ONE GOSPEL | ONE CHURCH | ONE MISSION ON MISSION October, 2017
1 table of CONTENTS
3 Letter from the Editor 56 Church of WNY: Penetecost Together 4 Stewardship & Generosity A behind-the-scenes look at what went into making this event possible, with 5 Kingdom Come Al Warner & Craig Pridgen 6 One Gospel 60 Church of WNY: Stories proclaiming the gospel in tangible ways Church Planting Initiative 32 Sierra Leone Alliance A roundtable interview with Chad Rieselman, A Travel Journal by John Camardo plus more Dan Trippie, Christopher Baldwin, and Ryan from our Sierra Leone Alliance partners Kozey regarding church planting efforts in the 48 Local Volunteer Opportunities WNY region 80 One Mission 54 One Church Stories which focus on the Bride of Stories which focus on partnership opportunities Christ with her many parts working that lead to the same goal of gospel saturation as a unified body 110 Tactical Prayer Map 112 Ministry Partner Directory
Editor: Amy Tartick 500 CrossPoint Parkway Graphic Designer: Becky Patterson Getzville, NY 14068 Published: October 2017 716.631.2636 © 2017 The Chapel thechapel.com Letter fromb the Editor
his truly is one of my most favorite times of the year. There • In ONE CHURCH, we hope you experience the beauty of the Tare wonderful stacks of ministry partner stories surrounding Church as we focus on the Bride of Christ with her many me as I type this letter! The ones marked “Finalized” and “Sent to parts working as a unified body. You will see incredible Proofing” are growing which indicates we’re more than halfway splendor in her growth, development, and community. through editing and the first round of proofreading. From here, • In ONE MISSION, we focus on partnership opportunities the partner stories and photos are sent to our graphic designer, and that lead to the same goal of gospel saturation. This not only then back for a final proofing and correcting before going to print. includes those serving in leadership but also the equipping, On Mission magazine is definitely a labor of love that involves the training, and engaging of everyday people in fulfilling Christ’s investments of time, giftings, and talents from many people. To our Great Commission to “make disciples.” writers, proofreaders, story team members, graphic designer, and so As you journey through these pages with us, we hope you will see many others who made this year’s edition possible—a tremendous that we are all part of this One Church, on One Mission, to reach Thank You! every man, woman, and child with repeated opportunities to hear, On Mission has a unique look this year in keeping with our theme see, and respond to the One Gospel of Jesus Christ. One Gospel, One Church, One Mission (see Ephesians 4:2-6). Prayer is a crucial foundational support for our partners. In With the support of one of The Chapel’s story teams, the layout was addition to the Prayer Map, we wanted to enhance the magazine developed to help readers see what this actually looks like lived out with more prayer tools. So, each of these main segments concludes by our Kingdom Come ministry partners. Stories that exemplify with a prayer that readers can pray or use as a guide. these elements are grouped together regardless of the partner’s geographic location. The volunteer opportunity section has grown! Many ministry partners rely on volunteers to get things done. Please prayerfully ONE GOSPEL • In , we focus on stories proclaiming the gospel consider offering your time and talents to help share the gospel in in tangible ways. This could be while serving alongside others tangible ways. or opportunities created by pursuing the mission. It is the Church in action offering the good news of salvation! On mission for the sake of the gospel, Amy Tartick Stewardship and Generosity Why We Give to Kingdom Come Jessica Pappas
“Bear with one another in love.” That is how Paul begins his exhortation on unity. Often times we may think of love as a feeling or a heart position or a godly characteristic – and all of these it is. Love is also the driving motivator behind how we intentionally use the resources God has entrusted to us. In the famously quoted John 3:16, we learn that “God so loved the world that He gave…” Throughout Scripture we read account after account, story after story, command after command, instruction after instruction, along the same lines: Love God and others, and give accordingly. Be generous. Do justice. Share with those in need. Provide for the work of the Lord. And do it all in love. Giving to Kingdom Come is one way the family of believers at The Chapel responds to this call and takes opportunity to participate in church planting, caring for orphans, providing for the poor, helping immigrants, and supporting other ministries locally, regionally, and around the world. Why? Because we love God, who first generously loved us. Because we want to be an active part of what God is doing in lovingly calling the world to Himself through the life-giving gospel of Jesus. Because we are a necessary part of the greater Body, the Church. And because, through Kingdom Come, we are able to be united as God’s people who use God’s resources to accomplish God’s Mission to reach every man, woman, and child with the gospel of Jesus Christ. “Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all… that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).
4 One Gospel, One Church, One Mission John Camardo
Ephesians 4:2-6 (ESV), “with all humility and gentleness, with partnerships formed and maintained through alliances patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain and key strategic partnerships within a country. the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body I hope that this has given some greater clarity to why we feel and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that Kingdom Come is not only a great way for our congregation belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God to demonstrate generosity but is a strategic outlet for kingdom and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. work that is directly aligned to God’s mission for His Church! As you can tell, the word “one” is used multiple times in this Lastly, for those of you who have been around The Chapel passage with the goal of communicating God’s desire and intent for a while, you recognize that the look of Kingdom Come for unity within the Church. To be clear, we do not pursue unity has changed. As part of a clear articulation of vision for the simply for the sake of unity (good will, relationship building, next five years (of which Kingdom Come is a significant being friendly or a feel good exercise). We pursue unity for the part), we felt it made sense to refresh the look and provide sake of mission – God’s mission for His Church. We believe that greater clarity to how our partnerships and outreach efforts mission is for every man, woman, and child to have repeated fit into our overall strategy to reach every man, woman, opportunities to hear, see, and respond to the gospel of Christ. and child. You will notice that this new design helps to Kingdom Come represents The Chapel’s efforts to work toward communicate partnering (through the interlocking aspects greater Body partnership and interdependence in leadership of of the logo) and progress (with the appearance of forward the Church on a local, regional, national, and global level. We motion). We have also aligned the new design’s colors to desire to see the Church reach its full potential and recognize we that of The Chapel’s logo to help visually connect Kingdom cannot do it alone. We need the full Body – the full expression Come to the overall vision and mission of The Chapel. of the Church – to be working in concert with each other to see We hope you are equally excited about the efforts of Kingdom gospel saturation. Whether in a neighborhood, community, city, Come both now and into the future – where we desire to see or country, we need all Christ-followers working together to even greater resources being poured into kingdom work, as reach those around us with the saving knowledge of the gospel. we remain faithful to the mission that God has given us! Locally, this happens through the development of partnerships If you are already involved with KC, my sincere thanks! in our region – whether it is other churches or those serving If you are intrigued to learn more, connect with the community in the name of Christ. Our partners in WNY us, or one of our many partners highlighted in this represent the greater Body of Christ doing kingdom work in our magazine, to find out how you can get involved. community, and we encourage you to join them in their work! God bless, and I look forward to seeing what God does Nationally, this is happening through our relationships formed as we remain faithful to what He has called us to do! through the Christ Together network. There is an article in this magazine that helps to explain these efforts more fully. Globally, this is happening through partnerships formed John Camardo through what we refer to as “telescoping” efforts. By Executive Pastor | The Chapel telescoping, we mean that we have a desire to be strategically focused with God-given resources in a particular country with the goal of gospel saturation. This happens through
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“Do you want the good news or the bad news?” Whether it’s your home inspector, your doctor, your mechanic, or your lawyer, this is always a dicey question. How many times have we heard “do you want the good news or the bad news first?” and hoped that the good news is better than the bad news? All the while we hear about the bad news, we’re wondering what good news could outweigh this circumstance. Of course, in Christ, we know what the good news is! Every day we wake up to bad news in this world. People in need, who are hurting and desperate, and longing for good news. For them, and for us all, there aren’t different answers to that longing. There is one gospel, the same good news, for all. That good news is always better than the bad news is bad. This section celebrates stories of how that one gospel is being shared and received all over the world. ONE GOSPEL
Chapel Ministry Team to the DR | The Gospel Creates Hope Bill and Peggy Killewald
raveling with SCORE International has provided was also hope of the gospel of Jesus Christ! We were incredibly Topportunities to visit many areas of severe spiritual and blessed to minister to Dominicans and Haitians of all ages. financial poverty in the Dominican Republic. We have been We have seen significant improvement in villages that SCORE humbled repeatedly when entering tiny sugar cane villages in short-term ministry groups have visited over the past ten years. which prostitution, alcoholism, black marketing, and voodoo The introduction of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior has are simply a way of routine daily life. In January 2017, we were resulted in a visible dramatic reduction in prostitution and stretched just a little further when we visited a village located alcoholism in villages with repeated visits from our teams. by the city garbage dump near the capital of Santo Domingo. SCORE works closely with local churches who are able to This was a community of severely overcrowded huts in which provide more continuous spiritual support. We pray that such the people survived by foraging through raw garbage which changes become apparent in this village as well. The Dominican was dumped in an ever-rising mountain very close to their government has recognized such hope that the gospel creates and village. The only drinking water came from a well which was they have offered to set up medical clinics if SCORE can supply contaminated by the garbage dump drainage. The stench the staffing and we will be able to preach the gospel as well! permeating the air could only be helped by a change in the We thank the Lord for all that He has done and He deserves direction of the wind. By our typical American standards, these all the glory! Although the progress seen may not be as people lived in conditions that were the lowest of the low. Yet quick as we would hope, God is in charge. We, as part of when we entered the village and set up our medical clinic, they the Body of Christ, are called to serve, and we can offer flocked to the doors with anticipated hope. This was not just the hope that can only be found through Christ. in the availability of our medicines or our medical staff, but it
8 The Chapel Community Care and Renewed Hope Ministries
Exemplifying the Power of that One Gospel
The Chapel | Apex Sports David Drake
Edwin Perez “I am so thankful that I was given the opportunity to be a part of this wonderful group of ladies. It has opened my eyes in so many ways. They showed me that I was worth something, and that through Jesus Christ Our youth sports ministry, Apex Sports, has had the opportunity I am strong. I was taught that through the power of to run various sports programs within the community forgiveness and power of prayer I am no longer broken.” throughout the past couple of years. Some of these sports This testimony is from one of the young ladies that our programs include basketball and cheerleading, flag football, a ministry to expecting single young ladies experienced multi-sport camp, and a high school basketball tournament. through Embrace Grace, one of our support groups. It Throughout this past year, this ministry has had the opportunity also exemplifies what we strive to accomplish through our visitation ministry, our support groups, and through to see the impact of one true gospel bearing fruit within our Renewed Hope program that seeks to help those the lives of many people. With nearly 175 participants this in ministry who are going through difficult times. past year, the mission of every man, woman, and child is evidenced through clear gospel presentations to each of these We desire to come along as one church, on one mission participants and their families through every sports program. and show people that they are worth something, that through Jesus Christ they are strong and that Not only this, but Apex Sports also hosted an outreach basketball in the end through the power of forgiveness and tournament in the City of Lockport where nearly 30 people prayer they are no longer broken. In this past year, who have never attended The Chapel were in attendance. As just a few examples of what we have seen would be the gospel was presented, six students gave their lives to Christ the following: a pastor from a partner church walk and six Bibles were given away. In addition, the multi-sport through transition, helping a pastoral family walk camp, which included soccer, street hockey, and basketball, through his infidelity, and a ministry leader find was another opportunity to see the mission of God at work. peace with his calling to move in a new direction. Set Free, our support group for those walking through In partnership with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, addiction, has seen several victories as well as now having Apex Sports encouraged every participant to understand a support group on all three campuses. Our visitation that there is power in one. There is power in one gospel, one ministry has seen individuals come to Christ and people mission, and one Church. Throughout this week of camp, strengthened and encouraged through difficult times. many coaches emphasized the power of one to all of the 41 These are but a few examples of how this ministry is campers in attendance. It was clear to see the out-working of exemplifying the power of that one gospel of our Lord the gospel in and through the lives of campers and parents. As Jesus Christ. As the leader of our support group for Apex Sports continues to expand, it is exciting to think about women whose husbands are struggling with sexual how sports can continue to serve as a bridge to further connect addiction put it, “…the bonds hold strong. We continue every man, woman, and child to the gospel of Jesus Christ to pray daily. I see hope where there was none, hope in different communities and in different demographics. for healing their hearts and becoming the women God created them to be.”
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ver the past three years, we’ve had several opportunities the resurrection of Jesus. “You came here to save us, ORaisedfor our congregation to come together in one place and to‘cause everythingLife was lost. No longer empty-handed, participate in a Night of Worship. In August of 2016, we filled up clinging to the cross. All we know, all we know is you The Palace Theater in the City of Lockport and spent the evening said you’d come again. You rose up from the dead.” celebrating what God had done in that community and praying Then, the stories of the twenty-one about to that He would continue to use us to advance the gospel in that be baptized played on the screen: place. This past May, we gathered again at the CrossPoint campus to worship together and celebrate the baptism of twenty-one “I want to tell people about what He’s done!” - Diane individuals from all three of our campuses. I had the opportunity “I really felt Him calling me to be obedient in this that evening to be in the room as our congregation from all area and make a public declaration.” - Sarah locations began to fill the seats of the worship center, taking a strip “He’s a much better guide for my life than anything of linen at the door and wrapping it around their wrists, a symbol I could come up with.” - Dennis of the grave clothes and death we have been freed from in Jesus. “I want them to see that in me, that I have
accepted Him as my savior.” - Kassandra The night opened with a song that conveyed hope in The Chapel’s CrossPoint Campus Jon Cook
“My choices now are not for myself…I want to ask, what can John 20 tells us that Jesus’ disciples went to the tomb and “saw I do with what God’s given me so that I might encourage strips of linen lying there.” The grave clothes had been left behind someone else to walk with Christ?” - Siobhan because Jesus had risen from that death. Colossians 2 and 3 tell Through each person’s story, the gospel was shared and celebrated. us that we have been raised with Him! This is the gospel of Jesus. Each individual story of grace began to come alive and point All of us who are disciples of His share in that good news, and to the story of grace found in Jesus. One gospel, shared and our singing and our celebration of baptism that evening centered embraced by all who were worshiping together that night. Pastor around this truth. The night concluded with an invitation to come Deone Drake spoke that evening, saying that, “Worship and forward and throw down those cloths we were given, strips of linen believers’ baptism belong together because they both preach the that symbolized the grave clothes we once wore but had been freed gospel! Baptism is an outward expression of an inward reality. from. Mark Cushing, one of the worship leaders at The Chapel, And that reality is this: I was once dead. But in Christ, I have dismissed us with these words: “Keep up the good fight. Don’t been raised to new life.” We celebrated that together, singing leave here with your grave clothes. Go as free people of God.” and proclaiming the truth of the gospel as we watched it in front of us, depicted in the baptism of these brothers and sisters.
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Epiphany Church of Baltimore | Peeling Back the Layers to Share the Gospel
Charlie Mitchell
Epiphany Church in Baltimore is a burgeoning church that has situated itself in the heart of Baltimore City. Some have said that we are in the belly of the beast. As missionaries to the city, it is imperative that we get into the city and peel back the layers so that we can properly administer the good news to every man, woman, and child in this eclectic city. We minister in one of the most densely populated and complex communities in the entire city. Within four city blocks we have open-air drug markets and upscale farmers markets. We have brand new artist lofts across from dilapidated homes falling in on themselves. We have winos outside liquor stores and wine connoisseurs perusing art galleries. No other part of the city has this much cross-cultural interaction. It was because of this we have chosen to plant our flag as the church of Jesus Christ and own the “lostness” of our community. The scope and depth of need in Baltimore City is far beyond anything we could tackle alone. Our Kingdom Come Partnership reminds us that we are not alone in this effort and that we are a part of a larger narrative that God is up to in redemptive history. Many have said that Baltimore is a God- forsaken city. We don’t believe that. We know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that all over the world God is expanding His kingdom through His church so that many would come to worship Him.
12 Eagles’ Wings Ministries True Happiness Ministry | Everlasting Life in the “We don’t want a handout – we want to work…” When we sat in the living room of an Arab
Christian family in Bethlehem, Israel, and heard Ever-changing World their story firsthand, we gained an understanding of the challenges facing many Christians in Lamech Inbaraj Bethlehem who simply want to remain in the city of their birth, and not only remain, but sustain! Most people who are familiar with the ministry of Robert Stearns and Eagles’ Wings are aware A scene not possible to be common struck me when of our strong commitment to Israel and the I happened to see a little girl hanging out with her Jewish people. What many are not aware of grandmother in a home for the homeless. The Lord is that Eagles’ Wings is equally committed had helped us to provide ministry for those who are to and concerned for the Arab peoples – the homeless, abandoned, and cast out. descendants of Ishmael – and actively working When I further explored her situation, I was shocked for their blessing and breakthrough. to find out that she was there because she had In just the past several decades, Bethlehem, nowhere to go. The girl had lost her mother and since where our Savior was born, has gone from being then the father had run away leaving Sharmila on her a city with an 85% Christian population to own. Somehow, the girl reached her grandmother now an 85% Muslim population. This is mostly and both of them managed to live here and there due to the persecution, threats, and harassment until they landed up on a road eventually spotted by towards our brothers and sisters in Christ. our social workers. So many Christians in the Palestinian-governed Sharmila was transferred from the home for homeless territories are facing desperate situations due senior citizens to the children’s home run by our to the inability to find work. Believers are ministry. Sharmila joined a community of children excused from job interviews simply because like herself. She instantly liked the children that they don’t have a Muslim name. Others are were younger than she was. She was the oldest and harassed and threatened when they provide continues to be the oldest in the orphanage called the any sort of business competition to Muslims, Home of Love, Care, and Education. She is now 16 such as small shops and taxi services. years old, and is a brilliant, hardworking student. She wants to become a teacher. She loves the Lord even That is why we as a ministry actively support though she came from a background that did not Christian believers and their businesses in know the Lord. She now has a home, family, school Bethlehem, to strengthen the Christian to go to, and a dream to pursue presence there. If we can sustain the Christian community in places like Bethlehem in the Special note on India: Persecution is growing in India, Middle East, then we can see the spread of just as much as the grace of God does. The persecution the gospel in this critical hour, through our spree is on everything including charities whose every fellow believers, in territories that are otherwise service is looked upon with disdain and suspicion. There unreachable – from Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and is practically no work that is beyond vulnerability. all Judea and Samaria, to the ends of the earth. Although this varies from context to context, the threshold to serve is becoming narrower these days.
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716 Ministries Work Readiness Program | Hope Buffalo Adult and Teen for Urban Buffalo Challenge | Richard’s Story Stephanie Bruno Kittie Bengyak
“Can I do that right now?” said Karis. “Can I ask Jesus into my Buffalo Adult and Teen Challenge is a discipleship program heart now?” tailored to men that are bound up in drug and alcohol addiction Two single moms from the 716 Ministries Work Readiness as well as any life-controlling issue such as depression or anxiety. Program in Buffalo sat in my living room with the Bible study Our mission is to raise up the broken and lost by giving them co-leader and me. Bibles lay open to John 11 in our laps; a platform that will launch them into their God-given destiny. mugs of hot chocolate stood forgotten on the coffee table. That destiny, for all that are called by Christ, Jew and gentile Jesus spoke, and Lazarus, wrapped in linens, emerged from alike, is to spread one gospel—the Gospel of Jesus Christ. No the tomb. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The matter what you are going through in life, no matter how deep one who believes in me will live, even though they die.” a hole you’ve found yourself in, there is hope in Jesus Christ. “It’s as simple as that,” said the Bible study leader. That Richard entered our doors in January of 2017 lost, hopeless, night Karis prayed to accept Jesus into her heart. and bound by the grip of addiction. At the age of 18 years old, Richard abandoned his childhood faith to chase the Karis grew up in East Side Buffalo. She floated from job to things of this world. It wasn’t long after that he found himself job, had two sons, lived on social services, and joined our consumed by a dependency to heroin. After a few failed Work Readiness Program. Over the five weeks, she learned attempts at 30-day programs, Richard made the decision to soft-skills, completed construction work, helped prepare come to Teen Challenge. He can now say he has found joy lunch for asylum seekers, and worked one-on-one with a and restoration with his family. It was here that his hope was Christian mentor. We came to know her and love her, and restored, and the desire he once had to serve the Lord was after the program, we kept up with her through the Bible reignited. Richard stands on Romans 15:13 (ESV), “May the study. Upon completing the course, she shared, “This program God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that helped me realize my goals, stop procrastinating, and just do by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” it!” Karis is now working and providing for her family. Richard has been set free, delivered, and redeemed by Christ. We see one gospel as inner-city men, women, and youth are He now gets the opportunity to share that freedom to experiencing healing, growing in confidence, obtaining jobs, others through our choir outreach that travels across WNY. hearing about Jesus, learning practical life-skills, and starting Through Richard’s testimony and the lives of many other to attend church and Bible studies. This wouldn’t happen young men, it is clear that the ministry of Buffalo Adult and without prayer, dozens of volunteer mentors and leaders, and Teen Challenge is a vessel that God is using to share real financial support from places like the Chapel. Thank you for life transformation and victory found through one gospel: partnering with us in reaching men and women in Buffalo! a relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
14 Buffalo City Mission | Restoration Through Christ Aubrey Calhoun
ur prayer for every client is that he or she will find a way to City Mission’s transitional shelter for women and children, meant Oturn his or her life circumstances around – from desperation Liz and her daughter found a place to call home. “Even though it’s to hope. Usually, their first step is to take advantage of one of our been one of the lowest points of my life, it’s been one of the highest rescue services where they find a nutritious meal, a safe place to points, too,” Liz shares. “I am getting to know Jesus in a way that I sleep, and free medical care. Most important, here is where they find never would have imagined.” a welcoming smile, a “share” prayer, and the chance to renew their Through classes and counseling at Cornerstone Manor, Liz has relationship with Jesus Christ. found countless opportunities to pursue the healing she needs, When Liz took a terrible fall, a symptom of the Parkinson’s disease learning to overcome fear, process childhood trauma, and study that weakened her body, her life began to unravel. Her recovery the Bible. And with the assistance of our staff, Liz is exploring new process made it impossible for her to continue working, forcing Liz, treatments for Parkinson’s. As she receives this and other forms a single mother, to rely on her preteen daughter for even the most of help, she eagerly helps others. She does extra chores around the basic care. Attempts to stay with family fell through, so Liz and her mission to bless our guests, to receive the added blessing of spending daughter ended up in a temporary shelter. “It was a very scary place,” more time with the staff that she looks up to. One day, Liz hopes to Liz remembers. With no one else to turn to for help, they came to work at the Mission! “It would be a great way to give back,” she says. the Buffalo City Mission. Here, they found the 30-day emergency Today, Liz is grateful to those who generously support our shelter – a quick comfort in the midst of their crisis. programs, not only for changing her own life, but for helping her Liz continued searching for permanent housing, but recalls it was daughter to have a mother who’s healthy, and who can raise her a “humiliating experience” on her limited budget. “I had to go to to be healthy, too. the homeless unit… apply for food stamps… I had to prove I was homeless.” However, an opening at Cornerstone Manor, Buffalo
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Christian Central Academy | Experiencing God for the First Time Lynette Wrigglesworth
From Kindergarten through grade 12, Christian Central Academy educates students using God’s Word as the source of all truth. It is their commitment to provide an education that serves as a foundation for the student to make honest and confident choices in the present and future, based upon God’s direction for their lives. Four years is life changing. In 2013 international student Alex Ding arrived in the US from China speaking very little English. He voiced that he did not believe in God or any religion; yet, he was given repeated opportunities to hear, see, and respond to the gospel of Jesus Christ at Christian Central Academy, his “home stay” home, and the church of his host family. Head of School, Thad Gaebelein, recalled the day of Alex’s graduation. He said, “You know I’m not an emotional guy, but I got a little choked up after Alex approached me just after graduating.” After stepping off the stage, Alex gave Mr. Gaebelein a big hug and said, “Thank you for allowing me to come to this school—I accepted Jesus Christ on the senior mission trip!” The trip was planned with Jeff Hackett through Score International. Twenty-four students and six adults traveled to the magine being so excited about your relationship Dominican Republic where they experienced God working in with Christ that you will do anything to share Jesus tremendous ways. I with others…including inviting your fishing buddies to His high school teacher Debbie Wade, who went on the come to church with you via boat! That’s exactly what trip, said, “I saw Alex search at CCA. He watched people. ex-con Scott Montgomery did. Scott invited a few of He noticed genuine Christianity at work and expressed his friends to go fishing with him one Sunday morning how unselfish they [Christians] were. When he committed in 2013. So you can imagine that John - Scott’s friend his life to Christ, his countenance was total joy and and former drug dealer - was in for a big surprise when thankfulness—then he proceeded to joyfully tell others.” he found himself in the shallow waters of Lake Erie just CCA is grateful to The Chapel family for their continued off-shore (but within earshot) of Church on the Beach! love and support. The reason? Scott is not only a fisherman, he is a fisher of men!
