International Volunteer Opportunities

Nicaragua Mission Trip

GBPC is planning a Mission Trip to Nicaragua, August 3-10, 2024.

We have visited the same youth camp (Vida Joven) since 2004 and have made many Nicaraguan friends over the years.

Last summer we sent a small team to Nicaragua (our first since COVID) and it could not have gone better. We are looking to take a team of 15-20 this year, possibly joining with other churches in the area.

There will be a team meeting on Sunday May 19^th after the 9:30 service, in the Fellowship Hall, for our Nicaraguan mission trip.

If you have any interest in learning more about this mission trip, please join us. We will be firming up our team & plans in the next few weeks. In the meantime, please contact Jeff Horton at jrhorton@ditchwitchva.com if you have any questions.

Sunday School Offering

The Children’s Ministry Team has a goal for the Children’s Sunday School classes to begin an offering from the children each week. The money collected will go toward adopting a child through Compassion International. We feel helping others is an important value we want to instill in the children of GBPC. Please encourage your children to participate and support our sponsored child.

Join River Oak Church on Finding Hope Mission Trip

The trip is October 8-14, 2023 and the cost is $1042.69.

See Linda Marchesano or contact River Oak’s Director of Missions & Outreach, Summer Michaelson, at 757.382.9500 for more information.

Finding Hope was founded by former GBPC youth Katlyn McConnell.

Vida Joven (La Finca Matagalpa Nicaragua)   In 2002, our church created a relationship with missionaries Jim and Sarah Hornsby and the work they were doing for Young Life Nicaragua (Vida Joven).  Each year since then, we have sent work teams to the Young Life Camp to help with construction of improvements to the camp, host Vacation Bible Schools for neighborhood children, do projects in and for local communities, and participate in Young Life club meetings.  We work and worship alongside Vida Joven leaders, and have built relationships with many of them that continue throughout the year.  This is a ministry that is near and dear to the hearts of those who have traveled.  This is a truly life changing experience for both the Nicas and members of our team.  We have had many people come back with a new vision for their lives.  The team travels every August for one week to the Vida Joven Camp.

Vida Joven (Rivas, Nicaragua)  This started as a vision from one of the leaders who traveled yearly to Camp.  He and a few Nica leaders decided to take the Gospel to the city of Rivas where many children have never heard of Jesus.  They walked the streets, visited neighborhoods and school speaking to the local youth; inviting them to play soccer and just “hang out” while they played games, sang songs and learned about Christ.  In 2011, they set out with colleagues from La Finca Nicaragua Camp to the shores of Rivas to seek out needs and opportunities to begin Young Life clubs.  In 6 years, they now have 3 weekly Young Life Groups that meet in different locations attended by over 40 teens and 4-5 leaders learning about love of Jesus Christ. By 2018, 3 clubs have been thriving in Rivas attended by over 40 students each week at each club.  Team members travel to Rivas Nicaragua each spring to help provide support to leaders of the VJ ministry in the town of Rivas.