3rd week project planning speaker Dave Swann

 Speaker: Dave Swann

 Project Planning

The first concept that I took out of the lecture was that how planning a project is essential for the success of the project. Dave gave the fundamentals of project planning, and how important it is to have intercessor prayer as the base of the project.  It is about doing God’s plan for that ministry.  Therefore; if we are listening to what God is telling us we will be successful in that ministry.

The second concept that I found revolutionary really made me think. He spoke about how it is making everything about someone else. He also talked about success being not ours but the people that we are ministering. So now I see how things are supposed to work in this field.

The third concept that I found so helpful was how we looked at how important it is to have a goal. After I had this understanding I had so much more hope on how we can make a difference. I saw how having that one goal makes the overwhelming view of need to be tangible. It’s about focusing on God and the one thing he is asking you to do at that time.

What personally challenged me? 

To know that this is possible and to take the steps that God has set out before me. To have the faith to go when he says go, knowing that he is in control. Also most important; is doing it because it’s not about me and what I want, it’s about making it about someone else.

Did I have any unanswered questions?

No not at this time.  I believe that all the questions that I had were answered for this portion of the lecture. As the school goes on there might be question that I might come up as I learn more about building ministries. Our speaker left us with an invitation if we need help to e-mail him anytime.  What a wonderful resource.

Outreach:

We do an outreach on Thursday called Circulo. It is an afterschool program in a poor community. This was my first time there and it was hard to see the homes that they live in. I don’t know if they see a problem with where they live; they may be very content in what they have, because that’s all they know.  I would like to tell you of the children that I worked with, we had about ten 5^th and 6^th graders. The children were so excited about the attention they were given and the schoolwork we helped them with.  After a short teaching we handed out books for them to take home and read for the week and then bring them back. It was like giving them gold, just to see their warm smiles and the appreciation on their faces. I felt like we really made a difference in the children’s day. I am looking forward to going and learning more about them, and building relationships.

2nd week speaker ....Steve Bartel

                                                    Steve Bartel

                                        

                       Topic:    Street Children, Bogata

Main Concepts from the lectures:

There is a difference in a child that is orphaned and one that is fatherless. An orphan is when the parents have died and fatherless is when the father is absent.  What I found interesting was how a child being fatherless is amazingly more difficult, then an orphaned child. Let me explain. First, they sometimes don’t even know who their father is or the father will not even acknowledge the child. This brings rejection and confusion to the child, along with abandonment. On the other hand of the orphaned child, they will have closure knowing that they parents are not coming back, so they will not have that confusion and abandonment. One other interesting fact about the fatherless child is that it is pasted down from generation to generation.  

Here are a few of the questions that Steve had share with us that the fatherless ask….

There are continual questions about the reasons for father’s absence:

• Why did he leave?
• Who is to blame?  Is it I?
• What could I have done better for him not to leave?
• Does he not love us anymore? Am I so bad he doesn’t love me?
• Where is he?
• Does he love another woman? Is he having other children with her?
• What did I do to deserve this?
• Why couldn’t I have a different father?

Why isn’t my father like (names a specific person’s) father

God values family and the importance of a father and mother.  This was a very important concept that Steve had shared. I believe that if we would just follow scripture, and show these children how valuable they are to God. All of the points that he brought were out of the bible. So we can’t miss the message that God is sending about family. I would like to share the notes on this which Steve gave us on this matter.  I hope you find this information helpful to see what God is telling us!!

 Topic:  Biblical basis for family, adoption, and fostering

By Steve Bartel

God places a great importance on the “Husband – Wife – Children” family.

            Design at creation:

God created male and female in His image and likeness. Genesis 1:27

Man shall leave father and mother and shall cleave to his wife; they shall be one flesh.  Genesis 2:24

Both Mother and Father are essential for conception. Genesis 4:1

Mother AND Father are essential for nurturing as well. The norm:  Mother feeds biologically, father feeds financially, both feed spiritually and affectively

            First family:

                        God calls Eve Adam’s “wife.”  Genesis 3:17

Mother bears the children, father supports them. Genesis 3:16; 3:19

God demands accountability from family members for others in the family. Genesis 4:9

            Natural political division of nations:  by language groups and “families.”  Genesis 10:5

            God’s most important covenant until that time: Abraham

Result:  “Families” of the earth shall be blessed   Genesis 28:14

Abraham called “Father” of future descendants and nations Genesis 17:5, Isaiah 51:2

            Honoring father and mother is commanded:

One of ten commandments, reinforced by Paul.  Exodus 20:12, Ephesians 6:2

            Children born to adulterous relationships were cursed in Old Testament

Sons of bastards could not participate freely in Temple worship.  Deuteronomy 23: 2

“Father” is an important concept to God

“Father” is used freely to describe God in his relationship to Jesus  2 Peter 1:17

Jesus and the “Father” are one.  John 10:30

“Father” is used to describe God in His relationship with us.  Matthew 23:9

“Father,” according to Jesus, is God’s favorite title when His disciples address Him in prayer.   Matthew 6:9, Luke 11:12

Taking away a child’s father is a curse against an adversary.  Psalms 109:9

“Children” is an important concept to God

            Children are given by God  Genesis 33:5

Having children a sign of God “remembering” a childless wife. Genesis 30:22

            Children are a reward and a heritage from God.  Psalms 127:3

God’s blessing to Abraham: Descendants shall be like the stars in the sky and as numerous as the sands of the seas. Genesis 22:1

