How do you share an adventure where God shows up each day

I ask your forgiveness as I share this post several days after being in Cambodia.  The privilege of traveling to be with our sponsored children and our missionary partners is overwhelming.  

I praise God that I am on this journey with Melissa.  Together we are experiencing God's love for the peoples of the world in unique and deep ways.  

A quick recap of where we've been on this adventure:

• Departed Wooster OH at 4:15am on Monday morning for 30-hour plus journey to Siem Reap Cambodia. We flew through Atlanta; Seoul, South Korea; and to Siem Reap, Cambodia. 
• We landed in Siem Reap at 10:30pm on Tuesday night where we were greeted by Kevin and Jill Kane. Our driver Sambo coordinated transportation and a hotel. We were exhausted!
• Next day the team slept in (as best they could). Part of the team toured Angkor Wat and the other part of the team toured Siem Reap while also visiting an NGO ministry.  Siem Reap is notorious for human trafficking for the sex trade. We traveled from Siem Reap to Battambanng (a 3-hour van ride where your prayers help avert a collision with a cow--a story for later).
• When we arrived in Battambang at the hotel, the sponsored orphan children from Asia's Hope greeted us. We were overwhelmed with love. 

This is a quick post to get you to Battambang.  I will post later to share my visit with Kevin and JIll Kane and our first day with the sponsored kids. Indeed, tonight (Friday night) we will witness our sponsored orphan children helping with worship at a crusade in Battambang.  They also value outreach.  The believe as we do, "Life change is an invitation away!" 

Please pray for God's strength for our team. We are weary but buoyed by your prayers.  Ask God to give comfort to Jeana and myself upon learning tragic news of loved ones who passed away.Ask God to heal Traci who is taking Z-pac to avert a potential cold. 

For pictures, please follow me or anyone from our team on Facebook.

Saved People Serve People--We care for the most vulnerable

Grace Church is committed to rescuing at-risk children from human trafficking in SE Asia with partner organizations like Asia's Hope, Grace Refuge Outreach Worldwide, and Team Hope International.  We also have sponsors for children in Africa with VisionTrust International. 

One of our values is Saved People Serve People.  Our sponsors faithfully support our sponsored children in residential homes in their home country.  The monthly support provides what the sponsored children need for life: food, clothing, school fees, and special events like birthday party celebrations or excursions like missions trips to their home villages or planned field trips. 

With Asia's Hope, we sponsor three orphan homes, one in Thailand and two in Cambodia.  Each home has house directors who care for the sponsored children. The house directors sacrifice to care for the children.  We praise God for their devotion and willingness to serve.  Saved People Serve People.

With VisionTrust, God has allowed us to sponsor 53 children in orphan care in the Central African Republic. Many children were orphaned from parents who died from AIDS.  Although civil war and disorder remain difficult challenges, God is helping VisionTrust locate displaced children and their families so that they can provide relief.  We praise God for faithful sponsors who give to provide help for orphans and their families. 

What is more amazing is how our Grace Place homes have adopted our values. They embody the same value, Saved People Serve People.  

Vannak Yun, house director at Grace Place Battambang, shared a picture where a young child receives help from Grace Place Battambang.  As Vannak testifies, 

"This is the poor family is informed to us by the chief of commune. She has one son, age 12 years old no chance to go to School because she is unable to provide him at all. So on behalf of Asia"s Hope we provided him School uniform two sets, bag, pens, and shoe. He"s so happy to receive that. For giving is better than receiving. God is good. (this Event is prepared at the commune office)"
--posted on Facebook on Wed June 3, 2015

Vannak facilitated a blessing on another Cambodian family who was under-resourced. The boy needed school uniform and supplies. Saved People Serve People!  May God allow us to continue developing fully devoted followers of Christ all around the world. 

To sponsor a child in one of our Orphan Residential Homes, contact Juana Hernandez (330) 264-9459 x246 or jhernandez@woostergrace.org. 

Saved People Serve People--Rescuing at risk children from human trafficking changes lives

Grace Church is committed to rescuing at-risk children from human trafficking in SE Asia with partner organizations like Asia's Hope, Grace Refuge Outreach Worldwide, and Team Hope International.  We also have sponsors for children in Africa with VisionTrust International. 

