2010 Short Term Mission

What a year!! 2010 has been an awesome! So many amazing teams from all over the world.

Here is some testimonies of people's experience

We had an awesome experience! This was my 3rd trip... My teams 1st trip. I have two students who would like to join the movement in the next year or so and some younger ones who like the idea in the future. Bernice, Cindy and the team (STM) were EXTREMELY helpful and helped make our experience an unforgettable one. - Joel Wilkie

I really enjoyed my time at the Dream Center. The things you all are doing are amazing. My favorite thing about the trip was just going out and simply talking to or ministering to the homeless in Santa Monica & Venice Beach. The things I saw and the people I talked to will forever be embedded in my mind. My heart breaks for them. But I know that the power of God can reach the lost and broken. He loves us all. - Nick Rodriguez

I Really LOVE all of the ministries and outreaches that you do and the vision of the Dream Center. Doing the food trucks was amazing. I love being able to interact with people and just seeing the joy on their faces when they receive things like that. I am really wanting to come back and stay longer. I've even been thinking about joining the Movement. Keep doing everything you are doing and spreading the love of God in LA. - Callie Swenson

The dream center helped me realize how easy it is to serve and how much of an impact one person can have. - Marcus Grimes

Just finished making calls in Marketing center with my 3 teens and they were petrified to make calls. By the end they expressed joy at the experience. This is just the most recent example of the stretch and challenge that I was offered from the Dream Center - Great example of the challenge God presents and blessings given to those who answer. - Debbie Dotts

I had a really great time, the experience was very eye-opening. Everyone was wonderful to work with. I loved doing all the outreaches to students and youth - Nicole Huttie

I thought the Dream Center was an amazing experience for me and my group. I can truly see how Jesus is working through peoples lives by how they love other people. Thank you for this amazing experience - Kayra Strecker

I thought that the Dream Center is an outstanding place for positive change in peoples lives. The people who served and are served equally receive God's grace and love because of the works of this place. - Alyssa Fulling

I really like the dream center. This has been a life changing experience for me. I have heard a lot of people's testimony and it was really awesome to see how the Dream Cneter has changed so many people's lives. I bet all those people are super thankful for the Dream Center. Thank you! - Emily Klahn

Volunteering at the Dream Cneter changed my life. Before I came here I wasn't totally sure about my relationship with God but now I feel closer than ever - Kimberlyn Wooley

This trip has been an awesome, life-changing experience for me. I liked how we got to interact with a lot of homeless people and people in poverty. I have developed closer relationships with my friends, leaders and God. I definitely plan on going here next year. - Chris Stack

Last year was my first time here (this is my second time here) I was in a bad, dark and horrible place. The mission trip was my last chance for God. What I saw here and what the people around me did, truly saved my life. Not just my religion, but my physical and spiritual life. If I hadn't come here without God, I can say with certainty that I would not be alive today. - Olivia Ley

This was my 2nd year and I'm still AMAZED at how God works through the Dream Center and all of the short term missionaries. Our students loved it and I know I learned a lot and had a great spiritual growth week! - Jimmy Ezzell
I really thought that this center was truly amazing. What everyone does here is so cool. The experience is awesome and the staff and all people are very nice :) - Callie Walker

I have had a great experience here at the Dream Center. God has opened my eyes to a part of the world I have never seen or experienced before. My heart burns with compassion for these people. Thank you for making this missions trip an incredible eye-opening experience. - Hannah Evans

I have really really enjoyed this trip. God has really opened my eyes to many things. I gained a compassion and urgency to share the gospel with everyone. Whether it would be the people on SKid Row or the people getting food from the Food Truck. All of the leaders and interns here have a heart and compassion and a love and joy for what they do and it contagious. thank you! My prayers are with you. May God continue to do such a great and amazing work in the hearts of the people in LA and beyond... all the way to Wisconsin. - Amber M. White

This has been a very rewarding and incredible experience. There are so many testimonies, its hard to choose just one. I think to pick one, it would be the faces and gratefulness I've seen throughout all the various missions. Thank you for this experience! - Rhonda Ferrel

I loved my experience here. I had no idea what to expect. I've only done missions out of country but people need God in the United States. the staff never failed to smile or say hello. Loved you all! - Bethany Umes

I thought working with the Jonah Project was an incredible experience that I will never forget. Feeding all those starving people was such a blessing not only to them but me as well. Thank you so much for giving me a chance to do this. - Alexandra Del Vecchio

Stay Blessed!

