From the beginning, ACCESS has built its program on a foundation of prayer and listening to God's direction. Join us as we seek God's guidance in being God's extended hands in Chinatown. Please bring to the Lord the following:

ENGLISH FOR SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES (ESOL)

Thank God for…

• both experienced and new teachers for 4 classes.
• 73 students in 4 morning classes: levels 1-0, 1-1, 2, and 3.
• The Lenny Zakim Fund (LZF) will be releasing our 2010-2011 $5,000 challenge fund.

Pray for…

• our search for a new, full-time Adult Basic Education Director.
• the reapplication grant to Lenny Zakim Fund (LZF) for 2011-2012 and the site visit, that we will be accepted for continued funding.
• new funding to provide scholarships for students who need them.

ENRICHMENT PROGRAM (EP)

Thank God for…

• a fun and safe summer program, with participations in the VBS of Boston Chinese Evangelical Church (BCEC) and Summerbridge at Chinese Bible Church of Greater Boston (CBCGB).
• faithful teachers (including a new 5th grade teacher) and volunteers for the after-school program with enrollment of 30 students.

Pray for…

• our search for a new, full-time Director of Children and Families.

COMPUTER LITERACY (CL) CLASSES

Thank God for…

• the completion of computer lab renovations and new ACL curriculum.
• the use of an IBM curriculum and earphones donated mainly by ENB (English for New Bostonians).
• the donation by our Implementation Consultant of his fees to replace staff computers.

Pray for…

• increased enrollment for ACL (Adult Computer Literacy) classes.

MASS REHAB SHIP (STATEWIDE HEAD INJURY PROGRAM)

Thank God for…

• approval of our continued contract for next year (July 2011 to June 2012).
• good turnout for the outlet shopping trip in September.

Pray for…

• the fall trips: a seafood lunch and a foliage trip with a buffet lunch.

FAMILY LIFE

Thank God for…

• the continued commitment of our volunteer Social Worker.

Pray for….

• our parent discussion meetings.

ADMINISTRATION & VOLUNTEER SUPPORT

Thank God for…

• the smooth transition between our volunteer accountants Dorcas Sung and Floris Luk, the switch to a new computer accounting program, and volunteer bookkeepers

Pray for…

• the Executive Director as she has picked up temporary supervision of EP and ESOL, since both part–time directors left for other positions.
• the Administrative Assistant as she overseas site management and EP fee calculation.

ANNUAL BANQUET: SPRING 2012

Thank God for…

• His blessing during 20 years of service in Chinatown.

Pray for…

• a good date set for our 20th anniversary celebration in April 2012.
• volunteers to serve on a planning committee for this special celebration.

BOARD & COMMITTEES

Thank God for…

• the life and example of founder and volunteer Chik Ching Law who went to be with her Lord on September 19, 2011.
• the willingness of board members and volunteers to serve as Treasurer and Finance Committee chair after our previous Treasurer left Boston for graduate school; and volunteers from founding board serving on the Search Committee
• additional donations from two memorial funds.

Pray for…

• new Board and Committee members willing to serve in 2012.
• funding still needed for 2011.

From the beginning, ACCESS has built its program on a foundation of prayer and listening to God's direction. Join us at our site in Chinatown for the next quarterly prayer meeting on Saturday, November 13, 9:00-11:00 a.m. as we seek God’s guidance in being God’s extended hands in Chinatown. Whether you can come pray with us on site or will pray at home, please bring to the Lord the following:

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)

Thank God for...

• Andy Chen’s service to beginning students.
• our new teacher, Dave Gebo.

Pray for...

• healing and peace for Andy Chen, ESOL staff member recovering from a heart procedure.
• successful site visits from English for New Bostonians (Nov. 10) and the Lenny Zakim Fund (Nov. 16).

Enrichment Program (EP)

Thank God for...

• an amazingly gifted and faithful group of volunteers.

Pray for...

• additional volunteers especially to help with academics, in light of heavy student homework loads this year.
• the effectiveness of our Bible Program—that students will respond to the encouragement to read the Bible and that the Spirit will speak to them in the process.
• parents who come to the parent-teacher conferences—that God’s heart will be visible through staff comments.
• our new students, especially those with very limited English.
• the honoring of God at our annual "Taste of Thanksgiving" party on November 24.
• the success of a grant due November 19 which would support several sliding fee slots.

Computer Literacy Classes

Pray for...

• volunteers to teach the Adult Computer classes so the program can be resumed soon.

Mass Rehab SHIP (Statewide Head Injury Program)

Thank God for...

• 7 people who went to our pear-picking trip in September, and 10 who joined a foliage trip in October.

Pray for...

• a new worker next spring.

Family Life

Thank God for...

• the good attendance at the recent EP parents' discussion group.

Pray for….

• family life to be strengthened as a result of ideas generated from the discussion.
• strength and wisdom for single parents in the EP program, especially for one divorced mother whose daughter seems to be full of resentment and hardly ever speaks at home.

Administration & Volunteer Support

Thank God and continue to pray for...

• faithful staff and volunteers who work hard each week to run ACCESS programs.

Board & Committees

Thank God for...

• the support of consultants through the Boston Capacity Tank as the board and staff conduct strategic planning over the next year.

Pray for...

• the work of the Personnel Committee as we try to establish positions that will allow people to commit to full-time ministry at ACCESS and explore different models for sustainable funding of these positions.
• new community members to commit to serving ACCESS on the board and committees.
• the $22.5K projected annual deficit for 2010.

