Love Out Loud & Festival of Life!

Love Out Loud Coachella

Welcome to the Love Out Loud Coachella blog site.  Come join the work that God is doing in Coachella Valley as the Horizon School of Evangelism comes alongside the Festival of Life.

Horizon School of Evangelism

Horizon School of Evangelism (HSE) is a 9 month dynamic discipleship experience split into 2 semesters designed to equip you as a servant leader for the Body of Christ, transform your life and launch you into purposeful and effective ministry.   Every semester we go on a three-week practicum to put into practice all that God is teaching and leading us to. This semester we will be coming alongside the Festival of Life to support them through  outreaches, service projects, and street evangelism. We will also be engaging the churches in the five regions surrounding Coachella Valley and inviting them to come be a part of the Festival of Life.

Festival of Life and LOV

The vision of Festival of Life and LOV is to present the message of Jesus Christ to the entire Coachella Valley by utilizing dozens of venues and involving thousands of believers. This approach will permeate and impact the entire valley, thus making the Festival of Life a truly unique ministry. From large stadium events to smaller regional events, the Festival’s heart is that everyone from the homeless to the affluent hears the good news of Jesus Christ. The Festival has a three-fold purpose in the valley salvation souls, unify the churches, and equip the body of Christ for the work of the ministry.

The vision of Festival of Life and LOV is to present the message of Jesus Christ to the entire Coachella Valley by utilizing dozens of venues and involving thousands of believers. This approach will permeate and impact the entire valley, thus making the Festival of Life a truly unique ministry. From large stadium events to smaller regional events, the Festival’s heart is that everyone from the homeless to the affluent hears the good news of Jesus Christ. The Festival has a three fold purpose in the valley salvation souls, unify the churches, and equip the body of Christ for the work of the ministry.Prayer, Care, ShareFrom the green golf courses to the dusty trailer parks, the entire Coachella Valley will hear the gospel. Regional events, which are culturally effective for the demographics of the areas, will be held throughout the valley. These events will integrate the three strategies of the LOV Movement: Prayer, Care, andShare taking the love of Christ to where the people live and work.

Baptist Church Car Wash & Church 212 Service

Wednesday December 2, 2009

Summary ::

Today our team split up into two separate groups. Bus 1 went to go share God’s love out loud to different parts of the valley. Bus 2 went to First Community Baptist church to host a free carwash and a free lunch for the surrounding community. Today was one of those days that the Lord really allowed us to see how much he cares about each individual in the community. Each person had a unique story met with a unique way in which God met them.

Love Out Loud Outreach

Monday Nov. 30, 2009

Summary ::

Today the HSE class split up between the two buses, one bus went to a shopping center in Desert Hot Springs to hold a free car wash and subsequently went to an RV park to pass out roses and copies of “The Father’s Love Letter,” a collection of Bible verses arranged in such a way that it reads as a love letter to the reader from our Heavenly Father. The other bus went to the College of the Desert to share God’s love with the people on the campus.

First Baptist Church

Sunday Nov. 29, 2009

Summary ::

The HSE class went to First Baptist Church for Sunday service. After service, the HSE students along with some members of First Baptist Church went into the nearby neighborhood to invite the community to a BBQ which was to be held at the church by HSE. They spread the news of the BBQ, bringing in as many locals as possible so they could come together as a community and experience a sense of fellowship.

Video – Working Hands and Feet

Sunday November 29, 2009

Summary ::

At times on practicum, students’ roles switch from being the mouth of God, to being His hands and feet. One of these opportunities included packing food boxes with Narrow Door Ministries to distribute to families in need throughout the community. We also had had the privilege to bless the family than runs the Oasis Retreat Center where we have been staying with various service projects around the campus. When you keep your focus on the Lord and the work you’re doing for Him, you can see the bigger picture and the blessings that continue on.

Miles Park BBQ Outreach

Saturday Nov. 28, 2009

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Summary ::

We held a BBQ at Miles Park, a trailer park community down in Indio. The event was sudden and nobody in the area had been informed. So we had HSE students split up into groups to go into the nearby neighborhood to spread the news about the event. We also held a free raffle and had face painting for the children. Despite the spontaneity of the BBQ, the turnout was amazing, and everyone had a great time. It was a blessing to serve this community and see the way God’s Love impacted them.

Video – “Sin Box” Skit

Friday November 27, 2009

Summary ::

The “Sin Box” skit is a light-hearted representation of the downfalls of sin. Satan makes sin seem fun and entices you into it. At first you may enjoy it, but the fun soon wears off, but Satan has left you stuck and unable to get out. No matter how hard you try, or even by the desire or strength of others, you’re unable to free yourself from the bondage of sin. Through this skit you realize Jesus is the only one who can save you from the sin box.

Laundry Day Outreach

Friday Nov. 27, 2009

Summary ::

It’s about that time again! Our clothes have gotten dirty over the past week and we need to clean them. So each of the two buses headed down to a separate laundromat. While washing clothes, the HSE students took advantage of the opportunities to get to know people they’ve never met and share the gospel.

Thanksgiving Outreach

Thursday Nov. 26, 2009

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Summary ::

The Lord, in his sovereignty, is always faithful to redirect our plans into His own predestined Will. The original plan for the Thanksgiving outreach were cancelled the Tuesday before. But God provided a sweet opportunity at the Oasis Trailer Park in Thermal  for us to host a festival of blessing to the surrounding community. The day before and the morning of, people went out to personally invite each household out to the event. We served a BBQ chicken meal, handed out gifts, played music, had testimonies, shared the gospel, played with the kids, and did face painting, balloon animals, and even a piñata for the kids. Our end goal was to share the love of God by bringing his joy to their community. His love was poured out beyond the extent of our own efforts to reach deep into the very souls of these people.  

Video – Thanksgiving Outreach

Thursday November 26, 2009

Summary ::

On Thanksgiving we went out to Thermal to have a BBQ party in the first trailer park we came to in Coachella a little over a month before we went out for Practicum. We had pinatas, music, BBQ chicken, dovetail packs, facepainting, and some students shared their testimonies in spanish. The community had a fantastic time and many heard the Good News.

Oasis Retreat Center – Service Project

Wednesday Nov. 25, 2009

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Summary ::

We have been staying at the Oasis Retreat Center since we’ve arrived in Coachella Valley. Today was spent returning the love that we’ve been receiving thus far from the center and those who work there by doing service projects around their facility. HSE students were put to work on these projects, getting down and dirty, putting their hands to work.