One of our values is Saved People Serve People.  Our sponsors faithfully support our sponsored children in residential homes in their home country.  The monthly support provides what the sponsored children need for life: food, clothing, school fees, and special events like birthday party celebrations or excursions like missions trips to their home villages or planned field trips. 

With Asia's Hope, we sponsor three orphan homes, one in Thailand and two in Cambodia.  Each home has house directors who care for the sponsored children. The house directors sacrifice to care for the children.  We praise God for their devotion and willingness to serve.  Saved People Serve People.

With VisionTrust, God has allowed us to sponsor 53 children in orphan care in the Central African Republic. Many children were orphaned from parents who died from AIDS.  Although civil war and disorder remain difficult challenges, God is helping VisionTrust locate displaced children and their families so that they can provide relief.  We praise God for faithful sponsors who give to provide help for orphans and their families. 

What is more amazing is how our Grace Place homes have adopted our values. They embody the same value, Saved People Serve People.  

Vannak Yun, house director at Grace Place Battambang, shared a picture where a young child receives help from Grace Place Battambang.  As Vannak testifies, 

"This is the poor family is informed to us by the chief of commune. She has one son, age 12 years old no chance to go to School because she is unable to provide him at all. So on behalf of Asia"s Hope we provided him School uniform two sets, bag, pens, and shoe. He"s so happy to receive that. For giving is better than receiving. God is good. (this Event is prepared at the commune office)"
--posted on Facebook on Wed June 3, 2015

Vannak facilitated a blessing on another Cambodian family who was under-resourced. The boy needed school uniform and supplies. Saved People Serve People!  May God allow us to continue developing fully devoted followers of Christ all around the world. 

To sponsor a child in one of our Orphan Residential Homes, contact Juana Hernandez (330) 264-9459 x246 or jhernandez@woostergrace.org. 

We love these organizations who rescue at-risk children from human trafficking and exploitation

On Sunday, April 12, the world focused their attention on the International Day of Street Children.  I praise God that we partner with organizations that seek to rescue orphans who are at-risk of human trafficking.  

We offer a shout out to the following partnering organizations:

• Asia's Hope--Their blog post shares how God is at work in rescuing children so that they can offer hope to others. A choir of sponsored children from Asia's Hope traveled to Korea to sing and to perform.  This was a once-in-a-lifetime adventure!
• G.R.O.W.--God has truly blessed Faa, the Director of GROW. Her vision of building a campus of rescue homes for at-risk children to receive hope from despair is inspiring. Read Faa's story.
• VisionTrust International--helping orphans in West and Central Africa and in Haiti, VisionTrust provides opportunities to care for kids who have been displaced from natural disasters, human neglect, and violence.  Pastor Tom Peters who is from Grace Church serves in the Central African Republic (CAR) and in Haiti shared one of his last trips to Haiti and to the CAR on Facebook.

G.R.O.W. Director of Operation, Faa

Each organization seeks to rescue at-risk children who could be victimized and become street children.  We thank them for their commitment to offer hope to children.  

Show them love now by sending a donation over and above what you give to other charitable organization. 

• Give to Asia's Hope
• Give to G.R.O.W.
• Give to VisionTrust

  

Help end human trafficking by giving on World Day of Social Justice

Today is World Day of Social Justice!

I praise God that Grace Church seeks to help end human trafficking and to rescue orphans around the world through the partnership of Asia's Hope, G.R.O.W., and VisionTrust.  We partner to offer an end to slavery and a start to a new life.  We understand that a new start does not guarantee a good end always. But we want to show God's love and care for at-risk orphan children.  

Meeting at-risk children

Rather than be enslaved to hopelessness, our sponsored children are free to hope.  Instead of only nightmares, our sponsored children can dream.  

Many children and women are victims of human exploitation.  We are grateful that we can help rescue some of the most vulnerable from modern bondage.  

