Volume 9 No. 8
August 13, 2020

"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world." James 1:27

The Latest

COVID-19: Serving the Needy in
Jesus' Name

by Pastor Bill Slack

The River of Life Food Pantry has been a part of our diaconal ministry practically since the church began. It has evolved over the years from an occasional ministry to its present form, serving the community twice a month on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month.

While the distribution itself is about two hours, far more hours are needed for that distribution to take place. Orders from NORWESCAP (our primary food provider) have to be placed, food pickups arranged, other sources of food (of which there are quite a few) coordinated with, as well as records of our distribution being maintained and updated and reports filed with NORWESCAP.

Along with those responsibilities, we have a few folks who are on "housing" support – which means they have to do community service. The hours they put in also need to be recorded and reported. In all of this, we thank the Lord for providing Stefanie Dowson, our Food Pantry Coordinator extraordinaire! She has been using her administrative gifts to make all of this happen, while holding down a full-time job, and sharing life with her husband Robert, who is also her "right-hand man" in this ministry!

Continue reading...

For disaster response, keeping up with current events is essential and this is our usual busy time of year! We are continually communicating within the OPC as well as other denominations where reports come in of those affected by weather and other disasters. The Lord knew we would need a large body of believers to bear one another's burdens! Here's what we're working on:

• Flooding in Midland, MI. We are nearly three months into our work at the home of Glenn and Michelle Moots in Midland. Work is progressing, but we have a few needs there. Over the next few weeks, we will be needing HVAC installers. Can you help? Contact midlandvolunteers@opc.org. Funding continues to be a great need. Please give, if you can. GIVE.OPC.ORG and look for the Midland Flood Fund.

Be a part of OPC Disaster Response by praying, giving to the OPC Disaster Response Fund, or by registering as a disaster response volunteer. 

A Couple of Couples Serve in Midland

It's been nearly three months since the devastating flooding in Midland, Michigan. Over that time many (of you!) have given financially, served physically, and prayed faithfully. Recently a couple of couples have been serving together in Midland, and share their experiences:

Judy and Cary Hirdes

Judy and Cary Hirdes 

We traveled to Midland, MI on June 16 and parked our Fifth Wheel trailer at  Christ Covenant OP Church. They were very accommodating and arranged for us to have electric and water hook-ups.

Our assignment was to coordinate the dry wall replacement in the basement of the home of Tom & Linda Kennedy. Just days before we left we only had a few volunteers and wondered if we should postpone it for a week or so. But within a few days, the list grew assuring us that we were ready for this project.

Keep reading...

Don & Sue McCrory

For a week in July, we provided hospitality support for volunteers who wielded hammers and saws at the Moots’ house outside of Midland, Michigan. Our job was to prepare hot breakfast and supper for the workers, to clean up the shower trailer, and to make sure everyone got a good night’s rest for the work of the next day. Our work was a cinch, thanks to the church’s two freezers filled with a cascade of casseroles prepared by the church ladies. In the fridge were eggs and milk and breakfast bread and much more.

Prepping the meals was fun – what can go wrong when there is a big Kroger right across the street? Eating with the volunteers was the highlight. Here were men and women, old (sort of) and young, skilled and unskilled, all on the same mission, all committed to moving the rebuild forward. And for us, we got to stand in the back and observe Christ’s body in action. We’re so thankful for the privilege to serve and we’re looking forward to going back soon.

​Here's How You Can Serve, Too!

• sign-up to volunteer & get your friends involved!

• volunteer as a foreman
• donate financially

Snapshots

News From the Short-Term Mission Fields

• Boardwalk Chapel: The summer has been going very well! The Chapel has had some cancellations from groups, but they still have some church groups coming in and out. They are very thankful that, despite COVID-19, they have seen many people open to talking with the staff. They have had street preaching, as well, which has gone extremely well, with thousands of people hearing the gospel every day. 

The Boardwalk Chapel 2020 Evangelism Conference: August 24th - 29th. The week is all about growing in Evangelism and is led by Dr. Henry Krabbendam, Chris Byrd, and Rev. Al Baker! It will include "classroom" training and also a lot of opportunity to observe and/or participate in personal evangelism and street preaching with experienced evangelists and ministers. Come spend the end of your summer with us at The Boardwalk Chapel! The cost is $300 for a week, which includes room, teachings, and 1 meal/day. Please contact boardwalkchapel@gmail.com to reserve a bed! If you register but then are unable to attend you will be fully refunded.

Check our website for updates on all current opportunities.

Need a printable version of this report?

Sarah Klazinga
Administrative Assistant
Short-Term Missions and Disaster Response
Sarah.klazinga@opc.org