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English for Kids Bible Camp in St-Georges, Quebec
They Shall Speak of the Glory of Your Kingdom
They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power...
Psalm 145:11 (ESV)
The testimonials we are receiving from this summer's short-term missionaries are very encouraging, informative, and inspiring - as usual!
Please take a moment to enjoy some excerpts, below, from those who served in Asia, Haiti, Quebec, Uruguay, Wisconsin, and at the Boardwalk Chapel in Wildwood, NJ.
OPC Disaster Response is Seeking Volunteers
- The Hurricane Relief Ministry in Houston resumes Oct. 1st
- Contact HarveyVolunteers@opc.org
- Scroll down for more on this and other OPC Disaster Response news
Summer STM Testimonials
English for Kids Bible Camp in Quebec
Olivia Durham, Covenant OPC (Barre, VT)
Team leader Olivia Durham, second from left
I’m overwhelmed with the work of the Spirit in the teen staff this week and wrote the following to the parents of E4K teens:
- Yesterday, they worked for 14 hours straight.
- In the stifling heat, they kept those sweaty little bodies hydrated, accounted for, and entertained.
- They are adored by the campers.
- Your teens come and ask me: Is there anything else that needs doing?
- They look for the one who is left out and draw him in.
- They speak up if they see someone doing something dangerous.
- They pray in public, act on stage hilariously, and interact with parents graciously.
- They are the light of Christ.
- They know the pleasure of being indispensable.
English for Kids is the highlight of my year and I love your teens! Directing a staff of willing volunteers is like sailing before the wind...
Team Haiti
Ben Hopp, OPC Missionary Evangelist to Haiti
For short-term teams traveling to underdeveloped countries, your trip can quickly take a turn toward the unexpected. Your well-planned trip might not turn out exactly as you anticipated...
On the day Team Haiti 2018 was due to leave Haiti, roadblocks and demonstrations (due to the announcement of a tax increase) began popping up all over. After evaluating the situation, it was determined that it was unsafe to try to make it to the airport in Port-au-Prince by road that day...
English Club in Uruguay
Kathryn Brannan, Holy Trinity PCA (Tampa, FL)
Kathryn, center, with two of the adult students at English Club
What a Godly, friendly, talented, committed team of missionaries we found in Montevideo! The Calls, the Richlines, and the Jeromins are truly called by the Lord to their work.
It was a joy for us to:
- develop friendships with the missionaries and their children
- 'live' the missionary life for a week
- immerse ourselves in a different culture, diet, and language
- pour ourselves out in meeting new people and teaching them, despite language differences
- worship our great Lord in another language
- pray for gospel fruit among the people we were serving
- and learn to love our new friends in Uruguay...
English Club in Uruguay
Cassie Stroven and Micah Kok, Little Farms Chapel OPC (Marne, MI)
Creating relationships with new people is key. The purpose of a missions trip is to share the gospel, and one of the best ways to do that is to first build a strong relationship...
Asia
Joanna Grove (left), Grace OPC (Vienna, VA)
Janelle Grove, Grace OPC
(Vienna, VA)
The students’ curiosity about foreigners created opportunities for me and the other summer volunteers to talk about our faith in the context of sharing our lives and culture...
Long-term workers have been planting and watering seeds there for years through building relationships, translating literature, training leaders. On the foundation of their faithful work, I was able to build...
Menominee Missions
in Zoar, WI
Elizabeth Robison
New Covenant OPC (Joliet, IL)
As we went from house to house, inviting everyone to our VBS, we were recognized numerous times by children and adults alike, with some even saying that they had been waiting for us...
Helen Matthews
Apple Valley OPC (Appleton, WI)
The experience was bittersweet. We had great fellowship as we served together, and I really enjoyed the devotional times. The hard part was seeing the great need...
Una Vander Waal
Apple Valley OPC (Appleton, WI)
One thing that stuck out to me was that the kids just loved listening to the songs we brought and would ask me when we could sing again. Please pray that they remember what they have heard and sung...
Zoe Meadows, Bethel OPC
(Wheaton, IL)
Every year, I feel I grow closer to the children we minister to on the reservation. These children need so badly to be loved; I am so glad that I can serve God by giving them a little bit of love, even if it is just for a week...