16 Church on the Beach | Making Waves at Crystal Beach Neil Boron
Wes Aarum (of Vintage) was preaching that morning. John heard threatening atmosphere completely unlike a traditional the invitation that was given to those gathered, climbed over the church building? edge of the boat, walked dripping wet onto the beach and gave Church on the Beach was founded in 2011 as a collective outreach His life to Christ! In all, six individuals received Jesus that day! of the Body of Christ in our region. The very first service was John was baptized in a local church a few months later and is attended by 33 people. Seven years (and nearly 70 services later) now actively leading others to faith in Christ via a dynamic men’s some 40 volunteers provide summer outreach and ministry to the ministry group in Southern Ontario. more than 1,000 people who attend. To date, by God’s grace, more That is the goal of Church on the Beach! To take worship and the than 200 individuals have given their lives to Christ and several preaching of God’s Word outside the four walls of the church so dozen have been baptized at Church on the Beach! Whenever every man, woman, and child can have repeated opportunities possible, new believers and unchurched participants are connected to see and hear the gospel. What better place, than in a non- to existing churches in our region.
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Circle ‘C’ Ranch | Sharing the Good News Wesley Aarum, Sr.
mother came to me as I entered her church to speak and said, accept Christ because our citizenship is in Heaven (Philippians A“Wes, thank God for Circle ‘C’!” 3:20). That means every Christian is to be ambassador (missionary) Then she told me this story. They had sent their eight-year-old son for Christ in this foreign field (II Corinthians 5:20). That is why to camp, praying he might receive Jesus as his Savior. When they every camper leaves Circle ‘C’ Ranch knowing how to lead a friend picked him up on Saturday, he was so excited and told them he had to Christ. “gotten saved!” The following Monday they had visitors from New We are having a fantastic season at the camp! The eight weekends of York City. Their guests included a nine-year-old boy. They stayed Snow Camp saw more than 300 campers come to Christ and about the night and she put the boys to bed, said goodnight, and shut 500 others make a decision to become a God-controlled Christian. the door. The mother came by the door later, saw a light on, and This article is being written in the second last week of summer opened the door to tell the boys they had to go to sleep. She said camp. So far, we have had 125 first-time decisions and nearly 600 the boys were kneeling by the bed and her eight-year-old had his who publicly came forward to make some other decision for the Bible open and was leading the older boy to Christ. She listened Lord. Our staff members have been terrific. Of course, they make and admitted, “I could not have done it as well as he did.” She then the camp. All we can say is to God be the glory for all that He has shared that her son led two more friends to Jesus during the next done! It is such a joy to serve Jesus and to be able to reach youth for three weeks. Christ! Our camp counselor who taught this eight-year-old boy how to To find out how you can mark your Bible for soul winning, visit the do it did a great job! Every camper has their Bible marked for soul resources page at circlecranch.org and click on “Do you want to know winning when they leave camp. It’s exciting and we have used it how to lead someone to Christ using the Bible?” with tremendous success! Every Christian should have their Bible marked for soul winning. There is no “home missions” when we
18 Kyle walked into the Bible study for Pod 2 in the Niagara County Jail looking miserable, but he listened to God’s Word and came to faith in Christ. He attended faithfully until his release a few months later. Two years Good News Jail & later, I was speaking at a community outreach event and Kyle was there. “Chaplain! I thought that was you!”, and as we talked there was an excitement Prison Ministry | in Kyle that was not there before. Kyle said, “I’ve been out for two years now, I’m clean, and I’m doing well.” And then Kyle said something I will never forget. Kyle’s Story He said, “And I am amazed at the difference that Christ has made in my life.” Alex True As I continued talking with Kyle I remember thinking – that’s what Good News Jail & Prison Ministry is all about, sharing the one true gospel with people who desperately need Christ!
Imagine Community Gardens | Love One Another Rich Tedeschi
ince 2013, ICG has partnered with volunteers from local agreed, saying their need was great, as not only do they need them but Schurches and organizations to create inviting and loving they can also teach the women cooking techniques with them. community gardens to produce amazing yields of fresh fruits and One gentleman, who lives alone, told me, “I’m just one person and I vegetables. This allows us to freely share through our Community had a bunch of zucchini so I brought one upstairs to my neighbor. She’d Choicetm and First Fruitstm community donation programs. Yet never had a zucchini before, can you imagine? She always eats out of our real value comes through interpersonal experiences we develop cans. She didn’t know what to do with it so I told her how to prepare between our volunteers and gardeners… it. She asked if I thought her family would eat it and I gave her my After church, a friend had mentioned a couple she thought I should other zucchini so she would have enough for everyone.” take time to visit. I really did not have the time; but regardless, I These two testimonies reflect how we are affecting positive listened to that “wee small voice…” and met them. I mentioned about community relationships, many of which would never have our nearby community garden. They both stopped in their tracks and happened if not for our garden, as we live out our guiding motto, couldn’t say enough positive things about the impact our garden has “Love one another as I have loved you”. made in that area and were very, very grateful for us. Then the woman shared how she works at a local charitable organization for battered women. I asked if they would like to receive free fresh veggies. She
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esus said, “My Father is working Jand I am working.” At the Niagara Gospel Rescue Mission this truth has been so evident to us. As local Western New York churches have prayed for this compassion ministry in Niagara Falls, NY God has not only been working—He has been working overtime. Two years ago, we moved into the YMCA building at 1317 Portage Road. The NGRM received this amazing 55,000 square foot facility for just $1.00. God worked in the hearts of men to provide this facility so men and women could have an opportunity to hear, see, and Kingdom Bound Ministries respond to the gospel seven days a week. Hope Abounds at To transform our new location into a dream center for gospel ministry, God provided a $1.7 million Kingdom Bound grant to renovate the building. We all prayed and God worked to secure this grant! This is a mortar Donna Russo and bricks grant and does not provide operational costs for the ministry, so we continue to live by faith and rely on financial support from churches Kingdom Bound Ministries has been working together with and believers to keep the gospel ministry flowing. churches in our community for 31 years, sharing the gospel We receive no government support because we to tens of thousands of people annually through the concerts, continue to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. speakers, and activities at the Kingdom Bound festival at To prepare for what God is going to do at NGRM Darien Lake Amusement and Water Park. Partnerships we have a fulltime New Life Program Director, with churches throughout Western New York provide the Kevin Graham. Kevin invites and disciples men labor and creativity to produce this event each year with from our homeless shelter to receive Christ as the team of over 400 volunteers. Our staff is small, and the Lord and Savior and rebuild their broken lives. task is very large. It’s a glorious thing to see unity among This happens during a nine-month discipleship the brethren for the cause and effect of the gospel. program that starts with a decision to receive In 2017, Steve Tybor, Director of Eight Days of Hope, Christ and ends with guys going back to work, approached us with an idea to expand the service of the ministry. entering vocational reboot programs, and becoming During our four-day festival, hundreds of those who attended a part of the Body of Christ in Niagara Falls. the festival joined Eight Days of Hope and City Church in Thank you for praying! We have seen the Lord Batavia to complete work projects serving the community. One work in our city through the gospel! Men are of the most amazing stories to come out of this partnership being saved at the mission. We are watching them was the rebuilding of a home for one of our Western New join local churches; we are watching their families York veterans. This veteran and his wife attended Kingdom come back together and worship together. Bound on the last night of the festival; they were presented with the gospel message, and they both received Christ! We (Renovations began this summer and we invite you truly have the opportunity to see the gospel in action and we to visit us to see what God is doing in Niagara Falls.) look forward to the things the Lord will do in the future.
20 Set Free Inc. | We are Better Together Al and Deb Warner
The Church of WNY is one church on one mission! Nearly 20 years ago, we sensed the Lord inviting us to be catalysts to bring together pastors, political leaders, business leaders, and educators as agents of transformation for our region. Little did Niagara Gospel Rescue we know that God would put a similar burden on so many others, including The Chapel. Jesus promised that our unity sweetens Mission | Men are the soil for evangelism, “…all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the Being Saved! world may believe that you have sent me” (John 17:21). Geordie Davey For 17 years, we have facilitated a weekly prayer meeting for pastors to build relationships, strategize, and pray together. Much to our amazement, God is changing not only the spiritual atmosphere, but also the economic atmosphere of our region. The friendships we built allowed us to minister in Liberia, West Africa this past February with dozens of regional churches sending us. Liberia is the nation to which Deb’s great-grandfather took the gospel 103 years ago, laying down his life at age 43 in Liberia. We ministered—preaching 15 times, serving the Church, encouraging pastors, networking with leaders, and visiting schools, orphanages, and medical centers birthed by committed Christians. More than a dozen pastors and congregations came together as we challenged them to further the Kingdom of God through their sphere of influence. We constantly emphasized that even one person can make a difference. Each of you can be that one person helping to ensure that the one gospel is offered to every man, woman, and child in ways that can be seen and heard!
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EPIC Asian American Movement John Mansfield
onathan grew up in a home where his mother was a Christian, anything around him. Yet I kept praying for him, sharing the gospel Jbut his father was not. As a result, he attended services and with him, and especially praying that he would receive Christ youth activities, and somewhere along the way accepted Christ as before he died. I asked God for a sign that he had heard us, even his Savior. However, it was never a serious issue with him, and he in his coma, and that he was a believer. Finally on his last day I was mostly attended because he had friends there. That all changed praying for him in his room and said to him, ‘Dad, all mom and I his junior year in high school when his father was diagnosed with want is that you believe in Jesus and will be with us in heaven. Do cancer and it shook him up seriously. As he puts it, “I began to ask a you believe?’ At that moment he gripped my hand, looked at me lot of spiritual questions, about God and suffering, and it also made and said ‘amen’ to show that he had accepted Christ!” Since that me begin to question my own faith. Did I really believe in God, time, Jon has seriously pursued his faith, and is now a leader in our believe in heaven and the afterlife, and how serious was I supposed EPIC movement on campus. to be about all this?” EPIC reaches out to Asian American and international college His father battled cancer for about a year, and a turning point came students. We heartily thank The Chapel for their help in reaching near the end of his life, when Jon saw a miracle the day he died: “He this crucial college audience! had been in a vegetative state for a while, and was unresponsive to
22 UB InterVarsity Christian Fellowship A Campus Loved by God InterVarsity Graduate Christian Nate Schutt Fellowship | Launching Something New
Chris Sullivan
“Why am I doing this? Does God really care about my research?” Caitlin, a PhD student in Classics, wasn’t sure. I was asking a similar question a couple years ago. Jesus was clearly calling me to plant an InterVarsity chapter among the There are 29,806 students along with thousands of faculty and graduate students and faculty at UB and I was asking, Why? staff on the University at Buffalo campus. Each one of these is Why the University? Why UB? What’s the vision? I came to deeply loved by God. The tragedy is that a vast majority don’t Revelation 21:5 and the door was kicked open: “I am making know they are loved by God and do not experience life with God. everything new.” If Jesus is in the business of redeeming all That’s no longer true of Sammy. Sammy became involved in our things, then we, in this university-focused ministry, are called fellowship through an InterVarsity small group, which met in to labor for the redemption of all the university—all people, all his dorm. Not yet a follower of Jesus when he was invited to the ideas, all structures. What would happen, I wondered, if grad group, Sammy came asking good questions and seeking God. At students and faculty labored together to be a redeeming influence our autumn conference last October, God answered our prayers within the academic community and their respective fields— for Sammy, meeting him powerfully in a time of response to Engineers redeeming engineering, healthcare professionals Scripture, and he gave his life to Jesus. Now Sammy wants to lead redeeming healthcare, chemists redeeming chemistry? What a small group himself so that others like him can come to know might Jesus do among UB’s 10,000 graduate students and Jesus the way he did. 5,000 faculty from more than 115 countries around the world if they knew that they are deeply loved by God and that they There are so many at UB who are like the Sammy of last fall. are called by God to love their global neighbors with their Thousands upon thousands don’t know the God who loves them, gifts, talents, and credentials? Imagine what God might do and don’t experience life with God. Reaching the University with with and through these men and women who are poised the gospel is a task far too big for UB InterVarsity; far too big with influence if they saw their education less as a passport for any single campus ministry. Therefore, United For Buffalo to privilege and more as equipment to share the gospel. was born. A collaboration of Christian campus ministries, United For Buffalo is seeking to envision, equip, and empower It is this cosmic vision of God laboring to redeem all things the Body of Christ on campus so that every student, faculty, and that reframed Caitlin’s work. “The Graduate Christian staff has opportunities to hear, see, and respond to the gospel Fellowship opened a safe and relevant place for my questions of Jesus Christ. InterVarsity students, inspired by the training and expanded my understanding of ‘Kingdom Work’.” they received in February, are planning and preparing to share Thank you, Chapel family, for your sacrificial generosity the gospel with every student they meet this fall who expresses that helped launch this ministry at UB into Jesus’ interest in our ministry. We are excited to see Jesus use this to ongoing mission to make all things new. We are bring many more like Sammy into life with God. excited to see what God will do in year two!
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bTelescoping
“Telescoping is the opportunity that the local church has to be directly connected to the movement of God in differing places throughout the world where people are committed to gospel saturation of their local geography—ensuring every man, woman, and child has repeated opportunities to hear, see, and respond to the transforming gospel of Jesus Christ.”
ONE GOSPEL bTelescoping
n theScore Dominican Republic, there are manyInternational spiritual influences This past June I was with a group from WNY where four Ion the people including cults and many false gospels. When I churches from four different denominations were represented. talk with people and start to hear what they have heard and what We went to partner with Score International and Brothers they have come to believe, I understand that many are confused Without Borders ministering to First Responders in the DR. Our on what is Truth. Because we were created by God to have a message was simple, “One true God bringing one true gospel.” relationship with Him, our heart has a need to be filled with Jeremiah 10:10 says, “But the Lord is the true God; He is God. But the enemy also knows this and produces counterfeit the living God and the everlasting King.” When we met with gods to try to fill the void that only the true God can fill. First Responders, we would share this truth. We used a simple
26 Truth Reaching First Responders in the Dominican Republic Jeff Hackett
illustration to show how easy it is to be deceived by a visual At one ambulance corp., we ended our presentation and trick. It caught their attention. Then I showed a 1,000 peso bill, started to fellowship when an older gentlemen approached knowing what a clerk at the store would do if they paid with it. me to talk. He said that he had believed many things over She would hold it up to the light to see the markings of a real the years that all proved themselves to be false. Now hearing bill. She would rub it to make sure the ink didn’t rub off. She the truth and knowing that the truth will always prove itself wanted to test it to be the real thing and not a counterfeit. As I to be true, he said he was ready to surrender to Jesus Christ. shared the Word of God to be true and that Christ is the Truth That day he put his faith in Jesus for salvation. With tears and the Way, I could see that hearts were being changed. running down his face, he now knew he was saved.
27 ONE GOSPEL Telescoping
Score International Jesse Pohle
Last year, a Vintage ministry team from The Chapel teamed up with Score International and International Justice Mission to help promulgate new laws in the Dominican Republic against the trafficking of minors. The man speaking in the photo is Johnny Bido, the Community Relations Director for IJM in the Dominican Republic. Next to him is Erica Jude, a Score missionary and founder of Lily House. Lily House is a ministry helping women escape prostitution through vocational and discipleship training. This picture was taken in Guayacanes, where prostitution is rampant, and the greatest number of minors are trafficked in the country. The Dominican Republic is the fourth largest exporter of trafficked persons in the world, a fulcrum of injustice for young girls (and boys). The work of the Vintage team was an important step in the Dominican Republic as it was the first public announcement of new laws in this particular town. Existing laws criminalizing human trafficking have been largely ignored, as the risk of prosecution was minimal. In the past 24 months new laws have been written, and the Vintage team were among the first to get the message out to trafficking victims and traffickers n October 4, 2016, Hurricane Matthew hit alike. Since this picture was taken, IJM and Score have had OHaiti, impacting an estimated 500,000 people numerous opportunities to work together against trafficking and devastating most of the western regions of Haiti, in this region of the Dominican Republic, giving traffickers specifically the North and South. Despite the horrible pause and victims a pathway to freedom. Thankfully, the destruction left by the hurricane, we at Mission of government is in full support, and IJM, Score International, and Hope were encouraged to see God move through the other ministries have been asked to offer advice and resources local church and other partners to collectively bring to succeed in combating human trafficking on the island. relief and hope. Trafficking is ingrained in this culture and the fight against it is in We knew from the beginning that bringing recovery its nascent stages. However, our college students and missionary to Haiti would be a team effort. Ministry partners, partners have shared the incredible testimony of God’s enduring churches, and donors began providing meals, love, hope, and justice to a people in deep need of salvation. blankets, tarps, water, and medical supplies. The
28 Mission of Hope, Haiti | Local Church Brings Hope after Hurricane Matthew
mobilization of these supplies to affected areas was then made agencies were amazed at how the local church (via HaitiOne and possible with the help of more than 500 local ministry partners through hundreds of local partners) was able to provide the most through our HaitiOne network. These local partners and churches effective delivery model witnessed in a response of this capacity. were already in place throughout Haiti to serve the affected This is a powerful testimony of God using the Church in an communities that needed help. Without our partnerships, reaching unprecedented way to meet the needs of His people. these areas would not have been possible. God leveraged the local To summarize the total recovery response MOH accomplished church to bring relief. Additional partnerships were formed with with the help of the local Church and our partners: 7,023,480 USAID, the World Food Program, and many other aid groups such meals served; more than 247,000 individuals served with clean as Samaritans Purse to make the greatest impact possible. water and hygiene supplies; over 500 families provided long-term The combined efforts of our teams were able to lead jointly the housing, more than 1,100 patients provided medical care, and 118 most significant amount of response strategy in the initial weeks patients received Christ; and 757,020 total people were served. after the hurricane. Many US government officials and relief
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Jesus, by your blood and your cross we have all been changed. There is one gospel that saves. May the good news of your loving sacrifice saturate our communities and continue to change lives for your glory. We thank you for those who have come to a saving knowledge of you through the work of these ministries, and we ask for your continued blessing in sharing the message of hope for those who are still lost. • We pray for receptivity: that the mobilization of your church would arouse and stir questions in the hearts and minds of those on the sidelines wondering about the faith that inspires our efforts. • We pray for repeated opportunities: that we would be faithful to the gospel, and our lives would be a continuous testimony to the grace and mercy of a God who is rich in love. • We pray for a harvest: that you would let us see people come to know you and live in right relationship with you. Embolden your people to tell the story of grace and redemption through the gospel of Jesus Christ. Let us not grow tired of sharing the purpose and reason for our joy and our hope. May the outpouring of your love on the cross overflow from our hearts to others in our grateful proclamation of who you are as a wonderful Savior.
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Sierra Leone Alliance
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EduNations | Igniting Hope Among the Least of These in Sierra Leone Samuel Sesay
he number of children attending our EduNations Hope and God’s people rallied around him and provided the much- TAcademy schools continues to grow annually, with a present needed funds as well as many prayers and encouragement. Our school roll of more than 2,000 students in Preschool, Primary, Ebola response psychosocial worker flew with Musa to Kenya and Junior Secondary schools in the six communities of Rokassa, where he had a successful surgery in a missionary hospital. During Mapainda, Mayatta, Mabum, Fintonia and Gbenikoro. All of the month-long stay in Kenya, our psychosocial worker shared the these children are receiving free and quality education including gospel with Musa who put his faith in Christ and converted from free learning materials and uniforms. We also have about 100 staff Islam. Musa would later recover, go back to school and grow in his members including principals, head teachers, teachers, chaplains, faith. He loved the Lord Jesus Christ, and at church he was actively and administrative staff. Together, we seek to fulfill the mission involved in Sunday school. As if the Lord had finished His quick of EduNations by ‘Igniting hope among the least of these.’ work of grace in Musa’s life, in June, a healthy-looking Musa went As an organization, we continue to celebrate our partnership to bed on Monday, June 12, for a nap and never woke up again. His within the Sierra Leone Alliance. Highlighting this were two life was saved not only through the surgery but also for eternity. construction projects: the drilling of a new clean water well for Special note from the board of EduNations: After helping to our newly completed Junior Secondary School in Gbenikoro in found EduNations in 2005 and serving as vice-president and partnership with World Hope International, and the completion then president during the past 12 years, Dean Weaver stepped of the Orfonthy Community Health Center in Rokassa in down from this role on May 31, 2017 to take on additional partnership with Jericho Road Community Health Center. responsibilities within the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. Another highlight of our collective response this year was when we After extensive prayer and discernment, the Board of Directors intervened to save the life of Musa Kamara, a 14-year-old orphaned believed that the ministry created to serve the people of Sierra boy who was registered with our back-to-school program after the Leone should now be led by someone from Sierra Leone. This is Ebola crisis. Although Musa was not an Ebola orphan, he was a the next and important stage of development for EduNations. We complete orphan along with his dear sister, Sallay Kamara. Musa are excited, proud, and grateful to introduce the new President of was diagnosed with a rheumatic heart disease which impeded his EduNations, Mr. Samuel Sesay. Samuel has served the organization growth. After many failed attempts to provide medical care to faithfully for the last five years as In-Country Director and has him in country, we turned to our board of directors in the US. An done an exemplary job earning the trust and respect of Sierra appeal was made for Musa to have a lifesaving surgery in Kenya, Leoneans and Americans alike! We tell Papa God, “Tenki!”
