The Adventure of the Bhutanese Outreach

Written by David Stetler

The Bhutanese Outreach Pilot Project's first trimester culminated on Saturday with the Spring Party as we celebrated the last 12 weeks. We shared a meal, sang and danced Nepali style, honored the community and lastly, we shared the transforming reality of the life and teachings of Jesus through the parable of the Good Samaritan.

In January the project was launched and since then, it has been such an adventure. Our Kids' Club has proven to be a place of belonging for the Bhutanese 5 to 12 year-olds. They have grown in their respect for others and their knowledge of God. The students in our adult English class have deepened their sense of confidence in their ability to speak and understand English. And lastly, the friendships that have developed through the outreach go beyond our programs and into the lives and homes of the Bhutanese where we get to share the love of Jesus in relationship through both word and deed.

We look forward to the Summer session as we continue to serve, share life and encourage the Bhutanese community here in KCK. Check out the video below...

In other news:
  • We're looking for more volunteers for adults and kids programs in both the Hispanic and Bhutanese outreaches. There are opportunities on weekday mornings, afternoons, and evenings, and you can come on board in early June or mid September. If you want to find out how you could make an eternal impact through Mission Adelante, please e-mail Morgan and let her know your area of interest and availability!
Prayer needs:
  • Many of you know Seth & Andrea Sears and family, who've just completed their first year of missionary life in Costa Rica. Andrea is traveling back to Kansas City today for about a week and a half, following the passing of her grandmother. Please pray for Andrea, for safe travels, and her time with her family, that she'd be comforted and a comfort to her family. Also, pray for Seth and the children during the absence of their wife/mother.
  • The team of twelve will depart a week from Friday for the short-term Missions Trip to Costa Rica. Please pray for the logistics of their travels, for their safety and health, and for their effectiveness in ministry while there.
Current needs:
  • Dining room chairs to help furnish the homes of newly-arrived Bhutanese families. Any quantities of chairs, matching or not, would be appreciated.
  • Toothpaste, dishes, and cooking pans for distribution through the Resource Center.

In Search of Hidden Treasure

written by Jarrett Meek

Almost universally immigrants come to the United States in search of better opportunities for their families. Sometimes they seek greater freedoms. Sometimes they are looking for a better education for themselves or for their children. And most often they hope to find opportunities for economic growth and employment. It's the "American Dream". However, Mission Adelante hopes they find something utterly unexpected; as they explore this new field of opportunity, we hope they stumble onto a hidden treasure.

As around 200 people from the Mission Adelante community came together last Saturday afternoon to celebrate the completion of another exciting trimester, Jesus' parable of the Hidden Treasure was on the top of my mind. A captive audience of immigrants and North American volunteers pondered this critical question, "Have I settled for the American Dream, or have I stumbled onto the Treasure hidden in the field?" For many who were there, Jesus is no more than a tradition, a custom, or a religion. Many heard for the first time that to really know Jesus is to delight in Him as an infinitely valuable treasure.

Our Trimester Parties are always meaningful events. Awards for kids, recognition for volunteers and ESL students, food, games, and music are all part of the festive environment. Seeing our whole community there with friends and family is also extremely satisfying. But, this time I especially enjoyed reflecting on the infinitely valuable Treasure waiting to be found somewhere in the field, covered, and sometimes even hidden by the American Dream many of them came to seek. I pray, and ask you to pray with me that the Lord would guide many of them past what lured them here to something much more permanent and satisfying than a dream.

In other news:
  • The pilot trimester of Bhutanese outreach programs has just wrapped up, with the first party coming up this Saturday. At this important point in the development of a new avenue of ministry, the many North American volunteers are enthusiastic and looking forward to the continuation of building relationships, and the Bhutanese population is excited about calling Mission Adelante home!
  • New carpet was installed in the whole second floor of our facility this week, which will soon serve as our new office space.
Prayer needs:
  • Please join us in praying for Megan McDermott and her parents, Chuck and Maureen. Maureen had a biopsy yesterday of a tumor in her spine. Please pray for them to be filled with peace as they wait for a diagnosis.
  • God seems to be working in the hearts of a family with volatile lives that we've requested prayer for several times before. Please pray for them to follow Him despite the obstacles.
  • Pray for God to prepare the hearts of the 12 individuals that will be traveling to Costa Rica on Mission Adelante's first Mission Training Trip in May. Also, ask God to bring together the remaining logistics for the trip.
Current needs:
  • Do you or someone you know own a printing company? We're looking for the donation of a printing service to print a relatively low volume of newsletters throughout the year. Please contact Morgan with any possibilities.
  • Pasta, kids summer clothing, and a washer and dryer to be given to needy families through our Resource Center.
Upcoming dates:
  • Saturday, April 24 at 5:00: Bhutanese Outreach Spring Party at Mission Adelante.
  • First week of June: Summer trimester begins. Bhutanese and Hispanic outreach programs resume.

Teens Adelante Serves Together...And Plays

Written by David Coon

Teens Adelante had its first team effort towards serving together this past Saturday. I have to say that my expectations were not quite how it turned out to be, which is how I find being a part of God's plan typically goes. The objective was to help Marcia Merrick move the stored items for her ministry to a new storage location, and in the meantime bond with the kids while establishing authority: pretty simple. When asked to, "help move stuff," many of the kids immediately committed to going, which was shocking in itself. And Rachel and Andrew, two wonderful volunteers, were thrilled to spend their Saturday with the teens, along with my wife and I. Everything seemed to be falling perfectly into place. I figured we'd spend all Saturday afternoon moving the items, but I was wrong. I also figured getting the kids to help and be productive would be a lot like herding cats. Again, I was wrong. I was certainly underestimating God's plans in my estimation of the value of this activity.

So, Saturday after lunch I showed up to the loading point with a large borrowed box truck, teeth gritted and ready to go. I pulled up to the warehouse to see one of the girls whizzing by on a random office chair. Apparently, my arrival was just a few minutes too late to establish any sort of real authority. But, I saw something wonderful in the kids. They were having fun, and they were joyful in it! We proceeded to load what turned out to be only eight or ten large items that needed to be moved, and were off to the drop off locations in less than 30 minutes. Each of the stops proved to be a great opportunity for us to do just enough work together and then do something like throw snowballs at each other. Our final stop was the Coon house, so we decided it would be good to spend some time eating pizza and hanging out in the backyard together, as it was a gorgeous day. As we started to spend quality time together, playing soccer in the mud and making s'mores on an open fire, my wife Brooke whispered "hey they're being really good." And I noticed that they were getting along and respecting us, and that they had been all day! We were amazed at how our expectation to have to work at spending time with the kids was completely blown out of the water! It was a joy to simply be with them.

I'm sure we have no idea how much they really watch everything we do, but I do know that simply inviting them to come into our home and be our friends changed their attitudes toward us. The truly beautiful thing, however, was the breath of fresh air (literally) that our time together was. Daniel G. said multiple times that he "liked being there" and didn't want to go home. The truth is, they felt safe and cared for. This is the power of the Kingdom of God and the Holy Spirit living in us. Just one afternoon away from the bondage of gangs and the many other pressures of their age was like a starving family receiving Thanksgiving dinner. The victory of this day was that God planted a seed of hope in their hearts, that they are sons and daughters and the heirs of His Kingdom. The day was supposed to be a group exercise, and I wanted them to feel useful. God's desire was for them to feel loved and to feel welcomed by His Son for who they are. Brooke said " I've never seen Nayeli smile so big. It was joy." All four of us leaders were undoubtedly thinking the same thing as we spent that beautiful Saturday afternoon like a family with nothing to do. I love these kids!