Juana with orphan child

One of my heroes is my co-worker, Juana Hernandez. She oversees the orphan care ministries of Grace Church. She helps coordinate the sponsorship of our sponsored children with Asia's Hope. We are rescuing 87 orphan children who would be most vulnerable for human trafficking and modern slavery.  I thank God for Juana's enduring efforts to care for the least, the last, and the hopeless.  

To help end human trafficking, please donate to our partners.  Giving offers hope that social justice prevails.  

To give now, please visit:

• Asia's Hope
• G.R.O.W.
• VisionTrust

Integrated Ministries Grace Church supports

WHAT IS INTEGRATED MINISTRIES?

Integrated ministries is a description of ministries whereby The Church follows God's directive to share the Gospel in word and deed. Grace Church will share the work of Christ (the Gospel) and share the love of Christ (our good works) with every human being.

As the Commitment to Common Mission for Grace Brethren Churches states,

"We affirm that God has created human beings with physical, emotional and spiritual needs and that the Church expresses the compassion of Christ in proclaiming the Gospel while caring for various needs of mankind.

We call upon the Church to bless believers, strengthen churches and reach the lost by showing the works which reflect true faith (James 2:26)

• Assisting those in need,
• Promoting economic, family, and personal development,
• Encouraging the development of businesses with a missionary focus (Business As Mission)"

Grace Church supports the following Integrated Ministries: 

Water for Good

Water for Good, providing fresh water and community based resources for people and communities in the Central African Republic and beyond.

Asia's Hope

Asia’s Hope, providing comprehensive, family-style care for orphaned children at high risk of sexual and economic exploitation in Cambodia, Thailand, and India. 

GROW founder, Faa

GROW, rescuing children and youth at-risk for the sex trade in Thailand. 

VisionTrust

VisionTrust, developing orphaned and neglected children into mature Christians.



We praise God that we can support these integrated ministries to share the work of Christ (the Gospel) and to share the love of Christ (our good works) with these partnering organizations.  Please pray for the year-end appeals as they seek to do good in the years ahead.

Rescuing Children At Risk for Human Trafficking

Team Hope International

 

It started with an extraordinary need. Hundreds of thousands of children in Southeast Asia, many of them orphans, being trafficked. Exploited. Raped. Some of them by their own parents.  The very people who gave them birth selling them for a buck. 

The need gave way to extraordinary passion.  One woman who found a way to help more than one of the least of these, and through her efforts, Team Hope International was born. Together with her husband, God is allowing them to help the helpless.

You can find out more by going to the Team Hope International website. 

Diane Tirakis coordinates Team Hope International at Grace Church.  Team Hope seeks to raise funds for organizations that help rescue orphans and children at risk for human trafficking; specifically through the ministries of Asia’s Hope and G.R.O.W.  

Asia’s Hope is a non profit agency committed to mobilizing resources to meet spiritual, physical and educational needs among Asia’s poor.  G.R.O.W. is a an organization committed to rescuing at risk children in Thailand to place them in small, family homes.   

To sign up for Team Hope International, visit teamhopeintl.org or contact Diane Tirakis, dtirakis@hotmail.com (330) 345-5779

Fever hits Grace Place Battambang

Kids on the mend

Report from Vannak Yun, the house director for Grace Place Battambang regarding our kids and the outbreak of fever in the home.

Pastor Vannak gratefully thanks us for our prayers. Without our prayers, care for the children would be overwhelming.

He shared how 12 kids came down with illnesses. One child, VinSeang contracted both Typhoid and Dengue fever.  Four others, Chin, Srey Pan, Mariya, and Joy had Typhoid. Seven others were ill but now all are better. On the road to recovery, each is taking her medicine, eating porridge, and going back to school when ready.  

I praise God for Pastor Vannak. He attributes their healing to God and to the prayers of God's people for the children. All praise to God, maker of heaven and earth!  Your prayers matter.  My prayers matter! Keep praying everyday for our kids at Grace Place Battambang. Post your prayers for the kids in the comments below. 

I close this post with his own words from an email that he sent me:

"Thank God so much for that.God is healing them.  We just in Him and His name the mighty Lord. May the Lord Jesus bless all of you good health  -- Vannak"

Sunday, July 24

Sunday morning was a delight as we joined the Battambang homes for church services.  All the home participate in the service which is awesome. Savorn spoke since he drove up for the weekend. 

