FAITH WELCOMES NEIGHBORS AT REDTAIL PONDS

PASTOR JEANNOT VISITS FAITH

FACILITIES AT FAITH

INVESTING IN INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

As a pastor in Haiti, one of the poorest countries in the world, Jeannot Fleurentin followed the Lord’s leading towards an extraordinary calling. He took his family’s land at the end of a dirt road in Desiré and created a refuge for 60 helpless

orphans. He did so with meager resources and no support, housing the children in tents and collecting scraps of wood and metal to create a place of worship. For years he prayed that the Lord would bring him help – prayers that were finally answered in 2010 when Global Orphan Project learned of the need in Desiré.

In 2011, Global Orphan connected Faith to Jeannot and the Desiré project, which led to a partnership that continues today. After four years of working together, Pastor Jeannot was able to travel to

Colorado and share what Faith’s partnership has meant to him and how the Lord is using the two churches to care for what are now 73 orphans.

On March 22, Pastor Jeannot stood in front of the congregation during all three services and, in broken English, thanked the Faith Family. “With your money, your support, and your prayers, I have grown up with my ministry. In 2011, I didn’t have houses for the kids – they lived in tents. With Faith, I have houses for them, chickens for them, a yard, walls, and water. The big problem in this area is the water. Now everybody in the village comes to the orphanage to take water to drink.”

He went on to share the vision of his ministry and his hopes for the kids that he cares for. “I want to lead people to God and to take care of the kids. One day I would be happy to see the kids get a job, become positive people in society, and worship God. My vision is, one day, all the kids that I am working with now will be at the same place together in heaven, worshipping God. There are no problems anymore. There is no trouble.”

During his five-day visit, Pastor Jeannot experienced America with Faith missionaries who have spent time with him in Desiré. His first American breakfast was eggs and bacon at Pastor Chris’ house. Chris says, “He particularly liked the bacon. I had to go out and buy more! When we took him to lunch in Estes Park, he had bacon as a side with his fish tacos.”

Jeannot experienced snow for the first time during an outing to Rocky Mountain National Park. He was excited to see elk and enjoyed the majestic scenery. Chris says, “Haiti is a very mountainous country, and I felt like he connected with the Colorado mountains in the same way that we Coloradoans connect with those in Haiti. He had fun with the snow too.”

Pastor Jeannot also visited Horsetooth Reservoir, Poudre Canyon, Vern’s Diner, and he ate at Beau Jo’s Pizza with Faith’s leadership team. To complete his American cultural experience, friends took Jeannot through a McDonald’s drive-thru. He laughed in disbelief, saying, “You talk, and they give it to you?”

Jeannot hopes his visit will help create more energy and strengthen our partnership. “I always pray for you, all the time. Me and my family and my church pray for you. I am very happy to see how Americans worship God in America. I will share that with my church, with all of my friends when I go back to Haiti.”

He asks that we also pray for his church. “Pray for me to have more leaders in my church and to have a good place to worship in Desiré.”

Faith has a facilities crew of 10 that maintains 76,000 square feet of our building and 15 acres of our property. These men and women make sure our sidewalks are cleared on snowy days, seating is set up for events, and much, much more! Here are just a few numbers to help us get a full scope of what they do:

Homelessness is an ever-growing issue in the City of Fort Collins. On a nightly basis, beds fill up at the Fort Collins Rescue Mission on Jefferson Street. Without a stable residence, it is difficult for one to find employment and move in a positive direction. Recognizing this, the Fort Collins Housing Authority (FCHA) developed a plan to help a portion of the city’s homeless move toward self-sufficiency.

Early this year, the FCHA completed construction of Redtail Ponds, permanent supportive housing apartments for homeless and low-income residents. Each resident will have a case manager and supportive services, including life-skills coaching and wellness programs. Last fall, Pastor Chris Conradson contacted the FCHA to learn if there were any areas that our church could help with. Executive Director, Julie Brewen, anticipated the needs of residents moving into Redtail Ponds. The homeless would be moving into their new apartments with nothing more than what is on their backs. They needed food to fill their cupboards and hygiene products to help with their transition into self-sufficiency.

