My name is Brenda Santiago, and today I would like to tell you about the miracle that God did in my life.
Prayer Precedes the Miracle
A Prayer Walk
Written by Jenny Dunn, Bhutanese ESL Coordinator
Have you ever been prayed over? Wasn’t it just so encouraging to know that someone found you important enough to bring you before their god? Every day, we have the chance to pray for people. Often times, this is the least offensive way to tell people about our God and how powerful He is.
A couple weekends ago, the Bhutanese ESL volunteers came together and prayed over our neighborhood. We walked the streets and prayed the houses and the people that live in them, the schools and the kids that attend them, sickness, and the barriers that keep people from knowing our God.
As we walked, we saw some of our Bhutanese friends and told them what we were doing. We then prayed over them. They have been suffering from sickness in their house; we prayed that God would heal them.
The other day, I heard an old story that increased my boldness to pray. One of our couple friends had been told back in Nepal that they would be unable to have any children. This was very disappointing to this woman. One day, one of our friends visited them; she had been sick for a few days with a cold, so our friend prayed that Jesus would heal her cold. Not one month later, she found out that she was pregnant. That prayer was so memorable to the family that one month later the husband was convinced that God had given them their baby because of it.
I think about the prayers that we pray over our friends and how much more He can do than we can even think, imagine, or dream up. O Jesus, let us be people of prayer with faith that only You give.
PRAYER NEEDS:
- Several new Bhutanese refugee families arrived last month and are attending English classes. Please pray they adjust well to life in Kansas City and that they feel welcomed by our community.
- Pray for our kids to find constructive things to do with their time over school breaks.
CURRENT NEEDS:
- Leaders in Training, our after school tutoring program, is in need of individually packed snacks. Costco and Sam’s Club are great places to pick some up! If you can provide some snacks contact Kristen Maxwell at Kristenm@missionadelante.org.
IMPORTANT DATES:
- Fall break: Tuesday, November 25-Saturday, November 29 No programs. Happy Thanksgiving!
Partner in Prayer for Adelante Thrift
Written by Kristen Allen, Director of Community Development
We continue to go before God and ask for His guidance and ask you to join us in prayer. Please pray for the Adelante Thrift board and for God to open up the right opportunity before us. Partner with us in prayer as we look to build a strong starting point for Adelante Thrift in the location that God has ordained. We look forward to the day when He answers our prayers and we give thanks as He continues to transform our community.
In other news:
Mission Adelante’s Community Development Initiatives are about partnerships. We’ve shared little pieces of the big picture for community development over the past few months and now we invite you into a supporting role for Adelante Thrift and ask for you to partner with us and pray for this new ministry.
Prayer is a core value at Mission Adelante. We believe that prayer is the most important work in ministry and that our mission depends upon the power and work of the Holy Spirit in individual lives, in our community, and in all of our circumstances. For several months we have investigated multiple spaces in our target area as we search for the ideal location that meets the needs for Adelante Thrift. We seek a space large enough to contain retail, job training, and processing operations in a location convenient to our friends and neighbors that allows a shopping experience full of hospitality and exceptional service. As they saying goes, “location is everything”, but we have yet to find the ideal space. The right location for Adelante Thrift is the crucial first step for moving forward with the thrift store and all other community development initiatives.
We continue to go before God and ask for His guidance and ask you to join us in prayer. Please pray for the Adelante Thrift board and for God to open up the right opportunity before us. Partner with us in prayer as we look to build a strong starting point for Adelante Thrift in the location that God has ordained. We look forward to the day when He answers our prayers and we give thanks as He continues to transform our community.
In other news:
- This week, Mission Adelante Teens Club mentors will be visiting students in their homes to get to know them and their families in a more personal way. We are excited to watch the friendships between Bhutanese teens and adult mentors grow in the coming months!
- The community survey effort for the new medical clinic is winding down. We are thankful that many community partners opened up their churches and organizations in a spirit of collaboration and allowed us to ask their participants about their healthcare needs. This information will help us build a health center that is sensitive to the needs of our multicultural community.
