Good Trip!

We are back from Nicaragua and Guatemala.

We are very excited about the Miskito pastors in Puerto Cabezas



- and the way they are using Chronological Bible Storying in their ministries. Pastor Soraya (from Bismona) has a very large and effective ministry teaching young people Bible stories in a public school. The Lord has given her a special gift to learn quickly and to teach others.



We began a recording project of the stories from the 21 story scarf this time and left the key pastors with a small digital recorder so they can finish the project by the end of the year.



While we were there, they recorded 12 stories!

The following week, we did a one-day introduction to Storying with some youth at a Guatemala City church. They were very receptive and seemed to enjoy the interactive style.

Following this, we accompanied members of Family Bible Church




as they put a new roof on Pastor Iliana's church in Puntarena, Rio Dulce. They also had many activities for children (photos courtesy of FBC photographer, Lee)





and assisted with a dental clinic.

Following this, we visited the new church plant - Palabra Viva in St. Elena Los Dolores - near Guatemala City. Team members were good sports, learning to sing 2 songs in Spanish for the congregation.

It was wonderful to serve with our brothers and sisters from Portage, Indiana!

Off to Nicaragua & Guatemala

We are on the way to Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua.

While there, we will continue our training on Chronological Bible Storying and will begin a recording project. Pastors will tape Bible stories in Miskitu to eventually be placed on the Saber - a hand-crank MP3 player. Our goal is to finish recording all 22 stories by the end of the year.

After one week in Nicaragua, we will fly to Guatemala.

We will train a Guatemala City church in their first Chronological Bible Storying training, then, will accompany friends from Family Bible Church in Portage, IN on a construction/VBS trip in Punta Arena near Rio Dulce.

It's official!

We are praising the Lord that our transition to ReachGlobal (click here for ReachGlobal website) is complete!

ReachGlobal (formerly Evanglical Free Church of America Mission) has invited us to join a newly formed team called the Global Church Development Team. This will further enable us to train leaders in different parts of the world. Our present projects in Papua New Guinea, Latin America, Africa and the USA will stay the same. We’ve also been asked to train ReachGlobal Missionaries around the world who are ministering to oral cultures. This will be a great honor for us.

Donations toward this work can be done via the internet: click here
or sent by mail to our account:

Fornelli - 1669

at:

EFCA
Attn: Donor Services
901 East 78th ST
Minneapolis, MN 55420-1300

If you need help or have questions regarding this or other Donor Services, please
contact the EFCA Donor Services Department toll free at 800-745-2202, or dial direct
952-853-8434.

While in the US

Sometimes people ask, "What do you do when you are in the United States?"

Well, besides enjoying our dear family...



Here are some of the things:

*On Sundays, John continues with the Hispanic Soccer outreach at PlayUSA in Aurora with his ministry partner, Obed Mendoza.




*Power Picnics - We do "open-air" evangelism around a picnic at various public places. Check the posting on May 12th, or click on our profile picture to the right if you'd like more information.



*US Training in Chronological Bible Storying - We train mission teams and churches. This summer, we are training members of a team going to Botswana from OneWay Ministries, a mission team to Guatemala (we get to go with!) from Family Bible Church,


a mission team to Detroit from Village Bible Church,



members of Bensenville Bible Church Hispanic Fellowship



and members of Growing in Grace Sunday School class from Evangelical Free Church in Naperville.

*We have the privilege of preaching, teaching or leading worship in various partnering churches.



*Cheryl is writing and directing a children's drama/ John is writing and directing the music for Evangelical Free Church of Naperville, IL Summer Camp.

*We try to Skype, email or call (keep in touch with) our main pastors all over the world. We are always planning the next training session and making sure they and their disciples are doing their "homework".

Our key disciples are:

Pastor Gabino in Cusco, Peru
Ruth Hidalgo in Pucallpa, Peru
Pastor Gabriel in Kareloma, Papua New Guinea
Pastor Santiago and Pastor Joseph in Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua

Come to a Power Picnic!

“Give thanks to the LORD and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done.” (Psalm 105:1 NLT)

You are invited to what we are calling “Power Picnics” this spring and summer.

What is a power picnic?
Bring your own food, lawn chair or blanket. Join us at select locations around the Chicago area where people gather naturally. We’ll sing a song, tell a Bible story or two and preach the Gospel.

We’ll use no microphones or amplifiers so we will not need any special permits. You can come early and leave late. You can come only to pray, eat and enjoy the fellowship. Or you can sing, tell a Bible story, preach or pass out tracts - just let us know how you want to participate. Everyone is welcome: singles, married couples, families with children, young people and seniors. Just come!

Why are we doing this?
Read Psalm 105. Our motive is simple. We want to proclaim God’s mighty acts of redemption in Christ to a lost world.

Will people pay attention?
After telling the Parable of the Sower, Jesus said simply, “He who has ears, let him hear” (Matthew 13:9). We will pray for God to bring people whose hearts will be willing to listen. Many will shut us out. Either way, we will not be intrusive or obnoxious. At the same time we will be bold and unashamed (Romans 1:16).

What are the locations and dates?
(let us know if you want to schedule a Power Picnic near you)
Saturday May 23
Naperville, IL - Riverwalk - 12-2 pm
Aurora, IL - Philip's Park (Spanish/English bilingual) - 4-6 pm

Wednesday, June 3
Chicago, IL - Fullerton Ave Beach - 1-6 pm

Wednesday, June 10
Naperville, IL - Riverwalk 5-7 pm

Saturday, June 13
Aurora, IL - Redmond Park (Spanish/English bilingual - in conjunction with Hispanic soccer tournament) - 12-6 pm

Saturday, July 11
Bensenville, IL - Redmond Park - 12-2 pm
Bensenville, IL - Redmond Park - 4-6 pm

How do I sign up?
Call us at 630-445-1122

News from Peru

We've just heard from Ruth Hidalgo, who has been championing "Oralidad" (Chronological Bible Storying) in Peru (among Mestizo, Shipibo and Quechua Indians).

(top left in photo)



She just returned from a very successful teaching seminar among Shipibo people in remote villages up the Ucayali River. They have divided into 2 groups now - people who studied 50 stories last year and new people. While the new people are learning the first 22 stories on the Story Scarf, the "veterans" are doing a study on the narratives in Acts and focusing on how to ask good questions of understanding and application.




Ruth has taken every little bit that we have taught her and has developed a model that works very well with her people in Peru.

This is what Chronological Bible Storying is all about! We thank God for her and pray that He continues to bless her efforts.

Out of Africa

John returned from a two-fold trip to Africa. Starting in Botswana, he participated with OneWay Ministries, Wheaton and Wabash colleges teaching how to use Bible narratives to share the gospel during their sports camp outreach activities.



Following this, he traveled to South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique with missionary Ray Mensah to participate in evangelistic and prayer events.



John takes his "million dollar" question with him wherever he goes!