33 SIERRA LEONE ALLIANCE Telescoping
Global Outreach Mission | Sierra Leone Brian Albrecht
lobal Outreach Mission continues to extend its ministry in Dental care in Sierra Leone is rare. A recent dental team from GSierra Leone. Many new believers have been won to the Lord Colorado spent four days providing help to more than 175 and are now being discipled in new church plants. The Chapel people who had to have teeth extracted to relieve pain and has continued to support our ministry through the Sierra Leone eliminate infection. Alliance and has helped us build Christian schools, churches, and Global volunteers from Missouri and Colorado working with our medical clinics. More than 200 deep-water wells have been drilled partnership in Sierra Leone, AWANA International, and Children which provide clean, pure water to many communities. Because we of the Nations, a Washington-state based ministry, completed 12 have shared the love of Christ through food programs, children’s days of Bible training for 1,629 children. programs, pastoral training programs, and general education, we have seen many come to Christ, enter the waters of baptism, and Almost every person who has traveled to Sierra Leone has a God- join our churches. story to tell when they return. Not only do they have their own unique story of how the Lord worked in their life, but also stories Many volunteers and some doctors have come from all across North of Sierra Leoneans whose lives have been changed because they America to serve with us in Sierra Leone. Recently, Dr. John Loge were shown the love of Christ. brought a medical team from Canada to provide medical services to our clinic in Mokanji. They treated hundreds of patients. A mother We have recently received from a Bible publisher in Virginia a brought her two-year-old child who had slipped into a coma to shipment of more than 20,000 Bibles, which we have shipped to our clinic. Even with limited testing resources, Dr. Loge was able Sierra Leone, making them available to all partners of the Sierra to determine that the child was suffering from cerebral malaria. He Leone Alliance. immediately asked the team to pray for the child because she was We appreciate so much the continued support of The Chapel and not expected to live through the night. After surveying medicines members of the Alliance. Please continue to pray for the Sierra available, the team began to treat the child, and by 11pm that night, Leone Alliance and our desire to reach the country of Sierra we received word that the child was awake, sitting up, and taking Leone with the gospel. food! This, of course, was a great encouragement, and another example of how the Lord works when North Americans volunteer to minister in Sierra Leone.
34 Houghton College | Building Partnerships in Sierra Leone Ron Oakerson
ince 2009, I have been taking students to Sierra Leone to the time WHI’s regional coordinator in the Northern Province. Sdo development-related research—missing only the period Daniel, a Christian, is also a member of a royal house in one of when Ebola was ravaging the country. We do research for two Sierra Leone’s 149 traditional chiefdoms. In 2016, he wrote me reasons: first, because the students, most majoring in international with the news that the government planned to separate a number development, need field experience; and second, because the most of chiefdoms that the British earlier had amalgamated, including effective development work is research-based. All of our research his home chiefdom: could I bring students to conduct a baseline is village-focused, for villages are the center of rural life in Sierra development study of Kalanthuba chiefdom? Yes! Leone. This May we completed the fieldwork for the baseline study of Our work would not be possible without partners. In-country, 40 villages located near the country’s new hydroelectric facility, our primary partner has been World Hope International (WHI), Bumbuna Dam. There, in the shadow of a major national a Christian development organization also a member of the Sierra development project, we found extreme poverty. Most villages have Leone Alliance in Buffalo, an important partner as well. WHI no road access, only surface water to drink, and no literate adult has facilitated our work in every way possible, and we seek to inhabitant. Most have no school, and many are so far from a school assist them, too. Beginning in 2011, we have worked together to that most of their children cannot attend. Yet, we met a people build a supply chain linking mango-growing farmers to a maker of whose humanity shines through their poverty. Many village leaders juice concentrate for international export. Last year, our research walked for more than four hours to meet with us; no village failed on customary land tenure provided insight into the process of to participate in the laborious process of data collection. As the land acquisition to grow pineapple and cashew, compiling useful de-amalgamation proceeds over the next few months, Kalanthuba information for WHI’s pineapple project. Our land tenure report will be restored as an autonomous chiefdom. Its people are already was also made available to all Sierra Leone Alliance members. responding to their upcoming freedom with self-help: building My involvement dates to 2008, when Houghton College President roads with hand tools, constructing community schools without Shirley Mullen led a group of faculty to Sierra Leone to reinvigorate government assistance, and erecting houses of worship. The an historic relationship forged more than a century earlier by restoration will create a unique, new opportunity for partnership— Wesleyan missionaries. On that trip I met Daniel Sara Turay, at an opportunity to impact a chiefdom of nearly 10,000 inhabitants, one led by followers of Christ.
35 SIERRA LEONE ALLIANCE Telescoping
Jericho Road Community Health Center: AMMCHC Clinic in Sierra Leone | Provision and Produce
ericho Road’s clinic in Kono District, Sierra Leone (the Adama Through this partnership, ten greenhouses have been built to JMartha Memorial Community Health Center) implements a support Ebola-affected families, thereby creating an opportunity wide range of medical services, including diagnosis and treatment for sustainable income generation and food security. Farming of infectious and non-communicable diseases, maternal and co-ops were formed with 50 Ebola orphan caregivers, 20 women neonatal care, and surgical procedures. Responding to the widowed by Ebola, and 28 Ebola survivors themselves. In total, ten Lord’s call to faithfully administer God’s grace to those in need, farming co-ops were formed. Each participant in the farming co-op AMMCHC not only cares for the local community in Kono, is considered a head of household; together the 98 households but also provides support for survivors of Ebola, particularly represent 667 Ebola-affected people benefiting from the initiative, orphaned children. In partnership with the Sierra Leone Alliance, including the 100 Ebola orphans directly connected with AMMCHC has been able to assist these children by providing AMMCHC. medical care and nutritional sustenance. Through the establishment of these greenhouses, the growing Beyond meeting these immediate needs, though, AMMCHC has season is extended year-round, allowing for a consistent food been praying for an opportunity to assist those taking care of the supply, as well as dependable, regular income from sale of the orphans through sustainable and self-supportive means. Through produce. The greenhouses have completed two growing cycles since God’s grace, the prayer was answered this past year through their construction. The vegetables being grown include lettuce, a partnership with World Hope International’s Greenhouse okra, sweet peppers, and cabbage. Previously, these vegetables were Revolutionizing Output (GRO) project and funding from the U.S. being grown exclusively in Guinea and required a lot of effort and Embassy in Sierra Leone. transportation costs to obtain. Now that connections have been
36 let them LOL A Community Here, with a Jericho Road Partner Community There Development Department Kate Vacanti
God has done amazing things for let them LOL and the people of Sierra Leone. This year we celebrated the drilling of established between the market and our new our 100th well, providing access to clean water for 35,000+ co-ops, the current demand for local vegetables people to date. Our school continues to expand and is is much higher than what our farmers are able to providing education to 400 children who previously would produce. not have had that opportunity otherwise. We are grateful to God’s faithfulness and provision is the reason the families at The Chapel who sponsor some of our students; AMMCHC has been able to execute this project providing them with a high quality Christian education, with the right partners by our side! We believe a daily hot lunch, medical care, books, and uniforms. that caring for widows and orphans is a mandate This year was also exciting for us locally as we were able to advance from Christ that we cannot ignore. We try to His One Mission. Let them LOL needed a place for volunteers heed that mandate as we seek to provide holistic to come to package meals for the children of Sierra Leone. care in the world’s most underserved places. Northgate Church, our partner, offered to help as they had land The Lord has blessed this program and we are available next to their church building. Northgate has partnered immensely grateful for His guiding hand, for our with us in many ways, including letting us use their driveway partners who make the work possible, and for all and parking area which saved us so much, allowing us to focus our supporters around the world. on our work. Additionally, the people of Northgate have gotten very involved by volunteering. This is a true example of being on mission together and partnering to see the Kingdom advance.
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World Hope International n 2014, our world was rocked by the sudden and violent One of these children was named Ibrahim. Ibrahim was thirteen Ithreat of Ebola. Sierra Leone’s underdeveloped health at the time a World Hope staffer met him in Kamakwie, system collapsed under the weight of the rapidly-spreading Northern Sierra Leone. His mother was a local nurse who Ebola virus. Ebola treatment centers in West Africa had only became contaminated while treating a close friend who was 25% of the isolation beds they needed. There were just two suffering with Ebola. Only one week later his mother was gone. doctors for every 100,000 people in Sierra Leone. Nearly After his mother died, the burden of grief became too much for 450 health care workers died from lack of basic protective Ibrahim. With no one to care for him, he dropped out of school gear like rubber gloves, goggles, and aprons. Heartbreakingly, and became a street child. The social worker who tells his story says, 5,000 children became orphaned by the deadly disease. “From morning till night he just roams about the street, sleeping “Ebola orphans” were left particularly vulnerable in the wake of at cinemas, market places, or wherever the night meets him.” this humanitarian crisis. According to UNICEF, at least 16,600 A kindhearted friend of Ibrahim’s mother found out about children in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone lost one or both his situation. Although she was stretched thin with work parents or primary caregivers to Ebola. As the virus retreated and raising her own three children, she decided to take him in 2016, World Hope set out to identify, protect, and care for in. While she committed to caring for him and re-enrolling these orphans who were grieving, displaced, and alone. him in school, Ibrahim’s habit of roaming the streets became
38 Holistic Care for Ebola Orphans
a recurring problem. He walked as a way of coping with to giving more attention to his schoolwork. “Mr. Mustapha his loss, and his new caregiver was alarmed to find that he came at just the right time, thanks be to God!” she exclaimed. often wandered into ghettos and other dangerous places. Ibrahim is just one of 100 Ebola orphans treated through When World Hope’s psychosocial worker, Mustapha Koroma, World Hope’s Ebola Orphans project, and stories like his met with Ibrahim’s caregiver on a home visit, she was close to abound – stories of loss, persistence, and resilience. giving up on Ibrahim. His wandering habits scared and confused Mustapha shared that “educating orphans about Christ has her. Mustapha was able to educate and encourage Ibrahim’s given them hope and confidence.” We were humbled by the caregiver on the problems she was facing, encouraging her to opportunity that God placed in front of us as we ministered to see Ibrahim as her own child and to treat him with love and these incredibly brave and resilient children and their new families. patience. Mustapha also counseled Ibrahim, instructing him and helping him to recognize the authority of his new caregiver. Then, (Names in this story have been changed to protect Mustapha prayed together with Ibrahim and his caregiver. the identities of these vulnerable children.) During a follow-up visit, Ibrahim’s caregiver expressed excitement Editor’s note: this story has been edited to fit our On Mission format. and joy over the fact that she was seeing positive change in Ibrahim’s To enjoy the complete story, please visit thechapel.com/kingdomcome. life. Ibrahim’s wandering habits have stopped and he is committed
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4 Makeni 5
3 Rokassa Kono 6 Freetown
2 Mokanji 1 Mano
Map pathway: Mano to Mokanji to Rokassa to Makeni to Kono to Freetown
The Chapel/Sierra Leone As a member of the Sierra Leone Alliance, our Executive Pastor John Camardo, had an opportunity to travel to Sierra Alliance | Sierra Leone Leone, West Africa to connect with each of our partners on the ground in the country and to see firsthand what the Alliance Travel Journal partnerships have been able to accomplish and could accomplish together in the future. Here is a summary of his travels that we John Camardo hope will help you to join him on this adventure!
40 The beginning of my trip was with a great team from Let Them LOL. I have personally been connected to LOL since early on and our family has sponsored a child in the children’s home - Thomas. Given the MANO way LOL serves both our community in WNY and the one in Sierra Leone, we feel a deep connection to Thomas that is beyond writing a check every month. Furthermore, The Chapel, through the Every Child ministry, has helped to build one of the children’s homes and many families from The Chapel are sponsoring children in the school there.
DARYL’S WELL
This well was placed in honor of Pastor Daryl Largis. As he was a close, personal friend and mentor to me, it was a meaningful moment for me to be at this place to honor my friend for all the work he had done to get the Alliance going.
41 SIERRA LEONE ALLIANCE Telescoping
I had the privilege to see a new drilled well open up to the community. This ROAD TO MOKANJI shows the original, polluted water source as well as the new clean water well that is more accessible to the community.
42 I was grateful to spend some time with Dennis Campbell and Brenda Walker of Global MOKANJI Outreach Mission at the Mokanji campus. The community welcomed our arrival and were very grateful for the ongoing support and investment.
ROKASSA
This is one of the communities EduNations serves with a primary school - one of the only schools within a reasonable travel distance for children in the area. What is unique about this location is that one of our other partners, Jericho Road CHC, is working together with EduNations to establish a health clinic in this same community where they previously didn’t have access to healthcare.
43 SIERRA LEONE ALLIANCE Telescoping
World Hope International (WHI) has a field office in Makeni - a larger city in the northern part of the country. This picture is of a program WHI established in the area to help distribute mobile power and light to homes that don’t have access to the infrastructure.
MAKENI
KONO
Jericho Road Community Health Center has a clinic in the Kono District, a city in the Eastern district of Sierra Leone. The landscape is very different here with more hills and mountains, which means more mining. One of the pictures shows a shared garden space for the community and the other shows a greenhouse project to help enable local farmers extend their growing season and add greater variety to what is grown.
44 KONO cont.
45 SIERRA LEONE ALLIANCE Telescoping
FREETOWN I concluded my trip with a quick tour of Freetown, the capital city of Sierra Leone.
46 “A changeable God would be a terror to the righteous, they would have no sure anchorage; and amid a changing world they would be driven to and fro in perpetual fear of shipwreck… Our heart leaps for joy as we bow before One who has never broken His word or changed His purpose.” —Charles Spurgeon
47 716 MINISTRIES WORK READINESS PROGRAM COMMUNITY Mentor an inner-city man or woman seeking employment. Mentors build a relationship with their mentee, encourage them in their goals and work search, and share God’s love. We also look VOLUNTEERS for guest speakers, interviewers, and leaders for the job training. Contact Stephanie Bruno at Help Wanted [email protected] to learn more.
Are you looking for opportunities to serve in BUFFALO ADULT AND your community? Why not roll up your sleeves TEEN CHALLENGE and check into some of these great opportunities Our doors are open for volunteers who would like to help our Kingdom Come Ministry Partners to come and share with the men in chapel services. advance the gospel in their context. We are also open to specific volunteer work that may be beneficial to the lives of the men in the program and/or the ministry. Contact Kittie Bengyak at 716.855.0602 or [email protected] for more information.
BUFFALO CITY MISSION The Buffalo City Mission has opportunities to fit all types of volunteers. Call today to learn how you can provide a meal to those we serve, or volunteer for a day of service with your church at one of our facilities. Contact Sue Cervi at 716.854.8181 x408 or [email protected] today to learn more.
HERITAGE CHRISTIAN SERVICES HCS seeks volunteers in the WNY area for a variety of programs and special events. For more information, please visit our website at heritagechristianservices.org or contact our volunteer coordinator, Kelly Nash at 585.340.2000.
IMAGINE COMMUNITY GARDENS There are many opportunities to serve ICG in the garden, in our office, photographing activities, posting to Facebook, helping write grants, ordering supplies, and more. Please contact us to learn how you can help be a part of our exciting, local ministry— Bob Zima at [email protected].
48 ISAIAH 61 PROJECT RESOURCE COUNCIL OF WNY, INC. Throughout the year, Isaiah 61 Project has ongoing Volunteers are needed from 3-5pm on school days, projects with volunteers needed to help with and 10am-2pm on Saturdays to assist in tutoring and everything from clerical needs, to landscaping, to full mentoring. construction work. Please contact Jerrica DeLaney at Please call Kevin at 716.870.3979 for details. [email protected] for details.
LOCKPORT CARE NET SAVING GRACE MINISTRIES PREGNANCY CENTER SGM has many volunteer opportunities at our Regardless of your gifting, we have a place for you. We various sites including Grace House, Patriot Heights are not looking for the perfect, but the humble, with apartments, and the Resource Council of WNY a servant’s heart. Love is the ingredient that stirs this recreational center. Opportunities include labor, ministry. Join us and experience the joy that comes helping hands, tutoring, mentoring children, youth from faithfulness. and adults, along with Bible study participation, and outreach in a community service. Contact Dorrie Ainsworth at 716.434.1771 or [email protected]. Please contact Charise Cobbs at [email protected] for information. LOCKPORT CARES Volunteers are needed to serve on shifts at the shelter. THE MAGDALENE PROJECT There are always two volunteers per shift. Shifts are The Magdalene Project is accepting volunteers to work 7-10 am (serve breakfast to guests), 4-7 pm (serve in their soup kitchen Wednesdays (9am-1pm), and dinner for guests), and 7-11 pm (participate in Bible serve with Kidz Club every Tuesday (2-5pm). study and serve snacks). Please contact Charise Cobbs at Contact Chris Yoder at 716.946.4654 or [email protected] for information. [email protected] for details. UB INTERVARSITY CHRISTIAN NORTHTOWN PREGNANCY CENTER FELLOWSHIP NPC is always looking for volunteers, both men and If you have a heart for college students and want to women! All you need is the heart; we will equip you to help establish and build witnessing communities on minister to those in a pregnancy crisis. Buffalo area campuses, please consider getting involved If you are interested, please contact Michelle with the Buffalo InterVarsity Advocacy Council. [email protected]. Contact Timothy (TJ) Burns or John Coles (co- chairs) at [email protected]. P.A.T.H. INC. (PEOPLE AGAINST TRAFFICKING HUMANS, INC.) YOUTH FOR CHRIST BUFFALO P.A.T.H. Inc. seeks volunteers to work at our There are many ways to serve through YFC Buffalo. Enrichment Center in the City of Buffalo to work The most immediate opportunity is for Christ-centered with women and children that are at risk or have adults who are willing to engage Buffalo youth in been exploited. Christ-sharing relationships. Please contact us at [email protected] or Contact Meghan McCallum at 716.207.9327 716.601.5678 for more information. or [email protected] for information on this and a variety of service opportunities.
