June 2018
Stop this train
I want to get off and go home again
I can't take the speed it's moving in -John Mayer
This song speaks of aging parents, comfort found in family being together, and the reality of our own mortality. We are reminded of the brevity of life and our need to make the most of our time while we have the opportunity with family, friends, and loved ones.
This sentiment is especially in our hearts this summer, as Mark, our youngest, is preparing to go away to college, and Matthew our middle, is moving out to start his PhD in Neruoscience. Since our oldest, Michael, already lives on his own in Queens, this means we will be empty nesters by summer's end! We are trying to soak up every minute with the boys, but time keeps flying by!
The song also reminds us that we have a Forever Home that awaits us as we press on for the Kingdom. So, we make the most of our time through our work here in the NYC Metro area with GTN. Although living and working here can sometimes be a struggle, we remain convinced of God's calling and have seen him do some amazing things for which we are truly grateful!
Training Immigrant Pastors: We recently met with a group of pastors in the Philadelphia area for training and encouragement (see image below). One gentleman, who immigrated from Dominican Republic said (through a translator): "This meeting has been a Godsend and answer to prayer - and long overdue! I feel encouraged by being together with other pastors and I know that God is with me!" He is planting a Spanish speaking church in Philly, a told us how difficult it is for him there. He began by using the ministry techniques he learned in D.R., only to find that the culture is vastly different here. As a result, he was struggling with discouragement and loneliness. So, our meeting was timely for him! We promised him that we would return and conduct a training to help him, and other missionaries to the US, relate to American culture.
Abuse Healing: The Spring Mending The Soul (MTS) Group held its final meeting this week. We met for a celebration, visiting a spa and then enjoying dinner together to discuss our journeys. One women shared hers through a drawing: She drew a box, a rough cut diamond, and a heart. She explained that the box represented how stuck she had felt before she started the group. Because of what she learned through MTS, she has come to recognize her worth and value, symbolized by the diamond. As a result, her love for God deepened, symbolized by the heart. We are so humbled and grateful for the transformation we are witnessing!
Church Planting in Post-Christian Places: As we have meet with many people and shared our vision for churches that grow, not by attracting other Christians, but by reaching Post-Christian people, we have been often asked for practical examples of how to accomplish this. Finally, John has taken the time to write an article to answer these questions. It is more lengthy, but is geared towards people who have an interest learning about leading and transforming churches to reach Post-Christian places. You can access it through the link to John's blog below:
Churches That Transform Post-Christian Places, by Dr. John Amandola, Jr.
Ministry Partner Development: We are still working on expanding our team of people who will partner with us in this work through investing their finances. We have been encouraged by our progress, and are still in need of about $2,500 per month (or $30,000 annually). Will you please pray for God to complete our team so that we can continue to engage fully in this work? Thank you!
In His Love,
John and Caryn
249 Wilson Ave. • Westbury, NY 11590 • (516) 424-7506
www.globaltrainingnetwork.org/who/john-and-caryn-amandola
June 2018
Stop this train
I want to get off and go home again
I can't take the speed it's moving in -John Mayer
This song speaks of aging parents, comfort found in family being together, and the reality of our own mortality. We are reminded of the brevity of life and our need to make the most of our time while we have the opportunity with family, friends, and loved ones.
This sentiment is especially in our hearts this summer, as Mark, our youngest, is preparing to go away to college, and Matthew our middle, is moving out to start his PhD in Neruoscience. Since our oldest, Michael, already lives on his own in Queens, this means we will be empty nesters by summer's end! We are trying to soak up every minute with the boys, but time keeps flying by!
The song also reminds us that we have a Forever Home that awaits us as we press on for the Kingdom. So, we make the most of our time through our work here in the NYC Metro area with GTN. Although living and working here can sometimes be a struggle, we remain convinced of God's calling and have seen him do some amazing things for which we are truly grateful!
Training Immigrant Pastors: We recently met with a group of pastors in the Philadelphia area for training and encouragement (see image below). One gentleman, who immigrated from Dominican Republic said (through a translator): "This meeting has been a Godsend and answer to prayer - and long overdue! I feel encouraged by being together with other pastors and I know that God is with me!" He is planting a Spanish speaking church in Philly, a told us how difficult it is for him there. He began by using the ministry techniques he learned in D.R., only to find that the culture is vastly different here. As a result, he was struggling with discouragement and loneliness. So, our meeting was timely for him! We promised him that we would return and conduct a training to help him, and other missionaries to the US, relate to American culture.
