DR 2019 – Day 3 & 4

I will start off by saying we have appreciated your prayers, and have certainly felt God’s hand guiding this week. For those who do not know, we have struggled to retrieve 21 bags of donations that we came to the country with. They were taken by customs at the airport when we arrived on Saturday and we do not know when or if we will get them back. It has been heartbreaking to struggle with the idea that we may not see those bags and the items in them again. We are not disappointed for us, but for the good those items could be doing for the people we interact with. Your prayers are definitely appreciated as we continue to put this entire situation in God’s hands.

However, this struggle has not hindered God continuing to work. On Monday we were able to present our message on the Armor of God to the Joe Hartman school. They loved seeing Damian in a roman soldier costume and were able to hear what it means to prepare ourselves to be in God’s army. We interacted over crayons, the playground and even a 5 of 5 students vs. Americanos basketball game. It was fun to play and interact with the students even though we didn’t speak the same language. Kids are kids, no matter where they are from.

Woody and myself share the gospel at a men’s and women’s group. As the week unfolds some things get lost in translation. What got lost that evening was the translator. It was a surprise to realize on the way to the church that we had forgot to bring one of our translators. Thankfully, Elza did a great job of taking our words and sharing them and it was great to be able to hear them sing and spend time with each other and God that night. Our opportunities to share God’s message with different groups of people throughout the week have been a huge blessing to me and I pray we have been able to be the hands of God’s blessing to His people as well.

We did spend some time at the Batey 35 school yesterday and had the opportunity to distribute a lot of food as well. I will share a bit more about that in the coming days. For now I want to challenge us with a piece of Pastor Woody’s message to us last night. Matthew 22:37-38 says, “Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Jesus teaches in Luke 10 that everyone is our neighbor. Friend, stranger, family, foreigner, enemy; they are all our neighbors. So, who is your neighbor this week? How are you being called to love your neighbor this week? We are all on mission, not just our team here in the DR this week. God is still up to something this week and I am just glad we can play a part!

-Pastor Josh

(If you would like a song to listen to today, try Brandon Heath’s “Give me your Eyes” or “Do something.”)


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DR 2019 – Day 2

What a day of Worship it was! This is my second trip to the DR and I am still amazed at what God can do, even when you don’t know the language. We attended two separate worship services today and I could truly feel the presence of God among the people we were with. There were very few words in the service that were spoken in English and most of them came from me.

At first thought, it would seem that we just sat there until the service was dismissed and were not able to connect to God. But despite the language barrier it was evident that the people around us were joyfully praising the same God we came here to serve.

So it was awesome to know that at the same time praises were being sung in Creole, praises were also being raised in many of our churches in English, and many other languages around the world. It reminds me that we are not alone. It reminds me that God came for all. He broke societal, economic, language, and any other barrier or category we tend to think can’t be broken. We are all a part of a global body of believers seek God’s guidance in what we do everyday.

So, as we step into our week tomorrow with both feet, we covet your prayers for our team, our ministry, the people we will come in contact with and also our families back home. As were reminded of the verse I shared yesterday from Proverbs 3:5-6, we are putting our Trust in Him today and for the rest of the week. I also trust that God has a plan for you this week as well. But for now, let us just pray for one another for the coming week.

-Pastor Josh

Ephesians 6:18 “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”


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DR 2019 – Day 1

Day 1 is coming to a close in the DR. We are here, alive and well, and for that I give thanks to God. As you read that you may think, “oh what happened?!” To ease minds, all in all the trip was uneventful. It never ceases to amaze me how beautiful God’s creation is. It is hard to deny God’s amazing design when you get to see the waters, clouds and terrain from such a high vantage point. When I see how little the people are zoomed out, it reminds me how thankful I am that God works through little people like us in his grand design.
 
The interesting part of our trip came when we entered the DR and went through customs. Long story short our bags of things we donated have been taken into a further process of scrutiny by the authorities. We hope to have the bags early this week, and would appreciate your prayers as we rearrange some of our plans and prayers that we are able to distribute the things that many of you helped to collect and donate.
 
