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LANSDOWNE, Va., April 21, 2012— Evangelical Christianity lost one of its most eloquent and influential voices today with the death of Charles W. “Chuck” Colson. The Prison Fellowship and Colson Center for Christian Worldview founder died Saturday afternoon from complications … Continue reading
Daniel Bran, Pastor of Fellowship Guatemala
Among the many different problems Guatemala faces, a major devastating issue is limited access to education and health care, specifically affecting the children. Guatemala is a young country; 26% of the population is under 10 years old and 52% of the population is under 20 years old. The limited access to education and health care is caused by poverty. There are many non-profit organizations in Guatemala attempting to alleviate poverty but only a few are bringing development programs to teach people how to rise above poverty and stand on their own two feet.
Fellowship Guatemala is working to create opportunities for development, so people can rise out of poverty and be self-productive for our country. First, we want to break the spiritual poverty by restoring our relationship with God our Creator through Christ and submitting ourselves under His principles and values found in the Bible. Next, we want to eradicate the physical poverty by providing a way of producing resources that will satisfy their physical needs. Finally, we want the children of Guatemala to have access to education and learn entrepreneurship principles that will help them become better citizens.
A Real Case:
Name: Lidia Verónica Ramírez Patzan
Date of Birth: May 11th, 2000
School level: 7th grade.
School base: Escuela Jacobo de
Villa Urrutia zone 12
Lidia’s Story
In September 2011, Alejandro Castro, a recent graduating pastor from Fellowship Guatemala, was teaching Values and Principles at a local school, when suddenly he was called to assist a young student who had fainted. Alejandro noticed this very quiet, shy, girl had a deep sadness in her eyes. He also noticed was that she dressed in black. He inquired about her name and where she lived. He and his wife, Coney, went to visit Lidia Verónica Ramírez Patzan – “Lidia”.
They discovered that Lidia hadn’t eaten for three days because her mother had just passed away from alcoholism. She was very sad and extremely worried about the future of her family comprised of her grandmother and five brothers, the youngest- a four-year-old with Down’s Syndrome. To add to the empty feeling left in her heart, Lidia told of how her father abandoned the family six months prior to live with another woman.
In February, Lidia began attending the Opportunity Center (OC) founded by Fellowship Guatemala . She is beginning to feel hope by recognizing the opportunity she has to grow as a person and learning to embrace life with different skills and principles. Lidia is learning English as a second language and is very motivated by her classes. She is determined to break the poverty cycle for her family by learning and embracing the life changing principles she is being taught at the OC.
You can participate in life changing stories like Lidia’s. We have many children ready for a chance in life. They are ready to have an opportunity to be restored, equipped, and sent to change the world by following Jesus Christ. If you would like to be a part of the solution, pray about sponsoring a child through Fellowship Guatemala. For more information contact Pam on your FBC Missions Team at pferguson@fellowshiponline.com .
Students in the Passport to Success program at Franklin Elementary enjoyed a trip to the Museum of Discovery. The students enjoyed a hands on learning experience that they are still talking about. The African Drum Class was a smash!
This was the second trip of the year. “Incentive trips” were implemented as a way to entice the children towards good behavior in school, good attendance in school and good behavior in the Passport To Success after school program. The trips have produced an excitement and increase in the students’ desires to do well in school. The first trip included only 11 students out of the 25 in the program. The trip to the Museum of Discovery included 15 students.
Teachers are hopeful that numbers for the next trip will continue to increase as they are seeing improvement and excitement buildinging among the students.
Saturday, February 24th, 6:00 PM. People begin to gather…all bringing some kind of Mexican Dish. By the time all is said and done, 50+ people are standing around, visiting, and laughing….ready to eat all the delicious food that has appeared. Finally, the food is blessed, everyone goes through “the line”, finds a place to sit and eat; fellowshipping with one another.
While we are still eating, Paul stands up and begins to share a little about his life…where he came from, where he is now. This inspires Tiffany to stand up and share about her life as a drug addict and how being in this “safe place” with people who really care has changed her perspective on life. Bill pops up next and shares about his life as an addict and how he can now see God in the midst of it all. Last…hold onto your seat…Dan stands up and shares how he had prayed for his neighbor’s brother on many, many occasions. As Bill was telling his story, Dan realizes….This is the brother I prayed for!