Abuse Healing: The Spring Mending The Soul (MTS) Group held its final meeting this week. We met for a celebration, visiting a spa and then enjoying dinner together to discuss our journeys. One women shared hers through a drawing: She drew a box, a rough cut diamond, and a heart. She explained that the box represented how stuck she had felt before she started the group. Because of what she learned through MTS, she has come to recognize her worth and value, symbolized by the diamond. As a result, her love for God deepened, symbolized by the heart. We are so humbled and grateful for the transformation we are witnessing!
Church Planting in Post-Christian Places: As we have meet with many people and shared our vision for churches that grow, not by attracting other Christians, but by reaching Post-Christian people, we have been often asked for practical examples of how to accomplish this. Finally, John has taken the time to write an article to answer these questions. It is more lengthy, but is geared towards people who have an interest learning about leading and transforming churches to reach Post-Christian places. You can access it through the link to John's blog below:
Churches That Transform Post-Christian Places, by Dr. John Amandola, Jr.
Ministry Partner Development: We are still working on expanding our team of people who will partner with us in this work through investing their finances. We have been encouraged by our progress, and are still in need of about $2,500 per month (or $30,000 annually). Will you please pray for God to complete our team so that we can continue to engage fully in this work? Thank you!
In His Love,
John and Caryn
249 Wilson Ave. • Westbury, NY 11590 • (516) 424-7506
www.globaltrainingnetwork.org/who/john-and-caryn-amandola
ABOUT JOHN AND CARYN AMANDOLA
Married since 1986, and having three great boys, John and Caryn have a long history with GTN’s founders, Paul and Lisa! Caryn and Lisa have been friends since Junior High school, and Lisa and her family played a great role in Caryn coming to faith in Christ as a high school student.
"As a newly married couple, we were challenged by Paul, who was the youth pastor at Northwest Community Church, to take on greater ministry responsibilities while youth leaders there. John later succeeded Paul in that same role, where he learned how to multiply spiritual leaders. John also succeeded Paul as a church planter, Paul planting NCC’s first church plant, John the second. It now seems so natural for us to join with Paul and Lisa on staff with GTN, having the same passion to raise up leaders!"
John is a native New Yorker and Caryn grew up in Arizona. John is a graduate of the State University of New York at Buffalo, holds an M.Div. from Phoenix Seminary, and is ordained in the Missionary Church. Caryn is a graduate of Texas Christian University and is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Professional Counseling. They have much experience in overseas ministry, church planting, mentoring leaders and pastoral ministry.
Consistent with the mission of GTN, Caryn and John have a great passion to raise up Christian leaders all over the world, especially in an area of very great need which is very close to their hearts: The New York Metro area. Their ministry involves several facets:
Married since 1986, and having three great boys, John and Caryn have a long history with GTN’s founders, Paul and Lisa! Caryn and Lisa have been friends since Junior High school, and Lisa and her family played a great role in Caryn coming to faith in Christ as a high school student.
"As a newly married couple, we were challenged by Paul, who was the youth pastor at Northwest Community Church, to take on greater ministry responsibilities while youth leaders there. John later succeeded Paul in that same role, where he learned how to multiply spiritual leaders. John also succeeded Paul as a church planter, Paul planting NCC’s first church plant, John the second. It now seems so natural for us to join with Paul and Lisa on staff with GTN, having the same passion to raise up leaders!"
John is a native New Yorker and Caryn grew up in Arizona. John is a graduate of the State University of New York at Buffalo, holds an M.Div. from Phoenix Seminary, and is ordained in the Missionary Church. Caryn is a graduate of Texas Christian University and is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Professional Counseling. They have much experience in overseas ministry, church planting, mentoring leaders and pastoral ministry.
Consistent with the mission of GTN, Caryn and John have a great passion to raise up Christian leaders all over the world, especially in an area of very great need which is very close to their hearts: The New York Metro area. Their ministry involves several facets:
- Planting innovative, missional churches in the least churched, least reached counties in the USA.
- Training Christian leaders who work and study in the world’s most influential city to be spiritual leaders who multiply.
- Reach international students to eventually return to their countries as missionaries.
- Travel overseas to train Christian Leaders who otherwise have few resources available to them.