May 28, 2014

Download a printable Bulletin Insert

or Poster version of this S.T.O.R.M. Report

at www.opcstm.org/storm-reports

New STM Brochure

"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another,
as good stewards of God's varied grace."

I Peter 4:10 (ESV)

The verse above will be included on a "Short-Term Missions and Disaster Response" brochure that will be debuted at the upcoming General Assembly of the OPC, being held in Grand Rapids, Michigan, June 4-10, 2014.

Short-Term Missions and Disaster Response will participate in the exhibit area at General Assembly this year. The display will include the new brochure and samples of printable S.T.O.R.M. Reports.

The brochure is intended to succinctly convey our mission in words and pictures and to provide web addresses and contact info in a format that is easy for churches to display and distribute.

We hope that this brochure will be a helpful tool for individuals, groups, and churches interested in participating in OPC short-term missions and disaster response efforts.

The brochures will be distributed directly to churches later this summer - watch for yours in the mail!

OPC and the Southern California Fires

"Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life ..." (Ps. 138:7a, ESV).

Many of you were praying for the members of the OP churches that are in the vicinity of the raging fires that burned in southern California in May. While a number of families did have to evacuate the area for 1-3 days, all are now back in their homes. Smoke and ash permeated the county, but no injuries or loss of property were sustained by our people! Westminster Seminary (Escondido, CA) took the precaution of closing the campus for two days, but classes resumed on May 19th without incident.

Thank you, Rev. Mark Schroeder and Dr. John Fesko for the updates!

Dr. Fesko concluded, "Please do pray for this area, as we're at the beginning of our fire season and this summer might prove to be a busy one given the drought conditions."

Don't Forget Medical Travel Insurance!

Leaving the country for a short-term missions trip (or for any reason!) this summer? Be sure to get your travel insurance ... not "trip cancellation insurance" ... but medical/emergency evacuation insurance. Lots can go wrong ... and your U.S. health insurance most likely won't cover you!

Click here to learn more about why your short-term mission trip planning needs to include International Travel Medical Insurance!

A Unique Thank You Note!

(Hurricane Katrina)
by David Nakhla

While in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, to take part in a presbytery diaconal conference earlier this month, I was approached by a deacon who had recently met a man from the Gulf Coast. As they conversed, the man learned that the deacon had served several times as a disaster response worker following Hurricane Katrina. The man then sat down and hastily composed a universal "Thank You" note, which he asked the deacon to share with others who had helped out after Katrina.

9/14/14
To Strangers Who Saved Us
(New Orleans - Katrina)

As evening fell, our lives piled on the curb in front of our ruined homes, it was really easy to be completely overwhelmed. Starting was so difficult. The darkness of our once busy neighborhoods was so complete. The silence, where once there were friends, so depressing.

We felt so alone.

It all took a change when the truck from God knows where came around the corner. The truck stopped in front of my house. A young lady from Virginia, with a beautiful smile, offered me dumplings. I cried at her kindness. At that moment, I knew I was not alone. She, you, will never be forgotten!

THANK YOU!

Skilled Workers Needed at the Boardwalk Chapel!

Share your skills with the Boardwalk Chapel in Wildwood, New Jersey! Individuals or teams skilled in carpentry, plumbing, and painting are needed to help prepare the Chapel and its ancillary buildings for the busy summer season!

Work can be scheduled for the following weeks:

May 27-31, 2014

June 2-7, 2014

June 9-14, 2014

Learn more at www.opcstm.org under "National STMs - Current Opportunities" by clicking here.

Contact:

Rich Seither, Maintenance Coordinator

Phone: 609-600-7754
Email: trishaseither@yahoo.com

3 More Staff Openings at the Boardwalk Chapel!

Music ministry at Boardwalk Chapel

It's not too late to apply! The Boardwalk Chapel in Wildwood, New Jersey, is still in need of 3 more gals to complete its Volunteer Staff for the 2014 summer season!

Visit the Chapel's website or their great Facebook page to learn more about this unique corner of the OPC! Click here for an application form.

Contact:

Rev. James A. Zozzaro
Director, Boardwalk Chapel
Email: zozzaro.1@opc.org

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 "Space Probe" Vacation Bible School, Monday-Friday, June 9-13, 2014. Pastor Chris Malamisuro is looking for volunteers to assist them!

Learn more at www.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)

Middletown VBS - June 2013

Grace OPC in Middletown, Delaware, will be hosting a weekday-morning Vacation Bible School, Monday-Friday, June 23-27, 2014. Pastor Bob Harting is looking for committed young individuals or groups to join the team!

