Newsletter - Kelowna Christian Center
Transcription
Newsletter - Kelowna Christian Center
2016 The movement for change begins with YOU the missions ministry of Kelowna Christian Center “ The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. 1 2 He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord’s favor has come, and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies. 3 To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory. 4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins, repairing cities destroyed long ago. They will revive them, though they have been deserted for many generations. ~ Isaiah 61 2 ” TABLE OF CONTENTS Message from our Leaders Our Missions Committee Finances and Budget BBB World Map 4 4 27 28 PROJECTS Local Initiatives Mexico Kenya Asia Israel Projects in Progress PARTNERS 6 8 12 16 19 26 Ethnos Ministries New Manna Ministries Education YWAM Partners Extended Church Family 18 20 21 24 26 3 MESSAGE FROM OUR LEADERS The Apostolic Founder “It’s all about people!”: Building Beyond Borders is KCCS’ mission program, and it is all about God, through His people, loving on people! God has given us a mandate to cross borders with the message of God’s grace: He promised us that “[our] offspring shall be known among the nations…” (Isa 61: 9). This call to border cross – to bring the grace of God to those beyond – has taken our Christian community to nations on every continent in our world. Border crossing is our DNA. The Father said to Jesus: “Ask of me, and I shall give you the heathen for your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession” (Ps 2:8). Jesus received authority over the nations, and has given the Church the responsibility to go, preach, baptize and disciple in His Name. For many the Great Commission (Matt 28:19-20) has become the Great Omission and mission giving has been severely diminished. However, John wrote about a time when the Lord would take the sickle and harvest the souls of the earth: “He who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested” (Rev 14:16). This is now! Building Beyond Borders has to do with a mission mind-set. Thinking defines us - not our gifting, our education or intelligence, not our friends or resources - but the way we think. To do what we are being asked to do requires a capacity to think and give beyond ourselves and to cross borders of impossibility. In Luke 15 Jesus spoke about the shepherd who lost one sheep, the woman who lost one coin, and the father who lost one son. The point Christ was making to the Jews was clear: you will leave the 99 sheep in the fold to search for an important possession; you will turn the house upside down seeking lost money; but isn’t a lost son (people) of infinite worth? The search for all was successful, followed by a hearty celebration. Celebrating finding lost sons and daughters is what we are all about, at home and abroad. I’m asking every believer associated with KCCS to participate in the missional purposes God has placed upon our hearts. I sincerely believe that God will bring to us as much financial resources as He can trust will flow through us as an investment in His cause of loving people. OUR MISSIONS COMMITTEE The Missions Committee meets once a month as needed to report on and discuss the direction of our missions endeavors, follow up on the finances, and plan and strategize for further global impact. We are excited to welcome Niki Neden and Albana Nicka to the Missions Committee team this year. And also excited to announce Johanna Martz will be joining our Administration team. 4 David Kalamen Founder Ed Berk Director Clint & Dianne Eccles Mexico Rep Ryan & Judy Sawatzky Asia Rep The Missions Director The Bible tells us amazing stories of desperate people that encounter massive life change after meeting someone that demonstrates love and a willingness to help. This love comes from the heart of God Himself moving through men and women like you that want to make a difference. Today the stories continue. Love moving through willing people changes lives and sets people free. Love lightens the load, love removes judgment, and love goes into action. Love believes, it hopes and it acts. Building Beyond Borders is a collaborative effort of people that really care and really love. It is an organization with passion, ideas, a heart to give and courage to go. Like the Bible, Building Beyond Borders is telling stories of real lives that are changed and touched by your generosity. As you read through the pages and look at the pictures you will see a smorgasbord of stories of lives changed. BBB has 10 family homes in Kenya, helps feed and educate 200 children in Tanzania, and provides medical aid in Kitale, Pokot and Turkana. It has helped build 3 churches in Mexico that impact Fred & Val Ilyin Committee Members Sera Dekoning Administration Heidi Reid Committee Member their own communities. It helps translate the Bible in a Mixtec dialect; it is engaged in leadership and community development in many nations. Your partnership has enabled us to feed and help persecuted people in Israel, teach and train in Vietnam and Thailand, grow food in Asia and Africa. BBB is involved in bringing online education to several nations in the world, and sending high school kids into some of these nations to experience another culture and learn firsthand how to make a difference. Your support also helps fight addiction, homelessness and tops up groceries in our own community of Kelowna. Our prayer is that you will be encouraged and that these stories will inspire you to pray, connect, give and go. Ed Berk, Missions Director “ For God so loved the world, that He gave… Niki Neden Committee Member ~ John Albana Nicka Committee Member ” Johanna Martz Administration 5 Local Initiatives Serving our Community Rutland Community Food Center One of the present expressions of localized missions within KCC is represented by the volunteers and services at the Rutland Community Food Center. Hosted in the lobby, a group of highly-committed and mercy-motivated volunteers create a “come as you are” environment for our community to enjoy an atmosphere filled with laughter, coffee, friendly faces, table talk, a hot, comforting meal and a monthly “top up” to their pantry. On a regular basis, our services are given to people experiencing financial or health difficulties, mentally challenging situations or social conflicts. Following the model at KCC, “Where People Belong”, our Rutland neighbours, no matter their history or current life situation are regularly embraced and loved and welcomed. As we have developed relationships within the community, many of our neighbours join us just for the fellowship and express that they miss the connection over the winter and summer breaks. These connections have given us the opportunity to impart another of our values, “Jesus Matters”, where we believe a powerful experience with Jesus and His Message 6 can change a life in a moment. Our team is never shy about introducing Jesus into any conversation or challenge. Many tears have been shed and numerous lives have been eternally impacted and transformed as Jesus has made His home in hearts. Our mission is to not only feed the belly, but warm the heart with Jesus’ love and acceptance. As we were embraced and forgiven by God, that same Spirit allows us to embrace and forgive others. Thank you for continuing your support of this ministry in KCC. We are Blessed! Teen Challenge Okanagan Mark DeKoning is the Center Director for the Okanagan Men’s Center of Adult and Teen Challenge of British Columbia. He has been a part of the ministry