- We will host a wedding at Mission Adelante this Saturday! We are excited to celebrate with our friends, Alejandro and Elena, as they take this exciting step!
- Blue Valley Baptist Church will host a critical issues forum on October 24th from 7-9pm. The topic will be the Christians response to the Immigration problems in America and Jason Schoff will be one of the panelists. Please consider attending this event. 8925 W. 151st St, Overland Park, KS. E-mail rshanahan02@everestkc.net with childcare needs no later than October 20.
Prayer needs:
- The Hindu holiday season is upon us. Please pray for our Hindu friends in Kansas City to experience Jesus’ love and grace in special ways during this season.
- Pray4Reform--join us in praying for immigration reform. There are two corporate gatherings this week hosted by our partners. Click on the tab to learn where we will be praying tonight and tomorrow morning.
Current needs:
- If you're out and about and notice swimsuits on clearance, would you think about picking some up for kids at Mission Adelante? We go swimming many times a year, even in the winter, and sometimes we find out on the way to the pool that some of our friends don’t have swimsuits that fit. We specifically need suits that fit Elementary and Middle School boys, and one-piece suits that fit later Elementary and Middle School girls. If you have questions, or would like to help, contact Kristen Maxwell at Kristenm@missionadelante.org.
- Our Leaders in Training after-school tutoring program is looking for a small group or a few individuals to purchase healthy, pre-packaged snacks for the kids. If you are interested, please contact Megan at meganm@missionadelante.org.
Important dates:
- Observation Days: Tuesdays, November 5 & 12 (Bhutanese)/Thursdays, November 7 & 14 (Latino) 6:30-8:30 Have you wondered what all goes on around here on a typical evening of programming? Here's your opportunity to come and see for yourself!
A "Year of Breakthrough"
Written by Kristen Maxwell, Bhutanese Children's Ministry Director
A few weeks ago, I had a chance to go on a prayer and planning retreat. It gave me a chance to slow down and take time to listen to the Lord. During my time away I heard from the Lord that this year would be a "Year of Breakthrough" for our after school leadership and character development program, Leaders in Training. As I returned from the retreat and began to dive deeper in to what the Lord was saying, I felt challenged by a verse in the book of Isaiah.
“But forget all that—
it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.
For I am about to do something new.
See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?
I will make a pathway through the wilderness.
I will create rivers in the dry wasteland."
Isaiah 43:18-19 (NLT)
Will you join me in praying this verse over our 30 Latino and Bhutanese Leaders in Training for the 2013-2014 school year? Will you pray with us that the Lord would help them to see the new things He is doing, and point them in the right direction? Pray that the Lord would give them growth and confidence in their academic life, and speak to them about their walk with Him.
Will you pray for the volunteers and staff that have the joy of loving on these kids every day? Would you pray that we would not stick to old ways, but would eagerly follow the new ways that the Lord is leading us? Would you pray for renewal in the lives of the LIT staff, mentors and kids?
We are currently looking for some more mentors to lock arms with us and lead the leaders that the Lord is raising up in our community. If you are interested in learning more about how to help, contact Megan McDermott (Latino LIT) at
or Kristen Maxwell (Bhutanese LIT) at
.
In other news:
- Congratulations to Jenny & Garett Dunn on the birth of their first child, Rowen Matthew, on Saturday, August 31! He was healthy, weighing 8 pounds, 9 ounces and measuring 20 inches long. Mom and baby are doing great!
- Four of our staff members, six immigrant leaders, and one volunteer will be in New Orleans until Sunday for the CCDA conference. It’s a tremendous opportunity to learn about, and network with others immersed in, Christian community development. Pray for this team to grow together and bring home new vision.
Prayer needs:
- Pray for our Congress as they return from legislative break to sort through important issues like Syria and immigration reform.
- Pray for our LIT program as we kick off over the next week and a half.