Learn more at www.opcstm.org under "National STMs - Current Opportunities
by clicking here.

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)

2013 Carnival theme was "Despicable Me 2"

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! Pastor Jerry Neumair is looking for individuals or teams to help them with their busy schedule of activities!

Learn more at www.opcstm.org under "National STMs - Current Opportunities" by clicking here.

Contact:

Rev. Gerald J. Neumair

Phone: 616-455-5672

Email: opcrev@comcast.net

Summer Retreat / Service Project in Naples, Florida!
(July/August 2014)

Canvassing the neighborhood in Naples, Florida

Rev. Eric Hausler, Pastor of the new OP church plant in Naples, Florida (Naples Presbyterian Church) invites you to bring a youth group to Naples in late July or early August to participate in canvassing neighborhoods and spending evenings at the beach as a means of meeting and inviting people to church, as well as volunteering at St. Matthew's Center, a Christian ministry to addicts and the homeless.

Learn more at www.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)

2013 community outreach in San Antonio

Last summer, San Antonio Reformed Church put out a call for a team to help them with a local outreach project, and Providence OPC in Pflugerville, Texas, answered the call, resulting in "Mission Tejas 2013" - a fun-filled, successful community event!

Trinity OPC in Hatboro is scheduled to send a team to San Antonio this summer, and Pastor Andrew Moody would heartily welcome any other team that wants to come and help!

Learn more at www.opcstm.org under "National STMs - Current Opportunities" by clicking here.

Contact:

Rev. Andrew T. Moody

Phone: 210-833-3891

Email: pastor@SAReformed.org

Please Pray for STMs
Scheduled for this Summer!

2013 "Ready, Set, Go" camp in Czech Republic

Teams are filled and plans are in place for the following STM trips this summer. Please pray for the health, safety, and fellowship of the team members! Please pray for those with whom they will share the gospel this summer!

CZECH REPUBLIC

July 9-21, 2014: Bayview OPC (Chula Vista, California) will send a team to work with missionaries Jerry and Marilyn Farnik to present an "English Camp" - a well-attended family camp that is advertised as Christian-run and features reading lessons and oral discussions based on Scripture.

July 21 - August 11, 2014: The Presbytery of Southern California's "Team Praha" will join missionaries Jerry and Marilyn Farnik in working with children, teens, and young adults by means of VBS and camps for kids, friendship evangelism, and discipleship.

HAITI

June 23 - July 3, 2014: The Presbytery of Southern California's "Team Haiti" will work with missionaries Ben and Heather Hopp to present several Vacation Bible Schools on the island of Lagonav.

JAPAN

July 25 - August 8, 2014: The Presbytery of Ohio is sending a seven-person team to serve at the Nozomi (Hope) Center in Yamamoto-cho, a community outreach center cooperatively run by the Reformed Church in Japan and the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.

QUEBEC

June 23-27, June 30 - July 4, July 7-11: "English for Kids" Bible Camps (ages 5-12).
July 14-18, 2014: "English for Teens" Camping Trip (ages 10-16).

Skilled Workers Still Needed!

Skilled workers are still needed to help with construction projects at Neon Reformed Presbyterian Church (OPC) in Neon, Kentucky, and in the area of Brick, New Jersey, where Hurricane Sandy recovery work is being completed.

If you can help, please contact:

Neon, Kentucky

Rev. M. Jay Bennett

bennett.1@opc.org

Brick, New Jersey

Mr. Charlie Farrell, Site Coordinator

arre954@regis.edu

Year-Round Opportunities for Service

Short-term missions are not just for summertime anymore! There are ways to serve all through the year.

Help out with a medical clinic, a farm project, an education outreach project, or village evangelism at the OP's Uganda Mission!

Or, travel to Key West, Florida, to learn and practice open air evangelism with Rev. Bill Welzien ("Bible Bill" as he is know in the Keys)!

Or, take part in an "English Cafe" in Quebec City and reach out to the citizens of Quebec who love learning to speak English!

Full details about these opportunities are posted at the links above or at www.opcstm.org under "Year-Round Opportunities."

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 �glise r�form�e 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

Printable S.T.O.R.M. Reports: www.opcstm.org/storm-reports

David P. Nakhla

Administrator, OPC Committee on Diaconal Ministries

Coordinator, Short-Term Missions & Disaster Response

Phone 562-760-7606

nakhla.1@opc.org