Over 20 students feeding the homeless

Monday, February 1, 2010

Yesterday, we took a massive group of people downtown to feed the homeless. We had the opportunity to be the hands and feet of Christ by handing out sandwiches, bottle water, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo & lotions, chips, clothes, & other perishable items. It was exciting to see over 25 students so engerized to meet the needs of others. The group I led gave out almost all of our items in about 15 minutes (aka a large area of poverty). It was moving to see the smiles and gratitude in the faces of those who we were helping. One guy even pulled out a little pocket Bible and read us some verses and encouraged us. Below are just a few pics...

-- Post From Cham's Phone

Summer Missions

Friday, January 15, 2010

If you are looking for a mission opportunity, then prayerfully consider our Sport Camp this summer.

The Commons Sports Camp has been a major outreach and connecting point for us in the Arlington Community. The idea of the camp is to teach a 1st-5th grader 5 different sports throughout the week for only $10.00. The first year that we did this, we had 50 kids participate. Three years later and by word of mouth, we hit around 215+ this past summer. Thats a lot of kids. During this camp, we break the kids up into small groups for bible studies. They love it. It is a great opportunity to spread the love of Christ and the Gospel to these kids.

So how can you be involved? COME SERVE. There is no way that we can handle 200+ kids by ourselves. Each year, we have had a few church groups come and serve. They love it! It is a great experience and eye-opener to those that are unfamiliar with this unchurched region.

You can come as an individual, a group of friends, or a church group. We can use you. You get to invest in kids, see the incredible PNW, and connect with what God is doing here in this area.

If you are interested or have questions, just give me a call or e-mail at cham.i.am@gmail.com

-cham

Scripture that I am praying for The Commons...

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

This was apart of my 1 year Bible reading this morning:

Matthew 9:37-38(NLT):

He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”

21 days of focused prayers...

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

I have committed to pray 21 days for a few specific things that involve the ministry I am apart of here in the Pacific Northwest. I am taking 21 days to really spend some time focusing on praying and seeking God for direction and answers. Below are a few things that I am praying for.

1) Closer Intimate Relationship w/ God - Our relationship with God is a journey. So we are constantly being worked on, changed, and seeing growth through our relationship with Christ. That is my prayer. That God take me to a deeper level, so that the overflowing of that will pour into our church and community.

2) Rental Home - I am specifically praying that God will give me clarity on renting a 3 or 4 bedroom home. I can't afford it, which makes things interesting, but I can't get it out of my head. The rental home has a multitude of reasons behind it.

1. 1st- Know that I am perfectly content with my little apartment. So to clear any misconceptions that Cham wants bigger. I don't apart from this vision.
2. I want to have a place that can provide authentic community (small groups, gatherings, cookout outreaches, and more) - can't really do that in a 900 sq. ft. apt.
3. I want to have a place that houses & connects people and mission groups to the Pacific Northwest. If people experience what God is up to here, then that cast major vision. It also cheapens room and board cost. I want to be a blessing & people not bear burdens.
4. I want to have a place that can be a refuge. A place wear people can heal or recover. If a pastor is down on his luck and needs a get-a-way place or a place to live to be restored, then I want to provide that. I want to reach out. Even if it means housing the whole family, I will not turn anyone down.
5. Place for the student ministry to hang and grow.
6. A place where I can invite the neighborhood over and build new relationships.

So that is a few reason why I am praying for direction on this God-potential resource. I don't have the money to sustain a rental home, so it will definitely be a God thing.

3) Student Ministry - I am praying for an uprising. I have now been here a year and have seen everything that involves my students. I am now praying for specific vision and direction. I am praying for salvations, growth, and a young generation to rise up starting with the ones in this student ministry. My heart is for them to impact the community with their relationship with Christ.

4) The Commons - Praying that God will continue blessing us. We have grown so much in so many areas in 2009. We are at a defining moment right now, and praying for guidance, resources, and ultimately God's vision and provision.

5) Praying for an awakening in our area.

6) Praying for the awareness, response, and needs in the Pacific Northwest specifically the spiritual needs. This is a very unchurch area. I will be honest. It is tough for someone to understand that coming from another area of the US. It was tough for me until I moved here. I am praying that God will place what He is up to in the Pacific Northwest on the hearts of those outside of this area.

These are just a few things that I am investing some serious prayer in. I encourage you to pray for these as well. If you know me, then you know that I want what God wants and not what Cham wants. That is why I place these items on a blog for you to partner-prayer with me. I am taking these prayer items seriously.

