This week's news

• A group of 16 youth from Emmanuel Baptist Church is here Sunday through Wednesday this week, assisting us in various ways. They hosted a movie showing in the Meeks' backyard on Sunday night, projecting "Enchanted" on a big screen. About 35 people attended, including two new neighborhood families. They're leading a V.B.S. Monday through Wednesday evening in a local park and doing work projects at the Mission, too. We're grateful for all their help!
• Molly Merrick, one of our summer interns, has accepted the Ministry Aide position on staff with Mission Adelante, which will begin in August, at the conclusion of her internship. We're thrilled that "Hot Ta-Molly" is going to remain here working with us! Please ask God to provide through people's response to her upcoming fundraising.

Prayer requests:

• Jose & Trisha and their three kids live near the Meeks. Kristen Meek has been getting to know Trisha around the neighborhood for about a year, and Jose has been a student in our ESL program since January. They've been resistant to becoming associated with a church, but have begun to show interest in Mission Adelante worship services and Bible studies! Please pray for continued interest, and for them to have the courage to come and investigate our worship and fellowship opportunities.
• Members of the new "Servant Community" are already bearing fruit as they engage in their roles and begin putting their hands to the plow! Please pray for their sustained commitment and initiative, and an experiential understanding of each person's place in Christ's body.
• We studied Paul & Silas' imprisonment and resultant ability to share the gospel with the jailer and his family in Acts 16: 16-34 in our home Bible studies on Sunday night. Please pray for Jose, Guadalupe, Hugo, and Leticia to have increased faith and persevere in the face of difficult circumstances for God's ultimate glory.

Current needs:

• Children's books: English and Spanish
• Bookshelves

Important upcoming dates:

• Monday, August 4, 6:30 p.m. at the Mission: New date for Volunteer Team Meeting
• Sunday, August 10, at the Bethany Community Center: Trimester-end party and graduation 4:30--set up begins; 6:00 party begins

Investing in Young Leaders: Volunteers Needed!

Kids Adelante began nearly three years ago with one volunteer and five little girls in our basement. It has obviously grown a lot since then. This trimester we are averaging just over 40 kids and 11 volunteers each Thursday night. The Thursday night “Outreach Bible Study” program has drawn in kids ages 4-12 and has exposed them to the message of the Bible in a variety of ways. However, once a week is not enough to overcome the challenges these kids face from peers and life as they approach middle school. A couple of weeks ago the principal from M.E. Pearson elementary school met with our staff for a “lunch and learn” session and shocked us all with the news that fifth graders in his school are routinely recruited by middle school gang members! Our time is short.

Plans are currently underway to launch a “Leaders-In-Training” program to mentor and tutor the kids in Kids Adelante who have demonstrated leadership characteristics. Our hope is that investing heavily in these kids will help them become positive leaders among their peers as they make their way through the minefield that lies ahead. We want to inspire a vision and hope for their lives that supersede the messages they receive from the urban culture in which they live. Currently our plan is to involve up to 10 students in a three-day-a-week after-school program that will include recreation and tutoring in math and language arts, as well as mentoring in character development.

**Here’s where YOU come in! If you have a passion for investing cross-culturally in kids, there are some pretty exciting and easy ways to connect! We still need volunteer tutors for Wednesday afternoons as well as teams to provide light afternoon meals for the kids each Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The meals could be a perfect project for small groups to share! If God is moving you in this direction, please call or email jarrettm@missionadelante.org to find out how you can be involved. The launch is scheduled for mid-September!

In other news:

• The upcoming Volunteer Team Meeting has been rescheduled for Monday, August 4, which is one week later than it was previously scheduled. This means we will have less than a week to prepare for the summer “graduation” party. Please mark your calendars now for the team meeting on August 4th at 6:30 pm and the Summer “graduation” party on SUNDAY, August 10th in the late afternoon!
• Eight Hispanic and six American volunteers met together on Sunday afternoon and formed the new "Servant Community." They showed excitement for the vision and eagerness to participate. They'll have monthly meetings from now on to maintain momentum.
• Fifteen volunteers came to Mission Adelante to serve during Heartland Community Church's "YES! Day" last Saturday. Despite heavy rain most of the day, they worked outside for half the day and maintained good attitudes!