 

Afterwards Zac jumped up to the drums and the kids gathered around as he played.  Back to Grace Place we went for last minute massages and hugs from the kids. 

 

Final massage

We finally had to begin the process of saying goodbye. And believe me when I say process.  It only took 1/2 an hour this time to tear ourselves away from the crying children. This is the most difficult part of the trip for us because your heart just breaks and wants to stay and love on these kids some more. It would be easier to never come, some may say. A part of you is left behind, ripped out of your chest.  You are never again the same. But it is more than worth it. "At least we have more children to look forward to," says my kids. "It makes leaving a little bit easier."

 

We drove back to Phnom Penh, rode around in a tuk tuk with Pkeakdey, had pizza down by the river, started to pack for our trip tomorrow to Thailand. Tomorrow we see Faa and the GROW children and Tutu. And now, I say goodnight!

 

So hard to say goodbye

Gifts from Wooster Grace to Vannak & Home Directors

 

Asia's Hope Director to visit Wooster Grace

Asia's Hope Director to visit Wooster Grace

Savorn & Sony in OH

This Sunday, April 10 Wooster Grace welcomes Savorn Ou and Sony Ich.  We intend to get them introduced in all our services and to provide them opportunities to share in various venues throughout our church.

Please note the following times Savorn & Sony's will share at Wooster Grace:

• 8:30 Traditional service prayer
• 8:55 Fidelis ABF
• 9:45 Contemporary Service prayer
• 10:10 Church Library
• 11:00 Contemporary Service prayer
• 11:25 Internationals ABF
• 5-7pm South Fellowship Hall Potluck Reception: You are invited to a potluck reception and presentation. If your last name is A-M please bring a main dish AND side dish or salad. Those whose last names are N-Z, please bring a main dish AND dessert to share.

Short bio:

Savorn playing with snow

Born into a strong Buddhist family, Savorn grew up in the chaotic days of the Pol Pot regime. He learned to steal from his parents and manipulate them from the doctrine of Pol Pot. Yet in time his parents forgave him for his actions.

The Pol Pot regime ruined the country. The country was in shambles after the Pol Pot regime was overthrown. Savorn grew up in poverty along with many Cambodians. Cambodians of that era says Savorn, "People had no food to eat, no clothes to wear, no school to study, and no house to stay. To fill the empty stomach, I ate crickets, grasshoppers, spiders, rats, and tree leaf."

Savorn got a limited education before the Cambodian army forcibly inscripted him to fight the Khmer Rouge. Yet his life was empty and hopeless. So he took a great risk and went AWOL to get to a refugee camp at the Thailand/Cambodian border. There he learned three languages, studied the teachings of Buddha, and became a teacher of English in the camp.

As English teacher, one of his friends became his student. This student fled from the Army too. Yet this student became a Christian and started telling Savorn about Christ. After two years of hearing about God's love and defiantly and proudly repelling God's truth, Savorn felt foreboding hopelessness. He came to Christ and his life changed. He got baptized, attended a bible school, earned a masters in Theology along with a MBA in Business Administration. Then God prompted him to accept the position as Asia's Hope Cambodian Director.

He passion is clear, "I want to use all of my knowledge and my network of fellow believers to develop a good staff for the orphan homes." For more details on his testimony, read his full bio on Asia's Hope website.

Links about Asia's Hope:

What Asia's Hope does.
Where they work in Cambodia.
Pictures of our kids at Battambang 4 or Grace Place Battambang.

Make a year-end contribution where you can impact the world!

