updates

     You may remember the story.  1 Samuel 4-7 recounts it.  The Philistines had captured the ark of the Lord, and after 20 long years, Samuel leads the people of Israel to defeat the Philistines and to recapture their precious ark.  The physical marker of God’s presence with them.  In celebration, Samuel sets up a stone and calls it Ebenezer, or “stone of help.”  Ebenezer was also the name of the city where the Philistines initially defeated the Israelites and captured the ark. What had been a place of defeat gets turned into a memorial to God’s redemption and victory.

Out of all the things we have, by God’s grace, been able to accomplish in our neighborhood in the past three and a half years, starting a Bible study has never been one of them.  Until recently.

REEL Joy is our youth ministry's annual video-production project.  For the past 5 years we've partnered with a local non-profit arts organization to explore our youths' God-given artistic talents while inviting new youth to join.  In March and April we were hard at work creating music videos.  Our youth did everything from analyze music lyrics, brainstorm plot ideas, and learn about film principles like montage and composition.  We then had a grueling, all-day filming day where there theatrical and technical skills were put to the test.  They have worked really hard, we’re super proud of everything they've accomplished

Servant Partners' church plant in Manila, Philippines is continuing to grow. Since its launching almost three years ago they have held several baptism services.

Our team in San Antonio partners with a historic African-American church that is located in a now mostly Latino neighborhood.  It used to be a neighborhood church, but over the years members have moved to the suburbs and a new population with a different culture has taken their place.  Our goal in partnering with them has been to help the church get involved in loving and serving their neighbors.  But it’s not always easy.