MONTHLY NEWSLETTER | Faith Like Birds

December 2021 Newsletter
Christmas and New Year's Edition

DEAR PARTNERS AND FRIENDS,

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Please be forewarned... This newsletter will be a little longer than normal, because there is much to celebrate and share with you by way of updates.

In my prayer time last evening, I was reminded of all of you and the generosity and support you have shown to this ministry. As a result, I was flooded with emotion. I am so grateful that you are mindful of us. It humbles me when I consider it. Thank you for helping God's dream of a generation encountering His love and power come true.

December was not only a busy month of ministry and planning for future events, it was also busy with family get togethers and celebrations. Our family enjoyed both a wonderful Christmas together and celebrating my and Emma's birthday. It's hard to believe that my oldest child is 14! But just as fast as Christmas arrived, it was gone. I always find that I miss it, but I am looking forward to all that 2022 has in store for Faith Like Birds.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from FLB and the Connolly Family

Ignore the 43... It's supposed to say 34

Just think... she'll be driving in 2 years!

GRADUATED AND HIRED

It is an extreme honor and a privilege that I am able to announce that Mykela graduated from York College with a 4.0 GPA alongside of her degree in Mass Communications and Marketing. On top of that, because of your faithfulness in your partnership with us, we were able to hire Mykela full time as our Visual Arts Director. She wowed us with her creativity and diligence when she was part time. We cannot wait to see what God can do through her now that she is full time. It won't be long until we unveil some of the media projects we believe God is leading us to do as a ministry.

NEW OFFICE SPACE

Praise Community Church has been gracious enough to supply us with a much larger office space and we are in the midst of renovating! This new space will provide us with the opportunity to all be together and to work side by side one another, as well as, store all of our merchandise and media equipment. It'll also give us the ability to begin some new media projects we will be spearheading soon. Bob and Melody Ballenger have been gracious enough to volunteer their time and talents to help transform this room, and Nicole will be using her gifts with interior decorating to make this space our own

THE SHOUT 2022

Registration is officially opened for The Shout 2022! The full price of the event is $175, but there is a 15% off early bird rate available until February 14th. Just use the code "Bongiorno2022" when registering.

Also, we are now seeking donations for The Shout. Because we cannot solely rely on registrations to cover the expense of this event and because we are wanting to do more of these events in the future and keep registration costs down, we rely heavily on the generosity of those that partner with this event. Please click or tap here to donate online. Click the drop down menu and select "Shout Conference Donations." You can also send a check to Praise Community Church at:

705 S. Ogontz Street

York, PA 17403

Please make checks out to Praise Community Church and write The Shout in the memo line. No amount is too small. We are thankful for everyone's kindness and help.

Click or tap the picture to watch our teaser video

FLB SCHOOL OF DISCIPLESHIP FOR TEENS

For years, it has been on my heart to create a discipleship school for teens. After some confirming words from friends of mine and nudges from the Holy Spirit, I'm proud to announce that we will be launching our first ever FLB School of Discipleship for Teens this summer, and I'm also excited to preview some of our very special guest instructors. It'll be a two week intensive beginning June 13th and ending June 24th. The school will focus heavily on rooting and grounding students in the faith and feature such teachings on identity, how to read your bible, the importance of knowing God, the power of submission, and more. More information regarding cost and registration will be released in the future.

UPCOMING CLASS OPPORTUNITY

Removing the Walls Binder (169) (Instagram Post).png

Click or tap the picture to watch our promo video

Receiving love is one of the hardest things for people to do and yet it is absolutely foundational to the Christian life. We'll never be able to become what we can't receive and we'll never give away what we can't accept. If you find it difficult to take the gospel personally and receive the love of God, then this class may be for you. Over the course of six Wednesday evenings, we will seek to examine and remove such walls as: the past, performance, punishment, sin, ignorance, and belief.

The cost of registration is $50. Childcare is provided. Class starts on February 9th at 6pm. Click or tap here to register.

MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS

York County Youth Development Center

I had the honor of teaming up with the ministry of Heaven's Lighthouse to minister to two different groups of teens at the York County Youth Development Center. Heaven's Lighthouse brought food and activities to share and had asked me to speak to the teens. It was an amazing time. We were able to build some relationships with the kids and plan on returning soon in the future. During that time, I was able to share my testimony and we were able to watch God heal several of the kids. One young man's carpal tunnel symptoms and popping in his wriest completely disappeared. One young girl's headache was instantly healed. Those that bore witness to the healings were completely awestruck.

PRAISE COMMUNITY CHURCH - YORK, PA

While at both Praise Community Church's Sunday morning services, I spoke on the reality that God's love for you is not dependent upon your performance, but upon His nature. I also shared about the pitfalls of relating to God out of a system of do's and don'ts and why it's important to become a good receiver of His love.

Click or tap the picture to watch

AWAKENED YOUTH ENCOUNTER NIGHT - YORK, PA

While I was getting ready the morning of this encounter service, I heard the Lord say, "Have Nicole minister with you." I am so glad I obeyed. She and I spoke on the reality of not waiting for your family to be whole so you can be whole. We shared out of our personal experiences growing up in broken homes and then prayed for those that responded to the message. This was by far one of my favorite moments in ministry.

Other Highlights:

I was blessed to make another monthly visit and minister to the women at New Life for Girls. I spoke to them about the reality of God's love for them and that it's not based on their performance.
Lastly, I ministered to my friends in Williamsport and continued with the theme of the love of God not being based on what we do or don't do.

IMPORTANT PRAYER REQUESTS

Please pray that we would be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading in all ways. We desperately need His wisdom in every area of our lives and ministry.

Please continue to pray for The Shout. Join us in believing for 500 students to register and for lives to be forever changed. Please pray for people to partner with the event financially.

Please pray that I'd know how to lead my team with all humility and servitude.

Please pray that we focus our energies on what we should be doing, not on what sounds like a good idea.

Please pray for these new media projects we will be launching soon. Pray that we know how to creatively reach and bless teenagers and youth leaders.

Please continue to pray that we would have clean hands and pure hearts in all we do. Please also pray for the attitude of Christ to be formed in us and that we would grow in our hunger for Jesus.

BECOME A MONTHLY PARTNER

Your giving makes what we do possible and causes God's dream of wanting to see a generation encounter and surrender their life to Him a reality. If you have not already, please consider becoming a monthly partner with us. It's the consistency of those that give that allows us to properly budget our expenses. Any amount is appreciated. Whether it's $10, $50, $100, or $1,000, it matters and we are grateful.

Ways to Give:

The Church Center Mobile App - (download it for free on the App Store) Set up recurring giving or a one-time gift and select the fund "Faith Like Birds."

Online - click here - Set up recurring giving or a one-time gift and select the fund "Faith Like Birds."

Texting - Text the dollar amount you'd like to give to 84321, followed by "faith like birds."

Mail - Mail your check or cash to Praise Community Church (705 S. Ogontz St., York, PA 17403). Put "Faith Like Birds" in the memo line.

Giving Page on Website- click here for more.

December 2021 Newsletter Christmas and New Year's Edition