49 More VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES with our Kingdom Come Ministry Partners
ADULTS SMALL GROUPS TEENS FAMILIES
716 MINISTRIES WORK READINESS PROGRAM Stephanie Bruno: [email protected]
BUFFALO ADULT AND TEEN CHALLENGE Kittie Bengyak: 716.855.0602 [email protected]
BUFFALO CITY MISSION Sue Cervi: 716.854.8181 x408 [email protected]
CAMPUS AMBASSADORS University at Buffalo (SUNY) Paul J. Decker: 716.912.7339 [email protected]
CAMPUS AMBASSADORS University at Buffalo – North Campus Sally Henien: 610.984.3742 [email protected]
CAMPUS AMBASSADORS Tim Stewart: 716.263.8809 [email protected]
CHURCH ON THE BEACH Neil Boron: 716.883.3010 [email protected]
CIRCLE C RANCH Wes Aarum: 716.492.3687 [email protected]
CROSS TRAINING ATHLETICS Michael Masters: 716.432.5152
CRU BUFFALO Thomas Rodrigues: [email protected]
50 ADULTS SMALL GROUPS TEENS FAMILIES
CRU Dan Trenda: [email protected]
EPIC ASIAN AMERICAN MOVEMENT John Mansfield: 716.204.8262
FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES Jake Hannon: [email protected]
GOOD NEWS JAIL & PRISON MINISTRY Alex True: 716.438.3316
HEARTS FOR THE HOMELESS OF WNY, INC. Donna Blarr: 716.877.3536 [email protected]
HERITAGE CHRISTIAN SERVICES Lida Merrill: 585.340.2000 [email protected]
IMAGINE COMMUNITY GARDENS Bob Zima: [email protected]
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS, INC. Kathy Matheny: 716.548.4072 [email protected]
INTERVARSITY CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP Timothy Burns or John Coles [email protected]
ISAIAH 61 PROJECT Kevin Wing: 716.870.3979 [email protected]
JERICHO ROAD CHC Marie Moy: [email protected]
51 More VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES with our Kingdom Come Ministry Partners
ADULTS SMALL GROUPS TEENS FAMILIES
KINGDOM BOUND Danielle Rose: 716.633.1117 [email protected]
LOCKPORT CARENET PREGNANCY CENTER Dorrie Ainsworth: 716.434.1771 [email protected]
LOCKPORT CARES Chris Yoder: 716.946.4654 [email protected]
NIAGARA GOSPEL RESCUE MISSION Donna Stevens: 716.946.6163
NORTHTOWN PREGNANCY CENTER Michelle Jones: [email protected]
P.A.T.H. INC. Megan McCluskey: 716.601.5678 [email protected]
RESOURCE COUNCIL OF WNY Jerrica DeLaney [email protected]
SAVING GRACE MINISTRIES, INC. Charise Cobbs: 716.893.1840 [email protected]
SONRAYS MINISTRIES Alice Murchie: 716.695.9494
THE MAGDALENE PROJECT Joanne Lorenzo: 716.282.0908 [email protected]
YOUTH FOR CHRIST BUFFALO Meghan McCallum: 716.207.9327 [email protected] Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
–Ephesians 4:2-6 ONE CHURCH
54 ONE CHURCH
ake just a minute and look down at your hands. Notice how they are holding the magazine Tthat you’re reading. See where your thumbs are, how your pinky fingers are positioned, what your pointer fingers and all the rest are doing, even how the palms of your hands help in supporting these pages that you’re holding. Which parts of your hands are unnecessary? Which would you discard or rearrange? Of course, we’d all answer “none!” Each part is necessary, and each part is working together as one to hold up this book. A pinky finger by itself isn’t good for much, but working as part of the body it is in just the right place with just the right ability to support the overall work of the body. In 1 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul uses the framework of the body to describe the Church. In chapter 12, we’re told that God has placed the parts, each and every one, just as He wants them to be. Different as they are, they form one unified body. The stories in this section celebrate this truth, that Jesus has one Church in the world. There are many parts with different gifts and abilities, placed in different locations and contexts, but they are unified in Christ, complementary parts to a whole, working together for one purpose. ONE CHURCH
CHURCHPentecost OF WNY Together An interview with Al Warner and Craig Pridgen Amy Tartick
On June 9, 2017, the Church of Western New York gathered around ideas for a follow-up from Good Friday Together. As at the KeyBank Center in downtown Buffalo, NY to celebrate soon as one pastor suggested a gathering around Pentecost, Pentecost Together. That night, thousands of believers, united as the table grew quiet as we immediately recognized that the Body of Christ in our region, came together to worship the this was divine direction. Of course, that simple idea One True God. But they didn’t come alone. Many brought friends necessitated thousands of hours of work along with a and family members to hear and see the gospel of Jesus Christ. substantial budget. But the vision attracted provision. On Mission was able to catch up with two key people involved with CRAIG PRIDGEN: the planning and realization of this special celebration, Al Warner The main challenge was WNY is blessed with such great and Craig Pridgen. Join us as they give us some insights into what talent, gifts, and anointing! It became tough to figure made this event possible and what went on behind the scenes. out who should take part in such a great event, which is ON MISSION: also one of the greatest advantages. WNY has some of How long have you been active in the Church of the best preachers and singers in the world and it was WNY and what drew you to become part of it? beyond a blessing to see such diversity and unity. AL WARNER: ON MISSION: Either before or during the event, were there any In 1997, after 20 years of pastoral ministry, the Lord unexpected or humorous experiences you could share? redirected us [my wife, Deb, and me] to focus on the regional church. We sensed the Lord inviting us to be catalysts to AL WARNER: build bridges between leaders to equip them to be agents I was amazed when one of the pastors on the program of transformation throughout our region. Little did we told me he had never been inside the Arena before. I know that God would put a similar burden on so many thought of all the great memories my family has made others. Jesus promised that our unity sweetens the soil for there, but for this pastor the financial bar was too high. evangelism, “...all of them may be one, Father, just as you CRAIG PRIDGEN: are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the I forgot my badge backstage and an older security guard world may believe that you have sent me” (John 17:21). asked to see it... I told him I forgot it and he told me I CRAIG PRIDGEN: wouldn’t be allowed backstage without it. I told him my For the past two years. I truly believe that The name is Jerry Gillis... he then stated, “Wow! What a pleasure Kingdom is better when leaders come together. Just to meet you. You look different on TV.” I responded, “It’s the mere fact that a call for pastors in WNY was the camera—it adds ten pounds.” He let me backstage! made, that was enough for me to be a part. ON MISSION: ON MISSION: When you saw the Body of Christ from the East Side and West Side The Church of WNY recently gathered for Pentecost Together. of Buffalo, along with the Northtowns, Southtowns, and beyond There was a tremendous amount of work to make this happen. united in worship of the one true God—could you share a little What were some of the most significant challenges and advantages about what you were thinking and experiencing in those moments? in bringing such a diverse group of leaders together? AL WARNER: AL WARNER: I know these are sacred moments in which history is being The idea was birthed at a table of leaders. We were tossing rewritten. God is attracted whenever His people gather. In ONE CHURCH
John 17, Jesus declares that our unity is a testimony to the ON MISSION: world. On June 9, the Holy Spirit drew 30 people to place their What do you see as the most significant outcomes personal faith in Jesus at Pentecost Together. At the same time, (long-term effects) of Pentecost Together? the regional church took another step forward in maturing. AL WARNER: The platform looked like the diversity of the Church of WNY. A few months after an event I probably don’t yet know all CRAIG PRIDGEN: of the long-term effects. God is at work at His own speed. For me it was, Pentecost! This is what Pentecost looked like! When I look back at Good Friday Together... I’m not sure ON MISSION: I could have imagined that night in 2013 would produce What do you believe was the most important so much fruit that remains and continues to multiply... moment/happening during this gathering? I believe even more will be released from the seeds of Pentecost Together... God is using this model birthed in a AL WARNER: city all too many had given up on to impact and encourage Choosing one moment is tough, but Pastor Alberto Lanzot other hurting cities. Resurrection is contagious! modeled as much as he spoke. As a young man, he was caught CRAIG PRIDGEN: up in drugs, crime, and alcoholism. His lifestyle led to his incarceration. Teen Challenge turned his life around. Now he Relationships with leaders who may have never been in pastors a powerful church on the West Side. Lord, multiply the same room before. overcoming testimonies like these throughout our region ON MISSION: CRAIG PRIDGEN: If you had just one word to describe Pentecost The worship... to see everyone singing and Together, what would it be? worshiping together in their own individual ways AL WARNER: brought tears to my eyes several times. Can I change it to a couple of words? Pleasing to God. ON MISSION: CRAIG PRIDGEN: What are the key reasons for everyone to be a Wow! part of gatherings like Pentecost Together? *Editor’s note: This interview has been edited to fit AL WARNER: the format for On Mission. The full interview is Gatherings like Pentecost Together make a statement to our available at thechapel.com/kingdomcome. city and region: We lay down the non-essentials that divide us and unite under the Savior who knits us together. CRAIG PRIDGEN: One simple answer. It’s what Kingdom work is! Being a part of something that is bigger than you are. One Church Jericho Road CHC | Vive Chris Campbell
ive La Casa was founded in 1984 by a few sisters of the VCatholic Diocese who saw a need to assist the influx of individuals from Central and South America who wanted to seek asylum in the United States or Canada due to an inability to return to their homeland. At first, these asylum seekers were housed in homes and church rectories. Vive La Casa eventually moved into an old school building at 50 Wyoming Street on the East Side of Buffalo where they served more than 90,000 people. In March 2015, Jericho Road Community Health Center assumed operations of the program and building. Oftentimes asylum seekers have no permanent residence as they await a pending case. Vive becomes their temporary home. The 118-bed facility serves as a place to eat, sleep, and wait. Jericho Road Community Health Center derives its name from the story of the Good Samaritan. In this story, found in Luke’s Gospel chapter 10, a young man wanted to know what obligations he had to assist others in need and more specifically “who was his neighbor” that he was obligated to assist. The Lord explained that his neighbor was anyone he crossed paths with who was in need. In the story of the Good Samaritan, it was a man stripped of his clothes, beaten, and left for dead that needed neighborly assistance. Consider for a moment the assistance that was required. The Samaritan would need to: • Provide healthcare – “bandage his wounds” • Provide transportation – “put him on his donkey and took him to the inn” • Provide financial support – “took two denarii and gave it to the innkeeper” • Provide housing – “look after him until I return” Jericho Road Community Health Center recognizes its responsibility to provide healthcare, transportation, financial, and housing assistance to those in need who cross our paths. Some of the neediest in Buffalo from all over the world are seeking a place they can call home. Our ability to fulfill our mission, “to demonstrate Jesus’ unconditional love,” through all the practical services we provide was severely tested this past winter when as many as 280 people were knocking on the doors seeking assistance at our 118-bed facility. Unable to house these families, we decided to exercise our faith in the Lord and His willingness (continued on next page) ONE CHURCH
Church Planting Initiative | Church of WNY Roundtable interview with Chad Rieselman, Dan Trippie, Christopher Baldwin, and Ryan Kozey
Amy Tartick
Have you ever wondered how many churches actually meet for worship services on a Sunday morning in Buffalo, the surrounding suburbs, even in the whole region of Western New York? Do we really need more locations and opportunities for people to hear the gospel? After all, how many people live in this region who still need a church home? The Church of WNY took a serious, prayerful look at these and other questions to provide resources (Psalm 127), and we committed before developing the Church Planting Initiative (CPI). to assisting everyone who appeared at our doorstep. On Mission had the opportunity to connect with several members But to continue providing these services as “the hands of the CPI selection team who will better introduce us to this and feet of Jesus” we needed the Church to be the Church crucial new initiative and what is happening in our region. with us. We needed some of our church partners to help ON MISSION: us provide shelter, food, and financial resources. The What is the Church Planting Initiative and why is it needed? Church stepped up to the plate! A 50 bed rectory and CHAD RIESELMAN: 15 bed facility were opened up on Hertel Avenue in CPI is an outcome of the collaboration of all the churches Buffalo, where partner churches of The Chapel, RiverRock involved in everything that God has been doing through and Renovation Church, both opened their doors and the Church of Western New York. There was already offered help. Other families and churches opened their momentum in church planting through a collaboration of doors, and over the next eight months, Jericho Road efforts of the greater kingdom work of a few churches. weathered the storm and provided help to 1,540 people. RYAN KOZEY: With this new partnership of Jericho Road and the Over the past eight to ten years, we’ve seen roughly 25 Church, all these—an Ethiopian woman and her three churches planted throughout the region, which essentially children, a police chief from San Salvador fleeing has given us a beachhead of one church plant for every 50,000 death threats, a couple from Sri Lanka, a family from people. CPI is designed to plant churches in greater Body Nigeria, a biologist from the Congo, and others partnership here in our region. The significance is the churches from Tibet, Iraq, Pakistan, Turkey, Haiti, Columbia, that have been planted possess an intention to see that every and Sudan—were provided loving care and the life- man, woman, and child has repeated opportunities to hear, giving words of the gospel. The partnership of The see, and respond to the gospel message of Jesus Christ… Chapel and Jericho Road Community Health Center Ultimately, we desire to see one church expression for every became a true demonstration of One Church. 1,000 people in this region, with that particular DNA. We have a lot of work to do, and this offers us a synergistic
60 pictured left to right: Dan Trippie, Chad Rieselman, Ryan Kozey and Christopher Baldwin
opportunity to do this with great intentionality together. traditions and backgrounds that sit around the leadership table are creatively able to navigate those differences so that our ON MISSION: ability to build the kingdom is not limited by concerns about How is CPI different from traditional church planting? What compromising our convictions or crossing core doctrinal lines. are the benefits and challenges you see in CPI’s approach? ON MISSION: DAN TRIPPIE: CPI seeks to maintain a delicate balance of diversity and What are greater Body partnerships and how key are unity among partners. Many church planting movements they to church planters? can be monolithic; they seek to plant only one style of RYAN KOZEY: church. CPI is unique because we partner to plant churches Most church planters don’t realize how much they need that are one in the gospel, but different in form and partnership until they actually transition from dream phase tradition. We have partnered with Anglican, Presbyterian, to action phase. We have been around long enough to Methodist, Wesleyan and non-denominational churches. understand this need. While the planter might not know What unites CPI is an understanding of the gospel and that in praxis, we are there for them when they discover that a conviction that every man, woman, and child should reality. We have more than 40 churches in the region that have an opportunity to receive or reject the gospel. want to plant churches together. It is incredible to have that CHAD RIESELMAN: sort of base to build on. The cohort of relationships emerging Another great benefit of CPI is our ability to resource church from this intentional effort has been incredibly exciting! plants and planters with a larger network of support and CHRISTOPHER BALDWIN: relationships that go beyond the building of the team and the A greater body partnership like the one we are seeing in launch of the church. It’s more than just cash resources. It’s Western New York sets a culture and atmosphere that assessing, training where needed, and partnerships in ministry encourages risk for there is a greater network of support. that go far into the future. There can be challenges to such a Just as prayer begets more prayer, church planting begets high level of collaboration across denominational lines for more church planting. Also, once you have church obvious reasons. However, the wide bandwidth of church planting associations, networks, and denominations
61 ONE CHURCH
discovering the partnership and kingdom culture that ON MISSION: exist in WNY, I believe they will be looking to send What did you find compelling about the church planters their very best to begin new works in our region. who received grants this year? What singled them out from ON MISSION: the other applicants? For you, what was the most challenging aspect of DAN TRIPPIE: selecting recipients for this year’s CPI grants? Clarity and conviction. Planting a church is hard work –really, RYAN KOZEY: hard work! At the beginning of a church plant, people are You want to help everyone, and you don’t have the resources excited and expectations are high. It is not long before one to do that. It just stinks when you have to say to candidates realizes the hard work of preaching, exhorting, praying, and that they have not been selected. We had 14 applications evangelizing. False conversions, spiritual warfare, the loss this year, and we invited nine to a vision night in February of people, and constant pressure begin to take a toll on the to share the vision they feel led by God to pursue. We were church planter and his family. Conviction and clarity on the able to fund five and offer special gifts to the other four gospel keep a planter plowing in the hard soil. The planters that weren’t chosen. I would love to be able to help more. who received grants showed strong conviction and clarity of vision. These are important aspects of church planting. CHRISTOPHER BALDWIN: CHRISTOPHER BALDWIN: The CPI grants are an investment. They are investment of partner churches, therefore they are an investment of God’s Two things that are the most important, in my mind, are resources. The most challenging aspect was making sure that vision and plan. The first was church leaders who seem we were the best stewards of the dollars given. There is no way to have a good vision for what they saw developing as a of knowing fully what the future holds, but there are ways of church. The second was the most strategic and effective assessing where you think the funds are best spent and what plans for how to get the work of church planting done. situations have the greatest chances of success and impact for ON MISSION: the kingdom. We are excited about the opportunities before us, Over the next five years, how do you see the vision of CPI and how God is going to use this initiative moving forward. fleshed out and possibly change local church planting and ON MISSION: genuinely impact the overall “lostness” of WNY? Could you tell us about the most interesting RYAN KOZEY: church planter application you received? Well, first off, I think that we must realize that the goal for CHAD RIESELMAN: the region is the saturation of the gospel. Church planting There was so much passion in what God was leading so many isn’t the goal, but it’s a way that gets us to the goal. We want of these folks to do. There was one application that sort of to be careful not to put church planting at the center of our spelled out how God wanted to provide not just a church strategy. That being said, it’s an important part. Over the next but an entire medical campus. You can imagine the kind of five years, especially if we increase the diversity of planters resources that that would take, but you might not imagine throughout the region, I am confident that we will increase the the boldness of someone to actually go ahead and believe saturation of the gospel throughout the efforts of those who that God could provide that through something like CPI. are connected to CPI. God ultimately controls what happens with “lostness.” My prayer though—that as we saturate, hearts CHRISTOPHER BALDWIN: are drawn from all over by the irresistible grace of God. I I guess for me, it was the application of the Anglican think that CPI is going to be a strategic part of that process. Church. John Wesley, from whom our denomination derives its origin, was for all of his life an Anglican. He * Editor’s note: This interview has been edited to fit On Mission. sought to bring reform to this very traditional church. The full interview is available at thechapel.com/kingdomcome. I am excited to see how God will use a traditional form, which many people are used to from their upbringing, to reach people of the region. I am excited about all the work God is doing in our region. The Potter’s Hands | Answered Prayer and Just Five Hours David Budz
Recently, one of our Potter’s Hands Donation Center Saturday Potter’s Hands and everyone who has been a blessing to others Mission Teams had the opportunity to deliver furniture, and the through this ministry.” love of Christ, to a young girl rescued from human trafficking, and Amanda B. is the teenage daughter of one of the men volunteering then made a second delivery to a family that had just moved into on The Donation Center Mission Team. The note below is what our area from Africa. Here are two perspectives of that day: Amanda sent to her friends after helping: Jumoke O. is the mother of a family that recently moved from Just helped my dad and his men’s group from church move furniture Africa. Here is the story she shared about answered prayer. to this family that came from Nigeria and I have never been so I relocated into the United States recently with my two teenage moved. Just the joy that family had coming from nothing warmed my children from Nigeria, West Africa. Trusting no one but God to make heart. The mother moved to America three weeks ago and brought the crooked places straight in finding comfort amidst my apprehension her children for a better education. The love she had for God is so concerning this move. In this journey, which has taught me so much exemplary for the love I need for Him. The first stop, we helped a lady on trusting God completely, I experienced the peace of God, which that was in human trafficking. She couldn’t be there while we moved has helped me in knowing His will for me. Each move I made was the stuff because she can’t be around men or look them in the eyes. Just orchestrated by Him alone and divinely. The very first stranger the stuff people have been through and are going through is so crazy, (now turned friend) I approached upon my arrival into this country and I’m over here worrying about not having enough clothes or being happened to be the source of my encounter with The Potter’s Hands. I able to go on vacations as much. My problems are so insignificant, and was taken to The Potter’s Hands Donation Center with my children selfish. I’ve learned a lot from just five hours of moving furniture. and there was “our answer to prayers.” More to that was the promise The Potter’s Hands Donation Center Mission Teams are delivering of free delivery to us. I find this a most charitable act indeed. Our free furniture, and the knowledge of Jesus, all over Western New York delivery came as promised, now with more blessings, like new friends every Saturday from 9am until noon. If you’d like to be part of a as they shared the love of Jesus they have received with my family. As Mission Team one Saturday per month, or just want to know more, a believer, this attested to His continuous assurances for myself and email us at [email protected]. my children. I say, “Thank you Jesus, Thank You Lord! God bless The ONE CHURCH
The Chapel | Children & Students Joe Vacanti
ur Children and Student ministries celebrated God’s activity small group led by a volunteer, Monica, was active in making Oas One Gospel, One Church, One Mission this past year cards and letters, praying, and bringing in donations for SonRays with some great efforts that demonstrated this vision lived out. Ministries, a Kingdom Come partner. An 8th grade small group made cookies and sold them at the Café to give the proceeds to Our Children’s Ministry (King’s World) joined forces this an organization in India that helps children. Another student summer with Eastern Hills Wesleyan Church as members of raised money in order to help send two friends to camp. The Church of WNY to fill shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child (Samaritan’s Purse). This was a very special endeavor Our High School Ministry’s (MOVI) winter retreat titled “One because these shoeboxes will be distributed covertly to children Thing” involved 124 students and three churches: Eastern Hills in war zones, refugee camps, and other locations that are hostile Wesleyan, Northgate, and The Chapel. It took place at Christian to the gospel of Jesus Christ. When one of these boxes is given, Central Academy, which is another Kingdom Come partner. the child receives a very personal delivery and presentation of MOVI also extended our ministry to reach every high school the gospel. Donations of school supplies, hygiene items, and toys student by launching a high school ministry for Niagara County at were collected, and then as One Church, we came together to our Lockport Campus. We are now one ministry at two locations! strategically fill these boxes, pray over them, and send them to Our staff and volunteers together as a team continue to Samaritan’s Purse for distribution. Approximately 300 brothers make every effort to partner in our region to demonstrate and sisters in Christ came together to pack a total of 1,679 boxes. a bond of love and unity for all to see and hear. Our Middle School Ministry (SHINE!) small groups participated in this vision through individual efforts throughout the year. One One Church The Chapel| Lockport Campus
Jonathan Drake
We say often that The Chapel is “one church in multiple locations.” And since we have three campuses (with plans for a fourth), that is a refrain we come back to often. But this isn’t just rhetoric for our local church; this is sound theology for all of the Church. The Apostle Paul wrote: “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all” (Ephesians 4:4-6a). There is one Body, not many. In another place, Paul asks this rhetorical question: “Is Christ divided?” Of course not. And since He Himself is not divided, He does not intend His Body (the Church) to be, either. So when we talk about being “one church in multiple locations” that is true of The Chapel in as much as it is true for the worldwide Body of Christ; we want our local church unity to be a reminder of the broader Church unity that Christ intended. As Paul says in that same Ephesians passage: “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (4:3). For the last five years, I have been a part of LEMA – the Lockport Evangelical Minister’s Association – which is aimed at strengthening unity for the sake of the Mission. These relationships have grown and developed over the years as we continue to seek God’s heart together for our communities. On Palm Sunday of 2017, we hosted a prayer gathering in our newly renovated worship center at the Lockport Campus, and congregants from several Lockport-area churches came together to ask God to saturate Lockport with the gospel of Jesus. Our night was built on Jesus’ prayer in John 17, as we prayed God’s Word back to Him. Jesus said, “My prayer is not for [the disciples] alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (John 17:20-21). Jesus prays that we would be unified so that the world would know He is the one God the Father sent to the world. Our unity actually serves an evangelistic function in the world. This also means our lack of unity can affect that ability for the world to recognize Jesus as God’s Sent One. That’s why this group of churches came together on a Sunday in April: to remind ourselves of the eternal implications of our unity and to ask God to strengthen that oneness. We want to see God’s Kingdom come on earth – in Lockport – as it is in heaven. We know that whatever God is going to do in reaching people with the gospel, He will do through a unified Church, and we want to be a part of that: for His glory and our good. Together for the Mission, Jonathan Drake ONE CHURCH
The Chapel | Love Serves
Michael McDowell
Twice a year, The Chapel encourages people to give time in the community through a one-day event called Love Serves. Reluctant at first, but knowing that God was calling me to respond, I chose Gateway-Longview (GL), an organization that seeks to protect, give hope, and enrich the lives of children. What happened after signing up is something I will never forget. God has made us to be One Body and has called us to one hope. On the day of Love Serves, at GL that One Body looked like my brothers and sisters in Christ joining to do landscaping work and interacting with youth and staff. From my view as the team leader, the peace among God’s people was visibly seen as the work was completed and everyone enjoyed smiles. While this was a blessing, an even greater one came: an ongoing serving opportunity. By God’s grace, I now visit a specific group of youth three weeks out of each month. Leaning on God’s Word for guidance, the staff and youth see the light of Christ as we cook, play sports, and participate in other special events. Through prayer and the encouragement of my brothers and sisters in Christ—both at GL and elsewhere—we recently started Bible studies with the youth. On the remaining week of the month, a larger group of youth and I hang out around food and an activity. This mission field, started by a prayer and materialized through Love Serves, is even more impactful because of my brothers and sisters in Christ. By going to Love Serves, God has blessed me with a consistent presence at Gateway-Longview. With unity among my brothers and sisters—who have helped share the burdens on my heart from the brokenness I see—I am able to make a greater impact.
66 One Church | The Lumber City Hope Center
Noelle McLaughlin
This past year, Lumber City Church has taken some tangible steps towards being able to meet the One Church | needs of families in North Tonawanda. They sold their church building at the beginning of the year Crosslife Church and bought a community center in the heart of the city in an effort to be closer to the greatest need. Lennie McKinney The Lumber City Hope Center is not just where they meet on Sunday morning. They have also opened their doors to community groups like the North Tonawanda Youth Center, which will begin sharing the building at the start of the 2017-2018 Three and half years ago, a group of twelve adults and three school year. They will also continue to organize children took $5,000 and a dream to plant a church in Akron, the Box of Hope outreach at the Hope Center. Ohio. Our hope was that God would strengthen our love for Him and for one another, and that through that, He Box of Hope is a partnership between the North would use us to draw others into a relationship with Him. Tonawanda School District and local churches. Local churches provide invitations to the school Thankfully, it was during this time that I had the opportunity social workers, psychologists, and counselors to meet a few leaders from The Chapel, who just happened to who identify the families that have the highest be in Akron as we were making plans to launch. They began levels of need. The schools send registrations explaining the “Renovation” concept and how they were to these families and help them to register. A working to implement it both in their local congregation, collaboration between the schools and churches and through partnerships in Buffalo and other areas. The aligns sponsors with the families. Sponsors provide concept so resonated with us that we began working some groceries, gifts, school supplies, or other items of the philosophies into our own planting strategy. I took based on the current outreach and the need. the opportunity to visit The Chapel a few summers ago, and was totally blown away to see how the process was Box of Hope was born when Lumber City Church being lived out in real time by the people of The Chapel! began to connect with the school district and found that they could not meet every need on their own. In addition to helping shape our understanding of church Feeling that The Church could do more together planting, this past fall The Chapel was generous toward our than separately, they began to partner with other local efforts to expand our auditorium so that we could better host churches in the community. Each year has seen new and serve our growing congregation and the surrounding churches of all denominations join the outreach. The community. People ask me why a church in Buffalo would care churches of the community are working together as about a little church in Akron, Ohio. I point them to your One Church to meet the needs of their community mission statement. It starts to make sense at that point! Thank together. We look forward to seeing what else God you to our friends at The Chapel who have taught us through will do through His Church in North Tonawanda! concept and action what it means to be truly One Church!
