Missional Life Update

Promises Kept, An Origin Story

Contributed by Missional Life Ministry Team member Carolyn

Gerakos

“A generous person will be enriched, and one who gives water will get water.” Proverbs 11:25

What a promise! The origin story of our relationship with our sister church in Tijuana could not be a better example of this promise. It all began twenty-nine years ago during spring break. A group of Geneva youth joined over a thousand other students from around the country to offer free Vacation Bible School to children in local churches outside Mexicali, Mexico. Students went door- to-door inviting kids to participate and were then assigned to one of the churches to help with VBS. Each evening the youth and leaders gathered back at camp for worship.

“Camp” being just pup tents in a cow pasture, leaders soon realized they needed a real shelter for inclement weather and to use as a gathering place. Enter Dave and Sandy Lammert. The Lammert motor home became that place. For the next six years, the Lammert’s would accompany Geneva youth to Mexicali for this annual sojourn.

Pastor Devir Perez, who is now so familiar to our congregation as the Pastor of our sister church in Tijuana, Iglesia Nacional Presbiteriana “Dios Con Nosotros”, had not been assigned one of the VBS groups to help their church, so the Geneva group adopted them. This was the beginning of our relationship with Pastor Devir and his wife, Arcie. In 1998, Pastor Devir was assigned to a church in Tecate, Mexico and were living in one room at the rear of the church with a dirt floor, no bathroom and no heat. When Dave Lammert discovered this, he recruited Paul Aunt and Harry Bethke and in just over four months they, along with many youth and adults, built the Perez family a home. Dave Cappelle, a high school senior at the time, drew up the plans. Over sixty people from the congregation helped supply money, materials and labor to complete the project.

Eventually, the Perez family moved to Tijuana where they now reside. Geneva has been providing financial support to Pastor Perez and his Mission churches since 1996. The Perez and Lammert families became very close, a friendship which continues to this day.

Register for Vacation Bible School

July 17-21, 9am-12:30pm

Geneva offers free Vacation Bible School every summer for preschool through 5th graders. During the week kids learn about Jesus through lessons, crafts, games, snacks and singing. Register today at genevapres.org/events.

VBS Volunteers Needed

Come help with our fun-filled VBS week. Workers must be at least 6th grade and older. Nursery care is provided for children of volunteers. Here’s what we need:

• Registration – Help us welcome families and check kids in and out for the day.

• Small Group Leaders –Shepherd your assigned group to and from rotations and assist your charges in each one when needed.

• Craft Assistants – Helping students and leaders with the day’s project.

Volunteer online at genevapres.org/events, call the church office at 949-837-2323 or email Pastor Ryan at rromberg@genevapres.org.