In other news:
  • The kids are studying Creation every Thursday this trimester in the Kids Adelante Outreach Bible Study, while the teens are exploring Jesus' different characteristics in the Teen Bible Study.
  • About 30 people from Westside Family Church's Engage Community visited our KCK neighborhood on Saturday to prayer walk.
  • Jarrett, Juan, and Antoine met again this week for their Trio meeting, as did several other Trios, for spiritual encouragement and study of the Proverbs. Two and a half months into this new discipleship strategy there are nine active Trios.
Prayer needs:
  • Please pray for continued bonding among the teen girls and female Teen Bible Study leaders this Friday at a sleepover.
  • Pray for David Stetler as he gets acquainted with four Bhutanese families that have just arrived in Kansas City. Pray for him to be received by them as a trustworthy new friend.
  • Continue to pray for a strong finish to the year for our Leaders In Training, some of whom are presently enticed by outside activities and considering leaving the program early.
Current needs:
  • Rice and summer clothes, both for distribution to families in need through the Resource Center.
  • Gas grills in good condition. Four of ours were recently stolen, and we routinely use them for Trimester-end Parties and other community building events.
Upcoming dates:
  • Monday, March 15 - Thursday March 18: Spring break. No regularly scheduled Hispanic or Bhutanese ministry programs, with the exception of Spanish Class on Monday evening, which will meet at it's normal time.
  • Saturday, March 27: Adelante Missions Institute presents Officer Jeff Brownlee of the KCKPD for a Saturday Seminar on Gang Awareness and Prevention. For those of you who are involved in working with Kids Adelante or the Bhutanese kids club, we highly recommend this seminar to help you better understand the pressures our kids are surrounded by each day. A continental breakfast will be served, and there will be a $15 fee for participation collected at the door. Please invite whomever you know that would be interested, and RSVP by sending an e-mail to morganh@missionadelante.org.
  • Monday, April 12, 6:30: Volunteer Team Meeting. All current volunteers are strongly encouraged to attend this final meeting of the trimester.

All-Star Volunteer: Brad Gregory

Written by Jarrett Meek and Megan McDermott

Mission Adelante would not be the same without the amazing volunteers who have locked arms with us and answered the call to reach out to a mission field in their own backyard. Because we hold relationships as a core value in our ministry, ongoing, consistent involvement by volunteers is critical to our mission. A couple of statistics will give you a picture of the integral role volunteers play at Mission Adelante. This trimester 113 volunteers are serving in ongoing roles that range from bookkeeper to math tutor to ESL conversation partner. This is a huge increase over last year's average, which was right around 70. And, their relational impact is made greater by the fact that they are serving an average of 3.5 trimesters each, which is just over a year!

Brad Gregory is one all-star volunteer whose passion and commitment are contagious. Brad began serving in the Spring of 2007, just as the Kids Adelante program was beginning to take shape. When you first meet him, you will notice his infectious joy and love for the Lord; and right along with that, his passion and commitment to the kids.

Brad says, "My ultimate hope is that at some point in their life, when they most need it, they're going to reach back and dig down to something they learned at Kids Adelante. And that's going to affect their lives."

Brad works with the oldest kids of the Outreach Bible study with ages ranging from 10-12. This can often times be the most challenging age group because the kids are constantly testing their limits and boundaries. The kids in this group often encounter the harsh reality of life a bit more than the younger ones, because they are old enough to understand what's going on around them. This is why Brad's consistent commitment to the Outreach Bible Study has made such an incredible impact. The kids trust a volunteer more when they see his level of commitment to them. This commitment might be in consistent attendance, supporting the kids when they need advice, teaching about the grace of God, and even conveying the hard truth about sin. Brad Gregory has done all this and much more.

Each Thursday night, Brad dons his fishing cap to transform into, "Uncle Don," the friendly guide who shares a skit with the kids about God's great love for them. Brad has also given much of his free time to work on the Mission Adelante building, he attends the Monday night Spanish class, and he will be joining us for our first ever missions training trip to Costa Rica this May. On top of all this, Brad's great attitude and kind words are an encouragement to everyone on the Mission Adelante team. We are very blessed to have a volunteer like Brad Gregory!
In other news:
  • Our first Adelante Missions Institute Seminar went really well last Saturday with 28 people in attendance. One person reflected that guest speaker Kirk Ogden "guided us through an experience, rather than giving a presentation."
  • A healthy baby girl named Emily was born to a family in our worship community on Sunday afternoon. Please pray for continued good health for her, and a quick recovery for her mom.
  • Mission Adelante staff enjoyed visiting Emmanuel Baptist Church on Sunday morning. The congregation donated stamps and paper goods for us. We're so thankful for EBC's partnership and generosity!
Prayer needs:
  • Pray for Teens Adelante volunteers to have favor with the teens as they begin to spend more intentional time together building trusting relationships.
  • Following a sermon on marriage and divorce last Sunday, please pray for our worship community to rally around one another in support of our marriages.
  • Pray for a strong finish to the year for our Leaders In Training, some of whom are presently enticed by outside activities and considering leaving the program early.
Current needs:
  • A furniture dolly for moving our offices upstairs.
  • Brown paper bags for resource distribution in the Resource Center
Upcoming dates:
  • Monday, March 15 - Thursday March 18: Spring break. No regularly scheduled Hispanic or Bhutanese ministry programs, with the exception of Spanish Class on Monday evening, which will meet at it's normal time.

Character and Cross-cultural Ministry

Saul was a head taller than his peers, but his downfall as a leader was his lack of character. As Israel's first king, Saul seemed to have a promising beginning. His powerful display of leadership in defending the people of Jabesh Gilead against the Ammonties won the support of all of Israel, putting to rest the doubts that some had expressed about his kingship.

However, it wasn't long before Saul's lack of faith, the foundation of true character, was revealed. As pressure mounted and the Philistine forces assembled with superior numbers to fight the Israelites at Gilgal, Saul disobeyed God's command by taking matters into his own hands. "You acted foolishly", Samuel said. "You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people..." (1 Samuel 13:13-14).
In ministry, our faith, our character, and our obedience to Christ are the foundation of our service. In other words, our service to Christ begins to crumble quickly if our hearts are not in submission to our Lord. It is easy to appear strong or spiritual on the outside, but blessing in ministry comes over time with genuine character and faith. Saul learned this the hard way. Relying on his own strength, he felt that he had a better way to do things than the way the Lord had prescribed. Instead, his lack of character brought about the eventual collapse of his reign over Israel. In his place God chose "a man after his own heart."
This weekend Adelante Missions Institute will hold its first Saturday Seminar on the topic of Character and Cross-cultural ministry. Kirk Ogden, Executive Director of South America Mission, will be leading this interactive seminar to challenge and equip Mission Adelante volunteers, supporters and anyone who wishes to come to build their ministry on a solid foundation of faith and character. All are welcome to attend. The Seminar will be held from 9:00-11:30 on Saturday at Mission Adelante. The cost is $15 at the door, and a continental breakfast will be served. Please let us know if you are planning to attend by e-mailing morganh@missionadelante.org.