there for the last 8.5 years. The OMC is a 23 bed facility on Glenmore road in Lake Country. The ATC program is a residential 12 month discipleship program for those struggling with life controlling addictions. Teen Challenge strives to take a holistic, disciplined, Christ- Centered approach to recovery where prayer is the cornerstone of their ministry and Jesus is the program. Teen Challenge is a low cost high success Center where students can stay for free. Global Teen Challenge has been operating for the last 58 years, now with over 1100 centers in over 100 different countries and 25,000 beds. The world health Organization estimates there are still 370 million addicts worldwide. Teen Challenge would like to thank KCC for their continued support as we continue to make addiction history in our community. Kelowna’s Gospel Mission Sheldon Woodcock started serving the Kelowna Gospel Mission a number of years ago in the kitchen. Over the past 4 ½ years he has been serving on the Board of Directors for KGM. Kelowna Gospel Missions is one of the longest ministries working in Kelowna to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless and help the hurting. They provide assistance to all. KGM will minister to the whole person, spirit, soul and body by sharing Jesus with a servant’s heart. Here are a few things that they do; Kelowna Gospel Mission provides more than 25,000 nights of shelter per year and serves over 150,000 meals per year. They provide recovery programs for men, transitional housing for women, steps from emergency shelter to a new life and a journey away from homelessness. They provide haircuts, emergency dental care, and an ear to hear the stories of people that come. Gideon’s Canada Pat Guerra has a passion to see people impacted by the love of God right here in Kelowna. As an Outreach Director for Gideon’s Canada he is instrumental in getting the Gospel into the hands of countless people that he encounters on the streets of Kelowna, in City Park and other venues like the Wellness Fair held annually at Parkinson Recreation Center. Pat also is a coordinator of Life Chain for the Kelowna Right to Life Society here in the city. Pray for Pat as he engages people daily with the love of God and the message of salvation. 7 Mexico Building Relationships Clint & Dianne Eccles Clint and Dianne connected with the work of KCC soon after its inception in 1982, serving on the eldership and pastoral teams at KCC and LCLC. Clint’s strengths lie in finances and administration abilities while Dianne's passion is pastoral and healing prayer. Serving on the Missions Committee with a heart for Mexico has been a delight for them! Isaiah 61 is their continued focus: to nurture, equip, empower and liberate Gods people, in order to advance His Kingdom. Reading through last years mission magazine overwhelms our hearts to see what has transpired in one year in Mexico. Zicatela Church To Pastor David Kalamen and family, Clint and Dianne Eccles, and the KCC family; Praise the Lord for your lives! We, here in Zicatela, have been through a lot in these past few years and it has been a tremendous blessing to us to have a family in Christ who has supported us through it all. We couldn’t have done it without all of your support! As you all know through the report of brother Clint we have a beautiful new church building! Your financial support has made it possible along with a great church body here, we have worked together to make it possible. The faith placed in us has not been in vane as we have made it a commitment to finish the good work along with our family in Canada. We are now working an all the details, windows, doors, etc and are glad to report there are new families joining us in the congregation every week!! God is Good!!! It was a special treat to spend time with Carleen this year and we are declaring that it will not be the last time!! We love you all and once again, Thank You and may God Bless you abundantly! Pastor Salvador Martinez S. and family, P. Jose Ramirez D. and family and P. Felix Dominguez P. and family 8 Zicatela Church Building The focus for Zicatela was to begin building a new sanctuary on the property purchased by our Canadian family at KCC last year. Space was needed for the numbers of people now attending Zicatela church. The land was prepared and work had started on the building when we first arrived in Puerto Escondido this year, January 1 st. Pastor Salvador, along with Clint, fast became a daily “driving force”, encouraging all work on the project to “press on to finish the goal”, which was to have the building usable by February’s Convention this year. Many workers, volunteers, young people and an electrician (who Clint is convinced is an “angel”), worked tirelessly day and night to complete the goal. To watch the daunting task of putting on the steel roof, took one’s breath away. Especially as one person was welding and another person stood behind him pouring water on the palapa (straw) roof next to the one being built! The concrete floor was started on the Friday, two days before the Conference date and was miraculously finished and usable by the Sunday morning. At one time we counted 35 guys mixing and pouring cement. By Sunday morning the entrance and altar were beautifully decorated and inviting for the grand opening. Chairs and tables were rented. Five hundred and fifty people celebrated in a new and even “cool” (without fans) sanctuary! Pastor Dave and Carleen joined in the celebration with Pastor Dave giving a solid word on the Cross of Christ. About 15 people responded, giving their hearts to the Lord! We ended the day with a delicious beef BBQ (which someone in the congregation donated and cooked – one whole cow). Looking at the last years photos of the team standing together on the empty lot and this year seeing the dream come into focus, floods our hearts with great gratitude! We are overwhelmed with the generous support from our Canadian family. The new sanctuary frees up the other building for much needed space for Sunday School, baby rooms, counseling offices and young peoples meetings. This is indeed a wonderful gift for the “next generation”. There still remains detail work to be done to complete the building project, but for now we say “Thank You” for your support and faithfulness. We will keep you all updated! Cement Day Blessings and gratitude, Clint & Dianne 550 people attended the Conference 9 Growing the Church San Pedro Church A word of thanks to Pastor David and his wife Carleen, Clint and Dianne and all in the church family of KCC for the support we have received from all. The financial support given has helped build new classrooms for the Sunday school and a new kitchen area. A special word of thanks to Pastor David and the Word he brings as it is a blessing to our congregation. Thanks also to our sister churches in Pinotepa and Zicatela as you are a huge blessing! We send our love and a brotherly hug from all here to our family in Canada and once again thank you for all of your support! Pastor Roberto Rios and family Pinotepa Church Dear Clint, Dianne and KCC, We are so grateful for the annual visit by Pastor David, as always it has been a blessing to all of us in the congregation. I am grateful for the counseling and the individual time he spent with my wife and I this year. We want to share with all there in Canada that we have purchased the property next to the church, laying down a down payment and finalizing the purchase in monthly payments. We thank KCC for the financial support we have received, and want you all to know it was used on the purchase of the new