How does a poor local farmer on the plains of southeast Hungary become a church planter? It all started when the Holy Spirit convicted Bela and his wife, Bea, to consider a call to live out their faith in fresh ways... and to use fresh fruits and vegetables to do it.
A couple weeks ago a few of us went on a five-hour walk through the neighborhoods near downtown San Diego that lay just south of our own, Golden Hill. These two neighborhoods, Sherman Heights and further south, Logan Heights, have reputations that get worse the further south you go: gangs, severe poverty, mostly Mexican and Chicano populations.
The vision got sparked two years ago. My husband, Sean, and I were involved with a prayer ministry in Japan, and we loved it. Praying and singing God's Word, combining worship and intercession, listening to the Lord’s heart for a city, and seeing him open doors through our prayers. It was powerful to partner with God in that way, and we were sad to leave.
It's summer in Los Angeles, so that means two things: heat and boredom. I can't tell you how many times kids from the neighborhood knock on my door saying they're bored! It saddens me to hear this, so a little while ago I began to imagine some fun summer activities that we could do with them.
“This is a critical time in Cambodia. Won’t you come help?”
On my very first day at Punlok T’mey Boys’ Center, I couldn’t help but notice Darith. He danced into the building as soon as the doors opened, eyes shining with an engaging smile.