National
Disaster Response Team
OPC Short-Term Missions & Disaster Response seeks to…
- Assist those who desire to serve to find an opportunity to suitable to their gifts and expectations
- Assist churches or fields that need help finding a short-term team or individual who might serve in that capacity.
- Assist the church in assessing the extent of disasters that affect our church properties or members
- Mobilize the church to respond to needs created by a disaster
- Encourage the church, in general, to strive towards service within and outside the church
For more information on disaster response, please see http://opcstm.org/category/new-opps/
Your Help is Requested
by David Nakhla
“As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.”
II Thessalonians 3:13 (ESV)
Are you or your church still on the fence about participating in short-term missions this summer? It’s not too late to decide! There are still a number of opportunities to serve domestically. We have received requests from various corners of the OPC for teams or individuals to “Please, come help!” These are efforts that the local church leadership feels are worthy to be carried out this summer. But, they need your assistance to do it! If this is your first time to consider short-term missions, remember – “Learn by doing” is a great way to go!
Below, you will find opportunities to serve in New Jersey, Ohio, Delaware, Michigan, Florida, and Texas!
Now is the time to move forward. The Lord will sustain you and you will be blessed in this good work if you choose to participate. To learn more about these and other opportunities for short-term service in the OPC, please visit http://opcstm.org/.
Tornado Hits Homes of OPC Missionary’s Family
by David Nakhla
A fierce tornado recently destroyed the homes of the parents and sister of OPC Missionary to Uganda, Eric Tuininga. The F2 tornado struck their small town in eastern North Carolina at 4:00 pm on Monday, April 7, 2014. Eric’s sister, Carla, was 9 months pregnant when she ran out of the house with a 3 year old in tow about 20 seconds before the tornado destroyed their double-wide mobile home. Thank the Lord all members of the family survived, including the baby in utero, who was subsequently safely delivered on the following Saturday. In addition to losing the house in which they lived with their 6 (now 7) children, Carla and Mark Van Essendelft lost all of their possessions – including both of their vehicles, their barn, and all of their farm equipment. There is some insurance, but it is far from sufficient to make them whole once again. Eric’s parents were living in a rented home and have found a suitable home to move into.
Eye-Witness Account
For a detailed eye-witness account of the dramatic events surrounding the tornado, click here to read “I Will Praise You In This Storm,” written by Eric’s brother, Matthew Tuininga.
Recovery Efforts
The deacons of Covenant United Reformed Church (URC) in Pantego, North Carolina, are overseeing the recovery efforts. Eric’s father, Calvin J. Tuininga, is the pastor of this church, and the Van Essendelfts are members. The URC is a sister denomination of the OPC – “of like faith and practice.” If there are opportunities for the OPC to assist with manpower, we will be coordinating our efforts through Reformed Missions Services, a short-term missions/disaster response organization within the URCNA. We are not aware of such needs at this time, but will communicate them to you via the OPC Disaster Response Facebook Page if the situation arises. The OPC Committee on Diaconal Ministries (CDM) is encouraging deacons and churches to consider contributions towards this worthy cause, given the amount of assistance needed and the relationship that the OPC has to these families. The CDM has moved to make an initial gift of $10,000 out of its reserves towards this response effort.
Donations
Donations may be made payable to
“Orthodox Presbyterian Church.” Please write “NC Tornado Relief” in the memo line.
Mail to:
Committee on Diaconal Ministries Orthodox Presbyterian Church
607 N. Easton Road, Bldg E.
Willow Grove, PA 19090-2539
Hurricane Sandy Disaster Response:
18 Months Later
by David Nakhla
It has been 18 months since Hurricane Sandy hit the eastern seaboard of the USA, wreaking havoc in its wake. The Lord enabled the OPC to respond to this disaster in New Jersey and on New York’s Long Island with our on-site coordinators and many other volunteers who contributed their time and skills to help OP families and their friends and neighbors deal with the aftermath of the storm and get back into their homes
The Right Men at the Right Place and Time
A particularly effective aspect of the Hurricane Sandy disaster response efforts has been the steadfast commitment of two brothers in the OPC serving the church as “Site Coordinators,” one in New York and the other in New Jersey. Without the help of Mr. Alexander Zarek, ruling elder of the OPC in Franklin Square, New York, and Mr. Charlie Farrell, deacon of Faith Bible OPC in Brick, New Jersey, the work would simply not have been able to move forward as it did. I am particularly thankful for these two men as gifts from the Lord: the right men at the right place and time.
