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đź”´ Ministry Letter: Compassion Day

August 02, 2023

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Short Version (1 min.)

Compassion Day:

We helped Trinity host an event to educate people on how to practically help those in need, share about a Trinity family’s experience with foster care, and inform people about ways to serve.

Outreach:

There are several families we are continuing to care for and share God’s love with.  Please pray with us for the Green* family (name changed for privacy), Zaira, Kari, and Molly* (name changed for safety purposes).

Support Update and Next Steps:

Our new support amount is now set for 2023. We are continuing to partner with Trinity OC and are also beginning to explore the what it might look like to bring 

to Orange County. 

Family:

Judah, Ezra, Joy, and Evy are growing and doing well.  Please pray for our wisdom and joy in parenting to grow, even as we face the limitations of our natural patience and physical energy.

Long Version (~3 min)

COMPASSION DAY

“God has given us all these talents and resources.  If we aren’t using them for the Gospel and to bless others, then what are we doing?” said Fernando as he spoke to the group gathered for Compassion Day.

Our friends Fernando and Michelle Mora are some of the most generous people we know—with their money, their time, and their love.  Michelle had always had a heart for foster care.  Fernando didn’t.  “But God and I are like this,” she said as she crossed her middle and index fingers, “so I just prayed that He would work it out.”  

Five kids (including twins—another reason we like them) later, the Moras prepared to bring the new baby of a family member into their home, as the parents we unable to care for the newborn.  After that situation took a turn and fell through, Fernando and Michelle were left wondering what to do with the new baby items, foster care training, and a new van big enough to seat 8 people.  

“Do you still want to do this?” Fernando asked his wife.  “Let’s go for it!” Michelle responded.

And so they waited on a placement for another foster child.  After several months, they were connected with a pregnant mom who was addicted to drugs and would need a safe home for her new baby girl.

Esther* (name changed) was born a few weeks later, tiny and addicted to the same drugs as her mother.  The Moras took her in, weaned her off the drugs, and began navigating the roller coaster of emotional and behavioral struggles that so often accompany children in the foster care system.  But they stuck it out.  Currently, they are in the process of trying to adopt her—another roller coaster of its own.

Apart from caring for Esther, the Moras are always on the lookout for other families in need.  They help other foster families they learn about through Facebook groups and frequently meet needs posted on CarePortal as well.

“It’s amazing how, when God calls us to do something, He is always so faithful to provide,” shared Michelle.  “We can trust Him to give us everything we need to do it.”

It would be easy to look at the Mora family and just feel inadequate.  I want to serve, but I don’t know what to do, I’m scared, I don’t make enough money to give away, and I don’t have time.

Thank God for the Gospel.  We don’t do good things to earn God’s favor.  We could never do enough.  Jesus did everything required for us to be made right and brought into a relationship with Him.  We do good things out of the joy and love we have for the God who loved us first—and for the people He made and came to serve.  The God who gives us an abundance of good gifts so that we can enjoy Him and help others enjoy Him too. 

We don’t have enough knowledge, courage, resources, or time to do things perfectly.  But will we trust the God who does? 

EQUIP:  BASICS OF MEETING A NEED

Many of us come into contact with people in the community who are asking for help.  These individuals may be asking for money, groceries, or help finding a job.  So often, we feel helpless to know how to respond.  Here are some basic steps to help you get started:

  1. Your safety must come first. Do not open your purse or take out your wallet if you feel it may be dangerous.

  2. Make eye contact and personally engage with individuals. Never simply hand out a resource, but sit down and talk with the person, listen to their story, and express concern.  If there’s time, explain the motivation of the gospel in the church’s service.

  3. Simple mental intake form: take notes on the person’s basic information, including identity, contact information, background, and current situation. If they are unwilling to provide these details, and they still asking you for help, that is usually a red flag.

  4. Log all aid requests, and check for previous assistance. Verify whether the person is seeking help from multiple sources, such as the county or other agency. 

  5. Provide assistance through a group. Make every effort to avoid reliance on a single person, and prevent making that person the central source of assistance. 

