memorial missions - may 2013
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Our missions ministry update for May 2013, issued on May 19, 2013 in conjuction with our bi-annual missions Sunday celebration!TRANSCRIPT
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One year later...
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Just one year ago, four representa0ves from Memorial Katy headed off to Kenya with the Trinity Ablaze in Kenya (TAIK) team to help with vision clinics and help people see the light of Christ.
Since then, our congrega0on sent sixteen different individuals, who checked 5,000 people for visual health, shared the Gospel with hundreds of Muslims and non-‐believers, and prayed for thousands of brothers and sisters in Christ. Through our partnership with pastors, evangelists and medical professionals involved with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Kenya (ELCK), people in Kenya regained sight, came to faith, were bap0zed and new outreach efforts gained ground in previously unreached areas.
Recen t l y , ou r l a r ge s t t eam ye t , w i th representa0ves from Memorial Katy, Trinity Sealy, Messiah Boerne and Prince of Peace, Fremont, CA, returned from a significant, if a bit soggy, trip to Kenya. Here is a report from one of our team leaders, Carol Weaver:
"We began the clinic in Oloitokitok with some trepida7on that it was the rainy season… which made the daily breathtaking views of Kilimanjaro and the complete lack of rain all the more wondrous and reinforced that there is a greater power in control! While the favorable weather
allowed the local agricultural harvest to con7nue, it meant fewer visitors to our clinic than in seasons past. However, we s7ll saw over 1,000 people in our five-‐day clinic and were able to spend more quality 7me than before with each individual recipient. Consequently, while we had all the medical miracles of the vision clinic, we were also graced with a dispropor7onate number of Muslim conversions and then Chris7an bap7sms planned for the next week. A truly memorable visit came from a northern Kenyan Chris7an who ques7oned us in depth about modern-‐day false prophets. Later that day, he enhanced our mission and showed glory to God by serving as an ambassador and translator for a unique Muslim woman who spoke only a northern Kenyan language, which no one else present in the clinic knew! Praise God!"
As our partnership con0nues to expand, our work with the ELCK is going to change. We will con0nue to offer vision clinics, but with more inten0onality to star0ng new churches and reaching more people in the area north and east of Oloitokitok, near the border with Tanzania. Just a year aWer our first trip, God is expanding the vision...it’s an exci0ng 0me to be following his call in Kenya!
Is God calling you to come on our next Kenya trip October 3-‐13, 2013? Flip the sheet over to read more about how to get involved with our Kenya Mission Partnership...
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In January we launched four ACTS Communi0es -‐ GPS,Adelphos, La Familia and The Publicans. Each spent the next three months gathering for the first 0me, seZng the vision, agreeing on shared values and commiZng to covenants.
These simple, small enough to care but large enough to dare, faith communi0es are growing in rela0onship to God, one another and their chosen community of blessing. Here’s how each ACTS Community is growing, geZng involved and asking you to come along:
La Familia (“the family,” in Spanish) is a missional community led by Pastor Dimas and other leaders from our Hispanic service. They meet according to their own schedule, contact Pastor Dimas for more informa0on (jimenez.dimas@a`.net).
GPS Gathering with a Purpose, purposeful Sca`ering is led by Nathan Engman, April Ramsey andLinda Lafferty. They’ve met each month and are developing deeper rela0onships with Krause Center Staff and seeking to bless them in the coming year. Contact [email protected].
Adelphos (“brothers and/or sisters,” in Greek) Elizabeth Chitwood & others pray weekly, meet for lunch on occasion and will be serving several
0mes this summer in the Third Ward, star0ng May 25th. Contact [email protected].
The Publicans love Jesus, love others and enjoy a good beer. Mee0ng once a month since January, they will be gathering in members’ homes this summer for brewing demonstra0ons, par0es etc. They are reading through the Gospel Primer, learning more about what the Gospel looks like in their life. Contact [email protected]
Have you gone to an ACTS Community gathering yet? You really should. You will discover you will grow too, in ways you wouldn’t expect, and get to know others who are growing in faith with you -‐ all called by Jesus to love God, care for others & make disciples.
Oct. 3-13
2013$1,600
Pray. Sponsor. Sew.
The next Kenya vision trip we will need 6-8 missionaries to go, and make disciples thru vision clinics.
Your financial commitment for the trip. Memorial will cover the other half.
Other expenditures include clothing, snacks, vaccinations, travel
documentation, fun & souvenirs.
The dead l i ne to tu r n i n your application for the October trip. At this time, a $600 non-refundable deposit is due to secure your spot on the team.
$6,000Our fundraising goal for the next six
months - all proceeds go to trip costs for participants & for supplies. If you’d
like to donate, designate a check to the “Kenya Mission Fund.”
There are multiple ways to be involved. Pray as part of our prayer team, sew eye glass cases, sponsor a child through World Vision. Contact Vicar Ken for more info [email protected]
Late June
ACTS Communities Grow over Spring