In other news:
  • A group of twenty-five or so teens and parents from Christ Community Church spent several hours doing projects at our facility on Saturday morning. We're so grateful for groups like theirs that are willing to pitch in to help us keep the building in good condition!
  • Megan McDermott has nailed down the dates for a three-day soccer clinic for neighborhood kids this summer presented by a former professional soccer player and Christian.
  • Megan M. and volunteer Brooke Coon attended a gang awareness and prevention seminar presented by the KCK police department last week. They found it very informative and relevant to the neighborhood in which we minister, and are eager to share their knowledge with our community.
Prayer needs:
  • Praise God with us! Jarrett Meek's neurosurgeon is not recommending surgery following the improvement of Jarrett's symptoms. They will wait and see if the cervical disc extrusion will heal on it's own.
  • Please pray for the preparation and God's provision of funding for our first missions training trip to Costa Rica in May.
  • Pray for immigrant individuals that have recently shared spiritual conversations with Mission Adelante staff. Pray that God would continue to reveal Himself to them.
  • Continue to help us ask God to bring candidates to Mission Adelante for the summer internship.
Current needs:
  • Two vacuums to keep our facility clean.
  • Dishes, silverware, glasses, mugs, serving plates and platters, pitchers, and a colander, now that we have a kitchen in our facility!
  • Brown paper grocery bags for resource distribution. If you're a routine volunteer, would you request "paper" the next time you're at the grocery store, and then bring those bags with you when you come here?
Important dates:
  • Monday, March 15 - Thursday March 18: Spring break. No regularly scheduled Hispanic or Bhutanese ministry programs, with the exception of Spanish Class on Monday evening, which will meet at it's normal time.

Reflections on Friendship with a Bhutanese Refugee


Written by David Stetler

I met Ram about a year ago during a Bhutanese community gathering and since then have become dear friends with him. Ram has helped me understand their culture better, the trials they face and what life as a refugee is like. He has played a major role in helping me organize many of the ministry programs and has been a key leader in the development, growth and unity of his community. Most importantly, he has taught me about friendship, loyalty and trust. I consider Ram a very close friend and I would trust him with anything.

One evening when we were visiting him and his family, his mother, Krishna said to me "Medo chorah", which means "my son". It was such an honor to hear those words from her. She is such a dear lady and she not only calls me her son, but treats me like her son, too. Every time I step foot in their house she serves me cheeya, ahlu and bhaht (tea, potatoes and rice).
Recently Ram wrote the following comments about his experience with Mission Adelante:

"We the newly resettled Bhutanese in KCKS would like to give hearty thankful to ministry since the minitry and volunteers are helping our illitrate community.With the involvement of David and his family member as well as volunteers the hope of our old people to stay in America show the possitive attitude towards life. I am very very happy to see “the smile face” of people who are learning in ESL class."

What an honor and privilege it is to serve these wonderful people, do life with them and build meaningful friendships with them. May they know the love of Jesus as we share our lives with them.

In other news:
  • A family that belongs to our faith community has been without a vehicle for a couple of months, and has therefore been unable to attend worship for that period of time. However, having obtained a working vehicle last week, they were greeted with applause and cheering upon arriving at worship on Sunday! We're so encouraged to see our congregation's sense of community growing.
  • A man that has occasionally come to Bible study and worship over the past couple of years approached Jarrett two weeks ago wondering how to begin a relationship with God! His wife accepted Christ through Mission Adelante about two years ago and has faithfully prayed for him to do the same since that time. On Sunday night he publicly professed his new faith to our worship community!
  • ESL volunteer Jenny Pauley visited her Bhutanese conversation student at home and introduced the family to Jell-o jigglers! Imagine experiencing this unusual food for the very first time as an older child, teenager, or adult!
Prayer needs:
  • Please pray for a couple in our community that has sought us out for marital counseling. It's culturally unusual for a Hispanic couple to seek outside advise, so pray for openness to the council they'll receive.
  • Jarrett Meek has an appointment with a neurosurgeon tomorrow to investigate treatment options for the cervical disc extrusion in his neck. Please continue to pray for healing without surgery.
  • Pray for God to provide job opportunities for Bhutanese refugees.
  • Help us ask God to bring candidates to Mission Adelante for the summer internship.
Current needs:
  • Two vacuums to keep our facility clean.
Important dates:
  • Saturday, February 27, 9:00 - 11:30 a.m.: Adelante Missions Institute presents South America Mission’s Executive Director, Kirk Ogden from South Carolina to lead an interactive workshop on Character and Cross-Cultural Ministry. Kirk will explore the personal, spiritual, and character qualities that are essential for making a lasting impact in a cross-cultural context, as well as the pitfalls that the enemy commonly uses to sideline God’s people. I am convinced that the foundation of our ministry effectiveness lies more in our character than it does in our skills or abilities. So, let’s come together as a team, invite whomever you’d like, and spend some time diving deeper into this important topic. A continental breakfast will be provided. The cost will be $15 per person at the door. Please let us know if you plan to come by replying to morganh@missionadelante.org.
  • Thursday, March 18: Spring break. No morning or evening activities.

Immigrant Kids Pitching in for Haiti

Written by Megan McDermott

I am always amazed at the heart of a child. Children seem to have such a pure heart for those that are less fortunate than themselves. As adults, we often get swept up in the everyday activities of work, family, and many other responsibilities. It often takes something as dramatic and heart breaking as an earthquake to get our attention. The earthquake in Haiti especially affected the children involved in our LIT (Leaders in Training) program. One pre-teen girl, Odalis, approached me right after it happened, asking if we might pray for the families affected by the earthquake. As we prayed, such a purity and love for the people of Haiti rose up out of the kids. It brought tears to the eyes of all the volunteers as children that had so little recognized that the most important thing they could offer was prayer.

Odalis approached me again the next day, expressing that she wanted to really DO something for the victims of the earthquake. We discussed it, and the kids voted in favor of hosting a bake sale and contributing all of the proceeds to World Vision. As last Thursday approached, the LIT kids were anxiously deciding what treats to bring and how much money they might raise. They were hopeful that if many people came, we might raise fifty dollars. The night of the bake sale, there was an excitement in the air during the Outreach Bible Study. The kids were so excited to partake in some cupcakes, chocoflan, cake, cookies, and flan cheesecake! Parents from the community, students from ESL classes, and other children poured through the doors at 8:30. At the end of the night as we counted up the total, we found that due to incredibly generous donations and support from our community, the LIT kids raised $220 dollars! They were extremely excited about the great blessing for the earthquake victims of Haiti that their efforts yielded. I always tell the kids to dream big and that God will provide even more than they can imagine. I am just so proud of their servant-hearts and how they constantly choose to place others before themselves. Thank you to all of the volunteers, parents, and friends that came down to support the bake sale!!