From the beginning, ACCESS has built its program on a foundation of prayer and listening to God’s direction. Join us at our site in Chinatown for the next quarterly prayer meeting on Saturday, June 12, 11:00 AM-12:00 PM as we seek God’s guidance in being God’s extended hands in Chinatown. Whether you can come pray with us on site or will pray at home, please bring to the Lord the following:

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)

Thank God for…

• 7 classes running in the summer session begun on 5/24/10.
• the positive impression given the executive director of Lenny Zakim Fund on April 29 visit.

Pray for…

• the 110 students in the summer session.
• encouragement for our teachers, especially the two new teachers.
• the refunding proposal submitted to English for New Bostonians.

Enrichment Program (EP)

Thank God for…

• a safe and fun April vacation week.
• increased interest in the Summer Enrichment Program—54 paid partial or full summer fees.

Pray for…

• God’s provision in finding summer staff.
• a strong finish to our 2009-10 EP program, ending June 25.
• a strong spiritual and relational send-off for our nine 5th grade students as they age out of the program this year.
• the registration process for 2010-11 After School EP this month.

Computer Literacy Classes

Pray for…

• more volunteers to teach the Adult Computer classes.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)

Thank God for…

• the volunteers who generously provided this service to many community members.

Mass Rehab SHIP (Statewide Head Injury Program)

Thank God for…

• a successful meal at a French restaurant on May 8.

Pray for…

• Rockport trip planned for June 19.
• submission of refunding proposal for 2011 on June 3.

Family Life

Thank God for…

• a good EP parents’ meeting on April 16. Attendees included fathers and mothers of current EP students as well as mothers of 3 former EP students.

Pray for…

• the meeting of needs of people who have been seeing our volunteer family service worker who will be unavailable during the summer.

Administration & Volunteer Support

Thank God and continue to Pray for…

• faithful staff and volunteers who work hard each week to run ACCESS programs.

Board & Committees

Thank God for…

• inspiring testimonies from Lily Chow (former Mothers’ Group participant) and Anna Fan (former ACCESS board member, staff, and volunteer) given at the ACCESS banquet on April 10.
• financial support raised at the banquet—$35,675.

Pray for…

• the efficient work of staff, volunteers, and board members on EP and Personnel Committees this summer, working with Boston Capacity Tank consultants on developing a logic model for EP program evaluation and reviewing ACCESS’ overall programmatic structure.
• the helpful consultant support ACCESS is receiving through our Boston Capacity Tank grant.
• recruitment of new people to serve on the Board and committees.
• $32.3K projected annual deficit for 2010.

From the beginning, ACCESS has built its program on a foundation of prayer and listening to God's direction. Join us at our site in Chinatown for the next quarterly prayer meeting on Saturday, October 3, 9:00-11:00 a.m. as we seek God's guidance in being God's extended hands in Chinatown. Whether you can come pray with us on site or will pray at home, please bring to the Lord the following:

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)

Thank God for...

• the return of our existing teachers and 2 new ESOL teachers.
• an additional volunteer tester at the start of a new semester.
• the success of the ESOL scholarship program.
• grant money received from English for New Bostonians and the Chinatown Trust Fund.

Pray for...

• cohesiveness of our ESOL team on a spiritual level
• students' adjustments to new teachers, classmates and classrooms.
• the level 1-1 morning class as some students struggle with a non-bilingual teacher.
• the implementation of the ENB grant and the administration of proficiency assessment.
• successful grant award from the Lenny Zakim Fund.

Enrichment Program (EP)

Thank God for...

• the successful completion of summer programs, including the 3rd annual Summerbridge week staffed by volunteers from CBCGB.
• continued relationships between our students, staff and volunteers.
• valued experience and relational strength of our returning
• teachers; many have been at ACCESS for five or more years.

Pray for...

• an EP mother, a new Christian, as a result of Stephen Tong's recent evangelistic rallies in Boston.
• 10 more students to enroll, especially in K-2nd grade.
• the success of a grant being written designed to improve
• English language skills of 5th grade boys.
• the successful implantation of the two front teeth of one of our 4th graders who fell on the playground last week.

Computer Literacy Classes

Thank God for...

• 3 classes scheduled to start at the beginning of October.

Pray for...

• more volunteers to teach different levels of computer courses.
• direction as we explore more effective use of our computer lab.
• The possibility of upgrading hardware in the lab.

Family Life

Thank God for...

• recent baptism of a single mother who used our family support services.

Pray for...

• wisdom in planning the first EP parents' meeting this year and in supporting single parents, especially mothers with boys, (about 25% of the EP students are parented by a single parent).
• wisdom in helping several EP students with learning and/or emotional needs.
• for Mrs. Lo, Mrs. Siu and Mrs. Wong as they demonstrate God's love in their work with parents and families, many struggling with complex problems.

Statewide Head Injury Program (SHIP)

Pray for...

• success in our application and start of this new program.

Administration & Volunteer Support

Thank God for...

• our staff and volunteers who continue to serve so faithfully.

Board & Committees

Thank God for...

• faithful and active Board and committees.

Pray for...

• 2010 board and committee recruitment, that God would bring the right people, particularly as we undertake a process of reviewing our personnel structure.
• success in new efforts in communicating with supporters, fundraising, and grant-writing.
• supporters who will consider regular, ongoing support for the ESOL scholarship program.
• $30K projected annual deficit for 2009.