Of all the events and things that I as a Pastor have the  priviledge of doing, the most rewarding is equipping and empowering kids to minister to kids!

Our kids gave out of the abundance that they have been given during our Mexico Mission's trip.  Not only did they give financially in order to go, but they gave out of their hearts the love of Jesus that they have received.

It was great to watch our kids perform a mime each day, be the photograhers, taking pictures of each child so that we could print them and help them make foam frames to decorate and to help cook hot dogs and serve each child with chips, cookies and condiments on their "dog."

Playing soccer on a dirt road, twirling a jump rope while kids ran in and out, trying to keep up and seeing who could make the hoola hoop circle their bodies the longest brought smiles to everyone.

One of the greatest joys for me personally, was watching 4 of our kids share their testimony at a very small local church during their mid week service. (our team more than doubled the size of the congregation that night) Each one shared about how having Jesus in thier lives has changed them and how they see the world differently and they know that they are loved.

We are in an amazing church that allows us to sow into the next generation giving them opportunities to be disciples for God here at home and on the mission field.  I can't wait till next year's trip!

Here are a few more pictures to enjoy!

Singing our prepared song in Spanish

It was so full at this site, people were peering around the backdrop to see what was going on.

Friends on a shopping outing!

Maureen sharing the gospel message with our interpeter, Marcus!

Setting up at Socorro's  (she is in red on the left) home, tarp, and backdrop in a narrow side yard!

Luke helping the boys with the necklace craft.

This past week my grandma went home to be with Jesus. 

On August 3^rd she would have turned 90!  I was celebrating with her that she finally got to go home to be with the one she loved so dearly, her Abba!

 If it were not for my grandmother (and my grandfather, who went to be with Jesus nearly 20 years ago) it is very possible that I would not be a Christ follower (Christian) today!  Because of my parents divorce when I was 18 months old, my dad remarried a woman whose parents (my grandparents) were ministers in a Pentecostal church. In fact my grandfather gave his life to Christ at Canyon Country Foursquare Church; also known today as the Sanctuary.  My grandparents began taking myself and my sisters to church when I was only 7 years old.  I asked Jesus to be Lord of my life and forgive me of my sins when I was 8 years old in a Sunday School Class at Sepulveda Foursquare Church.

My grandparents lived with our family off an on throughout most of my school days.  It was in those formable years that I saw my grandma actually live a life of worship without waiver.  I never saw or heard of her doubting God’s love for her.  I never saw fear in her, even when they had nothing or my grandfather was being rushed to the hospital by ambulance for the umpteenth time.  I never heard her raise her voice in anger, or say an unkind thing to another person.  I never heard a course joke from her mouth, or make fun of another person.  I am pretty sure she did not know the definition of sarcasm, let alone use it!

I tried at her funeral to summarize who my grandma was not only to me but to an enormous family of 7 children, 22 grandchildren and too many great and great-great grandchildren to count.  The best way I could verbalize it would to speak of the fruits of the Spirit.  “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control…”  Galatians 5:22, 23

The legacy that my grandma left is not only represented in our family who have chosen to be Christ followers, but in the life that she lived daily.  My grandma loved unconditionally (and believe me there are many in our family that have been hard to love), she always had joy in the midst of trials, when she walked into a room she brought peace with her. Her patience was beyond what anyone could have asked for. (Living with my grandpa for over 50 years was proof of that)  Not only was my grandma kind and showed goodness in her actions, but in her tone of voice.  Her gentle spirit helped to bring others to repentance and never once did I ever see my grandma lose her temper or shout at someone.  She always exercised self control.

I am part of the legacy that my grandma leaves. Though I struggle daily to walk fully in the fruit of the Spirit I am blessed to have had a role model to look back on the rest of my life that assures me that I can do it too.  I can represent the love of God and have the fruit of the Spirit daily in my life and I can leave a legacy that will spur others on to do the same!  I will miss my grandma in the natural, but I know that one day we will be reunited together in the presence of our Abba!

Pastor Julie

Our team of 24 just returned last Friday from Tijuana, Mexico This was our 4th annual Champs Mexico Missions Trip.  We were privileged to be joined by Living Stone Foursquare Church in Mission Hills who brought 4 kids, 1 youth leader and their Pastor’s wife, JJ Vercellono.  It was an amazing week that has left all of our lives changed!

Our kids not only did an excellent job in all of the tasks that they were given to do, but also they showed depth of character and spiritual insight on a daily basis.  Daily we worked together played together and prayed for one another as well as the lives of the children and adults we ministered to in Tijuana and Rosaritos.

Here are a few pictures from our trip.  I will post more pictures next week and give more details about what we did!  Thanks for all of your prayers for us while we were away.  They were felt on a daily basis.