In other news:
  • Eight adults from Mission Adelante will be traveling to Costa Rica in May for an eight-day Missions Training Trip. We'll be taking our ESL program on the road, connecting with the Sears family, and further equipping our volunteer team.
  • Mission Adelante is blessed to be in partnership with a number of local churches. Last Sunday, Christ Community Church hosted our ministry along with their fourteen other local ministry partners in their commitment to local and global missions. We were grateful for the exposure and networking opportunity.
  • Last week was a record week for kids' attendance in both the Hispanic and Bhutanese outreaches. Seventy-one kids came for Teens Adelante and Kids Adelante, combined, and 25 kids came to the Bhutanese kids club, including one boy that had arrived in the United States just three days before!

Prayer needs:

  • An immigrant woman belonging to our faith community is expecting the arrival of a new baby any time now. Please join us in praying for a safe and smooth delivery and a very healthy baby girl!
  • Please continue to pray for the cervical disc extrusion that Jarrett Meek has suffered in his neck. He is feeling some relief from the pain which he credits to prayer, and has an upcoming appointment to learn about treatment options. Please pray that the condition will be healed without surgery.
  • Join us in praising God for several new families that have begun attending our worship services consistently.
  • Please continue to pray with us for a good, long term solution to the dilemma of transporting the Bhutanese population to our outreach programs.

Current needs:

  • A refrigerator for the newly constructed kitchen on the second floor of our facility.
  • Diapers, sizes 3-5, in any size package, for distribution through the Resource Center.

Important dates:

  • Saturday, February 27, 9:00 - 11:30 a.m.: Adelante Missions Institute presents South America Mission’s Executive Director, Kirk Ogden from South Carolina to lead an interactive workshop on Character and Cross-Cultural Ministry. Kirk will explore the personal, spiritual, and character qualities that are essential for making a lasting impact in a cross-cultural context, as well as the pitfalls that the enemy commonly uses to sideline God’s people. I am convinced that the foundation of our ministry effectiveness lies more in our character than it does in our skills or abilities. So, let’s come together as a team, invite whomever you’d like, and spend some time diving deeper into this important topic. A continental breakfast will be provided. The cost will be $15 per person at the door. Please let us know if you plan to come by replying to morganh@missionadelante.org.
  • Thursday, March 18: Spring break. No morning or evening activities.

Teens Adelante Launch

Written by Megan McDermott

Remember when you were a teenager and you struggled with finding a place to belong? Maybe you felt like no one understood you and that you were trapped between being a child and an adult. For many of us, though, if we think back, we realize it was in that vulnerable stage that God reached out to us and loved us right where we were.

Since I began volunteering at Mission Adelante, I have had such a heart for the teens. I’ve watched them struggle through the awkwardness of adolescence and try to find a place where they belong. Although we had a place for them at the Kids Adelante Outreach Bible Study, I could sense that they yearned for something that was all their own. They desired a place where they could form a relationship with God that was driven by their own desire to pursue Him.
This last Wednesday, we launched the Teens Adelante ("Teens Go Forth") Bible Study. It was so incredible to see teens that had outgrown the Outreach Bible Study pursue Teens Adelante with excitement. Eight kids attended the first study and all of them were returners from the Outreach Bible Study. Six volunteers helped lead the teens through worship, recreation, and prayer. I was nervous that the kids might feel shy about sharing their deepest prayer requests. However, my nerves were calmed as I saw them respond to God through the worship and reach out to each other through prayer.
Providing a place for the teens to grow and connect with God has been a dream of mine for over two years. God’s faithfulness, the teens' vulnerability, and the sense of family that was already in place on the first night has allowed me to see that God had planned this place for them to belong before I ever did. Please pray for this new community to grow, be challenged, and flourish as God gives them a place to call their own.
In other news:
  • L.I.T. students will hold a Bake Sale at the Mission Adelante facility this Thursday, February 4 at 8:30 p.m. Proceeds will be donated to World Vision for their earthquake relief effort in Haiti. If you'll be in the neighborhood volunteering that evening, please support their effort!
  • Resource Center volunteers, Anglo and Hispanic alike, have remained faithful to the ministry during the recent months of cold weather. The Resource Center is open every Saturday morning in an detached unheated garage to provide food, baby supplies, clothing, and household items to needy neighborhood families.
  • Three women shared with the worship community Sunday night how meeting in their discipleship Trio is impacting their lives.
Prayer needs:
  • Jarrett Meek has been diagnosed with a cervical disc extrusion in his neck and is exploring treatment options. Please pray that the condition will be healed without surgery.
  • The dilemma of transporting the Bhutanese population to outreach programs is becoming more difficult as the few Bhutanese individuals with Driver's Licenses are getting jobs and becoming unavailable to provide transportation. Please pray with us for a good, long term solution.
  • Please continue to pray for a Hispanic woman in our community who courageously left her job after suffering workplace abuse and sexual harassment over the course of a few years. Pray for God to allow her to find a new job where she'll be respected.
Current needs:
  • A refrigerator for the newly constructed kitchen on the second floor of our facility.
  • Diapers, sizes 3 and 4, for distribution through the Resource Center.
  • Home furnishings and household items for a newlywed Bhutanese couple. They're moving out of their parents' households into a very bare apartment with few of their own belongings. Please contact David Stetler to arrange drop-off.
Upcoming dates:

  • Saturday, February 27, 9:00 a.m.: Adelante Missions Institute presents Kirk Ogden, Director of South American Missions for a seminar on cross-cultural ministry.
  • Thursday, March 18: Spring break. No morning or evening activities.

Servant-Hearted Molly

written by Jarrett Meek

I've known Molly Merrick since she was a child at Heartland Community Church. As she grew into her teenage years she could often be found in the children's ministry classrooms serving as a volunteer. Her heart of service began early and is genuinely the legacy of her servant-hearted mom, Marcia, whom many of you know.

Molly's involvement with Mission Adelante began as a volunteer in the winter of 2008. By Spring she realized that God was fulfilling her heart for missions right here in the immigrant mission field in our own backyard. She moved to our neighborhood and joined our team as a summer intern. Molly's journey continued adelante (forward) through the year, and by January of 2009 she had joined our staff in a more permanent capacity as a ministry aide, on a part-time basis.

As a Ministry Aide Molly has made a significant contribution to our ministry in many ways. Her role includes hands-on help with our Leaders-in-Training program for kids, organizing our Resource Center, and generally helping keep our ship afloat. Molly's love for kids, her heart for helping people in need, and her humble heart to pitch in wherever she may be needed have all found robust expression through her role with Mission Adelante.

As I have observed Molly over the past two years, I has witnessed a young woman who has gained self-confidence, begun to find her wings, and has followed the leading of Jesus to make an impact in the lives of others for His glory. I am proud of Molly and thankful for the way Jesus has called and used her in our our lives and in the lives of those we serve.