property. We are in the final decision process with the association and will be communicating our decision as soon as we make it. Please receive our most sincere and heartfelt gratitude on behalf of all here in Pinotepa Christian Center. Pastor Bismarck Martinez Silva and family 10 Inside the San Pedro Church The San Pedro church has grown to about 100 people (plus 30-40 children), as a mission outreach has connected with Pastor Rio. The old structure that once housed the Sunday San Pedro Church Property - Pastor Rio’s School and kitchen has house, the Church, and the new buildings been removed, leaving a beautiful vista (view) of the mountains. A new structure is being built for the Sunday School, kitchen and a new bathroom. The sanctuary has been beautified with paint and new tile. It was a joy to visit and have Pastor Rio lead the worship with his accordion! There is a spirit of joy and anticipation alive in San Pedro! We also visited Pinotepa church, meeting with the leadership and having Pastor Dave do some leadership training. The church building there is underway, slowly progressing. In order to secure the entrance to the property, a piece of land was purchased by the congregation in Pinotepa. This has delayed work on the sanctuary which needs a roof and other work in order to finish. The land purchased is being paid monthly with little interest. Please pray a way would open up financially for us to help in the completion of this church. Pastor Bismark and family have been faithful and committed to the oversight of KCC. There is a wonderful spirit of gratitude and honor displayed with each visit to Pinotepa. A feeling of family is developing between the three churches in Mexico. The pastors meet regularly to support and encourage one another. We are grateful and blessed to be part of our growing, healthy church family in Mexico. With grateful hearts, Clint & Dianne Pinotepa Church The fields are ripe, it’s harvest time. Wycliffe Bible Translation in Mexico Kevin, Laurel & the Family We serve with Wycliffe Bible Translators and are part of the Ixtayutla Mixtec Bible translation project in Oaxaca, Mexico. Our Gabrielle , Kevin, Kyle, Laurel, Daniela vision is to see Mixtec lives transformed by the Word of God translated into the language that speaks to their hearts. While we are in Canada, a team of Mixtec translators continues drafting Scripture into Mixtec and Kevin makes periodic trips to Mexico to work with them. Kevin continues to focus on his dissertation on the Mixtec tone system which he hopes to complete by this fall. Please pray for him as he works on this and as he heads to Mexico again this May to work with the team. We have seen a lot of progress in 2015. The team worked incredibly hard, completing drafts of John (879 verses), 1 & 2 Thessalonians, Titus and most of Mark—this means that just over 50% of the New Testament is now drafted! Pastor Miguel, along with Fransisco and Andres attended an exegesis workshop on their own in November. This was another step towards greater independence and ownership of the Bible translation project and honing their translation skills so they can do better first drafts of Scripture. Progress not withstanding difficulties, with the satellite internet connection have continued to make communication with the team difficult. However, several team members now have cell phones, which has made communication with the team easier. Another setback in the New Year has been that two of the team members underwent eye surgery and have had to take time off from computer work. We are thankful that God made a way for them to receive this much needed treatment, but are concerned that Primo’s eyes have not recovered yet. As we look ahead this year, there are some major goals we’d like to accomplish. As already mentioned, a big one is for Kevin to finish his dissertation. We also would like to publish a booklet of Genesis 1–11 so that the church can have this available to them. We are hoping that the translation team will be able to finish the first draft of Mark and James, and move on to draft Matthew and perhaps even 1 & 2 Timothy! To help make this happen, we are asking God to help us fix the Internet, help Kevin with his dissertation and help us find people to do Spanish back-translations of the Genesis 1–11 translation (for use by a translation consultant). God Speaks Mixtec English back-translation: God loved so much the people that are on the earth, and he has only one son, and he gave him so that all people who are going to believe in him will not be lost, because they will obtain life that will not end. 11 Kenya Caring for widows and orphans Children’s Homes In the spring of 2014 we placed all our kids into family homes. The children that were placed with their own relatives of some sort, we refer to as our Family Homes. The other children, we found families who would adopt them. We refer to these homes as our Family Forever Homes. We currently have six Family Homes and six Family Forever Homes. In both Homes we provide for the child’s education, and approximately 80% of the additional cost of raising a child. The kids still tell us it is the happiest they have ever been. Our oldest boy Morgan, recently completed his 1st year of medical school with some top marks. Another of our older boys will be starting college in May, studying Plant Management. Family Forever Home We have two girls who just graduated high school, and are presently taking computer courses. We have also been sponsoring a boy and his Grandmother, until the family receives a government pension, due to the boys’ father being murdered while on duty. We are covering the final two years of high school for a young orphan who lives in the slums. And we recently committed to cover 2016 school fees for two primary students just rescued off the streets. 12 A Sponsorship Story Morgan, one of our older boys has just completed his first year of medical school, with some top grades. The training in schools here is not so much theory as it is practical. He was helping with deliveries in his third week and then by himself in the fifth. The district hospital in Kitale is manned mostly by students. Morgan is often in charge at night of an entire ward of fifty patients. I have seen him come home deeply despaired many times, due to the number of preventable deaths. Last month the hospital ran out of gauze, and they often experience a shortage of gloves. Morgan is a double orphan, but his uncle tells me that Morgan was the first in his family to graduate, let alone enter medical school. Since we could not afford to board him, he lived with us this past year (a learning experience for all of us ;-)) Morgan helps in our Medical Clinic when his schedule permits, and his favorite activity is accompanying us on our Medical Outreaches, where he can practice and learn more about medicine, and proudly exhibit his new found proficiency in archery as we compete against the rural warriors. For more information on Sponsoring a Child visit www.buildingbeyondborderskenya.com Gideon & David Without the commitment of these two men and their wives, we would still be overwhelmed trying to understand Kenyan culture, and nowhere as successful. And believe me, we have all had our share of setbacks, mistakes and challenges. They both continue to grow and develop in their scope of work, Gideon with the children, and David at the clinic. Gideon & Saida David & Eunice 13 Dust Bins and Mommas I have never Mariam – a momma we involved myself gave a microloan to. We back into the have been treating her for dustbins since three years, she had AIDS but