While Faith leaders were exploring the best avenue to meet this need, Pastor Chris received a call from a small group who wanted a service project. He mentioned Redtail Ponds and they immediately responded, filling four welcome baskets with items like soup, peanut butter, toothbrushes, deodorant, pans, and silverware.

The first resident moved in on March 11. Since then, a family from Faith and another small group have provided two more welcome baskets to help the homeless begin a new life. If you are interested in being part of this outreach, please contact Pastor Chris at cconradson@faithefc.org.

Each August, Fort Collins’ International Students, Inc. (ISI) ministry hosts their STUFF Giveaway at Faith. Here, international college students and scholars can pick up donated furniture and household items to help meet their needs as they transition into life in a new country. Last year a Vietnamese student, named L.T., attended the Giveaway for the first time. He approached Randy Babcock, who leads ISI with his wife, Jan, and asked, “Why would people do this with nothing to gain?”

Alan Hendrickson also met L.T. on that day while volunteering at the Giveaway. The long-time Faith attendee works as an international students’ advisor for the University of Northern Colorado and helps students practice their English during his off hours. He offered to work with L.T., and they met the following week. The two have been meeting weekly for the past two years.

It was clear to Alan from the beginning that L.T. was not a believer, but he wanted to develop the friendship before sharing Christ with him. “During his first year in the U.S., he was just getting used to being here. If the topic would come up, I would share a little bit. He was always friendly, but not really interested in spiritual things.”

After a meeting with him for a year, Alan could tell that L.T.’s interest in spiritual matters was growing and God was working in his life. L.T. was attending ISI events regularly and bringing other Vietnamese students with him.

Last spring, Alan was going to ask L.T. if he had come to a point in his life where he would like to meet Christ. “Just when I was going to do that, he told me that he had just become a Christian the week before. I told him that was the most important decision he has ever made.”

Alan has since followed up with him every weekend to help him grow in his relationship with the Lord. Last summer, L.T. was baptized in the Poudre River. “It’s been so fun watching him since I first met him. Through the course of time, God has just worked in his life.”

L.T. returned to the STUFF Giveaway last year with an important message for the Babcocks. He approached Jan and said, “I want you to know, because of this event I became a Christian.”

135

117

750

6012

39

12

600

1330

HOURS WORKED IN AN AVERAGE WEEK

EVENTS IN AN AVERAGE WEEK

PARKING SPACES

TRASH CANS

VACUUMS

TOILETS

HVAC UNITS

TREES AND SHRUBS

CHAIRS IN THE WORSHIP CENTER

As a pastor in

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When Ismael Cervantes’ mom visits from Mexico, she loves coming to church with him, but she only speaks Spanish and can’t understand the sermons. He says, “For a long time, I’ve wanted to do something at Faith to help Spanish speaking individuals listen to the sermon, but I wasn’t sure how. Pastor Brad saw this same need in the community, suggested a place we could start, and I had the opportunity to jump in.” It turned out the need was immediate. “We had a group of men from Mexico who were here for work on temporary visas, and they were coming to Faith.” Ismael approached them about offering a translation of the service, and they were very interested. “From the start, they were just so excited to learn and be able to understand. For me, what was amazing with that is they were from a Catholic background. They could have gone to a Spanish Catholic church in Fort Collins, but they wanted to come here.”

Ismael developed a friendship with the men as he translated sermons. “I told them, if they needed to reach out for something, to reach out. Often people don’t, but they did.” The men needed help getting to Denver to visit a friend. “I thought, ‘That’s some great time in the car to get to know them a little bit better, and I’m available, so why not?’” Some delays came up that prevented them from getting where they needed to go, so Ismael took them to the mall and then to lunch. “It was so awesome just being there for them and spending the day.”

