Abounding Service

❤️ Last week I (Derek) had the honor of sharing your impact to more than 150 leaders gathered in person from all over the world at The xchange Transformation by Design Summit.

Because of your work in bringing refugees, immigrants, and Americans together, where all contribute and receive, I was one of three leaders nominated for a breathtaking honor, the Dr. Daniel Friedland Award.

The award celebrates cycles of giving and receiving love through the sharing of Conscious Leadership work with curiosity, presence, and love.

That's how you are making a difference — it's more than just English!

In class, we learn how to manage stress and navigate change through reliable, repeatable practices such as breathwork to more deeply connect, belong, and serve! ❤️

Who was the official award winner? None other than our very own “Teacher Poli,” Poli Bellan Wilson! 🙌 (seated, left) The award presenter requested testimonials for the three nominees. Of course, we wanted these leaders to hear our friends’ voices!

Thi (Vietnam, left middle) ❤️✨
When Teacher Poli comes to class for breathing, in and out, when you close your eyes, you always think she is sitting next to you, listening to you breathe in and out.

Poli is so good because she listens with her heart. She is good for the world, her voice matters!

Luz (Mexico, right top) ❤️✨
Teacher Poli always listens to us, encourages us to practice and get better with our English, and helps us with our breathing — it’s something that is helping us to feel calm and to be strong.

Ageta (Ethiopia, right lower) ❤️✨
Teacher Poli shows love to the people, she greets the people, and helping the people. She teaches breathing, she smiles, sometimes she likes to dance, sometimes she likes to sing. I need to keep going on to class, to support her, to listening to everything — for her.

Kenny (volunteer Encourager, middle lower) ❤️✨
The fact that we’re here sharing in English classes about very deep subjects with deep questions. To me, that’s Poli. People are going to be listening to our refugee and immigrant friends’ voices because of Poli’s love.

Thank you — it's an honor to serve together with you!

Derek

Derek DeVelder
Abounding Service
Executive Director
AboundingService.org

“Will we still have English class now that Teacher Gary is gone?” Perhaps you shared the same question. ❤ Since January, together with you, we faithfully connected in 7 classes every week (save for holidays), both in-person and on Zoom — in over 3,125 Welcome Conversations!

Two days after his passing on January 29, we had class. Not to look away, but rather, to lean in. We processed together through tears, stories, and in time, English. That's community, that's what Gary wanted.

“Over time there was more laughter, more peace.” ~ Susana (Mexico)

Board member and long-time Encourager Cynthia joyfully exclaimed, “Praise God, we just keep Abounding!”

In recent English classes, the Welcome Conversation question was, “What do you want to be celebrating at Abounding Service one year from now?”

Encourager Mary spoke of a beautiful image of refugees, immigrants, and Americans learning and growing together. Then she thoughtfully paused and added,

“And go far.”

Amen. Yes, together with you — “and go far!”

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
~ African proverb

It's an honor to go far and serve together with you,

Derek

Derek DeVelder
Abounding Service
Executive Director
AboundingService.org

“It was a slice of Heaven,” reflected Grace Community Church leadership where the Celebration of Life was held. On Saturday, we honored the life and legacy of the founder of Abounding Service, Gary De Velder. ❤

Over 200 people participated, representing generations of families, multiple eras, and global cultures from his long arc of life and impact.

Many shared, “I learned so much about Gary, I had no idea!” (If you haven’t seen them yet, here is his obituary and remarkable pictures: https://aboundingservice.org/gary/ )

We heard how Gary found joy in each day. We certainly saw it in the faces of his students and Encouragers on Saturday (even the ones who weren’t in this picture)! They displayed 75 heartfelt cards answering, “Teacher Gary is ____ for me.”

We reflected on what Gary loved, including all kinds of music, from classical, to jazz, to K-Pop! 😀

In class, Gary and I joyfully helped our refugee and immigrant friends pronounce words to the rhythm of early American jazz. This fun exercise is super helpful for pronunciation of American English!

Connecting to joy and jazz, I want to invite you to something Dad would love.

There’s a unique performance coming up this Friday, April 24 at 7pm at the Jazzbird Lounge of the Ravenscroft.

Gary would appreciate this music — and would especially love how all the ticket proceeds will be donated to Abounding Service in support of his legacy! What a blessing from our good friends at Music Serving the Word!

This benefit concert is an honor for Abounding Service and an honor to Gary.

If you’re in town and would love take part in Gary’s legacy as you enjoy the swinging music of Ray Brown, please meet me there!

Chris Ross and the Corner Pocket Quartet
Performing the music of the Ray Brown Trio
Friday, April 24 7-9pm
Jazzbird Lounge at the Ravenscroft in Scottsdale
https://theravenscroft.com/event/jazzbird-nights-chris-ross-corner-pocket-quartet/

Back in English class the past two days, we've had a special time together as our refugee and immigrant friends and Encouragers shared what they learned at Gary's Celebration of Life.

Many shared who they will choose to be because of Gary. Their shares included, “a teacher, reach out to help others, be a good man in my life, a learner, helper” and many more, all from the heart.

You, me, all of us together. We are his legacy of love and service.

It's an honor to serve together with you,

Derek

Derek DeVelder
Abounding Service
Executive Director
AboundingService.org

❤ Please come this Saturday to Gary's Memorial Service / Celebration of Life. April 18 at 10am. We would love to see you there as we remember and honor Gary, the founder of Abounding Service, together.

Please wear your traditional clothes, especially if you are from another country!

Service details, Gary's obituary, and some amazing photos from his life are in this link: https://aboundingservice.org/gary/

Gary's service will be Saturday, April 18 at 10am in the Student Center of Grace Community Church (the building farthest east on the campus, 1200 E Southern Ave, Tempe, AZ 85282).

(Gary’s personal request is that, in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Abounding Service in his memory. https://aboundingservice.org/donate/ )

To be clear, you are his legacy. You, me, all of us — with people we may never meet, expanding the ripples of impact we may never see.

Together with you, we continue Gary’s vision of empowering the marginalized to serve others. You, me, all of us — we are his legacy.

You are an honor to him,

Derek

Gary's Celebration of Life / Memorial Service is this Saturday, April 18 at 10am. ❤️ Service details, Gary's obituary, and some amazing photos from his life are in the link.

Gary De Velder Celebration of Life - Abounding Service Please join us as we celebrate the life and legacy of Gary De Velder, Saturday, April 18 at 10am in the Student Center of Grace Community Church (the building farthest east on the campus) 1200 E Southern Ave, Tempe, AZ 85282.