Off to an Amazing start

If you’ve been around Southside City Church this year then you are fully aware of the amazing way God is moving and transforming lives.  The power of the gospel is a reality in our lives day after day.  Isaiah 60 says, “darkness has covered the earth.  Deep darkness has covered the people of the earth, but nations will come to Your light.” 

These verses are ever before us as we minister in the “near” Southside district of Fort Worth.  Darkness seems to have covered the people, but they are coming to the Light of Christ as we,  His people live out our faith.  It’s a battle, but Christ has won!

Updates on SCC Ministry:

Men’s Prayer

Each Wednesday morning the men of SCC gather for a time of prayer at 8:00 a.m. in the fellowship hall.  Join us as we grow together in our communion with Christ and one another.

Women’s Bible Study

Sunday evenings at 5:00 p.m., women gather for Bible Study and prayer.  This group is open to women of all ages.

Children and Students

SCC is blessed with passionate and dedicated leaders who minister to our children and youth each week.  Growing numbers of children and teens are making their way to Southside each week.  Our prayer is that we will be able to minister to the whole family and see as we do in the New Testaments, entire families coming to know Christ.

Glory Girls

 A group of young women led by Kelly Garrison teach our girls the beauty of dance as an expression of worship to our God. 

Burkina Faso Missions

February – A team of five traveled to Burkina Faso West Africa.  Over 600 people gave their lives to Christ and will be connected with the local church there in Rimkieta.  Pray for Pastor Zongo, Sama and others as they reach out to win the lost and equip believers as mature believers.  Be sure to check out the video on www.southsidecityvhurch.com/burkina .

Future – A team from SCC will partner with others in a return trip Fall 2012.  More information is coming in the next month.  If you feel called to go in Fall 2012, you can begin by getting your passport, yellow fever shots and begin raising funds.  The cost of the trip is $2000.00

BURKINA FASO/TOGO Missions

SCC supports a team of young Burkinabe evangelists who travel to local and regional villages as well into other countries around Burkina Faso to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.  $160.00 per month supports a pastor and his wife in one of the villages where new churches are being planted.

Southside City Church Home School

Our teachers and students started the year off well.  We currently have 15 students with openings for additional students as we continue growing.  I’m so grateful for the ladies who teach and serve each day.  They do so without a set salary and have been so willing to give their time and energy into these young lives and their families.  Please pray with us that funding for SCCHS will increase significantly allowing us to pay our teachers regularly.

Clothing Center

SCC has developed an ongoing clothing ministry led by Gerri Auvenshine and Quinese Brewer.  They along with many other volunteers keep the clothing organized and ready for distribution.  Believers from many different churches have donated quality clothing and each week many people benefit.  We anticipate growing this ministry in the days to come.  Look for opportunities to become involved.

True Faith Community

Great News!  We have crossed paths with other believers who have heard, seen and believe in the TFC housing ministry vision.  Currently we are looking at expanding the housing ministry in 2012 to include up to 8 homes.  Some of these homes will be single family dwellings, others will be discipleship homes for men and women.  A report will be given on the first Sunday in March.  Pray that we can develop teams to help make the houses into homes once the properties are available to us.  Pray also that we will have discernment in meeting the housing needs of up to 20 individuals and families in 2012.

Monday Night Freedom Ministry 

Monday nights are a time of worship, prayer and growing in the freedom that is ours through Christ Jesus.  7:00 p.m.  We offer several groups to help people gain freedom in areas that are specific challenges in thier lives: Living Waters, Made to Crave, Grief Support and CR twelve steps/8 principles.

Worship

 Kyle Garrison leads our congregation in worship each Sunday evening along with a gifted and passionate team of musicians and singers.  I’m so grateful for the men and women who give themselves so selflessly in worship.

HIV/AIDS Support and Outreach

From the beginning, SCC has been involved in partnering with Samaritan House of Fort Worth in caring for the needs of those living with HIV/AIDS.  We love the people and enjoy monthly supper clubs and our annual Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations with the residents at Samaritan House.