I don’t write this to cause fear or anger. For me it is a reminder of God’s sovereignty in all of our circumstances. We don’t completely know what God has in store for us the week, or even what He has planed for this bump in our plans. But I do know God is in control.
As God’s timing would have it, I shared this verse with the middle schoolers at Spring Grove just 2 days ago. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” We don’t know what tomorrow brings here in the DR, but we are putting our trust in the Lord for what we do this week.
 
I would encourage and challenge you as we step out in faith this week, that you too can step out in faith wherever you are. God has great things in store this week for all of us. The question is, will you be a part?
 
In Christ,
Pastor Josh

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DR Mission Trip 2019

So it is that time again! I can’t believe it’s been a year since our team boarded a plane to partner in ministry with our Dominican Republic family, but as we all know time moves quickly. This post will be short, but I wanted to let you know where you can hear about our journey during the upcoming days.
 
Throughout our week in the DR, myself (along with help from our team) will be posting daily updates (internet provided) as we serve. My hope is that it is uplifting to follow our journey and pray along with us as experience what God has in store for us. Feel free to share this page with others so that they can follow along too. Also keep an eye on our CABC Facebook Page to see regular updates of pictures throughout the week.
 
My encouragement to you is also to serve God faithfully where you will be this week. Whether we are in the DR, US, or anywhere else around the world, let us put on the Armor of God and be fully prepared to do what we each have been called to do this week!
 
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” – Ephesians 6:10
 
-Pastor Josh

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Annual Report

Annual Report – 2017-2018

As we look forward to the year ahead for CABC, it is good to look back and see what God has done in our family. Download this past year’s Annual Report to see a glimpse of what happened.
 
 
CABC Annual Meeting is June 24th, 6:30pm

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2018 Graduates

On Sunday, May 20th, we recognized the graduates from our CABC family.
Congratulations to the Class of 2018.

University Graduates:

Jordan Hisey — Penn State York — May 4, 2018
Earned Degree in Social Work
Plans are: Financial Advisor with Prudential

Amy Myers — Millersville University — May 11, 2018
Plans are: Nurse Practitioner

Jonathan Schumacher — West Chester University — May 13, 2018
Plans are: Pursuing Master’s Degree in Communication at West Chester

Damian Walters — Lancaster Bible College — May 11, 2018
Plans are: Doing the will of God; then starting a men’s ministry for those who are broken and down and out—offering housing and job training in the trades

 

High School Graduates:

Zach Hisey — Spring Grove High School — June 1, 2018
Plans are: Penn State University — Pursuing Degree in Chemical Engineering

Tyler Lepley — Dover High School — June 2, 2018
Plans are: Majoring in Landscaping, Lawn, Groundskeeper Management

Jonah Miller — Dallastown Area High School — June 8, 2018
Plans are: Slippery Rock University — Majoring in Marketing and playing football

Tori Weaver — Spring Grove High School — June 1, 2018
Plans are: Bethany Global University — Missionary School — Studying Intercultural Ministry and Bible Studies. For sixteen months, I will be on a mission trip as part of the curriculum

Miriam Kay Worley — Home School — March 20, 2018
Plans are: Continue working at Jim & Nena’s in Spring Grove (I love it). I’m also interested in missions and would like to continue that journey, as well.

CABC Preschool Graduates:

Savannah Nicole Bair

Zephaniah Gregory Barshinger

Egypt Elijah Boykin

David Michael Carbaugh

Mark Robert Enslen

Sage Olivia Freed

Jose Alejandro Gonzalez

Bentley Orion Hill

Westin James Laughman

Kane Michael Markle

Liam Jonas Martin

Ky-Mani Lee Melbourne

Autumn Grace Pallone

Liam Xavier Pichardo

Nylah Phoebe Robertson

Eliana Elizabeth Sanders

Addison Olivia Seibert

Judson Turner Trojak


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