NEWS FROM THE MISSION FIELD: SUMMER EDITION 2023

NEWS FROM THE MISSION FIELD

Summer Edition 2023

Friend,

The first half of 2023 has seen some miracles take place both here at home and all around the world! We are excited to share these stories with you.

When we founded Community of Faith in 2003, we were dreaming of a church that reached people who had never experienced the love of God. You are a part of making that dream a reality. Over the years as we’ve held firm to Community of Faith’s vision that “love is the mission,” thousands of lives have been impacted.

We hope you will use this booklet as a guide for your prayers.

Your Pastors,

Mark and Laura Shook

MUSHROOMS AND MORE! KIBIRA PROJECT

We have been working in Kibira Forest since last August, reviving over 150 square miles of land that hosts both dwindling trees and exploitive agriculture practices by those trying to survive. We are beginning to see sprouts of progress.

One of the Batwa communities started to cultivate mushrooms. At first they grew just 542 bunches. But could it be the beginning of something – a cash crop perhaps? Working alongside our agriculture specialist they learned how to grow it in a way that did not take away from the land, but actually enriched it. The 36 Batwa farmers took the lessons from the training and got busy. To date they have harvested over 800 pounds of mushrooms! They are on track to cultivate more than 30,000 bunches this year, a sustainable income that benefits farmers and families alike. This is part of our work in Kibira Forest, helping with economic empowerment for the Batwa communities so they can make a good living without exploiting the forest.

When it comes to the forest itself, we began with nurseries. In August we started to grow, from seeds, four different varieties of trees and shrubs that are indigenous to the Kibira Forest. We nurtured over 1,400,000 plants in the last set of months, tending to them with care. So far we have successfully planted 1,200,000 of them! Reforestation is happening, which is good news for the communities who depend on this land for their livelihoods. It is also good news for Burundi at large, as this forest is the lung system for the entire nation.

This is what it

looks

like to transform land and lives in the Burundian rain forest!

COMMUNITY & BANKING

KAZOZA BANK

Kanyosha is a rapidly growing community and now the second largest one in Bujumbura. The neighborhood is heavily populated with young people looking for a way into the economy, a way to build a future. Kanyosha also is home to many current Kazoza Bank members operating thriving businesses. For some time now these business people have been asking us to open a branch in their community to make daily banking tasks more convenient for them.

But they also invited us into the heart of their community to see the potential of all those unemployed young people, their neighbors. “If Kazoza Bank is here, they will see you believe in them. They will start believing in themselves.” And so, in October the Kazoza team went to Kanyosha to host an economic training series for young people curious about business. We welcomed 480 students for the conversations around growing a new business and found many eager entrepreneurs in Kanyosha. Our members were right – we had to consider a more intentional partnership with this community to support the youth and grow the economy with them.

This month we opened a new Kazoza Bank branch – in Kanyosha. From the beginning this felt more like a partnership with this burgeoning community, accepting an invitation to work together to build a good future. The economic outlook in Burundi is hard, and it will take those community leaders with experience, the energetic youth full of promise, and our Kazoza team to create a new reality full of potential for the families of Kanyosha. We are honored to contribute our services and be part of the good work.

Sometimes a bank is more than just a place to deposit and withdraw money – it is a good partner for a growing community, it is a seed of hope in a hard economy.

FEEDING MORE BURUNDI FORTIFIED FOODS

We started feeding children at Kwizera Academy, our elementary school in Bubanza. First we offered a hot lunch every day and then we added a cup of fortified porridge each morning. That is when we really noticed a change in the health profile of our kids. They could pay attention longer in class, play with more energy at recess. Eye sight improved. There were fewer absences due to illness. These kids were getting stronger as they overcame the effects of malnourishment. It felt miraculous.

The national statistics for Burundi in 2019 revealed that over 52% of children under the age of 5 suffered from chronic malnourishment. Over half of Burundian children were constantly hungry, tired, weak, quick to get sick but slow to recover, likely to have stunted growth or premature death. But not at our school. We turned the corner with our kids - and we knew that if fortified porridge worked for them, it would work for others. So with the partnership of COF we opened Burundi Fortified Foods to make enough high quality porridge to distribute in many vulnerable communities across the country.

This season we were ready for expansion. So friends at COF partnered with us to increase our capacity in two key ways. First, to add a temperature-controlled storage facility that will allow us to hold ingredients for a longer time without spoilage. This means we will weather external changes like pandemics or other threats to the supply chain better, securing the needed porridge for children no matter what happens. Second, to purchase and import a massive generator so we have ample energy to operate our production line during the day and increase our capacity. This means that despite the poor power grid, we will be able to produce fortified porridge to feed children. These two gifts to BFF mean that our capacity to combat malnourishment has increased and stabilized in a precarious environment. We are grateful – and honoring those gifts with our hard work on behalf of communities in crisis.

