Something totally crazy amazing happened a few days ago. Out of nowhere I received a call from Alfredo Adum straight from Ecuador. You have no idea how crazy awesome this is.
Alfredo was the very first person who came to my cell group in Miami. He faithfully attended my cell group every week even though for the first five or six months he was usually the only person there. I discipled him for a year and then his father in Ecuador asked him to go live there with him for a few years. Alfredo agreed and moved to Ecuador. It was somewhat abrupt, so I wasn't able to get his email or new phone. His mom gave me his email on a scrap of paper, but a few days later I lost it. I had no way to contact his mom because she had moved and had a new phone number. I was so, so bummed.
I never forgot about him and constantly prayed for him every month or so, but I had no way of contacting him. At that time Myspace and Facebook had not yet been created, so that wasn't an option either.
So all of a sudden, out of the blue, I receive a call from a really long, strange number. I answer the phone and it's Alfredo. I couldn't believe my ears. How did he find me?
He told me that he was cleaning his room and he found the letter I wrote to him after his first encounter and a picture of him and I was attached to it. He really felt the need to contact me, so he searched for my brother and I on Facebook. He found us in five minutes and sent messages to the both of us. My brother gave him my cell phone and email and that's how he contacted me.
He told me that when he moved to Ecuador he didn't go to church for over four years because his family didn't go and he couldn't find a good church. However, all along he mantained his relationship with God. And four months ago he found an awesome G12 church. He told me that he's totally back on track with God and He's diving in head first! Hallelujah!!!! He is in a cell group, he's going to an encounter in December, and he's going to get baptized!!! Thank you Jesus!!! You are faithful to complete the work that you have begun!
He is currently majoring in Computer Engineering right now and him and his friend have started their own web design company. So he might create our website for Global Gospel Movement. Praise the Lord!
Monday, October 27, 2008
Global Gospel Movement Update
GGM has been going great. It's moving along slowly, but surely.
We are officially a non-profit organization!!!! We are now officially registered in the State of California, with the Federal Government, and with the IRS. If anyone want to give us a donation it will now be tax-deductible. Praise The Lord!!!! This is the biggest breakthrough that has happened lately.
Gabe Ahn, our youth pastor, really fell in love with the vision and wants to support us in every way possible. He told us that Harvest Rock Church would definitely support GGM and be a spiritual covering over it. He said that he really thought that his dad, Che Ahn, should mentor and help me, which is so awesome because that is exactly what I've been praying for.
Furthermore, Jay Koopman, who is one of the craziest Christians I've ever met in my life found me through Myspace (Thank you myspace). I messaged him back and he ended up being in Malaysia. When he came back to L.A. he called me up and we talked for quite a bit. He is totally psyched about GGM and wants to help us in every way possible. He is currently the youth pastor over 300 Bible colleges around the world. He told me that he is sure that the Dean of the schools could help me start GGM. So we're gonna meet up sometime this week and really talk about it.
Currently, we are praying for God to send us a professional web designer to create our website, which probably has been solved. (See "Alfredo Adum: My first Disciple in Miami")
Our other project is making flyers and brochures for GGM. Through working with The Call I've realized how crucial it is to have flyers. A few times we spoke with pastors about The Call, but we didn't have the flyers yet and they basically said "oh, well, get back to us when you get the flyers." So Brooke and I are going to make the flyers.
Also, we are going to hold a house concert in Camarillo probably on January 1 ro 2 in order to raise funds for GGM. I am praying for other creative ideas to raise funds for GGM.
We are officially a non-profit organization!!!! We are now officially registered in the State of California, with the Federal Government, and with the IRS. If anyone want to give us a donation it will now be tax-deductible. Praise The Lord!!!! This is the biggest breakthrough that has happened lately.
Gabe Ahn, our youth pastor, really fell in love with the vision and wants to support us in every way possible. He told us that Harvest Rock Church would definitely support GGM and be a spiritual covering over it. He said that he really thought that his dad, Che Ahn, should mentor and help me, which is so awesome because that is exactly what I've been praying for.
Furthermore, Jay Koopman, who is one of the craziest Christians I've ever met in my life found me through Myspace (Thank you myspace). I messaged him back and he ended up being in Malaysia. When he came back to L.A. he called me up and we talked for quite a bit. He is totally psyched about GGM and wants to help us in every way possible. He is currently the youth pastor over 300 Bible colleges around the world. He told me that he is sure that the Dean of the schools could help me start GGM. So we're gonna meet up sometime this week and really talk about it.
Currently, we are praying for God to send us a professional web designer to create our website, which probably has been solved. (See "Alfredo Adum: My first Disciple in Miami")
Our other project is making flyers and brochures for GGM. Through working with The Call I've realized how crucial it is to have flyers. A few times we spoke with pastors about The Call, but we didn't have the flyers yet and they basically said "oh, well, get back to us when you get the flyers." So Brooke and I are going to make the flyers.
Also, we are going to hold a house concert in Camarillo probably on January 1 ro 2 in order to raise funds for GGM. I am praying for other creative ideas to raise funds for GGM.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Working for The Call California
We have been working full time for The Call California. Our official titles is "Assistant Director in Ventura County". However, the director, who is Marilyn Noorda, has delegated to us the full responsibility of mobilizing Ventura County to go to The Call. So in reality we have been the directors and I must say that we are honored to work with The Call and it has been a great experience.
