#GivingTuesday Trinity Greenhouse

 

Quick Link to give for #GivingTuesday fund: Greenhouse

Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

2 Corinthians 9.15

Trying to express the inexpressible

Every weekday our community gathers for a short time of morning prayer. We call it 9:15 Prayer and we always include the verse above from 2 Corinthians 9:15. Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift. It is good every morning to try and express the inexpressible. I love the hymn Jesus Paid It All. It continues, “All to him I owe…” My only hesitation is that people might think the Christian life is some payback plan. He paid it all, and now I am trying to get out of his debt. Really, we just keep going more deeply into his debt, and God wouldn’t have it any other way. His gift to us in the gospel of Jesus Christ is  inexpressible. 

Words can’t express how grateful we are that God is providing for Trinity Greenhouse in such generous ways. Thank you for your partnership in this ministry! I hope this report reveals a glimpse of our gratitude. I also hope it inspires you, as I know there are many worthy organizations deserving of your generosity.

Trinity Greenhouse currently has three emphasis:

1. Internship & Theta Community

This year our residential interns include Gage, Morgan, Sam, Julia, and Kelly. They are  joined in the residence by Kierra (Youth & Family Ministry Director) and Ben (Seminarian). The internship is set up to be a working ministry experience, giving the intern broad exposure to many different aspects of church life and community outreach. Interns work 20 hours a week in exchange for mentoring and free housing on the Trinity Church campus. Sundays and Wednesdays are full days of ministry, some individual and tailored to the intern’s gifts or future plans, and some all together as a team. Interns have a monthly Spiritual Companionship appointment and a weekly house meeting on Mondays. If they are “on the block” the interns are at 9:15 AM Prayer and take turns leading and reading at Evening Prayer every weekday. Wednesdays are an early morning for the guys as they join the Trinity men for prayer and 6 AM, and then staff training and meeting for all at 8:30 AM. Regular one-on-ones with a seasoned mentor happen most days of the week.

I'm beyond blessed to be able to spend a season of my life surrounded in community as a Trintern: Trinity as a whole, Theta community, Pastoral Leadership Seminar and a San Pedro resident. The freedom to be able to focus on ministry and building community as an intern is unlike anything I've ever experienced! Trinity has amazing events, outreach and consistent ministries that expanded my view of what a church can do. The Theta community brings young adults together who want to focus on what Jesus is doing through their lives and how important it is to be accountable to one another. I was a little nervous to commit to the Pastoral Leadership Seminar since I don't have a strong academic theological background. I've been able to spend Tuesday mornings absorbing insights, hearing stories and adding contributions that make me excited to continue to dig deeper. In addition to all these wonderful things, I also get to live in San Pedro near the ocean and have lots of sunny warm days. Intern Morgan "SLAMMO"

Every Wednesday at 6 PM, the interns are joined by a bunch of other local young adults when the Theta Community gathers. The Theta Community eats together, prays and worships together, learns together, serves together, and plays together. They are choosing not to participate in the growing isolation and polarization of the world around, but are preferring life together centered in Jesus Christ. You can find out more about the Theta Community’s rule of life here: https://www.trinitysanpedro.org/ruleoflife.

“It’s dope to be a part of a community that holds you accountable and pushes you to grow in your relationship with God and also as a person.” Intern Julia

2. Seminarians

This year Trinity has 3 Seminarians: Matt Kolden is in his final year at Institute of Lutheran Theology. Per Anderson is in his middle year at Master’s Institute Seminary. Ben Sides is in his first year at Iliff School of Theology. Because of online or hybrid options, all three are able to live, work, and serve here, while receiving top-notch theological education. Among many other duties, Matt is leading our Catechism program this year. Per is preaching every other week at Cross & Crown Lutheran, a congregation that has gone without a pastor for too long. Ben is the Chaplain of our Theta Community giving focus and leadership to our daily prayer rhythm. My goal is that they finish their studies with no additional debt from Seminary. This year, a generous grant from Trinity has gotten them closer to this goal. Even though this kind of theological education is less expensive than traditional residential seminar. It still costs between $10-15K for a year of seminary in this fashion. Not only tuition, expenses, books, but some travel costs add up. Do you know someone who cares about future leadership in the church, and may want to partner with us in this goal? Don’t hesitate to share this report, and pass on my contact information to them. nathan@trinitysanpedro.org

