Woodway Apartments Outreach - Vision

God has graciously given Destiny Church a vision for the city of San Antonio, especially the community around the church campus. This vision falls under City Quest, a ministry that began several years ago to reach our city with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Various group and personal efforts have been made by members of Destiny to fulfill this call and God has blessed these outreaches.

Events/Outreaches that are already happening:

• Arise To Pray - a city-wide men's prayer gathering.
• The Gathering of Pastors - a city-wide pastor's fellowship that meets monthly at Destiny.
• Outreaches to surrounding apartment complexes bringing gifts to children and practical love.
• Cgen Student Ministries partnering with the San Antonio Food Bank to sort food.
• Vacation Bible School attracting children and families from the community for a fun week of ministry.
• The Holy Spirit giving each of us many opportunities to share our faith with our friends, families, and even people we've never met. All of this has been a wondrous work of God's grace.

Well, there are certainly more outreaches to come. In fact, the Men's Ministry of Destiny Church, under the leadership of Armando Basaldua, have planned an outreach called the Woodway Back to School Party. It will take place on August 23rd from 11:00 am - 2:00 pm, at the Woodway Apartments, 8100 Pinebrook Drive and Callaghan Road. This outreach will include worship music, drama, testimonies, preaching, BBQ, back to school supplies for the kids, and relationship building. Mike Ybarra has been appointed as the outreach leader for this event and has been working closely with both Armando and Ted Thevaos to make this outreach a success. Many have already volunteered to serve and God has assembled a spectacular team. If you would like to join the team please contact Mike Ybarra at 689-7255.

For those that will be on the outreach team we want you to consider a key strategy that has been developed to ensure the best follow-up possible. Our goal in doing this outreach is to communicate the gospel of Jesus Christ with love so that people can be added to the family of God. We've found the best way to do that is to build a relationship with the people we are ministering to. The music, drama, preaching and other tools are important to bring people to Jesus, but that's just the beginning. We must continue with relational oriented follow-up. Here are several ideas we want every volunteer to consider joining us in.

Follow-up ideas for those who come to Jesus or you become friends with:
1. Make an effort to befriend at least one person or family.
2. Have each person fill out a response card.
3. Personally deliver a free worship CD.
4. Invite an individual or family out to a restaurant or to your home for a meal and fellowship.
5. Give an encouraging phone call and prayer. Ask them how their new faith is going.
6. Invite them to church or offer to bring them to church if they need a ride.
7. Invite them to the small group you attend. It may not be as threatening as the church building for the first visit. Consider gathering a small group in someone's home at the Woodway Apartments.
8. Any other creative ideas that come to mind. Let the Lord lead you!

Our goal is to equip and empower the volunteers that minister at a particular outreach to be the follow-up team. We believe this is the most natural and effective way to bring people to Jesus. In fact, friendship evangelism is still the most effective way of reaching people for Jesus. Thanks to all that are a part of the team. God's going to bless you for your obedience and sacrifice.

Finally, we want to urge everyone to pray and fast for this important outreach. Let's believe for God to save souls and add people to his loving family.

written by Ted Thevaos (Children's Ministry Pastor)

Back To School Sunday 2008

The entire family is invited to our September 7th Back To School Sunday Celebration starting at 10:30 am. Children ages 6-12 will join the adults in the Family Life Center (FLC). This is a time to bless our children and young people as we send them back to school for the 2008/2009 year. Come expecting to celebrate communion, pray blessing over our children, and receive a message geared toward the family.

Ted Thevaos, our Children's Ministry Pastor, will be speaking a message entitled "The Blessing Exchange: God's Generational Promise." Come discover God's generational promise for you and your family.

Having the children with the adults this first Sunday in September is the beginning of a new change. After prayer and discussion the pastoral team of Destiny has decided to have children between the ages of 6 and 12 join the adults in the FLC the first Sunday of every month. This change was brought about to give our older children an opportunity to worship with their parents, as well as, join them in communion. What a great opportunity for parents and the church to model the Christian faith to our children.

All other children's classes will continue as usual.

• Nursery (Ages 3 months - 2 years, FLC, Room 300/301)
• Destiny Park (Ages 2 1/2 - 3 years, FLC, Room 400)
• Big Kids (Ages 4 - 5, Youth Center (YC), Room 105)
  

written by Ted Thevaos (Children's Pastor)