Serve Day at Powerhouse Church in Watts

 Hello everyone! Ellen here from the Summer 2013 team!

We are embarking on our trip to South Africa on July 26^th (next month!), and we couldn’t be more excited to see God’s hand at work. Our team has met together for some trainings and team socials to prepare for our trip, and recently we visited Powerhouse Church in Watts to help out with their Sunday services and to understand how to seek ways we can meet the needs of others. Powerhouse Church is located in one of the several impoverished neighborhoods in Watts. This neighborhood is filled with alcohol, drugs, and gang violence. We got a feel for what it will be like in South Africa because these issues are prominent there, as well. Even though we went to Powerhouse Church to serve and to represent a beacon of hope, our primary goal was to love as God loves us.

When we arrived at Powerhouse Church, Pastor Todd Grant warmly welcomed us and told us about his church. Pastor Todd’s love for the community and for bringing hope to those facing hardships was so evident. What a blessing to see his heart for those in need! The joy of the Lord radiated in his words and actions, and I was deeply moved by his obedience to God’s call on his life to sacrifice his time and efforts to meet the needs of others.

After Pastor Todd gave us a low-down on the history of Powerhouse and the incredible ministry they are currently doing, we all got to work! Some of us helped out and played with the younger kids and the teens, some helped in the kitchen, others helped to prepare worship, and other members of the team walked around the surrounding community with water bottles, handed out fliers inviting people to church, and offered prayer.

Kim, one of our team leaders, spoke to the church about South Africa, Bridges of Hope, and gave a description of the work we will be doing there during our trip. Jared, the other leader of our team, gave a message about the different types of suffering, but mainly focused on what it means and what it looks like to suffer for Christ. Although this isn’t an easy message to swallow, it really seemed to resonate with the people in the church.

When the church service was over, we served the congregation lunch, and it was quite a feast! We served carne asada and chicken tacos, some yummy dessert, and the infamous “swag juice”.

I spoke with a man from Watts while we were eating, and he said the message of suffering really hit home. This man had recently been released from a short time in prison, and he was desperate and eager to change his life around, praise God! He said that although it is difficult to follow Christ when surrounded by gang violence and hardships, he has found that God saves and God is always faithful. It was amazing to hear the ways God has mended brokenness in peoples’ lives and how He has filled the spaces in our hearts that no one else can.

Our time serving Powerhouse Church in Watts was a great experience. We were able to understand what it looks like to go into an environment and be flexible and to expect the unexpected. When we trust God and let the Spirit lead us, God shows up in amazing ways!