Newsletter
Our Wednesday Evening Children's Ministry is Now Full of Life! L.I.T. Ministries January Newsletter 2020
We implemented the L.I.T. program in May of 2019, and we have seen God answer many long-awaited prayers! We had been seeking God for years with the burdens of equipping families to better disciple their children in the Lord, equipping kids to serve God now in their youth, and reaching kids in our community. God has used L.I.T. to answer all of these and more.
At our church, our Wednesday night service has transitioned from being extremely anemic to full of life! Our children’s ministry grew from one family in attendance and one teacher pouring into them to 13 adults and 17 or so children attending regularly! We had no midweek program for Jr. High students, and now we have 100% participating in L.I.T. with their own discipleship group. We have integrated them into our ministry teams as well, and two of those young ladies are DG leaders themselves.
I spent my first 13 years in ministry focusing on evangelizing children
It has been an amazing, busy, but rewarding year! I have seen and witnessed things in 2019 that have made it evident that the Lord is raising up kids for His kingdom purpose today. When I surrendered to full-time ministry in 1988, 
little did I know that it would be in children’s ministry. I had no idea! But it has been my greatest joy reaching children with the Gospel. Then, the Lord gave me new direction in the summer of 2002 with L.I.T. (Leaders In Training). After spending my first 13 years in ministry focusing on evangelizing children, I realized the Lord had a greater plan for their lives today. He created them for a relationship with Him. I continued reaching lost children with the Gospel, but I turned my focus on making disciples as I taught children how to walk with the Lord and how to tell others about Him. In doing this, I saw change and transformation like I had never seen before. They met their King and Savior and became passionate about walking with and following Him daily.
L.I.T. October 2019 Newsletter-L.I.T. in Piedras Negras, Mexico
L.I.T. in Piedras Negras, Mexico Update by Alex and Diana Aburto
L.I.T. students and staff from Vine and Branches Ministry, Piedras, Negras, Mexico, headed an hour down the road to Acuña City for a day-long mission trip. We invited 35 children from the ranching community to come to our friend’s farm for the day. The students were the missionaries sharing the Gospel, counseling those who desired to accept Christ, sharing their testimonies, leading the worship, games, and class time while their mentors looked on and encouraged them. It was so delightful to watch the L.I.T.s trust God to work through them (for some their first time on a mission trip), leading outreach or responding to the Holy Spirit guiding in this way.
Releasing Preteens to Minister-September 2019 Newsletter
Releasing Preteens to Minister
It is a true joy seeing the impact of churches around the United States and international. I talked with Russ Zacek, and he is seeing the fruits of releasing children in his church to lead. His preteens are leading out and teaching in their children’s church services. His son, Freedom, taught one Sunday with amazing confidence. He even turned a backflip during his message. I love how the Lord is raising up children and preteens in our midst and using their gifts to His glory. It is amazing to step back and experience God’s presence and power, just like we do when they discover God’s purpose for their lives.
From Fear to Fearless Preteens Hearts Were Set on Fire for the Gospel-August Newsletter 2019
August 2019 Newsletter
From Fear to Fearless Preteens Hearts Were Set on Fire for the Gospel
One of the things I love seeing on the L.I.T. Mission Trip is watching preteens turn from fearful to fearless. As we watched them arrive this summer in Waxahachie, Texas, Catoosa, Oklahoma and Lewisville Texas, there was a little bit of a fear that you could see on the L.I.T.s faces, especially for those who were on the mission trip for the first time. Their fear turned into fearlessness in a matter of four days. What brought this about for them was experiencing their faith firsthand. Many times they cried out to God for help and strength and we then watched Him come and intercede on their behalf. I truly love this form of discipleship. We get to witness God’s hand working in their lives throughout the week and it becomes obvious in how their countenance changes. The confidence builds and when they leave the trip they are ready to go home and conquer their world. This summer over 200 preteens (4th, 5th and 6th graders) lead 84 people to Christ. It is our prayer that they will return home and continue their mission trip experience.