  6. Give help “in kind” gifts. Give aid in the form of goods or direct payments to creditors (not cash) to protect against misuse.

  7. Initially offer aid with minimal requirements to ensure it’s a real need (e.g., ask them to fill out a form first). Assess their financial situation for repeat asks. 

  8. Follow up. Ask them if there is anything you can pray for them about.  Usually, people do open up and share. If the door does open, share the gospel with them without making it a requirement for receiving aid. 

If you have questions about any of these points, please reach out; we would love to talk with you about them!  These are simply principles to start with.  How they are carried out will look different for each person/compassion team/need. 

  David recently was given an opportunity this June to preach the gospel at a friend's wedding.  OUTREACH

There are a few individuals and families we are trying to reach out to right now.  Please pray with us that God would be at work in their lives and hearts.

  • The Green* family (name changed for privacy) is a family of 4.  The parents are believers, and one of the parents and children are having significant struggles in their relationship.  The family has been under a lot of stress as the father has been attempting to secure a job for the past year.  Please pray for us as we love this family.  Please pray for reconciliation between the parent and child.

  • Please pray for Zaira as she cares for her family as a single parent.  We have not seen her at church recently.  

  • Molly* (name changed for safety) is a mom of a toddler who is attempting to leave a domestic violence situation.  She also recently and suddenly lost her own mother.  Please pray for her as she works on making arrangements for her mom, deals with grief, and looks for a safe place for herself and her child.  Pray that we would support her in loving, helpful, and empowering ways.

  • Kari is a mom friend whom Reagan met at a local playground last year.  She is not a believer.  Tomorrow (Saturday), we will be going out with her, her son, and her husband (whom we will be meeting for the first time) to Adventure Playground.  Please pray that God would open up the hearts of Kari and her husband to desire to know about Him.  Pray that we would be loving and winsome as we grow in relationship and demonstrate our faith to them.

  RUF-INTERNATIONAL

Although we do not live overseas anymore, we still have a passion to reach people from nations where the Gospel is scarce.  Reformed University Fellowship (RUF), the campus ministry arm of the PCA, is hoping to establish an international student ministry at a university in Orange County within the next few years, and David is considering applying for the role of RUF-I campus minister once he completes seminary and ordination requirements.  Although our ministry organization and day-to-day work would look different in this role, we would remain in a very close partnership with Trinity.  Please pray that God would open or close doors according to His will.

    Support Update:

    Our board has approved a new ceiling update. This number is lower than the US HUD - Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, CA HUD low-income requirements for our family but includes an increase in aid for seminary costs.We have almost 85% of our needs for the 2023 ministry year. We will need to raise an additional $1,421 per month to hit our goal. Here is a breakdown of what this could look like: MONTHLY DONATIONS 1 person at $500 per month 2 people at $300 per month 4 people at $100 per month 3 people at $50 per month 3 people at $25 per monthWith rising inflation and our family growing, could you pray about a possible increase in funding or help refer us to new potentially interested partners? We'd love to meet with them in person or on Zoom and share the vision of this ministry with them! Please pray for God's provision as always.Just as the apostle Paul relied on making tents to fund his missionary trips, we started a coffee business to supplement our income. All proceeds directly support our family and pay for future diaper needs. We currently only carry single-origin coffees of the highest quality from 3 different farms. Feel free to order some free samples! www.faithfulsaintcoffee.comIf you would like to learn more on how you can partner with us, you can ask us, check out our website, or click the button below!

    If you're interested in fresh coffee, let us know; we can roast a 

     for you! Every bag helps us pay for diapers and Sposie Pads.

    Family

    All the twins are doing well.  Judah and Ezra (2.5 years old) are growing in their speech and autonomy.  Joy and Evy (7 months) have started eating solid foods, sitting up, and army crawling.  

    How About You?

    As we pray for our ministry partners, we really like knowing we are praying for specific, current things in their lives.  , we would love to hear an update on your life and how we can pray for you.  

    Thank you for your faithful giving and support. We definitely can't do this work without you!In Christ,David, Reagan, Judah, Ezra, Joy, and Evy