Kingdom Kids

We had a great day at Kingdom Kids yesterday. It was our second week for the semester and still full of energy and there were so many kids. Lord, please let it be like this the rest of semester. I met a new family on my block last week with two kids that have come to Kingdom Kids for the past two weeks. The little girl is in this picture with the beautiful smile. Her name is Najiber and her brother's name is Jaiber. She has such a beautiful heart and just seems like a little sponge right now. Pray that God draws her to Himself and she chooses to follow Him!
Her are some of our helpers listening to Ashli give us some instructions before going out to pick up the kids. We have some adults, teens from the neighborhood, and students from Philadelphia Biblical University. We are so thankful for faithful helpers to love our kids and teach them His truth!

Here are some girls singing along with some of the songs.

Here are a few faces from the boys side. Ths little guy in the middle is Justis from down the block from us. He has five brothers and sisters and loves coming to Kingdom Kids and running as much as possible. Pray that he knows Jesus and desires His justice!

More faces of Urban Hope

Here are some precious faces from the nursery. Ryan is one of our faithful nursery workers every month. If you are ever here visiting and want to help out in an easy way, ask to help in the nursery. We can always use help! Ryan is with Deonte and Judah, both seven months old.
Nathan is two years old and loves to play. His mom and Dad have come to Celebration on and off for the past year or more. Pray that their whole family would follow Jesus and live for Him!

This is Aiden anf he is two years old. He has an older brother named Ethan. His mom Christina has beem around for several years, but isn't following Jeseus yet. She is interested in joining the first principles class this fall.

Samuel is two years old and repeats everything he hears. He is very smart! His dad Jason is the leader of our church and his mom Christy helps out with many things in the neighborhood and the church as well. Praise the Lord that Samuel has parents that love Jesus!

Some faces of Urban Hope

Welcome to Urban Hope Community Church! Hopefully you can come visit us soon, but if not, maybe these pictures will hold you over until you do!

Bruce and his son Jason--Bruce is such an important part of our church! I had a breakfast with my Cornerstone girls last week where they cooked for and served their parents. We cleaned up some, but then needed to go, so I was planning on finishing things up on Sunday morning before Celebration. When I got there, the dirty dishes in the sink were gone, the clean dishes in the dish drainer were put away, the stove was wiped down, ang the nursery where the younger siblings had played was cleaned up. That was all Bruce!

Left to right: Christy (just started at Temple last month and is our pianist on Sunday mornings), James (our worship leader and guitar player, high school history teacher), and Alex (our bass player, grew up in the neighborhood)

left to right: Alex, Sam, Carl, Hilda, and Ashli

Left to right: Nolan and Sarah (just moved here last month, Sarah is teaching 2nd grade at Hunting Park Christian School and Nolan is selling Kerby vacuums--if you're interested, talk to him!), Dave (he and his wife Kelly have lived here for over a year, he helps a lot with sound on Sunday mornings), and Ryan (my handsome husband, the greeter for the day with the bulletins in his hand, he is a warehouse leader at Cardone Industries, which re-manufactures car parts)

Joe Ryan--He is running the sound along with David on Sunday mornings. He grew up in the neighborhood and he and his mom are a part of the church here. He is in school at the Art Institute of Philadelphia and he helps make videos for the church from time to time.

Pray for Cheryl and Mary

I'm sorry that I still don't have any pictures of youth camp yet. I will keep trying and hopefully someone will give me some soon!
We had a meeting on Sunday after Celebration with all of the leaders of different ministries to get on the same page for starting the new semester. My friend Cheryl was there. I have told you about her before. I have known her for two and a half years and she has been coming pretty regularly to Celebration for that time. Her and her daughter Katie have been over to our house numerous times, we have been over to their's, we have prayed together, read the Bible together, gone grocery shopping together, and just lived life together. We have had many talks about what it means to follow God and what the Bible teaches. On Sunday, Cheryl was filling out one of the volunteer applications for children's ministry (she helps out with the nursery once a month and is my Kingdom Kids street helper) and the first question says something like "when did you first decide to follow Jesus?" She had filled the whole application out except this question and the second that said something about describe how you are growing closer to him now. She comes up to me and asks what the first question means. I said, well, when did you first realize you were a sinner and give your life to Jesus to save you? She said, well, I think that was the first day that you came to my house to meet me and then I started going to church. I said, it's asking something more than just when you started going to church. That's a change on the outside--when did Jesus change your heart? Do you know if you died today that you would go to heaven? Cheryl, these are really important questions--way more important than just questions for an application. Cheryl said, "well, I'm not perfect yet!" I said, that's the whole point. You won't be until you get to heaven. We don't have to be perfect before we get to heaven because no one would ever get there. The Bible says (Acts 16:31): Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved!" Cheryl ended up writing down that she is still seeking to learn more about Him. I was so thankful for those questions on the application. We have had so many talks and I have wondered if she was following Jesus yet, so the answer is no, but I'm not discouraged. Please pray that God would get a hold of Cheryl's heart today. He is the perfect one who can take away her sins. Pray that the Holy Spirit would be speaking to her big time and she would respond.
One quick update on Mary, too. It's been a tough few months for her as she's been saying no to the Holy Spirit's power inside of her. She had a talk with Ed, our director from Indiana who's staying out here until the end of the year, on Wednesday night and re-dedicated her life to the Lord. I have been praying for that for all of these months and saying things and writing things when God would lead. Thank you Jesus, for not giving up on Mary and not giving up on any of us. We are so messed up but you still love us and are patient with us because of your great mercy. Thank you! Pray that Mary would stay committed to you and her boyfriend would chose to follow you so they can be a family together loving you and raising children to love you. Pray that she would put on her armor everyday to fight off the devil's attacks.