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Epiphany Church of Wilmington | Iglesia Misional | One 4 Wilmington Reaching Cubans in R. Derrick Parks Upstate New York
Jordan Stinziano and Reynier Martinez
Iglesia Misional is so grateful to be partnering with Kingdom Come at The Chapel to take the gospel to every man, woman and child. We are a new church plant in Syracuse, NY made up primarily of Cuban refugees who have recently come to the United States. We are excited about the congregation that God is building among us at Iglesia Misional. Over the past year, we have had the opportunity to share the love of Christ with many people and have had the privilege to baptize eleven upon their profession Upon partnering with Kingdom Come at The Chapel, we of faith! We currently have three small began to consider ways in which we could expand the idea groups that meet weekly in and around the of One Church with One Mission to share One Gospel in community, as well as a monthly leadership “Murdertown, USA.” With this in mind, we connected with development meeting. Our desire is to invest three other like-minded churches in the greater Wilmington, in leaders who can disciple and train others DE area to figure out ways we could do that. This collective throughout our community. At the same of churches, two suburban and two urban, came together time, our hope is to work in partnership to form an initiative called One 4 Wilmington. with other Spanish-speaking congregations Through this partnership, we put on a joint Good Friday service in our city and region to help saturate our back in April. All four pastors participated in elements of the region with the gospel of Jesus Christ. service, and I was blessed with the honor of preaching for the Good Friday event. We had representatives from all four churches come together to form a multiethnic, multi-stylistic Iglesia Misional was planted in April worship team. It was a beautiful expression of One Church. 2016 by Reynier and Leydi Martinez in partnership with Missio Church. The church We are now preparing for a community day event at the end began through evangelistic outreaches into of August in Wilmington’s worst neighborhood park. This the Cuban community in Syracuse using will be our effort to be about One Mission to share One ESL training, fellowship dinners, care Gospel. We are prayerful about this event, and it was all packages and, even, games of dominos. spurred on by the partnership we have with Kingdom Come that has promoted our desire to see this happen in our city.
68 Missio Church | Serving Syracuse Together Adam Bregou
Since Missio Church was formed in 2008, we have desired • Supporting existing organizations who are already to be a church that doesn’t exist for itself, but for the glory of doing great work among the poor and marginalized by God and the good of the city. We have attempted to mobilize providing volunteers, funding, and collaboration. the people of God, continually sending them out to serve • Partnering with churches who are committed to our neighbors in Syracuse and to share the message of the serving our community and sharing the gospel. gospel. We have also committed to building relationships with other churches and ministries in our region, convinced • Starting or accelerating initiatives to fulfill needs in the that it takes a variety of expressions to reach the whole city. community that are not adequately being addressed. Earlier this year, we felt it was time to bring together our local • Training leaders who have a desire to make an eternal ministry partners and we launched a non-profit called Serve impact in their community. Syracuse with the goal of mobilizing people and resources We are just getting started, but we have already seen the impact to serve the most vulnerable in our city. Our shared vision of connecting additional volunteers to inner-city ministries and is to see a movement of ordinary people transforming every connecting these ministries to one another. Our prayer is that this Syracuse community through the extraordinary mercy new initiative will support the people of God in doing what He and message of Jesus. Serve Syracuse operates as a citywide created us to do, working together to fill every corner of the city initiative to advance this vision in four primary ways: with His presence.
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Israel Firstfruits | Building the Body Steamtown Church of Messiah in Español | One Church, the Holy Land… Two Languages Together!
Marcelo Castro – Steamtown Israel Firstfruits Staff Church Spanish Pastor
We started our Spanish services in Steamtown Church nearly one year ago, and it has truly been a time of total dependence on the Lord. We are seeing amazing results. In partnership with various ministries our work is giving us the opportunity to reap the benefits of teamwork, understanding that, when we work together to the end that “every man, woman, and child will have repeated opportunities to hear and see the gospel of Jesus Christ” then, with God’s blessing, the result is incredible. We can see srael Firstfruit’s mission is to empower the Body this as many surrender to Jesus and their lives are transformed. Iof Christ in Israel to be a vibrant witness of We are planting one church, that is to say, we have one vision the Kingdom of God in our society. We resource and one mission with the same values. The only difference entrepreneurs, nurture small businesses, and build is that, as one church, we offer services in two languages. up men and women of character in the professional Working in the Latin community of the United States is world. Further, we live out the values of the Kingdom a tremendous challenge. Although they speak the same of God by working with the whole Body of Christ in language, there is still much diversity. Nevertheless, it is the Israel, both Jews and Arabs – as a single community. same Spirit who achieves unity in the Body of Christ, because Since its inception, Israel Firstfruits has touched the that is Jesus’ desire (John 17:21, “that all of them may be one, lives of thousands of people through our various Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also programs. As part of our strategy, we partner with be in us so that they may believe that you have sent me.”). other organizations in most of our activities. Not only It’s very encouraging seeing Americans and Latins working is this much more FUN, the reality is that we need together to impact and share the gospel of Jesus in the city. one another, since each individual and organization We should love our city, commit ourselves to the needy, and has its own different skills and network. Ultimately, look for all the possible means to let them know of the hope our willingness and ability to work together brings there is in Jesus. With a church that serves in two languages, glory to our Father. our outreach is truly incredible. To God be the glory!
70 Two examples of “One Church” in our work over the last year started developing organic, vegan, gluten-free snacks for her kids. illustrate this point well. Due to the long warm-weather season, they focused their efforts on E and H, a married couple with four children, came to us in an perfecting ice-pop treats. unusual way. E, the husband, became paralyzed due to a parasitical Our partners, following up with the family, referred H and E illness contracted while working in Africa. He was unable to work back to Firstfruits, and they came to an open counseling day anymore or even walk unaided. They approached various ministries for entrepreneurs who were planning to enter the business plan in Israel to help them obtain the expensive device needed for E to competition. Though initially reluctant and concerned that the walk again. Israel Firstfruits was the only organization to respond competition was too intense for them, H and E decided to move to their request, even though we do not provide humanitarian aid. forward in faith and take advantage of all the help we offered them. We referred them to one of our partners that specializes in such With our support, they diligently developed their business idea, aid, and they in turn were able to obtain the device within three entered in the competition and won first prize! They have since weeks. This allowed E to walk again with the help of crutches, but gone on to launch the business and raise the additional capital they he was still not able to return to full-time work, and so the family’s needed through crowd-funding. economic distress deepened. Firstfruits, together with its partners, was able to take this precious In addition, all of H and E’s children have severe food allergies, family from crisis to success. We could not have done it on our own so the family was struggling to provide a complete vegan and – it took ongoing partnership and working closely together! gluten-free diet. H, who is a long-distance runner and nutritionist, ONE CHURCH
Saturation Church Planting International | SCP India Mandy Smith
he political climate in India today is making it increasingly around a collective vision for India. One Church—accomplishing Tdifficult for those who call themselves Christians. We more together than they could ever accomplish on their own! receive reports about churches being bulldozed, pastors being SCP plays a supportive role in a number of capacities. The ALI beaten and homes ransacked because they proclaim the name cohorts are hosted by our team in Thailand where we provide of Christ in their villages and towns. But, as we have seen in the travel, room and board for leaders to spend week-long stints in Church historically, it is often under the shadow of persecution training, personal development, and strategy. We frequently that the light of Christ shines most boldly, and those truly travel to India to visit their networks, projects, and churches. willing to suffer for their faith are profoundly impactful! The Chapel’s giving also helps to resource these network leaders For the past 10 years, The Chapel has toiled in close partnership with discipleship material to nurture new believers. With the with SCP Global in a concerted effort to support the indigenous rapid rate of growth in church plants comes the equally massive Indian church. With great joy, we can share that the investment responsibility of seeing new believers discipled in their faith. you have made has produced astounding dividends! Bible Study Groups (BSG) is a material we’ve developed and Our strategy began years ago identifying key leaders in India translated into five major Indian languages. This inductive, simple that were willing to work together on a collective vision to study teaches new believers to open God’s Word and learn to see every man, woman, and child in their nation reached with listen to what He is saying. BSG is being used widely in churches the message of the gospel in their lifetime. These men all had throughout the nation. Illiterate and unschooled villagers in hearts to see churches planted, but lacked the infrastructure rural India gather in house churches to be led through the study. of collaboration with other like-minded leaders. As we have They are learning that God’s Word was written for them! networked over the past decade, we have solidified a team of As we look toward the future in a nation populated by more than 12 strategic men who are each responsible for broad networks 1.3 billion people, there is potential for the power of the gospel of churches in their own respective areas. These 12 men are to transform lives on a massive scale. Our Indian brothers and the fathers to more than 1,300 churches! Their networks of sisters are dreaming big dreams and already looking beyond the churches continue to grow, and with great joy, we report that borders of their own country to see how they can fulfill the Great this year alone, 400 new daughter churches have been planted! Commission in Nepal, Sri Lanka, and other contiguous nations. The Asian Leadership Institute (ALI) was recently birthed by We humbly anticipate the years ahead in continued partnership SCP to bring these men together on a bi-monthly basis for with The Chapel, trusting God in spite of growing persecution, and advanced leadership development, as many of the men have no confident of this, “that he who began a good work … will carry it time to further their education in traditional Bible colleges. Most on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6). significantly, they have come together, and signed a covenant agreement committing to work together, share resources, and rally
72 MOVI Haiti Team | No Translation Necessary Arianna Tombolesi
Northtown Pregnancy Center | It’s a Partnership
Michelle Jones and Lou Anne Soto
On June 28, 2017, we gathered at the Buffalo airport. Northtown Pregnancy Center exists to be the hands and feet We were 44 students and 15 adult leaders taking the first of Jesus here in WNY. Thanks to the generous support of local of many steps on a journey that would leave us changed churches we are able to turn vision into reality. Without their forever: a ministry trip to Haiti. After several months of faithfulness we could not experience the miracles we see occurring meetings and preparation, our team was ready to go. daily at our Center. As of today, we have seen 21 babies saved While only having taken a couple of steps through the Port- from abortion in 2017. These were babies whose parents were au-Prince airport it was clear to us that Haiti was something actively seeking an abortion, believing it was their “only” choice, different. As the week continued, it became more apparent that until God intervened in a mighty way. Without the partnership the Lord had strategically placed each of us in Haiti for a reason. of the churches of WNY coming together to support NPC we Many days were spent with children and speaking to families could not accomplish this work! We continue to be lifted up about their lives and relationships with Jesus, while other days and supported through prayer and finances, and by a team of were spent on work projects. One day we planted 30 trees of amazing volunteers from the community in which we serve. different varieties for families, and another day we painted two Our clients are blessed by our volunteers from the second they homes. One morning in the village, a group of us were given click on our website, call, text, or walk through our doors. the opportunity to provide a family with two goats that would Whether they are greeted by administrative volunteers with be used for the benefit of the community. Each person on a cup of coffee, encouraged by a client advocate meeting the the trip possessed different and unique spiritual gifts, but one client’s need, talked to with love and respect by a nurse, or come thing that holds true is we each came with a heart of service. for a post-abortion Bible study, all are in a safe and accepting Overall, we came to realize that Haiti and the people that live environment. Everyone (volunteers, board members, staff there aren’t as different from us as we thought. Yes, we speak persons, or donors) fills a unique role so we can take every different languages and our everyday lives don’t necessarily look opportunity to show each client how high and wide, sweet the same, but at the end of the day we all serve, worship, and and strong the love of Christ is. Our board and volunteers are love the same God. Just as we give the Lord praise for all that is from many different local churches allowing us to minister good, the people of Haiti do the same. Although their Bibles in such a special way to a hurting community. How blessed are written in Creole, the truths that are being read still hold we are to be in partnership with the Church of WNY, One true. The love and workings of the Lord need no translation. Church doing God’s work! We cannot do it without you.
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Saving Grace Ministries, Inc. | We are One In Christ Isaiah 61 Project, Inc. | Terry King One Church: Equipped to Succeed
One Gospel, One Mission, One Church… I think of Saving Kevin M. Wing Grace and the unity of support that the Church of Western New York provides to our clients and those we are called to serve. As a Kingdom Come partner, you have believed in our mission, joining, supporting and being a partner in every sense of the word. The gospel is being lived out by God’s people at Saving Grace Ministries, Inc. (SGM). Church partners, private donors, corporate partners, “Kev! I need a job!” We hear this all the time from our community stakeholders, contract partners, both private and students – men and women with long-term barriers to public foundations, all working towards one goal – to provide meaningful work. Adults stuck in situations and social barriers hope for the lost, lift those who are marginalized, and be a voice that seem to be stacked against them on so many fronts. for the voiceless, telling them that we are all in this journey But this man was different. He was different, but yet not unlike of life together. most of the men we serve. He was not working, facing outcomes Because of these partnerships, SGM provides housing and care of some bad choices, too much month at the end of his money, coordination for those previously incarcerated, serving nearly 650 and in his case, a criminal history. Too many barriers, maybe. clients in direct housing services during 2016 in Buffalo – with He had a stubborn determination to complete this program. volunteers from churches all over Western New York conducting He was late for class, by five minutes, one time in 500 hours Bible studies, providing clothes and gifts, completing work of class. I told him, God was going to find him a job – but he projects, and meeting needs. seemed to already know that! Help came to this man from In addition, SGM affords emergency housing to homeless local churches and people he didn’t even know that could give individuals and provides long-term affordable housing to veterans him the tools necessary to get him a fresh start at a career. and their families. Clients have available an array of services, Our partners provide every one of our graduates a tool belt geared to move them toward independent living. The Bailey and the hand tools they need to kick-start their construction Avenue Café and Bake Shoppe provides employment, career. But we could not buy these tools without our partners. job training, and delivering awesome food choices for We also need business partners to offer these men and women our community. jobs – to take a chance on a man or woman with a poor history. SGM and the Resource Council of WNY witnessed hundreds of This man chose a company to work for that required a two- kids and families utilize the renovated 347 East Ferry facilities. hour bus ride to get to work. And he has not missed a day SGM is planning to begin the buildout of the NHL/Sabres at work or been late. Our partners make this happen – and hockey park and adjoining buildout of the Bills/NFL Youth most of what happens doesn’t really look like what most football field, located at Perkins Park. people think of when you say the word, “church.” It is the SGM is actively witnessing a community responding to the gospel Body, serving as Jesus’ hands and voice to bring hope and a driven by the community of faith. We are one in Christ. vocation that does more for a man than we will ever know.
74 Campus Ambassadors | Hot Dogs and Jesus Sally Henien
ne Church on one mission to reach a college student is a gotten home from a conference where the topic had been about Obeautiful picture we see at the University at Buffalo. The the urgency of sharing faith, and Iris laid heavy on my heart. When smell of hog dogs filled the student union. Local churches and I first started meeting with Iris, she shared with me that she was various UB campus ministries worked with excitement setting unsure about accepting Jesus. Later, Iris shared with me what she out condiments and buns for the annual Hot Dog Giveaway, an had been learning in her history class and asked how she can be sure outreach event held to unite the Body of Christ while serving that Christianity is the one true religion. After pointing her back college students free food. Who doesn’t love that?! to a study we had been doing about Jesus and how Scripture tells us I pulled the last of the campus ministry flyers out of the box and He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, Iris got it. In that moment, arranged them on the table, just as a line of students began to form. something clicked in her mind. Today, Iris has experienced Iris was heading through the union and back to her dormitory tremendous freedom through Christ and has been able to share the when she noticed people gathering. Free food? Why not? she gospel with her family. She has experienced a change in her heart, thought to herself. Being a new freshman, she longed to connect from bitterness to compassion and forgiveness. but was nervous about fitting in. As she approached the table, I Iris’ story is just one of many. College students searching for greeted her. identity and belonging are encountering a loving community and “Hi, I’m Sally. Are you a new freshman this year?” I asked, life-changing faith in Jesus Christ on their college campuses. As the handing Iris a hot dog. Body of Christ, One Church, we are creating genuine environments of faith where students can safely ask questions, share doubts, “Yeah! I’m Iris,” she replied with a nervous smile. hear the gospel, and ultimately grow into the embracing love and “Well, welcome to UB!” powerful purpose Jesus has for each of them. I am so thankful to see one Church on one mission impacting our college campuses, and Iris took the flyer I held out to her – Campus Ambassadors, transforming lives through Jesus Christ. 8:00pm, Tuesday night. Okay, thought Iris. I could at least try it. I remember how excited I felt when Iris accepted Jesus. I had just
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Campus Ambassadors/ The Prayer Furnace | International Students, Inc. | United for Buffalo Teamwork Tim Stewart
Scott Matheny Eleven years ago, none of the Christian ministries at the University at Buffalo were talking to each other. Eight years One Church - Collaboration and partnership are critical to ago, my friend Mike started leading weekly prayer and worship success in ministering to international students. Developing a on campus in a space that has grown to become known as network of solid Christian relationships is crucial to the process. the Prayer Furnace. It is a space on campus where Christians This past spring one of our students from China, Eddie, was from many ministries come together every day of the week baptized at The Chapel as part of the Vintage Ministry to young for prayer, worship, discipleship, accountability, and much adults and college students. We had been taking Eddie to church more. After years of ministers and students praying together, for months. Eddie was also involved in a small group Bible study four of us started meeting to talk about what’s next? What with one of our key volunteers, and he actively participated in our else, other than prayer, should our ministries be coming Impact/Outcome Leadership Seminar series. Many presenters together for? The answer we came to was evangelism. from a variety of local churches participated in the series, which strengthened the collaborative effort and spirit of the classes. This spring we had three events called “United for Buffalo.” Eddie benefited from having so many strong voices in his life and Pastor Jerry Gillis spoke at our first event to help college students it has made a difference. Being a part of International Students, understand what God is doing in Buffalo churches to build unity Inc. has helped him build networks of friendships with students among Christians, and that what we’re doing through prayer from other countries and spend time with American Christian and evangelism is all moving toward gospel saturation, where families who have befriended him. His involvement in Vintage every man and woman has multiple opportunities to hear, see, and The Chapel has helped him develop more peer-to-peer and respond to the gospel. One day during one of our daily relationships with local students of his age group. Each experience 4:30pm prayer sessions, a student named Jahil walked into the has been part of a larger ministry to him and now through him. Prayer Furnace and asked, “What does it mean to be a Christian Eddie has regular conversations with his international student and how do I become one?” Daily we meet on campus to pray friends about his decision to follow Christ. The decision to for students to come to Christ. On that day, instead of praying follow Christ is particularly significant for someone from China. for a student to come to Christ, a student came to Christ right So, when Eddie was immersed last spring it was not the effort in the midst of our prayer circle. There are many more “Jahils” of any one person or ministry, but of many local churches and at the University at Buffalo, and we’re excited to see what ministries. It was the fruition of many people reaching out to God is going to bring our way as we faithfully come to Him in Eddie and showing him what the Body of Christ looks like. prayer and step out into His world ready to share good news.
76 Total Breakthrough | A Glimpse of a Unified Body Dominic Secchiaroli and Melissa Secchiaroli
Life Transforming Ministries | Total Breakthrough exists to evangelize and disciple, helping Unity in Greater Philadelphia people discover freedom in every area of life. Currently, we have the privilege of spreading the gospel in the marketplace Dolph Laraio nationwide. Four times per year, we facilitate non- denominational church services within business training conventions. Every year, about 2,000 people come to know Jesus, At Life Transforming Ministries (LTM), our whole and we receive thousands of prayer requests. aim is One Gospel, One Church, and One Mission. It’s been our role to help bring unity to the Church around We truly believe that we are seeing this incredible response to Philadelphia for years now. In this past year, we have had the gospel because of the diverse but unified crowd that gathers an opportunity to partner with a ministry called Netzer, together. Due to the fact that the services are held in different which is also in our area and working toward the same regions, our volunteers come from all over the nation and even end. Getting to know each other, we saw that we are the world. The volunteers do an incredible job of working on the same mission. What’s more, we were able to see together for the one purpose of proclaiming Jesus. We have how we went about that mission from different spiritual crossed racial, denominational, and cultural lines in order to see gift sets, and how we could both be more effective by lives transformed by the power of the gospel. working together in the mission. So, we spent this year Here is one testimony from someone who has been impacted by allowing God to use Netzer as a catalyst for deeper prayer these efforts: and relationships between pastors, and using LTM to “I attended the service in San Jose on June 25, 2017. The message help with some strategic ministry paradigm shifts. was delivered to my heart so powerfully, I could not deny it. I re- The result? We are all more effective for the kingdom dedicated my life to Christ and received prayer. I am delivered from together, we are operating in our gift sets more efficiently, the bondage of sin. I am so thankful to have experienced God like and the pastors and churches we are serving are being never before. I truly am in awe of what God is doing with me and blessed and growing in greater measure than they for me right before my very eyes and in my heart. I am an heir to were previously. Because of the example we have been His throne and I know now more than ever the urgency to live for able to set, we have actually had two other ministries Christ.” — Michelle from Florida contact us recently about partnering together in this Whether we are evangelizing in the marketplace or discipling mission. In addition, we have been able to expand our people from Buffalo, we cannot accomplish any of these tasks geographic influence in the area, as well as make new alone. Through greater unity, we have learned that we are working connections with similar ministries regionally. God is together as one Church, pursuing one mission, spreading one truly doing the work for us around Philadelphia! gospel to a world that desperately needs hope.