Local Benevolence

SCC provides food, clothing, rental and utility assistance to families in our church and in our community.  When we have the resources available, we use them to provide basic needs.

Hispanic Church

We are currently praying for a pastor to lead in beginning a Spanish speaking congregation as part of SCC.  Other local congregations and our association are ready to partner together to begin this new ministry.

Deacons

We are ordaining James (Jimmy, JJ) Johnson as a deacon at Southside City Church on February 26 in our regular worship service. Current deacons serving are, Noah Weatherly, Steven Powell, Kirk Graves, Wesley Wilson. Please pray for our deacons and their families as they lead us in serving our community and church family.

SCC continues meeting each week on Sundays, with Bible Study at 5:00 p.m., Worship and 6:00 p.m. and dinner following.  Monday evenings we’ve been blessed to provide Celebrate Recovery to members and others in our community who are overcoming life’s hurts, habits and hang ups, where 109 different people have found the message of hope and our team ministered to 15 people per week on average.

Sundays at SCC there’s a storm of children and youth who come through the doors.  On average we’re ministering to about 30 children and 20 youth each week.  You can’t imagine what that’s like, until you’ve seen it; a storm indeed, but a wonderful storm that we welcome at SCC.

This year our active membership has grown to 140, and we joyously baptized 26 men, women and children.  We are forever grateful for how God is moving.

Quinese is a young mother of seven children who came to SCC on July 4^th with her children and her grandmother, Geanie (Granny) who has been part of SCC for 2 years now.  Quinese found a home and began volunteering in our clothing center as a way to give of her time and talents.  She has a precious countenance, suited for serving those who come to the clothing center for assistance.  Several weeks ago, Quinese yielded her life to Christ and on December 4^th was Baptized along with two of her children. 

Steve and Annette connected with SCC in October when Annette attended the ladies Retreat at the invitation of one of our women who lived in the same complex as them.  Annette began attending regularly.  Steve told me recently, “the first time Annette came back from your church and I saw the look on her face, I knew I had to go to that church.”  Steve joined Annette and have quickly become part of our family.  Recently some of the members of SCC helped move them into their new apartment which is within walking distance of SCC.  I’m looking forward to seeing how God will use this couple to minister to others in need.

Joe stopped by the church a few weeks ago.  He was stranded without a way to get home.  That morning he found out that he was laid off of his job.  Concerned with how he would be able to provide Christmas gifts for his daughter, and even how he would get home that day.  I took time to pray with Joe and assured him that SCC would provide Christmas for his daughter.  He called me for a ride to church the following week and has now been with us two weeks.  Joe called this morning 12/12/11 to let me know he was hired as a cook at a restaurant on the North side.  “I knew there was a reason why I was meant to go to your church that day.”

Holly is a young mother of six children and one on the way.  Her family lives two blocks over from the church.  They have been attending SCC for over one year, but it was back in the spring that Holly yielded her life to Christ.  She’s been growing in her understanding of the Bible as Mom (Gerri Auvenshine) meets with her every Wednesday morning for Bible reading.  Holly and three of her children have been baptized this year at SCC.

Owen and Kathy and their two children became part of SCC this year and it’s been an amazing blessing to watch God use them in so many ways.  Owen quickly became involved in our transportation ministry; each Sunday he picks up folks from one of the local nursing homes in our community.  Own and Kathy have become a part of our family and are tremendous servants.  SCC Home School has been blessed as they have come on several occasions and provided wonderful meals for the children’s lunch.

Tung If you’ve been around SCC long, you’ve heard his name.  Tung has been with SCC since the very beginning when we were meeting in the park.  This year he yielded his life to Christ and was baptized as a public profession of his faith in Christ.  Tung is always serving with the kitchen team and has become part of my family as well as the family of God.  My sisters, Linda, Belinda, Mom, Mom Sue and Dalana and Tung are our faithful Kitchen team each week.  Tung has a love for all people and recently invited a friend of his to church.  That evening she gave her life to Christ and was baptized on December 4^th.  Carissa also dedicated her 3 month old daughter Isabella to the Lord that same night.