The increased capacity of BFF, combined with our top shelf porridges and strong track record, allowed us to secure a contract with the World Food Program. We just started feeding an additional 1,000 students every day as part of their School Feeding Program. This is in addtion to the 22 communities we already serve. This is possible because of the good friends at COF who make feeding children and giving them a future a priority!

WORSHIP HARVEST UGANDA

No Limits in Uganda!

Felix & Martha Obete found their way into a Worship Harvest campus in Jinja one Sunday morning in 2012. From the greeters at the front gate to the people sitting next to them, they felt so welcomed by everyone. That very morning they were invited to join No Limits Missional Community.

Missional Communities are small groups that meet regularly to pray, play, eat, grow and go on mission together. These small groups are key to how Worship Harvest embodies God’s kingdom in various neighborhoods and multiplies church across Uganda.

Felix and Martha became committed members of No Limits Missional Community, where so much of their own discipleship happened. The small group grew from 36 to 50 – and more leaders were needed. Felix and Martha stepped up. They became leaders! Under their leadership the No Limits Missional Community planted 6 church campuses and raised up 9 campus pastors for the Worship Harvest network of churches over the last 5 years.

Now Felix and Martha are campus pastors, overseeing more missional communities. From first time attendees to campus pastors – there are clearly no limits for this couple and their passion for God’s Kingdom in Uganda!

COF KIDS EGG-CITING TIMES

Easter at Community of Faith was EGG-celent this year! Our kids team saw over 1,300 kids come and participate in learning about Jesus, his resurrection, and how through Him they can have a brand-new life! COF kids got the chance to worship, play games, hang out with their small group leaders, and even see an interactive magic trick to teach them about how Jesus can make them new.

Between services there was a buzz of excitement as families joined us on our back field for our first ever Easter Egg Drop. Thanks to one of our COF members, our kids had the unique opportunity of a helicopter flying low over the field and dropping 14,000 Easter eggs!

Speaking of Summer...did you know that COF Kids will be hosting three summer camps this year? Summer Xtreme: Time Travelers will take our kids on an adventure through time as they meet heroes of the Bible and learn that God uses ordinary people for extraordinary things, just like them! Summer Xtreme Jr. will take place on June 6-8 and will host four and five year olds on our campus for three nights as they learn about God’s purpose for their lives.

Summer Xtreme will follow on June 19-22 for our Kindergarten through 5th grade students. Hundreds will join us for an action packed week taking a journey to discover all that God has for them. We can’t wait to hear all of the amazing stories that will come out of Summer Xtreme this summer as kids step into their God given purpose and callings!

Community of Faith is also hosting Pine Cove in the City for the first time ever! The Pine Cove Camp that you know and love is taking over Community of Faith July 31- August 4 hosting an amazing day camp for hundreds of elementary students from across the Cypress area. They will come together to learn what it means to follow Jesus. Keep COF Kids in your prayers this summer as many children hear the Good News for the very first time!

COF SPECIAL NEEDS SUNSHINE MINISTRY

Twenty twenty-three started off extremely successful for the Sunshine ministry. Leading the ministry our special needs pastor, Cassie Kraus, was able to increase the staff by adding an associate, Jordan Shauver, as well as an intern, Avery Brown. In addition to new staff we have been grateful to increase the number of families we are able to serve both in church and in their everyday lives.

Cassie’s extensive experience and knowledge of the special needs community as well as the vast needs of the families has helped propel the special needs ministry to one of the leading ministries in the community. Cassie has more than nineteen years of experience in this field which makes her a valuable and instrumental part of not only providing the special needs ministry but growing it.

The Sunshine ministry had the privilege last February of being a host of Night To Shine, for the fifth year in a row. Other exciting monumental events this year have included several baptisms, baby dedications, graduations, and milestones.

Our special needs team has been blessed with opportunities to attend school events around the Houston area, school meetings, doctor visits, celebrations and family events of our various students. Furthermore to all of the great extra curricular events we have been able to do we have also served along side our student ministry, children’s ministry, and adult ministries to assist in making everything we do here at community of Faith accessible for the whole community alike.

In the coming year we hope to expand our ministry both in size and demographic. The special needs department will host various events such as social skills, Night To Shine, resources night, family night outs and more.

COF WOMEN FLIP THE SCRIPT

Exciting days are ahead for COF Women. We recently added a new member to the COF team, Women’s Pastor, Brittany Estes. She brings energy and enthusiasm to the ministry and has a passion for women that rivals none. As Brittany jumps into the role she desires to partner with women of all ages and COF ministries across the board. She believes that no matter your age, God wants to meet you where you’re at and show you how remarkable you are. With that in mind, the women’s team is working hard to intentionally plan for this next season. They want women to feel seen and known, to find community and connection, and to grow deep roots in their walk with Jesus.

