GLOBAL OUTREACH

Orphan Outreach Weekend

On Sunday, April 30, 2023, we welcomed guests from Orphan Outreach in both Guatemala and Ukraine/Latvia who shared what God is doing around the globe. We also heard from Oksana Kozyna, world champion para-athlete, about the impact Orphan Outreach has made in her life.

UKRAINE & LATVIA

Ukraine is a large country in Eastern Europe known for its Orthodox churches, Black Sea coastline and forested mountains. There are approximately 95,000 children in Ukrainian orphanages; these children must leave the orphanage by the time they are 16 or 17.

Beginning in 2009, LifePoint Church has partnered with Alpha & Omega and Orphan Outreach to help develop a program for orphan graduates in Dnipro, Ukraine called Together for Children. This ministry assists orphan graduates as they leave the orphanage system by providing the safety net of spiritual, physical and emotional support these graduates need as they transition to adulthood.

Due to the war in Ukraine, Some of our Ukrainian friends are now in Latvia. Recent trips are now visiting Orphan Outreach partners in Latvia who have relocated there.

GUATEMALA

Guatemala, a Central American country south of Mexico, is home to volcanoes, rainforests and ancient Mayan sites. Yet 70 percent of its people live below the poverty level.

LifePoint has multiple partnerships in Guatemala. Since 1996, we have partnered with Oscar & Ana Campos, full-time missionaries who teach and lead at the Central American Theological Seminary in Guatemala City. We also partner with the local offices of two international ministries, Orphan Outreach & International Justice Mission (IJM). These two organizations focus their efforts in Guatemala on helping orphans, vulnerable children and child victims of abuse.

RWANDA

Rwanda, a small landlocked country in east-central Africa, is trying to recover from the ethnic strife that culminated in the tragic genocide in 1994 where over 800,000 people were killed in 100 days.

LifePoint partners with Youth for Christ/Rwanda, a Christian youth movement that reaches young people everywhere, working together with the local church and other partners to raise up lifelong followers of Jesus.  Through YFC Rwanda, we also sponsor students at the Kigali Christian School, allowing low-income students to receive a quality education.

ETHIOPIA

Ethiopia, in the Horn of Africa, is a rugged, landlocked country split by the Great Rift Valley. With archaeological finds dating back more than 3 million years, it’s a place of ancient culture and tradition.

LifePoint partners with Carry117, a non-profit organization that concentrates its efforts in a village called Korah, surrounding the city trash dump. The trash from 5 million people is dumped here. The people in Korah all directly or indirectly benefit from the trash dump. Either they eat from the dump, or they collect recyclables to sell for a living. Unemployment, lack of education, homelessness, HIV/AIDS, leprosy, and poverty run rampant here.

Carry 117 provides a hand up out of poverty by employing and training at-risk women to measure, cut, and sew beautiful products that “carry” things. These women work hard to earn a paycheck, and with the fruit of their labor, they are able to put a roof over their head, send their own children to school, and feed their own family.

Every bag sold helps preserve families and prevent orphans through empowering women.

Want to learn more? Check out this short documentary.

CHECK BACK FOR A POSSIBLE TRIP IN 2024

HAITI

Haiti is a Caribbean country that shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic. Over the years, economic, political, and social difficulties, as well as natural disasters, have plagued Haiti with chronic poverty and other serious problems.

Since 2011, LifePoint has developed strong relationships with the people in the village of Minoterie. In the first five years, Mission of Hope Haiti (MOH) helped us get to know the people and the culture. Many families at LifePoint enjoy sponsoring students at MOH schools. In 2017, LifePoint began focusing our efforts on Faith and Action Ministries (FAM) which is a Haitian organization based in the village of Minoterie. FAM’s primary work is to promote spiritually and physically healthy families and marriages.

NO TRIPS CURRENTLY PLANNED

Interested in going on a Mission Trip?

Learn more here!

What is required from me to be on a team?

If your application is approved, you will need to attend the team preparation meetings and raise funds to cover trip costs.

Is a passport required?

Yes, traveling outside the United States requires an up-to-date passport. Passports cost approximately $175. For more information about applying for or renewing a passport, please visit the U.S. Passport website.

How can I pay for my trip?

Participants are encouraged to begin the fundraising process as soon as they are confirmed on the mission team. We suggest sending out support letters to family and friends as soon as possible.

What vaccinations will I need to get?

Please visit the CDC travel website for the most up-to-date recommendations for the country you are visiting and consult your medical professional to determine what vaccinations you will need.

How long is a mission trip and what is the cost?

The length of a trip is dependent on the area and purpose. An average length of time for a trip is 7 – 10 days. The cost can vary widely depending on the length of time and region.

Is there an age requirement to participate on a LifePoint Missions trip?

Participants must be at least 12 years old, depending on the trip. 12-14 year-olds must be accompanied by parent/guardian and 15-17 year-olds need a signed consent form.