New Hope 2025 Short-Term Mission Trips: Give. Go. Glorify.
Fundraising Updates:
Our fundraising goal is $25,500 for Short Term Ministries in 2025. We currently are funded at $19,606.31. Praise God as he continues to supply!
As part of this fundraising, members of the teams have given time to various work projects. So far team members have given over 400 hours in various projects.
As part of this fundraising, members of the teams have given time to various work projects. So far team members have given over 400 hours in various projects.
Taiwan: July 4-14, 2025
The team is sharing updates daily (scroll down for pictures)!
Day 1: We arrived in Taiwan around 4 AM and in an effort to keep ourselves awake and thereby better adjust to the 13 hour time difference, we decided to do some sight seeing before settling into our hotel. We managed to squeeze in a trip to the Taipei Zoo, a gondola ride, a traditional Taiwanese tea room experience, Taipei 101 (Taipei's tallest landmark) and some quality time in the MRT (Taiwan's public transportation system). We were happy to have dinner with our missionary family, the Spencers, before settling into our hotel and taking much needed showers.
Day 2: Today our missionary Kalan Spencer lead the team in training on the history and culture of Taiwan in the morning. In the afternoon, we participated in a cultural exchange with members of the church. We shared items and things from American culture and they shred from their culture. The cheese curds were a big hit!
Day 3: Today we enjoyed worshipping and fellowshipping with the people of New Blessings church. Afterwards we set everything for VBS tomorrow. We ended the day with conveyer belt sushi!
Day 4: Day 1 of VBS was a success! Even though the government had declared it a “Typhoon Day” for the majority of the country, we were one of the few areas still open. We did see a lot of rain all day but VBS was able to carry on as planned. In the evening, we meet with and leaned about the Pearl Family Garden ministry which works with women in the red-light district. We were able to go on a pray walk in the area.
Day 1: We arrived in Taiwan around 4 AM and in an effort to keep ourselves awake and thereby better adjust to the 13 hour time difference, we decided to do some sight seeing before settling into our hotel. We managed to squeeze in a trip to the Taipei Zoo, a gondola ride, a traditional Taiwanese tea room experience, Taipei 101 (Taipei's tallest landmark) and some quality time in the MRT (Taiwan's public transportation system). We were happy to have dinner with our missionary family, the Spencers, before settling into our hotel and taking much needed showers.
Day 2: Today our missionary Kalan Spencer lead the team in training on the history and culture of Taiwan in the morning. In the afternoon, we participated in a cultural exchange with members of the church. We shared items and things from American culture and they shred from their culture. The cheese curds were a big hit!
Day 3: Today we enjoyed worshipping and fellowshipping with the people of New Blessings church. Afterwards we set everything for VBS tomorrow. We ended the day with conveyer belt sushi!
Day 4: Day 1 of VBS was a success! Even though the government had declared it a “Typhoon Day” for the majority of the country, we were one of the few areas still open. We did see a lot of rain all day but VBS was able to carry on as planned. In the evening, we meet with and leaned about the Pearl Family Garden ministry which works with women in the red-light district. We were able to go on a pray walk in the area.
Day 5: Day 2 of VBS was another success! The team was so excited to connect with the kids again. We think the highlight for the kids were the ketchup volcanoes! In the evening, we met up with members from the church for a mountain hike. We certainly got a good workout but the views and the fellowship were worth it. The team even found a few geocache finds.
Day 6: Day 3 of VBS was another amazing day. It is so great to get to know the kids better each day. The presence of people burning “ghost money” (money they purchase and then burn as an offering to deceased ancestors and deities) in the street as we walk the kids from the main church sight to the secondary location is a tangible reminder of why we are here, to share the hope and love of Jesus Christ. In the evening, we enjoyed a night market with members of the church. The entire team bravely tried many new foods, including stinky tofu!
Day 7: Thankful for another great day at VBS! The kids ate really starting to make some good connections with what is being taught and a lot of fun is being had too! Good to know that Taiwanese children love finger darts as much as American children. We enjoyed a great time of fellowship in the evening with some of the church elders, staff and their families. They continued to share many unique and tasty Taiwanese foods.
Day 8 VBS Day 5 was another success. We have had such an incredible time getting to know all the kids and the team has really given their best all week. In the evening, we traveled to the northern coast for some amazing sunset views as well as dinner with our friends from New Blessings Church.
Boardwalk Chapel: August 1-10, 2025
August 1-10: Raymond Lawrence will be leading a team to the Boardwalk Chapel in Wildwood, New Jersey, where the attendees will receive evangelism and apologetics training by day and presenting the gospel via live music, skits, and evangelism by night. To learn more about the Boardwalk Chapel, click here.
The Team is:
Nathan A., Hattie & Nella J., Raymond, Camille, & Jimmy L., Angeleia M., Wayne & Lydia P., Anna S., Seth, Micah, & Levi Van Noord
The Team is:
Nathan A., Hattie & Nella J., Raymond, Camille, & Jimmy L., Angeleia M., Wayne & Lydia P., Anna S., Seth, Micah, & Levi Van Noord