SOLFUL: Building Relationships

By Raphael Chan

The SOLFUL teen program was an awesome gateway to continue to build on the relationships we had with the youth and adults that attend Lifeline Church. We had all participated in various exciting activities from soccer, flag football, art/graffiti class, movie night, and also even a resume building class at the end. I was able to be a part of a community that drew in kids from the local neighborhood, who soon later accepted Jesus Christ. By the end of the SOLFUL program, there were new teens beginning to attend Lifeline.

Growing up in the neighborhood can be very difficult for the life as a child and teen with many negative temptations such as drugs, alcohol, and gangs literally right next door. To have SOLFUL program as an outreach event for a possibility for one or a few kids to turn and keep away from such temptations is definitely worth the all the effort and time involved. As much fun as the events were during this time, there was also tragedy that shocked the community, a death of a loved one. I experienced and observed how everyone comforted, consoled, supported each other, and through this process it brought the Lifeline members closer together as a community.

On a personal note, I was able to work alongside with Pastor Joe and walk with him during this time in the summer and slowly I was able to enter into a spiritual mentor relationship with him. I asked various questions from things about God, life, friends, jobs, conflict, feelings and emotions. He gave great insights, testimony, and through that, I was able to hear more about his journey of different trials and tribulations he had endured. It was much like the TV show Home Improvement, how Tim Taylor who does many things wrong and often talks to Mr. Wilson, who then offers insights to help clarify or encourage Tim (although Pastor Joe does not hide his face behind a fence and nor do I verbally grunt that much). Now that the program is over, I hope to continue to work on building the relationship and ultimately building my relationship with Jesus and God the Father.

SOLFUL at Maple

By Valerie Cuevas

The SOLFUL Maple Elementary Program had anywhere from 12 to 25 kids showing up to paint, play, and even learn. At first the outcome was very uncertain. “What if nobody shows up?” and “What if too many kids show up?” were the extremes that we as coordinators and volunteers faced.

The unknown is a hard thing to plan for but from what I saw from all the volunteers, it was nothing to be afraid of. The enthusiasm and love that each volunteer displayed made the program a success. Everybody was willing to adjust as needed and in the end became a very effective group. Making piñatas, having a group session with a professional Disney artist, and eating a whole lot of hot dogs, were only a few of the many experiences that the kids are able to take with them throughout their lives. These experiences along with the love of the volunteers was the foundation for the enthusiasm that kids had for the program and the enthusiasm that the kids brought to our lives—well, that and Jesus working. We were used to help the kids and the kids were used to help us.

In the beginning, it seemed like one of the primary mindsets was to help a bunch of kids do something over the summer, to be “good Christians”, and to lend a helping hand to those in need. I believe that although that may have been what was used to get people to volunteer, it was really the way that God was able to fulfill His intention to bring about change in us “good Christians”. Granted we are called to help those in need, we hardly ever stop to think that those in need are really us. Yes, we did our job that was described on paper, but the real thing was Jesus. To be able to help kids see and feel something different than what they feel on a regular basis, allowed our eyes to see the impact that we really do have in life. What made it beautiful was to see the peace and safety that they had not entirely because of us, but more because of the Light that was shining through us. Seeing that allowed me to understand the need to cling to Jesus is even greater than I thought.

To truly be an effective “Christian” is to understand that without Him you are just another person trying to do good. The impact that we have on people’s lives is only as great as the impact He has on ours. The more that we seek Him and depend on Him, the more we can be used to glorify His name. I am very proud and humbled to say that through our program we have three young kids that have given their lives to Jesus and are still coming. The program was a success.

SOLFUL Maple Basketball

By Arnold Wang

Every Tuesdays and Fridays, portable basketball hoops are rolled out to a closed street at the corner of Truslow and Lawrence in the Maple District of Fullerton. About 15-25 kids, young adults, and volunteers come out to play ball. It may look like chaos on the streets, often playing eight-on-eight games with many uncalled fouls, turnovers galore, and much unintentional “crab walks.” However there is beauty in this chaos. This is what real community looks like when people come together to share in on the fun of life and sports.

Third Culture is a term often used at Newsong

Church for having the mindset and the will to love, learn, and serve people in any culture unlike our own. Like delicious food or good music, basket

ball is a universal activity, which can be enjoyed by people of all ages, cultures, races, and socioeconomic status. Finding the common interest in basketball, athletes, and the Lakers is just the bridge in build

ing a relationship outside the courts. Image what greater things can come out of this.

SOLFUL has been a great opportunity to serve and just love God’s people. It’s been a joy coming out here for the past four weeks and seeing the kids have so much fun. I can really see the improvement in their basketball skills. What’s more important, beyond the basketball, it’s all about the relationships that have been built. The respect we have for each other, and sharing the common passion for the sport of basketball. The late Coach John Wooden once said, “I always tried to make clear that basketball is not the ultimate. It is of small importance in comparison to the total life we live. There is only one kind of life that truly wins, and that is the one that places faith in the hands of the Savior. Until that is done, we are on an aimless course that runs in circles and goes nowhere.”

SOLFUL Experience...

Proper Posture
by Lisa Mo

Reconciliation. It is Newsong’s one word vision. What does reconciliation mean in relation to people, to brothers and sisters in Fullerton? I was not thinking upon these lines as I signed up for Summer of Love Fullerton (SOLFUL). In fact, I am embarrassed to admit that I did not have the best attitude to volunteer. I thought, “I suppose I could spare one morning out of each week to help out.” It seemed like a minimal requirement for participation. And I did feel some obligation to participate since NOC was heavily involved in SOLFUL.