Prayer needs:

• Pray for the group of 20 youth from Emmanuel Baptist Church as they prepare to come next week to lead V.B.S. in the neighborhood and do work projects around the facility.
• Continue to pray for the kids with whom Megan McDermott has been pursuing friendships. The kids have come to Kids Adelante with friends in the past, and want to come back, but the parents have stopped allowing them to come, and have also started resisting Megan's effort to spend time with them. Please pray for Megan and Mission Adelante to find favor with the parents.
• The father of some siblings that participate in Kids Adelante is in prison. Please pray for the family to depend on God and to find comfort and peace in spite of their difficult situation.

Current needs:

In order to stock our resource center and provide for families in need, we're requesting:

• grocery store gift cards
• household supplies including laundry detergent, dish soap, and cleaning supplies.

Important upcoming dates:

• Monday, August 4, 6:30 p.m. at the Mission: New date for Volunteer Team Meeting
• Sunday, August 10, late afternoon at the Bethany Community Center: Trimester-end party and graduation

Community of Servants

It has not been easy to mobilize immigrants to serve, but God has brought enough fruit to keep us from giving up. The volatility of peoples' lives and their everyday challenges make it difficult for them to be consistent with anything. However, we know that being a follower of Christ is not just about saying you believe and attending a church. It also includes laying down your life for others. Jesus told us that finding your life means losing it and that being his disciple means following him in carrying your own cross. That is why our mission includes the idea of mobilizing immigrants to serve, beyond serving them.

This Sunday we will hold the first monthly meeting of “Comunidad de Siervos” or “Community of Servants” before our worship service. Of the immigrants who have received Christ through Mission Adelante, there is a small core that has demonstrated a sense of ownership and commitment to the ministry and a growing faith in Christ. We have invited and challenged this group to step up and become “servant leaders” in our community. Some of them have already begun serving, and others have had good intentions, but we are praying that God would call them all to a new level of obedience and faith. Please pray with us for God to deepen their love for him and give them a passion to serve others in his name!

In other news:

• The upcoming Volunteer Team Meeting has been rescheduled for Monday, August 4, which is one week later than it was previously scheduled. This means we will have less than a week to prepare for the summer “graduation” party. Please mark your calendars now for the team meeting on August 4th at 6:30 pm and the Summer “graduation” party on SUNDAY, August 10th in the late afternoon!
• Two leaders and 7 middle-school age kids from the First Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, Kansas arrived this morning, and will be here until Friday afternoon. They'll be doing work projects each morning and spending the afternoons with neighborhood kids.
• A group of 15 people from Heartland Community Church, including their LTP summer interns, will be here all day Saturday for YES! Day. They are part of a larger group that has collected pledges to raise funds for the 2009 Leadership Training Program at Heartland and will serve together at various locations.

Prayer needs:

• Guadalupe and Alberto, two immigrants who have demonstrated commitment to our community of faith, have agreed to take on leadership roles in the new "Community of Servants." Ask the Lord to foster their commitment to this new opportunity, that they would be recognized and accepted by the rest of the community as leaders, and that they will become role-models that encourage others to serve with them.
• Megan McDermott has been pursuing friendships with kids in a particular family. The kids have come to Kids Adelante with friends in the past, and want to come back, but the parents have stopped allowing them to come, and have also started resisting Megan's effort to spend time with them. Please pray for Megan and Mission Adelante to find favor with the parents.
• Megan McDermott and Molly Merrick are working on reconnecting with the kids that became acquainted with Kids Adelante for the first time at the outreach soccer event a couple weeks ago. Please pray that the outreach left a lasting impression on them and that Megan and Molly would find them enthusiastic to become involved.

Current needs:

In order to stock our resource center and provide for families in need, we're requesting:

• baby formula
• school supplies and backpacks; please contact Seth Sears at (913) 568-9280 for specific school supply lists.

Important upcoming dates:

• Monday, August 4, 6:30 p.m. at the Mission: New date for Volunteer Team Meeting
• Sunday, August 10, late afternoon at the Bethany Community Center: Trimester-end party and graduation

Soccer and Salvation

Soccer is, of course, the favorite pass-time of most Latino kids. When you mix a soccer clinic led by a former professional player with willing volunteers, a free ball for every kid, a pick up game for the whole family, and a clear presentation of the gospel, you get a winning combination! Last Saturday about 50 kids and many adults converged on Kennsington park for Mission Adelante’s 2nd Annual Soccer Clinic. The event was a joint effort between Mission Adelante, Victory Soccer Camp Sports Ministry, Cabot Westside Health Center, and a group of volunteers from Overland Trail Elementary School.

