Missions & Outreach
Reaching the Rancocas Valley and Beyond.
Missions
DANNY & ANN SHARPE
Young Life Latin America and Caribbean (LAC)
In 2008 Danny & Ann left FPCMH and dedicated their lives to mission ministry. From their home base in NC, they serve with Young Life in 27 countries in LAC providing senior leadership development, discipleship, and operations/capital campaigns. Ann leads the LAC Committee which is composed of LAC senior leadership and Action teams for each country (adults who pray, encourage, and support YL area leaders/clubs), and organizes YL expeditions in an effort to recruit adult friends of YL and financial donors. Ann runs point on biannual senior leadership meetings, the Global Leaders Conference for the top 100 YL leaders in the world, and the Action Team/LAC Senior Leadership annual meetings both in the LAC and North America, gathering friends and leaders together to support the ministry.
Danny supervises 5 divisional leaders & is the liaison between 5 Latin American camps ; the US camping dept, as well as serving on the board of 41& Change Coffee and its production in Nicaragua. He introduced the term “subsidiarity”, and it is becoming the inner working of YL International – pushing authority from the top down to the lowest level. With this comes a Global Financial and Human Resources cloud-based system which is coming online in the local YL ministries. Danny has developed a policy regarding kidnapping in the countries of Haiti, Cuba and Venezuela. The Master Plan Case is being prepared with the vision for YL Camp Rapadou in Haiti. Danny reminds us that YL was founded in the midst of WWII, in Nicaragua in the midst of their civil war, and now the YL ministry in Haiti is thriving in the midst of chaos. The YL camp Pico Escondido in the Dominican Republic is complete. He is also working on development of a new camp in Costa Rica.
Please pray for: YL leader and camper safety in all LAC countries; Wisdom about how to build a camp in a country as tumultuous as Haiti; Final preparation and roll out of the “All Hands on Deck” implementation of the Workday Enterprise management cloud solution throughout LAC; for Ann as she leads the Division to develop Action teams in every country and plans the YL I100 Global gathering in Anaheim, CA in January 2024; Growth in leader trees – their roots showing who mentors and supports them, and their branches showing who they are mentoring and growing as disciples; for safety and good health as they travel; for their 4 adult
children and grandchildren
For more information: dsharpe@sc.younglife.org annmsharpe@gmail.comMore Info:https://latinamerica.younglife.org/about/
Max Perez and Deby Brown – Global Teams – Malaysia
Under the organization of Global Teams, the Perez family has returned to Malaysia where they are working alongside El Shaddai, a Christian faith-based local (NGO)-Non-Governmental Organization). El Shaddai was established to reach out to refugees and support them with health and education. God, having placed the refugees in Malaysia, has given the Perezes an opportunity to present them with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Deby is doing more social work, especially offering training in the recognition of child and family abuse and helping those involved to find a safe way out of their situations. As well as Disciplinary Master, teacher, and home visit coordinator for 100 students, Max is running the sports programs for El Shaddai and the refugee students. An exciting opportunity is developing to turn a donated 3 story building into school classrooms on the lower floors and a hostel for students during the week. Here they would live in community with Vietnamese, Spanish speaking and Rohingya refugees. Life skills would be taught as they cook, clean, study and live together.
Isaac and Anita are “typical teenagers” enjoying friends and excelling in their school programs. The family plans to spend December and January in Costa Rica and visit Mt Holly on their way back to Malaysia. Please pray for: open doors for their work; provision for all their needs; understanding and cooperation amongst the refugee populations and various cultures; coordination to open the new hostel and school building; safe travel and celebrations in December and January.
Email: maxtico@hotmail.com
Website: www.global-teams.net
STEVE AND SONIA DETTWEILER
WYCLIFFE BIBLE TRANSLATORS – NIGERIA
Steve and Sonia Dettweiler – Nigeria – Wycliffe Bible Translators Steve and Sonia plan to continue serving in Nigeria, as God wills, until 2027. Steve serves as a Linguistics Consultant, helping translators produce clear and natural translations. Sonia serves as the SIL Nigeria
Director’s Assistant, tracking tasks and keeping good communication flowing. Both Steve and Sonia are happy to be mentoring people to continue serving in the Bible translation task. Sonia writes “Steve and I are in out here in Nigeria and working hard to pass on our experience and skills to the next generation.”