3. Pastoral Leadership Seminar

Once a week, I gather in-person and on Zoom with 16 people who are discerning and exploring a full-time vocation in Christ’s church. This is our second year. Are you concerned about the future of the church, and her next generation leaders? Joining us for even one session of this seminar would give you a shot of distillate hope. Check out our page at https://www.trinitysanpedro.org/pastoralleadershipseminar.

“Trinity, Theta Community, and Pastoral seminar/work has shown me what I should be looking for when I move forward with life. Finding a healthy church community is essential for personal growth and Trinity has provided that after college. I love how obvious God has been, showing how he is working in my community and in my heart!  Intern Gage

Recently, the interns and ministry staff produced a short video introducing Trinity Greenhouse which is found here: https://www.trinitysanpedro.org/greenhouse. It is the top video on the lefthand side of the page. In it, I invite watchers to three “I’s”:

Identify

Help us identify a young adult who may be interested in a year-long internship. Do you know someone looking for a year of service? Maybe they have a possible calling in Christ’s church? Maybe they are looking for a gap year? Share our website with them: https://www.trinitysanpedro.org/internship.

Intercede

Pray with us! Do you have a sense of the immensity of the need in our world? Do you have a sense of urgency to reach the lost? Do you have a sense of the importance of identifying and equipping workers? Jesus told his disciples that when they looked at the harvest, they were to pray. Please join us in prayer that the Lord of the harvest would raise up harvest partners and harvest workers.

Invest

We need help. And, if you are getting this report, you have probably been among those who have helped support Trinity Greenhouse financially. Again, thank you. You have generously partnered, and our needs are met. We are looking to broaden our base of support so we can tend to some sustainability issues and respond to some invitations for help. There are other organizations and numerous congregations that are interested in doing what we are doing. If you would like to give www.trinitysanpedro.org/giving. Look for the "fund" pull down menu, and choose "Greenhouse".

What else is happening? How can I pray?
I was able to be a keynote speaker at the Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ in Ohio in October. I also gave workshops on young adult community-based discipleship. Pray that the  seed for reaching and discipling young adults would take root in congregations. 

We are welcoming the whole first year class from Canadian Lutheran Bible Institute for two weeks at the end of January. Our young adults will be invited to join them for So. Cal. School of the Bible https://clbi.edu/socal. I will teach a one-week intensive on the person and work of the Holy Spirit (Pneumatology or 3rd Article of Creed). Pray for safe travel and for deep connections to be made between our young adults and our guests from CLBI.

I have begun studies for a D.Min. through Western Theological Seminary in Holland, MI. My working project name is An Architecture for Building Community. I will be reflecting on our experience with the Interns and Theta Community, studying Bonhoeffer and St Benedict, and producing a course for others who would like to do something like we are doing. Pray that I may balance my added student vocation with my core vocations: husband, father, and pastor.

Pray for each of the interns and seminarians by name: Gage, Morgan, Sam, Julia, Kelly, Matt, Per, and Ben. Pray for their next steps. Nearly all of them are wondering where the Lord is leading them next. Pray for others considering internship in 2022-2023.

Pray for Trinity San Pedro which hosts Trinity Greenhouse. Nearly our whole campus is being renovated, and we are constantly moving from one space to another to make room for the renovations. Pray that our finished campus facilitates the ministry to which God is calling us. 

One space that is being created is a hospitality suite that will be open to host visiting teachers, missionaries, pastors, etc. We would also like to be able to invite interested individuals or teams to come and join our community for a week so they can get a feel of the transformative power of this kind of ministry with young adults. Pray that we are able to get LA County approvals and sufficient financial provisions for these upgrades.

A million thanks this Thanksgiving—Lots to anticipate this Advent—Jesus is our hope!

Your partner in producing leaders grounded in the gospel of Jesus Christ,

Nathan Hoff