By Sharon Mager, BCM/D Correspondent
BEL AIR, Md.—Oak Grove Baptist Church is offering a holiday international mission trip that comes right to your door. The church is partnering with American Home Life International to host 120 ninth grade boys from Hakodate, Japan, Dec. 7-15. The boys need host families – Christian families willing to take the youth in for the week and share their day-to-day walk with Christ.
“We spend so much money to send folks to other countries. This is different, the people are paying to come here. It’s a brief introduction to missions and a wonderful cultural experience,” Douglas Brooks, Oak Grove Church’s missions coordinator, said.
Brooks said when the opportunity presented itself, his first thought was about the logistical issues, but he began to envision the possibilities, the ministry doors that could open for families and the blessings that the boys could take home with them, especially during the holidays when they could hear the Christmas story and experience worship with their host families.
Host families are required to have a dedicated room for two boys with separate beds. They must provide three meals per day, transportation, perhaps car pooling, to and from John Carroll School in Bel Air, and they must spend time with the youth on Saturday, Sunday and three evenings. The families will attend a host family orientation and a Friday farewell program. Each family must also submit a letter stating that they are active members in good standing with a local Bible-believing church. A $200 stipend will be provided to each family. For more information, contact douglasb@amhomelife.org or call (443) 617-5209.