Dustin, We Need You!

Sorry for delay; mucho problems with Internet. Anyway, we spent all morning learning four dances to music (which we will definitely debut at Kingsway next Sunday) and three skits. Diana and Heather are doctors George and Chris are statues. Michele and Kim play Mary. Devon is Jesus, multiple times. Nikki, Mical, Christine, and Angela are part of the crowd that crucifies Jesus. Allie, Nicole and Bri play a girl who gives her heart to Jesus while George plays the boy who treats that same girls heart poorly. Pastor Arlena plays a cop who arrests Rick, an abusive dad (which couldn't be further from the truth). Finally, Georgie is a rock star and Marco plays a funny drunk. We've had a full day to be sure!

If you want to see some pictures, check out Marco Ortiz' facebook. I will try to get up pics when possible.

Tonight, we head to the prayer fortress for a powerful time of prayer. Tomorrow, we head out to minister all we have learned to the children. Thanks for your prayers. We feel them.

Blessings, Pastor Arlena

Monday, July 20, 2009

Focus Topic: Endurance

Focus Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:8-10

Focus Team Members: Diana Franks, Allie Mickel

Prayer: Your Grace is sufficient, God! I believe that today. God, help each team member feel your strength being made perfect in his or her weakness. Allow each person to delight in his or her weakness, trusting only in your strength. I lift up Diana and Allie to you today, entrusting them into your hands. Protect them and safeguard them as they move through their day and bless them in Jesus Name, Amen!

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Focus Topic: Salvation for Souls

Focus Scripture: John 3:16-17

Focus Team Members: Nicole DiFelice, Briana Franks

Prayer: God, Thank you for sending Jesus, Your Son, so that we may have eternal life. I pray that you would cause our team to minister salvation to those to whom you have sent them. Allow the message of John 3:16 to flow freely from our team members in their words and in their service. Place people in their paths who need to hear about you. Be with Nicole and Briana today. Strengthen them as they come and as they go. Allow them to minister your salvation to everyone they encounter today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

A Long but Safe Travel Day

Hello from El Salvador!

After a llooooooonnnnnnnnngggggggggg travel day, we arrived at the King's Castle campground around 4pm (6pm EST). We are all very tired (some have been up for over 36 hours straight) but safe and sound. Our flights ran smoothly and all of our luggage arrived on the same plane that we did (always a bonus!)

Tomorrow will be a full day as we begin our ministry training. We will be learning dances, skits, and dramas that we will use to minister in neighborhoods all around the region where we are staying. Last year, our training was really a four hour long lesson in humility as we discovered just how little rhythm and coordination we had. BUT, we are up for whatever we are asked to do while here in El Salvador and we believe God will somehow use our efforts for His glory.

Sorry we don't have any pictures but the Internet connection is spotty at best. We have the ability to upload text but no photos. I promise to get pictures up as quickly as I can.

Thanks so much for all of your prayers. We sure can feel them! Keep them up. I should have a much more entertaining post tomorrow night after our training session (just picture me, George, Kim, & Rick all trying to dance).

Love to all of you! Blessings,
Pastor Arlena :)

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Focus Topic: Protection

Focus Scripture: Psalm 91

Focus Team Members: Devon Cimino, Pastor Arlena Corzine

Prayer: Father God, I come to you in the Name of Jesus, asking you to cover the entire team with Your protection. I pray that you would command your angels concerning our team, to guard them in all their ways. I lift up to you specifically Devon and Pastor Arlena. God, Help them find refuge in you today. I pray these things through the power in the Name of Jesus, Amen!

We're Leaving on a Jet Plane

Hello everyone! Welcome to our first 2009 trip post!

This Saturday, July 18, 2009, 18 people from Kingsway Church will depart from Philadelphia International Airport at 6:10am (yep, we are leaving that early) to begin our missions week in El Salvador. About (9) of us have been there before; the other (9) are all first-timers. We are all excited, anxious, expectant, and a host of other feelings.

Thanks so much to our Kingsway family (and many others) who helped us make this trip. We couldn't have raised over $24,000 to go without your faithful and generous support. We hope that you enjoy reading about our adventures over the next week. We are believing God to make a difference in our own lives, even as we strive to make a difference in the lives of others. Pray with us that families will be blessed as we distribute food, children will come to know Jesus as we minister in neighborhoods and schools, and many will experience the compassion of Christ as two members of our team serve in the medical clinic.

My next post will be from El Salvador!

Blessings on you,
Pastor Arlena :)

2nd Team Meeting

Hello everyone! Our second team meeting will be Tuesday, February 17, 2009 at 7PM. The team is filling up fast! Email me at arlena.corzine@gmail.com if you are interested in going; I need to get you some important information.

Be praying! Believe with us that Kingsway team members will serve willingly, love passionately, and see many people reached with the gospel of Jesus Christ!

Blessings,
Pastor Arlena

2009 Missions Trip

Hello everyone! Kingsway is headed back to El Salvador July 18-25, 2009. We're excited to work again with King's Castle Ministries and Missionaries Don & Terri Triplett.

If you are interested in joining us, our first team meeting is Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 7:00pm.

Praying that Kingsway will once again make a difference in El Salvador,

Pastor Arlena

Safely Home

Hey! Just wanted everyone to know that our team arrived last night in Philadelphia. We landed on time and were back at the church around 10:30pm. All of our flights went smoothly and we were glad to be home.

We had an amazing service today. We shared with everyone our team video, one of the dances we learned (which provided a good laugh for all), and everyone on the team shared a testimony of what they experienced.

Thanks for reading. Thanks for posting. And, most importantly - THANK YOU for your prayers. They were certainly appreciated!

Blessings, Pastor Arlena :)

A Day in the Sun

Hola!

After four straight eighteen hour days, today was our team day off. We traveled two hours by bus to a resort on the coast called Atami. There, we enjoyed a beautiful beach with black sand, three salt water pools, a huge water slide, our own private huts with hammocks, and a wonderful concession stand that made fresh fruit smoothies. We were ready to relax and boy, does this team know how to do it. Everyone played hard and some of us took a nap in our respective hammock but most important - no one was hurt and it was a special treat to end our week this way. It was a day off for the Master's Commission and National staff too; they've been working with us every day this week and I know they appreciated the time off.

We are only moments away from our farewell service. We are told this is a special time when teams have a chance to review their week and share what they've experienced. On Sunday, we'll be able to tell you what an amazing part of the week this service was.

Tomorrow, we are up at 4AM because we have to leave the campground at 5AM. We must be at the airport three hours before our 10:05AM flight - hence the reason for the early day. We'll go through customs in Dallas and land in Philadelphia around 9:35PM tomorrow night. Frank Iannuzzi and Yuni Rowe will meet us at the airport. We hope to be back to the church by 10:45PM.

Keep our travel day in your prayers. The Lord has been with us all week and we are trusting that He will bring us safely home. This will be my last post from El Salvador. Hope you've enjoyed hearing about our days; I know I've enjoyed sharing them with you.

Blessings, Pastor Arlena