Hi.

Dawn here to let you know that I'm working on getting the word out about the renovation we're doing on the Children's Room at the Alhambra Police Department. For more info, see the Fact Sheet on the project below:

(click on the top right corner to open a larger version)

Read this doc on Scribd: Alhambra Police Dept Children's Room FACT SHEET

or email me and let us know how you'd like to participate.

There are opportunities to donate funds for specific items; toys, books and furniture for the room; or help out on a work day to renovate the room.

Blessings to you as you consider how you might participate in this project!

Hi, this is Dawn. I'm the new Kingdom Causes intern. I'll be working on this blog going forward, so let me know if you have any ideas or comments. The comment button is right there for your convenience!

:) Dawn

We Care
by Esther Siu, City Intern

During a brief stay in Hong Kong back in mid December last year, I noticed how busy people were. The fast pace, long working hours and tight living conditions can take their toll on folks. It was not difficult to notice the various ways people tried to release some of their stresses.

One morning while walking to a museum, my husband and I took the shortcut through an alley. Two men were cursing at each other over a parking space and it turned into a brawl. One afternoon at the metro station, a woman was yelling at her husband on her cell phone. While waiting for our turn at the ATM machines, a young man kicked the door in frustration on his way out. But the story that troubled me most took place on Christmas day. A woman was killed by an oncoming train as she jumped off the platform in what seemed like a suicide attempt. It saddened me because she had chosen to end her life on Christmas day. Her circumstances must be very difficult.

These stories are not unique to Hong Kong. We hear of them in Alhambra. As churches, what are our shares of responsibility towards the problems in society? What if these stories take place within our churches? Of course, it is unrealistic to assume we have the solutions to people’s problems. For some individuals, the issues are deeper than what meet the eye but we can make a difference. What does it mean when we say, “we care”? What kinds of practical help can we offer? The Mental Health Task Force at Kingdom Causes wrestles with these questions and is here to support pastors and church leaders who are also wrestling with these questions.

On the second Sunday of each month the Task Force gathers to discuss the needs we hear from different congregations. Our team members are made up of counselors, chaplain, therapists and pastors. We share our experiences, resources, and concerns. We encourage mental wellness awareness, discuss preventive measures and intervention for those with more serious mental health issues. We want to be good listeners. We sent surveys to pastors and churches in Alhambra to find out the various needs in the different congregations. Partnering with them we hope to find solutions. In the upcoming round-table discussion in May, the Mental Health Task Force invites you to join in this dialogue. Let us know of concerns and the challenges your church is facing. We may not have solutions to every problem but we do want to say, “We care.”

“The leper came to our Lord begging him, and kneeling he said to him, ‘If you choose, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, “I do choose. Be made clean!’” (Mark 1:40,41)

Note:
If you are a church leader in Alhambra and would like to take part in this survey, please email us: alhambra@kingdomcauses.org

Looking for signs of HOPE in Alhambra

What are signs of hope? The Webster’s Dictionary defines hope as “to desire with expectation of obtainment, to expect with confidence, to anticipate or look forward to the coming or occurrence of.”

What do you hope for? What do you look forward to? What does the Church and City hope for?

As believers, we hope for God to be made known in our city – for the sign of God’s promise: that He loves us and will not leave us and that He is transforming us and our cities. We hope for healing, transformation and redemption for ourselves and for Alhambra. Is this a wishful hope or a realistic one?

God promises that He will be with us - Ezekiel 48:35 "And the name of the city from that time on will be: THE LORD IS THERE."

And we know according to God’s Word that He has plans and purposes we have yet to see for ourselves and for our cities/communities.

What does the City hope for? Healing, purpose, future, survival?

God promises to restore the land and the people. But do we believe it? Do we look for it? Where do you see the Lord in our city? What hope can we share with this City? If God is alive and well in Alhambra – what are the signs of His hope here?

Last month there was a gathering of people representing the Church and City in the LA region who came together to share, learn and see the signs of God’s hope in the LA region. Signs of Hope LA (www.signsofhopela.org) challenged us to be aware, to see that the Lord is here in our cities.

What do you think? What do you see in Alhambra? What do you hope for?

Narnia, a place of eternal winter?