The highlight of the event came when eight-year old Andrea Flores expressed her desire to receive Christ as her savior after the gospel presentation. Andrea has been involved in Kids Adelante now for more than a year. Slowly but surely God has used the scriptures and His love shown by various volunteers to draw Andrea to Himself. Because of her ongoing involvement in Kids Adelante I have no doubt that she understood quite clearly the step of faith she was taking, and that God will see to it that she receives the continuing encouragement and nurture that she needs to grow in Christ. Please praise God with us for what He has done in Andrea’s life and pray for her faith to grow deep roots!

In other news:

• The upcoming Volunteer Team Meeting has been rescheduled for Monday, August 4, which is one week later than it was previously scheduled.
  
• This is the second trimester that English tutoring has been available on Monday evenings for the adults in our ESL classes. There was little interest during the spring, but we've seen the number of those who come growing during the past few weeks. We're grateful for key volunteer Beth Brown's dedication!
  
• Thiago, a multi-trimester volunteer with Kids Adelante, is coming to KCK each Wednesday evening this summer to play soccer with 7 - 11 year old neighborhood boys and be a Christian male role model for them.
  
• Jarrett had a meeting with a group of potential Leaders In Training volunteers. A team of at least 5 people is in place to launch the program in September, which will provide tutoring, mentoring, and character development to a select group of kids that have been involved in Kids Adelante.
  
• An 11 year old girl in the purity Bible study that intern Megan McDermott is leading shared with the group some personal struggles. We praise God that the girls consider the Bible study a safe place, and that they have developed trust in one another.

Prayer needs:

• Pray for us as we challenge believers in our community to rise to a higher level of commitment. We hope that many of these conversations will take place this week.
  
• We're thankful that ESL level 1 attendance has remained remarkably high 4 weeks into the trimester. Pray for Adult English students and Kids Adelante participants not to lose momentum during break week this week, but that all of them would be back next week.
  
• Praise God for the provision of 2 gas grills and a weed eater!
  
• Ask God for protection and endurance for the Heartland Community Church LTP (summer internship) group, which includes the 3 interns based at Mission Adelante. Many are facing spiritual warfare.

Important upcoming dates:

• July 3: No ESL classes or Kids Adelante (trimester break)
• August 4: New date for Volunteer Team Meeting

Battling for Purity

According to El Centro’s youth survey from 2006, one in five pre-teen and teenage Latino immigrants report being sexually active. The oldest group in Kids Adelante has arrived at this threshold and we are praying that God will protect their innocence. Last Friday night, Megan McDermott and Molly Merrick, two of our summer interns, initiated a special Bible-study group with seven of these girls that will focus on issues related to purity and relationships.

The kick-off to the pre-teen girls Bible study was a slumber party complete with all the things girls do, including nail painting, baking cookies, watching “chick flicks”, dancing, and only a couple hours of sleep. In this context our interns saw another side of the girls and found that they were more than willing to open up to them about their personal struggles.

Through the rest of the summer, Megan will lead the girls through an eight-week study of a book called, Every Young Woman’s Battle. Discussion will include topics like, “body image”, “dressing to impress”, and “healthy boundaries with the opposite sex.” These topics and others will all tie together with an emphasis on developing intimacy and a sense of self worth in a relationship with God.

This is a ground-breaking step in the development of Kids Adelante. So, please pray with us for this group. Pray for Megan as she leads it. And pray for the girls who are involved. Join us in asking God to draw these girls into the kind of relationship with Him that gives them the confidence to have healthy relationships with the young men that are already beginning to pursue them.

In other news:

• Eighty-five adults and kids were directed to the basement at Mission Adelante Headquarters last Thursday evening when the severe weather sirens sounded. Fortunately, a heavy thunderstorm was as severe as the weather got, and everyone was able to go home safely. Gregg Frost obtained a weather radio for the building so we'll be well-informed of threatening weather in the future.
• Sofie Strohmeier arrived on Sunday after finishing her school year to join the other interns. We're excited to welcome her to the neighborhood for the next two months!