In October, the men returned to Mexico, and Ismael wasn’t sure if he would see them again. The Spanish Translation Ministry sat in limbo as leaders waited for another need to present itself. Then the three men returned in April and immediately contacted Ismael. Each Sunday, he meets them in the north cry room before the 9:00 AM service. The men sit in the Worship Center for the beginning of the service and head back out to the cry room to hear a translation of the sermon. Another volunteer translates the bulletin so the men have a copy in Spanish ready for them on Sunday.

Ismael says interest in the ministry continues to grow. “Members of the Faith family have joined us during the service so they can brush up on their Spanish or just interact with the men.” Ministry leaders have also planned outings this summer, including a trip to Estes Park, a BBQ, and a soccer game.

MEL HARTUNG SERVING SPANISH SPEAKERS AT FAITH

FINDING PURPOSE AT FAITH’SCOLLEGE WINTER RETREAT

ABBY PAHLAU

When Mel Hartung attended Faith for the first time in 2000, he was facing what he described as a “spiritual battle.” The following Tuesday, a GO team (formerly EE) visited his home and shared the gospel with him. “I agreed with what they were saying and what the gospel said about eternal life, but I wouldn’t accept Christ that night. I told them I would wait, but I wouldn’t explain what was going on inside of me.”

At that point in his life, Mel was retired and driving a school bus. “It was the next Friday and I dropped the last kid off at Red Feather Lakes, and something told me to accept Christ. I pulled that bus over and accepted Christ.” When Mel shared what he had done, Pastor Brad suggested that he sign up for the GO ministry.

“I’ve never been one who wanted to be in front of a crowd and talk. But I accepted, and it was the best thing that has ever happened in my life. Everybody should be equipped like you are in the GO course. That’s the Great Commission. You may save one person in your whole lifetime, but you know what that means.”

Six years ago, Gene, a retired pastor, asked Mel if he would help him at the Larimer County Detention Center. “He started a Bible study and it just bloomed.” Once he became involved at the jail, Mel found an opportunity to do one-on-one ministry with inmates. Volunteers come in on Tuesday and Thursday evenings to meet with men who have asked to speak with someone from the prison ministry.

“I think it’s happened to me four times, where I go in and there will be a guy looking at me. And they will come up to me and say, ‘Something told me to go over and see you.’ But I am just the messenger. You know exactly when the Holy Spirit is working in them.”

Recently, Mel shared the gospel with a young man who was in on a drug charge. “His mother is a believer who disowned him after he went to prison. So he knew about committing his life to Christ, but he was unsure of where he was at. I read the Sinner’s Prayer with him and asked if he agreed with it, and I could tell the Spirit was working in him because he was getting very humble. I gave him a copy of the prayer and told him to give it to his mom when he gets out and say, ‘This is what I’ve done.’ And his eyes lit up. I pray that he does that.”

Mel acknowledges that there are guys who accept Christ and get out and go back to their old habits. “But you can’t be judgmental because some are wonderful people who are dealing with addictions. There was one guy who was addicted to alcohol and he now comes to every Bible study and prays that he can break his addiction. Nothing is too big for God.”

Currently, there is a need for both males and females to serve in Faith’s Prison Ministry. Mel believes that the GO program is a great first step for anyone who chooses to answer this calling. “It’s real satisfying. It’s especially a great ministry for young people because you can relate to the inmates who are the same age.”

Nearly 40 students escaped the rigors of schoolwork to Faith’s College Winter Retreat in Estes Park in early March. The theme of the weekend was “Find Your Purpose,” and students were encouraged to look beyond college to find God’s purpose and path for them in life. Video sermons were interspersed with small group discussions and fun in the snow under bluebird skies.

Kara, a sophomore at Front Range Community College, started coming to Faith in August when a friend invited her. Up to that point, her experience with church was that of an obligatory Sunday appearance. She attended Faith’s College Fall Retreat and discovered a meaningful relationship with Jesus. “My faith expanded so much during the fall retreat. The continual lesson after lesson really helped to cement it.”