No planned agenda, just a gathering to share a meal together (fellowship), share a God story or two and celebrate God for who HE is. That night, I left Hidden Creek, a transition home for ex-inmates on Markham Street in Little Rock, AR and knew I had just experienced the real deal. Real people with real pain experiencing real hope and the living God.
I don’t plan on missing our next gathering. I hope you will come with me. Saturday, March 23rd, 6:00 PM, Hidden Creek, 10905 West Markham Street, Little Rock.
In recent weeks one of our own executive pastors went to the Little Rock Department of Community Corrections unit to speak to the inmates there, and to tell them about Hidden Creek. He did not introduce himself as a pastor, but rather as a recovering meth addict; a man who had walked the same path that had put many of those in the audience in prison in the first place.
He told them his story of redemptive salvation brought about in his life by Jesus. He told them that the sort of life that seems impossible and far out of reach could in fact be theirs. Christ had taken him from a sick and dying, drug addicted, poor excuse of a man to where he is today: a family man, a spiritual leader, a man respected in the community. He told them they too could have a good life, rather than one characterized by pain, suffering, addiction, and inevitably a sad lonely death. He spoke truth and love into their lives, gave them hope for the future, and extended an invitation to come to Hidden Creek.
There are others bringing truth and light into the darkness of incarceration. Grace Without Borders is one of many ministries to inmates in central Arkansas including the DCC in Little Rock, where last year 150 inmates were baptized. In their newsletter, GWB reports “God rescued 399 souls in this ministry last year. We have now seen the Holy Spirit move on 1322 souls since the ministry began in 2007. What an awesome joy to join God in His work…” http://www.gwbm.org/
in Mathew 25:31-46 Jesus speaks of the final judgment, when he will separate humanity like sheep from goats. The sheep will have welcomed strangers, clothed the naked, visited the sick… and those in prison. “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”
As our formerly drug addicted pastor neared the end of his talk to 150 freshly sober convicts, he said simply “if I can go from where I was to where God has brought me, being no better than you, what could you do? Who could you be? It’s about hope”.
Want to get involved? contact FBC Missions 501-224-7171 or Grace Without Borders.
It is unfortunate that in many cases our country’s version of justice for those who break the law is to warehouse them for a time, and then release them to figure out a new way of life; or return to one of crime.
But what does the Bible say about justice? Simply put, Gods justice requires that the wrong or sin be recognized and repented of, the penalty be paid, and then the law breaker is restored to the community. It’s this third and vital aspect that we perhaps fail to do well, as the stigma of incarceration follows an ex-con for all of life.
Prison is a desolate place. A hopeless place. And for an individual preparing to come out of incarceration who truly wishes to lead a new sort of life, the obstacles ahead can be daunting. Imagine having to check yes to the question ‘Are you a convicted felon’ on every job application or rental agreement, and wondering how you will explain it to the interviewer; if you even get an interview. Imagine, if you can, attempting to figure out how to lead a life completely opposite of everything you’ve ever know. The idea is terrifying to those who find themselves asking these questions with absolutely no foundational knowledge, and no one in sight to help them.
But these obstacles are not insurmountable. For many years Fellowship has been involved in prison ministry, and recently we have set out to disciple and instruct ex-cons in how to lead transformed lives through Hidden Creek Development Center. Hidden Creek is a place where those who demonstrate earnest desire to change their lives can go following incarceration and be taught interviewing, budgeting, work ethic, time management, and many other skills that are vital to living successfully. More importantly, Hidden Creek is a faith based community where the love of Christ is shown to these men and woman through volunteers, and true transformation can take place- the kind of life change that only Christ can bring about.