there is no longer any being asked to trace of it. Her last CD4 leave; even count was up at 580. We though have seen her grow from having been a weak and | downtrodden women, to a healthy, asked to come vibrant and successful back. However, business women. we are still in good relationship with the street boys, through the clinic and our activities in the slums. We do visit the HIV mommas, one of who we gave a micro loan to and she is prospering, got a nice place, and is so healthy. The missionaries presently visiting, would like to help an additional eight more mommas. One of them, a grandmother with seven kids, which we helped establish three of her youngest into baby and preschool, where they get a lunch before going home. Larry & Francine Carruthers Larry and Francine have been involved with KCC for over twenty years, serving in many areas of church activities, primarily focused in ministries that involve evangelism and hospitality. Larry has led the missions committee for years and is also on the board of KCC. Today Francine and Larry are our East African Representatives. Reflecting on the past six years they have been living in Kitale, Kenya Larry says, we have seen amazing progress (by the Grace and favor of God) and there is an unlimited amount of good that yet lies ahead of us. The Bible says that “a man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.” As we have been following our hearts to help the poor and oppressed, the Lord has been faithful to guide us into what I feel has been the best use of our time, resources, and most of all, the changes to the lives of many for their own wellbeing and to the Glory of God. We are so grateful and happy to be representatives of Christ, but also of KCC and all those who sacrificially contribute to our work. 14 Churches Love Explosion Center The Kitale Christian Center, continues to grow at snails pace, but Pastor Gideon is happy knowing where his 12 kids are attending church. KCC is a self supported church, and I am happy to allow him to oversee the church as he sees fit. Last October a bunch of street boys initiated a church service in the slums, and when we returned from our visit to KCC, we were invited to come. Francine and I have continued to attend the “Love Explosion Center” in the slums, we find ourselves right at home there. We consider ourselves members and not pastoral leaders, (although I preach bi-weekly). There is another local pastor who has helped them take ownership for their church. I love it!! Elimlim Medical Clinic This past year the Lord has continued to grow the clinic. Even though the local authorities were threatening to throw us in jail if we did not get licensed, I still feel it was by God’s grace and favor that we were able to comply. For the record, we have not received our licence yet. We have jumped through all the hoops for the past year, and have pleased the most important offices in the county and in Nairobi, but a few other local offices don’t want us to be recognised and have their say. These ones are only looking for a bribe, and to lend our ears for a couple hours while they spew their rhetoric. We will just wait them out for a little while. However, we have hired a local doctor and nurse, we also doubled the size of the clinic, all to come into compliance. We have been given lots of grace from some of the inspectors because we are (I think) the only non profit clinic around. Bad case of Chicken Pox Francine has built an amazing team, and the atmosphere at the clinic is joyful, where our patients receive the dignity and respect they deserve. We treat about 350 medical patients each month, and provide glasses for another 60 some patients. As of this week we are now able to test for malaria. Medical Outreaches We have continued ministering into the remote areas, coupling up with other ministries who have church plants in the area. Our largest and most remote outreach (8 hrs of 4x4) saw us treating five hundred patients, and de-worming the entire village. Fungus Malaria Test 15 Asia is Waiting on You Asia Equipping Leaders Pastor David Kalamen Pastor David, as Founder of KCCS, has ministered in over 25 nations during the course of his leadership. His apostolic call (Romans 1:5 AMP) creates highways to the nations for next generational influence (Isa 62:10 AMP). As a mission broker, he connects leaders, organizations and projects to accomplish initiatives that are aligned to KCC's strategic interests. As a member of Building Beyond Borders, he provides leadership to the Asian theatre. He is a member of the Board of Governors for Master's Theological Institute in Vietnam, and has expanded leadership training to eight different regions through digital education. He fathers the team at Hallelujah Ministries, an International House of Prayer located in Hong Kong's North Point harbour. He works with churches and ministries in Mexico, China and Taiwan, in leadership, transformational kingdom business and educational training. 16 Taiwan 2014-2015 was a significant year on many fronts. A meeting with Taiwan’s Vice-President about the national advancement of Christian Education and ESL access to a public school resulted in success. New Taipei Municipal Zhong-Zheng Junior High School, one of the larg- Grace Christian Center leadership Team est middle schools, signed on for a pilot ESL program with children under Principle Lu. The success of the program is being evaluated for next year, and possible expansion to other grades and schools. Note that ESL has a values based, Christian cultured, and life education format. Pastor Michelle Liu has requested apostolic and organizational covering for the church in Taipei, Taiwan, from KCC and has renamed their church, Grace Christian Center. These brothers and sisters are now part of our Global Christian Center family. Many Christian leaders in Taiwan continue to visit and contact us about bringing our full International Christian On-line School (ICOS) program to the island for the Christian community. Our school here is aggressively processing our application for International accreditation. I am confident that shortly this will happen and a nation’s children will be trained and mobilized with a Christian worldview and given a spiritual intelligence to strengthen their faith. Junior High teachers and parents Vietnam KCCS, in partnership with OBFF (Open Bible Faith Fellowship), has been working in Vietnam – what mission organizations call “the forgotten church” - for nine years now. It started with a focus on helping poor and persecuted pastors within the PAOV (Pentecostal Assembles of Vietnam). When the Vietnam War ended, most denominations (other than the Roman Catholic church), lost their church buildings and holdings – clinics, parsonages, etc. It soon became apparent that giving monthly support to the pastors was being abused as pastors started identifying with the PAOV for support reasons. It was mutually agreed upon to stop that focus and help with leadership training, thus the creation of Master’s Theological Institute (MTI), a Bible School that has become a seminary with Asian credentialing under the leadership of Dean Laurent Tran-Qui. The MTI began with one school in Ho Chi Minh (Saigon) focusing on leaders within the city, opened up to the Body of Christ. I am a founding member of the Board of Governors, representing KCCS and OBFF, and we have yearly government meetings to report on the development of MTI and to affirm our status with the gov’t of Vietnam as a school. KCCS has been supporting my oversight by financing my trip to Vietnam annually, and has been giving monies to the