Prayer needs:

• Pray for God's blessing as Jarrett forms a team of volunteers for the Leaders In Training and tutoring program slated to begin this fall. This will be an opportunity for intensively relational mentorship for a select group of kids.
• Pray for Molly's effort to learn Spanish to be successful this summer.
• Please continue to pray for the Hispanic couple in our community that has faced ongoing trouble in their marriage. They've been back for the past two Sunday evenings! Ask God to bring them to a new level of consistency in their faith and marriage relationship.

Current needs:

• rectangular folding tables, 8-foot preferred
• gas grills
• gas powered weed eater

Important upcoming dates:

• June 28: Soccer clinic for Kids Adelante kids and families
• July 3: No ESL classes or Kids Adelante (trimester break)

What if the Church Served Together?

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

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

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

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

In other news:

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

Prayer needs:

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

Current needs:

• Gas-powered weed eater
• Gas grills

Important upcoming dates:

• June 28: Kids Adelante soccer clinic outreach

The Interns are Here!

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

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

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

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

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

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

In other news:

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

Prayer needs:

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

Current needs:

• Gas powered weed eater

Important upcoming dates:

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

"...Mobilizing them to Serve"

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

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

In other news:

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

Prayer needs:

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

Current needs:

• gas powered weed eater
• round tables
• gas grills

Important upcoming dates:

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

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

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

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

• June 5: Summer ESL classes and Kids Adelante begin

A Closing Window of Opportunity for Kids Adelante

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

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

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

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


In other news:

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

Prayer needs:

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

Current needs:

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

Important upcoming dates:

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

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

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

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

• June5: Summer ESL classes and Kids Adelante begin

Outreach Opportunity with Mission Adelante

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In other news:

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

Prayer needs:

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

Current needs:

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

Important upcoming dates:

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

Calling All Volunteers!

Throughout the history of the church, movements of people from one city to another or from one country to another have been used by God to spread the gospel to nearly every corner of the earth. Early in the history of the church, as recorded in the book of Acts, a great persecution against believers ocurred in Jerusalem following the stoning of Stephen. The result was that the believers were scattered to other regions...along with the message of Christ. Sometimes the gospel has spread through persecution, other times because the church has sent missionaries, and in other situations whole groups of believers have migrated from one country to another. Today, in many ways, the Latin American mission field is coming to us! For those who have a passion to share life with the poor and minister cross-culturally, the opportunity is ripe to do it in your own city.

Mission Adelante invites you to consider serving as a volunteer in our ministry. Whether your passion is kids, adults, or meeting physical needs, we have a place for you to connect. You are invited to come to our Volunteer Orientation and Training Seminar on Saturday, May 24th at 9:00 a.m. to learn more about how you can be involved in cross-cultural missions in our own city. Please respond to Morgan Ham to RSVP or get more information. Or, visit our website to check out our volunteer opportunities.

In other news:

• Twenty volunteers from Christ Community Church spent six hours working on our facility on Saturday. We're grateful for their help!
• Jason Schoff preached his first message to the Mission Adelante community at the worship celebration on Sunday evening. He spoke on the topic of fasting.
• Molly Merrick is the second individual to jump on board for the summer internship. She and Megan McDermott will live here in the neighborhood and work with us from May 31 to August 10. Please pray for God's provision of necessary funds, as Molly is sending her fundraising letters this week.

Prayer needs:

• Please intercede for M & V, who have been a part of the Mission Adelante community for a year and a half. Crisis in their marriage is causing them to isolate themselves from the community, as well as causing them great personal distress.

Current needs:

• Room dividers or cubicle walls
• Portable soccer goals
• Tutors for an after-school program to begin this fall. If you're interested, contact Jarrett

Important upcoming dates:

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

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

• June 5: Summer ESL classes and Kids Adelante begin

Reflections of a Volunteer

(The following email to the Kids Adelante team is included in The Adelante Express with permission by Thiago, a volunteer from Brazil)

"I wish I had done this a lot sooner (volunteering and teaching). You are all like angels in my life at Mission Adelante. When Megan invited me to join, I had no idea of what would happen to me or if I would be really capable of doing this. But the more I see and live it the more I want to be a part of it and be an influence in our children's lives.

"How nice it is to be able to tell the little ones about the good news of Jesus Christ! It is so humbling to look at a child's eyes and see that they love God and that they are thankful that He sent his only Son to die for our sins. I take Annie and Lorenzo as an example: Only God knows how much they were able to influence me and touch my heart with their eagerness to be a part of that class tonight. They were not the only ones. But I can assuredly tell you that through those kids I was touched by the Holy Spirit. We were the body of Christ at that moment.