It may be difficult to imagine being incarcerated, or the challenges facing the men and women coming out of that life. Perhaps you have never even considered it, or that you could or should do anything about it. But no matter what walk of life we as believers have come from, we all have been imprisoned by sin, and set free from its penalty by the saving work of Christ. “Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created may praise the LORD: that he looked down from his holy height; from heaven the LORD looked at the earth, to hear the groans of the prisoners, to set free those who were doomed to die, that they may declare in Zion the name of the LORD, and in Jerusalem his praise,” (Psalm 102:18-21 ESV)
Stay tuned for the follow up to this blog- coming 2/24, or subscribe for email notification of new posts!
In the days of Jesus’ ministry, Samaria was a place you did not go. Samaritans where considered impure, their religion corrupt. Jewish people wouldn’t speak or do business with them, and would travel around Samaria rather than through it, not unlike some neighborhoods that we avoid today. But Jesus crashed through cultural boundaries and norms in His pursuit of all nations. So should we.
Recently Fellowship Bible Church Missions partnered with Little Rock Christian Academy to teach a two week J-Term class to 8 high school sophomores. LRCA describes the J-Term as modeled after the college January term idea and designed to increase learning opportunities for students. It gives students opportunities to grow through a variety of experiences as they develop their giftedness and consider where God may be leading them.
We became involved with the J-Term students with the hope of teaching them the “When Helping Hurts” approach to poverty alleviation and community development, as well as to give them hands on experience with some of the ministries right here in Little Rock. We prayerfully approached the opportunity to pour into the lives of these youth, and God showed up in real, tangible ways.
The 8 students were taken to the area known as South Midtown, one of Little Rocks more impoverished communities, where they helped local residents at a food bank carry groceries. Students took the opportunity to go into the Department of Community Corrections and Hidden Creek Development Center to hear the incredible God stories of recovering addicts. Through the C.A.L.L. and Bethany Christian Services they learned about the overwhelming foster and adoption needs right here in Pulaski county. There were many other ministries, each important, but perhaps the most impactful for the students was a trip to the Crisis Pregnancy Center, where they witnessed two girls their age come in for pregnancy tests, and prayed for a third young woman who was considering abortion and seeking counsel. Equally engaging was spending time at Franklin Elementary School with the children in the Passport to Success program, where the J-Term students observed first-hand the disparity between the resources they have in comparison to the students of Franklin.
The Missions team set out to teach the students about the relief, rehabilitation, and development model of poverty alleviation, and how to help people intentionally and effectively. We did so at an academic level. But God had bigger plans. The J-Term students said they are “more grateful for what they have” and that the experience was a “reality check”. After the two week internship one J-Term student’s mother relayed a story about a conversation she had with her 15 year old daughter, who said “I’ve had a world-view change”. She went on to express a desire to volunteer at the Crisis Pregnancy Center with one of her friends over the summer.
Through the course of the J-Term class, the students were taken to parts of the city they had never been to before and saw people leading very different lives from what they know. There were times the students had no idea where they were, though they were no more than 15 or 20 miles from their homes. They may as well have been walking through Samaria. Through these experiences, they were blessed by God with much more than an academic understanding of poverty. They were given a life changing experience, a new lens with which to look out at the world around them. Who knows what God will grow in them from here…
At Franklin Elementary School there is a 10 year old little student who has a picture in her mind of success. It takes the form of her report card. These simple letters of the alphabet represent more than just improved grades to her.
Picture of Success
She no longer feels like the “dummie” in her class. She no longer gets into trouble for not paying attention or for talking too much. She is feeling really good about herself.
Another student rises from a reading level of 11 to a level of 28.
(Grade level is 20) … this is a picture of
S U C C E S S
A major contributing factor for them both is their involvement in Passport To Success After School Program where students are assisted and tutored by volunteers in a structured environment. Passport also connects families from Franklin Elementary with families from FBC to form new growing friendships set around a once a month dinner at the school. God is using this time together to do some great things in the lives of both groups of families. Way to go!!!! … to the group who is pouring into the lives of these students at Franklin. Your interactions have made a world of difference to these youngsters.
This is what S U C C E S S looks like.
To learn more about Passport to Success, enjoy this brief video.
