• By Barek Brzezinski in Newsletters

Hi to you all, family and friends! 

No we have not fallen off the face of the earth! We are so grateful that you are taking the time to read this and to keep us in your prayers. There are many incredible things to write about in this season. It’s really too much info for one newsletter! But we are excited to share and will provide a glimpse into what God is currently doing in our lives.

Ministry Updates

One big change to note is that in December we were invited by the Youth Director at Calvary Chapel Saving Grace to join the youth ministry leadership! The youth at CCSG range from 6th grade all the way to 12th grade. We’ve been serving in this ministry for a little over 4 months now and it’s been so fun, challenging, growing, and exciting. For myself (Barek) it has been a great opportunity to hone the gift of teaching in a new and direct way. I’m so privileged to pour into these kids and they are no longer just peers or pastors in a classroom setting as has been the case up until now; they are a true mission field in and of themselves. We are spending time with them on Wednesday nights, Sunday mornings, special events, retreats and going to their big life events (sports, theater, parties, etc.) For both of us, there is a constant, new aspect to ministry, which is discipling. Sometimes we think of discipling as a serious kind of‘sensei/pupil type of relationship, but what biblical discipleship really looks like is beautifully simple and I’m so grateful for how God is growing me in this aspect of ministry. In youth ministry, this looks like doing life with them, supporting them in endeavors, inviting them over to hangout, to exercise, or whatever it may be; and to take every opportunity to speak biblical truth into their lives and situations.

In addition to youth ministry, I (Barek) was asked about a month and a half ago to become an intern pastor at the church. This role has been so exciting to step-into (though for reasons we’ll share in a bit, I haven’t fully delved into this role!). But for us, this opportunity is monumental. When I think of where God has led me in the last 3 years, I have every confidence in Him that this role is so pivotal to our future in the mission field. It also is incredibly humbling to be on a road to becoming a pastor. We are both praising God for this new season and these opportunities to labor for the kingdom of heaven, here and now. With Barek being raised up as an intern pastor, I (Araceli) am being raised up to be a pastors wife. I have joined a pastor’s wife book study with our senior pastor’s wife, along with a few other women. It has been such a sweet time of gleaning and growing. During my bible college years I somehow had an inclination that I would be a pastor’s wife and wow how that is slowly becoming a reality. This is a new venture for sure, one that I don’t feel qualified for but praise God I have the LORD to lean on.

Closing Our Business, And Starting Something New! In other news, we closed our business, Brea Barks! Although it was for such a brief season (about 9 months total) we experienced and learned so much. It was definitely challenging for both of us, in so many different ways, and we are very grateful for all of those who supported and prayed for us all throughout the endeavor. In some ways, we are still very unsure why we took the challenge of the business on, why we put so much into it and why we had to close it so soon into its inception. But, it has been and still currently is a part of walking by faith. We have peace in this, for all the highs and lows of it and we’re grateful. God has blessed our steps of faith! While we were wrestling with and considering the idea of closing Brea Barks, we prayed for a miraculous job opportunity to be given in turn. We have both never lacked nor will we ever lack in His will, spiritually, physically, or otherwise, and God answered our prayers. He provided us with a new job opportunity for myself (Barek). The day after we prayed for a ‘Gideon’s fleece’ type of gracious sign from God, a childhood friend of mine reached out to me in regards to a job opening in a new career, for me; working in local city government as a code enforcement officer. Although in some ways out of left field, we knew that this was God’s incredible gracious response of provision for us. Fast forward a couple of months, I am currently starting my second month on the job and it has been such a huge life transition. We have so much to learn about hard work and stewardship, and this job, for however long or brief God wills us to have it, is and is going to be used to teach us those things and much more. Also, I (Barek) have a new ‘mission field’ in this city and in my workplace!

A baby boy is on the way The news you have been waiting for… We are going to be having a baby boy! We are so incredibly excited to welcome Moses Stephen Brzezinski in late August! We weren’t sure when we wanted to have kids in all of this figuring out marriage and ministry, but God has made it clear that the time is now and we are grateful. His life is precious and our hearts are so full as we pray for him, see his movements in the ultrasounds and feel him already punching and kicking. I (Araceli) am currently in my third trimester, and although this first pregnancy has been challenging for me physically in many ways, I am excited to be not only a wife but also now a mother. I have made it a goal to make Spanish his first language!:)

Missions is still on our hearts and although we do not know when the LORD will call us to go, we are ready and available to answer that call in His perfect timing.

Praise Reports:

• Praise God for our marriage and for our sweet little baby 
• Praise God for new ministry opportunities
• Praise God for providing a job for Barek 

Prayer Requests

• I, Araceli have started a bible study with my mom please pray that it would be a sweet Jesus filled time
• Please pray for good health for the baby and I 
• Please pray that the LORD would give Barek continual opportunities to share about Him to his coworkers
• Please pray for the youth at CCSG, to learn and draw nearer to the LORD.
• Please pray for a car for us! We currently have one, and are hoping to get a second for Momma and baby, LORD willing!

Til’ Kingdom come,

The Brzezinski’s