|
Africa ...New Opportunities and Open Doors
In 2010, Covenant will launch Covenant Foster Care Tanzania. This January, Randy Martin, CEO will visit Tanzania to meet with government officials, new staff and church leaders to solidify the partnership and receive blessing from the Tanzanian government.
Covenant's "open door" in Tanzania was forged by the Lord through relationships with International Christian Ministries (ICM) and James Kamau. Kamau and Martin have developed a relationship following a teaching conference where Randy was invited to speak in Tanzania in 2007.
The vision for Covenant Tanzania was planted in 1995 and it is amazing to witness it's development. The greater vision of Covenant is to have ministry impact in "Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth". This vision is being fulfilled with the ministry launch of Covenant Tanzania.
If you would like to help in the embryonic stages of this exciting endeavor you can donate and pray now . Soon, you will be able to partner with Covenant in developing this exciting new ministry through the sponsorship of individual children and youth.
" Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow. "
Isaiah 1:17-18 |
COVENANT partners with Albertsons!
Albertsons is offering the public the opportunity to get involved this Christmas season by allowing the public to purchase "Turkey Bucks" at the registers. The bucks will go to provide premde dinners to former foster youth and thier families in Kern County.
**If you're shopping at Albertsons, remember to add some "Turkey Bucks" to your purchase and help support Covenant's mission to serve abused and neglected children!
Participating locations:
ROSEDALE and ALLEN
MT. VERNON
PANAMA |
|
JEREMIAH MENTORING PROJECT
After their wonderful experience at the Covenant Christmas Party, Darren and Kelly took Tyler to their home to experience setting up and decorating their Christmas tree. Tyler commented that the other boys from his group home were attending a Bakersfield Condor's game.
At first it was thought that Tyler would rather be at the game. But after seeing his interaction and fun he was having it was evident that Tyler wanted to be with his mentor and doing the "Christmas thing" rather than go to another sporting event with the same crowd.
The need that abused and neglected children have is to be back with their family. In the case of those whose family is not available, they want to be with a caring and loving family at these special times. Consider being a mentor and changing the life of an abused and neglected child.
--John Payne, Jeremiah Mentoring |
NEW FACES
at COVENANT 
-Ri chard Arnold, Assistant Manager Building Blocks
 -Julie Walsh, Community Developer
-J. Doss, Technical Support Services |
|
COVINA FOSTER CARE
After many months of prayer and hard work, we have finally made our first placements out of the Covina office in Covina, CA.
Two brothers, ages one and six, were placed in the Greener hope this last week, and will now receive the hope and love children need! We are excited to see what God is going to do through this family, and through the lives of foster chuldren in Covina.
Thank you Micaela for all your hard work and dilligence! Thank you to Covina Assembly of God for your partnership in "providing hope and love to abused an neglected children." |
|
TODAY!
Covenant needs your help! If you would like to invest in the work of Covenant, become a prayer partner or a volunteer, please visit our website or call the office.
Call 326-8304 or go to
for more information or to donate online! |
|
CHECK OUT OUR NEW WEBSITE!!
Covenant recently updated their website! Feel free to check it out!!
| |
Greetings!
Merry Christmas!
I hope you are enjoying this wonderful season as we celebrate the great gift from God found in Jesus Christ.
Christmas is truly a magical time full of surprises, excitement and joy. Let's keep our focus this season on what really matters and that is relationship. Relationship with God and with man.
I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for your prayers, giving and support this past year. 2009 was an amazing year of growth and ministry for Covenant and it would not have been possible without your generous support and compassion. Thanks!
I hope you enjoy this newsletter and the terrific stories bragging on all God has done through the ministry of Covenant. We are blessed to have a tight-knit team that God has constructed and is molding for His purposes on the earth.
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
Isaiah 9:6
I pray God's richest blessing for you this Christmas season and throughout the New Year!
For King and Kingdom,
Randy Martin, CEO |
Christmas Party a Success!
