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United for Valencia Park
“My teacher gives me this whole homework packet and sometimes my aunt doesn’t know how to help me." The honest heart of a fourth grader at Valencia Park Elementary spoke this one afternoon.
In a community struggling with poverty, many Valencia Park students do not have an adult at home when they return from school. While more than 150 students participate in after school programs, many families do not have the language skills or resources to assist students with their homework, reading skills, or enrichment opportunities. Of the kids enrolled in Valencia Park Elementary, 62% are classified as English Language Learners and 82% are receiving free or reduced lunches. Valencia Park has one of the highest poverty rates of Fullerton’s 20 schools.
Helene Morris, the Principal of Valencia Park, shares this: “The Valencia Park community of teachers, staff, and parents are committed to providing all students with a 21st century learning experience in an individualized learning setting, where engaged students think critically, work collaboratively, and problem solve. This is the vision for our school. We greatly need and appreciate the support of our community partners to accomplish this vision, so that we can help every student realize and achieve his/her potential.”
We can help level the playing field for all Valencia Park students by partnering with this school to enrich the lives and opportunities of these children. OC United wants to offer more children this much needed after-school support through the United for Valencia Park Initiative, which connects people of faith with under-resourced neighborhoods and schools to bring renewal and transformation.
EvFree Fullerton Church was invited five years ago to partner with love and compassion with this school and community, which at the time, was one of the lowest performing schools in our city. Over the past five years, we have been doing Easter and Thanksgiving events as well as summer school with the students of this school. Today we are looking for a missional community that would live in the neighborhood and reach out with prayer walks, family dinners, kids activities, and school support. Our dream is to see this neighborhood thriving because people are empowered and united in Gospel-centered community.
How will we as a church help this community? Our goal is to raise $30,000 to help cover the costs of rent, building an after school program staff, training and supplies. We also want to help cover rent for the missional community so they can focus their time as missionaries in the community. Won’t you join us?
Donna Whitman
OC United
This year, our Thanksgiving Offering will go entirely towards this cause. To give to this special fund, simply write “Thanksgiving” on the memo line of your check, select the “Thanksgiving” fund in the drop down menu in Direct Connect, or text the word “Thanksgiving” along with an amount to 714-699-9994. Help us reach our goal and support this important partnership with our community.
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Discovering Freedom in Rest
A couple weekends ago, our High School ministry had the privilege of leading 35 high school girls and 17 of their core group leaders to Julian, California for the annual Girls Retreat. This weekend provided a time for the students to get away from the distractions of their everyday lives and to connect with God and with each other.
This year, our theme came from Matthew 11:28-30, where Jesus tells us to “come to Him” to find rest for our souls. We explored what He was saying, realizing this passage is actually teaching us about resting from our works for salvation. We discussed ways that we burden ourselves with our false understanding that we need to win God’s love. Jesus offers us complete life and total rest from needing to earn anything from God. To see the girls find freedom from feeling they need to please God for His love was a blessing.
Our retreat consisted of different elements: times of worship and teaching, times of relaxing, a hike through the beautiful and fall-filled hillsides of Julian, and fun activities such as watercoloring, jewelry making, making friendship bracelets, and photo-shoots. Our high schoolers want and need space to be themselves. As their class leads, it was a true joy for Kelsey Crowe (Upperclass Girls Lead) and I to watch them enjoy their time together and be “free” on many levels.
—Shared by Christina Marandola, High School Underclass Girls Lead
Click here to read other stories or to submit your own. We want to hear how God is working in your life or in the life of someone you know!
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SENT Training
Sunday, November 8, 6:00–9:00 pm, Chapel
At SENT we’ll train you in four skills to develop a Courageous Faith: prayer, making friends, kingdom experiences, and sharing His stories. If you feel inadequate, ill-equipped or just want to be bolder in sharing your faith, SENT is just for you. FREE. Register here.
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Leadership Conversation—Episode 8
Last Sunday, Billy Tarka and Colby Taylor shared about the reason for worshiping together, upcoming worship nights and the team that prays over the space and people that come every Sunday. Watch the full video below.
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