Here is a great look at one of our mission partners giving feet to their faith! The Hambrice family- Hatley, Kristi, Hannah Beth, Rebekah and Caleb could not return to the states for Christmas.
They are serving in Thailand and wanted to share with everyone some of their new “typical” excursions. Let’s remember to pray for their entire family and the challenges they have before them on the mission field. Pray for the relationships that are forming with the people they shop, live , work and go to school with on a daily basis.
Click here to see a glimpse into their life…. Hambrice Family in Action
Thank you, Fellowship!! The rain did not stop your generous spirit of giving. 904 families will be presented with a Christmas meal from the Boxes of Love. FSM’ers and 501′ers joyously toiled in soggy weather to collect, stack and store the food boxes. Even in the rain spirits were not dampened… if you listened closely, you could hear a Christmas song or two being hummed. 
How did we move 900 + Boxes of Love???
With many, many hands of love…..
Merry Christmas to All!!
This time of the year our hearts and minds turn toward thoughts of giving as we reflect on the most precious gift ever given to mankind – Jesus Christ. This ultimate gift from God was a gift of relationship with Him. As part of our giving philosophy, we encourage you to give “relationally”. While looking for opportunities to give to others this year, keep in mind that sometimes our most well-intended, heartfelt gifts may actually harm rather than help as intended. How so? Watch this brief video to learn more .
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Interested in giving in a way that restores dignity to the recipient? One local ministry that utilizes this giving philosophy is the
STEP / River City Toy Store . Check it out and find information on what is needed both for gifts and in the way of volunteers to operate the store.
If you would like another source for giving this year, click here to check out the Season of Giving opportunities to help provide items needed for other ministries in our local area.
Merry CHRISTmas to you….
The worst famine in 60 years has hit East Africa with 13.3 million at risk of malnutrition and death. Despite ongoing relief efforts, food security conditions are expected to deteriorate further in Somalia due to the complexities of drought and oppressive war lords.
In response to this crisis, we ask for Fellowship members to pray for justice and mercy and for strength for God’s church. We have sent $20,000 for aid through local church leaders through World Relief.
For an informative article about the situation in East Africa from USAID click here. For a great article from the Baptist Cooperative Fellowship click here.
by Linda Slaton
My Father is glorified in this, that you bear much fruit. ~ Jesus, Jn 15:8
In late July a team of ten Americans and one Brit arrived in a quaint and colorful village tucked into the mountains south of Wroclaw. Our mission: to conduct a language camp for professional Polish women and to glorify the Father by bearing much fruit. Under the leadership of Ruth Kowalczuk of Poland, a youthful 80-something, and Rebecca LeMaster, an expat from Little Rock, a fine-tuned instrument for God’s work has been crafted over a 15-year period. In a land clothed
with natural and architectural beauty, LeAnn Winter, Mary Lazenby, Ann Blair and I, all from Fellowship, witnessed God at work. Some of the 25 Polish women were regulars to the camp, others were newcomers, but all came hungry for what we were serving up–English lessons, sound biblical teaching, and, under the direction of Ann Blair, dynamic worship.
This year’s theme was the Fruit of the Spirit, a fitting choice, given what we would witness among the campers. These women were serious about spiritual things. Eager to ask hard questions and dig deep into the scriptures, they poured out their hearts to the “native speakers” of English, an uncommon practice among most Poles.
One woman shared with me troubling issues in her family. Through tears and broken English she said, “You American are so, so open! It is not like this in my family. We do not touch. We do not say, I love you. I’m so worried about my children and also my mother and grandmother. They do not speak to each other.”
I told her, “You can break the cycle, Renata (not her real name). With God’s help, you can do it. After all, you are being so open with me right now.”
“But I can talk to you because I maybe never see you again.”
With a stranger she felt safe. And her willingness to be real with me cracked open the door for me to share the gospel with her.
Let that scene serve as a snapshot of what has been happening in Poland every summer for many years. Women are finding answers, genuine Christian fellowship, and yes, Christ Himself. God is being glorified. Fruit grows in the Polish hills. Beautiful, sweet fruit.