Having children enhanced the position / importance / desirability of a wife towards her husband: Genesis 30:20

The lack of children was

            To bear a child was a deep desire of a childless wife. Genesis 30:1, 1 Samuel 1:10-11

            Being childless as a wife was an object of scorn by other women:  1 Samuel 1:6

Orphans and fatherless were recognized and taken into protective measures by God

            Gleanings were to be given freely to them  Leviticus 19:9

            They were not to be oppressed.  Zechariah 7:10

            Their land, inheritance was not to be taken from them.  Proverbs 23:10

            They were not to be excluded from celebrations and feasts. Deuteronomy 16:14

God places the lonely in families  (Psalm 68:5)

Examples of fostering in the Bible

Moses was fostered by Pharoah’s daughter who delegated the fostering to Jochabed.  Exodus 2:8

Ishmael was, for thirteen years, socially fostered by Sarah, as Hagar was simply considered a “surrogate” mother.  Genesis 16:2

Prince Joash was rescued, hidden, and fostered by Jehosheba and a nanny in the temple for 6 years.  2 Chronicles 22:11

            Examples of adoption in the Bible

Moses was adopted by Pharoah’s daughter  (Note: Moses was most likely circumcised, clearly defining his biological background… and that made no difference to Pharoah or his daughter)  Exodus 2:10, Acts 7:21

Five adopted sons of Michal  2 Samuel 21:8

Esther was adopted by her uncle Mordechai  Esther 2:15

We are adopted by God  Romans 8:15, 23, Galatians 4:5-6, Ephesians 1:5

We have full rights as adopted children to participate as the heirs Galatians 4:7

            Sons / daughters of adulterous relationships were used by God to save his people

Jephthah was shunned by his father’s family but then tapped by them to lead their defense.   Judges 11: 1-2

Jesus considered by many to be from questionable roots due to Mary’s virgin pregnancy.  Matthew 1:19

For more information:  www.Colombiastreetkids.org  Contact:  Streetkids@aol.com

One other concept that I found was very significant was to start a ministry with a deeply rooted spiritual foundation.  This can be a time of being patient and waiting on the Lord. Then with that the rest comes together. One last thing is that God always stays the center of the ministry. I found this information to be very detrimental, to wherever I will be sent.  

I was challenged with some of the stories that Steve shared with us. I guess the realities of the street children really hit me so hard.  I could picture them in my mind seeing these little children ages 4and 5 years old out on their own. I want you to think about this for a moment. A child all dirty and barefoot wondering where is my next piece of food going to come from. Alone at night, afraid of what the darkness brings. They don’t know how to stay warm and who to rely on….. It just blows my mind. But then I remember that God loves these children more than I could ever. He will be the one to help me to walk in the way that I need to, so I will be able to make a difference in their lives. I cannot do this without God he must be the foundation!

Did Steve leave me with any unanswered questions?

No, because of what he taught us about having a strong spiritual foundation is the first step to having a successful ministry.  I came here with that question of how do I start? So with each new speaker and God’s ministering to me, my questions are being answered.

Blessing,

Linda

mission statement

                                 Mission statement

I want to bring hope and love to the girls and boys that are out on the streets.  And share the love of Jesus with them. I want to walk with them through the hard times and give them guidance. I truly believe that God has a plan for each and every child and it should not go unused.

                                 

                                                My Ministry

My ministry would be working with street children and young mothers. I would like to give them a safe place to come. As they come into the program we work with them.  We would have teaching on helping the young mother’s on the care of their babies, and give the street child the love they so desperately need. And I want teach them that if God is the center in their lives they will be able to make it through anything.

 I want to do this because children shouldn’t be on the streets; I want to make a difference in these children’s lives.  To show them God’s love and give a sense of worth. I want them to know the plan that God has for their life.  

What am I doing in Mexico ?

Hello Friends,

I will give you a quick update on the school that I am attending. It is called Children At Risk.  Why did I pick this school ?  Because of  an experience that I had when I went on my outreach to Turkey.  I had visited a group of people called gypsies and was overwhelmed with what  I saw. We had brought some supplies for them, but I felt like it was just a temporary fix.   I wanted to see a transformation in their neighborhoods and I want them to know the love of God.  I asked God ; how can I do this ?  I had know Idea how to start.  In my prayer time the Lord had given me a word.  If I just take one portion at a time we can make a difference.  A week after I got home from my outreach , I believe that God opened this door to the CRS.  Now I am here and it is my first week at the school . I pray that I will grow through this school and that God will bring Revelation, to what he wants me to do to make a difference.  I Thank you all for your prayers !



Blessings,
Linda

This is a link to YWAM page  on the page is a link to the CRS that you can go on  for more information on the school.
http://www.ywamsandiegobaja.org/

Hello From Mexico

Hello everyone,

Today is my second day here in Mexico, and I am doing well. I have a beautiful view of the ocean from where I am staying.  We have a pretty full schedule for the next 12 weeks. Part of our school assignment is to keep a blog, so this works out well. instead of newsletters I will be putting out a blog. Thanks for all your prayers.

Blessings,
Linda