Thursday, July 21, 2011
Loving Our Brothers & Sisters In Christ :)
So this year I am embarking on my fourth inner city missions adventure through @SunshineGospelMinistries. It’s once again, already a beyond fantastic time. I love all of the people, staff and the team. It’s for sure a different mix of people, but that is always something that you can love & appreciate.
Topics that we covered yesterday included the realization of looking at our earthly things (material items) & asking ourselves, if this was taken away/stolen from us, when we are truly are honest with ourselves, and come down to the raw truth, which would we be able to say that we loved more, “Do I love this material item or things more than the person who took it/God’s creation?” – The answer in most cases is yes, we do love our material items more than the people that God has put before us and called us to love (I also am VERY guilty of this sin myself) – But anyway, enough of my rambling ADD brain, In short, God calls us to love His people, not earthly things above it, relationships are more important.
We then continued to read an article about Kingdom Efficiency where we asked ourselves “Is the idea of productivity/efficiency bad?”. There was a plethora of answers, reactions were very mixed, but a lot of the main ones consisted of the fact that because God initially made everything good before the fall, anything can be good, but with the fall of sin, and the way sin plays into our lives, we can turn things into something bad, even if they do not need to be. In conclusion, it is very important to seek God in everything that you pursue and do, no matter what it is, because even if you dont think he cares, he is all knowing and is involved in every aspect of your life. Kingdom efficiency must have a “Gods-eye view” perspective. The author of the article stated at the end, “Obidience is the only trustworthy measure I have found…” to finding Kingdom Efficiency. Any earthly ideas (anything really) that is coming before your relationship with the Lord is bad
To summarize, God puts things/people in life for a reason & if God brings you to it, He will bring you through it, but you must keep him in each and every pursuit you have in life.
-Cara Thompson
Topics that we covered yesterday included the realization of looking at our earthly things (material items) & asking ourselves, if this was taken away/stolen from us, when we are truly are honest with ourselves, and come down to the raw truth, which would we be able to say that we loved more, “Do I love this material item or things more than the person who took it/God’s creation?” – The answer in most cases is yes, we do love our material items more than the people that God has put before us and called us to love (I also am VERY guilty of this sin myself) – But anyway, enough of my rambling ADD brain, In short, God calls us to love His people, not earthly things above it, relationships are more important.
We then continued to read an article about Kingdom Efficiency where we asked ourselves “Is the idea of productivity/efficiency bad?”. There was a plethora of answers, reactions were very mixed, but a lot of the main ones consisted of the fact that because God initially made everything good before the fall, anything can be good, but with the fall of sin, and the way sin plays into our lives, we can turn things into something bad, even if they do not need to be. In conclusion, it is very important to seek God in everything that you pursue and do, no matter what it is, because even if you dont think he cares, he is all knowing and is involved in every aspect of your life. Kingdom efficiency must have a “Gods-eye view” perspective. The author of the article stated at the end, “Obidience is the only trustworthy measure I have found…” to finding Kingdom Efficiency. Any earthly ideas (anything really) that is coming before your relationship with the Lord is bad
To summarize, God puts things/people in life for a reason & if God brings you to it, He will bring you through it, but you must keep him in each and every pursuit you have in life.
-Cara Thompson
Cara & Danielle are fantastic....
I am David and these are the coolest students.....EVER....theres also a few other rewally awesome ones...oh, and this may have jokingly been hacked..........hopefully David wont take this joke TOOOOO seriously. this has been a fantastic God sent trip for each and every one off us, it gives us a change of outlook, attitude and just makes us want to love people so much more in a Christ-like way. The trip is going fantastically <3
Monday, July 18, 2011
First Full Day in the City!
Today at Summer Blast we did vacation Bible school with the kids. It was amazing to see all the kids radiating with joy and energy. There was tutoring worksheets for them to work on, crafts, games, theater, and worship. They all have such unique and individual personalities. We also took a trip to Pacific Garden Mission. We toured there facilities and had the chance to witness all the incredible things that God is doing there and how countless lives have been changed through the care, Gospel, and love that Pacific Garden Mission provides. Today was a great first day to start our new found and growing relationships and how God provides and is faithful even in the bleakest times of poverty.
Mackenzie Smith
Mackenzie Smith
Sunday, July 17, 2011
We Have Arrived!