Current needs:
- Want to hang out with some fun kids and share Jesús in a meaningful way? We are looking for 3-4 volunteers for our Outreach Bible Study on Thursdays from 6:30-9. Please contact Megan if you are interested atmeganm@missionadelante.org.
- Our Bhutanese Kids Outreach is looking for a few new friends! We are in need of 6-7 mentors to walk with kids at part of our Outreach Bible Study on Tuesday nights from 6:30-9:00pm. If you are interested in learning more please contact Kristen at kristenm@missionadelante.org.
- We need some Rubbermaid-type storage tubs to store clothing in our Resource Center. Please contact Molly at mollym@missionadelante.org if you’d like to help.
Important dates:
- Volunteer Orientation & Training: Saturday, September 21, 9:00-12:30 All volunteers should attend this training once at the beginning of serving with Mission Adelante. It's also a great way for someone to become familiar with Mission Adelante's ministry. If you or someone you know is interested in finding out more about what we do, and about our volunteer opportunities, please plan to attend/encourage him or her to attend this informative training.
- All Volunteer Huddle & Dessert: Monday, September 23, 6:30 p.m. We encourage everyone that will be volunteering with us during our fall trimester to attend so we can prepare for a great launch.
- Fall trimester programs launch: Week of September 23
The Faces of Immigration
Written by Lauren Timberlake
Photos by Molly Merrick
We have recently shared several posts inviting readers to investigate what the Bible says about immigrants and to examine attitudes in the light of those truths. That is hard work, and we thank God so many are taking the time to engage in something that we really care about at Mission Adelante. Today, we’d like to focus on one of the reasons why we care so much. Immigration is not just theology or politics to us-- it is individuals and families, grandmothers and little boys, friends and even co-laborers with us in our efforts towards sharing the message of Jesus. Here are some photos of the immigrants in our community, taken at last week’s trimester-end celebrations. As you scroll, please pray for these people and the community they represent, for their families and their futures, for health and stability, for life and hope.
Ratna, Julie, and Ran walk into the Bhutanese Family Fun Celebration together.
Beth loves on kids as they wait in line for food at the Latino End of Trimester Party.
The youngest group from Kids Adelante lines up together after receiving awards.
Brenda and Tika enjoy creating temporary henna “tattoos” together at the mehndi station.
The program awards are finished, and Krishna and Janelle help get the Nepali dance party started.
Michael earned the pinnacle award for learning all the verses and not missing a day of Kids Adelante this term.
Kids Club friends Sarah, Kabita and Pramoda spend time together as they wait for dinner.
In other news:
- Informational meetings were held on Sunday afternoon for students who are interested in beginning the application process for the Leaders in Training Program for the 2013-2014 school year. Many students attended and have begun the application process!
- More than 90 evangelical leaders from Kansas City gathered on Tuesday to hear from Noel Castellanos, CEO of Christian Community Development Association, about our call to confront injustice for the benefit of our neighbors, specifically, in this case, injustice in the form of out-dated immigration policy. See Fox 4's news coverage of the event.
- We're always grateful for donations to our Resource Center. Please help us out by not leaving donations outside of the Resource Center, or inside or outside of our facility! The weather can make a mess out of them! Please contact Molly at mollym@missionadelante.org to arrange a time to drop-off your donation.
Prayer needs:
- As we reflect on the past trimester and consider the feedback we've received, pray for God to lead us to continue to shape our programs to best serve the needs of immigrants, and to most clearly demonstrate to them the love of Christ.
- Jarrett & Kristen Meek and family's sabbatical is about to conclude, and although we find ourselves increasingly eager to welcome them back to Kansas City this Monday, we know it will be a taxing transition for them. Please pray for the Lord to supply extra energy and patience for them in the coming weeks.
Important dates:
- Bhutanese ESL Volunteer Snacks and Training: Saturday, May 4, 2:00,at Lauren Timberlake’s house. Please consider joining us for fun, prayer and some cultural training as we keep learning how to love the Bhutanese well. Please contact Jenny Dunn at jennyd@missionadelante.org for more details.
