News from the Mission Field

June 2023

Hot Dog Ministry

The Hot Dog Ministry served a fried chicken supper to the homeless and people in need on May 30 in the parking lot of Citadel Square Baptist Church. Pat Jennings reports that approximately 60 people were served by 13 volunteers from St. Michael’s. Father Al gave the homily and grace before the meal. The ministry is a blessing to those serving and being served. St. Michael’s next time to serve is July 18 at 4:45 p.m. Please contact Pat Jennings at Bellinger.56@att.net for more information.

Dandelion Art Ministries, Long Island, New York

https://www.dandelionministries.org/

Please enjoy the latest blog entry from the Rev. Kate Norris of Dandelion Ministries entitled CRITICAL …

The Rev. Kate Norris blog entry

Church of the Resurrection (Rez Church)

rezchurch,org

If you visit Washington, D.C. this summer, spend Sunday morning with our very uplifting mission partner. Rev. Dan Claire would love to have you!

Services are Sunday at 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. and located at 501 E St. S.E., Washington.

KENYA

This month, St. Michael’s provided Samburu County Nkalup Vision (SCNV) with $13,500. These funds will feed 1,000 students for three months at the 18 schools that SCNV founded and administers. From July 14-16, our mission partners the Rev. Julius Gichuru (Director of SCNV) and the Rt. Rev. Simon Mwaura (Bishop Simon, head of God’s Grace for All Nations) will be in Charleston, staying with the Corbetts. 

One of the 18 schools where children are fed as a result of a recent grant from St. Michael's.

ARDF & BURUNDI

Linda and Dave Soutter and the Rev. Dr. Jake Stum (Executive Director of ARDF,) were in Burundi recently, where they visited medical facilities (in dire need of support) and met with the Rt. Rev. Seth Ndayirukiye (Bishop Seth) and Jean Bosco Mutebutsi (National Director of GLO,) whose wife just had their third child! On Sunday, July 23, Rev. Stum will preach at all three St. Michael’s services and lead the 10am Sunday School in the Kinloch Room.

ANGLICAN FRONTIER MINISTRIES (AFM)

Nate and Kiri have returned from their 15-year mission in the Middle East under the auspices of AFM and have settled in Pittsburgh. 

St. Michaelite Youth on Mission to Honduras

By Jacqueline Goehring

Two weeks ago, I was blessed to have been able to travel to Honduras with a St. Philips youth group and Water Mission International. Upon arriving, we traveled by bus to La Ceiba, where we stayed for six nights. Water Missions sent us the sweetest crew of people to help us navigate the area, as well as translate for us.

On our first day of work, we loaded up on a bus and traveled 40 minutes to a small community outside La Ceiba. When arriving, the environment was like nothing I had ever experienced before. There were no cars in sight; everyone drove dirt bikes, the roads were made of dirt and clay, and animals were everywhere, but most importantly, around 80 percent of the homes were made of metal panels and a few pieces of wood.

The Water Mission crew took us to two homes, introduced us to the families and taught us how to build a latrine. For the next three days, we mixed concrete, oiled metal, dug eight-foot holes, made the foundation, built the structure and poured the concrete into the structure. It was hard labor for about six hours of the day, but many things were keeping us going while working. To list a few, the kids in the community would play with us on our breaks. One family had a litter of puppies we got to hold, as well as bunnies, turkeys, pigs, cows and many more animals. The people of Honduras are like no other people I’ve met before.

GLOBAL IMPACT CELEBRATION (GIC)

Since our last report, GIC 2024 has continued to progress. This is our update:

1. GIC 2024 was announced on May 28th. GIC Week will run from January 28, 2024 through February 4, 2024;
2. The Silent Auction is off to a good start with a growing collection of items being curated;
3. We are planning a “pre” GIC in Saturday January 27, 2024 for young families to assemble blessing bags and then attend an art and music session; Ruth and I will be shortly reach out to Sean and Kate Norris (keeping Sherrie Driver in the loop) to request them to conduct the art and music session based on Dandelion Ministries methods;
4. Bishop Andrew Williams will be the pulpit speaker on Sunday January 28, 2024;
5. Ruth and I will also speak to Sean Norris and Dan Wolf (keeping Sherrie Driver on the loop) about further participation in GIC 2024 events to feature Dandelion Ministries and Rise Church;
6. The GIC Banquet set for Thursday February 1, 2024 at SCS Hall; catered by Jamie Westendorff; keynote speaker selection in process; 
7. A Thanksgiving service to thank mission partners and mission task force members is planned to take place in the Chapel on Saturday February 3, 2024, which will be conducted by Bill Hyer;
8. Al just confirmed that the Rev. Barry Black, Chaplin, U.S. Senate, will be the pulpit speaker for Sunday February 4, 2024;
9. GIC “jar banks” are being distributed and receiving positive feedback.

Blessings,

Bob and Ruth Bonelli

Please Remember....

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Thank you for your support.