August 2009

Dear Friends:

BANG
This month opened with a bang as the WeR1 band headlined both fireworks events in the region.  The City of Anderson granted us 2 hours, and we filled it with praise to the Most High. The City of Redding graciously allowed us twice the time of all other participants, 70 minutes! Both nights had a blessing from God on them.  People in this region are realizing more and more that God is not confined to the four walls, but His people are a mighty force of grace all over the place!  The band is on break right at the moment, but we should be back in action in the fall.

BUFFER
Just today, a city leader spoke to me on the phone saying, "We need you and your non-profit to be a buffer between us and the many services offered by the community you represent."  They want to work with the Church at large but have their hands tied when it comes to working with one individual church. One gal who works with a County agency stated that she is going to begin giving to our initiatives because she sees that all the other avenues are plugged up with red tape and don’t work.  As we met with the coordinators of the Public Health grant, they too mentioned how excited they were to see this particular thrust (SafetyNet Community) spearheaded by a group like ours.  Favor on all sides!  Call it an optimistic disposition, but I believe all doors are open!

BROCHURES & BREAKING NEWS
So, this month's progress included freshly baked brochures for SafetyNet, My Watch, and Project 18 as well as a summer installment of the Track Record. Karen has been working all the angles to bring these products to life this month, along with John Freeborn, myself and others.  She also produced 3 minute and 12 minute versions of the infomercial on SafetyNet Community. Watch for these to pop up in your local fellowship this fall - and JUMP into the story!  We need 10 more mentors for Project 18 right now.  Next training is the evening of Sept 10.  Go to www.safetynetcommunity.net - check things out!

BLOCK PARTY
MyWatch kicked off in Robert Wigington's home neighborhood of Alta Mesa, drawing a crowd of almost 60 people on a 106 degree day!  Want to start your own MyWatch neighborhood?  Now is the time!  Contact us.  It's fun and opens the way for followers of Jesus to influence and disciple whole neighborhoods.

BEAUTIFUL
Check out the newly updated website.  http://www.wer1net.net.  It rocks. Tyler has outdone himself again.  Amazing creations come out of that Shuster household on the hill!

BLESSED BREAKAWAY
It's not all work around here, we got some AWAY TIME in this month.  Shuster’s went up north and Thompson's went west to the beach.  

BUSINESS
I was given a brief sharing opportunity in Red Bluff with the group Dan Berry heads up. Non-denominational workplace fellowships like this are invaluable.  I encourage you to be involved in one or start one if nothing is going near you. Our DVDs work well as discussion starters and we have many more resources at our fingertips to suggest to you. Just ask, or check them out on the website.

BRIEFING

• August 28 is our last LOT of the season.  Come help out with the dunk tank, paint nails for girls and talk with them, do portraits or art tables or supervise. Loads of street kids are coming (plentiful harvest) and less church helpers showed up (laborers are few) this last time creating interesting scenarios.  
• Sept 10 is the Project 18 training for new mentors. The website has applications and all the info about what mentoring involves.
• September 17 to 24 will be a week of prayer, with prayer tents and more.
• LYNK II is slated for October 2009 , a pastoral leadership gathering is on the docket for October 1, and that same night, we plan to host a regional, interdenominational Transformation and Worship night with Gaylord Enns from Chico sharing on ‘the command of Christ.’

BLESSINGS
As we lean into the fall season, we pray God’s blessings and fresh ideas on you. May you be invigorated and receive revelation and insight into your area of influence so that the King and His Kingdom can come in your midst ever more brightly.  We are seeking a deeper walk with church and community leadership at this time, so pray for me as I do another round of contacting and dialoguing.  Pray that church fellowships open to allow us to share briefly in their morning services about SafetyNet opportunities.  Pray for favor with businesses I speak to about becoming Project 18 destination points.  Pray for laborers, mentors, homes to open to transitioning women coming out of abuse.  Pray for MyWatch leadership, consider becoming a block coach for your street.  Pray for continued giving and protection of our families and time. Call on us, we are here to serve!

Believing,

Jon and Natalia for the team

 

 

 

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