray about being apart. Got Questions?

Informational meeting after
church in the art room, Sunday October 28th

Our brothers and sisters....

2007-09-22T15:13:00.000-05:00

Pray for our brothers and sisters in South Korea and for the Taliban, that
they may come to know Christ. Happening just weeks ago- this account
was written and published by Voice of the Martyr's:

SOUTH KOREA – UPDATE: On September 12,
South Korean Christian aid workers held
hostage by the Taliban in Afghanistan for six weeks, reported
being beaten and ordered
at gun point to convert to Islam,
according to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

According to the BBC, the former hostages told a press
conference they were made to work
like slaves while in captivity. Jae Chang-hee told reporters,
“We were beaten with a tree
branch or kicked around. Some kidnappers threatened us with
death at gunpoint to force us
to follow them in chanting their Islamic prayer for conversion.
I was beaten many times.
They pointed a rifle and bayonet at me and tried to force
me to convert.” Jae Chang-hee added,
“We lived like slaves. We had to level the ground for motorbikes,
and get waterand make a fire.”

BBC reported that Yu Jung-hwa said she thought she
was going to die.
“The most difficult moment, when I had a big fear of death,
was when the Taliban shot a video.
All 23 of us leaned against a wall and armed Taliban aimed
their guns at us, and a pit was before
me. They said they will save us if we believe in Islam.
I almost fainted at the time and I
still cannot look at cameras.”

On July 19, the Taliban kidnapped the 23 South Korean
Christian aid workers when
they were traveling by bus from Kabul to Kandahar.
The group’s leader,
Pastor Bae Hyung-kyu, and another male hostage were killed.
Twenty-one members
of the group were released last month following an agreement
between South Korea
and the Taliban.

Recalling how Pastor Bae Hyung-kyu was led away to his death,
the BBC said
Han Ji-young, in tears, added, “Bae didn’t even look at us when
he was leaving the room.
He only said, ‘Overcome with faith.’”

Continue praying for God to touch the lives of these believers
as they deal with their
experience in Afghanistan. Pray God comforts the families
of the two that were killed.
Pray the testimony of these Christians will draw non-believers
into fellowship with Him.

Jesus: A servant to all.

2007-09-16T14:48:00.000-05:00

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man he humbled himself and became obedient to death- even death on a cross! Philippians 2:5-8 NIV

These next few weeks, we continue to pray for the Dalit people of India. Amidst many sufferings and trials, God is moving among these people. Pray for the workers who are working among the people to share the love of Christ....
Cool story about some of our brothers and sisters serving in India:

This group spent some time among the Dalits :

The purpose of the trip was to go and simply wash feet for 10 days...that was it and I mean literally wash feet. Well that is what they started to do, they had a local with them to help and translate if ever needed. Well, day after day people would flood to the team and as they would simply wash people's feet, many would begin to weep and hug our team members. With only one local to translate, they couldn't even finish talking to all the people - but people would get their feet washed and just hug and weep with our team for sometimes up to an hour.
Many ended up accepting Jesus and many more said they had never been shown such love and they didn't even think they deserved it. Well the team is going again this year and will be doing the same thing and by the grace of God they will see even more. .

So,
Who are the people that God is calling us to reach out to- right here in our lives? Who are the people who may seem so unlovable to us, but that God has called us to love without strings attached?

**To Check out more about the Dalit people and the culture of Hinduism....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15elGwkFUYE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2ERjbREPZk

Reaching out to the Untouchables

2007-09-12T18:54:00.000-05:00

Who are the Untouchables?
India maintains a 3,000 year old religious system of splitting people into classes or "sects". The Dalit, or sometimes known as "untouchable", people of India are the lowest in the caste system.

Dalit means "to be crushed or broken". 250 million people are born into this caste level and hold jobs as the street sweepers, sanitation workers, and manual labor workers. The Dalit are legally not allowed to own land, and are usually denied basic rights such as education, medical services, and use of public facilities. Many are physically persecuted and oppressed.

**To find out more about the Dalit and why they must only drink out of the clay cup.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAdYtDLp0hU

God is moving among the Dalit. He hears their cry for freedom.
Join with us in prayer as we learn more about the Dalits in the coming weeks...

Psalm 82:3-5, Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless;
maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.

Rescue the weak and needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

"They know nothing, they understand nothing.
They walk about in darkness;
all the foundations of the earth are shaken."

The Power of Prayer Walking

2007-09-07T08:09:00.000-05:00

Do we know the power we have when we pray?

The Lord calls us to witness and testify of His love to those who do not know Him. However, it never fails that in these times we too are grown and stretched, changed and rearranged, made more like Him as we grow in the knowledge of Him. The Lord is so faithful to move us to places where we have no control, that we may learn to release that need to be in power and pray to a God who is mighty to save.