Your Contributions
Consistent with past disasters affecting our church, members of the OPC once again stepped forward with a very tangible expression of their love and concern for one another in the midst of the storm. A total of $180,000 in unsolicited donations were received designated for Hurricane Sandy Relief. Unlike other disasters in which we’ve found it difficult to utilize all funds received, our Hurricane Sandy disaster response activities did consume the full amount of donations received. Truly, it seemed to be the perfect amount to match our efforts. As Al Zarek recently reflected, “It was a blessing to all to see the church come together as one body to assist all those in need.”
For a detailed overview of our 18-month response to Hurricane Sandy, please visit “Disaster Response – Hurricane Sandy” at http://opcstm.org/ by clicking here.
Skilled Workers Needed (May 1-22, 2014) to Help Prepare the Boardwalk Chapel for Summer
The Boardwalk Chapel in Wildwood, New Jersey, is in need of individuals or teams skilled in carpentry, plumbing, and painting to help prepare the Chapel and its ancillary buildings for its busy summer season that starts on Memorial Day Weekend! Work can be scheduled for any weekday or weekend from Thursday, May 1 thru Thursday, May 22, 2014, based on volunteers’ availability. Some of the work may also be scheduled for Tuesday, May 27 thru Friday, June 13, 2014.
Scope of Work:
• Four doors at the Dunn House need to be installed or replaced.
• A stall shower at the Dunn House needs to be removed and replaced with a donated tub and surround. (This is where the plumber is needed!)
• A team of 3-4 individuals is needed to prime and paint the recently installed sheetrock inside the Chapel. There is also painting to be done in the apartments behind the Chapel.
• The front deck on the Kay House needs to be replaced. (This could be done in June.) This opportunity is posted at http://opcstm.org/ under “National STMs – Current Opportunities.” For further details or to schedule a work date for you or your team: Contact: Rich Seither, Maintenance Coordinator Phone: 609-600-7754 Email: trishaseither@yahoo.com
Help Present a VBS in Cincinnati, Ohio!
(June 9-13, 2014)
Cincinnati, Ohio – Roebling Bridge
Good Shepherd OPC in Cincinnati, Ohio, will be hosting an Evening Vacation Bible School (VBS) the week of Monday, June 9th through Friday, June 13, 2014.
Pastor Chris Malamisuro is looking for a team of 8 to 10 volunteers to assist them. Elder Robert Taylor will oversee this ministry, selecting the curriculum, buying supplies, etc. The team’s tasks would include everything from canvassing the neighborhood, to doing crafts with the children, and helping with set-up and clean-up.
All team members will be housed with church families. During the day, there may be some prep work that needs to be done for the evening VBS, but you’ll also have leisure time during which you may want to visit nearby attractions such as The Creation Museum or King’s Island Theme Park.
Learn more at http://opcstm.org/ under “National STMs – Current Opportunities” by clicking here.
Contact:
Elder Robert Taylor
Email: robert.e.taylor@usace.army.mil
Help Present a VBS in Middletown, Delaware!
(June 23-27, 2014)
Grace OPC in Middletown, Delaware, will be holding its weekday-morning Vacation Bible School (VBS) again this summer, the week of Monday, June 23rd through Friday, June 27, 2014.
Pastor Bob Harting is looking for committed young individuals or groups to join the team at Middletown in conducting a fun-filled week of ministry from God’s Word to about 70 children, ages 3 through 14. Experienced teachers are in place for each class, but help is needed with every other aspect of the VBS, including recess!
• Middletown is a little over 1 hour south of Philadelphia, and about 1.5 hours from Baltimore.
• Housing and meals with church families will be available, and pastoral oversight will be provided for the week.
• Having your own vehicle on site would be a big help!
Fun activities, including local side-trips, will be planned for team members to enjoy together each day after VBS work is done!
This opportunity is posted at http://opcstm.org/ under “National STMs – Current Opportunities.”
Contact:
Rev. Robert P. Harting, Jr.
Phone: 302-545-5038
Email: harting.1@opc.org
July 4th Outreach in Kentwood, Michigan!
(July 2-6, 2014)
Meadow Springs OPC in Kentwood, Michigan (a suburb of Grand Rapids) is planning several outreach events in conjunction with the Annual Kentwood Fourth of July Parade, Carnival and Fireworks!
The church has activities planned from Wednesday, July 2nd through Sunday, July 6, 2014, and Pastor Jerry Neumair is looking for 8 to 10 volunteers (individuals or a team) to come help the congregation reach the lost in their community! Volunteers will be housed by local OPC families.