Last month I was able to see The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. The movie is a book-to-film adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ timeless adventure that follows the transformative journey of four children – Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter as they enter the magical world of Narnia through an ordinary wardrobe closet belonging to an eccentric professor. Narnia is a fantastic land inhabited by talking beasts, dwarfs, fauns, centaurs and giants. Once peaceful, Narnia is now at war, cursed to an eternal winter by an evil White Witch and held captive through violence, corruption and fear. As the children learn more about this new world, they find themselves in the middle of an epic battle of Good vs. Evil. There they are confronted with echoes of an ancient prophecy, the guidance of a mystical and noble lion (Aslan, the Christ figure) and the possibility that they will be responsible for changing the future of Narnia.

What strikes me in this story is Narnia – a land of eternal winter. What does that mean to always be in winter – no hope of spring, summer or fall, just winter? Narnia is a place where there is life but life is lived in fear, always looking over one’s shoulder for the white witch. She is unpredictable and can freeze people at her beckoning. She rules with brutal coldness. Narnia is a place where community is broken, people are afraid and lonely. Is this what Alhambra looks like? Are we living in a sort of Narnia state? There are signs of hope in Alhambra but do we live in a place where winter prevails; no matter how hard we try, poverty and distrust grow?

As believers and followers of Aslan (Jesus) we know that winter will not last forever. The perception given is that winter will last forever but the truth is that summer will return – all things will be restored. That is not just hopeful wishing but a promise of God.

As we pray for God’s Kingdom to come to Alhambra it is not just wishful thinking – we know that Narnia will be restored into all that Aslan had intended. And Alhambra will be the place where God’s Kingdom comes as it is in Heaven.

Partying with Jesus

On November 23rd (the Wednesday before Thanksgiving) the Church of Alhambra gathered together for a party (a Thanksgiving party). We came to unite to love Jesus, to give Him thanks and to rejoice in God's presence in Alhambra. In Ezra 3:11 - the people of God gave thanks to the Lord because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. We see that God has laid a foundation of His love, peace and joy in Alhambra. He is here. And we want to party because that is something to be really excited about. Not only do we see God here in Alhambra but we see that He is weaving the Church together. What does it look like when the people of Jesus come together and truly experience His joy and love? How can we celebrate together when we are so different? As the diverse churches: Assembly of God, Presbyterian, Missions, United Methodist, Catholic, Nazarene, etc. representing several languages and ethnicities came together, everyone's eyes were seeking Jesus. When our focus becomes Jesus, His joy becomes real. As that happens, the beautiful mosaic of God comes together. Christ brings meaning and understanding to our diversity. At times we can just look at what is wrong with our community, church, others, self. We look at what isn't there or what is there that shouldn't be there. But sometimes we need to stop along the way and look for the signs of hope and party with God for what He is doing. We have been given more than we know! Party on....

Living into the John 17:23 call

John 17:23 “May they (the Church) be brought to complete unity to let the world know that You sent me (Jesus) and have loved them (all people) even as you have loved Me (Jesus)”

What does it mean to come together for the well-being and blessing of the city? What is Jesus saying to us, the Church in John 17:23? John records the last prayers and words of Jesus to his disciples before His crucifixion and resurrection. Jesus is imparting key truths of God’s Kingdom to the believers. Jesus is emphasizing the necessity of UNITY.

What is unity? The word unity that is used is actually the numeral one. Jesus is calling the church to walk in unity so through the oneness of the church, the world will know. The call and purpose of the Church is to walk in unity so that the world will know Jesus.

As we study the great revivals of history, we see that God moves powerfully in particular communities and brings His transformation where two common themes exist: prayer and unity in the Church seeking the face of God on behalf of their city. You would never find one without the other. Unity was not the means to their end of revival rather unity was the very core of their existence.

God demonstrates unity in His character as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. All three are separate individuals yet they live as one. The Church (the collective Church) is called to demonstrate this unity in our identity. Even though we are individual churches and may belong to specific denominations of churches – we are still collectively one as the Church in the city and world.

Jesus says that when the world sees us, the Church live and walk in unity, then the world will see the love of Jesus. This is not an easy call. How do we balance individualism and uniqueness in the context of unity and collective identity? How can we all get along when we believe our practices and ways alone are the right way? How can we walk in unity when we at times don’t even like other believers? Unity is only possible through the sacrifice of Jesus who restored what was broken and through Him we are united with the Father and with each other. His sacrifice restored what was broken. This unity is possible by the power of God through the Holy Spirit empowering believers to do things we cannot do by our own strength. The call to unity is a call to humility, sacrifice and surrender. This is God’s call for His Church.

