Giving Thanks through Acts of Love
This story first appeared in Calvary Chapel Magazine Issue 55, Spring 2013
Photos by Clay Hodson
Joseph Barrera of Packinghouse Christian Fellowship shares Scripture with a man at CC Antorcha de Fe and Packinghouse’s joint Thanksgiving Day outreach. Joseph used his Spanish and English Bible to read John 1:9-12, in the appropriate language, to each person he talked with.
The smell of hotdogs permeated the air, and Christian music in Spanish rang out from the parking lot of a San Bernardino, CA, shopping mall. A little untraditional for Thanksgiving Day, perhaps, but this was a new tradition that area residents said they would like to keep. The small church that spearheaded the event, San Bernardino’s Calvary Chapel Antorcha de Fe (Torch of Faith in English), seats 165 people. But that sunny day, the Thanksgiving outreach they hosted in conjunction with Packinghouse Christian Fellowship of nearby Redlands, CA, provided for more than 650 people.
Seven hairstylists gave a total of more than 80 free haircuts at the event in San Bernardino, CA.
A hairstylist paused after finishing a trim to check that her cuts were even; she then reached out to pray with the woman in her chair who had so candidly revealed her personal dilemmas. The volunteer was one of seven hairstylists who worked nonstop to provide free haircuts at the event. Retired Deputy Sheriff Bernie De Young of Packinghouse explained, “With God’s direction, we tried to supply people’s physical needs and let the Holy Spirit meet their spiritual needs.” More than 60 people came forward to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
“CC Antorcha is a Spanish-language church in the heart of San Bernardino. It is surrounded by 100,000 Spanish-speaking people. Incredibly, the population within a five-block radius is 80 percent Spanish-speaking.”
Pastor Kenyo Macias of CC Antorcha feels the Holy Spirit was also present in the partnering of the two churches. Kenyo said, “CC Antorcha is a Spanish-language church in the heart of San Bernardino. It is surrounded by 100,000 Spanish-speaking people. Incredibly, the population within a five-block radius is 80 percent Spanish-speaking.” Packinghouse had previously started doing work projects in San Bernardino and was seeking a Spanish church to which they could refer people. The fellowship then noticed CC Antorcha. Kenyo continued, “Our vision was the same, and it was the Holy Spirit bringing us together. We’ve been partnering for a year and a half, and it has been tremendous.”
When Bernie overheard a negative comment about people entering and inhabiting the U.S. illegally, he responded with a reminder that hurting and vulnerable people—as those far from home or under duress frequently are—often have a heightened awareness of their need for Jesus. People saved under such circumstances, Bernie continued, are then able to spread the Gospel and disciple others when they return home to their own nations.
As the two congregations prayed and prepared for the event, community members started to join them. Two companies donated booths and equipment. A local dentist, doctor, and several nurses offered free examinations and flu shots. The fellowships gave away more than 250 baskets of food staples, and 10 refurbished bicycles as well as other prizes were awarded. Children attended a Kid Zone featuring Bible stories, crafts, games, and two giant inflatable bouncers. A team called “the mingle ministry” joined in the festivities, starting conversations and ministering to people personally. A prayer booth was also available. After obtaining permission from the publisher, Fernando Quiroz of CC Antorcha translated brochures about substance abuse recovery into Spanish. In addition to distributing the pamphlets at the event, area churches now can provide them for general public use.
The outreach, which was largely funded by a golf tournament, was scheduled to start at 10:00 a.m. Attendees, however, began lining up at 7:30 a.m. Since CC Antorcha meets in one of the shopping center’s suites, the believers held a bilingual worship service in the nearby sanctuary every 40 minutes. The chapel was packed for all three services. Those who responded to the Gospel each received a New Testament and a Jesus DVD.
Nurse Yasmin Khan, right, prays with an attendee. Yasmin and other believing medical personnel volunteered at the outreach.
Three hours after everything was packed up, the hot dogs devoured, and the music silenced, several volunteers worked diligently to fix the remainder of the 50 bicycles that were brought to the group for repair.
Mark Costas of Packinghouse Christian Fellowship accepts a bicycle for repair.
Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them. Romans 12:6a
CC Antorcha de Fe: www.calvaryadf.org
909-522-0362
Thank you for reading! If this story inspired you, we invite you to partner with us in continuing the ministry God started over 27 years ago. We appreciate your prayerful consideration in joining us to reach more souls for Jesus.
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