August 2 was an exciting day at the Jubilee church in Pachuca. For weeks the cell (small group) pastors worked with people who attended their cells and had expressed interest in being baptized. As the day approached we started to realize that this could be the largest group of baptismal candidates since the beginning of the Jubilee church. When Sunday morning arrived, 18 people came forward to give their confession of faith during the combined Sunday worship. Two additional individuals were unable to be there and will be baptized later.
After the Sunday worship we all headed to the small water park where Jubilee previously had held baptisms. That afternoon, six different cell and zone pastors baptized people with about 160 people stretched around the pool to celebrate these new births! After the last baptism everyone rejoiced, and we all headed for the picnic area to begin the fiesta. Each of the cells organized to bring different taco stuffings, and with plenty of beans, rice and salads, and the congregation spread out on the grass or at tables to fellowship over some very good food. Earlier the youth cells had prepared the desserts and then served their many different delicious offerings.
During the 2½ years since the Jubilee church became a congregation its members have been faithful in sharing their faith. Eighty-four of the 190 people now participating at the church are new Christians whom the Jubilee leaders have baptized.
The work continues as the church begins to disciple the 18 new believers as well as others that have become part of Jubilee’s community. The discipling classes and leadership classes will start August 16 and continue for 12 weeks. Please pray for us as we move forward with our new brothers and sisters!
What an amazing week! About 60 parents and family members watched the closing program on Friday, July 24 as 73 kids recited memory verses and sang songs with choreography and hand motions. Prizes were given to the kids who had the most friends join them at the VBS. As we worked on the attendance numbers we realized that only about 20 of the kids that participated in this year’s VBS were from the Jubilee Church. About 53 kids were visitors and from the nearby neighborhood.
The VBS theme, “Summer Camp 2009”, was carried out through a story time, crafts, Bible verse memorization and an English class. Also Juanita Del Angel led a wonderful activities class each day. The camp Bible story focused on the Book of Ester and on the last day of the activities time each group prepared a royal meal for a visiting “King”. Five wonderful ladies served the daily snacks and knitted in the kitchen while they waited for each group to arrive.
Dee Duggins once again did a wonderful job as director of the VBS. The VBS ran like clockwork. Dee organized 40 workers that prepared and decorated their classes as well as about 25 youth from the Youth Zone that moved kids around the building to each of the five activity areas. Holly Alvarado also did a fantastic job leading the music as well as the opening and closing times each day. The song session at times looked like an exercise class! Dee Duggins also announced that after 25 years of leading VBS at Church Plants she feels it’s time to turn over the reins to younger members of the team. Holly Alvarado will be next year’s director for the Jubilee church VBS.
Everyone was exhausted after this wonderful week, but the work doesn’t end there. The new church plant, New Life, will have their first VBS next week and have asked many from the Jubilee Church to help. Many of those that participated at the Jubilee VBS will help with the VBS at New Life.
We also would like to thank the McDonough Christian Church of Georgia who came to help with this year’s VBS. The group of nine servants was a wonderful blessing during this very busy week. The McDonough church also helped extensively with the costs of the VBS.
We are also grateful to the First Church of Christ of Painesville, Ohio for their help with another VBS planned for an area called “Providencia.” A group from the Painesville congregation was coming to Pachuca but ended up having to postpone that trip till next year. However, they blessed Jubilee with a donation that will help with the costs at the Providencia VBS.
