Newsong LA Giving

FAITH
Giving is an active expression of our faith. It recognizes God as our True Provider and affirms our confidence in His ability to supply all we need. It’s an act of gratitude and dependence.
Malachi 3:10 (NLT)
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the LORD Almighty, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Let me prove it to you!
As we listen to God’s voice and seek His will for our lives, His plan for giving will become obvious to each of us. In response, we can eagerly give, knowing that it pleases Him. Through our gifts, we prove faithful in the stewardship of all God has provided for us, while He blesses us beyond what we can imagine.

FAITHFULNESS
Giving requires the highest standard of personal integrity and discipline. It is not a casual or occasional thing. In 2 Corinthians 8-9, the Bible teaches we are to give willingly, generously, and cheerfully. And our pattern should reflect a regular and systematic plan.

What’s in your investment portfolio? Are you investing for the future? How about your investments for eternity? Newsong LA introduces the Mission Advancement Portfolio for your consideration. The Portfolio will feature a variety of ministries that are doing Evangelism, Justice, Advocacy, or Compassion.
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This is an opportunity for investing time, talent and treasure in God’s Kingdom.

You made it! We know it’s difficult to navigate to our support page, so thank you for your persistence. And thanks so much for offering your support to the Smith Family (Randy, Tina, Bryson and Paquita) as we continue our journey in Mexico City for the next few years...

August of 2018 marked the completion of our second year in Mexico. We’ve been working with El Pozo de Vida, a non-profit dedicated to eradicating human-trafficking. Estimates vary, but somewhere between 30-40 million people, mostly women and young girls, are currently enslaved around the world.

El Pozo runs several ministries to tackle this epidemic, approaching the problem systematically from a prevention, intervention, and restoration perspective (https://www.elpozodevida.org.mx/). Tina and I spend the bulk of our time at El Pozo’s safehouse for rescued minors, walking alongside girls under the age of 18 who will eventually testify against their captors. In a heartbreaking setting, this is the most rewarding work we’ve ever done. To see God move in such a powerful way, bringing hope and restoration to the hopeless, is an incredible blessing.

Over 150 people come to experience El Pozo’s work each year, some with short-term mission teams, some on their own, some as families. It’s our honor to assist in hosting these teams, and to welcome visitors to our home to soak in the invigorating spiritual revival that God is orchestrating, both through El Pozo and on the streets of Mexico City.

Every day reminds us of how blessed we are to have dedicated supporters like you. Thank you for allowing us to serve God in such a profoundly humbling way. Please consider a recurring monthly donation, since it allows us to better allocate our finances for the year.

We hope to see you soon!

Blessings,

The Smith Family

Culver City has been an incredible place for our family over the past five years. We were blessed for two years to be foster parents to Tony, who is almost 7(!) and reunified with his mom last year. This past March, we officially became a family of three as we adopted our son Dean, who is such a joy and delight. We have found a home and a family at Newsong LA and our Culver City community is absolutely irreplaceable. God has richly blessed us here. Throughout the past year, God has made it clear that he is calling us to something new. In January, our family will be moving to South Asia for one year while Patrick serves as a legal fellow with International Justice Mission (IJM). Working with IJM, Patrick will be able to use his legal knowledge and expertise to bring freedom to people who, at this very moment, are living as slaves.

There are millions of people trapped in modern forms of slavery throughout South Asia – more than anywhere else in the world, according to some estimates. While laws exist to prevent such heinous injustices, they are rarely enforced on behalf of the poor and most vulnerable. IJM is working to change that, to bring violence and injustice into the light, to rescue victims of violence, bring criminals to justice, restore survivors and strengthen justice systems.

We are excited and honored to join the men and women who are tirelessly pursuing this work, following God’s command to “Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.” (Isaiah 1:17). We know that we were once slaves to sin but have been set free, not because of our performance or good behavior, but solely as a free, undeserved gift from God, given to us out of his goodness and loving kindness. It is because of this freedom that we are able to leave our lives in the U.S. and pursue justice for people created and desperately loved by the God we serve.

IJM estimates that there more than 35 million people living in slavery today, that is 5 million more people than the population of California. That number is mind-boggling. We are not naïve enough to believe that we, or even IJM, are up for the task of fighting this evil. Only the One who spoke the world into existence is capable of it’s healing. So we ask that you join us first and foremost in crying out to God. Please pray that God would give strength, hope and freedom to the children, women and men who are held against their will, forced into labor and sexually exploited for profit. Pray for the perpetrators, that God would convict their hearts and lead them to repentance. Pray for IJM, that God would bless their work and bring injustice into the light all over the world. And pray for our family as we make this huge transition. Specifically please pray for community once we’re there, our marriage, health and safety, and especially for Dean. Pray that we rely on God for the compassion, patience and strength we will need to live in a place as foreign to us (and as hot!) as Mumbai.

