ViaCordis - who we are

Started in the greater Los Angeles area, our goal is to serve as the hands and feet of Jesus to the community around us. We currently have associated churches in Vancouver, Canada and in Germany, and are supporting work in Madagascar.

Although we are no longer keeping this blog updated, you can still access our archives for some stories from our earlier development.

If you’d like to contact ViaCordis, drop us a line at viacordis.la@gmail.com. We know there are others with similar visions all over the US and beyond and we welcome the chance to dialogue with you and learn from one another.

If you’d like to read some blogs on missional churches:

• http://www.loganleadership.com/
• http://missionalchurchnetwork.com/

Hug a tree… in Madagascar

Between Jan 1 and May 1, 2010 our church, the size of a modest living room, gave money that will result in 80,600 trees being planted in Madagascar.

The tree-planting project, aimed at stopping the deforestation that is devastating the economy and environment of Madagascar, is run through www.edenprojects.org. Their mission statement? “Eden Reforestation Projects recreates healthy forest systems that restore hope, alleviate suffering, empower people, and build local economies in impoverished communities.” At ViaCordis, we are supporting them through our missions giving.

Our operating budget, made possible in part by our low overhead (no building, no paid staff), is set as follows:
• 60% global missions
• 20% local missions
• 10% admin / reserve
• 10% leadership development

That means we’re giving away 80% of our offerings. Of that 80% we’re focusing our attention on creation care, medical care, evangelism, and church planting. One of the missionaries we are supporting is even headed to Madagascar, where our trees are. How’s that for holistic ministry?

coming alongside to promote growth

Via Cordis members facilitated Anger Management classes from January-April 2010 in an Adult Rehabilitation Center. These comments reflect the growth that several people experienced.

"This class gave more one-on-one, individualized attention than others I've taken. It was thought provoking. Thank you for showing me that managing anger works."

"I learned how to stay positive and think before I speak. I don't get as mad about the things I did in the past."

"If I were doing this class over, I would ask my husband to join me. I'm better at recognizing anger in others and I know to take it seriously."

"I never felt that I had a problem with anger, but this class helped me focus on lots of things that I face on a daily basis. It had a real personal touch. I felt comfortable to open up and share my feelings."

Letters from prison

One of our ViaCordis members is currently serving a 6-month prison sentence. He was recently moved to a new prison. He writes to the church every week, and we write to him, telling him about the service and other personal stories. The letter below is from another one of our members after she heard this man's most recent letter read aloud to the church:

"I am so thankful for your words of encouragement each week. Glad to hear that you are liking the new place. I have experienced God so much this week by seeing how this church loves, serves, protects and prays for one another. You have not seemed far or even absent during these months. Thank you for your testimony."

Light in dark places

One of our members is back in prison until June for a parole violation. He seeks to be the hands and feet of Jesus there. One way he does this is by forming a church group there using the same principles we use in our house church. Here is how he describes what he does:

"I just finished with our little Church group of two. I get together every night with a friend, a young man of 20, and we read one chapter out of the Bible. We discuss what we read, what Jesus is saying to us, how we can apply it to our lives, and what stands out to us most and why. The time that he and I spend together is a real blessing to me. And to see his spirit grow as he follows Christ—man, it’s something to be amazed by."

Unashamed

From one of the LTGs this week: A woman who has been coming to church and LTG for about 5 months said that she knows, for the first time, that she has been born again. She was reading 1 John and when she came to chapter 2:28-29 she cried with joy because she no longer feels ashamed in her relationship with Jesus. She knows for sure that she is a child of God. Each one sitting around that dining room table shared her joy.

1 John 2:28-29: “And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming. If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him."

An update from our sister ViaCordis church in Germany

As we've been praying for ministry opportunities to serve as the hands and feet of Jesus, we’re encouraged by how the Lord has been opening doors. Ines, a former nurse who is part of our VC group, she has taken on a part-time job at the local hospital where she does night watch for patients in the ICU. Usually all she has to do is sit and observe the patients. She uses those times to pray for them and their families. When they are awake and can talk, she encourages them and shares Jesus' love with them.

Some months ago, Ines came in contact with one of her neighbors in Burglengenfeld where she lives, a lady in her 30s who is confined to a wheel chair. The neighbor's difficult circumstances have made her very cynical. None of the social workers sent to assist her (within the German system) were able to gain her confidence, and she sent them away, refusing help. For some reason, however, Ines was able to connect and gain her trust and slowly build a relationship.

Ines visits her disabled neighbor regularly, spending time with her, mostly listening. Recently, the neighbor was offered some time for therapy at a state-run medical health spa. The government pays her way and also pays for another person to accompany her for several days. Again, the neighbor lady refused the social workers and, instead, insisted that Ines go along! Ines has experienced Christ's healing herself as Christians ministered to her during a very difficult phase of her life. Now she is anxious-and well prepared-to share the transforming power of Christ with her neighbor as they work through her difficult issues, this time with a Christian perspective.

Another woman, Ute, has been praying for an opportunity to share God's love in a practical way with someone in need. As she was praying for guidance, she noticed a report in the local news paper about a program for assisting families in need (mainly recent immigrants). She applied to volunteer - and was accepted last week. She will now receive training for the job. After screening and training (which will take several weeks, as Germans are very thorough!) Ute will be assigned a family to work with.

We have prayed, and God has been faithfully opening doors for us to serve. We're excited about the prospects he is bringing our way.

ministry to parolees

The leader of the church ministering to parolees reports the usual share of life's ups and downs. One parolee who attends the church lapsed back into drugs. One of the other members decided to help restore him by praying with him daily and managing his money for him. He has joined a "Celebrate Recovery" group at a local church.

Another parolee who has been estranged from his wife is focusing on rebuilding trust between them. He invited his wife to our Christmas dinner and has been meeting with his grown children to try to restore his relationship with them. His communication with his wife has since increased dramatically and has centered around their common relationship to Christ.

One of the greatest needs of parolees is transportation. If they have a car or truck their opportunities for work open up tremendously. Please pray for wisdom on how to help these brothers gain reliable transportation.

One of the leaders was recently incarcerated for a parole violation. Apparently there is a rule against parolees doing charity work without permission. As part of outreach to the homeless, this leader has been involved in charity work, distributing backpacks and food, but was doing so without obtaining clearance from his parole officer. Now he is in prison, although at this point the church is not aware that he has been charged with anything. Please pray for protection for this brother, that God would free him to minister in any circumstance, and that He would be released soon.

Second Anniversary!

ViaCordis celebrates its 2nd anniversary this month. At the first gathering, two women and two men met at a house in Pasadena, CA to share life, study the Bible, pray for others and discuss ways to love the communities in which they live. Before the first service they were cautioned by more experienced house church members to keep looking outward beyond themselves. They heeded this advice. Almost all who attend ViaCordis make community service a priority. Tonight eight will gather for Facilitator Orientation so that they can offer practical support to those wishing to improve life skills including parenting and anger management.