A commitment to integrity and sound financial procedures is critical to the trust relationship non-profit organizations have with their donors and the communities they serve. What is the gold standard for financial integrity and accountability within the Christian nonprofit world? The Evangelical Council on Financial Accountability (ECFA).
Invest in Immigrant Leaders Making Disciples!
by Jarrett Meek, Founder/Pastor/Executive Director
When we set out to start Mission Adelante, I didn't fully appreciate the potential for immigrants and refugees to play a critical role in transforming a community and a ministry. Now, I'm continually amazed and inspired to by leaders from all places and the impact they are having in our neighborhood. From entrepreneurs to ministry leaders, our community is full of courageous people who are cutting new pathways through the thick brush of cultural and language barriers to realize their dreams and be a part of transforming individual lives and the entire community.
Yanelis López, Gissell Vázquez, and Laxmi Gurung are three of these leaders. As new arrivals to the U.S. each of them has had to overcome challenges and forge a trail through what sometimes seems like an overgrown jungle. Their perseverance, faith, and vision inspire me and all those who are close to them. Mission Adelante is blessed to have them as part of our staff!
As we approach the end of 2017, I'm looking back at the impact our immigrant staff members have made over the last year and anticipating what the Lord will do through them in 2018. Laxmi, as an apprentice, is learning ministry with us and has launched our new Refugee Kids Club, which is already including kids from Nepal, Burma, and Latin America. Gissell has integrated worship into nearly every corner of Mission Adelante, from our staff meetings to our Kids ministry and beyond. She has transformed our Latino worship team and is preparing a new program called Adelante Arts Community that will develop and disciple young through music and the arts. And Yanelis has made tremendous contributions on the senior leadership level, walking our team through transitions, creating healthy dynamics on our staff ministry team, and accepting an increasing level of leadership responsibility in our organization. The impact of these leaders is only just beginning as they continue to adjust to life in the U.S. As people, they are cherished, and as leaders they have the ability to take our ministry to new places.
This year-end, we are praying the Lord would provide $60,000 to help support the 2018 salary and benefits of Yanelis, Laxmi, and Gissell, through what we call our Community Leader Fund. As you pray about your own giving this year-end, I invite you to consider making a special contribution to our Community Leader Fund. If you already give monthly, maybe the Lord will lead you to make an additional year-end gift. If you give annually or occasionally, we encourage you to jump in again with us. Or maybe your are looking for new ways to make an impact with your resources. Investing in Yanelis, Laxmi and Gissell is at the heart of our mission as they are all involved on the front lines of disciple-making with people from all places. I have every confidence that supporting their work through Mission Adelante will produce Kingdom fruit in ways that will glorify Jesus!
Giving online is easy at www.missionadelante.org/give.
You can give online at: www.missionadelante.org/give
Mission Adelante Year-End Giving Opportunities: A Record Year!
A Record Year and New Opportunities!
Three cultures, one community, a big celebration!
It's been a record year at Mission Adelante and the timing couldn't be any better! As we bring 2012 to a close, we're both praising God for His beautiful work among us, as well as praying for the strongest year-end we've ever had financially. Will you be a part of it with us?
The fruit of seven years of serving in our neighborhood has translated into some exciting opportunities for 2013 that we're praying will impact our community in new ways for years to come. We invite every one of you to partner with us in whatever way you can as we press into these new challenges and opportunities! Give online and then share our
with your friends. It's easy!
Coming soon in 2013...
- Adelante Thrift: A neighborhood-based Thrift store that will provide jobs and a produce sustainable income to help fund other Community Development initiatives.
- Summer Internship: A ministry internship for emerging leaders among Latino Teens from our neighborhood.
- Foundations for a Medical Clinic: In 2013 we will be conducting focus groups in our community and forming a Board of Directors and a business plan for a Family Practice clinic in our neighborhood, which we hope to open in 2014.
- Multi-cultural Worship: On Christmas eve we will hold our first ever multi-cultural worship service in Spanish, English and Nepali. In 2013 we plan to experiment with more ideas to foster multi-cultural interactions and worship.
- Disciple-Making: The core of our mission and purpose will always be reproducing disciples of Jesus who can also make disciples.
Year-End Giving
This is a very exciting time to invest in what God is doing through Mission Adelante. As we prepare for these new opportunities and pray for our strongest financial year-end ever, we want to invite you to give, and give generously to be a part of changing individual lives and an entire community. Our year-end giving goal is $65,000. This goal includes $21,000 we need to raise to receive a "last in" grant to hire a Community Development Director! Here are a two ideas to help us get there!
- Give online and pass it on (click here)! We have a new online giving page that integrates our new video to share our story and makes online giving really easy. Spread the word by sharing our giving page on facebook!
- Give Stock (click here to learn more): When you give appreciated assets, your giving capacity goes further and your tax advantage could be greater. Mission Adelante partners closely with the National Christian Foundation to help donors establish "donor advised funds", an effective and tax-efficient vehicle for giving. With a donor advised fund you can give appreciated assets, such as stock, avoiding capital gains taxes. While no one knows how congress will resolve the "fiscal cliff", there has been talk of placing new limits on itemized deductions, which would impact deductions for charitable giving in future years. The president of the National Christian Foundation, Aimee Minnich, has given me permission to distribute her mobile phone number, (816) 853-4469,for anyone who would like to discuss giving stock or other assets through a donor advised fund.