San Diego, CA—Upward sports camps have made a huge splash in San Diego, and, looking back, it was evident from the very beginning that this summer was going to be the culmination of years of partnership between Upward and Strategic Focus Cities.

Manakin Sabot, VA—Dover Baptist Association in central Virginia heeded the call to Embrace Baltimore and sent a team to plan joint ministries with Baptists there. During the meeting, Garner and Parrish got acquainted and instantly became friends. That night they planted the seeds of a partnership between their churches.

San Diego, CA—This year’s Faith in Action Xtreme emphasis is helping churches find ways to engage in their communities; the focus on service is also playing a part in re-defining a healthy church.

San Diego, CA—In preparation for the fall season of ministry, the Lord’s Table was shared, first by pastors serving and praying God’s strength for each other, and later as pastors served the people together, symbolizing their oneness in serving all the people of the city.

 Hampden, MD—The Village Church is still a baby, just launched in Sept. 2008. The church is trying hard to get to know their neighborhood and to be known. And as the church moves out into the community, they’re finding locals moving into the church.

Baltimore, MD—Near the end of the school year, two Baltimore churches served appreciation lunches at local schools and police stations and are amazed at the responses.  "Teachers were hugging us and telling us that no one had ever done anything like this for them before!" said Tinney Parish, pastor of Tabernacle Church. 

Timonium, MD—God is using a former Baltimorean with a passion for the city, a historic church willing to sacrifice their own comfort and leave a spiritual legacy and bold churches willing to step out and partner with a new work to reach a struggling city.

San Diego, CA—In July, 138 missionaries from Colorado, New Mexico, Northern California, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming ventured to San Diego for the city’s first-ever World Changers project. This year’s World Changers theme, Set Apart, helped participants remember their main mission: to demonstrate God’s love through their hard work.

Baltimore, MD—There are times in life when you know that you have witnessed something significant. Over the course of ten days, I had the distinct honor to see the body of Christ do something incredible.

San Diego, CA—On July 13, South Mesa Chapel’s staff dedicated the prayer garden as a place to remember the sacrifice of our military, and to seek God’s comfort and peace. It was the culmination of several weeks of work, and a testimony to Generation Church of Oceanside and their commitment to minister to military personnel and their families.

San Diego—People who are surrendered and committed to God and His Word can be catalysts for revival in their homes, their cities, and throughout the world. That was the message of Fresh Encounter 2009.

Curtis Bay, MD—New Hope Community Church hosted a sports camp at the Curtis Bay Recreation Center during spring break in March. By the end of the week, over 114 children came to the camp, 23 people made professions of faith and three young adults on the mission team decided to be summer missionaries.

Baltimore, MD—The Light Church recently won a “best costume“ award for their entry “Oregon Trail” at the Kinetic Sculpture Race, an event sponsored by the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore. Church members had a blast putting it together, but there was also a deeper motive for participating in the race.

San Diego—Summer missionaries are vital to ministry here in San Diego, especially when thousands of volunteers come to serve from around the country. They learn how to equip others to do ministry, and go home with an even bigger vision of how God can work.

San Diego—As summer in San Diego begins, Faith in Action Xtreme efforts are ramping up to full speed! Churches throughout the county are engaging in five of San Diego’s greatest needs: Foster Care, Tutoring, Mentoring, Elder Care and Military.

Blog entries from Clark Carter, campus minister at Charleston Southern University: We had a great time of sharing tonight at our nightly worship service just for our group. It is amazing to see how God is using so few students, 26 of us total, to minister to thousands. It is a humbling experience. But that is what we are called to do. Simply put, we are called to serve. One of our students reminded us tonight that Jesus came to serve (Matthew 20:26). Out of the mouths of babes…

“A spiritual awakening in our nation waits upon the repentance and revival of God’s people,” said Thomas Bush, Prayer Ministry Director for the San Diego Southern Baptist Association and Vision San Diego. “At Fresh Encounter 2009, we want to start to answer these questions: What are God’s prerequisites for revival and spiritual awakening? What kind of change does God want? And where does a nation turn in the midst of crisis?”

25,000 intercessors are praying for God’s work in San Diego. We invite you to pray with us asking God to work through individuals and local churches to bring about the transformation of an entire city. This year, their prayers are focusing on Faith in Action Xtreme, an effort to meet some of San Diego’s biggest needs, identified by government officials and leaders.

Hunt arrived in Baltimore on March 31 for a two-day whirlwind of meetings, luncheons and dinners. He even preached a one-day revival. Hunt spent much of that time with planters, listening as the young men cast their visions. He toured the neighborhoods the planters want to reach.

What would it take for your church to be viewed as a valued part of the community?

What if your community came to believe that its biggest problems couldn’t be solved without your involvement?

What if the leaders of your city invited you to help meet the deepest needs of people in your community?