What a Holy Sprit led and filled evening!!! Thanks again for Eric and Tera Bezko for hosting and Eric’s as always incredible meal, what a blessing. Here are a few highlights from the evening and a few intros to the group that are new.
- It is always so awesome to have our model of a GOD’s man Grant Van Cleve join us and give us some updates on how his team is working with some Global markets in the Tech space to provide more kingdom capital. Most of his work is still in Albania as it has been for his family over the past few decades. His family continues to be in the missionary space around the Globe what kingdom impact this family has made and continues to.
- Our great chef Eric spoke of the incredible impact Olive Crest has been having and his passion for foster kids for the last several decades. He has fostered several kids and continues to make many Kingdom connections, not only on his patio but around the Globe. His wife Tera has a ministry Finding Freedom International, and their team has a training program to train the front line of restoration caregivers to those that have been sexually abused and exploited to help them find their freedom in Jesus Christ. They have a global footprint and have an upcoming trip to Nicaragua in Oct. So please be lifting the entire team up in Prayer.
- One of our new teammates Jamie Macintosh with Vanguard University is leading a grant program to equip students to assist in education and training tools to prevent human trafficking and sexual abuse. It seems like a great partner for Finding Freedom. Sandy Morgan, who has been on the patio with her husband Jean , is heading up the program. Jean is a longtime friend of the coalition. Welcome to the team Jamie!!!
- Another new teammate Matthew Quinones is 22 and is making a huge impact already by pouring into his generation of soon to be GOD’s men. He works with Pillars Ministries which was founded by a new friend to the coalition Harry Robinson. Their team is focusing on helping Young men find their Kingdom Callings by first helping them get prepped for employment and housing and life skills. Matthew is the model of this program and is living it out!!! So great to see GOD’s work real time.
- Speaking of Harry Robinson, he has been pastoring and mentoring young men for decades and his counseling of them has transformed many lives and made huge Kingdom Impact. They are launching many new programs, please see pillarscounseling.com Thanks so much for your modeling Harry!!!
- As always the Spirit never disappoints with the seating arrangements, just after Harry shared with us that his family was one of the first homes for Safe Families in Chicago, which provides a safe place for kids while their parents get stable and able to care for their kids again. Sitting just in-front of Harry was the Wells family Caradi, Andrew, and their very Spirit filled joyous young son John River. As they are currently praying about adding more to their current family of 5 kids by fostering, safe families seemed like a perfect test drive and Eric, John Loranz, and Harry are great resources for the team with close relationships to share with Olive Crest and Safe Families which have amazing resources for getting set up for their next Kingdom Assignment. Wow is the best way to describe this family continuing to say YES to GOD’s call.
- Speaking of John Loranz, longtime friend to this group and consistent contributor to our dinners. He gave some updates on Orange County Rescue, OC United, and Safe Families. He has served on many ministry boards and continues to just say YES to GOD’s calls. He reminded us all to just step into GOD’s call and don’t miss your blessings.
- Nichola Weah is becoming a regular dinner guest, and his soft gentle spirit is so contagious. Not only is he a walking Light for Jesus, but he is also currently a student at Biola University, serving our county in the Marines reserves, and working on joining seminary and sheriff’s academy. Seems like he might need some margin management LOL.
- Trent Lewis another new teammate, is a resent Standing Stone Shepard he and his wife will be making Kingdom Impact for generations by pouring into fellow pastor couples and their families. Mostly by just being present and listening and being available. Seems like what we all need more of and to be more of. Trent has been youth pastor for many years and he and his wife have 2 pre teens, sounds like lots of fun in the Lewis house.
- Jim Hogan one of the Sage’s of our group and mentor/friend to many around the world, showed us the perfect listener model and his humble presence. So much to learn from this incredible GOD’s man and Ambassador for JESUS. He waited until the very end to encourage us to focus more on our Being over our Doing. Jim and his Wife Debbie founded Standing Stone Ministry and just as GOD would have it sat right next to their newest Shepard Trent. Jim is an author and has many incredible stories and resources for us. Please see hogansjourney.com for more!!! Thanks Jim for your timeless mentoring
- One of the funniest moments of this amazing evening was when one of our new teammates John McBirney introduced himself and his passion for youth ministry and his many years serving at Mariners church and a few folks asked if he knew Doug Fields and he promptly said YES, he is my father-in-law. Wow GOD is so Good.
- Jim Duggan gave us an update on DCPI (Dynamic Church Planting International) WOW is GOD moving in this ministry and so many lives are being transformed for HIS Glory!!!! He brought 2 amazing GOD’s men from South Africa with him Dean and Alfonso from Cape Town.
- Bishop Dean is on fire and has a kingdom calling to plant over 1000 churches and help the LORD release the poverty curse that Africa has been under by encouraging pastors be bi-vocational and self-sustainable which will help the entire continent be less reliant on the west. So cool.
- Alfonso has been pastoring his local church for over 3 decades and his family is just hitting their stride and their Kingdom Callings. Alfonso’s main passion is restoration as he has been restored for the GLORY of GOD.
We closed the sharing in Prayer, and we all got to Pray for the complete healing of Jim Duggans wife Eva from Lung cancer that is spreading, and she is going through treatments. This Prayer was led by Andrew, a very gifted inner-accessory Prayer Warrior. So Powerful, we ask for all to collectively be lifting up Eva for her complete healing in the mighty name of our LORD and Savior JESUS CHRIST.
Have an amazing rest of your week