PAOV to help them with upgrading their video, Internet, technological tools, and materials for training. This year we opened a contractual relationship to the PAOV so support monies can be sent directly. Last year it was agreed that training centers needed to be expanded throughout the nation. Our first expansion from Ho Chi Minh, South Vietnam was Hanoi, North Vietnam, and this has continued to grow into other cities (see map of cities in red reached). The target, finances permitting, was to add 40 more cities in pastoral training at a cost of $500 per city. With limited finances, MTI has continued to expand its influence, live-streaming to areas where pastors had Internet access. This project is partially a PR for MTI across the nation, but it is also filling a great need for localized training. Many of these pastors are under-trained in the Word, coming from extremely poor and persecuted areas. This training dignifies them and strengthens them. The vision is to be in all 68 states of Vietnam, teaching a unified word to the leaders so that they can take a unified message back to their churches. It is the closest thing we have to a modern day fulfillment of “discipling nations.” The Vietnamese church has been considered hidden by the Christian world. But, they are not hidden to God, and they are not hidden to KCC and Building Beyond Borders. They have faces and names and destiny. They are friends. I call upon you to give sacrificially so that the mission moment is not lost, and the church can continue to grow, within and without its borders. Hong Kong Under the leadership of our Hong Kong partners, Hallelujah Ministries’ leaders Maria Chang and Vincent Tong, a 144 hour prayer and intercession cruise called A Journey to Glory occurred in June 2015 from Shanghai, China to Jeju, Korea to Hong Kong and back. Carleen and I were asked, as apostolic oversight, to cover the meetings for close to 2,000 Asian leaders. I did not realise how real that divine appointment was as the Chinese government did not allow the leadership to board in Shanghai and I was called upon to lead the first 24 hours in International waters. What a joy to see Asians praying, worshipping, singing and dancing together. I believe that the week had spiritual significance in that the China Sea was becoming militarized for naval conflict. I was asked to lead and conduct the ceremony for the International School of Ministry (ISOM), and teach on Christian education, marketplace ministry, apostolic leadership and the family. Sis (Yongii) Cho (third on the left) joined us in Korea, and doors have now been opened into the nation of Korea. Enoch Jeong, from the YWAM base in Oliver, will be joining me in ministry as my translator in September. God gives supernatural relationships and sets up kingdom advancing assignments. Please keep this in prayer. Maria is a wonderful woman of faith (first on the left), having to place significant monies down to hold a cruise line’s reservations for believers when not one had yet registered. The cruise was filled, and at the end, the ship’s leadership came to us and said, “Thank you for cleansing the ship.” No one gambled, drank or carried on – it was prayer round the clock. Plans are being made for the next cruise to carry believers from Hong Kong to Jerusalem. You may want to prepare right now for that possibility. 17 Ethnos Ministries Ryan & Judy Sawatzky It is with great joy that we look back over all that has been accomplished through the various missions’ endeavors of KCC. What a great privilege to be part of Building Beyond Borders! Working in partnership with KCC and in collaboration with our Ethnos Asia network of co-workers and national leaders, the combined efforts of Ethnos Ministries’ volunteers, donors and prayer supporters has produced the meaningful and enduring fruit of transformed lives. Significant contributions were made in the areas of education for both adults and children. Our Mission Schools and hostels are strategically located in remote or marginalized regions of Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Pakistan, in areas where they will have the greatest impact on their communities. Many children who would otherwise receive no schooling now have access to quality education. Our long term commitment to the Golden Triangle Mission School (GTMS) in Myanmar and the Hope Of Children School in Dhaka, remain a high priority for us. Although our involvement takes us to many regions of Southeast Asia, in the area of children’s education, the past couple of years have afforded us the opportunity to put particular emphasis on Cambodia. *See story beside Over the past 17 years, a total of 47,000 pastors, women and youth leaders, and children’s workers, have been trained through Church Empowerment and Leadership Development Programs. It has been our great pleasure to have contributed funds and volunteer teachers to help make this possible. We continue to provide livelihood programs and social services/ sponsorships for widows, orphans, refugees and others who are suffering great hardship; in particular, the families of pastors and leaders who are in prison. Because of our generous donors, this year we were again able to contribute substantially to Emergency Relief Efforts. Although to us it seems like a distant memory, for victims of the deadly earthquake in Nepal, the struggle continues. Likewise, the complications of flooding in Myanmar and elsewhere, continues to debilitate whole communities. For these and other natural disasters throughout Southeast Asia, relief efforts have been ongoing for many months. Trauma counseling remains a top priority for many of our co-workers. However, focus on the initial emergency relief and rehabilitation phase has now been redirected to the rebuilding stage, which includes the training and equipping of local Christians to help their communities recover. There has always been a great need for Bibles and other Christian literature and training materials in access-restricted nations but as the church continues to grow, the plea for Bibles has become almost overwhelming. With the recent conversion of former Taliban soldiers, and their subsequent efforts to share the gospel, there has been a new request for Bibles in Pashto and Farsi. We were able to make a small contribution towards this request and are hoping to increase our capacity to meet the growing demand. It is with much appreciation and a heart full of gratitude that we express our thanks to KCC and Building Beyond Borders for the part you have played in making these things possible. 