Last year’s parade and carnival were based on the newly released movie “Despicable Me 2.” The church’s tracts, floats, and T-shirts declared the good news of “Despicable Me by Jesus Set Free!” This year, a theme of “How to Train Your Dragon 2” is being considered!
Schedule of Activities:
• Wed. July 2: Canvass the neighborhood with invitations to a Saturday church event
• Thurs. July 3: Complete the parade float and prepare for Friday and Saturday events
• Fri. July 4 Morning: Join in the parade, witnessing to thousands of families
• Fri. July 4 Evening: Serve at the church booth at the carnival and fireworks
• Sat. July 5: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm: Help with church outreach in a neighborhood park
• Sun. July 6: Attend morning worship at Meadow Springs OPC, Kentwood, MI
This opportunity is posted at http://opcstm.org/ under “National STMs – Current Opportunities.”
Contact:
Rev. Gerald J. Neumair
Phone: 616-455-5672
Email: opcrev@comcast.net
Summer Retreat / Service Project in Naples, Florida!
(late July/early August)
Rev. Eric Hausler, Pastor of the new OPC church plant in Naples, Florida (Naples Presbyterian Church) invites you to bring a youth group to Naples in late July or early August for a short-term missions Retreat/Service Project!
Activities will include:
• Canvassing neighborhoods with announcements about the church
• Spending the evening on the beach, engaging people in conversation, and/or playing soccer or volleyball, and inviting them to church
• Volunteering at St. Matthew’s House, a Christian ministry to addicts and the homeless
• Attending Sunday morning and evening worship at Naples OPC
Lodging and meals:
• Lodging is available in the cabins at Naples KOA
• Groups are responsible for their own meals (fire-pit, grill, kitchen available in cabins)
• KOA is located across the street from a Super WalMart
Learn more at http://opcstm.org/under “National STMs – Current Opportunities” by clicking here.
Contact:
Rev. Eric R. Hausler
Phone: 239-234-5500
Email: hausler.1@opc.org
Help with Local Outreach in San Antonio, Texas!
(Summer 2014)
Last summer, Rev. Andrew Moody, Pastor of San Antonio Reformed Church, put out a call for teams to come help in reaching out to their community. The call was answered by Providence Presbyterian Church in Pflugerville (Austin), Texas. The resulting collaboration was described by Pastor Moody in “Mission Tejas 2013,” published in the November 2013 issue of New Horizons, and reprinted with permission at http://opcstm.org/. Click here to read the full story.
Pastor Moody reported:
“We thank the Lord that we have grown closer to our sister church through mutual service and encouragement in the Lord. We are so grateful for their generosity. They have given of their resources to build up the body of Christ in northeast San Antonio. Their team helped us to successfully pull off a great community outreach event, which we had wanted to do for some time, but lacked the resources to make it happen.”
2014 Outreach:
A team from Trinity OPC in Hatboro, Pennsylvania, is scheduled to go to San Antonio this summer! Pastor Moody would heartily welcome any other team that wants to come to San Antonio to help them reach out, make new contacts, and spread the gospel of Jesus!
Contact:
Rev. Andrew T. Moody
Phone: 210-833-3891
Email: pastor@SAReformed.org
Join an STM Team Traveling to Sendai, Japan!
(July 25 – August 8, 2014)
The Presbytery of Ohio Foreign Missions Committee invites you to apply to be part of a seven-person team to serve alongside of our missionaries in Japan for disaster relief work near Sendai from July 25 – August 8th , 2014.
Of particular help would be those who can speak Japanese to help with translation!
This effort is in conjunction with the work of the Nozomi (Hope) Center in Yamamoto-cho, a cooperative center sponsored by the Reformed Church in Japan and the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. The nature of the work will be to assist the largely agricultural community and neighborhood around Yamamoto with various outdoor manual labor projects, house cleaning and maintenance, and helping with children’s activities.
Application/Deadline:
• Our application form contains many important details about the trip – click here to download.
• You must be at least 18 years old by July 25, 2014, to apply to serve on this team.
• The deadline for the submission of the written application is May 9, 2014.
• Candidates will be asked to sit for a Skype-conference phone interview as part of the selection process.
• Applicants will be notified by invitation to participate by May 23rd
This opportunity is posted at http://opcstm.org/ under “Global STMs – Current Opportunities.” Click here.
