Living the Mission: Global Friendship House (GFH) / Global Student Friendship (GSF)

Global Friendship House (GFH) / Global Student Friendship (GSF)

Approximately 1500 international students from 100+ countries study at Old Dominion University. These students often arrive in the USA with few possessions, limited English language skills, and numerous other cultural and logistical obstacles to overcome. Many will never be invited into an American home.

GFH and GSH seek to welcome international students by supplying airport transportation, providing temporary housing, delivering donated furniture, facilitating English language and American culture classes, hosting monthly events, conducting Bible Studies, and more. Future plans include the construction of Global Friendship House, a safe place for international students to live and learn in community (see http://globalfriendshiphouse.org/ for more details).

Those serving with these ministries are often asked why they show such kindness to strangers, at which time they’re able share about the love of Jesus. Students, some of whom had no access to the Gospel in their home country, have come to Christ through the relationships formed with volunteers. One day, they will return to their country equipped with an education that enables them to be leaders who could influence whole countries for Christ.

For more information about how you can become involved with the international student community at ODU, contact the missions office at 466.5181 or sfreeman@firstnorfolk.org.

Urgent Care Clinic/Health Fair at Union Mission

The Community Health Ministry of First Baptist Church of Norfolk needs YOU!!!!!

That’s right folks!! The Community Health Ministry of First Baptist Church of Norfolk is taking God’s love on the road. Our first stop is Union Mission. We are running an Urgent Care Clinic/Health Fair on:

March 12th, 2011 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM

We will be offering a variety of services to the residents of Union Mission including sick call, chronic disease management, dental education, immunizations, chronic illness screening and women’s health management. We also will be sharing our faith through evangelism and acts of kindness. We will need medical and dental professionals as well as Christians who are eager to share their love, faith and salvation in our Savior, Jesus Christ.

If this sounds like YOU, please join with us for the First Baptist’s Health Ministry Clinic.

The Community Health Ministry of First Baptist Church of Norfolk seeks to change lives through Christ-centered education and compassionate health services.

Our Mission Statement is: To glorify God through serving the mission, we will:
• Share Jesus, the son of God, who loves and came to save and heal every individual
• Identify health needs of the local community
• Develop educational and support programs
• Make programs accessible
• Collaborate with existing resources within the community

Community Health Ministry Team of First Baptist Church of Norfolk - "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God" Philippians 5:1-2.

For more information regarding this opportunity and many more like it in the future please contact Colleen Barton Naumann, FNP-C: cdnrn@juno.com and/or cell # 757-469-4798.

Living the Mission: Hispanic Fellowship

As Hispanic Fellowship pastor I have many reasons to give God thanks. I’m thankful to be part of First Baptist, a church family who fulfills the Great Commission in Acts 1:8: "...you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

I also thank God for the vision we’re developing and carrying out in Hispanic Fellowship. For the past several months we’ve taken the church out into the community weekly, based on the model in Acts 2:40-47: "They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."

We currently have three "Houses of Prayer;" one in Virginia Beach and two in Norfolk. These groups meet weekly for prayer, Bible study and fellowship. God's hand is at work! He has responded to our prayers in miraculous ways and guests have encountered Christ—sixteen people have given their lives to Jesus!—and joined our church family.

We’re praying and working to open five cell groups in 2011 to reach more people in the community with the gospel. Our heart's desire is that the homes of our church members may "be called a house of prayer for all people." (Isaiah 56:7) Please continue praying for us, dear brothers and sisters.

-Vernig Suarez

Request from Norfolk Schools

Pray with me about this request and let me know how God is leading you to serve:

Good morning,

Before Coronado School for Pregnant Teens closed last June, I provide a Life Skills Education course at for the young ladies. I was always so moved and impressed with all of the wonderful things that your church did and provided for the young girls at Coronado. I am still humbled by your dedication to the girls.

I was saddened with the closing of the school because of the opportunities it provided for the young ladies besides an education. With the school closed, the school system had no programs or policies in place to handle the population now forced to stay in their home schools. Many of the young ladies have dropped out of school or are suffering from severe truancy problems due to doctor’s appointment and child care issues. With this void, I wrote a small grant and program to services these young ladies within their regular schools. I originally assumed I may have 50 girls throughout the five high schools, however, I just started the program in October and already have 100 pregnant teens and young mothers enrolled in the program that I see on a weekly basis. It can be overwhelming because it is just myself. I try to educate the young ladies about the dangers of drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, premarital sex and poor decision making skills as well as prenatal care, parenting skills, building healthy self esteem, setting goals for their futures and their child’s future. I come across many youth that have never heard some of the information I present and furthermore, have never heard that God forgives and loves them no matter what. Many of them are lost, homeless, and hurting.

My reason for writing you this letter, besides to praise you and your congregation for all yoursupport is that I would like to continue the partnership your church built with this population of ladies. I was always so amazed at the baby shower you hosted for the ladies and the luncheons. I was hoping that we could rekindle this tradition. Also, there is a huge need for books so the mothers can read to their children; I was hoping you may be able to help with that as well. Some of the ladies are in desperate need of supplies for their children, such as car seats, crib, sheets, strollers, wipes and pampers. I am trying to enlist the help of area churches and community service programs to help with this new program but it has been a slow start. If there is any way your church might be able to help donate any of these items, it would be greatly appreciated.

Again, I thank you for all of your help and consideration in advance. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

I can be reached on my cell phone at ####, as I am out in the community for most of the day.

Yours In Christ,

Opportunity to connect with International Students!

Live the mission by reaching out to international students at Old Dominion University! If you would like to learn more about opportunities that exist to minister to students from all over the world, please consider attending our Live the mission luncheon on Sunday, February 20 at 12:30 in the Fellowship Hall. We will have a guest speaker from the Global Student Friendship organization to share about opportunities that exist. Reserve your place (and purchase your box lunch from Jason's Deli) by emailing sfreeman@firstnorfolk.org or calling 466.5181.