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The Magdalene Project Joanne Lorenzo
The Magdalene Project is a mission for women and children in Niagara Falls, N.Y. We began as a street ministry that reaches out to the “Ladies” and others on the street. When The Magdalene Project started programs, we were always short staffed, so I started to pray and God spoke to me to join a local church. I did and things changed in the ministry! The hotel ministry started, where we bring food and toiletries to the hotel for those in need. Then Kidz Club started an afterschool program for school-aged children. Other churches started helping by serving in our soup kitchen monthly. One person touched by The Magdalene Project was Ms. A. I visited her in the Niagara County Jail. She had a drug and alcohol addiction; however, when she was released, she started attending our Rose Café. She grew spiritually and met some women from a local church. Ms. A started attending this church. She now has her child back and is still serving the Lord. Life is much easier for her! The Rose Café is a place for “Ladies” to enjoy a hot cup of coffee, a donut, gospel music, and to receive prayer. Different women’s ministries from churches all over Western New York join us to serve at the Café. Lives are touched as women give testimonies. One night at the Rose Café, a woman gave her testimony of abuse and how Jesus had set her free only to have one of our Ladies stand up and say, “I know you! I remember you!” When she saw her old friend had her life together she approached. They embraced, prayed, and wept together. God is in the miracle business.
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Please join us in prayer… Father, we are reminded by your work through these ministries that we are one Church. We are one family. United under your banner of love for your children, we turn our hearts to you and ask that you continue to make us the Church you intend for us to be. We pray for unity amidst diversity… that all people who call on you as Lord and Savior would know they are loved and that their brothers and sisters in the faith would affirm their worth and value as an integral part of your church body. We pray for peace… that as we face challenges and struggles as your family, the “peace of Christ would rule in our hearts” (Col. 3:15), and we would honor you in our resolve to make much of Jesus as we lead one another through disagreements and disappointments. We pray for faith… that we would believe your plans and your purposes for your Church are perfect, and that in your timing you will reveal your good and faithful hand at work in the life and ministry of the local church we call home. Give us strength to collectively be your hands and feet in this world. Help us to faithfully submit ourselves in service to you through the opportunities we share as your Body. Make us one, as you are one.
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“We choose to go to the moon.” In 1961, President Kennedy laid out a new, ambitious mission for the United States. “I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the Earth.” This singular mission required efforts of all sorts of people in all kinds of fields. Research, training, business partnerships, and new innovations were all required. And from those efforts, progress was made, successes were realized, and ultimately the mission was accomplished. The Church is on a much more important mission, to ensure that every man, woman, and child hears and sees the gospel of Jesus Christ. In Matthew 28, Jesus told us to go! “Go and make disciples of all nations…” The Church is on mission, and similar to the moon mission, we must research and understand the path ahead, innovate in new ways, train and equip people, and partner with others in order to see the mission accomplished. The stories in this section highlight how the mission is being realized in these ways. ONE MISSION
Christ Together
hat would it look like to see the whole Church bring the Currently: Wwhole gospel to the whole nation? As we continue to • CT has a partnering presence in 77 cities, including Calgary, watch the greatest decline of Christianity happen on our watch, Canada. Christ Together (CT) has been committed to working toward the re-evangelization of our nation. We are beginning to see God move • CT has mobilized a national delivery team led by an executive in profound ways. director and five regional directors (NE, SE, MW, SW, and West). In May of 2014, the Christ Together network had a presence • CT has added a new Regional Director to give leadership to the in 29 cities across the United States. A “presence” means that Midwest and assist the NE Region. there is at least one or more partnering churches committed to • CT is working to formalize a sixth region which will include saturating their city with the gospel through the mobilization Alaska and the circumpolar north - CT North. of “The Church,” the transformation of people as disciples, the • New CT resources are available to assist in envisioning, training, collaboration with other churches, and the commitment to and coaching cities: multiply disciples, leaders, and new churches. o City Strategy Guide Since that time, the vision has expanded into 77 cities. We are seeing God use CT to help move more and more churches across o Gospel Saturation Primer North America to own and engage the “lostness” of their cities o Envisioning Toolkit for churches and cities through a shared table, a shared outcome, and a shared mission. o A resource to help churches identify and understand their Circle of Accountability (COA) o Missional Behavior and Spiritual Formation Survey translated into Spanish
82 A Vision For Reaching Every Man, Woman, and Child Will Plitt
• Over the past nine years, 1,207 COAs have been drawn for • Add strategic resources around the four priorities of mobilization, churches across the US. This helps churches understand the transformation, collaboration, and multiplication. spiritual landscape of their city to engage “lostness” and needs • Add coaches and coaching resources to move cities deeper into a more effectively. vision for every man, woman, and child. • CT has conducted 85 Missional Behavior and Spiritual • Build and implement a five-year strategy to see 15 to 20 cities Formation surveys over the last three years. This survey gives across all regions become model cities. churches a benchmark for their discipleship and evangelism. • Continue to expand our partnership with other networks and • CT has partnered with four North American Conferences: denominations that are committed to seeing the completion of o Exponential in 2016 the Great Commission. o Amplify in 2017 We are thankful for your kingdom partnership. Your continual o The Congress in Canada later this year investment of time, leadership, and resources into Christ Together from its inception has allowed the vision to move further faster. The o 6:4 Fellowship National Gathering for West and East Chapel has modeled to cities across the nation that God’s glory is Future plans include: more important than your story, as you endeavor to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to every man, woman, and child in your city. • Continue to envision and expand into more of the 184 cities that we have identified. • Add training and coaching resources to accelerate a vision for gospel saturation.
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Compele have a God-sized vision for our church! God wants every show others how the gospel, that has changed their lives, is available Wman, woman, and child to have repeated opportunities for everyone. Being missional is part of our identity, not a social to hear and see the gospel of Jesus Christ. The fact that we get to choice. As a church body, we need to be strong in all three areas of partner with God in seeing this vision realized for WNY is an discipleship (spiritual formation, community with accountability, exciting blessing. Our part is to give repeated opportunities to those and missional living) in order to be strong disciples and make around us by being disciples of Jesus and compelling others to do strong disciples. the same. Our lives become the witness of Jesus to the world. This Compel seeks to very practically help believers achieve what was God’s plan all along, to use His people as light and salt in a dark it means to be a disciple. The pattern of Compel consists of and dying world. Our lives matter, everyone is important, and all weekly rhythms that focus on spiritual formation and missional believers are needed to see God’s mission achieved. So, how do we living, which is learned and experienced through a small group mobilize our church family into mission with God? community. Compel groups read and study Scripture together, Compel started out of our desire to be obedient to God’s leading challenge each other to use their lives to share the gospel, and and very practically mobilize our church family. We have taken support each other through healthy community. Our hope is that surveys over the years that have shown most of our church family as we become more intentional in how we steward our lives to read the Bible on a regular basis and are involved in some form provide repeated opportunities for the gospel to be seen and heard, of community. This is good news! Scriptural truth understood in God will draw people in WNY to Himself through salvation found a small group community is one of the best ways for disciples to in Jesus. mature. The area of weakness that these surveys showed and that When one thinks about how God is using an initiative like Compel we have witnessed over the years is the lack of understanding and in our church, it is incredibly exciting to think about the potential willingness to live missionally. A believer who is living missionally of full gospel saturation in our region. In so many respects, it is understands that their life (time, talent, treasure, rights, and breath) through initiatives like Compel where I (Ryan) personally begin to belongs to God and is to be used in normal, everyday activities to
84 The Chapel| Discipleship/Mobilization & Missional Living/Community Kim Holet and Ryan Kozey
see the actual mobilization of all of God’s people into joining Him • share the good news of the hope that we have in the gospel on His mission. Compel has helped us to begin to see that full-fledged mobilization Kim has really stepped up to provide us with a platform that begins actually leads us to a place where disciples have the opportunity to help everyday followers of Christ understand that God really to connect in greater community; to grow together in spiritual desires to use them for His glory! When you see a local farmer, an formation; and to engage in missional living as they go and live life engineer, a widow, a retired nurse, a young school teacher, a person where God has placed them. Disciples that put those three things in middle-management… all sitting in the same room, and going on display, we believe, will be contagious in their faith. through the process of practicing discipleship and mobilization This does not guarantee that all will submit themselves fully to in today’s context of Western New York . . . well, let’s just say that Jesus. But what it does do is help us to make sure that we are doing it projects a hope that I believe will be contagious to others who everything that we possibly can to be a tangible source of gospel follow Christ. presence and gospel proclamation in our region. The challenge before us is immense, because in our consumer- I’m so grateful of the work that God has been doing in and through saturated culture, it is counter-cultural to live in a manner in which the efforts of Compel. In the end, we see where this initiative has we seek to: helped to emphasize in the lives of our people that there is “one • put others first and realize the most important priorities in the Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is world are eternal priorities which include the Word of God and over all and through all and in all.” Our prayer is that those around the souls of people us not yet convinced of that will ultimately surrender themselves to • give away of our time, talent, treasure, and prayer generously that very truth. • stop and truly walk in relationship with others • serve someone tangibly in the name of Jesus
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Every Child | A Mission Call Ted and Elaine Bleuer
“On Mission” means different things to different people, but God’s promises of provision, protection, and, of course, patience. to the Lord the mission purpose is always the same – to share Our family members’ stories are all unique, all amazing, His unfailing love with others wherever that may lead. often filled with bumps and bruises, but most importantly, all Our forty plus year journey has allowed us to share Christ with represent lives that have been touched by the hand of the Lord. children from around the world as we welcomed them through Looking at a world map and realizing how only a sovereign birth, adoption, and foster care into our hearts and home. The God could have brought sixteen children from locations such circumstances always changed, the countries varied, but God’s as the U.S., Vietnam, South Korea, Guatemala, Sierra Leone, calling upon our lives as a couple remained constant. As the Lord and Liberia together as loving brothers and sisters is amazing to brought child after child into our family, many believers’ prayers say the least, but is additional proof of divine intervention. were answered and the influences of these young lives began to Our family desires to continue to follow God’s leading. make a difference in His kingdom. As we ministered to “the least Just as He determined our mission’s beginning, He will of these,” we ourselves were ministered to in even greater ways. determine its end. As we purpose to go forward one day Through answered prayers, growing faith and associations that at a time led by His Spirit, our continued praise remains, only God Himself could orchestrate, we now bear witness to “To God be the glory, great things He has done!”
86 Vintage | Jay Perillo
intage continued its ongoing partnership with Agape pedicures, a spaghetti dinner at Daemen College, and a basketball VInternational Missions this past year. AIM is a gospel-centered tournament at The Apex. These events are also putting our people ministry stationed in Cambodia where they are fighting against the in positions to share the gospel and their grace stories with those evils of sex trafficking. In Cambodia, girls as young as five years old who attend them. We are seeing our young adults step out with a are trafficked. AIM is fighting this evil on all fronts – they look to boldness to share the gospel in their context and it is exciting! prevent, rescue, and restore these precious young people. God is This year we wanted to help fund AIM’s Swat Team. This team using them to impact more than 10,000 people a year. investigates and rescues young boys and girls who are in slavery. Last We believe engaging in a partnership with a ministry such as AIM year we raised more than $20,000 but that included the sales of our is extremely helpful to the spiritual formation of our young adults. live album we recorded on a Tuesday night at Vintage. We set a goal It teaches them Proverbs 31:8-9 where it says “Speak up for those of $10,000 this year – we were of little faith. Jesus is a God who can who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are do immeasurably more than we can think or imagine. At the end of destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor our campaign, we were able to write a check to Agape for $30,000! and needy.” This partnership is a blessing to our ministry. It teaches our young Each year we engage in an eight-week campaign where we adults that God wants to use them to be a light in this world and encourage our college-age/young adults to go out to their schools that their voice, no matter how small they think it might be, can and workplaces to raise both awareness and funds to help aid AIM. and will be heard. A campaign like this shows our college-age young Among many fundraising activities, there were bottle drives, a adults what God can do through His Church. block sale, a Spa Day in someone’s home that featured facials and
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On_ Mission (The Difference An “E” Makes) The Chapel | Cheektowaga Campus
Leroy Wiggins
od is on a redemptive mission. His mission is to reconcile every man, Gwoman, and child back into a relationship with Himself. This mission has been His heart from the beginning of time. Ephesians 1 tells us that, “he chose us in him before the foundation of the world.” God knew that we would sin and rebel against Him, but because of His great love and mercy He chose to rescue us by sending His son, Jesus Christ. This is the central theme throughout Scripture: God, being holy and righteous, rescues His beloved creation from their sin and restores them into right relationship with Himself through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on the cross. This is the good news of the gospel, and God showcases His glory through it. This mission continues to be the heart of God. It is the mission He has given to us as His people, the Church. We are to be His faithful representatives and ambassadors of reconciliation to the world He loves. Jesus tells His disciples in John 20:21 (ESV), “…As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” As followers of Christ, we are now sent into the world with that very same command. We are entrusted with the gospel message and called to be His faithful witnesses. So, it shouldn’t be any surprise that our one mission is and remains: “to ensure that every man, woman, and child has repeated opportunities to see, hear, and respond to the gospel of Jesus Christ.” As one church in multiple campuses (Getzville, Lockport, On-line, and Cheektowaga), The Chapel fleshes out its responsibility towards the great commission of Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV) “…go therefore and make disciples…” As we like to say around The Chapel, “Whatever God is going to do, He is going to do it through His people.” So what difference does an E make? Well, because of God’s grace we live Empowered by the Holy Spirit. Through spiritual disciplines, we are Equipped by the power of His Word. Through living out our faith in community with accountability, we Encourage one another to daily follow Jesus and compel others to do the same. In addition, we are actively Engaged in being “…Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.” Yes, The Chapel remains committed and On Mission for His One Mission. (Some excerpts graciously borrowed from The Chapel – Mission Trip Manual)
88 The Chapel Worship and Creative Arts | Amplify Retreat Jon Cook
love when we get to partner with people who are serving in That day, we had team members from more than 20 churches Isimilar capacities throughout the Church in our region. The register and attend the Amplify Retreat. Since many of Worship and Creative Arts Ministry has had the privilege of linking those individuals serve faithfully and often in their own arms with brothers and sisters in ministry on several fronts, and church context, we first provided an opportunity that day I’m always encouraged when those opportunities open up. As a to be led in worship and to pause and reflect on the nature team, we had been praying for direction in how we could engage of the God that we serve. The retreat also included large with those who were serving their church on worship teams, group teaching, panel discussions, and skill-based breakouts technical teams, and in guest services teams, each of us working designed to encourage and equip all of our teams. to accomplish the same mission in our local context. In smaller This was a significant and beneficial time together. When you stand settings, we’ve had the opportunity to do this in the past. A few of back and realize the collective impact of these teams in attendance, our worship leaders had been hosting a weekly “Worship Leader some who often feel like they’re on the edge of burnout, are going it Breakfast” that was helping to connect some people around the alone, or wish they had some additional resources to utilize, you see region together to share with and encourage one another. Similar how this matters. Each of us who attended wants to see the same discussions had been hosted for technical teams, and one-on-one mission accomplished. We’re serving the local church, supporting connections were happening often. In an attempt to broaden and creating opportunities for the gospel to be seen and heard. those opportunities though, and connect with more people who As resources, experience, perspectives, and encouragement are are serving the Church in our region, we hosted the very first shared, that mission is served well. We hope to continue to partner Amplify Retreat in May. The event was planned collectively by with fellow servants of Christ across the region, sharing in those leaders from five different churches all across Western New York, things as we follow Jesus together, serve the local church where bringing a balanced perspective and a greater depth of expertise we’ve been planted, and work with the same mission in mind. to the planning and content of this retreat. It also ensured that the content was created with the local church in mind.
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The Rock Community Church |
The Rock Helping to wo-plus years ago, we joined a journey that Thad been going on in the minds of others Reclaim Cleveland throughout this region for some time. We began Dave Brunelle to walk in relationship with brothers and sisters in the urban context of Buffalo. As we listened to our friends and as we began to build trust with one another, one of the things that we learned was The Rock is a diverse, non-denominational church in the that there was a deep desire for leaders in faith Cleveland area. One of the Rock’s stated values is Kingdom communities in the city to receive the same type Partnerships: “We partner with other churches and Christ- of Bible education that many of us in vocational centered organizations to have a greater reach and to impact ministry have been so blessed to receive. An more lives for Christ.” One of the many ways that The Rock has education that is fully accredited, affordable, and tried to live out this value is through supporting church planting helps those who lead in churches (vocationally efforts in Ohio and beyond. The Rock has provided office areas and otherwise). This program actually existed in for church planters and worship space for church plants. the city before and was run by Houghton College Over the past several years, God has allowed relationships and known as the Pace Program. Ultimately, the with several church planting networks and denominations to program ended and the one outlet that did exist for deepen. As part of the deepening of those kingdom partnerships, urban ministers of the gospel in the city was gone. the leadership of The Rock made the decision to reallocate a People did not give up. Partners in the region had significant portion of their pastoral staff ’s time to focus even maintained a flicker of hope that something like more intentionally on supporting church planting efforts. this could still exist. As they continued to meet, The As a result of this decision, the pastoral staff has been able Chapel was invited to participate in the discussion. to serve in the interviewing, assessment, and the ongoing It was such a moment of learning for us. God coaching of church planters. These efforts have enabled The began to bring forth conversations that showed the Rock to partner in the planting of 12 churches throughout hope of a future program like this could happen Ohio and the United States. One of those is a Christian and again. That future program has a name: UMAP- Missionary Alliance church plant in Northeast Ohio called the Urban Ministry Advancement Program. Reclaim Church. The lead planter’s name is Robert Krzesinski. Currently, we are on the cusp of having this program Robert was born and grew up in Poland, and is now planting again in the region. We continue to gather with key Reclaim Church in Parma, Ohio, a city with deep Slavic members who can make this happen. Houghton roots and heritage. Robert is receiving regular and ongoing College is serving as the college that will provide mentoring and church plant coaching from The Rock’s pastoral our accreditation for this initiative. We have been staff. This work is being done as a result of a partnership able to utilize models of education, like what between The Rock, its leadership, Robert, and the Christian we see at Renovation Institute, to help with this and Missionary Alliance all sharing one mission together. particular effort. It is our hope that we will see the
90 Affordable Ministry Education Ryan Kozey
launch of an urban model of education in the fall of 2018. to sharpen their biblical knowledge for the advancement of the Pastor Andre Clark (his friends call him Shep) of New Kingdom. Along with several others, I was one of the first pastors Direction Christian Fellowship on Fillmore Avenue in Buffalo’s to indicate interest in enrolling in this program. Although we East Side is someone who has longed to receive this type of continue to work wholeheartedly to bring this initiative into affordable, accredited education from Houghton College. fruition, we are not without obstacles. These obstacles have caused This year, Shep has enrolled in Renovation Institute and starts significant delays that will require consistent effort to overcome. classes this fall. This, we pray, will be the beginning of years With the delay in our efforts being a present reality, I was and years of investment with our brothers and sisters in urban approached about the opportunity to become a scholarship student environments. While UMAP is not yet up and running, we at Renovation Institute. Due to past financial hardship, I had to felt like Shep’s educational journey was ready to start. Here withdraw from my studies several years prior. This left a balance are a few of Shep’s own words regarding this experience: that proved difficult to satisfy. The idea of finishing my degree has A few years back I was introduced to Ryan Kozey, and I have always been in the back of my mind. With one phone call, this idea found him to be a thoughtful, forthright and genuine man quickly became a reality. I was brought in to meet with Joe Grippi, of God. I was asked to join a conversation about some of the Ministry Coordinator, Renovation Institute. Joe, along with Ryan, dilemmas facing the East Side of Buffalo, as well as the barriers walked me through what my experience would be like at Renovation that separate the suburban and urban churches, barriers that Institute. They left no stone unturned. The most beautiful moment undermine our regional representation of the Body of Christ. in our conversation was how they welcomed me with love and respect. I was never treated like a charity case. In fact, they spoke of I admit that I was hesitant going into the meeting due to some my participation in the program as a benefit to the Institute and the uneasiness about the true intentions of this stranger and the strangers students currently enrolled. It all became surreal when I received he represented. After the first meeting, I came away with an impression my letter of acceptance to start in the Fall Semester of 2017 at that Ryan had a sincere heart for the East Side of Buffalo. I was Renovation Institute. From day one, Ryan and I talked about the cautiously optimistic and looking forward to building a relationship importance of true partnership, relationships, and experiences that with him. We continued to meet, and meetings came to include true, exemplify the power of what can happen when believers in Christ Jesus one on one, fellowship. As our comfort levels and trust began to build, decide to walk together in unity. I am pleased that we are no longer I was introduced to other leaders and staff of The Chapel. It was then strangers, but brothers and sisters excited about the journey ahead. where we were able to see how partnering with one another might take We are so grateful for The Chapel’s commitment to be shape. It no longer looked like a large suburban church taking pity willing to engage in things like this for the advancement on a small urban church. What really developed was an authentic of the gospel, and ultimately, God’s glory in our region. relationship of mutual focus on finding ways to see and hear the gospel Please take the time to pray for Shep and pray for others of Jesus Christ covering all the footprints of Western New York. ministering in urban environments throughout our region. One of the big challenges that we are working to tackle is bringing To God be the glory! an affordable, accessible, and accredited Bible Institute to the East Side of Buffalo. It is in this area of collaboration where we diligently seek to assist pastors as well as layman with an opportunity
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Renovation Church | One Mission Michelle Stockton-Traylor
ur community matters. The people, the businesses, the with Assistant Principal Ms. Burgin, staffer Melissa Evans and local Oorganizations, the schools, the neighbors – they matter. business owner Sandra Smart designed the warmest atmosphere Their success matters; and as a church, we are only as successful as and planned the weeklong project. the success of our community. Have you heard the quote, “as the While the design crew was working, the folks at Renovation were playground goes, so goes the city”? Could it be that the success and collecting Tim Horton’s gift cards to give to the teachers when they health of a city can be measured by the care of the playgrounds – returned from Spring Break. We planned a delicious breakfast for the details that bring vitality and dignity to a few? If we wouldn’t the morning of the reveal and couldn’t wait to open those doors! want it for our own kids, our own family, then how is it okay for others? The morning of the reveal, Principal Owens gathered her staff of more than 100 for the big reveal, and reactions of astonishment We take this seriously as part of our mission to reach every man, and gratitude were everywhere! Some loved the coffee bar, others woman, and child with the gospel and work diligently to ensure loved the café-style lunch tables, and some favored the couches and the local partnerships we create bring that vitality and dignity lounge area. You should have seen the life come back into those to those who may otherwise be overlooked. After several years faces! They were seen, they were valued, and their work was valued of partnership, this past year we officially became a Community and prioritized. Partner through Say Yes to Education with our community school, West Hertel Academy. It’s the most beautiful tapestry of cultures, If our community school thrives, our community is richer and our languages, and learners. As we’ve continued conversations and presentation of the gospel is relevant. Jesus came into the “hood” built relationships into this year, one need stood out to us. Our of humanity to bring value and dignity to the marginalized, the hard working teachers didn’t have a space to call their own, to forgotten, the least of these. It would be so easy to measure our relax, have coffee, take a break, eat lunch or grade papers. We saw success by the number of seats filled on a Sunday, but would our a barren teachers’ lounge with metal furniture and bright walls community actually notice if we no longer existed? Would the love that looked exactly like a classroom. Some teachers reported not and value we bring to our neighborhood be so significant that the entering that space for more than 10 years! We absolutely value the loss would be greatly felt? That’s a humbling mission and one that hours and heart they pour into our kids and we had an idea: let’s fuels us: to repeatedly create environments and experiences that make over the teachers’ lounge on spring break! In collaboration allow people to connect to God and each other.