Bill and Sheila prayed for a season and felt God leading them to move into the “near” Southside community almost one year ago.  Bill serves on our staff as a Pastor.  His gifts are in administration, audio/visual technology and he’s also a drummer.  What I’ve loved watching happen each week in 2011 is how God has knit Bill’s  heart to SCC and the vision of reaching the outcast of our community with the merciful love and provision of God.  God’s benevolent heart has been imprinted on Bill’s heart.  Sheila is a merciful, giving woman of God who serves as part of our worship ministry.  Her gift of leading others to the precious throne room of God has blessed SCC beyond measure.  She is a faithful partner in ministry with Bill.  Their commitment to serve is a refreshing to my soul.

Lori happened upon SCC last December while serving as a case manager at one of the local homeless shelters.  God gave her to SCC and we are forever grateful.  Lori left her job to become the director of pastoral care and the overseer of the first True Faith Community home, known as Esther House. 

Kim, Jennifer, Donna and Jackie are the teachers of our SCC Home School.  These women are heroes to me.  They made huge sacrifices in life, leaving jobs, income, home and other plans to follow God in opening the school.  Without any promise of income, they have served the children of our community because they know it’s what God has called them to do.  The difference they are making each day as they teach and minister Jesus love will bear fruit not only on this earth as the children grow to maturity, but also eternally.

There are countless other stories that could be told of lives that are being transformed through the ministry of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The best thing I could do is encourage you to stop by one Sunday evening and experience it all for yourself. 

True Faith Community and the Southside City Church Home School are new ministries both launched in the Fall of 2012 after a long season of prayer and waiting on God to open doors.

TRUE FAITH COMMUNITY
Esther is a full house and the vision of SCC and True Faith Community is God’s promise of faith unseen!  The ladies are unpacked, settled in, rooms decorated, making meals together, and sharing life! It is precious to witness how God has His hand upon His daughters.

The ladies have unique life stories… so very different yet hearts united.  All three ladies were “homeless” living in shelters and on
couches.  It is Father’s love for His daughters that through TRC and Esther House that they have a “home.”

The ladies are diligently looking for employment, settling personal matters, reconciling with family, involved with SCC, bible studies and volunteering.  A wonderful couple has committed to the ladies to create a budget and are committed to walk with them.  This is just the beginning!

Your donations and financial commitments to TRC and Esther House grow
women of God and advance the Kingdom.  Prayerfully consider walking
with these ladies by partnering with TFC and Esther House.  $450 per month sponsors one individuals “life fee” providing the basic needs, allowing them to grow toward independence and wholeness.

“We will never end homelessness until we end the homelessness in our hearts.”  ~~  Lori L. Jankowski

“IN [this] freedom Christ has made us free [and completely liberated us]; stand fast then, and do not be hampered and held ensnared and submit again to a yoke of slavery [which you have once put off].”
Galatians 5:1

HOME SCHOOL

Southside City Church Home School began with four teachers, two assistants and four students and has grown to 16 students in our first semester.  Donations from Tarrant Baptist, Texas Baptists and other local congregations and families made it possible for SCC Home School to begin.  Our teachers and assistants have been so gracious to serve faithfully with the understanding that salary is based solely on the donations that are received each month. 

Most of our students come from low income families therefore we do not require tuition.  If we were funding our school based on a proposed budget, the charge would be about $350.00 per month per student. 

We are currently praying for individuals, families, churches and businesses to sponsor a child’s tuition each year in full or in part.  This will allow the school to pay a basic income for our teachers and staff, provide curriculum and educational opportunities in addition to the very focused, nurturing education they receive at SCC Home School.