Lydia Fudge, Apple Valley OPC (Appleton, WI)
There are so many things you can get hung up on in short-term missions; events that don't go as hoped for or as perfectly as you wanted. Thankfully, God Himself works through His imperfect servants. He doesn't get stuck on anything, and He never will...
Ministry Teams at the
Boardwalk Chapel
John Groggel (right), Matthews OPC
(Matthews, NC)
Clara Stiner, Abigail Harr, Claire Fisher, Andrea Demby, Tom Noto, Jamie Learn, Pastor James Jordan: from Church of the Covenant OPC (Hackettstown, NJ)
Tom Noto:
One night on the boardwalk, we went out to evangelize. As we prayed we asked our Heavenly Father for soft hearts to receive the Gospel. Not only did we meet soft hearts, but other groups said the same as well. I smiled upon my return and joy filled me as I saw my calm quiet heart knowing that God is sovereign...
John Groggel:
The Boardwalk Chapel staff was amazing; I had never been amongst a group of young people that lived and breathed and radiated the love of Christ like they did. It was encouraging and inspiring to serve alongside them in Christian fellowship...
Clara Stiner:
I particularly enjoyed observing the different approaches that others took to engage in discussion. I marvel at the gifts and knowledge that God has given individuals to spread His gospel...
Abigail Harr:
The fellowship with the Boardwalk Chapel Staff in prayer was truly amazing, and I was motivated to seek out opportunities to have that kind of fellowship with the believers in my life...
Pastor Jim Jordan:
While many churches focus on bringing their youth group, I see this as a great opportunity for church members of all ages to be trained in evangelism and grow in boldly speaking of Christ. Team members return home with a greater enthusiasm to practice evangelism in their community...
OPC Disaster Response
HOUSTON: Seeking volunteers, especially those skilled in construction, to carry on the OPC's ministry of home restoration to those affected by Hurricane Harvey late last summer.
Work resumes October 1st.
Plan now to participate!
HarveyVolunteers@opc.org
Please post or distribute this flier to help recruit volunteers:
History of Houston Hurricane Relief:
Brad Herzog is creating a video about the OPC's Hurricane Relief Ministry in Houston.
"I spent three busy days in Houston and wanted to tell you how remarkable it was to see the inner workings of the ministry there....This has to be one of the greatest things the OPC has done recently!"
Seeking Hurricane Relief Workers
to Serve in Puerto Rico
We are looking for people interested in volunteering for disaster relief work in Puerto Rico this fall in response to last year’s Hurricane Maria.
Service will include manual labor requiring varying degrees of skill, and perhaps helping the OPC churches there with community outreach.
Teams of 4-8 are ideal for lodging purposes. You don't have to fill a whole team; we can send two smaller teams together.
Flights and other expenses will be partially covered by OPC Disaster Response.
Please contact MariaVolunteers@opc.org if you are interested and available to serve!
You Are the God Who Works Wonders
This note was recently received from one of the OPC families affected by Hurricane Harvey in Houston, to whom OPC Disaster Response was able to minister through your gifts and volunteerism:
"There are truly no words to express the gratitude we feel having such a church as the OPC to come around us and help in our deepest time of need. I want you to know that we do not take this lightly. We, in no way expect anything and are grateful for everything. We are honored and blessed to have the love of the Lord upon us.
"As the Psalmist says in Psalm 77:11-14, 'I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds. Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God? You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might amount the peoples.'
"I will never forget what God has done for us, and my faith has strengthened because of this event in our lives. Life is not easy at times, and looking to God is all we can do, and what we have done for comfort and peace."
To God be the Glory!
Hurricane Relief Team from Trinity OPC (Hatboro, PA)
in Houston July 21-28, 2018
Printable Report
Find a printable poster or bulletin insert of this report, or archives of past reports, at OPCSTM.org:
David P. Nakhla
Short-Term Missions and Disaster Response Coordinator
Contact:
Cell 562-760-7606
David.Nakhla@opc.org
Janet L. Birkmann
Communications Coordinator,
Short-Term Missions and Disaster Response
Contact:
Office 215-935-1006
Janet.Birkmann@opc.org
Administrative Offices
607 N. Easton Rd., Bldg. E
Willow Grove, PA 19090-2539
Phone 215-830-0900