Wycliffe and SIL are partnering with multiple churches and other Bible translation organizations to work together to engage the remaining 170 Nigerian language communities with well translated scriptures. The God-sized vision is to have a translation program in progress in every language still needing one by the year 2025.
Pray for good understanding between all partners as they work together to complete the task in Nigeria. Praise God for the progress seen in the past few years! Pray for translation partners understanding of the value of good linguistics in producing well translated Scripture. Pray for Steve and a colleague’s presentation at the Linguistic Association of Nigeria Conference in October. Praise that Steve and Sonia are mentoring and discipling others in their work. Praise for son Micah’s wedding to Martha Grace in September.
One way to financially assist Bible translation in Nigeria is to send a gift which will go toward the ministry budgets of Nigerian missionaries. To give by mail, send a check to:
Wycliffe Bible Translators
P.O. Box 628200
Orlando, FL 32862
Include a separate note stating: Preference 803374 Nigerian Missionary Support
To give online:
https://www.wycliffe.org/projects/Nigerian-missionary-staff
Steve_dettweiler@wyclife.org
Sonia.dettweiler@gmail.com
Wycliffe USA, PO Box 628200, Orlando, FL 32862-8200
www.wycliffe.org (Dettweiler ministry account 230193)
SEAN AND CARMEN GARRIGAN
MISSIONARY AIR GROUP
Sean and Carmen Garrigan – Missionary Air Group – North Carolina/Honduras
Missionary Air Group is a Christian relief organization utilizing aircraft to deliver medical care and to support humanitarian, relief, and ministry operations in poor and remote areas, showing genuine compassion after the example of Jesus. MAG targets the region of Honduras and Nicaragua, known as La Moquitia, where there is a recognized “service gap” related to both medical care access and aviation support. They seek to serve areas where no medical care is available and nobody else is flying. Headquartered in N Carolina, Sean trains pilots in flying, remote terrain/mountain piloting and plane mechanics. Pilots have graduated and gone to serve in Alaska, TOGO, Africa and S America. As an ordained Presbyterian pastor, Carmen provides Gospel ministry as she mobilizes and ministers to the pilot families assisting in their spiritual development, coordinates medical clinics, medical supply trips, summer camp programs, community outreach, pastor training and Bible study in Rus Rus, Honduras.
Please pray for: Current and new apprentice families; hosting US missions teams; funds to cover the costs of a doctor to go to Rus Rus for a week; wisdom in how to provide service; additional churches to support them; their family would love each other and grow.
Garrigan’s Mailing Address: P.O. Box 5160, Burlington, NC 27216, (336) 792-5200
Missionary Air Group: P.O. Box 5160, Burlington, NC 27216, (336) 792-5200
More info: www.flymag.org www.garrigansinflight.org
Omar Picado and Rosa Baritza and Byron Laguna –
Young Life North Nicaragua -La Finca Camp, Regional North Nicaragua, Rio Blanco
Young Life Nicaragua is focused on reaching every kid, everywhere with the Good News of the Gospel. Discipleship is a major tool in helping kids grow in their faith, with the help of a journal. The dream map helps leaders and staff pray for new neighborhoods, new towns and new cities throughout Nicaragua to start new outreach. Ministry is based on: Going deeper with kids; Going together with staff and volunteer leaders; Reaching kids in new ways through innovation; Growing by dreaming and praying with God for opportunities.
Rosa is the Regional Director of Young Life North Nicaragua where she oversees more than 80 clubs and 9 new kids camps and 4 follow up camps per year. Growth happens with one-on-one discipleship with kids and follow up camps and God leading the way. Rosa also gives leadership training to the top 100 YL leaders in the world.
Omar, married to Rosa, is the Staff Training and Camps Director for YL Nicaragua. This involves overseeing all operations at La Finca Camp (The Farm) for YL kids, leader retreats and training, visiting ministry groups, and outside rental groups. The property has capacity for 350 overnight guests, ball fields, gymnasium, auditorium, small lake, dining hall, laundry facilities and wide-open spaces.
Byron Castro Laguna has just been promoted to a Metro Area Director where he oversees the YL ministry, staff, volunteers and clubs for Rio Blanco and 5 areas between Rio Blanco and Matagalpa, a 2 ½ hour bus ride. The 2023 Nicaragua mission trip participants began forming relationships with 12 of these young leaders and witnessed firsthand their love for Jesus and all His children of all ages. Jesus is on the move!
