Archive for February, 2008
ARC Graduation - February 27, 2008
February 28, 2008 – 8:37 pm
Clarence proudly received full honors at his graduation from the San Diego ARC.
“The Kroc Center is my church,” he said emphatically, “The Kroc Center, especially Pastor Van Cleef, is what gave me the strength to get through this program. The teachings on Nehemiah taught me about rebuilding my own walls and getting my life back together.”
Praise God! What a joy to share this fantastic life together in Christ!
Jesus Be My Valentine - Results Are In!
February 27, 2008 – 3:24 pm
| PROJECT DATE | February 17, 2008 |
| PROJECT LOCATION | The Salvation Army Kroc Church San Diego |
| PROJECT TITLE | Jesus Be My Valentine |
It started just like any other church service, but by the time it was over, everyone knew this Sunday was different. Something beautiful had happened that day, and everyone was blessed with a pleasant departure from the usual joy of worship.
We sang love songs. You know, like you might hear on the radio. Songs like “You Are So Beautiful.” We sang them to Jesus, the love of our church.
We enjoyed the company of guests: strangers, friends and family felt equally welcome to partake of something special.
And to top it off, we shared our Valentines. Poems, songs, testimonies, Scriptures and more: the sermon that Sunday was a creative fusion of so many different perspectives of the Savior.
Sometimes the best description comes from blending visions from every vantage point into one solid, incontrovertible 3-dimensional portrait - and what a beautiful portrait it is!
Here’s one of many:
A few more are below:
February 25, 2008 – 8:00 am
Aloha! and grace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
We’re continuing to unpack the four principles that guide our ministry: work hard, love people, discover their needs and tend your garden.
Last time we wrote we introduced our friend Alice Stiles. Based on our previous letter, it might be easy to assume Alice didn’t have needs. Years as a single woman officer in places like India and Bangladesh made Alice a formidable and independent person. She learned to survive on what she had.
Yet, as her pastors, we had to determine how we could best serve Alice. It took effort and time to determine her needs. Alice wouldn’t come right out and say, “I need you to listen to me.” That would be too easy - and actually, a little awkward. She needed to feel valued. She needed to know we heard her - listened to her - and would respond. She needed to know she was still relevant. And she needed the same things we all need. Respect. Love. Understanding.
Every day we experience people who do not or can not clearly express their needs. Part of our job is to determine real needs versus stated needs or wants. In our Family Services Office we often see people who say they needs a food box or Christmas toys. Often, what they truly need is help managing their finances, education, full employment or family support.
Sometimes they just need a listening ear.
The same is true for any arena in life. Our spouses, kids, bosses, employees, clients: they don’t always come to us with clearly stated needs. It takes time, patience and understanding to know and address real needs. And that is the heart of ministry. It is an investment into people.
All of us have this type of ministry in our lives because we all work with, and serve, people.
So…
Let’s agree to use all our energy in getting along with each other (and) helping others with encouraging words.
In Jesus,
John & Lisa Van Cleef, Captains
Administrators/Corps Officers
This is the third in a series of four letters unpacking the principles that guide our ministry.
Work Hard - Love People - Discover Their Needs - Tend Your Garden
Scenes From Church #8
February 24, 2008 – 12:30 pm
I Am the Gate
February 24, 2008 – 11:00 am SPEAKER: Captain John Van Cleef.SERIES: “I Am…”
TEXT: John 10:1-9
Scenes From Church #7
February 17, 2008 – 12:30 pm
News from Rwanda
February 13, 2008 – 7:35 am
Tracy is overseas on a short-term mission assignment, one of several for her in the last couple of years. Although her internet access is limited in her current engagement, she sent this along to keep her friends back home up-to-date.
Dear Church Family,
Thank you very much for all of your prayers. I am having a great time and loving it here in Rwanda.
The country is so beautiful, as we drive around and I look out at the views I am constantly in awe.
Unfortunately as much as we try, the pictures do not do it justice. My adventure out on the motorbike, was well, an experience to say the least. The purpose was to go out to talk to street boys and to visit a primary school, where they are many street children who do not have the supplies they need to do well in school.
By the time we got to the primary school there were not many children in the classes. Many children who live on the streets can only go to school half the day because they need to go out and find food to eat. There are even some children who do not attend school at all because if they do then they do not have any time to get food for themselves.
Today we were able to go out to villages to see some projects that are taking place at some of the different churches. At almost every stop we were given a gift.
Our first stop was a pineapple plantation. As we were about to leave the plantation the pastor’s wife went out and picked two pinapples and brought them to me. I was surprised but I was also very happy because the pineapples here are amazing.
Some of our other stops included a bee keeping project, goats, a water cistern, a mother’s group making mats and baskets, and a restaurant run by an HIV association to raise money for HIV orphans.
I am looking forward to sharing more of my experience in Rwanda with you when I return.
Tracy Pilewski
