TONY'S NEWSLETTER
AUGUST 2007
Dear Partners and Friends,
This summer has been filled with brilliant examples of the way God is working through our EAPE ministries. Let me cite just a few:
You may have seen ABC television anchor Diane Sawyer describing the desperate needs of Camden NJ - and the heroic work of Urban Promise - on 20/20 this past Spring. Well, shortly afterwards another ABC program, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, contacted Bruce Main the executive director of Urban Promise to inquire about building a new house for the family of single father Victor Marrero, whose son Billy Joe was featured on the 20/20 show. In spite of their own difficulties, this family of six has heroically struggled to care for the poor around them, with Victor running a program for single fathers out of the Urban Promise office and two of his sons serving as Urban Promise volunteers. Now, thanks to ABC and the hard work of more than 2000 volunteers, the Marrero's have a wonderful new home right next door to the Urban Promise campus!
Of course, Urban Promise is once again running day camps all over Camden this summer, staffed by a beautiful combination of local teenagers and college-age interns from all over North America. The same thing is happening through Urban Promise spin-offs in Toronto and Vancouver, Canada and Wilmington, DE. At the same time our Mission Year teams are wrapping up another great year of inner-city service - and participating in lots of summer camps - in neighborhoods in Philadelphia, Atlanta, Chicago, and New Orleans. Make no mistake, either: These summer opportunities are the difference between growth and trouble for literally thousands of inner-city kids, and the beginning of a relationship with God for hundreds of those.
I am proud of the way our ministries demonstrate and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus, and I love the many opportunities I get every summer to do the same, at Christian youth festivals and conferences around the world. This year, however, it isn't just me that is out there preaching good news on behalf of EAPE. Bart just got back from huge events in Iowa and Northern Ireland, and Shane Claiborne of The Simple Way - another ministry we nurture and support - has been to Australia and Sweden and practically everyplace in between sharing his message of radical discipleship.
I could give you a dozen more wonderful reports about what our people are doing but I hope this is enough for now to convince you that your investments in EAPE are reaping good results for Christ and His kingdom. We have incredible opportunities every day to make a difference out there. That's why I urge you to keep praying for our young workers and to keep giving to support their ministries. We need your help!
Sincerely,
Tony Campolo
ABOUT TONY + August 2007