- Volunteer Orientation & Training: Saturday, May 18, 9:00-12:30All volunteers should attend this training once at the beginning of serving with Mission Adelante. It's also a great way for someone to become familiar with Mission Adelante's ministry. If you or someone you know is interested in finding out more about what we do, and about our volunteer opportunities, please plan to attend/encourage him or her to attend this informative training.
- All Volunteer Huddle & Dessert: Monday, May 20, 6:30 p.m. We encourage everyone that will be volunteering with us during our summer trimester to attend so we can prepare for a great launch.
- Summer trimester programs launch: Week of May 27
A Direct Line to the Father
Written by Jenny Dunn, Bhutanese ESL Coordinator
At the beginning of the year, I was pretty overwhelmed with the season the my husband Garett and I were entering into. The weekends are among the best times for us to connect with our Bhutanese friends relationally, and it seemed that we would be spending most of them either out of town or working on our house as we try to get it in order for the new baby that will be coming, God-willing, in August. As I began praying about the dilemma, God showed me that this was to be a season of praying for them with expectancy. At first, I thought it would be one of those things that you commit to at the beginning of the year and then forget all about, but God has not let that happen. He has driven me into His Word, brought song lyrics into my mind that express my heart, and instructed me.
During that time, Garett and I were studying Matthew 6 along with other Mission Adelante Bhutanese outreach staff and volunteers. Two nuggets have stuck with me as I've continued to mull over them: First, He is our Father, as we see in Matthew 6 and throughout the New Testament, and second, He is head over the universe and deserves to be honored among all peoples, as Job 38 shows us. Oh, how I long for our immigrant friends to know Him! “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:9-10) Yes, yes, yes! Jon Foreman’s song, Your Love is Strong, emphasizes for me the power of The Lord's Prayer. It finds words for the ache of my heart, not only for the salvation of our friends, but for all peoples.
As I have been talking with God more and praying more for our friends, He has instructed me about ministry. For about six years, Garett and I have been friends with Indian Hindus that we got to know in college. In spite of the experience that gave us relating with culturally similar people, we have continued to learn a ton since being here in KCK with the Bhutanese. One of those things is that we need to err on the side of speaking about Jesus, rather than waiting for our friends bring Him up. Since becoming convicted of that, we have been able to use a situation to tell one of our good Bhutanese friends about Jesus' character. God is good. We thought that we would spend this season semi-absent from our ministry/friends and therefore praying as an alternate activity, but He has shown us that, rather, prayer is the critical work of ministry, and that which will transform the time we spend with our friends and make our conversations intentional.
We pray that prayer becomes even more central to our approach to ministry as God truly is the One who changes hearts and guides us to speak or not to speak.
In other news:
Current needs:
At the beginning of the year, I was pretty overwhelmed with the season the my husband Garett and I were entering into. The weekends are among the best times for us to connect with our Bhutanese friends relationally, and it seemed that we would be spending most of them either out of town or working on our house as we try to get it in order for the new baby that will be coming, God-willing, in August. As I began praying about the dilemma, God showed me that this was to be a season of praying for them with expectancy. At first, I thought it would be one of those things that you commit to at the beginning of the year and then forget all about, but God has not let that happen. He has driven me into His Word, brought song lyrics into my mind that express my heart, and instructed me.
During that time, Garett and I were studying Matthew 6 along with other Mission Adelante Bhutanese outreach staff and volunteers. Two nuggets have stuck with me as I've continued to mull over them: First, He is our Father, as we see in Matthew 6 and throughout the New Testament, and second, He is head over the universe and deserves to be honored among all peoples, as Job 38 shows us. Oh, how I long for our immigrant friends to know Him! “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:9-10) Yes, yes, yes! Jon Foreman’s song, Your Love is Strong, emphasizes for me the power of The Lord's Prayer. It finds words for the ache of my heart, not only for the salvation of our friends, but for all peoples.