Re-posted from facebook note Monday 12.27.10
Here's a list of how God has worked in Wooster Grace through your faithful & sacrificial giving and stedfast & persistent prayers to bear fruit that will remain from 2010:

• 4-15: Fully-devoted missionary partners on 4 continents in 15 countries
• The scope: From local to global, your gifts and prayers impact every age group: unborn in Wayne County & Africa; children in Religious Ed Classes North-Central, Native New Life Church (NM); orphans in Grace Place Battambang & Grace Place Thailand and with G.R.O.W in Chiang Mai THAILAND ; students at the Battambang Ministry Training Center, in Mondou CHAD with Love in Action International through metal-fabrication training and spiritual life equipping, church planting in France, Germany, Portugal, SE Asia, Brazil, Canada, and Northeast Ohio; as well as widows in Weing Pa Pao THAILAND and community development in Central Africa with ICDI and entreprenuer micro-enterprising  in CAMBODIA.

• Internationals Ministries here in Wayne County: we hosted monthly gatherings for internationals in our community to join us for fun, relationship building, and interaction with Christ-followers and with biblical truth. Our ping-pong tournaments, soccer nights, and holiday dinners drew the most people from many countries of the world. Countries represented, including, but not limited to, Brazil, China, Egypt, Singapore, Japan, Uganda, Greece, India, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Cambodia, Mexico, Colombia, Serbia, Taiwan, Germany, Cuba, Argentina, El Salvador, Canada, and South Korea. 

• Short-Term Missions: This year God helped us reach out to six U.S. destinations and five countries of the world; places like Philadephia, PA; South Bend, IN; Mansfield, OH; Dayton, OH; San Francisco, CA; Albuquerque, NM; Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, China, and Argentina by sending out 116 people from our church.  We are preparing to send a team to SE Asia in February-March 2011.  
• Growing Social Media presence: This year Pastor Daron is learning how to harness the tools of social media to connect more people to what we are doing in the world. We praise God for the tools available. You can find Pastor Daron on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, with the name "daronbutler" or "daron butler."

Thank you for your consistent prayers and financial support. Please consider making a year-end contribution to sustain God's impact in the world.

As ever,

Pastor Daron

Top Ten Images from Global Outreach 2010

As I pause to reflect on all that God has done through Wooster Grace, I praise God for His work in peoples' lives.  So here are my top ten images of what Wooster Grace did with the generous and faithful giving in 2010.

I post these images in no particular order:

• Our missionary partners from Wooster Grace--Hoberts, Triplehorns, & Kane's;
• My visit to Grace Place Battambang; 
• Ministry with GoTeam to serve with Kane's & Good's and CMPs; 
• Swain visit and help with VBS; 
• Ngoumape visit for construction of James Gribbell Ministry Training Center in Bangui CAR; 
• Nanga from ICDI visit to move forward in holistic community development; 
• GROW gets a truck for Faa to transport kids more safely; 
• Short-term Adult trip to New Mexico by ABF (Significant Times); 
• Student Ministries short-term missions trip to San Francisco, CA; and 
• Team Hope Cleveland 2010 (txs Jeff for photo);

Please comment and share what you think I missed or send me a photo of what could or should have been included. I do miss things. Can't wait to hear from you.

Today is Orphan Care Sunday!

I echo what Dr. Russell Moore (@drmoore) already tweeted, "Pray for the Fatherless!" Today is orphan care sunday. I am so grateful that many people are partnering together to reach out and make a difference.

I have been watching how this ministry has grown in our church. In the last two years, God prompted His people at Wooster Grace to launch two orphan rescue homes in partnership with Asia's Hope--one in Cambodia, Grace Place Battambang and one in Thailand, Grace Place Thailand (Wiang Pa Pao). We have also initiated outreach to at-risk children in Chiang Mai, Thailand through Grace Refuge Outreach Worldwide (GROW). 

Orphan Care also takes place in Central Africa. In partnership with ICDI, Vision Trust International, and Project Hope & Charite people in our church sponsor children in the Central African Republic. Moreover, in our community we pray for and seek to encourage the Wayne County Children's Services.  We know that they labor extended hours and work non-stop to be the best advocates for children who need foster care or adoption.  We thank them for their hard work.

Many national organizations are also doing a great job. Thanks to Kelly Rosati for tweeting Focus on the Family's mash-up of orphan care organizations. A few that I would like to promote are:

• Cry of the Orphan
• Wait No More
• Asia's Hope
• Wayne County Children's Services
• ICDI
• Project Hope & Charite