On the evening of Monday, June 14th, God changed my poor attitude and shifted my perspective. In an arid, hot, dim-lit, tile-floored room that fits 15 people comfortably, about 50 members from various north OC churches were packed, some of them streaming out of the narrow door. I glanced around and saw eager, anticipating faces of different ethnicities, young to mature. As the SOLFUL coordinators described the upcoming program, I felt I caught a glimpse of beauty, a glimpse of the church as who she is meant to be, in a spirit of unity and purpose. The crowdedness and heat evaporated in light of the beautiful, radiant bride of Christ around me. Simply amazing.

And as I walked to my car after the orientation, I saw apartments stacked beside each other—noisy, roach-infested, populated. Even in the midst of what some may call a street of poverty, I sensed God’s tender love for this Garnet neighborhood and was thankful that Solidarity had embraced them with it.

During the first couple weeks of SOLFUL, it was a humbling experience. Tommy Nixon, a member of our speaking team and executive director of Solidarity, had asked our group of volunteers to assist the moms in the community in running an arts, crafts and cooking program for the neighborhood kids. He cautioned us that the moms might try to hand over the coordination to us, but our role was to assist them only. I remember thinking, “That’s awesome!” But I didn’t know that it was going to be difficult for me to take a back seat. On the first day, I had to resist giving suggestions. I had to remind myself that I didn’t know better. I didn’t need to fix anything. I was there to experience and learn. Value the neighborhood moms’ ways of interactions, their management styles, and value them.

God tends to teach me lessons in multiple ways (perhaps I am not a fast learner) and so it was in this case. At one of our debriefing meetings, a volunteer asked if Solidarity had ESL classes for the neighborhood parents. I knew she had good intentions. English proficiency is an obvious asset (After all, I am an English teacher by profession). However, her well-intended question made me reflect on this point: “We’re still trying to help them.” And then a can of other thoughts opened up. We—middle-class, well-educated, socially advantaged, privileged groups—want to help them. Does the neighborhood see us as better? Have we put ourselves on a higher playing field by default, by having the attitude to help?

These questions reminded me of Jim Gustafson’s posture during his workshop session at VIBE 2007 (Newsong Alliance Conference). Jim has been an entrepreneurial missionary in Thailand for over 35 years and spoke on incarnational ministry. At one point in his talk, he bent his knee and stretched out his hand to demonstrate his posture to the Thai communities. He often approached them saying, “We want to be a part of your community. Show us, teach us.”

Even though the image of the bended knee and outstretched hand has been deeply etched in my mind these past three years, I’m still learning how to adopt that posture and I have that opportunity in SOLFUL. I wonder if this posture is also part of what reconciliation looks like. Are we willing to learn from others? Are we willing to value them and their ways? Am I?

I’m sure many other SOLFUL participants have had eye-opening experiences. Would you please consider sharing them with our NOC Community? Email us at noccomm@newsong.net.

SOLFUL Begins...

What happens when churches and groups of Christ followers band together and share their resources? Summer of Love Fullerton (SOLFUL) began this past week and will run through August 13th. Since the Fullerton School District is unable to offer summer school for students due to budget cuts this year, churches and organizations who had come together through Fullerton Advocating Community Transformation (Fullerton ACT) decided that they would provide it for the communities. The inception of SOLFUL to its birth was less than a two-month journey.

About 130 volunteers from over 15 churches and organizations are participating in SOLFUL in its three locations: Garnet, Maple, and Richman District. Programs range from morning to evenings; some are Monday through Friday; others, twice a week. Children from kindergarten through high school will be engaged in any of the following activities: learning centers, sports, cooking, art, gardening, music, cultural experiences, math and reading workshops, games, and dance.

Over 30 NOC members have committed to help during the seven weeks. SOLFUL “is about loving our neighbors in Fullerton, without reserve or condition. It is about our own opportunities to grow deeper with Jesus, to see where God is moving in our neighborhoods and join in.” Please join us in praying that lives will be transformed for all those involved — volunteers and children.

Participating Churches and Organizations:

• Anaheim Fullerton
• Burrito Project
• Cal Sate Fullerton InterVarsity Christian Fellowship
• Calvary Chapel Fullerton
• Eden Church Fullerton
• EPIC
• EV Free Fullerton
• Fullerton ACT
• The Gathering
• Lifeline
• Lifepoint Ministry
• Newsong NOC
• Purpose Community Church
• Rock Harbor Fullerton
• SaRang Community Church
• Side by Side Church
• Sojourners Community Church
• Solidarity
• The Rock
• Trinity Baptist
• The Well GMI
• Yorba Linda Friends Church
• ZOE Ministries

Volunteers came from more than 15 of the churches & organizations. Some of the groups have participated through prayer and support and donatations of many supplies that are needed. If you would like to contribute, please visit the SOLFUL info. table in the foyer.

SOLFUL is an initiative started by Fullerton Advocating Community Transformation (Fullerton ACT) which is an open forum amongst Christ-centered community leaders that encourage one another to take steps in transforming the Fullerton community. Fullerton ACT also works with the City of Fullerton through the Fullerton Collaborative to present the needs of the city to our church communities. SOLFUL: Summer of Love Fullerton is one of our first opportunities to unify as the church of the city and build relationships with one another and our communities.