We are also responsible to raise our financial support for the year. We are estimating our cost for the year to be about $31,500. We would be honored if you would come alongside us for the year.

Due to the sensitive nature of Patrick’s work, we cannot post our specific location or updates online. If you would like to receive updates or prayer requests, please email us at chelseydoust@gmail.com. We would love to keep in touch with as many of you as possible while we are abroad!

Kevin is working with IJM!

Ever since high school, I have been continually learning about God’s heart for the world and His message of love to all people. From my experiences in college and onwards, I not only discovered God's great compassion and desire for justice in our world, but I have come face to face with the fact that God is, and always has been, a God who sides with the weak and the oppressed.

In April 2017, I traveled with a team from Newsong LA to visit El Pozo De Vida, a safe home in Mexico City for girls rescued from human trafficking. It was during this week that God not only opened my eyes, but also catalyzed my desire to join the fight on behalf of the weak and the oppressed, especially those entrapped in the evils of human trafficking, a global epidemic that affects over 40 million people worldwide, always exploiting the most vulnerable of people (i.e. the poor and women and children). It was upon returning to the States that I felt compelled to take a leap of faith to work with International Justice Mission.

What is International Justice Missions (IJM)?

IJM is a global organization that protects the poor from violence in the developing world. They approach the fight against human trafficking holistically and practically, through rescuing victims, bringing criminals to justice, restoring survivors, and strengthening justice systems. By employing attorneys, criminal investigators, social workers, and other experienced professionals, IJM has brought the fight against human trafficking to the developing world, and change has already been realized for countless communities. For more detailed information, please refer to ijm.org.

What will I be doing?

Beginning in June 2018, I will be serving in a year-long program as a Government & Community Relations Intern in an IJM field office in South Asia focusing on fighting sex trafficking. Our team will be working with high-level government officials on various cases of sex trafficking, and helping the organization further study the current state of trafficking in South Asia. In addition, I look forward to the opportunity to learn first-hand from those in the trenches of fighting for justice.

How can you get involved?

Prayer is the biggest way you can partner with me in this internship with IJM. The fight against human trafficking is daunting, and many facets of the problem cannot be battled by IJM alone, but require the help of the Holy Spirit to be on the front lines. Please pray for the victims, those that have been physically freed but continue to battle emotional, psychological, and spiritual bondage, as well as those who are still physically enchained. Also, please pray for the many staff and volunteers, myself included, who step out in faith and devote themselves to fighting human trafficking.

In addition to prayer, you can join my support team and give financially. As this is a volunteer position, I am responsible for all of my costs throughout the year. I will be seeking to raise $20,000 to account for expenses including airfare, rent, and other everyday living costs during my internship. I am seeking monthly givers as well as one time donors to help sustain me through the year, and any amount that you may be able to give is greatly appreciated and of utmost value! If you are interested, I ask that you prayerfully consider and seek God in your giving as you partner with me in this fight for justice. Please feel free to contact me anytime via email at kevinbai32@gmail.com.

Motherhood is a challenging, yet wonderful gift. Moms uplifting moms spiritually M.U.M.S. helps to support mothers of young children (0-5 years old). It provides opportunities for women to fellowship with one another, sharing how God is working in their lives. We want to provide an open, nonjudgmental environment where moms can feel encouraged as they share the joys and struggles of being a mom of young children.

Our goal is also to evangelize to our local community. Fellowship between new moms is a perfect opportunity to share the good news about Jesus. Isaiah 41:13 says “For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” Many women are overwhelmed by the responsibilities of motherhood, desperately searching for community. We want to spiritually uplift and support these women, sharing how much God uniquely loves and cares for them.

Currently, we will be meeting the first Thursday of every month. We would like to use the funding to provide food, arts and crafts projects, organize a variety of “mommy-and-me” classes, and plan activities for moms of young children. We would be honored if you would come alongside to support our group, Moms uplifting moms spiritually M.U.M.S.

While Celebrate Recovery aims to be a self-supporting ministry from our own contributions, there are some required materials/training to safely launch CR and to follow the DNA of CR as follows. All the funds will go towards the purchases of the following:
CR Newcomer 101 DVD
CR chips (starter kit and additional chips/coins as needed)
CR lanyards for leaders
CR advanced leadership training kit
Leadership training and conference fees
Fellowship dinners and snacks for meetings
Any and all supplies and materials to help support the ministry