"I thank God for allowing me to be here in America (even with all the trials and persecutions that I've been personally experiencing) at this moment and being a part of such a beautiful community. This is probably the biggest email I've written in a long time (that at least has an important meaning to me) so I apologize for making it too lengthy."

*Note: Thiago, from Brazil, just finished his first trimester of volunteering in the Kids Adelante Program with Mission Adelante.

In other news:

• Jarrett taught about the messages of the cross at our Sunday evening worship service. After hearing the message, Sara, who has been a part of our Bible study and worship services for a year, prayed to receive Christ as her savior!
• Elaine is the third member of our community to complete the discipleship course in recent weeks. She and her partner, Kristen Meek, crossed the finish line this week.
• We enjoyed beautiful weather and a great turnout for our trimester-end party on Saturday, with 220 people attending!
• Casey Kapple and a group from Emmanuel Baptist Church conducted activities for the kids during the party on Saturday and during the worship service on Sunday. We're grateful for their help.

Prayer needs:

• The strengthening of marriages within our community
• The continuation of relationships that volunteers have developed with adult English learners and kids during the break between trimesters
• Refreshment and renewal for staff and volunteers during the break
• For Jarrett, Mission Adelante's Director, to have clarity during his prayer and planning retreat tomorrow through Saturday

Current needs:

• Room dividers or cubicle walls
• Portable soccer goals
• Tutors for an after-school program to begin this fall. If you're interested, contact Jarrett!

Important upcoming dates:

• Saturday, May 24 @ 9:00 a.m.: Volunteer Orientation and Training
• June 5: Summer trimester ESL classes and Kids Adelante begin

Party with Mission Adelante This Saturday!

It's time to party! Mission Adelante's Spring trimester is coming to a close and this weekend we'll celebrate with a big bash at Bethany Community Center. Please join us! We'll grill burgers and dogs, and serve them with the Latin American side dishes that our students and participants will bring to share. There will be games and activities for the kids as well as an awards ceremony.


This trimester we will honor a record number of kids for memorizing eight or more Bible verses during the trimester! We will also give awards to a record number of kids for perfect attendance at Kids Adelante. This trimester we have averaged about 30 kids each week.


On the adult side, several level-one students will receive a full refund of their $30 tuition for attending at least 75% of the class sessions during the trimester, and 2 students will graduate from our five-level program.


If you are interested in volunteering with Mission Adelante please join us at the party this Saturday and check it out!


Time: 2:00-5:00 roughly

Place: Bethany Community Center (1120 Central Avenue; Kansas City, KS 66102)

Bring: a dessert or side dish

In other news:

• Thirty-three kids and 10 adults enjoyed an outing to the Kansas City Wizards soccer game last Wednesday. Jeff Foster of the Wizards obtained donated tickets for the group to use.
• Last week we mentioned Sara, one of our Bible study members who was concerned for financial trouble that her neighbor, Blanca, and her family were experiencing. On Saturday Seth and another volunteer delivered a full-size and two twin beds and sheets to Blanca's family, which was getting situated in a house they just moved in to and moved a sofa there from their previous residence. Blanca and two of her kids attended the worship celebration on Sunday.
• The topic of giving was addressed in our community for the first time on Sunday evening. Jarrett used Biblical examples of benevolence to teach about the importance of caring for one another's needs. Those in attendance had the opportunity to place an offering in an envelope and leave the envelope near the exit. There was a great response to the teaching, and the funds will be used to directly meet the needs of the community.
• Casey Kapple and a group from Emmanuel Baptist Church will conduct activities for the kids during the party this Saturday.

Prayer needs:

• Good weather for the party this Saturday, and a good turnout of students, their friends and families, and volunteers.

Current needs:

• Room dividers or cubicle walls
• A portable MP3 player for Kids Adelante
• Portable soccer goals
• Tutors for an after-school program to begin this fall. If you're interested, contact Jarrett!