In other news:
  • We're in the early stages of planning a knitting and weaving co-op to help the Bhutanese refugee women in our neighborhood begin to generate income for their families.
  • Nineteen volunteers began the lower level of our Spanish class last night with four volunteers continuing to the upper level, and four Hispanic volunteers helped Jarrett teach. We're very excited about so much interest being shown by volunteers in becoming effective at cross-cultural ministry.
  • Leaders-In-Training students and volunteers celebrated accomplishments with two of their own students yesterday: Odalis earned her first "A" on a math test, and Gaby brought three awards to show off that she had received at school including one for academic improvement and two for good citizenship. These kinds of improvements are the gratification that our L.I.T. tutors find so rewarding!
  • L.I.T. students will hold a Bake Sale at the Mission Adelante facility next Thursday, February 4 at 8:30 p.m. Proceeds will be donated to World Vision for their earthquake relief effort in Haiti.
  • The Mission Adelante facility is undergoing significant transformation as all-star volunteer and renovation manager James McClure and his crew of skilled volunteers have spent every Saturday this month here working. Last Saturday kitchen cabinets and counter-tops were installed and doors were hung throughout the second floor.
Prayer needs:
  • Praise God with us for providing a couple of more volunteers for the Thursday morning ESL class at M.E. Pearson Elementary School.
  • Also, praise God for bringing several of the new ESL students to Worship for the first time last Sunday evening.
  • Please pray for a Hispanic woman in our community who courageously left her job after suffering workplace abuse and sexual harassment over the course of a few years. Pray for God to allow her to find a new job where she'll be respected.
  • Megan McDermott is expecting as many as 25 Hispanic teenagers tomorrow evening for the first Teens Adelante meeting. Please pray that they won't be hindered from coming and that they'll find an atmosphere of acceptance and honesty. Also, pray for volunteers to have wisdom, patience, and flexibility.
Current needs:
  • A refrigerator for the newly constructed kitchen on the second floor of our facility.
  • Paper towels
Upcoming dates:
  • Saturday morning, February 27: Adelante Missions Institute presents Kirk Ogden, Director of South American Missions for a seminar on cross-cultural ministry. Look for more details soon!
  • Thursday, March 18: Spring break. No evening activities.

Mission Adelante Launches a New Pilot Project!


Bhutanese Outreach Pilot Launch from Jarrett on Vimeo.

It's not English, and it's definitely not Spanish! Nepali is the language spoken by the Bhutanese refugees that are being relocated to our neighborhood after years of living in refugee camps on the border of India, Nepal, and Bhutan. Mission Adelante has officially begun a pilot project to reach out to this cultural group and to determine if what we do best can be easily reproduced to reach immigrants from other places besides Latin America.

After months of prayer and preparation, a new ministry project was finally born last night at Mission Adelante. A fresh group of volunteers representing five churches has formed under our newest staff member, David Stetler, and last night they launched the Bhutanese version of our English-as-a-second-language and Kids Adelante programs. With about 23 adult participants and as many children, the ministry was instantly viable. A small army of ESL volunteers led by Justin Berger from the Gathering Network and Lauren Timberlake from Hillcrest Covenant Church launched an English program for adults that looks very much like our program for Hispanics. In the other wing of our building, Bhutanese kids with names that we could hardly pronounce demonstrated that kids are kids, by engaging in fun games, skits, songs, and small group activities. David Stetler, Rachel Yeargin, and several more committed volunteers corralled the kids and began to smother them with the love of Christ, something we pray will till the soil of their hearts in preparation for God's word to be planted there.

Although the new programs for the Bhutanese refugees are held on a different night than our programs targeting Latinos, Guadalupe, an Hispanic graduate from our ESL program, was intrigued by this new group of neighbors and showed up to help in the English teaching effort. This melding of cultural groups is something we're not pushing, but cautiously hoping for, recognizing that only God can create the kind of unity that has allowed different churches to serve together, and will someday see people from every tribe, tongue, people and nation worshiping Jesus together in heaven.

As we continue to explore this new opportunity God has opened up to us, we have seen His provision in many ways, including the financial support necessary to hire David Stetler and the volunteer participation needed to run these new programs according to our ministry values. God is also providing solutions to unique challenges associated with this ministry such as transportation for the Bhutanese participants, most of whom do not drive. Please pray with us as we take the next steps on this exciting journey!

In other news:
  • Mission Adelante is planning our first missions training trip to Costa Rica in mid May to further equip volunteers and staff in cross-cultural ministry.
  • Our faith community has met together for Sunday Worship six weeks in a row since transitioning away from in-home small groups. It has been a positive change, as the continuity of gathering all together has allowed the community to become even more tightly-knit. Thanks for helping us pray for this favorable outcome!
Prayer needs:
  • Three Hispanic men from our community and a staff member were able to help a single mother-of-three move in only four hours, without a u-haul. The family has temporarily moved in with relatives while they look for affordable housing. Also, the mother is expecting her fourth child in mid February. Please pray for strength and an extra measure of faith during this stressful season for this woman who has become dear to us.
  • Pray for God to arrange a sustainable solution for transporting Bhutanese adults and children to our outreach programs every Tuesday evening. Very few of the adults of this immigrant population know how to drive.
  • Please pray for God's blessing upon the launch of the Hispanic outreach programs, including adult ESL and Kids Adelante, tomorrow.
  • Financial limitations often keep families from being able to come to worship events. Pray for God to make a way for them to come when they don't think they'll be able.
Current needs:
  • Baby blankets for newly arrived Bhutanese families.
  • A family of five that has been faithfully involved in our worship community for over a year continues to experience transportation problems. Their only car has been broken down for almost two weeks and seems to need extensive repairs that are unaffordable. If you have a used vehicle that you would be able to donate to their family, please contact Jarrett at jarrettm@missionadelante.org.
Upcoming dates:
  • Thursday, January 21: Spring trimester begins, including Adult ESL classes and Kids Adelante
  • Thursday, March 18: Spring break--no ESL classes or Kids Adelante.

The Joy of Being a Child

written by Megan McDermott

When I first began volunteering at Mission Adelante, I was struck by how different the kids were in comparison to others I had worked with. I noticed that although on the surface they were children, there was an edge to each of them. For some that edge came from the responsibility of having to help raise their sisters and brothers at a very young age. For some it was because of the loss of family or friends due to violence or prison. For others, it was simply the environment of the inner city that too often forces the kids to grow up too quickly in order to survive. That is why the trip to Great Wolf Lodge with the LIT (Leaders in Training) kids was such a significant time of joy!

After much anticipation, December 18 came too slowly for many of our kids. Complete with three water slides, a huge water park, Jacuzzis, basket ball hoops in the pool, and a lazy river to float down, Great Wolf was a world away from the “norm” that the kids experience each day. It seemed that for the first time in a long while, I saw the carefree nature of the kids return. They were able to play, laugh, and joke together in a way that I have rarely seen. I think they felt free enough to leave their “edge” at the door and be kids again! I pray that God enables us to continue to provide opportunities to let the children know the joy of being a kid and are allowed the freedom to have a child-like faith.