A highlight for me was watching the Polish women dance, especially when everyone danced to praise music late one evening. LeAnn, whose enthusiasm inspired us all despite the late hour, led and choreographed the activity. An observer would never have guessed that we were already worn out before we even began. After a full morning of classes, an afternoon hike –Polish style (read “challenging”), and evening workshops, we had every reason to be weary. But Poles love to sing and dance. As we were finishing the last routine to “How Great Is Our God,” the upturned faces and exuberance of the dancers overwhelmed LeAnn. With voice cracking and tears welling, she said, “Oh my. This is all too wonderful. We’re worshiping our God here!” Every woman there, irrespective of any language barrier, experienced the joy of glorifying God –in body and soul.
Did Renata open the door of her heart to Jesus? I’m not sure. But she did express a desire to do just that. She said she wanted to pray a prayer to that end –in private. After our conversation, I got a glimpse of her sitting outside on the back lawn, head bowed, with a Bible in her lap.
I can only imagine the ripple effect that God’s Word is having across the big pond. I picture His love and power flowing out of these women into their families, churches, workplaces and neighborhoods. Perhaps one day we will know with certainty how the face of Poland itself has changed because a few adventurers shared their lives and their Lord one week at a summer camp for grownups.
I just got back on Friday (June 24th) from my first mission trip. You always hear that mission trips are experiences of a lifetime, let me testify it is so true. Our team remodeled a house for a young couple with two children who had never had a home before (they had never had a mirror, a new bed, nice clothes, towels… need I go on?). This couple was the epitome of giving. They had just graduated the residency program at Fellowship Guatemala and were serving well beyond their own means.
The job was huge but our team stepped forward. As we painted we realized that we could not and should not put American standards on these Guatemalan people who had literally come from nothing. Slowly we began to make what was in our minds- “real” progress. I was trying to watch the way they lived in comparison to our own luxurious lives. For the most part I thought we were doing great good until I got to the front door. I tried to paint it and the paint would not take to the door. I am sure most people have experienced this problem but if you are working on someone else’s belongings it seems even worse when things are not perfect. After much effort I gave up with a thin layer of paint as the only thing to attest to my hard work. In short, the door looked awful. I stood and stared at that dreadful door for so long as my American head said it was not good enough but I could think of no fix. Shirley, the young mother and woman of the home, took one look at the door and said to me with a smile on her face, “This door is beautiful. It is my favorite door”. She could not stop thanking me for all the work I had done for her and her family. I just stood there in shock. What was not good enough for me was perfect in her eyes…
See, in Guatemala the people are not worried about material procession or where their next meal will come from. They worry about who does not know Christ. As Americans we worry about money, food, and claim that we trust in Christ. But take a minute can you imagine a culture where you not only trust but you depend on Christ for your every penny and every meal? I couldn’t until I met a couple who lived out the Fellowship Mission Statement – literally. If we lived our lives and our main goal was to “Equip and Unleash Christ- followers to change the world through lives of irresistible influence” we could change the world.
When I get asked about my trip to Guatemala, which is quite often these days, I realize that few words describe my experience there. The Church that we worked with, Iglesia Biblica, was the MOST outwardly focused church that I have ever seen. The members of the church are never bored or “sluggish” instead they are always serving. No story can give you a clear picture of what all I saw. The only way for you to see it is for you to go and see for yourself. My goal from here on out, is to live a life in complete trust of God. I want to serve every opportunity I have, be open to letting the spirit move in me, and ultimately; I want to make an impact for Christ that is not worried with superficial things but rather is so outwardly focused that people have to stop and stare. ~ Lauren Brown
· Hello. This is Mirim Han. Im from south Korea. and i have been here for 5months. iam living in dorm. but i dont have any relative, someone like that to rely on.. so i really feel lonely..and its hard to even go to grocery store .. u_u so im trying to find host family.. but i dont have a car.. so i think host family who have already student in ualr would be better. oh, yes im student in ualr. i will stay just here until december. i came here on january. so i will have been here for about 1year. i graduate from ielp on spring semester. and im 20. but im turning into 21 on july! i dont know what else i should write .. Haha… Sincerely
