SPECIAL GIFT FROM COMMUNITY LIFE: IF YOU HAVE SUPPORTED COMMUNITY LIFE IN 2024, SEND AN EMAIL TO SHAWN@MISSIONALUNITY.COM SO WE CAN BLESS YOU WITH A FREE TICKET TO JAZZ NATIVITY!
Community Life praises God that HE PROVIDED FOR US!
Our Board set a fundraising goal of raising $29,184 between July 1 and December 31, 2023.
We raised all but $45 by December 31, and by January 3rd two new givers pushed us over the finish line!
Now the FUNdraising FUN really begins.
With this $29K great head start, we need to raise a total of $116,736 for 2024!
For now, we will be spending valuable time and energy raising funds while we continue to inspire Christians to partner together on God’s mission in their communities.
Pray with us that God will lead 6 Founding Givers to give a one-time gift of $10,000 and that God will lead many more people to commit to give monthly gifts of any sacrificial amount.
As soon as the $116,736 is raised, we can devote ALL OUR TIME AND ENERGY to the MISSION God has given us.
And don’t forget our VISION: as Christians unite on mission, Jesus Christ and God’s love will be revealed!
. . . and we’ll mail you a Jazz Nativity CD (if you still have a CD player) or send you a link to download the files!
Jazz Nativity is a Christmas solo piano album recorded by our Lead Facilitator, Shawn Allen. Thousands of copies of the album have been distributed in several countries.
Yesterday we began the life-changing adventure of contacting every one of the 900+ congregations in Palm Beach County . . . on our way to inspiring many of them to join God’s mission TOGETHER!
You can help us raise $4,000 to meet our November fundraising goal!
2 more congregations invited me to share how they could help Community Life facilitate missional unity the last 2 Sundays . . .
First, Victory Faith Chapel International welcomed me, with Ghanaian native Pastor Seth Boateng following my remarks with a passionate encouragement for the people of Victory Faith to celebrate and participate in the unity of the body of Christ. He went on to weave unity into his teaching about baptism several times. Thanks to Community Life Board Member Dr. Shante Flournoy who facilitated this opportunity.
This past Sunday my son Walker and I led worship at Redemption Church in Delray. Pastor Daniel Williams, a huge champion of unity, was kind enough to send me a video of what I shared:
If you are part of a congregation in South Florida, I would love to come and share a similar message with your congregation. I can 1) simply share for a couple of minutes as I did in that clip 2) lead worship or share a special song and share that brief message 3) preach and include the content of that brief message
What a blessing to share Community Life’s Mission and Vision with 4 congregations yesterday . . .
My first stop was with the people of Tabernacle Evangelical of Faith. After a beautiful conversation with one attendee about their heart and missional activity, Pastor Innocent Francilus led us in several Creole songs. Then he graciously allowed me not only to share about Community Life, but to answer the congregation’s questions. After I explained that Community Life is going to call over 900 congregations to find out what ministries they are offering to their community, it was beautiful to hear their initial reactions. One person asked a great question: What ministries will Community Life be offering? Some readers of this post know the answer: none! Community Life will be supporting congregations and non-profits as they partner together to offer ministries to their community.
Next up was Fountain of Life, led by Community Life Board Member Pastor David Vargas. It was so good to hear my friend preach for the first time – he shared an honest message about how difficult it is to remain open to God’s interruptions (fortunately for me, his message was constantly interrupted by my friend Bryanna as she translated from Spanish into English). Then I had the honor of celebrating Communion with my brothers and sisters. When Pastor David allowed me to “interrupt” their service so I could share about Community Life, I asked if anyone would be willing to connect us with other congregations in Palm Beach County? I made the joke (that’s actually true) that if one of them called a congregation they already have a relationship with to let them know Community Life will be calling them . . . the congregation will be much more likely to answer the phone when Community Life calls. So thankful for one Fountain of Life member who gave a gift to financially support Community Life!
Then it was time to engage the passionate worship being led by the worship team at Vision of Faith. After hearing Pastor Millie Puerta’s powerful message about waiting on God – who’s not in a hurry – I shared how the vision God gave me in 2014 was, in God’s timing, just now coming to life through Community Life’s relaunch. I encouraged the many Spanish-speakers in attendance to help us contact other Spanish-speaking congregations so we can accomplish our goal of contacting every congregation in Palm Beach County.
To finish the day, I worshipped with Cathedral of the Kingdom (pictured below). This growing church plant is alive with the fruits of God’s Spirit – so much joy and hospitality! When Pastor Jovi Vivero gave me the opportunity to share about Community Life, I suggested that anyone who doesn’t really want to make phone calls could still help Community Life by entering into a database the information we learn from the phone calls about what ministries are being offered by congregations all over Palm Beach County. Pastor Jovi’s message about responding immediately to God’s redirections was such an encouragement to me as I continue in this season of so much transition.
If you weren’t attending any of those churches yesterday, here’s Community Life’s MISSION AND VISION:
Community Life’s MISSION: facilitate sustained missional partnerships between congregations, nonprofits & people to meet systemic needs in local communities.
Community Life’s VISION: missional unity answers Jesus’ prayer, uniting his followers so people can experience abundant & eternal life through Jesus Christ.
Visit www.missionalunity.com to learn more or to make a donation that plants a seed which can blossom into the abundant life that Jesus offers!