Reaching Out: LBF Global | Update on Summer Missions

By Carol Hawkins, Missions Coordinator 

Going on a short-term mission trip is life-changing for those who participate as well as for the many lives that are the recipients of Christ’s love. In July, Helen Wood, one of our high school students, went on a mission trip to share the love of God in Italy. I thought you’d be interested in hearing about her experience.

Helen was part of a team from Liberty University. They traveled to the town of San Lorenzo Di Arzene, which was their home base, and they were able to work alongside a small church there. Their goal was to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with children and adults in different communities in the area.

Each morning the team would go out and put flyers in mailboxes inviting the people to the church. The law forbids them from handing these invitations to individuals on the street, unless they request one, but it is legal to put the flyers in mailboxes. They are also allowed to talk with people when they’re approached.

The afternoons were spent in the park reaching out to the children. There were many different ways they reached out – through puppet shows, dances, singing, story telling, making balloon animals, and using wordless bracelets (which is a great way of telling the salvation story). Through all of these methods, they were able to share the story of God’s love and redemption to people who desperately need to hear it.

In the evenings the team would go to the plazas in the center of the different cities and have conversations with people who were interested. Many people in that area are atheists and do not know the truth that God’s Word teaches. They think religion is for old people and not relevant to their lives. Helen and her teammates were able to have conversations with many people in the evenings and share God’s truth with the help of an interpreter. Through the various ways of ministry, five people came to faith in Christ. Praise God!

And seeds were planted in the hearts of many others. We know that God will use His word in drawing others to Himself.

God used this experience to bless and encourage Helen. She was able to see the hand of the Lord at work through her in touching lives in a different culture. Her team members bonded well and were able to work together in reaching out in Italy. I’m so grateful that LBF was able to help Helen with some financial and prayer support for this trip. Your gifts make a difference and are impacting lives for eternity.

Missions Lunch Reception 

On November 11, we had a missions lunch reception where Joni Brinkley shared with us about her many years of experience on the mission field in the Middle East, telling us about what the Lord is doing around the world today in touching lives for Christ. Joni and her husband, Norm, were our first missionaries that LBF sent out more than 30 years ago. Today, Joni is training men and women as they prepare for the mission field and Norm travels overseas frequently in training nationals in other countries. I hope you’ll plan on joining us.

Update on VBS Project 

I just received word that the packets our VBS kids put together for Mercy Ships have reached their destination of the Africa Mercy, which is currently in the port of Conakry, Guinea. For the next 10 months the ship will be serving the people in that area. So the packets that began in Upland, California, will now be given out in Guinea. Wow! That’s exciting to think of them now blessing people halfway around the globe.

And the word I received was: “This is a HUGE blessing to the patients.” Thanks again to our VBS kids for all their help in putting those packets together! You are a blessing!