When the time came for Faith’s Winter Retreat, she was eager to return to the environment that had so nurtured her faith. “I missed being

with everybody and getting to connect on a deeper level. The retreat is a break from a lot of the social pressures and from school. You get caught up in only being in tuned with schoolwork and not applying the time towards God and giving him the praise that he deserves.”

This was Kole Van Treese’s third time attending a Faith College Retreat. He was also drawn by the

opportunity to leave distractions behind and set his thoughts on God. “It’s nice to take a weekend off from school and be surrounded by people who are interested in learning about the gospel. You don’t always have that in college.”

The video sermons covered issues most college students face. Afterwards, small groups met to reflect on what they learned. “That was probably the highlight of the trip for me. Leaders also do a good job of giving us the space to do our own thing and make sure we have time in the Bible.”

After the retreat, Kara made the decision to join AmeriCorps to further explore

the purpose God has for her. Kole encourages others to take advantage of these times to get away and reflect on one’s spiritual life. “In college, you have to make some choices that will govern where you are or what your life looks like. It’s super helpful to get away from all of the other junk that people are trying to push on you.”

Many will recognize Abby Pahlau from her presence on the platform on Sundays at Faith. Serving alongside her brother and father in the Worship Ministry, this is a comfortable place for Abby, and her gifts are undeniable. But like many 19 year-olds, she was ready to get uncomfortable and carve out a path of her own … to find her identity.

“I tried three semesters of college before I decided school was clearly not for me at this time in life.” Abby considered her 2013 trip to Slovakia with a Faith short-term mission team. “It was only for 10 days, but I knew I wanted to come back.” She put college on hold and returned in February 2014 to serve as an intern with Josiah Venture (JV). “When I left for Slovakia for three months, I had no desire to be a missionary. I simply liked the idea of connecting with people through music, and having a change of scenery was very appealing.”

Abby served as an intern with JV’s Fusion Ministry, an outreach program that uses love for music to build relationships and connect youth to the local church. “The most rewarding part of my experience was the richness of the relationships that God blessed me with. Those that I could pour into, but also those among the JV staff where I could be poured into, fed, taught, and encouraged.”

Months after she returned to the U.S. in May 2014, Abby found herself struggling in her relationship with Jesus and with others. “God took this time to break me, to show me how fragile I really am. Then he lifted me up when I couldn’t lift myself up.”

Abby felt herself being called back to Slovakia, this time for a six-month extended internship. “As I reconnected with people, it all started to flow again – that fullness. A fullness that I can only describe as the product of using the gifts and talents that God gave me in the right place with opportunities that he had specifically designed. This was joy. This was what it was to be ‘like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail’ (Isaiah 58:11).”

“I am in awe at the growth and maturity that God has cultivated in my heart. Now, the woman in the mirror is more than content without a normal ‘college experience’ – the woman I see wants nothing more than to keep following where Christ leads her every day; and that woman I see knows exactly who she is. God is so, so good.”

When asked about her long-term plans, Abby says, “I have felt God telling me to pursue coming back here for a two-year commitment. So I am currently asking the questions and seeing what would be required of me to do that.”

Just the Messenger

A Path Less Travelled

At that point in his life, Mel was retired

QUARTERLY FINANCIAL REPORT

CONTRIBUTIONS (GENERAL FUND) $ 2,042,363 $ 1,795,000

EXPENSES

TOTAL EXPENSES

CONTRIBUTIONS MINUS EXPENSES

ADDITIONAL MORTGAGE PRINCIPAL

GIVE TO SAVE DISTRIBUTIONS

$ 1,751,569

$ 96,558

$ 96,558

$ 1,944,685

$97,678

$ 1,822,143

($ 27,143)

Year to Date - Actual Year to Date - Budget

AUGUST-APRIL

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