In other news:
  • We're praising God for His provision for our ministry. Generous year-end giving met our goal and gave us a great boost going into the new year.
  • Last week thieves struck again at Mission Adelante. This time our new security doors and alarm system stopped them in their tracks. However, they were able to get into our garage and get away with some tools and building materials.
  • We saw the greatest turnout of new volunteers yet at our Volunteer Orientation last Saturday morning! This was much in part to the attendance of the whole Bhutanese Outreach Pilot volunteer team.
  • We launched the newest form of our discipleship program, Trios, at the Worship Celebration Sunday evening. Dividing our whole community into groups of three provides the opportunity for more deeper, more personal, and more intentional fellowship.
Prayer needs:
  • The Bhutanese Outreach Pilot Program launched on Tuesday evening with adult English class registration and kids club registration. Please pray for the Lord's guidance and blessing upon this brand new outreach to the Bhutanese refugees that continue to be placed in KCK.
  • Please pray for a strong start to the Trios discipleship strategy. Pray that all our community members would be excited to meet together, as well as consistent.
  • Registration for our Hispanic outreach programs is this evening. Please pray for the Lord to allow to come all those whom He's chosen. Also, please pray for the accommodation of all our volunteers into the correct role as we make final preparations to launch the programs next week.
Current needs:
  • A family of five that has been faithfully involved in our worship community for over a year is experiencing transportation problems. Their only car has been broken down for almost two weeks and seems to need extensive repairs. If you have a used vehicle that you would be able to donate to their family or if you have mechanical expertise and would consider repairing their car, please contact Jarrett at jarrettm@missionadelante.org.
Important upcoming dates:
  • Monday, January 18 at 6:30 p.m. at The Mission: Volunteer Team Meeting.
  • Thursday, January 21: Spring trimester launch--ESL classes and Kids Adelante.

Christmas Party Paradoxes




Mission Adelante's annual Christmas party is one of my favorite events of the year. Last weekend did not disappoint as over 250 people converged on the Bethany Community Center and shared an evening of fun, food, and festivities. It is such an energizing and unique event on so many levels that it is fun to try to describe it in a paragraph or two.

English and Spanish mix to share life and "Convivir". There aren't many places in the world where distinct cultures come together like this for fellowship. The food gives us another paradox: Latin American immigrants forming long lines to fill their plates with Chinese food from a bountiful buffet. Christian unity shines as volunteers from nearly 15 different churches in the city come to play a part in the production or just to be together. Kids who struggle to survive in the dog-eat-dog social context of the urban core sing "Lord I Lift your Name on High" and receive accolades for memorizing Bible verses and demonstrating characteristics like "Servant Heart". And, to add a strange and beautiful twist to the paradoxical event, live Jazz music of the caliber you might expect to hear at an upscale wedding rings through the crowd of poverty-level and below immigrants. And in all of this, the name of Jesus and the miracle of His incarnation is preached.

A special thank you to all who played a part in this beautiful event! What a fitting end to a great ministry trimester!

Morgan Ham: A Faithful Team-Player

written by Jarrett Meek

Morgan and Felipe were looking for a bilingual Pastor to help in their wedding ceremony. By God's providence I had recently arrived from Bolivia and met Felipe who was studying through Heartland's Ministry Apprenticeship Program. So God brought us together in this unlikely way and the Hams became part of the team of volunteers who founded Mission Adelante in 2005.

Morgan began her volunteer tenure with Mission Adelante as our primary level one ESL instructor. Her clear spoken manner of teaching made it easy for students to understand her, and her heart for Hispanic people shone through just as clearly. As Morgan taught that first ESL class around our dining room table, her husband Felipe was in the basement hanging out with a handful of kids who would become the first kids of Kids Adelante.

These days Morgan works in our office 12 hours/week as our Executive Assistant. Her objective way of thinking, her commitment to excellence and her diligent faithfulness make her a highly effective assistant. But her positive attitude, her ownership of our ministry vision and her long-term dedication make her an invaluable member of our staff team. We love Morgan and Felipe and are very thankful for their ministry and friendship as a part of Mission Adelante.

In other news:
  • We're in the early planning stage of a Mission Trip for volunteers to Costa Rica in May 2010. If you're interested, please contact Jarrett.
  • About 30 volunteers from Mill Creek Church, Christ Community Church, and Church of the Resurrection had fun slinging paint at the walls in the Kids Adelante room and the second floor of our building on Saturday. They were a great help and the building keeps looking better and better each step of the way of the renovation.
  • The women of the Mission Adelante community enjoyed an afternoon of fellowship at our Women's Christmas Tea on Saturday afternoon. Jarrett and Jason graciously entertained the kids while the women enjoyed conversation, finger foods, an encouraging message, and a Christmas craft.
  • The two in-home Bible studies both concluded their season of meeting together as small groups with well-attended dinners on Sunday evening. Beginning this Sunday we're transitioning to weekly worship services.
Prayer needs:
  • Pray for a smooth transition to weekly worship services to be held every Sunday evening at the Mission, and that our faith community would become even more tightly-bound through the increased frequency of meeting together.
  • Pray for God to bear fruit through Jarrett and Jason's pursuit of several families that are on the verge of becoming committed members of our community.
  • Please continue to pray for the pregnant mother in our community that is presently facing a myriad of trials. She has become a single mother through events of the past couple of weeks, and desperately needs the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
Current needs:
  • ESL volunteers for morning and evening classes to begin in January. For more information, please contact Jason.
  • L.I.T. volunteers for weekday afternoons beginning in January. For more information, please contact Megan.
Important upcoming dates:
  • Thursday, December 10: Last day of ESL and Kids Adelante. Activities resume Thursday, January 21.
  • Saturday, December 12, 6:00 p.m. @ Bethany Community Center: Christmas Party. Please come and help us celebrate the accomplishments of our ESL, Kids Adelante, and L.I.T. students this trimester and honor volunteers with sustained service. Bethany Community Center is located on Central Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas (66102) between 11th and 12th Streets, behind the fire station.

Reflections on Gang Violence in Our Neighborhood


Last Monday I attended my first funeral in our neighborhood; a 27 year old victim of gang violence. As I listened to the Latino pastor speak words of hope to the family, as I listened to the members of that evangelical congregation consoling the young man's mother, as I caught an uncomfortable glimpse of the lifeless shell of a person left in the casket, I shuddered to think that one day I might be called upon to perform a ceremony in such a painful situation for one of the members of the Mission Adelante community. Lord may it never be!

This kind of situation is not a frequent occurence in our area, but any frequency is too often to accept. And, this time it hit too close to home. The victim's family is very close with a Mission Adelante family whom I accompanied to the funeral.

Gang "tags" or graffiti have been on the rise in our area over the last several months; a sign that the activity is increasing. When the former principle of ME Pearson elementary school came to speak to our staff, he shocked us when he said that recruiting to junior gangs begins as early as third grade and that serious pressure begins in fifth grade as middle school gang members return to their old grade schools to recruit kids they knew the year before.

We're in a battle for the hearts and souls of these kiddos, and it's a high stakes endeavor. I am more aware than ever that we must reach these kids when they're still reachable, before they go to middle school. The volunteers who've been serving in our Kids Adelante and Leaders-in-training ministries are on the front lines of this battle, ministering to kids while they're still "kids". Their efforts are made in the safe context of an established program with kids who will soon be facing the wolves. God, please use us in the lives of these young ones. Draw and call them to yourself now before they are drawn away by violent forces. Protect their hearts and keep them in you for eternity!