92 Restoration Church Dan Trippie
Restoration Church desires to plant multiple churches. We The arrival of Pastor Jim helped our church to become more believe the vision of gospel saturation will inevitably result in effective at mobilizing the people God has entrusted to us. God new churches. Since our inception in 2008, we have sought to is increasingly moving in the hearts of our congregation to take see new churches come to life through the work of evangelism. ownership over the “lostness” of the region. September 2017 marks the beginning of our ninth year as a church Additionally, partnering with the Church Planting Initiative has community, and throughout our time, we have had many failures helped us to become effective at planting churches. 2017 was and a few successes. However, what we have learned, for certain, is humbling, and there is no other way to say it. We hoped to plant that we need each other. ten churches in ten years. However, in 2017 we learned many In God’s providence, the Lord sent Jim Murphy to Restoration. valuable lessons. One crucial lesson is the need to be in greater Pastor Jim is extremely gifted in mobilizing people toward collaboration with our neighboring churches. After the painful evangelism and strategizing a geography. When asked why Jim closing of Restoration Twin Village, we learned that God does decided to move his family to Western New York, Jim said the want us to be part of planting ten churches in ten years, but the key following, “God has given my family and me a deep love for the word is “part.” Through our partnership with CPI, we can have a people of Western New York and for the work He is doing here for meaningful role in helping see the gospel advance while we nurture His glory. Seeing God open up the opportunity for us to be a part and grow the congregation that meets at our main campus. It seems of it all through the ministry of Restoration Church was a direct like we have learned a lifetime of lessons in the last twelve months. answer to our prayers. We are deeply committed to seeing God’s On the other hand, maybe we have simply had what we always people equipped and sent out into the mission field of Western knew reinforced more fully. It is going to take all God’s people to New York and beyond!” Our region is truly blessed to have Jim’s accomplish the vision of every man, woman, and child. giftedness and passion in the region.
Though our feelings come and go, God’s love for us does not. –C. S. Lewis 93 ONE MISSION
Global Values and Presidir | On One Mission Alejandro and Sherri Belmar
Patch Our Planet | Empowering, Equipping, and Inspiring Southwest Florida Steve Gillis
In 2016, Patch Our Planet had the opportunity to host the Empowered to Connect (ETC) simulcast conference in our southwest Florida community. This is a two-day conference designed to help adoptive and foster parents, ministry leaders, and professionals better understand how to connect with “children from hard places” in order to help them heal and become all that God desires for them to be. During this conference, we realized what a critical resource this was for the church. This year, we were serving out of town the weekend of the ETC Conference, so we were unable to host the event. One of the churches in our Southwest Florida Orphan Care Network stepped up to become a host in our absence. Patch Our Planet sponsored the simulcast, but this local church went well beyond the reach of the prior year. They were able to invite children’s directors from area churches and Trust-Based Relational Intervention® trained counselors to minister to the children while the parents were in the conference for the good part of two days. As we advance God’s mission to proclaim His This year, our ETC event had four times as many in attendance message and see the mobilization of His Church as last year. Because of that success, we are working with several through Global Values and Presidir (reaching churches in the Southwest Florida Orphan Care Network leaders in the marketplace and equipping pastors to to make 2018 a region-wide offering. This is a collaborative mobilize the Church), we see Him giving us unique network and in many ways is modeled after The Every Child opportunities to generate accessibility to the gospel Network of Western New York. This one, impactful event for every man, woman, and child in Latin America. has been a wonderful example of how the Church can work In March of 2017, we moved from Buenos Aires, together to empower, inspire, and equip parents of children Argentina, to Orlando, Florida, perceiving it was God’s from hard places. Thank you to The Chapel for your ongoing timing and will. This location will offer us the ability example of what it looks like to be a kingdom partner to operate the ministry more strategically and catalyze through your giving, your going, and your prayer support! greater growth in leadership and pastoral initiatives.
94 During this time, God has allowed us to reach Saturation Church Planting the lives of many pastors and leaders in different countries and cultures in this continent, some of International | SCP Church which are serving with us on our ministry team. Fernando and Viviana Carnevalle in Argentina Plant Bangkok are facilitating through Presidir the Renovation principles and the strategy of mobilization of the Mandy Smith Church in different provinces of the country. Miguel Angel and Patty Lopez in El Salvador are pastoring a local church and are part of the Presidir team. They are gathering pastors and equipping them to reach their cities through mobilization and church planting. The efforts of the Saturation Church Planting (SCP) team have been a great blessing as they have come on various occasions to train and equip pastors and leaders in Central America. Simultaneously, Global Values has had the opportunity to communicate the gospel in places and with people of great influence. Just to mention one of many opportunities God gave us, in September 2016, we connected with a business in Mexico that requested training for the development of their leadership team. In my second encounter with one of the CEO’s of the company, we spoke about the soul of the leader and the spiritual need in the life of every man. Mid-conversation, he extended an invitation to have dinner that same night with him and his wife. Through an initiative of leadership development with Global Values, the Lord provided an occasion to share with this couple about Christ’s redemptive work for more than two hours. As is often the case, when God imparts vision to us, we see The vision for expansion in 2018 is to establish only “as in a glass dimly” a small piece of the rippling effect our a Renovation Center for missional leadership obedience to Him can make on the world. What we have set development, to train pastors and leaders systematically out to do through Saturation Church Planting International in the principles of mobilization, and equip young in Asia in partnership with The Chapel, continues to develop, professionals in leadership based on biblical as we are sensitive and respond to the Spirit’s leading. principles to impact their places of influence. Starting an international church plant here in Bangkok was We know that as Christ followers, we possess the not even on our radar when we moved to Asia five years ago. most powerful message on earth! Please pray that Our work primarily involves training national leaders in India the Lord may awaken us and make us aware of the where we direct most of our time and energy. Nevertheless, opportunities around us, and may we be clear and when God impressed on our hearts to plant an International bold. The time is short, my friends; the night is Church in Bangkok, we responded, opening our doors upon us. We have the most glorious opportunity and inviting expats with whom we had relationship, into to let His light shine forth in a high place! a circle of fellowship and seeking the Lord together.
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We shared a collective burden for our circle of accountability - the minority groups within our geographical area in Bangkok that were languishing and without even the most basic needs - formula for their babies, feminine hygiene products and clothing for their kids. Cambodian migrant worker camps just a short distance from our church housed dozens of families in slum conditions and children as young as two years old were left unattended during the day while able-bodied parents worked 12-16 hour shifts on construction crews. Children alone in these conditions are vulnerable to abuse of all kinds. As a body of believers, we began praying for this camp and visiting weekly just to love on the kids and bring care packages. Due to the language barrier, we were limited in our ability to communicate, and we prayed about how we might share the gospel directly. Through contact with friends who are Cambodian-born American immigrants, we hosted a team of 15 individuals from the US who gave up their summer to come lead a Vacation Bible School in the camp in the Cambodian native tongue. This outreach yielded incredible fruit, and we saw many children and subsequent families come to faith in Christ! Conscious of the importance of follow up, our church began sponsoring a young man from Cambodia who has joined our team in Bangkok to disciple the new Cambodian believers here. HBI Global Partners One new Christ-follower named Rin (whose whole family came to faith through this outreach), was forced to return to Cambodia a few months ago because his foreman stopped paying him. As we’ve made an effort HBI Global Partners started work among the children in a to maintain contact with Rin and send our Cambodian slum at Coolipara. This is a large slum in India, which has brother to visit and encourage him in his faith, we’ve more than 35,000 people living there. When we started the come to find out that upon return to his home village, drop-in center, the children were unruly, they did not know Rin has started a house church! This young believer, how to read, write, or do math. They were so dirty and their passionate about his new faith, is furthering the physical condition was quite bad. They fought with each other gospel’s reach and seeing new lives transformed in and overall, the slum is under the heavy influence of alcohol. his village because he has carried the light into it. Over the past four years, several churches came alongside Only God could do this. The Chapel’s support, HBI in the community. Together, we have not only taught our SCP team, and a willing group of Cambodian the children about the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ but also short-term missionaries in partnership for the provided medical care, introduced healthy hygiene practices, singular purpose - one mission - of reaching the taught them to read and write, encouraged them to go to lost accomplished so much. To God be the glory, school, and shared with them gospel-centered stories. It is great things He has done and continues to do! amazing to see the synergy that comes out of this partnership, how skills, giftedness, and abilities are put together towards a vision of discipling the entire slum to Christ Jesus.
96 United We Serve the Church and His Mission! Malini Asirvatham
Just this year alone, six mothers accepted Jesus Christ as Bible stories and songs, she accepted the Lord as her personal their personal Savior and are now regularly attending the Savior and is regularly attending a local church with her children local churches. One of them is Maloty, who lives in the away from the slum. Maloty shared the gospel with her neighbor Coolipara slum. Her husband is an alcoholic and doesn’t go and invited her to go with her to the church. Both of them are to work. She works as a housemaid and is paid approximately attending the church with their children. She has requested $50 a month, which she uses to feed her four children. our coordinator to start a church at the drop-in center so that Maloty’s children were attending our drop-in center she can bring more women to the church. Praise the Lord! regularly as they wanted to learn. Our center encouraged This is only one of the girls who reached out to her family, but them to go to school. After seeing their interest in studies, each of the children is having similar influence. It all started with Maloty decided to get at least two of them into school. the joint efforts of HBI, New Calvary Church, AG Church, One of her daughters completed 8th grade and wasn’t Northbrook Church, and Christ church. Partnership in the allowed to go further in school. Now she is attending the gospel makes a world of difference in giving opportunities for tailoring school started by us at the center. She is learning every man, woman, boy, and girl to understand and respond to a skill so that she can earn money to support the family. the gospel, and to be discipled into communities of believers. Through the witness of her children who shared with Maloty
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n 2016, I went on my first ministry trip Ithrough The Chapel and our partner, Mission of Hope, Haiti. During my time there, I was speaking with a young woman who is a fulltime missionary. She told me in the last 20 years that Mission of India Gospel League | Hope (MOH) has grown remarkably. They started with one schoolroom and One More Village now expect to have 10,000 students from first grade through college this year. They Dan Jarvis started grinding peanuts into a peanut butter-like substance to give nutrition to the students to help them learn more When Pastor Jairam joined India Gospel League’s Vision 2000 effectively, and now give out 90,000 meals movement (IGL’s church planting efforts in South Asia), he was a day to people who would go hungry taking a big step of faith for himself and his family. That step, without it. MOH has subsequently involving a commitment to start one church in one new village opened an orphanage, prosthetics per year, led Jairam to share the hope of the gospel this year in a hospital, nursing home and more. My small village called Indra, about fifteen kilometers from his home. response was, wow! How did you do that? Her response was, “We have no idea what However, he isn’t alone in his efforts. By partnering with a we are doing. God keeps providing us with group of women in his church who share the vision for gospel opportunities and we keep saying yes.” transformation for their region, Jairam has been able to more effectively reach out in this new village. As a result, Indra I believe one reason serving on the currently has five families seeking to understand the gospel. Mission of Hope ministry team was a Prayerfully, they can form a fellowship of new believers in the good fit for me is because God called months ahead, and, at the right time, birth a new church – which me to it and I said yes—just like MOH. can provide a permanent gospel witness for the entire community. Last year when I was filling out the skills assessment defining my skills in categories Across India today, we still estimate more than 300,000 from Learner to Master, I realized I had villages (like Indra) need their first church, and that millions none. This year when I filled out the same of families have yet to experience the gospel firsthand. The form the only skills I had to offer were vision of our pastors on the field is simple: “A church in every those that I learned during last year’s village.” As we see God bringing this to pass, we aim to equip trip. God uses people like me so that these new churches to reach their own communities, and to we can’t boast. It’s amazing how there ultimately provide every man, woman, and child with the life- are times when I can still find a way to transforming opportunity to know and walk with Jesus Christ. do just that. Fortunately, I have a loving Special Note: India Gospel League is grateful to The Chapel Father who has begun a good work in for partnering with our pastors on the field, alongside the me, and I have laid down my yes to live Wesleyan Church of Hamburg, to adopt an unreached region a life of obedience with the confidence of India called Tapi! Tapi will prayerfully experience a surge He will complete that good work in me. of church planting and compassionate ministry because of, at least in part, your kingdom-first and partnership mindset.
98 Renovation University | Reno U Relaunch
A discussion with Pastor Jerry Gillis and Pastor John Camardo
Launched in 2010, Renovation University (or Reno U for short) was the outgrowth of Pastor Daryl Largis’ passion to train and equip leaders in ministry. In fact, it was a direct outflow of his life mission: “to pursue righteousness and love in all that I do as I enable others, especially leaders, to do the same.” Reno U is a two-year, cohort- based program that provides leadership development for men and women in ministry on the personal, spiritual, and competency based level. Our team at The Chapel highly values the investment and development of current and future leaders. It is for this reason The Chapel has made an effort to create environments that allow development to happen regardless of role, responsibility, or domain of leadership. The Chapel IronMen Reno U is one of those environments. Please join Jerry Gillis and John Camardo as they briefly discuss what’s Haiti Team Report new with Reno U. Why is Renovation University so important? | Being Equipped JERRY GILLIS: Unfortunately, many in ministry either don’t have Through Serving the access or resources for seminary, or, having gone to seminary, they weren’t prepared with the Jeanne Moore tools for personal development in ministry. JOHN CAMARDO: “In the same way, let your I was a participant in the first cohort (the pilot group) of Reno U. For me personally, Reno U helped to press in not light shine before others, so only what we value at The Chapel but also our desire to that they may see your good see other expressions of the church (regardless of location, works and give glory to your audience, denomination, or domain of influence) truly understand the nature and purpose of the church, and Father who is in heaven.” begin to live it out more intentionally in how they lead. Matthew 5:16 (ESV) Having the right “leadership DNA” is of incredible importance for us to create the momentum needed to get after the mission God has given us. Reno U allows us to help shape character, competence, and fit for
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ministry leadership. What changes are being made to Reno U and why? Cross Training Athletics | JERRY GILLIS: After three full cycles of a men’s cohort, and two Serving in Unity complete cycles of a women’s cohort over the last number of years, we are realigning our content Sharon Masters and direction in a way that will be even more beneficial for succeeding groups. We received feedback from graduates on what content was most helpful, streamlined the thematic emphases in the tracks, and are doing more of a deep dive in some areas that were most useful and fruitful. JOHN CAMARDO: Anything good and lasting changes for the better. We encourage participants in Reno U to understand, develop through discipline, and mature through growth. The adjustments we are making to Reno U simply are a refinement resulting from deeper Cross Training Football was birthed in 2005, and over the understanding, development, and growth. years has grown into Cross Training Athletics (CTA). Just as What are you most excited about as a result? the Lord provided for the prophet Elijah, so God has provided for Cross Training over the years. “The ravens brought him JERRY GILLIS: bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the I am excited that the more we learn in this process, evening and he drank from the brook,” I Kings 17:6 (NKJV). the better we can become at serving these leaders in their development. I’m also excited to continue This growth process brought more staff and the need to the vision that Pastor Daryl Largis had of equipping accommodate them. Enter God’s sovereign hand through these leaders so that more fruitful work can be Lancaster Presbyterian Church (LPC), who has been done in our region toward the mission of saturating unbelievably hospitable to us. For the past six years, LPC has our geography with the gospel of Jesus Christ. provided us with two large offices and storage for all our athletic equipment. Pastor Kelly Negus has been very gracious and JOHN CAMARDO: kind. Through LPC’s generosity we have had access to their Nothing more to add here! gym to train athletes and run an after-school program. These Church leaders face so many challenges today which, programs have seen decisions for Jesus over the past six years at if left unaddressed, can affect them, their families, and LPC. CTA has shared the good news of Christ to thousands. even entire ministries. Renovation University is needed LPC has been gracious to share their pulpit to encourage the now more than ever and will relaunch in January 2018 saints plus offer support to CTA financially. It is good when with both a men’s and women’s cohort. Its mission brethren dwell together in unity. Through church connections remains the same: to facilitate intentional learning at LPC we also have affordable insurance for all our camps, environments where the next generation of leadership competitions, and events where we are able to share the gospel. can be trained, challenged, equipped, empowered, and This past summer more than 170 coaches and athletes confessed released to live, lead, and serve well. To learn more about with their mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in their heart God Reno U, please visit thechapel.com/kingdomcome. raised them from the dead. LPC has been faithful to provide needed space for CTA, and because of them, we have been able to spread the good news. To Christ is the glory for His Church. We thank God for LPC and their heart to reach the lost!
100 Hearts for the Homeless | Partial to Partnership Donna Blarr Fellowship of Christian Athletes | Hearts for the Homeless is partial to partnership! It enables us to Rising Up Together extend our mission to feed the homeless and poor beyond what we could accomplish on our own. We couldn’t exist without it. Jake Hannon Unity in partnership produces crossing of unique gifts and ideas, and “as iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another;” Proverbs 27:17. The end result is fresh ideas, greater energy, In August of 2016, Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) and the best part—potential to reach more people for Christ. partnered with The Chapel to host the first ever “Apex Sports Hearts has partnered with hundreds of volunteers over the Camp” for boys and girls ages 6-13 years old. This camp featured past 26 years, each lending their individual gifting(s). One an excellent sports experience in basketball, flag football, and longstanding partnership is with the Buffalo Dream Center floor hockey, and the campers were exposed to FCA’s camp (BDC) and Rev. Eric Johns. We came together many years curriculum “Rise” based on Joshua 1:9. Ironically, it was two ago to share our resources, and most importantly, to bus ministries – FCA and The Chapel’s Apex Sports Ministry – in every homeless or poor man, woman, and child in our that rose up together to impact campers, coaches, volunteers, neighborhoods, affording them a Christmas Eve Dinner and staff alike for a week of sweat, sports, and saturation in the and celebration that otherwise they would not have. The gospel. We heard from guest speakers such as Jon Christiano, gospel is preached and many come to know Christ. Buffalo Sabres Pro Scout, Del Reid, philanthropist and owner Another partnership is with the Missions Department at Zion of Buffalo based 26Shirts, and Mark Kelso, former Buffalo Bills Dominion Global Ministries. They join Hearts’ Friday night crew, star. Of the more than 50 campers, nine raised their hands at once a month, to help us feed the homeless. We’re awed by their the end of the week and made first-time decisions for Christ! enthusiasm and commitment to the gospel as they encourage However, it wasn’t just the young campers that were impacted. and care for our street clients’ physical and spiritual needs. Volunteer Coach Adam Partridge said, “This week was amazing Thanksgiving 2016, Zion’s team, including Senior Pastor Bishop for me, especially because I brought my friend to help coach. Roderick Hennings, provided the homeless with a traditional Seeing his eyes opened to what the power of the gospel can do – Thanksgiving meal right out there on the streets in downtown especially through the platform of sports – was so encouraging. Buffalo. A church member catered the event, buffet-style; It is awesome to see how God can use coaches to impart faith fellowship took place at tables set with festive tablecloths. It was to their athletes, but then also receive fresh encouragement a Thanksgiving dinner to remember with all the trimmings, fit and faith from God themselves in the process.” Adam’s story for the finest guest. We are so grateful to God for His command is just one of many we have witnessed this year as we have for partnership and “unity of the Spirit,” His ways are best; it is seen God developing “One Mission” in Western New York. the key to carrying out the mission that we are called to do.
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Lockport Care Net Pregnancy Center | One Mission:Saving Hearts Cindra Enzinna
Heritage Christian Services | One Mission Lida Merrill
Over the years, Heritage Christian Services has built many Almost every woman who comes in our door at Lockport relationships with groups serving in Guatemala, including Hogar Care Net Pregnancy Center is fighting a battle. She’s likely de la Esperanza (Hope for Home Ministries), a group home for unsure of the future of a relationship, and there is a high medically frail children. This story is about how masterfully God possibility that she’s unsure of her value as a person. Her brings the Body of Christ together to accomplish His purposes. battle is with her heart. She is pregnant; does she risk losing a In January 2017, Hope for Home’s founder, Daryl Fulp, shared boyfriend? Will she follow her heart and risk being judged? via social media that his staff was spending many hours every This ministry is about hearts, the broken, dulled, wounded, week driving to Guatemala City to get oxygen containers and longing ones. Every heart longs to be filled with joy. refilled. Many of the children they support are dependent on That’s our desire for every woman, man, and child who supplemental oxygen to live and were in desperate need of an comes in our door. Ours is actually a simple mission—to oxygen concentrator on-site. The very next day, one was donated share the hope of Jesus Christ with those we see, so that to A Second Thought Resale Shop, a thrift store owned and those we see can find the joy He offers. In the process, we’re operated by Heritage Christian Services, to help fund our work in seeing lives saved, one at a time. We plant the seeds. Guatemala! We just needed to get it there from Rochester, NY. We have partnered with the Lockport Chapel’s Embrace We asked Respiratory Services, a vendor that works with Grace Program to further the mission. Several of our HCS, to make sure the concentrator functioned properly clients have been referred to this Bible study, specific for and was calibrated. Respiratory Services voluntarily cleaned single, pregnant women. They are shown love and their it, replaced tubing and internal parts, and calibrated it. Then, worth as children of God. For instance, with the help of some of us laid hands on the concentrator and prayed for the both programs, one client in particular felt empowered children who would use it and for an inexpensive way to get to get out of an abusive relationship. She began attending it to them. We told Daryl the concentrator was ready to use, church and is devoted to be a better person for her child. and he said he would be in Ohio in April, so we just needed Each program reinforces the other. Those who see us are to get it to Cleveland. A pastor, who is part of our Guatemala often in a battle, but because of Lockport Care Net and ministry team, happened to be driving to the Cleveland area the Embrace Grace program working together, hope reigns and arranged to transport the concentrator there. The oxygen every day. They need a touch that only the Lord can give. concentrator is now in Guatemala, allowing children to breathe Only He can bring true hope and only He can offer lasting in the breath of life, giving valuable time to missionaries who solutions. They see, hear, and feel the love of the gospel of no longer have to be on the road for many hours getting Jesus Christ every time with Care Net and Embrace Grace. We oxygen canisters refilled, and God is glorified in it all! are touching every man, woman, and child, one at a time!