The Christmas Party was a complete success this year, with over 200 people in attendance!! We want to say a special thank you to our many volunteers, donors, and supporters for all your hard work and effort to bless those we serve.
The response from the community was astounding as you helped to provide food, gifts, and a fabulous Christmas party including dinner, gift-giving, and a visit from Santa. Due to community response from the Albertson's food drive, we were able to distribute 97 food baskets and 75 turkeys to former foster youth, families in reunification and other families we serve.
May the Lord richly bless you this Christmas season. The team at Covenant is so thankful for you and your contributions to what the Lord is doing in Kern County to provide hope and love to abused and neglected children.
"Wealth and honor come from you;
you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are
strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.
Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your
glorious name. "But who am I, and who are my people,
that we should be able to give as generously as this?
Everything comes from you, and we have given you only
what comes from your hand. We are aliens and strangers
in your sight, as were all our forefathers.
Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope."
--2 Chronicles 29:12-15
A special thank you to the following people:
Albertsons, Valley Baptist Church, Bridge Bible Church small groups, Steve Sanchez, the Pantry, Billy McTaggart, Al Wagner, House of Talula, Starbucks, El Adobe, Johns Incredible pizza, IHOP, Denny's, Nikki's smoking bbq, Costco, Condors, Bob and Mindy Parry, Ann Marie Barton, Steve and Julie Walsh, Highland ASB, Ray and Randy of Operation Soul Winner, Teen Challenge, Genoveva Ramirez of JC Penney, Mark Szymborski, John & Lisa & Ian Anderson, Grace Lutheran Church, Alpine trees, Matt Moore and the Bakersfield Fire Dept., Wavelengths Surf Shop and many others we probably have failed to mention.
|
 Santa gave out gifts!!
Former foster youth and their newborn enjoy an early Christmas! |
CHOICES Transitional Housing Program (THP+)
 CHOICES has started offering a once a month class for the mom's in our program. We have 20 young moms who have had very little teaching or role modeling for the job they are now doing with their children. A few of our mothers are also raising their siblings through kinship care (foster care by family members). They have children of various ages, but the majority are preschool aged.
Each of the participants have to attend a meeting each month, and we have been encouraging the mothers to attend CHOICES for Moms. Life Journey Christian Church has been very generous and allowed us to use their facility for the class. The mother's are encouraged to bring their children. There are toys available and opportunities to help them learn basic things, such as how to play with their children. It does not come naturally to all of them.
The first month we had a social, get to know each other time with an open forum about what the greatest learning needs are for the moms. The interaction between the participants was fabulous and a huge blessing to me and to them. Two of the mothers began helping each other with child care. The second month, I taught on child development. There were more participants and the class went well.
In November, the third month, the class doubled in size and half of the mother's in our program attended. They continued to build relationships with each other, and we talked about taking care of yourself and how to handle crisis and stress. The participation was great!!! It is fabulous to hear their input and the ways that they support each other.
At the October class, there was mother, Shirley, there who was due to deliver her baby any minute, and another mother, Sabrina, who has a 2 ½ year old. Sabrina was so nurturing and encouraging toward Shirley. She shared advice about labor and delivery and her time with her baby just after birth. It made me smile to listen to them.
I am so excited about this opportunity to meet with these ladies. They have so much to learn, but they are open and want people in their lives who will feed them and love them and model for them. This is one of my favorite times each month. What an opportunity I have to make an impact on their lives and to share the hope and love of Jesus with them! I truly love being used in this way!
--Becky Colaw, Case Manager |
 Covenant Foster Care really does provide hope and love! Crystal R. is a 17 year old who has been in foster care with Covenant for the last 2 years. She is a wonderful young woman who has gone through a lot in her young life and is working hard to ensure a good future for herself. She is living in the home of Debby Crow and has recently been excelling.
