UBC Mission Update - 2022, Issue 8
Spotlight & Prayer Focus:
Natasha Dobson - Dominican Republic
We are excited to serve as the sending church for Natasha Dobson who will be teaching second grade at Las Palmas Christian school in San Pedro de Macoris in the Dominican Republic for the 2022-2023 school year. Las Palmas is a bilingual school and Natasha will be teaching the students English as well as math and science in English. As a “missionary teacher”, Natasha will have the opportunity to share the Gospel and incorporate biblical principles into lessons and daily devotionals. She will also serve the community through a local church and other ministries. Natasha graduated from Cedarville this past May with a degree in Early Childhood Education and minors in Spanish and Bible. She attended UBC while in college and became a member in March. She has served in U!Kids and is part of the Harmon Growth Group in Cedarville.
UBC is supporting Natasha in partnership with Daystar Baptist Missions, Inc. This includes a commitment to lift her up in prayer and provide accountability. Four women in Natasha’s Growth Group have been meeting with her and they will continue this mentoring relationship over the next year.
Natasha asked the UBC body to pray for the following:
That her work visa gets processed in time for her to travel.
That she would reach her support level goal.
For the logistics of packing up and preparing to move overseas.
For the students in her classes this year, specifically that each of their hearts would be prepared for what God has for them to learn spiritually this year.
That Natasha and her roommate, Lamour, would have a smooth transition into their apartment in August and that they would get along well and encourage one another.
Recent Highlight:
Outreach to South Sudanese Refugees in Uganda
Mission Core Team members Jim and Sandy Corbin and Sharon Kerestes traveled to Uganda in June to serve in the South Sudanese refugee camps. This was the Corbins third time leading a mission team to work in the camps but the first time they worked in the Olua 1 and Ofua 4 camps specifically. The team, which included two others, partnered with local church leaders to equip their lay members to share their faith and make disciples. They followed the “411” method that explains why we share the gospel, who we share it with, what we share and when we will follow through. Refugees have few resources and 411 relies on simple diagrams that can be drawn in the dirt and understood even by those who cannot read.
Following the training each day, groups went through the camps to share the good news of salvation through Jesus. Overall they engaged with 993 refugees and 356 became new followers of Christ! They also encouraged fellow Christians and trained 108 to share the Gospel. New house churches formed and began studying the Bible. The Olua 1 Evangelical Free Church baptized 17 in a joyous celebration that included singing and dancing – definitely one of the highlights of the trip. The local churches are committed to staying in contact with the new believers and continuing to disciple them.
Behind the truly amazing numbers are the personal stories shared and the connections that formed in such a short time. Please pray, as Paul did in Philippians 1:9-11, for these new brothers and sisters in Christ:
…that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
Opportunity:
Diaper Drive for Miami Valley Women’s Center
To read past Mission Updates or to get more information about UBC on Mission, visit www.ubcbeavercreek.com/mission.