So was the case for a group of students traveling to Northern Uganada in Africa. In this nation there is a people called the Karamajong. The Karamajong had no known Christian in their tribe and were heavily influenced by witchcraft and rituals. Many Christians had gone before them, all being drawn to pray for the people and for the land. These teams would leave seeing very little change, but knowing that God hears their prayers, and He is faithful. The reality is that change was occurring. The spiritual atmosphere on that mountain was changing from darkness to light as teams came and prayed for the King of Kings to come and save the Karamajong.

It happened that when this group of students came, the fruit of years of prayers was about to be harvested. The students arrived on the mountain early in the morning and began their hike up to the village of the Karamajong. Around midday they reached their destination and found many huts full of Karamajong people. The students began calling out to them to come and hear of the great news they had for them, but they would not come. So this team did the only thing they could do… call on the God who is mighty to save. They began marching around the village praying and crying out that God would move, open eyes to truth, reveal His great love story for the Karamajong, and that salvation would spring up from this ground. As they prayer walked around this village something amazing happened, God was moving in the hearts of the Karamajong.

As the students were walking back to the center of the village, they saw all the Karamajong people, men women and children, gathered around waiting for them to return. A man spoke to them and said they have watched people come for years and they wanted to hear what the people came to tell them. These students had the privilege of sharing the story of redemption with the Karamajong people for the first time.

Today the Karamajong are a Christian tribe. Not only are they believers, but they are now going to their enemies on the adjacent mountain ranges to tell them of the love of Christ. Prayer has power to break through darkness.

Do we know the power we have when we pray?

post written by Lindsay A

God's Timing is Perfect!!!

2007-08-28T14:13:00.000-05:00

Thank you all for bringing school supplies these last weeks! You all provided for many students about to start school- what a great way to show Christ's love!

GREAT STORY:
Abby, who is a teacher in Arlington ISD and helped coordinate this Connect-Now project, emailed her principal about all the school supplies we had collected. On the same day, she received an email that the apartments across the street from the school had a serious fire. The principal knew that many of these kids would be coming to school without the supplies that they needed. She was so thankful that the supplies had arrived just in time to give to the students! God's timing was perfect in providing for those in need- and He used us to help! It's great to be a part of what God is doing here in Arlington. Thank you all for your giving hearts!
All glory, honor, and praise be to our Lord Jesus!

Coming in September.... prayer emphasis for the Dalit people of India....
Coming in October......shoebox drive for Mexico........

Interested in helping with Connect-NOW ? email us at the office: lindsay@connectchurch.com or rachael@connectchurch.com

Connect NOW

2007-08-25T10:18:00.000-05:00

Don't forget to bring School Supplies to help kids in Arlington get to school with what they need...the supplies will be given to low-income schools in the area...

Thank You!

No servant is greater than his Master...

2007-07-16T13:29:00.000-05:00

This week the youth at Connect had the opportunity to serve alongside a team of missionary students from Austria.

The Austrian team flew in on Wednesday evening and many of the Connect youth awaited their arrival at the DFW airport. They held up a sign for the students to make sure they felt a warm, southern welcome!!!

Thursday.....the youth awoke early and served in a small apartment community with the Austrian team through Mission Arlington. At the apartment complex we separated clothing, handed out food, and listened to a small message give in Spanish. The Lord showed up big and five professions of faith were made that day at the apartment complex!! Praise the Lord!
That evening, dinner was served at the Cummings home. Our youth ate, laughed with, and even played a Austria vs. America volleyball game. It was interesting to watch people in what we think is "normal", experience new food, slang, culture, and ways of life. We watched as the students tried root beer for the first time...their faces were classic and they described is as tasting like toothpaste.!

Friday afternoon was spent serving at Mission Arlington... In the evening, the Whitlock and Lewis home team served us a great big TexMex dinner! (A special thank you goes out to this entire hometime and their wonderful hospitality.) We ate, laughed again, then shared with the Austrians one of our favorite passages of scripture:

John 13:5-17 Jesus washes his disciples feet...

12When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Friday evening, the group began to wash each other's feet, as Jesus did for His disciples...

Saturday we spent at Six Flags.
Sunday we welcomed the Austrian team into the doors of Connect Church for an amazing time of worship.

We thank all the saints from Connect who have opened their homes...and most of all we attribute God all the glory for what will be done and is being done in and through the Austria team serving here...

Please pray for them as they continue their journey here in America...

