Snapshot of the Year In Ministry

January-March
In January we hosted two medical teams with different approaches to share the same message.  One team worked with the Ministry of Health to provide additional skills and resources for area clinics.  They also added some waiting room evangelism that isn't normally provided by the Ministry of Health!  The other team partnered with five local churches.  Each church was mobilized to invite their community to receive medical care and the good news of Jesus Christ.  Each of nearly 500 people had one-on-one counseling and prayer and was given a clear presentation of the gospel. 

In February, a team of men joined us to do construction during the day and discipleship in the evening.  We followed up with the same five communities to help solidify the new believers in the church.

In March we survived a whirlwind week with some college students on spring break.  They joined with a local ministry group and reached about 2500 students with testimonies, music, and the good news of Jesus Christ. 

April-May
These months were spent making contacts and discovering needs in the local churches.  May also included a quick trip to the U.S. for the eldest Hentzel daughter's wedding!

June-August
In June, we partnered with several groups with a long history of annual ministry in Jamaica.  We provided a safe and comfortable base for their ministries.

We started off July with a small but dynamic group that had raised funds during difficult times to jumpstart progress on the Bethel training center.  At this point, the Bethel training center has a finished roof over the training rooms!  We can start finishing the interior as we receive funds.  For more information and the most recent pictures click here.>>  This team visited orphanages and the infirmary and did some good hard physical labor too!
Next we were blessed by a youth group that helped us host the regional Awana games competition.  They also cooperated with the local Awana missionary to demonstrate an Awana club night to motivate a new church to reach children and families with the Awana program.  Randy and Sara later provided the basic training for that club and they are eagerly anticipating a great blessing for their church.  Randy and Sara also provided a day of encouragement and enrichment training for the existing clubs in the Mayday Mountains.  We have another Awana training scheduled in January and we are looking forward to using the Bethel training center!
July continued with a large group of 12 churches that unified for a week focused on intensive evangelism.  They provided eight Vacation Bible Schools and one Sports Evangelism Camp, coupled with evening crusades at each location.  They partnered with a local youth ministry team for the sports camp and one of the crusades. 

Next, we hosted a youth team that helped with our Youth Leadership Camp.  We asked the three area high school principals to send us their influencers - whether it was positive or negative influence they provided.  This gave us an opportunity to share the gospel and present a biblical Servant Leadership model.  We used a curriculum written by Randy on the young life of King David.  Our goal was to turn their heart to God so they could use their influence to shape their schools toward God.  We encouraged them to accept Christ and follow His leadership!  As is often the case, the Jamaican men and women were not the only ones impacted by this week of ministry!  The American youth group also found it life changing.  From both groups, we had several leave the camp with a new relationship with Jesus, and many left with intentions to restore broken relationships in their lives.  We need a youth group to help us with next summer's Youth Leadership Camp.  Will your youth group volunteer?>>

The same week, God provided a large team from three church campuses that came together to one ministry team.  They demonstrated the necessary skills of flexibility and willingness to be led by God.  They came to do several activities, but decided to stay together the first day to foster team discussions.  What a blessed decision, as their Vacation Bible School in a fishing village on the south coast was blessed with many eager children!  Everyone was needed and the construction team responded with fearful enthusiasm to take the opportunity to evangelize to the children.  Plans were shattered, comfort zones where stretched and God was glorified!

But wait, there's more to that week!  We also provided continuing education training to six local teachers and tutors on Orton-Gillingham Phonics instruction for struggling readers, and a reading comprehension tool called Literature Circles.  This class was well received and the teachers are clamoring for more continuing education.  Can you help with that?! >>

We finished out the summer with two sweet churches that came together to provide a wonderful, fruitful Vacation Bible School nearby. 

In addition to the activities listed above, we were able to finish the classroom and hurricane shelter at New Hope Orphanage. See pictures below. Thank you for the generous donations that provided materials and labor! Other donations provided necessities for the Manchester Infirmary and three local children's homes.

New Hope Children's Home Schoolroom Addition 

Praise God for His people and His blessings!