By Sharon Mager, BCM/D Correspondent
BEL AIR, Md.—Oak Grove Baptist Church is partnering with American Home Life International to host 120 ninth grade boys from Hakodate, Japan, Dec. 7-15. There are still openings available for families to house the boys for the week. Deadline for applying is October 24th.
Host families are required to have a dedicated room for two boys with separate beds. They must provide three meals per day, transportation, perhaps carpooling, to and from John Carroll School in Bel Air, and they must spend time with the youth on Saturday, Sunday and four evenings. The families will attend a host family orientation. Each family must also submit a letter stating that they are members in good standing with a local Bible-believing church. A $200 stipend will be provided to each family.
Douglas Brooks, Oak Grove’s mission director, said the church understands that Christmas is a busy time for families.
The church sees this project as a missions opportunity for Christian families to take these boys in, let them see how Christian families live and expose them to the local church, Christmas programs and other events. Oak Grove Baptist will have their annual Christmas program while the boys are visiting.
Recently, Christian families hosted a group of Chinese youths in San Diego through AHLI. The families were excited to report that 17 teens and 6 teachers made professions of faith.
To apply, contact Douglas Brooks at (443) 617-5209 or email douglasb@amhomelife.org.