National Missions
FamilyLife
Eric Dahinden
Little Rock, Arkansas
Connecting people to Jesus Christ
Family Life is a ministry of CRU, formerly known as Campus Crusade for Christ. Through this ministry couples are equipped with practical scripture based approaches to real world issues. Conferences, broadcasts, and other resources are made available. Family Life strives to help fill the Great Commission in the power of the Holy Spirit by winning people to faith in Jesus Christ, building their faith and families, and encouraging them to make fellow disciples.
Eric serves Family Life as a data analyst and sales-tax manager for the finance department. He also works with the “WEEKEND TO REMEMBER” marriage conferences.
Why VBC Supports:
VBC actively supports the mission of Family Life because it addresses real life issues from a Biblical, faith-based perspective.
Prayer Requests:
1. Pray for God’s healing power in the lives of the couples who are in Family Life’s programs,
2. And, for God’s wisdom and guidance as Eric prepares for a transfer to Cru Military at the end of the year.
3. Pray for Eric as he makes preparations for a December wedding.
Culture Bound
Mark & Karen Hedinger
Equipping missionaries to work in cultures and languages that not their own
Culture Bound’s mission is to equip Jesus’ followers to effectively share His message in cultures and languages different from their own. Missionaries are equipped for second language and intercultural work through written, recorded, and live presentations to a variety of professions, nationalities, and languages. Culture Bound equips missionaries to be successful, no matter where their mission field is, by learning specific culture from the local people.
Mark is the Executive Director and Director of training programs. He provides in person or via virtual class training for missionaries needing to adapt to new cultures.
Karen is the Director of Language Programs. She helps missionaries with language acquisition and provides language consultation to individuals who are in the throes of learning a new language.
Why VBC Supports:
To “go unto the whole world making disciples...” means that some people will have to cross boundaries of language and culture. Mark and Karen’s work gives missionaries the tools they need to be successful.
Prayer Requests:
1. Pray for wisdom in the development and method of program presentations,
2. Pray that the trainings are well received and made available to the missionaries in need of this training,
3. Pray for Mark and Karen’s personal health and safety as they travel.
Urban Impact Ministries, EFCA (UIM)
John and Wendy Gerhardt
New Orleans, Louisiana
Transforming families, friends and neighborhoods in New Orleans
Transforming families, friends and neighborhoods in New Orleans is the work of UIM. From Bible study to basketball, study hours to summer camp, UIM is committed to building personal relationships with the young people of the crime, blight, and poverty ridden neighborhoods of New Orleans. A closed blighted school, once an eye sore to the community, now serves as UIM’s lighthouse of hope and encouragement sharing the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
John desire to make disciples of Christ, bringing transformation to their families, their friends, their neighborhood, and the city of New Orleans. For the past 26 years, they have seen God do amazing things in the lives of the youth who come to UIM activities. Kids, who once came to the programs, are now leading those programs. Students who were once failing are now thriving. Parents, who felt alone in their struggles, now have the resources to thrive.
Why VBC Supports:
UMI actively outreaches to the underprivileged youth, enabling them to reach their God-given potential and introducing them to the love of Jesus Christ.
Prayer Requests:
1. Pray for God’s direction and wisdom as activities are planned to meet community’s needs,
2. Pray for the people served by UIM as they are the ones who have suffered the most from recent hurricanes and the pandemic,
3. That the meal distribution program can continue to bless the neighborhood.
International Students, Inc. (ISI)
Jason and Hollie
New York City
Sharing the Love of Jesus with International Students
ISI exists to welcome and serve international students in the NYC metro area through friendships, hospitality, professional development, cultural understanding, and spiritual support.
Jason and Hollie are both chaplains on the campus of New York University, working to build a team of believing students and volunteers to serve international students. Both Jason and Hollie’s focus is for deep community to form among international college students, building relationships and sharing the love of Jesus. They facilitate Bible reading groups/studies as well as lead conversation groups to meet students’ felt needs of improving their English and finding community in the big city.
Why VBC Supports:
While VBC is not in a college setting community, the church desires to be involved in such ministries, supporting those who are sharing Jesus and discipling students. These international students are the future leaders of their own countries, and VBC gets to partner in sharing the gospel with them through Jason and Hollie.
Prayer Requests:
1. Pray for meaningful friendships to develop and for wisdom for Jason and Hollie to know the best ways to serve students.
2, Pray for God to grow our team of staff and volunteers to increase our impact and serve more students!
The Center for Mission Mobilization (CMM)
Dave and Michelle Rofkahr
Fayetteville, AR
CMM is mobilizing the global church to take the gospel to un-reached frontiers
While praying and identifying where God is already at work CMM develops local leaders to become missionaries in their own home country, spreading the good news about Jesus.
Dave serves as the Executive Director of CMM. With his wife, Michelle, he travels extensively to meet with international missionary teams to develop plans to mobilize the local churches. They both also serve on the Joshua Fund board which serves to bless Israel and her neighbors in the name of Jesus.
Why VBC Supports:
Most missionaries are from the western church and South Korea, but 80% of today’s evangelical church lives in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Imagine the number of additional laborers for Christ if only these churches could be trained and encouraged to “go out into the fields” for the Lord.
Prayer Requests:
1. Pray for the church in China. The government is instituting new restrictions and regulations upon the church.
2. Pray for God’s wisdom for both CMM and the Rofkahr’s as they seek God’s plan for their work.