Crystal has struggled with school as she missed a lot in her past and is very behind in credits. During this past school year, she began after school tutoring and passed all of her classes for the 1st time on her 1st quarter report card.
She is diligently working to catch up on credits by attending an afterschool program each day until 6pm. That would be hard for any teen to do, but Crystal is really going above and beyond. Recently, Debby shared that she had not been feeling well and had been suffering from some severe migraines. When asked about Crystal, Debby shared "She has been an angel. I could not have gotten through the last few weeks without her." Debby shared that Crystal had been helping out around the house with cooking, cleaning, and helping to take care of Debby's 4 year old adopted daughter.
Crystal has really blossomed and is seeming to overcome the hurt of her past. She is responsible, kind, and mature. She is currently on the wait list for our Transitional Housing Program (THP+) and hopes to continue school and live with Debby next year after she turns 18 until she can participate in the THP+ program.
It is awesome to see how the hope, love and kindness of Jesus Christ has transformed this young life and it is an honor to be able to continue to work with her! Please continue to pray for Crystal and all of our foster care placements and families. They really are doing important, great work!
--Leah Garza, Director of Family Services |
CHOICES Transitional Housing Program (THP+)
 Our young adults face so much adversity as they attempt to achieve permanence, that it's a pleasure to share a recent success! One participant has been struggling with the (all too familiar) problem of finding a steady job. He had been showing signs of honestly pursuing work.
Two months ago he found a job at a fast food restaurant 30 minutes from Bakersfield. Everything had been going okay for him, but then the transmission went out in his car. He could not afford to get it fixed, and a rebuilt transmission was worth more than his car. So he walked nearly 30 minutes to the downtown bus terminal to catch a bus all the way out to his work. He has been doing this for over a month.
At the beginning of this month he came to me with some fantastic news! The gas station next to where he had been working, hired him for an increased wage with benefits!
This is a awesome story of persistence and discipline. Moreover, this is a testimony to the power of prayer. Ever since this young man entered Covenant I had been praying that he would find work and that he would know God is with him and his source of strength.
--Jonah Long, Case Manager |
BUILDING BLOCKS
During Anthony's birthday party we all were so touched at his thankfulness. As Mark was collecting balloons off the fence he brought them to Anthony. Anthony began to tell Mark how he has never had a Birthday party, and what really was special to him was the fact that people were there that he loved and cared about, and that really cared about him too. He has a family now!
As we were leaving the party, Anthony shared with us a little about himself and his dreams. He also communicated his thankfulness. He told us he has never had this many people gather just to show him he is loved and cared about. He was touched and then started crying. Anthony is a great young man who now has a lot of hope for the future. He said he really appreciates Building Blocks and everything that they have done for him. He has hopes and dreams now where before he didn't. Anthony thanked us and God for his new life!
--Mark Williams, Building Blocks |
 CARENET provided services to the Miller family which consists of a mother and her 7 children. When mom reunified with her kids they were living in a roach-infested apartment. In fact, it was so bad that they had to leave everything behind with the exception of their clothes. They moved into a home in the beginning of November and did not have much at all. After talking to the social worker and finding out a little more I asked myself; "I wonder who else this family has for support, other than the social worker ?" It turns out, the family did not have anyone else to help.
CARENET was able to provide the Miller family with a changing table, dresser, clothes, toys, a full-size bed, toddler bed, and a few different board games. It was such a blessing Carenet could provide the tangible needs for the family. In addition, We pray with them, and let them know that we care and want the best for them. Although we don't have daily interaction with the family, the interaction we do have can bless and influence for an eternity.
It has been almost a month since CARENET has provided services to the family, and I have talked to mother several times. The family was so touched they wrote thank you letters and even drew pictures of the stuff they received. The Miller family also came to the Covenant Christmas party!
The Millers were so touched by God's people doing God's work and were encouraged and filled with more hope than they have had in a long time.
--Kevin Codd, CARENET | |
|
|
|