Important upcoming dates:

• This Saturday, April 19; 2:00 p.m.: Trimester-end party at Bethany Community Center
• May 24; 9:00 a.m.: Volunteer Orientation and Training
• June 5: Summer trimester begins: ESL classes and Kids Adelante
  

Giving Out Of Scarcity

When food was scarce in the Roman Empire, the new believers in the community of Antioch took up a collection and sent a special gift to the church in Jerusalem. It was a beautiful picture of believers in Christ caring for one another. What makes this story from Acts chapter 11 especially powerful is that the famine was severe in all of the Roman Empire, including Antioch. Yet the believers there gave out of their limited resources to help their brothers in another place.


This passage impacts the Mission Adelante community in a timely way. Those immigrants who have received Christ and are now growing with us through our Bible studies do not have much in the way of financial resources. And yet, we are beginning to explore ways to encourage them to give from their limited resources to help others. In response to this passage in Acts, one of our Sunday night Bible study groups decided to surprise the other two groups by dropping in last Sunday night with desserts to share. The surprise visits, the delicious homemade treats, and the brief time of prayer was well received by each of the other groups, and was a fun way to put into practice what the believers in Antioch demonstrated regarding giving.


In an exciting application of their own, Ricardo and Sara, both members of our Bible Studies, shared with us about financial crises their co-worker and neighbor were having. Their intent was to see if there were ways Mission Adelante could help their friends! We are excited that our immigrant participants are beginning to recognize and respond to needs around them. Please pray for us as we lead them into learning to participate with us in meeting those needs and demonstrating the love of Christ.

In other news:

• The older boys who received corrective attention in Kids Adelante two weeks ago returned last Thursday with entirely different behavior. They listened attentively, participated with sincerity, and treated all the other kids with respect. Furthermore, the girl about whom they had said the demeaning things returned. Thank you for petitioning the Lord with us to transform the boys' attitudes and behavior! We praise Him for working in their lives.

Prayer needs:

• We praise God that Fredy found work remodeling homes.

We're going to have worship celebrations on the upcoming seven Sunday evenings. These are the most consecutive worship services that we've had, resembling routine church gatherings. We have a number of goals in mind for the upcoming weeks, including connecting new people to Mission Adelante, developing a sense of ownership and community among all attenders, and teaching about and practicing topics that are key to operating as a community of faith. Please pray for consistent attendance at the celebrations and for the Lord's leadership toward meeting our goals.

Current needs:

• A portable MP3 player for Kids Adelante
• Portable soccer goals
• Tutors for an after-school program to begin this fall. If you're interested, contact Jarrett!

Important upcoming dates:

• Trimester-end Party: Saturday, April 19, 2:00 p.m. at Bethany Community Center 1120 Central Avenue, Kansas City, KS 66102

Raul sings, "The Star Spangled Banner"

Last Friday afternoon volunteer Todd Jones, Jason and Megan Schoff and the Meek family watched as Raul Contreras sang the Star Spangled Banner for the first time as an American citizen, along with some 90 other new citizens. Raul's "swearing in" ceremony at the Federal Courthouse in KCK was the culmination of a long process that we were privileged to play a part in through teaching him English and helping him prepare for the citizenship exam.


Rocio, Raul's American born wife, along with their kids Edgar, Raul Jr., and Ulises were all on hand as well. Their sense of pride in their father's accomplishment was noticeable as we all congratulated him for his hard work.



In other news:

• A group from a Springfield church traveled to KCK Saturday to host a Kids Adelante event in the park. The kids enjoyed playing soccer and carnival games while Kids Adelante leaders enjoyed getting to know other volunteers that seek cross-cultural opportunities to serve.
• A group of 15 volunteers from k10 Church continued working on the demolition phase of the building remodel on Saturday.
• We're grateful for an anonymous donor who funded the purchase of a ping-pong table for use by Kids Adelante.

Prayer needs:

• English level 1 student Fredy is seeking employment.
• Some of the kids attending Kids Adelante have required discipline related to their interaction with other kids in recent weeks. Please pray that the discipline will produce character growth and respectful interaction among the children.
• Please pray for God to provide the funds to support our summer interns

Current needs:

• A portable MP3 player to use with the Kids Adelante sound system
• Portable soccer goals
• Tutors for an after-school program to begin in the fall. Please contact Jarrett if you're interested.

