the cappuccino club news desk

June 2010

We are delighted that over the last few months we have been able to more than double the intake of students. This month 23 students have started their studies under The Cappuccino Club sponsorship program, this is up from 11 last year. Looking back, we wonder how this has eventuated. Just a few weeks we approved the applications of all 23 students when we only had funding for 16.

Sometimes we do things that seem a little reckless from the outside looking in. A friend once told me that he spells faith R-I-S-K, we chose to accept all the candidates simply because all were so worthy and we didn't believe it was right to deny them this opportunity. Well, within days the necessary funding was pledged, a further reassurance that God's hand of blessing rests upon our endeavors.

Check out the students page and meet these amazing young people. Their stories we trust will inspire you and encourage you. We consider it a huge privilege to partner with them in the further education and personal development.

October 2009

The Cappuccino Club Launch Event on Oct 3 was a resounding success and a huge encouragement for us personally. In attendance we had sort-term team members who were present at the birth of The Cappuccino Club concept 18 months prior. Also it was great to have Shane and Rene Wildermoth with us, missionary servants of the Philippines for 24 years. It was great to draw together 50-60 people who share our burden.

Many thanks to all who attended. We were able to contribute approximately NZD1000 to Filipino flood relief victims through an impromptu appeal, your gifts will go so far in God's hands. Today we continue the dream and ask that you will join us in seeking God for the direction of this ministry.

Over the next month or so Val and I will have the opportunity to spread the word regarding The Cappuccino Club. May he continue to be honored as we seek to serve excellently those who are poor and needy.

September 2009

Next month on October 3 at 7.30pm The Cappuccino Club will hold its official launch party. It will be held at LIFEzone, 19 Amber Crescent, Judea, Tauranga. It will be an opportunity to thank God for the dream, celebrate the present and continue to cast the vision for the future. It is an open invitation to anyone who can be in Tauranga for the occasion, we hope to see many new faces there. Email marksmithvjn@hotmail.com for further details.

Well, it's official, Val and I are planning on taking John and Yunika back to the Philippines for at least six months from February next year. We have received an invitation from a great mission group called Servants (see www.servantsasia.org) to help them for a season. We will also be looking at establishing a more robust structure in the Philippines for the future development of The Cappuccino Club.

We have received a number of encouarging responses from individuals and groups that have the potential to add further students into the program for 2010. We rely heavily on traffic across the website to promote this ministry so please refer it to your friends and acquaintances.

For those who can make it, we hope to see you next month at the official launch of this ministry.

Mark and Val

July 2009

It has finally happened! Last month 11 deserving candidates enrolled in higher-level educational institutions in Central Luzon in and around Metro Manila. The dream has been 12 months in the making and we are so thrilled that something that was a vague concept one year ago has now become a present reality impacting 11 great people who would otherwise never have the opportunity to further their education and reach their academic potential.

To think that for the cost of one cup of coffee a day (less than NZD3.50) we are able to give a young person from an impoverished background the opportunity of a lifetime. During the course of their studies they will also enter into a mentoring program in the context of their local church where they will be provided opportunities to serve their greater communities. It is important to note that we are not only helping people with their education, we are also involved in life transformation that will have a flow-on effect into their churches and local communities.

Of the 11 students currently in the program six are pursuing a degree in Teaching, three in Computer Technology, one in Business Administration and one in Christian Ministries. Two students; Lorenzo and Joanna have already completed one year of their respective courses, both have achieved excellent results academically with Lorenzo being recognized as an honors student at the Word of Life Bible Institute. We anticipate similar results with the new intake of students over the years ahead.

We are so thankful to many people who have shared our vision for this program. Bright Hope World has been a good friend to the Cappuccino Club, from the very outset they have been a source of great encouragement to us as we have pursued this dream. The opportunity to partner with BHW has truly been a huge answer to prayer and has allowed us to issue tax rebate receipts to Cappuccino Club donors.

We are also so thankful to the individuals and groups who have chosen to invest in this program by sponsoring a student. I am delighted to announce that all 11 students are fully sponsored through the year. For the remainder of the year I intend to raise the profile of this ministry and seek funding for many more students entering into the program from April 2010.

Next month we will launch The Cappuccino Club website and later in the year we will celebrate the birth of this new ministry by throwing a party here in Tauranga, details to follow.

All that remains is to thank you all for being an encouragement to us along this journey.

Mark and Val Smith