In other news:
  • One L.I.T. student that doesn't have a home computer will be chosen to receive a computer that was recently donated to the Mission. It will be a valuable tool for that student while completing homework.
  • The women of our faith community are looking forward a Christmas Tea this Saturday afternoon. While the women enjoy fellowship with one another, the men will be caring for the children!
  • More than half of the 12 L.I.T. students have earned the privilege of a pizza and movie party at Megan McDermott's house this Saturday. The party is a reward for diligently using an agenda to keep track of school assignments during the semester.
Prayer needs:
  • Please continue to pray for strength for the pregnant mother in our community that we described last week. She continues to cope with financial difficulty, the imprisonment of a brother and the serious illness of a sister, and her husband has now become absent from their home as well. Please pray that she will truly receive the Holy Spirit's comfort.
  • Pray for Juan, whom we've known for several years, and who seems to be getting closer and closer to entering into a relationship with Christ.
  • Pray for an ESL student that will soon return to Mexico to complete the required paperwork with the U.S. Consulate there for American residency. Pray for safety while she's away and that the process will be completed as quickly as possible.
Current needs:
  • Diapers, all sizes and any size package, for distribution through our Resource Center.
Upcoming dates:
  • Thursday, December 10: Last day of ESL and Kids Adelante. Activities resume Thursday, January 21.
  • Saturday, December 12, 6:00 p.m. @ Bethany Community Center: Christmas Party. Please come and help us celebrate the accomplishments of our ESL, Kids Adelante, and L.I.T. students this trimester and honor volunteers with sustained service.

Giving Thanks for Jason's Partnership

My friendship with Jason Schoff began back in early 2005 when he and Megan came to our home for dinner to talk about a vision that was emerging in our hearts to launch an urban mission to Hispanic immigrants. We shared stories about each of our experiences as missionaries in Latin American countries, ours in Bolivia and Jason's in Uruguay. The evening ended with the four of us standing together praying for God's vision to be born in us and for His guidance as we walked in territory we had never before known. None of us knew how God would answer those prayers or what Mission Adelante would become four years later.

Since that first meeting Jason has proven himself to be both a faithful friend as well as a competent ministry partner. Beginning as a volunteer during his last year of seminary, Jason and Megan drove to our neighborhood multiple times each week to be part of the early stages of our ministry community. After graduation, Jason began the fundraising process and joined our staff as the Director of English Outreach, a role that focused on running our strategic "English as a Second Language" program, but included much more.

As I reflect upon Jason's impact in the Mission Adelante community over the past four years I think immediately of the breadth of scope and ownership that Jason has in Mission Adelante. He not only sees needs in his own focus area, but also engages across the scope of our ministry. From leading a home-based Bible study and discipling individual men, to overseeing our Resource Center and organizing outings for the men in our community, Jason's impact has been felt in the lives of volunteers, interns, apprentices and of course immigrants.

Of all the qualities that Jason possesses, the one that is likely the most important is his love and dependence on God through prayer. "Prayer walks" in the neighborhood, impromptu prayer sessions before challenging meetings, and a heart-felt sincerity in his prayer-life give evidence to Jason's belief that the critical work of ministry is indeed prayer, especially in an urban context where spiritual enemies are brazenly opposing every effort we make.

As I consider what I am thankful for this season, Jason Schoff's partnership in ministry is one of the most important things. Check our Jason's blog to read updates or to see his recent update video.

In other news:
  • Megan M. and LIT student Nayeli enjoyed their visit to the Teen Bible Study at The Hope Center last week and gleaned good ideas for our own Teen Bible Study, which Megan hopes to begin within the next year. Please join us in praying that God will arrange all the logistics for its launch.
  • The servant team from our faith community met on Sunday morning to plan for some changes and improvements next year.
  • Our four staff members residing in KCK are looking forward to the social time they'll get to share with friends and ministry supporters this Saturday at their Open Houses.
  • Painting Day at Mission Adelante-December 5th from 9am-1pm. We need volunteers! Let us know if you'd like to come!
Prayer needs:
  • Pray for calming of the escalating gang violence in our immediate neighborhood, and for the protection of staff and community members and their families.
  • Please pray for strength for a pregnant mother in our community who is coping with financial difficulty, marital strife, the imprisonment of a brother and serious illness of a sister. Please pray that she will truly receive the Holy Sprit's comfort.
Current needs:
  • Kids winter coats, new or gently used, for distribution through our Resource Center.
  • Brown paper grocery sacks for the resource center. Volunteers: next time you buy groceries, why not ask for "paper" at the checkout and then bring the sacks with you the next time you come to the Mission?
Upcoming dates:
  • Thursday, November 26: Midterm break. Happy Thanksgiving!
  • Monday, November 30, 6:30 p.m.: Volunteer Team Meeting

Thankful for Megan's Ministry

by Jarrett Meek

It didn't take long after meeting Megan McDermott to realize that she had unique gifts, abilities and passions for working with inner-city Latino kids. Her experience as a teacher gave her a good handle on managing kid-dynamics. Her love for Christ served as the source of her love for the kids. And, her study-abroad experiences in Costa Rica had instilled in her a passion for building cross-cultural relationships with Latino people. We soon learned also that another critical element was also present: God's calling.

It came as no surprise to me, as our missionary team went around the circle last weekend mentioning the most impacting things God has done this year in Mission Adelante, that Megan coming on board as the Director of Kids Adelante was at the top of the list. In a very short period of time she has assumed the leadership role in a thriving and dynamic ministry that includes about 60 kids in a weekly outreach Bible study, 12 in a three-day-a-week leadership training program, and employs over 25 volunteers on a weekly basis.

Megan's capacity as a leader has been proven quickly. Her ability to manage multiple programs, relate with kids and their parents, and coordinate the efforts of volunteer teams is very strong. But these abilities only scratch the surface of Megan's impact. Working with inner city kids who are often hard to love requires a special perseverance, patience, and vision; perseverance to stay encouraged in light of ongoing crises and disappointments, patience to wait for God to work in the lives of kids in His timing, and vision to see beyond current circumstances to what these kids could become. Megan possesses all of these qualities, and one more: love for the kids. Even as Megan diligently fulfills her leadership responsibilities, she continues to demonstrate a faithful love for each child as an individual, often taking them out for ice cream for their birthdays and finding other ways to spend special time with them.

The kids, the staff, and the volunteer team of Mission Adelante are very proud of Megan and extremely blessed by her ministry in our community. To read stories and updates from Megan or to check out her recent video update, visit her blog.

In other news:
  • Our annual Missionary Team retreat last weekend was a fruitful time of reflection, evaluation, and brainstorming, especially on the topics of developing close relationships and discipleship within our church community.
  • Jarrett visited the K-State chapter of Ichthus student ministry last Thursday to recruit for our 2010 summer internship.
  • Thanks to generous donations from Christ Community Churches in Leawood and Olathe we have a majority of the winter coats, hats and gloves to meet the needs of neighborhood families this winter.
  • Megan McDermott and 13-year-old Nayeli, an LIT student, will visit the Hope Center tomorrow on the East Side of KC, MO to observe their Teen Bible Study as we consider how to expand Kids Adelante to continue to meet the needs of our growing kids.
Prayer needs:
  • Everardo and Laura are ESL students that visited our Worship Celebration for the first time on Sunday evening. Please pray that the connections they made there will give them a desire to return this week.
  • Join with us in praying that God will stir the hearts of people to engage in the spring trimester as new volunteers, both in the Hispanic and Bhutanese outreaches.
  • Pray for God's direction for David Stetler and his team's strategic planning for the Bhutanese ministry. They will launch their pilot ESL classes and kids ministry in January.
Current needs:
  • Volunteers to spend a couple of hours this week or next week sorting clothes in our Resource Center. Please call Molly Merrick at 913-961-2984 to line up your time.
  • Brown paper grocery bags for resource distribution.
Important upcoming dates:
  • Thursday, November 26: Midterm break. Happy Thanksgiving!
  • Monday, November 30 at 6:30 p.m.: All Volunteer Team Meeting

Halloween in Our Urban Neighborhood

Halloween is not my favorite holiday. But, it is one of my favorite things about living in Kansas City, Kansas. Our neighbors (not our Hispanic ones), go over the top with houses decorated, spooky music blaring into the street, and even live performances in their front yards. Kids come from all over our area and converge to trick-or-treat on 17th Street. It is a unique urban experience that you have to see to believe.