As I have been talking with God more and praying more for our friends, He has instructed me about ministry. For about six years, Garett and I have been friends with Indian Hindus that we got to know in college. In spite of the experience that gave us relating with culturally similar people, we have continued to learn a ton since being here in KCK with the Bhutanese. One of those things is that we need to err on the side of speaking about Jesus, rather than waiting for our friends bring Him up. Since becoming convicted of that, we have been able to use a situation to tell one of our good Bhutanese friends about Jesus' character. God is good. We thought that we would spend this season semi-absent from our ministry/friends and therefore praying as an alternate activity, but He has shown us that, rather, prayer is the critical work of ministry, and that which will transform the time we spend with our friends and make our conversations intentional.
We pray that prayer becomes even more central to our approach to ministry as God truly is the One who changes hearts and guides us to speak or not to speak.
In other news:
- Gang intervention specialist Amy Williams will be coming from Chicago to train Mission Adelante volunteers on Saturday, March 16 on understanding and ministering to the fatherless generation. We are eager to gain insight from her experience and wisdom!
Current needs:
- Snacks for the preschoolers at Kids Club, such as Goldfish, animal crackers, cereal, or pretzels. If you are able to supply any, please contact Kristen Maxwell at kristenm@missionadelante.org.
- The Bhutanese and Latino LIT programs would love a generous friend to purchase healthy after-school snacks packaged in single servings for the kids. We would be blessed to receive 2 months worth of snacks. Please contact Megan McDermott at meganm@missionadelante.org.
- Do you have experience as an early elementary school teacher or a reading interventionist, or know someone who does? The Bhutanese LIT program could use a few extra tutors to come on Monday, Wednesday or Thursday afternoons to work individually with students who are struggling with reading. Contact Kristen Maxwell at kristenm@missionadelante.org.
- Five twin beds, two dressers, two kitchen tables, and a living room chair have been requested by families through our Resource Center. If you can donate any of these items, please contact Molly Merrick at mollym@missionadelante.org.
Upcoming dates:
- Bhutanese Kids Ministry Volunteer Dinner: Saturday, February 23 at 6:30
- Bhutanese ESL Volunteer Dinner: March 2 at Lauren Timberlake's house. Please contact Jenny Dunn for more details at jennyd@missionadelante.org
- Observation Days: Tuesdays, March 5 & 12 (Bhutanese)/Thursdays, March 7 & 14 (Latino) 6:30-8:30 Have you wondered what all goes on around here on a typical evening of programming? Here's your opportunity to come and see for yourself!
- Bring-A-Friend Fund-Raiser for Bhutanese Teens Coordinator Hannah Hume: Saturday, March 9 Email Hannah Hume at hannahh@missionadelante.org for more information.
- Training by Amy Williams, Gang Intervention Specialist: Saturday, March 16, 9:00-12:00 at Mission Adelante.
The Power of Prayer
Written by Hannah Hume, Bhutanese Teens Coordinator
Prayer is a big deal. Through it we have access to the most powerful being in existence, the sustainer of all life, and that being has made promises to his people regarding prayer; promises like the one above. Often times though, we struggle to take God at his word. He will do whatever we ask in His name? These types of scriptures may feel too good to be true or feel confusing to us. However, there they are in the Bible, promises Jesus made in His word.
In the time I’ve been with Mission Adelante I have learned a lot about prayer as I have spent more and more time with my Bhutanese friends, both “Yeshu bhakta’s” (Jesus followers) and Hindus. When I visit my friends at their home, they often take me to lay hands on their sick grandmother and pray for her in Jesus’ name. Occasionally a teen girl will ask me to pray for the healing of her broken heart after a breakup with her boyfriend. Sometimes these requests are made by those who follow Jesus but more commonly, the request comes from a member of a Hindu family. They truly believe that Jesus has the power to heal, and He does!
Over and over again friends have reported nonchalantly that the prayers worked and God has healed their relative. For them, this is just the natural outcome of prayer. Many times I am the surprised one. I have so much to learn from my friends about believing in the power of prayer!
