Outreach in June 2013

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Some Community Outreach in Singapore Three months ago friend who is a Christian with a drama background had a vision forbuilding community in her condominium. Many parents send their children for "enrichment courses" during the holidays. Adrama camp during school holidays meets a need of her childrens' and her peers. She had a vision for a company that offers a course right where people live. One that would also foster friendships and earn the trust of other parents. She wants to discover who the other believers are who live in the same condo, and open the door for the Way, truth and life to be shared in that community. I was eager to pitch in to help run the initial trial camp; which we held last week. Without it being a Vacation Bible School, could we still offer (and charge for) a camp where we point people to Jesus and the God of the Bible? Through the theme [Super] Heroes, I wrote a curriculum that emphasizes character, moral values and included a Bible story. We also offered a chance for the children to donate their used books for school children in Cambodia, and dedicated a percentage of any profit toward that same project. Lord thank you that Play!werks has had a successful first round, with a morning and afternoon session taught by another Christian trainer who understands the vision! We pray for your direction for the future of this new company as a platform for Christian freelance drama trainers to have incomeand ministry in Singapore. Our son Cameron took photos and video all week, andpretended to not be happy that the children called him "The Giant." He had willingly stepped in to improv Goliath, and our one little boy wasDavid. We sang the old children's song, and they loved seeing "the giant come tumbling down!" Thank you Lord for the opportunity to share something about you with children, and help a friend in launching a viable business idea. Sue MacKenzie, friend with loads of VBS experience in California, came to my rescue when I asked for advice over email. She suggested our theme song, Super Hero, with a reference to David & Goliath. They performed the song for their parents on the last morning. We told stories of heros in history and let the children have a chance to dress up like that person for a portrait. Along with Cameron, who's here for summer, I invited 3 others to help. I met these kids soon after moving to this neighborhood because their parents ran the local video store. These past 4+ years, along with their mother, a new believer, we've become friends. They even call me their Godmother! "Aunty Kim, can we help again next holiday?" I've seen them grow in faith, helped them learn how to bake, and taken other outings during their school holidays. This week was a chance for the twins (15) and their brother (12) to grow in confidence and leadership.  A Community Outreach with the Producers of 8 Women Another unusual opportunity for ministry came along when I was invited to be a guest artist for a day long music festival at Singapore General Hospital. In the months leading up to it, I encouraged other believers to approach the producers so that they too could join in the days' line up of talent. Then we asked friends to join us in bringing the presence of Christ along with the music. I had a vision that musicians who are Christians could come alongsideSing'theatre with good music, as well as bring our prayers for healing, comfort, and God to reveal himself to our audiences on that day. The event was nearly cancelled due to record breaking hazardous levels of smog!The haze from fires in Indonesia comes every year, but this was the worst it's ever been. The government had encouraged everyone to stay indoors as much as possible. I wondered how my voice would hold out through a day of 7 sets of 25 mintues each (some of them outdoors). God was so generous to me in keeping my voice strong through the day, adn having a terrific time entertaining people with some silly lyrics to Disney tunes. The following day (our 28th Anniversary) a surprise gift was this photo/article in Singapore's newspaper The Straights Times! The other special gift that week: a visit from Phil and Lydia Hocking, a couple who's lives have been faithful to Jesus' last command: mission "to the ends of the earth." They have been faithful leaders for mission and eldership in our sending church, Rolling Hills Covenant. What a delight it is to have shown them our city, and talked about the fruit of their investments in the Kingdom of God in Asia, mentoring spiritual leaders, and artists. Praying in July: Vietnam Bound! Jim leaves today, and Cameron and I will follow later in the week. Jim has 3 separate groups of leaders who are meeting July 2-9th, and then we'll take a short flight to another large city in Vietnam. There we'll join up and serve alongside Bless Vietnam and a short-term team from a supporting church,Fullerton Evangelical Free Church (where we were married and Jim had a pastoral internship in 1985). If you want to read more about Christianity in Vietnam, click here. Our older son Tyler has just arrived in Romania for a month long Army internship/cultural exchange.  We look forward his return to Singapore on July 29th. It will be his first time back "home" since high school graduation in 2011! Lord, we trust you have good plans for Tyler in this unique summer job opportunity, and that he will grow in his walk with you and understanding of your calling for his life. For Jim, Cameron and I, we look forward to serving as a family together on this trip to Vietnam, and ask that you bear much fruit in the lives of national Christian leaders Jim (and I) meet with, as well as the children we'll befriend in English classes on this short-term adventure with FEFC. A Request from LA Friends with a gift of hospitality and an extra room: Morgane, the French actress from 8 Women, the play I was in last April, is planning a visit to Los Angeles to try to break into showbusiness for as long as a visitor visa will allow her to. She'll be coming to LA and is looking for housing near the valley or Hollywood. I would love to see her stay with a single gal or couple, or family who wants to work on their French language and cooking! If you'd consider a short term home stay ministry for her, drop me a note back! Do let us know how we can also be praying for you. Jim & Kimberly Creasman​ Empowering Spiritual Leaders with Church Resource Ministries USA (and Singapore)

play!werks Camp [Super] Hero starts tomorrow!

A new company gets off the ground tomorrow morning as we launch the pilot camp for play!werks a company my friend Yvonne Tay conceived and has invited me to help with.

An experiment with how can we bring a good experience with imaginative play, a quality 1/2 day weeklong camp experience for lower primary kids, satisfy parents, and be unapologetically coming from a Christian worldview as we teach values we believe were given us by our creator.

Our theme song SUPER HERO by Snazzy is one of many ways we're pointing arrows to a Saviour who is our ultimate Super Hero.

*SPOILER ALERT* Mom's Limericks Summer Movie Reviews

My son Cameron is being required (by his parents) to write a short review on every movie he watches. I said I'd join him by trying to write some movie reviews of my own...

Young Kirk's fatal flaw's non-compliance.

Cocky, above the rules, self reliant.

But despite shades of grey

He still saves the day

Does corruption justify his defiance?

Jack's vigilant watch from the sky

Was or future earth's water supply

But he left his own zone

And discovered his clone

Proving all he believed was a lie.

It's a Fitzgerald tale of white trash

Who threw parties excessesive, a blast!

It was for an old flame.

Then he died taking the blame.

What he gets for drink driving too fast.

Planning Drama Cross Culturally

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List of questions for host/sponsor in another country where you are going to work with translators to teach drama skills:

1. Number of students we'll work with (Can this number be broken down to how many primary school aged, teenagers, adults?).

2. Can we have some of the students from the training sessions perform drama/sharing in the church on the weekend (rather than us perform using a translator?)

3. Have they had any training before, or done any drama as part of their ministry (this will help us know what to teach, AND is it possible for them to do something for us on our first morning to help us get to know them and their ability better before we start? (The host asked the students to share their testimony in a creative/dramatic style which was very helpful to see them and get to know them right away)

4. Please give us an indication if the students will be outgoing to try improvisational games from the beginning, or will we need to spend a few hours (days??) warming them up and drawing them out/ helping them get comfortable being expressive and playing?

5. What have they recently been being taught in discipleship/Bible study that has made an impact on the group? [this helped us decide on a text and topics for improv]

6. Are there any Bible stories or teachings about Christianity that are particularly challenging to the Cambodian mindset? (what do preachers like to preach on alot?)

7. With time short and LOADS of books and articles available, Advise about what to read to prepare us best in understanding culture and our students' backgrounds.