18 Cambodia *Our first trip to Cambodia in 2001 was a real eye-opener. The country was literally in ruins. Most homes, if you were lucky enough to have one, were mere hovels. The main streets of the capitol city, Phnom Pennh, had pot holes the size of small craters – large enough to swallow a bus – from bombing that had occurred 25 years earlier. Evidence of physical suffering was everywhere – malnourishment, disease, disability and deformity. Most heartbreaking and unsettling was the deeply imprinted despair on troubled faces and the haunted reflections in the eyes of those who have endured total devastation of heart and soul. Having barely survived the Khmer Rouge Reign of Terror, the older generation – those over 35 – seemed to be permanently scarred and disabled from the horror they had endured. And the younger generation? Well, they were experiencing their own tragedy from years of deprivation. One young man shyly approached me, his head bowed and his eyes lowered. “May I ask you a question?” he said. Somewhat apprehensive of what might be coming, I nodded my head. The young man continued. “When Cambodia was going through war and destruction…when my parents were suffering and so many were tortured and dying…” he sucked in a big breath, “… where was Canada?” I groaned inwardly, but couldn’t respond. I didn’t know the answer. Thus began our heart wrenching relationship with Cambodia. The early days were difficult, with few signs of progress or positive change. Now, things are different. In many ways Cambodia is coming into its own…although that is not all good news. Materialism, greed and corruption are rampant. Nevertheless, we have had increasing opportunity to be involved in Cambodia and can readily attest to the transforming power of the gospel! We are grateful for the dedication of our friends and volunteers who give so generously of their time and energy. Those who go, at their own expense, to assist and serve their brothers and sisters in need, to help make the dreams of others become a reality. It’s not glamorous and it’s not easy. Riding a bicycle to assist in the Functional English Center, 30 minutes each way, every day, in humid, 100 degree weather – with the crazed dogs of Cambodia nipping at your heals, “it’s no picnic!” Going from house to house to visit the sick, exposing yourself to all manner of communicable diseases? That takes a special kind of compassion. Giving up your Christmas holidays to go and build a school in the middle of “nowhere”? That takes dedication. Compassion, dedication, commitment. It can all be summed up in one word, L∙O∙V∙E. Jesus said, “Just as I have loved you, so you must love one another. Truly this is love in action. Israel “Choosing to Bless” “He will raise a flag among the nations for them to rally to; he will gather the scattered Israelites from the ends of the earth.” Isaiah 11.11 Israel and her people are on God’s heart. The nation stands as prophetic fulfilment, a witness to the world. Here at KCC we want to play our part in caring for the people of ‘The Land’, and help support the Church there. KCC is working with three strategically chosen people/ministries in Israel to: CHURCH: Support persecuted pastors and congregations COMPASSION: Provide practical help and support to the most needy EVANGELISM: Share with both Jews and Arabs that Yeshua is truly their Messiah CHURCH: Our focus is on churches in Ashdod, Arad, Nazareth, Afula, and Beit She’an. These five congregations and their pastors are working to reach out to their communities, often in the face of hostility and persecution (relational, financial, and occasionally physical). Despite the ‘hard ground’ they sew in, they want to accelerate their impact in their towns. Our financial support will help them do that. [KCC in conjunction with OBFF] Dr. Herbert Goldberg & son COMPASSION: Dr. Herbert Goldberg is a holocaust survivor who has been in the ministry over 60 years. Together with his sons, Gabriel and David, he established an Israeli charitable organisation dedicated to sharing the love of Yeshua with the neediest in practical ways. This includes soup kitchens, food distribution, and clothing distribution in both Haifa and Jerusalem. Through this work the Goldberg family demonstrate that God’s compassion is for everyone, and our support will be used to further this work. [KCC in conjunction with A Lema’an Zion Inc.] Rachel Netanel EVANGELISM: Rachel Netanel loves to open ‘blind eyes’ to the fact that Yeshua is the Messiah. Coming from a religious Jewish background, she understands how to present the Bible to Israelis – both Jews and Arabs – according to their culture. A key aspect of her outreach is based on the Jewish tradition of ‘hospitality’. Rachel opens up her home to any who would come, with each gathering comprising: food, music, bible teaching, fellowship and prayer. Through this type of outreach she shares Yeshua with more than 50 people per week! Despite much opposition to her work, many Israelis have accepted Yeshua through her ministry. [KCC in conjunction with ‘Beit Netanel Ministry’] 19 New Manna Ministries Russia Fred & Val Ilyin Fred and Val Ilyin are the directors of New Manna Ministries. They have been working with orphans and widows since 1991. By the Grace of God, since 1992, New Manna has been partnering with KCC in touching the lives of Street-Kids, Orphans and Widows in Russia, Ukraine and in Tanzania. In Russia and Ukraine, we develop relationships with the orphans at government orphanages by having our teams visit a number of orphanages once a week. Because of limited space, Orphans are released from government orphanages at about the age of 16 or 17 to live on their own. Many of the released Orphans become Street-Kids, turn to criminal activity, are abused, end up in prison, and many commit suicide. Our desire and mission is to prevent this destruction of life of as many Released Orphans as we can. Two homes that we have in Russia are called the Esther Street Kids house, for the abused young ladies, and the Timothy House. In these homes we are able to accommodate up to 22 Released Orphans and abused children. We are partnering together with the New Testament Church in Perm, Russia and building additional living quarters for the Released Orphans and abused girls. Ukraine During the summer months, orphans are sent to large government camps where they get lost in crowds and experience many difficulties and problems from lack of supervision and abuse. New Manna has established a Camp in Lazurnoe, Ukraine, located on the Black Sea. We are able to accommodate five groups of 80 Orphans and children in need at a time for a Manna Camp on the Black Sea period of 8-10 days. Our camps begin at the end of June and continue till the end of August. During the camp sessions, we are able to teach some Vocation skills, Basic English, Practical management skills, Bible lessons and Godly character into the lives of the Released Orphans. Handicap Orphans Tanzania The ministry in Tanzania is continuing to grow. The New Manna School now has expanded to 270 students with K-1, K-2 and classes 1-4. More than 50% of our children are from Muslim families. Most of the children are from poor families and need assistance. We are able to provide the children with a porridge meal in the morning and one meal in the afternoon. It costs us .22 cents a meal to feed the children and $1,350 per month. Kids with Manna Back Packs 20 Lining up for morning Snack Val with Kids having Porridge Education Changing the world one student at a time Online Schools Heritage Christian Online School (HCOS) and BC Online School (BCOS) has been a BC Accredited Independent School now for twelve years. The school is fulfilling the mission of Building Beyond Borders in many distinct ways. HCOS and BCOS are providing educational programs to Christian and nonChristian students throughout the province of British Columbia. This year we will participate in the education of more than 6500 students. All of our courses and programs are established for the purpose of discipleship. Instead of requiring funds from our Missions programs HCOS and BCOS are doing the opposite. The Online School’s missions programs are adding to our projects and through the sale and licensing of curriculum and educational services it has become a major contributor to the mission’s budgets. We are currently working closely with schools in South Africa in partnership with Hatfield Christian School. In 2010 we helped start Hatfield Christian Online School as an outreach to Home Schoolers but in three years this morphed into a program for students in impoverished schools throughout the