A few weeks ago, the COF Women’s team hosted a spring event with nearly 700 women in attendance! Ladies had so much fun as they gathered and talked with friends new and old. They laughed, cried, and learned as they heard Brittany teach. The topic of the night was the labels women wear, labels that cause them to feel less-than, broken, and unworthy. Each woman was encouraged to exchange the harmful labels for a truth filled, Bible based, brilliant label – flipping the script on their thinking! Our goal is for COF woman to live like they were uniquely created, shining brightly for others to see, and as they do, pointing others to Jesus. That’s the hope for the women at COF as well as the women across Houston. The night was for sure one to remember and we can’t wait for the next one!

Brittany is so passionate about women (and even men) flipping the script in their mind and heart that she wrote a book all about it, called Flip the Script. This fall COF Women will be leading groups through her book as a study, so be on the lookout to see how you can join one. If you want to grab a copy of her book now, you can do so at church, on Amazon, or any major retailer.

COF MEN AUTHENTIC MANHOOD

This semester God has been doing some amazing things in our men at COF. In continuation of the study begun last semester, 207 men gathered for the Quest for Authentic Manhood: A Man and His Story. This semester we dove into the idea that every individual has a story and challenged the men to look back at their own stories! Through opportunities to look back on their own stories, the men were challenged to think about their relationships with their parents, and how they have shaped them as men. Countless men participated in deep conversations that have helped them to recognize and heal from the wounds of their past. It is vitally important that these men heal from these wounds to be the Authentic Men they are called to be. We know that it is only through Jesus that each of these men can find true healing.

The Quest for Authentic Manhood teaches these men how to have a relationship with Jesus and how to live like him. Each week the men are called to an action step at our action tent. Every action step challenges the men to reject passivity and lead their families in being obedient to God’s word. As a result, we have seen many of the men volunteer to serve and sign up to participate in small groups at COF. Every week the men desire more time for discussion and fellowship. This is because men truly long for deeper relationships and the Quest for Authentic Manhood provides the platform for these types of relationships to form! God is so good, and we cannot wait to see what he does through the COF Men in the semesters to come!

YEARS OF MINISTRY 2

Community of Faith celebrated 20 years of ministry in April of this year! What started as 5 people in Mark and Laura’s living room has grown into literally thousands of people worshiping God around the globe! Over the years, we have seen God move in radical ways to transform families and communities. We have seen new churches birthed, bodies healed, hope restored, and children rescued from the evil of human trafficking right here in Houston and all around the world. Community of Faith is helping to eradicate hunger in some of the world’s poorest and most difficult places. We are educating hundreds of children rescued from poverty, abuse, and trafficking. We are providing job training, small loans, and business training to impoverished families. We are providing medical care that has helped halt epidemics like malaria, as well as turn around the devastating mortality rate of mothers, newborns, and infants in areas that have had no access to healthcare.

Author Kim Meeder writes, “Miracles fill the space that is given to them. They can be as small as a twinkle or larger than the midnight sky. However, unlike dreams, miracles come to life. they are powered by the smile of an Almighty God and profoundly change all who are touched by them. Many have said, “Seeing is believing,” when in reality just the opposite is true: “Believing is seeing.”

We have truly witnessed a miracle come to life! Our lives and many thousands of others have been profoundly changed! God is still at work. He is still faithful. He is still good. We can’t wait to see what the next 20 years will bring!

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

My name is Ashley Gebora. I have been with COF for 10+ years. We started out as quiet, sit in the back church goers, not really trying to make any friends but God had other plans. In 2015, my soon-to-be-great-friend, Kristy Stark, led a missions meeting and afterwards, we were ready to jump in head first into international missions. We signed up for Costa Rica and shortly before we departed, my husband Kaci got baptized, which, in itself, was kind of a miracle.

Fast forward to February 2023, visit one was to Kolkata. Remove yourself from an American mindset and now you’re in a place where a woman’s voice is much smaller and opportunities are fewer, but God has moved mountains in the lives of so many women, especially single mothers. These women are trusting others to care for the everyday needs of their children so they can learn a skill that would give them the option to leave sex-work. Mother-to-mother, I can’t even imagine a comparable scenario.

Visit two was to Siliguri to visit Changing Destiny. This place is aptly named, they are, in fact, changing the destiny of hundreds of lives at a time. The moment you step onto this property, you feel such a positive energy. The Holy Spirit is working within the staff and the kids. We had the opportunity to speak to several of the staff members, many of whom are believers. They are truly the hands and feet of Jesus on the ground and spreading His love. The children (literally) were leading worship and just energizing each other through music and prayer. It’s awe-inspiring knowing the background of many of these kids whose destiny was nearly to get pulled into sex-trafficking and now THEY are leading worship alongside their class and dorm mates. What could have been a desperate situation for them was turned into a best-case scenario, only something God can do with the limited resources that were given to them. He found a way when there was no way.

This was the trip of a lifetime. Just to be a witness to God’s miracles across the world and be able to come back and share is something few of us get to do and it’s an amazing opportunity to get to visit our partners across the world!