International Volunteer Opportunities

Operation Christmas Child The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to needy children around the world, and together with local churches worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. GBPC has been hosting this project each October – November and asking our church body to take home one of the wrapped shoe boxes provided, fill it up with special gifts, and return to the church with the $7.50 donation to help with shipping costs. Each year, GPBC collects approximately 350 boxes to send off to children around the world in need of Christmas cheer! The 2018 event will run from October 14 through November 11.

Contact: Andrea Vanderwarker

Website: http://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/evangelism-discipleship-multiplication/

Rise Against Hunger 80-100 volunteers gather together for this exciting event. Volunteers help with packaging dried food meals to be shipped overseas to countries experiencing famine. This is a great family event or small group event, as any age is able to participate. We host packing events in the spring and fall. Next Event will be September 29, 2018 from 8:45-11 am.

Contact: Judy Steinmetz Phone: 757-547-4706 Email: judys@gbpres.org

Website: http://www.riseagainsthunger.org/

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. Many have gone on to do months and even years of missionary work such as Katlyn McConnell who started Finding Hope in Honduras 4 years ago. The team travels every August for one week to the Vida Joven Camp.

Contact: Laura Bowser Email: laurab@gbpr es.org

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.

Contact: Judy Steinmetz Phone: 757-469-7144 Email: judys@gbpres.org