Here at Mission Adelante prayer is one of our central values. Each thing we do to make Christ known in Kansas City, KS can only work if God moves. We are dependant on Him, and this drives us to our knees. Please join us in praying for God’s continued movement in our neighborhood, and especially that God’s power, demonstrated through His answers to prayer, would bring Bhutanese to put their trust in Jesus as their Lord.
In other news:
Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name I will do it. John 14:13-14
Prayer is a big deal. Through it we have access to the most powerful being in existence, the sustainer of all life, and that being has made promises to his people regarding prayer; promises like the one above. Often times though, we struggle to take God at his word. He will do whatever we ask in His name? These types of scriptures may feel too good to be true or feel confusing to us. However, there they are in the Bible, promises Jesus made in His word.
In the time I’ve been with Mission Adelante I have learned a lot about prayer as I have spent more and more time with my Bhutanese friends, both “Yeshu bhakta’s” (Jesus followers) and Hindus. When I visit my friends at their home, they often take me to lay hands on their sick grandmother and pray for her in Jesus’ name. Occasionally a teen girl will ask me to pray for the healing of her broken heart after a breakup with her boyfriend. Sometimes these requests are made by those who follow Jesus but more commonly, the request comes from a member of a Hindu family. They truly believe that Jesus has the power to heal, and He does!
Over and over again friends have reported nonchalantly that the prayers worked and God has healed their relative. For them, this is just the natural outcome of prayer. Many times I am the surprised one. I have so much to learn from my friends about believing in the power of prayer!
Here at Mission Adelante prayer is one of our central values. Each thing we do to make Christ known in Kansas City, KS can only work if God moves. We are dependant on Him, and this drives us to our knees. Please join us in praying for God’s continued movement in our neighborhood, and especially that God’s power, demonstrated through His answers to prayer, would bring Bhutanese to put their trust in Jesus as their Lord.
In other news:
- The spring trimester of our Bhutanese and Latino outreaches launched last Thursday with a lot of momentum and we are excited to see immigrants and volunteers develop lasting friendships in the coming weeks.
- The staff from partner church Christ Church visited Mission Adelante yesterday to share a meal with our staff and serve together by preparing welcome food baskets for new refugee families.
- Bhutanese Children's Ministry Director Kristen Maxwell designed the Leaders In Training program for 8-12 year old Bhutanese students to include the preservation of their cultural heritage. For that reason, time is planned for older members of the Bhutanese community to teach the students how to write in Nepali, their native language.
Prayer needs:
- Please pray for the Bhutanese ESL students that have been designated as "class leaders" to take ownership of their tasks this trimester.
- Pray for spiritual hunger to grow among the Bhutanese teenagers.
- We are praising God for the amazing volunteers that lock arms with us to love our community that He has blessed us with for yet another trimester!
- Please pray for God to bring more volunteer drivers to help transport our Bhutanese friends to outreach programs on Tuesday nights.
- One of our Latina friends delivered a still birth last week. Please pray that she will experience God’s comfort.
Current needs:
- Volunteer drivers for Mission Adelante’s Bhutanese Transportation Team! We transport about 150 people to our outreach programs in our two shuttle buses each Tuesday evening, and we need more drivers to serve for two hours a week. Must be 25 years of age or older, NO CDL REQUIRED. For more information, please contact Drew Hammond at drewh@missionadelante.org
- A dining table and chairs for a recently-arrived family from Nepal. If you have one available please contact Drew Hammond at drewh@missionadelante.org.
- Two space heaters for a family without heat in their home. Please contact Molly Merrick at mollym@missionadelante.org if you can donate one.
Important dates:
- Observation Days: Tuesdays, March 5 & 12 (Bhutanese)/Thursdays, March 7 & 14 (Latino) 6:30-8:30 Have you wondered what all goes on around here on a typical evening of programming? Here's your opportunity to come and see for yourself!