...shows us the will of God.
As followers of Christ, reaching those who do not know Him should be an important part of our faith lived out. Jesus commanded us to make disciples of all the nations. After all, how can anyone hear the Good News unless it is shared with them? As it is written in Isaiah 52:7, “how beautiful…are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation.”
At Grace, we take the words of Jesus seriously. We’ve been blessed with much and it is our joy to share these blessings with others. We’d like to highlight some of the exciting Missions opportunities we have coming up this summer as well as some of our wonderful past experiences.
Africa
Having traveled to Africa for Missions last year, Jenna Weaver will lead a team of four others to Johannesburg, South Africa this summer— requiring about 30 hours of flying (not including layovers!). They will visit a handful of communities near Johannesburg and will focus on house-to-house evangelism. Many of the natives to this area have been taught a distorted version of the Gospel and believe some pretty crazy things, while others simply do not believe at all, with witchcraft practiced frequently throughout the area. This is our chance to be a source of complete truth and to bring a message of hope and salvation. Our team will also visit medical clinics to educate women in regards to abortion and human trafficking, offering information and other alternatives while sharing what the Bible says. They will also put on a VBS-type program called “Jabulani Kids” for the community's children (Jabulani is the Zulu word for "rejoice").
The Roths
Many of you may remember Mark and Maggie Roth, who followed God’s call to Zambia, South Africa last year to reach the lost as well as assist with medical and practical needs. Recently, they’ve been growing corn to feed patients at the local hospital along with helping distribute cornmeal to the villagers. You can visit their blog to read more from them about the work they've been doing in Zambia. [Please note: some blog entries include surgical imagery.]
Grace Chapel Youth
Also this summer, our Grace Chapel Youth will be taking a group of 40 students and adults to Charleston, South Carolina in conjunction with Group Mission Trips. They'll be interacting with senior citizens at assisted living centers, coordinating with center Activity Departments to help with chores and yard work, presenting a VBS-style kids day camp at an apartment ministry, and brightening the days of patients at a rehabilitation and care center by doing crafts, playing bingo and word trivia, and socializing with room visits.
“It gives students the opportunity to serve others and gives them a chance to share the love of Christ with others. Not everyone can do a work-related mission trip, but everyone can serve in this way,”
says Gary Ridenour, Grace Chapel Youth director. Last summer, GCY students traveled to Kentucky for a week to perform tasks including interior and exterior painting, porch repair, building accessible ramps and more.
Please keep these groups in your thoughts and join us in praying that God will use them in mighty ways this summer!
For more information about the upcoming Africa & South Carolina trips, visit our Missions page!