October was AWESOME!!

To fill you in on Patricia Heaton's sermon last month she did an amazing job! If you can, you should order the DVD. We also had Benny Perez from The Church of South Las Vegas, amazing speaker! Insomnia was this month as well, which is a 12 hour prayer meeting that we do twice a year, praying for the city, economy, president, our pastors, the church, etc...

Ok, so now the most AWESOME news about this month, we started a New Ministry! We are now reaching out to families, letting them stay at the Dream Center to help them get back on their feet. So far we have taken in five, most are single moms with children. We plan on helping these families with as much as possible like finishing High School, applying for jobs, sign up for Section A housing, teaching how to handle their finances and creating a savings account, etc... I am so excited about this new ministry!! I know it was a future plan for when we finish all construction in the main building, but Pastor Matthew said the time is NOW! You know its so true how we tend to put some visions on hold, just because WE think a few elements are missing.

In the Word of God there is a parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-28). The talents were divided among three men, each according to his ability. No one received more or less than he could handle. If he failed in his assignment, his excuse could not be that he was overwhelmed. Failure could come only from laziness or hatred toward the master. The talents represent any kind of resource we are given. God gives us time, gifts, and other resources according to our abilities and he expects us to invest them wisely until he returns. We are responsible to use well what God has given us. The issue is not how much we have, but how well we use what we have. Start investing in the resources He has given you. The time is NOW!

Next month is full of events; November 9th Discipleship Graduation! November 13th T.D. Jakes will be our guest speaker at Angelus Temple!! November 23rd we'll be having our annual Turkey giveaway! If you are interested in donating to this event, please let me know!

Prayer Request: For all families we are now housing; especially for one family where the mom just lost the job that she had been working at for the past three years. Please, lift up Jenny in your prayers that her next job will be even far greater than she could have ever imagined.

Be Blessed!

Matthew Barnett is now on Twitter!!

You can now follow Pastor Matthew on Twitter!! Twitter is a way to get to know what's going on with the person throughout the day! Our Pastor has signed up for this and updates it all day, if you are interested in being a follower, you can check it out at http://twitter.com/MatthewBarnett

Greetings from Bernice in LA!!

Hi Everyone!! This is the first among many blogs that I've dreamed of doing to keep you all informed about the Dream Center's latest activities! There is so much God is doing, that it would be a sin not to tell you of all the miracles! In this blog, I'll be able to keep you informed of any Short Term Mission updates, along with different events that'll be taking place at the Dream Center, combined with testimonies.

First, I would like to give you a brief summary about the past two months. In August we had our annual Back to School event, giving away over 1000 backpacks filled with school supplies to kids all over Los Angeles. Then in September was a Discipleship graduation, where we celebrated the transformation of men and women who struggled with drugs, alcohol, pornography, selfishness, etc... Now they are shouting praises to God for being so loving and merciful!! Along with that week we had a fundraising event, where we were able to raise over a million dollars!!! God is so good!! Now, in the middle of October we are getting ready for a number of events, one that I'll recognize is Oct 21st. Patricia Heaton, commonly known for her acting in "Everybody loves Raymond", will be speaking at our Women's Meeting at Angelus Temple. So, Ladies if you're in the area you are more than welcome to attend!! :)

To fill you in on some future events that'll be taking place this year:
November - Turkey Giveaway
December - Joy of Christmas (A Musical Production) and Dreams Come True

Thank you all so much for your prayers and support!