October STORM Report: A Seven-Step guide to Beginning a Refugee Ministry
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Volume 10 No. 13
October 27, 2021
"So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.”
—Ephesians 2:19-21
Refugee Ministry Part 4:
A Step by Step Guide to Beginning Refugee Ministry
by Pastor Chris Cashen
pastor of Trinity Reformed OPC in Lanham,
MD and member of the Refugee Ministry Subcommittee of the OPC
So, you want to start helping refugees.
You have been listening to the news and have seen those from Afghanistan in need of mercy. You have seen the pictures of people, babies, young girls, old men, pregnant women, suffering as they fled their country, their homes. Your heart has broken over the underlying sin and evil, and you want to show the love of Christ. The only problem is that you do not know where to start, how to begin. Perfect. The following is a step-by-step guide or instruction booklet; a “how-to” manual for those who want to begin ministering to refugees. There are seven steps. So, let’s jump in . . .
Opportunities and Updates
Czech Republic —
Team Praha
Team Praha is back, Lord willing! The Youth Committee of the Presbytery of Southern California plans to send a team of young people to serve alongside Jerry and Marilyn Farnik in the Czech Republic for three weeks in the summer of 2022! We're looking for mature young people (aged 16 to early 30s)--willing to serve, eager to teach Vacation Bible School, and able to share their faith with Czech teens and young adults. Interested?
Summer Missionary Internship Program—Ukraine
Are you desiring an intense cross-cultural missions internship that will personally mentor you through your calling, identity in Christ, and role in God’s world mission? Would you like to gain hands-on experience with mercy ministry, university student ministry, and children’s ministry, in a safe church planting community? Then the Leopolis Green Internship, offered by our L’viv Church Planting Team in beautiful L’viv, Ukraine, may be right for you!
The Uganda Mission
The OPC members serving on the Karamoja station labor in the areas of evangelism, church planting, leadership training, village Bible instruction, literature production, literacy training, medical care through the work of Akisyon a Yesu Presbyterian Clinic, community health instruction, and other works of mercy such as the operation of a farm. The Uganda Mission may be very different from any place you have been before, and may have different expectations of visitors from those on other missions trips. Several opportunities are available for those with a desire to serve the Lord and a willingness to give up creature comforts. It's not for everyone, but it could be for you!
The Boardwalk Chapel
The Boardwalk Chapel will begin to take applications for its 40 staff members for the 2022 season on November 1! Weekly church teams are also being booked right now. Don't miss out!
The Latest
OPC Disaster Response hit quite the marker earlier this week! We now have 300 individuals who have let us know that they have an interest in using their God-given skills when they can. We praise the Lord for His provision for this ministry!
Oh, you're not registered? No worries, there's always room for more. Registering takes only a few minutes and it just tells us that you want to know when there's an opportunity—then you can decide if it's the right time for you to serve. In most cases, you will have ample time to plan while first assessments happen. You may have just the skill we're looking for.
COVID-19 Pandemic Response Fund
The Committee on Diaconal Ministries continues to be concerned about the economic impact of the response to COVID by various governments around the world. It seems to be far from over. As such, while thankful for the $104,489.19 received in the OPC COVID-19 Fund, the CDM continues to keep this fund open for donations in the event of other dire requests. The CDM has disbursed $84,695.00 of that to brothers and sisters around the world. Thank you for your contributions and prayers!
Distribute to your church!
Get the PDF summary of this STORM Report as a poster or bulletin insert.
Short-Term Missions
OPC Disaster Response
Committee on Diaconal Ministries
David P. Nakhla
Short-Term Missions and
Disaster Response Coordinator
215-935-1007
david.nakhla@opc.org
Trish Duggan
Communications Coordinator,
Short-Term Missions and Disaster Response
Trish.duggan@opc.org
Sarah Klazinga
Administrative Assistant
Short-Term Missions and Disaster Response
Sarah.klazinga@opc.org
*Not a function of Wheaton College.