I love you all. Thank you for everything...prayer, encouragement, e-mails, financial support. It is hard to think, but today a year ago I stepped out of a Penski truck and call this place "home".

-Cham

Happy 1st Anniversary!

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

This time last year I shut the door to a 26 ft. yellow Penski truck, turned the key, and began my trek across this massive nation to Seattle, Washington. I wasn't sure about where I was going to live, finances, ministry, & life. It was such a mystery and adventure that any other time in my life, I would not of attempted it without the proper safety nets. I had a song in my heart, a passion for God in my soul, and a step of faith into the cham-unchartered world of God's will for my life. I can tell you today, 1 year later, that I DO NOT REGRET IT ONE SECOND!

2009 goes down as one of my, if not the most, God-memorable times of my life. Tough? Yes! Challenging? Yes! God all over it? YES! YES! YES! I can/can't believe it that I have been here a year. It seems so quick. So much has happened. I could never explain it all. I can only sum it up by saying "God!". That's all. As mentioned in previous blogs, I am stoked about 2010. I'm not sure what is to come, but I know/& expecting great big God things. God has definitely blessed and had His hand on The Commons. I still can't believe that I get to be apart of such an incredible church that is reaching out to the unchurched, the broken, the hurt, etc. I have had the privilege to be used in so many different ways. Student ministry, Sunday morning teaching, men's ministry, women's ministry (childcare lol), and on and on. God has also used me in other church plants here in Washington by helping them in the media-side of things. He has used this apartment to connect people from other places to the mission of The Commons and at the same time has used it as a place for refuge & healing for those hurting and looking to be restored. 2009's theme was definitely "God!".

I celebrate this all with you! If it were not for your Love for God, obedience to Him, love for me, and your support, then this God story could have quite possibly never existed. I celebrate this day with you. I am a result of your love, trust, and hope. So from the bottom of my heart, I want to say "Thank You!" for everything. May we step into this year with greater God-expectations than ever!

-cham

2010 Vision

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

I am pretty pumped about tonight. We have a leadership meeting which will talk about the vision for 2010. I am excited about what is to come this year. 2009 was an incredible year. I hope to give you some celebrating statistics soon from all that God did last year (ex: Baptism, etc). Thank you for your partnering with me, prayer, and love. Spread the word about what God is doing here. Its not about us, its about Him and His Kingdom.

-cham

Chapter 2 begins soon...

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

It's just a few days from a new year. Every year around this time, I tend to go back and evaluate the year. I look at the wins, loses, adventures, battles, and the Hand of God. 2009 will go down in my own history book as one of the most incredible years of my life. I still have to pinch myself often to see if this is just a dream. It has been an incredible journey this past year. I have watched God grow The Commons leaps and bounds both numerically and spiritually. I have watched students get on board with God. I have seen lives restored, freed, and given purpose. I have made some many new friends, experienced so many new things, and witnessed some many new areas of who God is. It has been an amazing year.

Next week will mark the 1 year anniversary of when I took a step of faith, packed all my things in a penkse truck, and moved to the Pacific Northwest. I have been looking over the pictures and tear up every time in amazement of God's calling, provision, and love. I also sit in amazement of those who have faithfully supported me this year. I feel that I can say with integrity that I have been a great steward of the resources that you have entrusted me with. I want to say "THANK YOU!" from the bottom of my heart.

2010 is quickly approaching and a new chapter is about to begin. I am super excited to see what God is going to do this year in the Commons, the Commons Student Ministry, and with me. I am expecting even great things this year. Please keep me in prayer as I begin to seek out God's guidance in this new chapter. I don't want to miss out on a thing.

As this chapter begins, I would like for you to consider being in the pages of this story. For me to continue to minister effectively (100%), then I have to raise support. It is my desire for you to connect with God on this and see if He has you involved with His story here at the Commons. Maybe it is through prayer, financial support, a mission trip, or just words of encouragement. THEY ALL ARE GOLD IN THE KINGDOM. I ask for you to just pray and ask God what would He have you to do and then be obedient. That is it. I would encourage you though to involve your family. Maybe it is praying for me together or fasting one day a week or taking what it would cost for a family outing and use it as financial support. There are so many creative and meaningful ways to support me. Just ask God and be on board with what He says.

Thank you for visiting this sight. I look to revamping it for the 2010 year and adding some new elements. I love you and thank you for supporting me. If you have any questions, please e-mail me at cham.i.am@gmail.com.

~cham