102 P.A.T.H. Inc. (People Against Trafficking Humans, Inc.) | God’s Call to Ministry Julie Palmer
In the fall of 2011 is when everything changed for me. I found Since I began leading PATH in 2012, God has grown us to become myself sitting in a course that I attended at my church because our own not-for-profit faith-based organization with a mission to I thought I was going to learn more about an organization that end exploitation and oppression through awareness, action, and does work in Zambia. As I sat through the class, the leader aftercare. We have continued to educate the community on this of this organization and another pastor from a local church issue along with engaging churches in WNY. We are thrilled to have began to talk about human trafficking or modern day slavery. The Chapel be one of more than 20 churches in this Community As I heard how young girls and women are being sold for sex that are partnering with our ministry to further the kingdom multiple times a day, youth being lured on the internet, brides either through prayer, volunteer support, or financial support. sold in arranged marriages, men and boys exploited in forced Someone once asked me if I believed human trafficking and labor, my heart began to hurt. Tears came down my face as I exploitation would end in my lifetime. I’ll be honest, that threw listened to one account after another of children as young as me off guard, but as I thought about it, my answer is yes. I believe three years old being used for exploitation. I learned that this is that if every church and every Christ follower stood up against this not just a third world problem but it is actually happening in our injustice then we could absolutely end this evil in our lifetime. own community—I was overwhelmed and greatly impacted. We are so thankful that The Chapel is partnering with As I drove home that evening, I felt deeply saddened. Then I heard us and supporting our Enrichment Center. With your God speak, “You need to do something about this, Julie. You support, we are able to further expand programming and need to get more involved in addressing this issue.” To be honest, meet the significant needs of the women and children I told God, “No, thank you.” I tried to justify why I shouldn’t we serve. Thank you for being a church in action! get involved. I had good reasons but God kept prompting me, and then an opportunity presented itself with P.A.T.H. (through Editor’s note: this article has been edited to fit our On Mission format. Eastern Hills Wesleyan Church where the ministry originated), To read the full story, please visit thechapel.com/kingdomcome. and I decided to be obedient and step out in faith. What an honor and privilege to be used by God to minister to the oppressed! ONE MISSION
Resource Council of Western NY, Saving Grace Ministries, Inc. | Lifting Lives, His Will and His Work Terry King
A few years ago, I received a call from Pastor Jerry Gillis of The Today, Saving Grace Ministries along with the True Bethel Chapel, asking us to consider a building that was for sale located Church, the Buffalo Sabres, and many other church partners on Buffalo’s East Side. I thought for a moment and said, “Uh, no… including The Chapel, have renovated the facility creating 16 I’m busy.” Thinking, gosh, what in the world would we do with a apartments (affordable housing) with a preference for veterans with 31,000 square foot building? children. The first floor recreational area now serves the ministry However, God uses people to do His will and His work. I knew partners of the Resource Council of Western New York serving Jerry, having witnessed the fruit of his labor, and had come to know the neighborhood children, families, and the greater Buffalo a man who simply wanted to see people lifted up, have opportunity, community. The facility provides offices, community space, a fully and come to know Christ personally. renovated pool and gymnasium. The Partnership plans to break ground for a Dek Hockey Rink funded by the NHL and construct Several days later, I found myself touring the site at 347 East a Youth Football Field funded by the NFL and LISC. Church Ferry, amazed at the infrastructure and the godly potential. It was groups are renting and utilizing the facility daily for a host of originally a YMCA built somewhere around 1928. I felt life, a activities. Many child and family programs occur daily. godly sense of freedom with children laughing, kids playing in the gymnasium, the pool full of activity and a sense of community. The 347 East Ferry Project represents the Church of Buffalo, Several days later, the Sabres administration team were walking One Gospel, One Mission, One Church. Isaiah 4: 6, “It will be a through the site, contemplative; we all knew that this building shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding was a site that could serve families. The story unfolded over many place from the storm and rain.” East Ferry is a site that will stand months. God knitted together church partners, government to impact generations while the gospel message moves among the leaders, and the business community, melding a strategic people and lives are lifted. partnership between willing servants.
104 SonRays Ministries, Inc. | Unity in Christ
Alice Murchie & Cheri Henry Youth for Christ Buffalo | A Kingdom-Sized Mission
SonRays Ministries has ministered to men, women, and children Rod McCallum facing unplanned pregnancies and other crises in Western New York, and beyond, for more than 34 years. For the last 20 years, SonRays has been partnering with Cornerstone Manor, the Nearly a decade ago, my wife and I moved our young family women’s division of the Buffalo City Mission. Our intention has to Buffalo’s East Side because God had given us a passion been to share the love of Christ with the women and children and a love for this community. We had Matthew 25 in residing in the homeless shelter. Private childbirth classes, one- our hearts as we sought to serve families by developing on-one mentoring, and post-abortion healing ministry have gardens and growing healthy food. God slowly transitioned been provided throughout our two decade-long partnership. our hearts to Matthew 28 and His Great Commission to make disciples and teach them all Jesus commanded. Within the last decade, the addition of a bi-annual Healing for the Angry Heart workshop has provided the opportunity for Over the years, we hosted periodic activities with neighborhood many women to develop a hunger to grow closer to God and kids including summer Bible studies. In 2015, we realized that use the foundation presented in God’s Word to support them the children were growing up before our eyes and many were in their journey. Each year, we invite the women to our summer drifting in negative directions. We started engaging some of the Bible study and the children to our Summer Backyard Club. boys in a weekly Bible study and mentoring group. Several boys in this group eventually committed their lives to Christ. This was Early in the spring, we met with the Cornerstone Summer a wonderful experience that made us realize that there is hope for Program leaders to improve the effectiveness of the Backyard the 54% of Buffalo’s children that live in poverty, but it would Club for their children. Together, we formed and shaped a take the mobilization of God’s people in WNY to realize this program for five to twelve year olds that will encourage them to hope. This is why we launched Youth for Christ Buffalo in 2016. draw near to Jesus. We established smaller groups of children to encourage more individualized attention for the children, Youth for Christ is an international ministry that has been developed more mature activities for the older children, and introducing teens to Christ since the 1940s when Billy Graham planned swimming for every week. The focus, through Bible held youth rallies all over the country. Today, YFC is committed stories, games, music, crafts, discussion, and swimming, was to reaching lost teens and raising them up into life-long on following Jesus, the Light of the World. The children followers of Christ who lead others into life-long relationships learned that Jesus gives us hope, courage, direction, love, and with Christ. Our goal is to see every lost teen in Buffalo in a power. God does receive the glory when we come together Christ-sharing relationship with a Christ-centered adult. in unity for one purpose… Jesus. It was by His strength, love, This is a kingdom-sized goal that can only be achieved power, and a lot of prayer that we learned to grow and hear when God’s people from all corners of our region join His voice together as we worked to improve the Backyard forces to demonstrate tangibly God’s love and His truth in Club. We’ve enjoyed walking in the unity of the Spirit authentic, loving relationships with lost 11 to 19 year-olds through the bond of peace encouraged in Ephesians 4:2-6. before they stray too far from His plan for their lives.
105 ONE MISSION
Campus Ambassadors | United and On Mission Paul Decker
hen the Campus Ambassadors ministry began at discipleship relationships. It also means letting go and going Wthe University at Buffalo eleven years ago, it was after new challenges instead of keeping the status quo. preceded with a vision that I had in 1999 while I was the For a couple more years, it was Tim and me until another Lead Pastor at Randall Baptist Church. Randall had many student that I had invested in via a discipleship relationship connections to the UB campus at the time and it seemed decided to join the campus ministry after she graduated. Now we ought to build on that strength. With that in mind, we Sally Henien is the campus director and my “boss.” Yes, you got invited Tim and Karen Stewart to Western New York. that right. Tim followed my example, stepped aside from being The beginning years for Tim Stewart were a challenge, to say the the director and took on new challenges at the university. least. At first, it seemed that the other UB campus ministries Perhaps the most significant matter that Tim turned his attention were not interested in another entry into the fray. Tim persisted to resulted in United for Buffalo. Tim’s heartbeat for UB has though, and a foothold was gained. In 2009, I joined forces always been that the different ministries would work together with Tim, resigning my position at the church and coming in prayer, worship, and evangelism. This past year, a team was full time on staff. It was an interesting change. The young formed that included The Chapel’s own Wes Aarum, Nate man I had invited and mentored now became my “boss.” Schutt (InterVarsity), Dan Trenda (Cru), and Tim (CA). This Actually, it was a dynamic change that speaks to the importance team adapted the vision we have here at The Chapel, that every of discipleship. It is my belief that when we are mentoring woman, man, and child should have repeated opportunities to someone, we don’t mentor them to keep them underneath hear the good news about Jesus, and they are applying it to the us, but rather to work “shoulder to shoulder” and eventually campuses in Western New York. We are united and on mission! surpass us. This means we are to be intentional in our
106 Cru Buffalo | Simplicity Cru (WNY Campus Ministry)
Thomas Rodrigues Dan Trenda
In the 22 years that I played baseball, the greatest factor to my We are so thankful to be in partnership with The Chapel this success was my ability or inability to keep it simple! I tried a year and become a part of the Kingdom Come initiative. When wide stance, a low stance, a leg kick; I tried guessing pitches, God called my wife and me to Buffalo eight years ago, it was taking more pitches, and swinging at too many pitches... all to in part due to the vision that already existed at The Chapel. find that “See the ball, hit the ball” was the formula to success. As we considered coming to Buffalo, I remember listening to In my three years of following Christ, there has been a Jerry Gillis’ sermons and beginning to understand the extent weird similarity. In my best effort to pursue maturity in to which a true kingdom mindset directed the influence of Christ I tried to master the doctrine of the Trinity, or The Chapel. The calling of Cru is to be a part of bringing the the doctrine of election, or pneumatology… all to find gospel to every college student in this region, while equipping out that where I’ve experienced the most growth is in a generation of missionaries to participate in God’s mission rediscovering the simple truth of Christ crucified. here in Western New York and around the world. We’ve already seen this mission coming to life in our time here. It was this same kind of simplicity that David Worcester, Director of Challenge at SDSU, brought to our ministry Matt arrived at Daemen College in the fall of 2012. We this past February. Isn’t it so true that as Christians we tend had recently launched Cru there, and he got involved as a to overcomplicate evangelism? Even as a missionary, I find freshmen, a decision that he would later say kept him from this ever so true in my life, and in the lives of my students. leaving the school entirely. Four years and countless personal During a talk on evangelism, David shared what he found to and ministry experiences later, Matt applied to be a full-time be a successful and reproducible way for him and his students missionary with Cru to a “closed” country. Matt and his team to reach the campus. It’s called “Gospel Appointments.” In have launched a new ministry in their city and have personally almost comical fashion, he defined a gospel appointment as “an seen 18 students place their faith in Christ over the last two appointment with someone… where you share the gospel.” years in a place where Christianity is essentially outlawed. It was that kind of simplicity that the Holy Spirit used to move Matt’s experience here in Buffalo, New York prepared him for our students to action! In the days following, we saw five of our the life of a missionary. For those who go around the world student leaders share the gospel with their friends and peers, and after graduation, as well as those who stay here, the college even one person his trust in Christ! Our message is simple: Christ years can provide an unparalleled opportunity for spiritual crucified; our mission is simple: the glory of God to all nations. It and ministry growth. We’re grateful to be a Kingdom Come is no surprise that God used our partnership with Challenge and partner on the college campuses here, as a part of reaching their simplicity to better equip our students to reach the campus. every man, woman, and child in Western New York.
107 108 ONE MISSION
Holy Spirit, we turn to you as our helper and ask that you would continue to sustain our efforts and our energies in fulfilling this one mission: that every man, woman, and child would have repeated opportunities to hear and see the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is an endeavor that we recognize we cannot achieve on our own. We need you. • We pray for conviction: that you would compel us from within to live sacrificially and give all we are to see your will fulfilled in the lives of those we love in our workplaces, our families, our communities, and beyond. • We pray for new power: that in our weakness you would reveal your strength, and that as we work to see your kingdom come, we would feel you adding divine reinforcement to the things we aspire to establish here on earth for your glory. • We pray for inspiration: that new ideas, new resources, and new paths would be found as you breathe your new life in us. Help us depend on you and not on ourselves to accomplish this mission. We acknowledge that we need to lean on you and not on our own understanding as we follow your leadership and submit to your authority. Use us to bring the love and hope of your gospel to the ends of the earth.
109 In addition to three local and two regional church plants, there are local partnerships, which include partnerships with nine local college ministries.
Please PRAY consistently and intentionally for our Kingdom Come partners who are laboring on behalf of the gospel in places around the globe.
With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. Ephesians 6:18-20 nasb
110 In addition to three local and two regional church plants, there are local partnerships, which include partnerships with nine local college ministries.
KEY
111 MINISTRY PARTNER DIRECTORY MINISTRY PARTNER DIRECTORY
WNY PARTNERS
716 Ministries Cru Buffalo InterVarsity Christian Fellowship 301 14th Street, Buffalo, NY 14213 Thomas Rodrigues: [email protected] Nate Schutt: 585.957.4981 Stephanie Bruno: 716.828.8681 crubuffalo.com [email protected] [email protected] facebook.com/ubintervarsity 716ministries.org Cru WNY Dan Trenda: [email protected] InterVarsity Graduate Buffalo Adult and Teen Challenge crubuffalo.com Christian Fellowship 124 Locust Street, Buffalo, NY 14204 EPIC Asian American Movement Chris Sullivan: Kittie Bengyak: 716.885.0602 [email protected] [email protected] John Mansfield: [email protected] epicmovement.com Isaiah 61 Project Buffalo City Mission Fellowship of Christian Athletes 1625 Buffalo Avenue, Suite 3C 100 E Tupper Street, Buffalo, NY 14203 Niagara Falls, NY 14303 Sue Cervi: 716.854.8181 PO Box 1011, Buffalo NY 14231 Jake Hannon: 716.912.6712 Kevin Wing: 716.870.3979 [email protected] [email protected] buffalocitymission.org [email protected] buffalofca.org project-61.org Campus Ambassadors Good News Jail & Prison Ministry Kingdom Bound Sally Henien: 610.984.3742 8550 Sheridan Drive Jurisdiction #46 [email protected] Williamsville, NY 14221 c/o Niagara County Sheriff’s Office, 5526 Tim Stewart: 716.263.8809 Donna Russo: 716.633.1117 Niagara Street Ext. – PO Box 496 [email protected] [email protected] Lockport, NY 14095 Paul Decker: 716.912.7339 kingdombound.org [email protected] Alex True: 716.438.3316 [email protected] Lockport CareNet Christian Central Academy goodnewsjail.org Pregnancy Center 39 Academy Street, Williamsville, NY 14221 Hearts for the Homeless 229 East Avenue, Lockport, NY 14094 Denise Jentz: 716.634.4821 Cindra Enzinna: 716.434.0251 [email protected] of WNY, Inc. [email protected] christianca.com PO Box 437 lockportcarenet.com Buffalo, NY 14223 Christian Counseling Ministries Donna Blarr: 716.877.3536 Lockport CARES, Inc. 9070 Main Street, Clarence, NY 14031 [email protected] PO Box 586, Lockport, NY 14095 Timothy Chambers: 716.632.3200 heartsforthehomeless.org Marty Nagy: 716.438.2273 [email protected] | ccmwny.org [email protected] Heritage Christian Services lockportcares.org Church on the Beach 3790 Commerce Court, #800 2350 North Forest Road—Suite 77 North Tonawanda, NY 14120 Niagara Gospel Rescue Mission Getzville, NY 14068 Marisa Geitner: 716.743.2020 1317 Portage Road William Hein: 716.882.2600 [email protected] Niagara Falls, NY 14301 Neil Boron: 716.883.3010 heritagechristianservices.org Geordie Davey: 716.205.8805 [email protected] [email protected] churchonthebeach.ca Imagine Community Gardens niagaramissions.com 7071 Transit Road, East Amherst, NY 14051 Circle ‘C’ Ranch Rich Tedeschi: 716.688.0139 Northtown Pregnancy Center 10451 Ashcraft Road, Delevan, NY 14042 [email protected] 2565 Elmwood Ave., Kenmore, NY 14217 Wes Aarum: 716.492.3687 imaginecommunitygardens.org Lou Anne Soto: 716.800.2309 [email protected] | circlecranch.org [email protected] International Students, Inc. northtownpregnancycenter.com Cross Training Athletics 520 Lee Entrance, Suite 108B PO Box 156, Bowmansville, NY 14026 The Commons Michael Masters: 716.432.5152 Amherst, NY 14228 [email protected] Scott Matheny: [email protected] go-cta.com isibuffalo.com
112 MINISTRY PARTNER DIRECTORY MINISTRY PARTNER DIRECTORY
P.A.T.H. Inc. Set Free, Inc. The Teacher’s Desk Mailing: 5165 Broadway #192 PO Box 407, Buffalo, NY 14215 22 Northampton Street, Buffalo, NY 14209 Depew, NY 14043 Al & Deb Warner: 716.553.0009 John Mika: 716.348.3412 Julie Palmer: 716.601.5678 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] setfreeleaders.com theteachersdesk.org pathofwny.org SonRays Ministries Total Breakthrough Resource Council of WNY PO Box 673, Tonawanda, NY 14150 Melissa Secchiaroli: 716.531.4250 347 East Ferry Alice Murchie: 716.695.9494 [email protected] Buffalo, NY 14208 [email protected] totalbreakthrough.org Justin King: 716.259.9844 sonraysministries.org [email protected] Youth for Christ Buffalo resourcecouncilwny.org The Magdalene Project 195 Glenwood Avenue 1910 Falls Street Buffalo, NY 14208 Saving Grace Ministries, Inc. Niagara Falls, NY 14303 Rod McCallum: 716.289.6425 2025 Bailey Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14211 Joanne Lorenzo: 716.282.0908 [email protected] Charise Cobbs: 716.893.1840 [email protected] yfc.net [email protected] | sgmworld.org magdaleneproject.org
CHURCH PLANTS
Crosslife Church Lumber City Church Restoration Church Akron, OH 44319 383 Vandervoort Street 504 Frankhauser, Amherst, NY 14221 Lennie McKinney: 330.283.9228 North Tonawanda, NY 14120 Dan Trippie: 716.541.0794 [email protected] 716.260.2757 [email protected] crosslifeakron.com [email protected] restorationbuffalo.com lumbercitychurch.com Epiphany Church of Baltimore Steamtown Church PO Box 19437 Missio Church 1511 Pittston Avenue, Scranton, PA 18505 Baltimore, MD 21206 620 West Genesee Street Judi Rozelle: 570.589.0189 Charlie Mitchell: Syracuse, NY 13204 [email protected] [email protected] Adam Bregou: 315.299.4101 steamtownchurch.com epiphanybmore.com [email protected] missiochurch.org The Rock Community Church Epiphany Church Wilmington 9403 Garfield Boulevard PO Box 26422 Renovation Church Garfield Heights, OH 44125 Wilmington, DE 19899 567 Hertel Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14207 Dave Brunelle: 216.429.2636 R. Derrick Parks Michelle Stockton-Traylor: 716.819.4100 [email protected] | rockcle.org epiphanywilmington.org [email protected] Iglesia Misional therenovationchurch.com 620 W. Genesee Street Syracuse, NY 13204 iglesiamisional.org
113 MINISTRY PARTNER DIRECTORY
NATIONAL/REGIONAL PARTNERS
Christ Together Life Transforming Ministries Renovation University 500 CrossPoint Parkway PO Box 29, Coatesville, PA 19320 500 CrossPoint Parkway Getzville, NY 14068 Dolph Laraio: 484.467.3505 Getzville, NY 14068 Ryan Kozey: 716.631.2636 x 227 [email protected] 716.631.2636 [email protected] godmovehere.com [email protected] christtogether.org
GLOBAL TELESCOPING PARTNERS
Cru - Michael & Amy Ramos India Gospel League NA Presidir 12630 Moss Park Ridge Drive 1521 Georgetown Road, Suite 305 1420 Celebration Boulevard Suite 200 Orlando, FL 32832 | 321.229.8529 Hudson, OH 44236 Celebration, FL 34747 [email protected] Dorothea Shafer: 888.352.4451 Sherri Belmar: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] presidir.net iglworld.org Eagles’ Wings SCORE International PO Box 450, Clarence, NY 14031 Israel Firstfruits Center for PO Box 9994 Stephen Jenks: 716.759.1058 Economic Advancement Chattanooga, TN 37412 [email protected]| eagleswings.to HaShaked Street, Box 180 423.894.7111 Jeff Hackett: [email protected] EduNations Poriya Illit 15208 Israel Israel Firstfruits Team Jesse Pohle: [email protected] PO Box 233, Ingomar, PA 15127 [email protected] scoreintl.org Sarah Williamson: 412.522.4756 israelfirstfruits.org [email protected] SCP Global edunations.org Jericho Road 620 West Genesee Street Syracuse, NY 13204 Global Outreach Mision Community Health Center 184 Barton Street Mandy Smith: 855.569.0243 1670 Hopkins Road [email protected] | scpglobal.org Getzville, NY 14094 Buffalo, NY 14213 Brian Albrecht: 716.688.5048 Jenna McArdle: 716.348.3000 x417 True Happiness Ministries [email protected] [email protected] 31 First Street, Krishnadoss Road jrchc.org missiongo.org Mangalapuram, Chennai 600012 INDIA let them LOL Global Values [email protected] 5205 Harris Hill Road 500 CrossPoint Parkway World Hope International Getzville, NY 14068 Williamsville, NY 14221 Kate Vacanti: 716.458.0785 1330 Braddock Place, Suite 301 [email protected] Alexandria, VA 22314 globalvaluesintl.com [email protected] letthemlol.com John Lyon: 703.923.9414 HBI Global Partners [email protected] Mission of Hope, Haiti PO Box 584, Forest, VA 24551 worldhope.org PO Box 171500 Paul “Bobby” Gupta :803.447.5615 Austin, TX 78717 [email protected] 512.256.0835 [email protected] [email protected] hbiglobalpartners.org mohhaiti.org Houghton College One Willard Avenue Patch Our Planet Houghton, NY 14744 PO Box 841, Placida, FL 33946 Steve Dumnire: 585.567.9669 Steve Gillis: 404.281.8927 [email protected] [email protected] houghton.edu patchourplanet.org
114 MINISTRY PARTNER DIRECTORY
KINGDOM COME IS ON THE WEB!
So much is happening in and through Kingdom Come and our ministry partners! Visit thechapel. com/kingdomcome for the latest Kingdom Come news, our online Prayer Wall, ministry partner events, and upcoming ministry trips you can join! We’ve made it easy for you to stay in the loop with our weekly e-news briefing. On the homepage, just click the “Sign Up For Weekly Newsletter” button and complete the online form. The weekly updates are sent to your inbox so you won’t miss a thing!
115 500 CrossPoint Parkway, Getzville, NY 14068 | 716.631.2636 | thechapel.com