Contact:
Rev. Ken B. Montgomery
Phone: 937-361-7973
Email: montgomery.1@opc.org
The Boardwalk Chapel Still Has Some Openings
for Staff for Summer 2014!
How about spending the summer sharing the gospel and growing in your faith at the Jersey Shore? There are still some openings for Summer Assistants and volunteers to serve at the Boardwalk Chapel in Wildwood, New Jersey, this summer! The photo above gives you a glimpse into the creativity and fun involved in this ministry!
Be sure to visit the chapel’s website at http://boardwalkchapel.org/, or their great Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/BoardwalkChapel, to learn more about this special corner of the OPC, and consider applying to take part in this very affordable short-term missions experience!
Personal testimonies of staff workers can be found at http://opcstm.org/ under “National STMs – Boardwalk Chapel” by clicking here.
Contact:
Rev. James A. Zozzaro
Director, Boardwalk Chapel
Email: zozzaro.1@opc.org
Skilled Workers Still Needed!
Neon, Kentucky
Neon Reformed Presbyterian Church (OPC) in Neon, Kentucky, welcomed volunteers from several OP presbyteries in 2013 in response to their request for help refurbishing the apartment/ manse on the 2nd floor of their church building! They hope to continue the project in 2014, including a “face lift” to the store-front exterior of the building. Read more at http://opcstm.org/ under “National STMs – Current Opportunities” by clicking here. If you have the skills and time to travel to Neon to help out, please contact Pastor Jay Bennett at bennett.1@opc.org
New Jersey
We recently engaged the services of several skilled tradesmen who agreed to work at a discounted rate in order to complete the work necessary to get the last few OPC families back into their homes in Brick and Seaside Park, New Jersey, following Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Read more at http://opcstm.org/ under “National STMs – Current Opportunities” by clicking here. If you are interested in helping out in this way and are available to work for periods of one or more weeks, please contact Site Coordinator Charlie Farrell at farre954@regis.edu.
Year-Round Opportunities for Service
Uganda
The Orthodox Presbyterian Uganda Mission (OPUM) is the largest mission station in the OPC, and is ripe with opportunities for short-term mission work – year round! With an operating medical clinic, a farm project, an education outreach project and village evangelism, not to mention continual construction projects including well-drilling, there are many ways for a short-term visitor to serve on this field. Read more at http://opcstm.org/ under “Global STMs – Uganda” by clicking here.
(Note: The deadline to serve in Uganda this summer was March 15th, but applications continue to be accepted for the Fall.)
Key West, Florida
How would you like to spend a week in beautiful Key West, Florida, growing in your ability to speak with boldness about the eternal hope that is in you? OPC pastor Bill Welzien presents the gospel three times a week in an engaging open-air style during the famous Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square, and he invites you to come, learn and practice hands-on evangelism with him, at any time during the year. Read more at http://opcstm.org/ under “National STMs – Current Opportunities” by clicking here
Quebec City
Rev. Ben Westerveld, OP Missionary and Pastor of St. Marc’s church in Quebec welcomes you to come join in a “Cafe anglais” (English Cafe) in the parks and malls of Quebec City. Since, the mother tongue of most of the citizens of Quebec is French, they enjoy being invited to practice English with real Anglophones (those whose mother tongue is English). This type of outreach can present opportunities to share the gospel and Reformed church. Read more at http://opcstm.org/ under “Global STMs – Quebec” by clicking here.
Current Missionary Associate Openings
A missionary associate (MA) is an individual who is appointed by the Committee
on Foreign Missions to labor on an OP foreign mission field without cost to the committee.
There is an application process, and terms of service are generally 3 months to 2 years.
Asia
Individuals able to teach English at the university level (must have at least a Bachelor’s degree).
Quebec
An individual able to speak French (or interested in learning to speak French) to assist in the outreach and discipleship ministries of Église réformée St-Marc’s church.
Uganda
Two individuals to assist our missionary families in Mbale with homeschooling and more.
Two individuals to participate in the Karamoja Education Outreach program.
Skilled individuals to assist our missionary deacons.
For more information and/or to apply for missionary associate service:
Contact Rev. Douglas Clawson, Associate General Secretary
Committee on Foreign Missions at clawson.1@opc.org
David P. Nakhla
Administrator, OPC Committee on Diaconal Ministries
Coordinator, Short-Term Missions & Disaster Response
Phone 562-760-7606
nakhla.1@opc.org
http://opcstm.org/
www.facebook.com/OPCShortTermMissions
www.facebook.com/OPCDisasterResponse