His Power Made Perfect

2007-07-06T00:12:00.000-05:00

Tuesday, July 3, 2006

This week, God allowed the interns and youth group of Connect to serve at a non-profit organization called Youth World that reaches out to “at-risk” children in high-crime neighborhoods.
Many of us woke up Tuesday morning met at the Park N Ride and began to seek God’s face on behalf of the children in Dallas we were about to serve. Our small prayer group was tired but was definitely excited about what God had in store for that day. We were quickly reminded of
1 Corinthians 12:9-10,
"that His power is made perfect in our weakness",
and encouraged to press on for the mission God had for us. When we arrived it was overwhelming. The first thing we saw was not only children who are poor in goods, possessions, emotions, and so on, but children who were also poor in spirit. They were craving attention, love, and acceptance.
Our day at Youth World consisted of loving on, playing with, listening to, eating with, and encouraging children whose lives are less fortunate than our own. We ultimately felt that God allowed our Youth group to, as it says in Romans 12:15, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.”

One of our favorite stories consists of a young child we encountered when we first arrived to Youth World. She was standing alone with her tiny backpack on her back. As we began to talk to her, she looked up and simply smiled. We soon realized that this little girl did not understand a word we spoke. God gracefully allowed Hope Lewis, Madison, Haley, and I to recall enough of our Spanish to talk with her, learn about her family, and even ask her if she had Jesus in her heart…she responded with a beaming, “YES!” We spent the rest of the day playing and loving on her and it was a truly humbling experience.

Leaving the day, I was encouraged by watching God allow the youth love these children with the love of Christ. I saw many of the students’ come to a true understanding of the Blessings of Christ and how those can be ultimately used for His glory. It says in
Luke 4:28, “the Spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed,"

…Praise the Lord for using us in this capacity! We are so blessed and honored to be able to be His hands and feet in such a place.

-Student Intern, Connect Church

What's going on in Mexico?

2007-06-29T09:50:00.001-05:00

This weekend, a group of us headed off to Busta Mante, Mexico. It is south of the border by about 3 hours. This small town is situated at the base of a beautiful mountain ridge and is home to 5,000 people. This view was taken right outside the small church-isn't the sunset beautiful?
We went with the expectation that God would teach us about what He is doing there and open our eyes to the spiritual climate. We went asking two questions, "How can we be praying for the people?" and "How can we partner with the local church here?".

We met pastors of 2 churches while we were there. The first, Juan and his wife, Chelley, are ministers in Monterey, Mexico (which is only 90 min away). Juan became a Christian about twenty years ago when a group from Texas came down to do VBS. They live with their family in Monterey and helped plant the church in Busta Mante a few years ago. Their church in Monterey has planted four churches outside the big city! God is Amazing!

We also met Miguel and Ana, who were members of Juan's church in Monterey and helped plant the church in Busta Mante. They began with Vacation Bible Schools and revival services, held several times a year. God called them to leave their jobs and their family to pastor the small, newly planted church in Busta Mante. Miguel and Ana have three children and are expecting their first grandbaby next month.

We talked with Miguel and Ana about what God was doing in Busta Mante...

Many children are coming to know the Lord and are bringing their parents to church

Pray that the parents would come to know Jesus as their Savior and be the spiritual leaders that they children need them to be

The strong ties to the Catholic church can make it difficult for people to lay down the "culture of religion" versus "making a decision to have a relationship with Jesus"

"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12

There is a strong influence of witchcraft. Many are desperate to be healed or to know the future, so they turn to the witch doctors in the community.

Pray that God's power would be made known throughout the land and that Satan would lose his power over men. Pray for hope.

Because so many are new Christians, there is a lack of teachers in the church.

Pray that God would raise up men and women to study and teach His Word. Pray that Miguel and Anna would be refreshed and that God would give them patience for teachers to rise up.

We had the opportunity to join in the children's service on Sunday night. The kids made crafts and sang, "Father Abraham"....in espanol of course! This was a great time of worship and teaching. We played soccer with the boys and fussed over the girls. Pictured here, in front of the church were some of the kids that were there....

"Jesus called the children to him and said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.'" Luke 18:16

What's going on in Mexico?

Will you pray with us as we ask the Lord how we can partner with His work in Busta Mante? As you pray through the needs listed above, may the Lord bless your prayers and teach you about His love for all people.

...more to come

Welcome! Welcome!Welcome!

2007-06-29T09:35:00.001-05:00

Welcome to ConnectNOW

This blog was created to unite us in prayer as we seek for God's name to be made famous here and throughout the world. May God bless these stories, scriptures, prayers, and songs as we lift them up to Him...

We commit to:

Pray. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12

Love. Love must be sincere. Romans 12:9

Give. Share with God’s people who are in need. Romans 12:13

Serve. Never be lacking in zeal but keep your spiritual fervor serving the Lord. Romans 12:11

Will you partner with us?