Fun Facts
After arriving at Sunshine, we went through a quick orientation before heading over to the home of the executive Director of Sunshine, Joel Hamernick, for a delicious dinner. Afterwards, we headed back to Sunshine where Joel talked about city basics and how we should approach our week here in Chicago. We also signed up for work projects, which includes:
1. Summer Blast VBS
2. STAY: a community greening initiative involving gardening and weeding
3. New Beginnings: a youth camp at the church we are staying overnight at
4. City Church: demolition crew to turn a former nunnery into affordable housing
5. Shonnie's Youth Camp: a youth camp focusing on health and wellness
We thank you for your prayers and that we all arrived safely. Please continue praying for our team, that we will stay safe at our work projects, and that the team will continue to have servants' hearts and be open to what God has to show and teach us. And for Dan McBride's snoring.
David Lee
- 5th year HYACKs is volunteering with Sunshine Gospel Ministries
- They offer a wide variety of services including a high school ministry, after school ministry, AWANA programs, technology training
After arriving at Sunshine, we went through a quick orientation before heading over to the home of the executive Director of Sunshine, Joel Hamernick, for a delicious dinner. Afterwards, we headed back to Sunshine where Joel talked about city basics and how we should approach our week here in Chicago. We also signed up for work projects, which includes:
1. Summer Blast VBS
2. STAY: a community greening initiative involving gardening and weeding
3. New Beginnings: a youth camp at the church we are staying overnight at
4. City Church: demolition crew to turn a former nunnery into affordable housing
5. Shonnie's Youth Camp: a youth camp focusing on health and wellness
We thank you for your prayers and that we all arrived safely. Please continue praying for our team, that we will stay safe at our work projects, and that the team will continue to have servants' hearts and be open to what God has to show and teach us. And for Dan McBride's snoring.
David Lee
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Some Thoughts...
It's crazy to think that in about a week and a half, our team will be heading to Chicago to assist Sunshine Gospel Ministries to give hope and the Gospel to urban youth. We've had multiple meetings over the past few months, learning about what to expect and the right attitude to have. An important thing that we have discussed regarding our attitude is to be humble and focus on God, not ourselves. Our goal is to partner with Sunshine Gospel and help them in whatever way we can.
Even in these few meetings, we've all gotten closer as we prepare ourselves for a week of ministry. I think I speak for everyone by saying we're all excited to see how God works in both our lives and the lives of the children and people we will be serving.
- Danielle Solis
Even in these few meetings, we've all gotten closer as we prepare ourselves for a week of ministry. I think I speak for everyone by saying we're all excited to see how God works in both our lives and the lives of the children and people we will be serving.
- Danielle Solis
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Chicago Impact 2011
Trip Dates: July 17-23
Meet at College Church at 3:30 pm July 17
Return by 11 am on July 23
Chicago Impact is an annual trip where students from HYACKs partner and serve alongside a local ministry in downtown Chicago. We will be partnering with Sunshine Gospel Ministries, located in the community of Woodlawn, through their program Bridge Builders:
http://www.sunshinegospel.org
Our team verse is Psalm 34:2-3:
Our desire is to learn and gain exposure to short term missions and ministry in Chicago and support the work already being done. We want to lift high and exalt the name of Christ together as a team and with Sunshine. Our goal is not to connect people to us, but to the workers at Sunshine who do daily ministry there. There are real physical and emotional needs, and in helping meet those needs, we want to accompany that with proclaiming the Gospel and showing the love of Christ to the people of Woodlawn. Please pray that God would be glorified and that the gospel would be heard. Also, pray that our team would have a proper attitude and perspective on this trip; humble and flexible with a desire to learn.
Thank you for your support and prayer.
Meet at College Church at 3:30 pm July 17
Return by 11 am on July 23
Chicago Impact is an annual trip where students from HYACKs partner and serve alongside a local ministry in downtown Chicago. We will be partnering with Sunshine Gospel Ministries, located in the community of Woodlawn, through their program Bridge Builders:
http://www.sunshinegospel.org
Our team verse is Psalm 34:2-3:
My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!
Our desire is to learn and gain exposure to short term missions and ministry in Chicago and support the work already being done. We want to lift high and exalt the name of Christ together as a team and with Sunshine. Our goal is not to connect people to us, but to the workers at Sunshine who do daily ministry there. There are real physical and emotional needs, and in helping meet those needs, we want to accompany that with proclaiming the Gospel and showing the love of Christ to the people of Woodlawn. Please pray that God would be glorified and that the gospel would be heard. Also, pray that our team would have a proper attitude and perspective on this trip; humble and flexible with a desire to learn.
Thank you for your support and prayer.
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