NLC Connect - August 5, 2026

On Sunday, we gathered as a church family to worship and celebrate His goodness.
Women’s Ministry hosted an amazing Baked Potato Bar Fundraiser this Sunday! All funds raised will help women attend the retreat in September.
Sunday night was filled with laughter, water games, and unforgettable memories as our youth celebrated the end of summer with a fun-filled Water Night!

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 5:
6:30 p.m. - Prayer Group - Room 113

THURSDAY, AUG. 6:
DUSD Meetings - Family Center
6:00 p.m. - CELEBRATE RECOVERY small groups - Education Center

SUNDAY, AUGUST 9:
9:30 a.m. - Connecting Point - Patio

• Come meet and encourage others over coffee and pastries
• Women's Retreat deposits due today (pay online or in-person using the offering box)

10:00 a.m. - WORSHIP/NLC KIDS/NURSERY

• Baptism
• Kids' Promotion Day (new classes next Sunday, depending on age/grade)

5:00 p.m. - Youth Group - Community Room/Gym

TUESDAY, AUG. 11:
10:00 a.m. - Summer LIFT Women's Bible Study - Room 114/115 (end of series)

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 12:
Dinuba, Immanuel & Kings Canyon schools begin
6:30 p.m. - Prayer Group - Room 113

THURSDAY, AUG. 13: 
6:00 p.m. - CELEBRATE RECOVERY small groups - Education Center

SUNDAY, AUGUST 16:
9:30 a.m. - CONNECTING POINT - Patio

• Come meet and encourage others over coffee and snacks

10:00 a.m. - WORSHIP/NLC KIDS/NURSERY

• New sermon series begins
• "Back to School" Sunday with some ages/grades promoted to new classrooms

5:00 p.m. - Youth Group - Community Room/Gym

Offerings Received last week (8/3): ..................$16,663
Offerings Received this year to date: ........... $324,469

Additional Income received (Ministries, Facility            
    Rental & Interest) this year to date: ….....…... $27,990
Total Income this year to date: ……....……...…  $352,459
Estimated Expenses to Fiscal Year End                        
    (Aug. 31): ……………...……….....................……….  $376,800
Needed to meet expenses (estimate 6.5%): … $24,341

When people ask about my trip to Lithuania, they usually want to hear about camp—the worship, crafts, conversations, salvations, and the incredible children we had the privilege of serving. Those moments were unforgettable, and I could fill pages with stories of God's faithfulness throughout the week.

But the truth is, our ministry began long before the first camper ever arrived.
When our team reached the campgrounds, there were no children waiting for us. Instead, there were cabins to clean, beds to make, moss to clear away, spiders to sweep out, and supplies to organize. For two days we quietly prepared spaces for children we had never met.

At first, those tasks felt ordinary. They weren't the moments anyone would post on social media or remember years later. But as we worked, I found myself realizing that love often begins in the unseen.
Every bed we made quietly said, "We've been expecting you." Every clean cabin whispered, "You matter." Before we ever taught a Bible lesson or sang a worship song, we were preparing a place where children could feel welcomed, safe, and loved. Looking back, I think God was preparing more than the campgrounds. He was preparing our hearts.
 
 When camp began, I was reminded of something I often say in my work with children and youth: Every behavior tells a story. Each child arrived with a unique personality, different experiences, and a story only God fully knew. Some were loud and energetic. Others were quiet and cautious. Some tested boundaries. Others simply wanted someone to notice them. It would have been easy to focus on behavior alone. Instead, I found myself asking a different question: What might this child be carrying? That simple question changes the way we love people. It shifts our focus from correcting behavior to building connection. It invites us to respond with curiosity instead of assumptions, compassion instead of frustration. I was reminded once again that behavior is often communication, and behind every action is a person longing to be seen, understood, and loved.

One little boy in my group, Petras, reminded me of this in a way I'll never forget.
Petras has autism, and one afternoon during lunch our table had accidentally been forgotten when water was being served. As everyone around us received their cups, Petras realized we had been missed and became understandably upset. Rather than rushing past the moment, I asked him to take a few deep breaths and assured him that I would make sure he got some water. I found a pitcher from another table, poured him a glass, and set it in front of him. He took a long drink, looked up at me with complete seriousness, and in his gruff little voice said, "You are my hero. You saved my life." It made everyone around us smile. To most people, it was just a glass of water. But to Petras, it wasn't really about the water. It was about being seen. That moment has stayed with me because it reminded me that we never truly know what someone else is carrying. Sometimes what feels like a small act of care can mean everything to someone else. A few moments of attention, a kind response, or simply noticing someone who has been overlooked can communicate something far greater than we realize.

Another moment that continues to make me smile happened with a young girl named Vilta.
Vilta wanted to participate in the camp talent show, but she was incredibly nervous. Three teammates and I offered to sing with her, and throughout the week we practiced together. Little by little, her confidence grew. Then Thursday night arrived. As we stood backstage waiting for our turn, Vilta turned around with fear in her eyes and quietly said, "I don't think I can do this." I smiled and said, "Girl, you've got this. We're here for you." We walked onto that stage together. And she absolutely shined. Watching her sing, I realized something beautiful: courage often grows in the presence of people who believe in us. Sometimes all someone needs is to know they don't have to face something alone.

As I reflected on Petras and Vilta, I couldn't help but think about Jesus. Again and again throughout the Gospels, Jesus noticed the people everyone else overlooked. He welcomed children when others dismissed them. He stopped for the hurting. He responded with compassion before correction. He saw beyond behavior and into the heart.
That is the kind of ministry I witnessed in Lithuania, and it is the kind of ministry I want to continue practicing back home. This trip also reminded me that these lessons aren't just for children. Every person we encounter has a story. Every coworker, every student, every parent, every neighbor, every friend carries experiences we cannot see. We don't always know why someone responds the way they do, but we can choose to respond with grace instead of judgment, curiosity instead of assumptions, and presence instead of rushing past. Lithuania reminded me that ministry isn't only found in teaching lessons, leading worship, or standing on a stage. Sometimes ministry looks like making a bed no one knows you made. Sometimes it looks like cleaning a cabin so a child feels welcomed before they ever arrive. Sometimes it looks like noticing the child who was forgotten when the water was passed out. Sometimes it looks like standing beside a frightened little girl until she discovers she really can do it. These moments may seem ordinary, but I believe this is where the heart of Jesus is most clearly seen—not only in the extraordinary moments, but in the quiet, faithful acts of love that tell people: "I see you." "You matter." "You don't have to do this alone."

I came home from Lithuania incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve.
The children reminded me that ministry begins long before we speak. It begins in the way we prepare a place, the way we notice the overlooked, and the way we choose to stay present with people in both their struggles and their victories.
Thank you to everyone who prayed for our team, encouraged us, and made this trip possible. Your support made it possible not only to share God's love with children in Lithuania, but also to witness His love in ways I didn't expect. The ministry before the ministry matters. Because every behavior tells a story, and sometimes, the smallest acts of love tell the greatest story of all.

- Jessica Aquino, Children's Ministry Director