Important upcoming dates:

• Volunteer Team Meeting: This Monday, April 7, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. at Mission Adelante *We are committed to ending the meeting in time to allow those who attend to view the NCAA championship basketball game.
• Trimester-end Party: Saturday, April 19, 2:00 p.m. at Bethany Community Center

Discipline Shapes Character in Kids Adelante

Disciplining other people's children is not at the top of my list of fun things to do. However, in Kids Adelante and in life discipline is a very valuable tool to shape character. God tells us that He disciplines us as His sons because He loves us.

Last Thursday we had a challenging situation arise in Kids Adelante. Two of the older boys went a long way to undermine the environment of encouragement and security we are trying to foster, by saying some very demeaning things to one of girls.

The boys were taken aside and received some firm correction. As we spoke with them I was aware that not only were we protecting the sanctity of the Kids Adelante environment, but we were also protecting a young girl's dignity. Additionally, we were providing the kind of discipline that those boys have likely never experienced in their home; the kind of discipline where strong words of correction and truth are followed by affirmation and forgiveness. I am convinced that God will use even these difficult situations to shape the character of the kids we're working with. Please pray with us specifically for these boys and the girl they offended.

My Sin on the Cross

My Sin was on the Cross

"Rage", "lack of patience with my kids", "envy", "the way I act in my home", "not obeying you", "pride", "selfishness"; These were some of the anonymous sins that were nailed to the cross on Sunday night as we each acted out with real hammers and nails the reality that “He was pierced for our transgressions”. After sharing an Easter feast, a celebration of praise songs, scriptures, communion, and prayer mixed for a sweet evening of worship in two languages by believers from various countries.

We praised God both for what he did and for what He continues to do as we saw Hispanic members of Mission Adelante bring friends, as one new believer shared about her new life in Christ for the first time, as volunteers arrived to accompany the ESL students they work with, and most of all, as people directed their attention toward the glorious God who loved us so much to secure our eternal joy with His own life. With a mixture of struggle and joy we are watching God change lives and build a community out of broken and vulnerable people.

In other news:

• Seven first-time attenders came to the Easter Worship Celebration.
• Three full-time and one part-time staff along with 42 ongoing volunteers serve an average of 102 regular participants on a weekly basis through our ESL, Kids Adelante, and Bible study programs.

Prayer requests:

• Praise God for providing through donation the replacement of most of the items that were stolen.
• Pray for the plans for the facility remodel to come together and be executed quickly.
• Pray for the progession of the teams that were formed to involve the Hispanic community in service.
• Pray for more Hispanics to follow through with sharing their faith and leading others through the discipleship material.

Current needs:

• Portable soccer goals
• Tutors for an after-school program to begin this fall (If you're interested, contact Jarrett!)

Important upcoming dates:

• Monday, April 7 @ 6:30: Volunteer Team Meeting at the facility
• Saturday afternoon, April 19: Trimester-end Party at The Bethany Center

Thieves Break in and Steal...from Mission Adelante

Thieves Break in and Steal...from Mission Adelante
Cigarette smoking thieves broke into the Mission Adelante building on Saturday night and left their dead cigarette butt and a crow bar where our sound system used to be. They pried their way in through the back door, took a few things that were easy pickings, and left the back doors wide open. Besides the sound system they also made off with a guitar and some tools.

This violation has been discouraging and has prompted us to take further security measures. Nonetheless, Morgan reminded us today as we prayed in our staff meeting that our "enemies" merely stole things, but we are being used by God in this neighborhood to steal lives from grasp of the real enemy. The faces of eleven new believers who are now brothers and sisters in Christ came to mind as I had a sense that we have taken more from the enemy than he has taken from us.

In other news:

• Another Hispanic woman crossed the finish line with the 13-study discipleship course this week! The discipleship course covers topics that are foundational to the Christian faith.
• A group from the local company Laminate Works made good progress working on the building on Saturday.
• Alberto & Graciela and Rosi have repeatedly attended Worship Celebrations and in-home Bible studies.
• A total of nine students and leaders from the Baptist Student Union at Central Missouri University in Warrensburg, three of whom were here for the whole week, spent their spring break volunteering at Mission Adelante. They worked on various projects including a large sign for the front of the facility. We're grateful for their work!

Prayer needs:

• God's protection of the facility and those who work and worship inside.
• Full attendance at the Easter Worship Celebration this Sunday evening, and an atmosphere of praise for Jesus' provision of salvation for us.
• Praise for the provision of twin-size beds that we requested last week.

