Missions this Summer

In 2005, we began a focus on the Roma people in central and eastern Europe with our missions offering at camp. It has been such a blessing to watch as the Lord provided through each week of camp for these people! Over the past 5 years, we have helped provide 10 vehicles, 3 ministry centers, 2 new schools, and dozens of children’s and family camps that have resulted in hundreds of salvations.

Thank you for being a part of giving more than a million dollars to help the Roma people!!

This summer, we are beginning another focus. We will continue to focus on Canada, and also on Africa.

In Canada:
• help plant new churches
• begin and support ministries for youth
• begin and continue ministries for college students

In Africa:
• fund IMB’s “Hands On” program for college student missionaries
• provide treatment/prevention of malaria
• provide food for the hungry
• meet physical/spiritual needs of orphans

One of our directors, Henry Dutton, recently took a trip to South Africa. Here’s his story:

“Just a few short weeks ago, I had an amazing opportunity to serve in downtown Johannesburg, South Africa with a team of 6 other camp staff and an IMB missionary. At the beginning of the week, we attended church and also had an opportunity to guest lecture at a seminary. It was really eye-opening to recognize that we worship the same God in America as do the people in S. Africa, and it was also encouraging to meet students that are in the same life situation as me, even though they are living half way around the world. This really helped me to realize that often times my understanding of God is very limited and very small. The reality is that God is much bigger than we can imagine, and he is intimately involved in the details of our lives, whether we live in America, Africa, Europe, or Asia.

As we continued in the week, we began teaching at the Johannesburg Girls Preparatory School. We had planned lessons about safety, strangers, and hygiene, but when we arrived at the school, the teachers basically gave us control of their classrooms. They asked us to teach about anything we wanted, so we tossed our plans out the window and taught the girls about Jesus ALL day! On one occasion, I was sharing the Gospel with a classroom full of girls, and the bell rang dismissing class. All the girls remained seated, though, and one student moved to close the door so that she could hear me more clearly! The girls were SO captivated by the truth that we were sharing. Praise God! By the end of the week, we had established such rapport with the girls that we literally had to pry them off before we could leave.

While downtown in Jozi, we also had the opportunity to visit a ministry called The Door of Hope.

This is basically a shelter where women can abandon their babies, knowing that they’ll receive medical attention, be cared for, and eventually adopted. One baby that I got to hold was actually adopted on my birthday, March 28! Just 20 miles away, though, in an area called Soweto (South West Townships), there is a population of MILLIONS of impoverished people, and no such shelter exists.

This summer, we will begin a partnership with the people of Sub-Sahara Africa, while continuing to partner with Canada. I challenge you to pray for the people of Johannesburg and the missionaries that are working among them. I also challenge you to consider giving sacrificially to the missions offering this summer. The money you give will go to help support the work of missionaries so they can continue to plant churches and minister in local schools. The money will also go to support ministries like The Door of Hope.

I look forward to seeing you at camp this summer, and I can’t wait to see what God will do in all of our lives as we encounter him at camp!”