We realize that this position was given to us by God and we are humbled and honored to be given such a responsibility. So Brooke and I have been working hard. We have been calling countless churches and handing out flyers to individuals and to churches who are responsive.
We got to preach in the Rio Mesa Bible Club of which I was the President of in 2003. When I was the President it was about forty people and now it is more than 100. Praise God!!! It was such a joy to be able to speak there. I invited them all to The Call and they all took tons of flyers and passed them out in their youth groups and churches. Also, we met an intern from South Coast Fellowship at the club. South Coast is doing some amazing things. They have four full time interns who go to all the Bible clubs in Ventura and Oxnard every week and help support the club financially, preaching there, buying them pizza every week, and training the leaders. It is amazing. So once Julia heard about The Call she told her church and all four of the interns started announcing it to all the Bible Clubs in Ventura and Oxnard! Amazing! And you know what's awesome. South Coast is under the covering of Larry Stockstill and they do D12 (i.e. G12). Praise God! They're rocking their city for Jesus. Pr. Pauline, the youth pastor, also just invited me to speak at their youth group once I finish working for The Call.
Another divine appointment was meeting with Pastor Danny Miller. Pastor Danny personally knows more pastors in Ventura County than any other person in the world really. God has used him to unite the churches of the county. God has also recently told him to run for Ventura County School Board. So Brooke and I have been helping him campaign and he helped us by giving us his entire email list of over 300 pastors in Ventura County. We emailed all of them about The Call and some of them have responded. We also talked with Pastor Danny about Global Gospel Movement and asked him to be one of our Advisors and an elder over us. He completely loved the vision and commited to advising us and helping us in every way he possibly can. He told us that he would do everything he can for us to have open doors to preach in the churches of Ventura County. WOW!
I also preached at the youth group in Jubilee twice, which was totally glorious. The youth were really impacted and it seemed like Andy, the youth pastor, has even been inspired to be more radical with the youth group.
Then it all culminated at the Camarillo Pre-Call Rally. Only about 90 people showed up, but it was so, so powerful that we didn't really care. We had several leaders come from all over the county. We had one strong hour of worship and then a powerful time of intercession for an hour and a half. Brooke helped lead worship and she sang a new song of hers. It was the most powerful song of the night and I'm not being bias. I had the privilege of leading the whole meeting by opening in prayer, leading the intercession, leading the offering, introducing the guest speaker, and closing the meeting. The speaker, Carlos Sarmientos, was totally awesome. I'll write more about him in another blog.
Now we are figuring out all of the carpool arrangements for people in Ventura County who are going to The Call. Brooke and I received an invitation to attend a reception with Lou and Therese Engle the day after The Call. They are inviting all the head mobilizers from around California to thank them for their efforts. That will be awesome. We're really looking forward to that.
We realize that this position was given to us by God and we are humbled and honored to be given such a responsibility. So Brooke and I have been working hard. We have been calling countless churches and handing out flyers to individuals and to churches who are responsive.
We got to preach in the Rio Mesa Bible Club of which I was the President of in 2003. When I was the President it was about forty people and now it is more than 100. Praise God!!! It was such a joy to be able to speak there. I invited them all to The Call and they all took tons of flyers and passed them out in their youth groups and churches. Also, we met an intern from South Coast Fellowship at the club. South Coast is doing some amazing things. They have four full time interns who go to all the Bible clubs in Ventura and Oxnard every week and help support the club financially, preaching there, buying them pizza every week, and training the leaders. It is amazing. So once Julia heard about The Call she told her church and all four of the interns started announcing it to all the Bible Clubs in Ventura and Oxnard! Amazing! And you know what's awesome. South Coast is under the covering of Larry Stockstill and they do D12 (i.e. G12). Praise God! They're rocking their city for Jesus. Pr. Pauline, the youth pastor, also just invited me to speak at their youth group once I finish working for The Call.
Another divine appointment was meeting with Pastor Danny Miller. Pastor Danny personally knows more pastors in Ventura County than any other person in the world really. God has used him to unite the churches of the county. God has also recently told him to run for Ventura County School Board. So Brooke and I have been helping him campaign and he helped us by giving us his entire email list of over 300 pastors in Ventura County. We emailed all of them about The Call and some of them have responded. We also talked with Pastor Danny about Global Gospel Movement and asked him to be one of our Advisors and an elder over us. He completely loved the vision and commited to advising us and helping us in every way he possibly can. He told us that he would do everything he can for us to have open doors to preach in the churches of Ventura County. WOW!
I also preached at the youth group in Jubilee twice, which was totally glorious. The youth were really impacted and it seemed like Andy, the youth pastor, has even been inspired to be more radical with the youth group.
Then it all culminated at the Camarillo Pre-Call Rally. Only about 90 people showed up, but it was so, so powerful that we didn't really care. We had several leaders come from all over the county. We had one strong hour of worship and then a powerful time of intercession for an hour and a half. Brooke helped lead worship and she sang a new song of hers. It was the most powerful song of the night and I'm not being bias. I had the privilege of leading the whole meeting by opening in prayer, leading the intercession, leading the offering, introducing the guest speaker, and closing the meeting. The speaker, Carlos Sarmientos, was totally awesome. I'll write more about him in another blog.
Now we are figuring out all of the carpool arrangements for people in Ventura County who are going to The Call. Brooke and I received an invitation to attend a reception with Lou and Therese Engle the day after The Call. They are inviting all the head mobilizers from around California to thank them for their efforts. That will be awesome. We're really looking forward to that.
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