Pastor Julie

Aidan sitting amongst the kids in an outreach.

Faith learning to barter in the marketplace.

This morning I decided to ride my new bike I got for Christmas to work instead of driving. I've been saying out loud for about 2 months that since I only live 2 miles from the office I could save on gas and get some necessary exercise.

In preparation for this morning, I took my lap top and other briefcase items I would need to the office yesterday, so I could carry a light backpack with a change of clothes and a brush and hairspray to fix what I knew would be a bad hair day after sporting my very stylish bike helmet.

Fortunately our bike path is right outside of our gated community and I knew it ran behind SCCS right by our offices so I would not have to ride on the Soledad Canyon.

I set out, helmet on my head, backpack on me, with pretty shakey legs.  As I'm riding along I'm thinking to myself, what are the rules of the road?  I know them for driving, but it has been a very long time (and I mean very long) since I've used a bike for practical transportation.

On a bike path there are no signals, not really any intersections, no stop signs (though I did pass a water fountain, which shocked me).  Much to my joy, there was no traffic either.

What I did find was an elderly man walking his dog, a homeless man under the bridge reading a book, a boy about 5 years old (on the otherside of the fence) with his mom and his baby sister in a carrier and last but not least a man walking to work.  Each person that I passed, I said good morning to and smiled as big as I could.  The 5 year old boy said Hi first to me, which of course made me smile.

The only thing I did not plan for was there was no exit or opening near SCCS to allow me to cut up Luther to the offices.  This I did not plan for.  I stopped, surveyed the situation and even contemplated climbing over the fence and trying to lift my bike over.  Trust me that thought passed quickly.  I began to pedal further down the path till I saw an opening, that went into the mobile home park right past the theaters.  I took the opportunity, rode through the park till I found a street that came out onto Soledad. I was relieved when I saw a signal.

I sucessfully arrive at our offices, took my bike in, changed into non sweaty clothes (that way everyone in the office would still want to be around me! :) )  and began my day.

It felt like the first day of Kindergarten in a way.  I learned that you can plan and anticipate only so much, so you need to remain flexible!  Smiling goes a long way, I should try that while I'm driving in a car and last but not least, saying good morning to people you pass, not only will make you smile, but them as well!  It may be the only smile they receive the entire day!

I can't wait till my ride home!

Pastor Julie

Brandon giving the kids a treat with some cards tricks!

Mr. Fridlund and the boys!

Our almost 6th grade girls during free time on the water slide!

The beloved Mr. Sandeen. He's been here so many times he has enough past T-Shirts to get through each day at camp!

One side of our girls cabin.  We had 25 girls total.  Oh but look there is a boy in the picture?!?! 

Julie Kliewer and Nurse Diane, watching some of the Victory Circle Fun!

Josh, our amazing Sound man, trying to decide what color he wants his hair!

Taylor getting ready to launch a ballon to earn team points!

Chole and company cheering on the "green" team!

It's the Grace and Grace Show! 

Lamont sharing his guitar talent with the worship team!

Luke, Ethan and others in worship!

Stephanie, Destiny, Faith and T.J. First time campers!

This is what happens when Pastor's have too much time on their hands!

The story of Daniel, Hananiah, Azariah and Mishael took center stage at Summer Camp last week!  Our kids had an amazing 4 days of learning, worshipping, crafts, games and just plain ole fun on water slides, with BB guns, swimming and a night time of activity playing indoor laser tag in a blacked out room with “black lights” and fog machines making it a lasting experience.  Oh and don’t forget the infamous “hay ride” looking for bears!

51 of our kids went to camp, some for the first time, others for their fourth time.  All of them have come home changed.  Oh, you might not see it yet, but give it time.  God is at work in all of them including our leaders, who gave of their time to sow into the lives of your children!

Pastor Marty did a fantastic job teaching our kids about Daniel’s character. He was “Faithful,” “Completely Trustworthy,” and “Always Responsible.”   Daniel knew that he could not stand on his own and that he needed God to help him to stand strong against bowing down to idols.  He also knew that he needed his friends to stand in prayer with him and against the king.  (Sounds like what we need too!)  Who we are what we worship and how we live, was the topics presented to the kids.  Be sure to ask them about what they heard and learned.

We had difficulty at camp with the internet connection so we were not able to post pictures like I had hoped.  However, here are some for you to enjoy, I’ll post more later, so if you don’t see your child, no worries, there are more to come!

Thanks for allowing your kids to be at camp, as we partner with all of you to lay a spiritual foundation in their lives, I can see MANY leaders, teachers, evangelist and missionaries in the making as well as amazing friends, worshippers and those who love deeply and have a compassion that is beyond the norm.  Keep up the good works parents, the best is yet to come!  J