God’s call for the Church to walk in unity is a life-long journey and process. We are beginning to live out this call of John 17:23 in the community of Alhambra. On 10/30/05 four churches came together to sponsor the Hallelujah Harvest Fair. Alhambra Bethany Church, Alhambra Friends Church, Alhambra True Light Presbyterian Church and Chinese Bible Missions Church LA partnered together to bless the community of Alhambra with God’s love. We are four distinctively unique churches and yet were able to partner together to be a witness to God’s love for Alhambra. We each brought gifts and strengths to the event and it was so amazing to watch God weave all of the aspects of who we are together as an outpouring and demonstration of His love for Alhambra. We had game booths, crafts, bouncy house, a skate park (a ministry of Bethany Church), food, the Police Department did a K9 demonstration, the Fire Department brought their truck to teach people what they do, bands played proclaiming God’s love through music. This was a completely free event for the community because we wanted people to be blessed by God’s love and presence. The coming together of these four churches was key to God’s love being seen. We can do many things as individuals; however, we can do so much more when we let God bring us together. This is God’s call and heart for us, His Church, His people.

Relationship and Community Building in Alhambra

Relationship and Community Building in Alhambra
God is a relational God and He has called us into relationship with Him, each other and the world. And one of the ways we see the Lord is in our lives and in the way we love each other. God has called us to build relationships and community.

Relationship and Community Building with the Church
We have several intercessors who faithfully meet every Saturday morning from 8-9am to pray for Alhambra. They are excited to see God move in this city and answer prayers. Their hearts’ cry is for God’s Kingdom to come to Alhambra as it is in Heaven. They are not only seeking God’s presence and relationship with Him but also they are seeking relationship with each other. They are praying for God’s people to come together in prayer and life so that the world will see the love of God as we walk in unity (John 17:23). God has called us to be connected to each other as God’s people, His Church and His Bride.

Relationship and Community Building with God’s creation: people
Just recently a few pastors and myself were in a local Alhambra restaurant. We had become friends with the restaurant owner and he knew that we were pastors. He watched us for a few weeks as we came in and then finally asked us if we would have time to teach him about the Bible. “Of course”, we all replied. We began a Bible study with him through the book of Mark. It has been exciting to explore God’s Word together and see God guide our times together. The world is so hungry for Jesus. We are made in God’s image and our very being hungers to know Him. We didn’t have to ask this restaurant owner anything, he asked us. It is exciting that he came to us to ask but it reminds me that we should be taking the initiate to model God’s love in our lives and be quick to share it, not just in response to a question but before we are asked.

Relationship and Community Building with the city for YOUTH
On August 16th the West San Gabriel Valley Partners for Youth will hold its first youth summit. This is a team consisting of school administrators and teachers, the YMCA, churches and other non-profit organizations. We are seeking ways to address the needs of junior and high school students after school. This is a great way for us to partner together for the YOUTH of our area. We want to discover the needs, understand what is being provided and work together to meet the unmet needs. This collaborative represents how the people of God can work with their community for God’s Kingdom Causes – so that His Kingdom will come to Alhambra and the Greater LA area as it is in Heaven. God’s heart and love is for the City. God’s call for us is to connect with the city and demonstrate His love and peace.

Relationship and Community Building – its God’s heart and it’s our call!

Welcome to the Alhambra blog. Please join me as we dialogue and partner together with God in His work in Alhambra. I am excited for all that God has ahead for us and Alhambra.

Alhambra is located eight miles east of Los Angeles and is often referred to as the "Gateway to the San Gabriel Valley" - an entry point to the cities of the San Gabriel Valley.

Alhambra means red city palace in Spanish. Alhambra, Spain was known as a city kingdom. It was built by the light of the torches, which gave it its red hue.

Alhambra was also known as a place of refreshment and growth because at one time it had the largest vineyards and orchards in the country during the 1800s. Water flowed abundantly into Alhambra. Alhambra was known as a place of refuge and refreshment.

Three symbols: gateway, city palace and place of refreshment.

Erwin McManus writes in his book The Unstoppable Force, “If you can discover and unwrap a culture’s metaphors (symbols), you can begin to understand the essence of that culture…”

Let us pray for God’s redemption of those symbols. We pray for the Kingdom of God to flow through Alhambra, the gateway city, for Alhambra, a city palace, to be a place that reflects the values and reality of God’s Kingdom and that Alhambra will be a place where all find refuge in Jesus.