Please pray for: God’s wisdom and direction in the growth of Young Life Nicaragua; growth of relationships between FPC and North Nicaragua staff and leaders; Dream maps to become reality for new clubs; a strong family for Omar, Rosa and their two children; for Byron’s wisdom and leadership as he disciples the young leaders under his area and shares Jesus wherever he is serving.
For more information: Nicaragua.younglife.org
Email: ylnicaragua@younglife.nicaragua.org
Outreach
Christine and Christopher Loesser – InterVarsity Central and Southern New Jersey
Area Ministry Director and Emerging Development Manager – Alumni
God is transforming the lives of students across New York and New Jersey! And yet tragically, too man campuses have little-to-no gospel witness. God has given us vision to deepen current ministry and plant new college ministries! Through special campus events, prayer, small groups, camp; one-on-one relationship building, they share the love and truth of the Gospel with students and faculty. During this past academic year, the ministry grew to 10 chapters with 422 students involved including 43 small groups and 61 faith decisions! Christine leads staff missionaries and directs the planting of brand-new college ministries across Central/South New Jersey. Chris develops ministry partnerships in Central/South New Jersey and develops new strategies for InterVarsity to engage alumni in mission to campuses. They aim to see college seniors transition well, flourish where they land, and continue to partner effectively with InterVarsity’s mission.
Please pray for: New Student Outreach (NSO); opportunities to share; students to be open; leaders to love boldly; The ministry on the campus of Rowan College at Burlington County (RCBC); alumni to join in leadership on campus; their four children to flourish as they grow.
For personal ministry updates, email: chris.loesser@intervarsity.org to subscribe.
More Info: www.GivetoIV.org/Loesser
Community Luncheon
First Presbyterian Church – Mt. Holly
To Learn More about the Community Luncheon, Click Here.
Elsie Nicolette – Wrapped in Prayer
After two FPC women saw how the prayer shawls they made for loved ones brought comfort and joy, they learned that Samaritan also wanted to distribute handmade shawls and blankets to their patients. In 2020, nine crafters (FPC members and friends) found knitting and crocheting a perfect antidote to isolation and stress by keeping the mind active, promoting creativity, relaxation and opportunities for prayer, and giving a sense of purpose. The name of the group—Wrapped in Prayer—derives from the practice of praying over the shawl or blanket while it is being made, attaching a blessing card with the crafter’s name and prayerfully dedicating stacks of beautiful crafts in congregational worship before distribution. If you knit, crochet or want to learn how (even virtually), we invite you to join us in offering prayer and yarncrafted comfort to others. For more information,
contact Elsie Nicolette (609) 351-7179.
Bridge of Hope – Burlington County, NJ
Churches respond. Homelessness Ends. Hope begins.
Bridge of Hope is a ministry that reaches out to homeless single and at-risk parents. It is a powerful three-way
partnership between:
· A family facing homelessness
· One group of 6-10 trained Neighboring Volunteers
· A Case Manager who trains and equips Neighboring Volunteers and provides services for the family facing homelessness
Bridge of Hope is a 12-to-24-month program designed to assist participating families in achieving family stability. The typical family in the program is a single mother with children under 18. The main elements of the program are safe and sustainable housing, strong and resilient families, and supportive relationships with Neighboring Volunteers. In the program, the Case Manager meets regularly with the family to discover their needs and then helps meet them. The program provides help with basic needs that include rental assistance on a sliding scale, budget training, assistance with job search, parenting tips, and house hunting. Neighboring Volunteers from local Christian-faith communities baby sit, deliver meals, and provide emotional support. Through prayer, a hug, and neighborly love, families in the program are surrounded by Christ’s love. Over time, the opportunity to share the Gospel comes up.
Ways you can help: Please pray for the volunteer and paid staff to provide the love and help that residents of Burlington County need, especially now during these times of economic uncertainty. Pray for needs to be met for staffing and clients. Pray about YOUR involvement in joining the First Pres Mt. Holly Neighboring Team to have fun while changing the lives of children and parents who are facing difficult times.
Contact information:
Bridge of Hope Burlington County
c/o Madelyn Sutton at Christian Caring Center,
378 Lakehurst Rd, Browns Mills, NJ 08015.
Mail: PO Box 385, Pemberton, NJ 08068
https://bridgeofhopeinc.org/christiancaringcenter@yahoo.com
(609) 893-0700