This year all the excitement produced some interesting opportunities among our Mission Adelante families. After meeting as a group at our home, parents and kids took to the streets together to enjoy a beautiful fall evening. Kids ran, asked for candy, sometimes remembered to say thank you, shook in their boots before sinister looking old homes, and had an overall great time being kids. Parents did their best to keep track of their black-clad, sugar-loaded offspring as they ran in and out of crowds of people (we even lost little Felipe Leyva for a while). After about an hour of chaos and over stimulus, the group returned to our home to count their booty and enjoy some dessert together.

Beyond all the hoopla, the highlight of the evening for me came when our group of Hispanic adults and kids stopped for a time at the Stetler home on 17th Street, where a clan of bewildered Bhutanese refugees had gathered to absorb this bizarre cultural experience. We were invited in and got to witness our Hispanic friends trying to interact for the first time with the Bhutanese refugees our ministry is beginning to befriend. As I observed Leticia making a great effort to converse with a Bhutanese lady, I noticed how similar they seemed. Their experience as immigrants unites them. And, I was struck by the fact that their only common language was English. Neither one could speak the native tongue of the other, so they were forced to communicate in English. From this first encounter I couldn't help but think down the road a ways and wonder if someday they would be worshiping Jesus together too.

In other news:
  • Our Resource Center continues to be open each Saturday morning so that neighborhood families in need can choose the donated items that would be useful to them. Molly Merrick is among the various people that staff this avenue of outreach, and one of her favorite aspects of the ministry is blessing each family that comes through by praying for them individually.
  • ESL volunteers are making a huge impact in students' lives this trimester by finding ways to spend time with them outside of class. One attended a birthday party while others have gone out to lunch or dinner together.
Prayer needs:
  • We're taking advantage of the opportunity to talk to the LIT students about sexual purity in a two-part conversation. Please pray for God to grant discernment and wisdom to the adults as they educate and advise the pre-teens.
  • The Missionary team will have a planning retreat this weekend to strategize and prepare for 2010. Please pray for God's guidance for the process.
  • We'll have our November Worship Celebration this Sunday evening. Please pray for current students and their families to have the courage to come for the first time.
Current needs:
  • Brown paper grocery sacks for the resource center. Volunteers: next time you buy groceries, why not ask for "paper" at the checkout and then bring the sacks with you the next time you come to the Mission?
  • Diapers sizes 4 and 5. Even small packages and generic brands are appreciated!
  • Two twin-size matresses to accompany bed frames that have already been donated.
Important upcoming dates:
  • Thursday, November 26: Midterm break. Happy Thanksgiving!
  • Monday, November 30 @ 6:30 p.m.: All Volunteer Meeting

First Steps for the Bhutanese Outreach Project

Last Tuesday evening it was raining and cold; the perfect night to launch a new ministry initiative! David Stetler and about 10 volunteers gathered for the first team meeting of the Bhutanese outreach project team. For those of you who haven't heard, Mission Adelante is launching a pilot outreach to Bhutanese refugees in our target neighborhood. This initiative will not only address the needs of another immigrant group in our area, but will also allow us to test the transferability of our ministry model to other peoples. Read More.

Volunteers from four different churches were present with at least one thing in common; a heart for the Bhutanese. Some have already had some experiences reaching out to them through ESL and other means. While others were there to learn more. This trimester they will focus on observing and learning Mission Adelante's core outreach programs with a plan to launch ESL and Kids programs in January.

In Other News:
  • Jason will travel to Cincinnati tomorrow with staff from The Hope Center attend the annual Christian Community Development Association conference and glean lessons from other urban ministries around the U.S.
  • Mission Adelante is saying, "goodbye" to volunteer Thiago deAgostino as he moves back to his native Brazil this week.
  • We're thankful for a new Kids Adelante volunteer named Adam, who is focusing all of his attention on one of our most at-risk preteen boys.
Prayer needs:
  • Please join us in sustained prayer for a kid named Eduardo who is struggling with a pattern of making detrimental choices.
  • Pray for momentum for our volunteers and participants to continue strong over the mid-trimester hump.
  • Pray for good health for our staff, volunteers, participants, and all families now that we're in the "cold and flu season."
  • We're praising God for the favor he's given Megan McDermott with potential financial supporters and asking for him to give her more of the same as she continues to schedule meetings.
Current needs:
  • Diapers sizes 3,4, and 5--any quantity--for distribution through our Resource Center.
  • Winter clothes, i.e. long-sleeved tops and warm pants, for distribution through our Resource Center.
  • A case of white copy paper for office use.

Fishing for Fishermen

Christ coined the phrase "fishers of men." The very encouragement he gave to his disciples was to cast out their nets, not for actual fish but for men. Too often, men come through our doors for only a trimester before work, sports, or other engagements steal them away from us. Therefore the relational window quickly closes right before our eyes. This past weekend we cast our relational nets out to men in our English classes and our church community.

Thanks to the help of one ESL volunteers, Mike Anderson, we planned a fishing trip to grab hold of these relationships and make the most of them. Fifteen men, kids, and volunteers jumped on a bus with us to a private fishing pond in Spring Hill. Our group spent the bulk of the day there fishing, eating, and enjoying conversation together. We rejoiced in the opportunity to connect with three men from our ESL classes and grow deeper with four men from our Adelante church community.

We literally cast the invitational net weekly to Hispanic men, women and children through serving, sharing life together, and holistic evangelism. However, there are few times that we can leave our neighborhood together and share life. Pray with us that this trip opens the doors for more opportunities to share Christ's story at work in us!

In other news:
  • Alberto and Graciela are committed members of our faith community that are also on their way to becoming American citizens. Jason has begun studying with them weekly for their upcoming American history and civics exam.
  • We have begun to include preteens and teens ages 12 and up in our home-based Bible studies. Until now they had been with the younger kids for our children's ministry. We're excited to see how their participation in the Bible Studies will impact the groups as a whole as well as them individually.
  • Just three weeks into this academic year of Leaders In Training, a strong bond of friendship has formed among the 12 students chosen to participate.
Prayer needs:
  • This Sunday evening our whole community will gather for a worship celebration at our facility. Please pray that the momentum we gathered during late summer will still be evident. Also, we'll invite the new class of ESL students to come, so pray that many will accept our invitation and come.
  • We're concerned about two families in our faith community that have become involved in a business operated by a pyramid model. Please continue to pray that the demands of the business won't draw them away from fellowship with our community.
Current needs:
  • Two flat screen computer monitors. One is for Megan, Kids Adelante Director, because her current monitor flickers off and back on every few seconds. The other is for use by the Leaders In Training students.
  • A sofa and skillets for distribution to families in need through our resource center.