nation. Hatfield’s teams send teacher support workers into the “Township” schools, bringing a laptop computer, a projector, a 4G internet connection and a printer. They give this to the classroom teacher and this changes the entire classroom experience for students who have very little resources. HCOS has donated it’s entire curriculum to be used in these schools changing the level of education for both the teacher and students. This year the program reached more than 25,000 students in over 50 schools. We hope to continue to work with Hatfield Christian Schools to double this number next year. Greg Bitgood Continued on Page 22 21 Heritage Christian School One leader in particular has watched the projects and generosity of our school in South Africa and has developed a great friendship. Samson Makhado is the Africa Director for Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). We have had the privilege of supporting his travel for the last four years as he travels throughout Africa. He oversees thousands of schools on the Continent. Through the work of our program the International Christian Online School we are spreading the good news through English Second Language teaching. We have licenced our courses through more than a dozen countries including Russia, China, Taiwan and Latin America. We are also privileged to give these courses at or below cost to ACSI for their schools in economically challenged schools. Our ESL continues to open doors for us throughout the world. The schools of Kelowna Christian Center are very much a part of its mission to reach and disciple children all around the world. We are able to reach and work with students using the tools of the Superinformation highway. Greg Bitgood Superintendent of Schools Students Minister 22 For the last 4 years, the staff and students of Heritage Christian School have worked hard to create inventive ways to raise financial support for our missionaries Larry and Francine Carruthers in Kitale, Kenya. This year the idea was to “GIVE UP”. Students challenged themselves and others to “give up” something they enjoyed and use the money they would normally spend on that pleasure to our missionaries. The lofty goal was to raise $2,015 signifying the year. They did it!! The students celebrated by designing wacky, innovative or eco-friendly shoes to wear in a school fashion show. Please consider helping them in their next Kitale Fundraiser, which will take place in November. Global Citizenship Program Gordon & Joanne Robideau Gordon and Joanne Robideau have been serving with KCC in various educational capacities since 1995. Joanne currently teaches grade 7 in the campus school while Gordon serves as Director of Development and of GCP. Students Grow Students Learn Just as the Global Citizenship Program continues to grow, so do the Heritage students. HCS now teaches leadership classes to grade 10, 11 and 12 students. This year, campus and online students will travel to Vancouver, BC on an outdoor leadership adventure; to Halifax on a collaborative immigration project; to South Africa on an exchange with a partner school in Pretoria; and to Oaxaca, Mexico for a six week, life changing educational odyssey. As in past years, Oaxaca will include partnering with the KCC church ministry at Zicatela; Ronne Jones and the Delphinnes Soccer Ministry, the Rios Ministry in the mountains of Nopala, and former HCS grad Jeremy Treder, now a pastor at Christiana Convivencia in Oaxaca City. Last year students helped construct a well, re-roof a local church, and minister to over 900 underprivileged children with outreach programs. They experienced profound personal growth along with academic and cultural development. Heritage students continue to grow, to learn, to love, to work and to serve. Students Love Students Serve 23 YWAM Partners “To know God, and make Him known” Carl & Kathy Thompson YWAM - Life Harvest Network Dear Friends, 2015 started for us with the theme of "Seeking His Presence" at a YWAM Leaders Conference and this has remained our heart since with an even greater desire to press in to knowing Him more this year and walking in the fullness of all that He has for us. We were privileged last spring to spend a month in California training some YWAMers in organic agriculture and sustainable practices. They have since been released into this new ministry full time and are doing a wonderful job. Within the Kelowna community we have continued connecting with various Christian ministries in the community through evangelism, discipleship, gardening seminars, prayer, hosting missionaries in our home, and online consulting as we prepared for our fall trip to Asia. Three words that describe our trip to Thailand, Laos and China would be "on the move". In 4 months we ministered in 10 different locations among 5 different languages and cultures. We also attended 4 conferences which gave us a greater understanding of what God is doing and planning for in South East Asia. He is "on the move"! Exciting things are happening with a greater openness to God's Word, miraculous healings, increased growth of believers through discipling, and greater unity among missionaries and churches as they desire to 24 see real change come to this huge area of unreached people. Our eyes were opened to the needs of believers especially among the persecuted church and the small church plants that need training and encouragement. Many of the Christians there can not find work because of their faith and must either have their own business or farm. Those who farm are barely getting by and were very encouraged by the training that we brought that could greatly improve their farm yields and give them a new way to share the Gospel as well. While there we realized that the Northeast region of Thailand, called Isaan, is one of the most unreached areas in Asia. An area of 20 million people and only .2% are Christian. Join us as we pray for God's transforming Kingdom to come to this area. For us this trip was fulfilling in all the areas that we are passionate about! 1) Teaching and training in sustainable organic agriculture to see the land restored, healed and enable people to make a better living farming. 2) Teaching and training in Biblical Kingdom Worldview - How does our Christianity affect our whole life. 3) Strengthening and encouraging churches and missionaries in a largely unreached area. Kathy is pursuing specific training to help encourage missionaries in the various things with which they are challenged. 4) Getting God's Word to those who do not have it. YWAM Thailand is distributing the new Sourceview Bible, a group read-aloud version that is being well received. 