Donation needs:

• As a result of the burglary, a guitar
• A sheet-music stand
• A capo (guitar accessory)

Important upcoming dates:

• Volunteer Team Meeting: Monday, April 7, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. at the facility
• Trimester-end party: Saturday afternoon, April 19

Compassion in the Context of Community

God has continued to work in the lives of Alberto and Graciela, a married couple, who are students in our English classes. When Alberto was without a job, both of the classes prayed for him to find a job. Last week we reported that a Mission Adelante volunteer had suggested a possible job for Alberto, and that Jason helped him prepare for the interview and accompanied him to it. Alberto interviewed for the job in his limited English and was hired. The following week, both English classes rejoiced in the answered prayer. Finally, the strategy of "serving immigrant to Christ" was fulfilled when Alberto and Graciela attended our Worship Celebration for the first time on Sunday evening. We rejoice that God facilitates relationships with people when believers show compassion in the context of community!

In other news:

• When volunteer English teacher Andrea suggested a Bible reading exercise as homework for her class, student Juliana said she didn't have a Bible at home. Andrea took the opportunity to give her a bilingual English/Spanish Bible.
• Volunteer Beth's persistent pursuit of student Olga paid off with Olga's return to English class this morning.
• Jarrett was explaining our discipleship process to Rosi, another first-time attender to our Worship Celebration on Sunday, when Rosi's sister-in-law, Elaine, volunteered to walk her through the 13-study discipleship course as soon as she finishes it herself. This is the perfect progression of the discipleship model, as a young believer begins to teach the things he or she has learned to those younger in the faith.

Prayer needs:

• God's solution to crisis in Sara and Pedro's marriage.
• Praise for the avoidance of unjust prosecution and alleviation of Maria and Mishael's crisis.
• Praise for the provision of three Foosball tables!

Donation needs:

• Twin-size mattresses and box springs

Important upcoming dates:

• Volunteer team meeting: April 7
• Trimester-end party: April 19

Turn That Car Around!

Turn That Car Around!

A Hispanic woman in a Spanish Bible study last Sunday considered how to answer the question, “When did God respond to a prayer for you?” Presently in her fourth level of our ESL classes, she came to faith in Christ last year through her involvement in Mission Adelante, and has participated in the Bible study since that time.

She thoughtfully answered, “The answer to my prayer is my life,” and went on to explain that about a year ago she was encountering many of the problems that immigrants face and some people told her that smoking and drinking would help her relax. She decided that she would try those things, but also prayed, “God, if you’re real, help me.”

About the same time, someone invited her to a Mission Adelante worship service. As she was on her way to the first party, she drove directly past the Meek’s house at just the time the worship service was beginning! She remembered the invitation, turned around and returned to the house. However, being a shy woman, she became nervous and drove away again. But she turned around and returned to the house for the second time and parked her car.

As she entered the house, her nervousness deepened when she saw Americans as well as Hispanics inside, but several people engaged her in conversation. She reflected on what she observed that first night, “You all spoke like you were brothers in spite of the cultural duality. I was aware of a small light, like a spark, and I could find peace in that moment! I thought, ‘I’m coming back next time!”

“That’s why I’m a miracle; I’m still alive! Now when I see people who are tense, I tell them, ‘I was where you are and I was about to do what you’re doing. But God showed me the path to life.’”

In other news:

• Leticia is the first Hispanic person to have completed the 13-study discipleship series and to begin discipling two other Hispanic women.
• After receiving prayer at the end of her English as a Second Language class on Thursday, Ruth asked where our church meets. She attended one of the in-home Bible studies on Sunday evening despite getting lost on her way there. She seemed to feel at home.
• The leaders of ESL class 3 realized that Alberto, about whose new job we reported in The Adelante Express last week, is married to Graciela, one of their students. They rejoiced about the answered prayer and “jumped for joy,” as that was a phrase they had just learned in class.

Prayer needs:

• Crisis in Maria and Mishael’s lives.
• Megan McDermott’s fundraising efforts for her Kids Adelante summer internship.
• Complete attendance and an opportunity for our community to re-connect at the worship service this Sunday evening.

Donation needs:

• A foosball table
• A folding ping-pong table, both for Kids Adelante.

Important upcoming dates:

• Volunteer Team Meeting: Monday, April 7, 6:30 p.m.
• Trimester-end Party: Saturday, April 19

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