5) Interceding and praying for God's Presence to be known all over these lands, for a mighty move of God. We have learned so much about the culture, how precious the Asian church is and God's heart for these people who live in so much darkness and fear as unbelievers. In Psalm 2 God is saying to our Lord Jesus "Ask of me and I will give you nations as an inheritance for you." As the Bride of Christ we have authority in Jesus to claim these nations for Him. So pray with us for SE Asia where hundreds of millions do not know His Name. We have had many requests to return to Asia full-time. We are currently praying for God's direction as we anticipate continuing to be involved in what He is doing in Asia by strengthening the church there. We have tentative plans for a short trip later this spring as well as returning to spend several months there in the fall. 6) Learning new cultures: their values, beliefs, how to build relationships with them; what life is like for the persecuted believers. Carl & Kathy Thompson Life Harvest Network carltdr@gmail.com www.lifeharvestnetwork.com Amy Thompson || YWAM - Australia "Born in Canada, raised in the Dominican Republic, and serving in Australia! Amy (20), first journeyed to Australia for her Discipleship Training School in 2013. During the six month school she gained a new understanding of God's love for us as individuals, His love for the nations, and the importance of knowing one's identity in Christ. In November 2015, Amy felt led to return to Australia to join staff with the YWAM Perth campus. After a year at home, she arrived in Perth in late September almost exactly two years after first entering the country for her DTS. She is now working in the Hospitality Department with eight other amazing co-workers. This ministry allows gives her the opportunity to serve the guests, students and staff simultaneously! "I came to serve, to be a part of championing young people in their faith, to see them realize their identity in God, and to invest in this city which is becoming a launch pad for the Gospel to go into the nations. Hospitality is one of the ways in which God has called me to do this." This year Amy's focus is to be a part of investing in the base through her work with Hospitality as well as helping to disciple young people as they seek God's call for their lives." Email: amyt.dr@gmail.com Matt Thompson || YWAM - Thailand Wow! Walking side by side with students for 9 months as they learned the inductive Bible Method was an incredible experience! Studying and teaching God's Word has taken me so much deeper. I am so excited to Know God more and make Him Known more! An exciting thing happening right now has to do with Ending Bible Poverty. The Thai SourceView Bible is in an excellent translation and extraordinary format that is designed especially to help the 99% of Thai people who do not yet believe to engage with the Word of God on a whole new level. We have been left wideeyed with the success of this movement. It's like God has paved the way for the logistics and people's hearts. We want to give a Bible to every household and every student in the province of Chiang Rai. Have you grasped God's Heart for Ending Bible Poverty? Are you ready to learn how you can be part of this global movement? I challenge you! Get involved! You and those around you can raise money to print Bibles, come and distribute them, cover the project in prayer, and share about the opportunity with others! endbiblepovertynow.com // sourceviewthai.com A big thanks to my KCC Family! You can write to me at: matthewt.dr@gmail.com or find me on Facebook - I'd love to hear from you! 25 Extended Church Family LAKE COUNTRY LIFE CENTER WESTGATE CHURCH A church in the community ...for the community. Westgate Church began in 1999 as a ministry extension of KCC to the Westside LCLC may be a little church area, now known as West but it carries a huge heart Kelowna. The people and to reach others with the leaders of Westgate are amazing love and freedom pleased to be considered that Jesus has for each extended family of KCC. one. John 3:16 “for God so The current pastors, Doug loved the world”. Our and Sue Glada, were for many years committed members of KCC desire is to extend the and feel very strongly about continuing to walk with the people Kingdom of God carrying that God has put in their lives. What a blessing it is to have both the heart of KCC with the Pastor Dave and Pastor Ed as our pastors and to have a family of vision of Isaiah 61. believers who love and care for us. We are not alone in this “I will build my church, and the gates journey of life and ministry. of hell will not prevail against it” Projects in Progress Here are a few initiatives we are currently working on... Sponsoring a Refugee Family Pat Hayden and Albana Nicka are currently working on our behalf to bring a Christian Persecuted Refugee Family (from Pakistan) to Canada. This Pakistani family has fled their homeland due to religious persecution. They are committed Christians and live a dynamic, evangelistic lifestyle. Not surprisingly, they drew the attention of their radical Muslim neighbors and were threatened. They are currently living in Thailand and are limited in what they can do as refugees. He has worked at a local Christian school but this term the school has not been able to pay him. She prepares and sells Pakistani food for people in their neighborhood. 26 Outreach Vehicle for Kenya We are in the process of helping Larry purchase a new vehicle. A reliable vehicle that will be used to facilitate missions teams and Medical Clinic outreaches to off road, remote regions in Pokot and Turkana. (A vehicle similar to below picture) Their Medical Outreaches take them to remote villages eight hours through remote terrain. Their largest outreach saw treatment of over 500 patients, and de-worming of the entire village. FINANCES OUR PROJECTED BUDGET Supported Missionaries Penners (Wycliffe Mexico) Larry Carruthers (Kenya) Ryan & Judy (Ethnos Ministries) Fred & Val Ilyin (New Manna Min.) SUBTOTAL Additional Commitments GCP SUBTOTAL General Expenses Conference Short Term Missions Local Missions Pastoral Travel Credit Card Fees Mission Admin SUBTOTAL Projects Mexico Israel HOUSES OF MERCY SUBTOTAL ALL PROJECTS TOTAL ANNUAL BUDGET WHERE THE MONEY 2016-2017 WENT LAST YEAR PROJECTED BUDGET $ $ $ $ $ $ $ 11,700.00 38,870.00 2,000.00 52,570.00 $ $ $ $ $ 7,200.00 30,000.00 6,000.00 2,000.00 45,200.00 6,000.00 $ 6,000.00 $ 6,000.00 6,000.00 $ $ $ $ $ $ $ 4,300.00 1,500.00 1,200.00 5,300.00 895.00 6,150.00 19,345.00 $ $ $ $ $ $ $ 3,000.00 4,000.00 2,000.00 9,000.00 800.00 2,000.00 20,800.00 $ $ $ $ 24,710.00 15,210.00 29,000.00 68,920.00 $ $ $ $ 30,000.00 15,000.00 30,000.00 75,000.00 146,835.00 $ 147,000.00 $ Projects funded by External Sources Vietnam OBFF $ Kenya - Child Sponsorship $ Kenya - Education $ Kenya - Short Term Trips $ $ Mexico - Land and Church TOTAL OF PROJECTS $ 4,000.00 24,160.00 10,000.00 22,880.00 84,890.00 145,930.00 $ $ $ $ $ $ 10,000.00 25,000.00 10,000.00 45,000.00 *LESS THAN 4% OF OVERALL INCOME GOES TOWARD ADMINISTRATION COSTS When Project Budgets are reached, the Missions Committee reserves the right to reallocate funds to any outstanding project budgets. Focus of our Giving We want your giving to reflect the areas of mission that you are passionate about. However, in order to ensure that our missionaries and projects continue to receive the funding necessary to keep them on the field, it is our desire that you first consider giving or pledge to General Missions rather than designating, allowing the Missions Committee to allocate the funds according to the budget presented. Over the years our missions focus shifts with the new projects the Lord brings our way and the completion of other projects. KCC Missions is open to new initiatives while at the same time needing to preserve our present commitments. So please prayerfully consider what it is the Lord would have you give and pray for the Committee for wisdom to allocate funds as the Lord gives opportunity. Partnering with Us Building Beyond Borders Partnership is an opportunity to go beyond our individual ability and collaborate together in making a difference. It is Partnership. Your automatic monthly donation will go to a BBB project of your choice or help with our local and general missions projects. To donate visit buildingbeyondborders.com and click on DONATE or visit us at kcc.net and click Missions and then click DONATE 27 28 THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP IN IMPACTING THE WORLD