Across The Nation
RESOLVED
By Aaron Keller (Photos by Cody Rheault)
Every project MOVE Ministries takes on has its own theme. The theme for this year’s construction project was “Resolved.” Resolved means firmly determined. We intend that every project we take on will outlast us, that what we build will be used as a place for ministry for generations. When we build a structure, we prefer it to be made of block and mortar because of their longevity.
In 1993 MOVE Ministries helped construct First Church of the Open Bible in Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The church had been under construction for three years, and we helped it reach completion. In 2003 we returned and tiled the floor and completed various projects around the island.
April 9, 2021, the volcano La Soufrière erupted after 42 years of dormancy. Ash spewed as high as 23,000 feet in the air and eventually covered the island. Most of Saint Vincent was covered with a three-inch layer of ash; some areas were covered with more than a foot. The hot ash had an adverse effect on the steel roof of the church, creating points of water intrusion.
We like to use steel for the roofs in all the projects we do now. Our trusses, the purlins that span the trusses, and the roof itself are all comprised of steel. Back in 1993, we used wood purlins to span our steel trusses. In the 30 years since, termites and worms had eaten away at the wood and compromised the roof. The building badly needed repair.
On January 25, 2023, our crew of 26 men landed in Saint Vincent resolved to see this church used for generations to come. We had developed a plan for demolition. What we thought would take two days to demo took our crew only one. We encountered a significant problem though. The plywood ceiling that had been installed had created a home for bats. All the men wore masks and carefully removed the plywood, and we focused on promptly removing all the bat feces. Over the next few days, bats would continually be flying over our heads, trying to find their home.
We had been moving very quickly and by Tuesday, January 31, we were beginning to place new roof steel on the north side of building. We had men on the ground inside the church sending roof steel up to men on scaffolding who would then send it up to men up on top of the roof.
Not everything went according to plan. One of our men, Bob Foss, who was up on the scaffolding, accidentally stepped off and fell seven feet, landing on his left shoulder and head. Thankfully, we had two EMTs on the job site at the time who quickly got to work. They checked his vitals and tended to a head wound that ended up being a laceration from his glasses.
The crew fashioned a spine board stretcher out of plywood and put a cervical collar around Bob’s neck. The crew immediately prayed for him and called for emergency assistance. When the dispatcher said that an ambulance could be there in an hour, we opted to take Bob to the hospital in a mini-van owned by someone in the church. Our crew trusted in the Lord’s divine hand. Over the next day and a half, hospital staff performed multiple x-rays, a CT scan, bloodwork, and an ultrasound. They determined Bob had significant bruising and a dislocated clavicle. Miraculously, there was no significant damage to the head, neck, or spine. It was a miracle!
After Bob returned home, however, he learned that he had four broken ribs in addition to the dislocated clavicle. While I wish that could have been discovered during his initial hospital stay, we are thankful for the results. We know that God protected him.
While Bob recuperated at the hotel, the rest of the crew focused on completing the project. We realized we were ahead of schedule and started looking around for other small jobs we could complete before we left. We patched the walls and painted the interior of the sanctuary, painted the wrought iron fence out front, and removed some signage as the church plans to make some updates in the future.
We had the pleasure of Mike and Pam Lumbard, leaders of the School of Global Leadership, joining us for the last half of the project. It had been a desire of ours for them to lead our team in outreach opportunities. While there, our team ministered at a boys’ home and a prison. I appreciate the Lumbards’ leadership in providing instruction to those who would minister before they were sent out and debriefing them after they completed their outreach. This proved to be an area of growth for our men and adds more depth to our ministry.
On February 7, we completed the project. That evening we held a dedication service for the church, prayed over the building and the church leaders, and worshiped together. We anticipate the Lord to do great things through the Kingstown church. God has placed tremendous leaders there in Pastor Chad and Crystal Greaves.
MOVE Ministries is able to continue to construct buildings of ministry around the world because of our generous supporters. We thank everyone who prays for our crew and their projects and those who financially make all this possible. It is with great anticipation we move forward to construct a church in Lemkachao, Thailand, next January 2024. Whether you want to join our crew for that project or would like to support MOVE in this upcoming project, please visit www.moveministries.org.
About the Author
Aaron Keller is the National Director for MOVE Ministries and the lead pastor of Sunshine Open Bible Church in Des Moines, Iowa. MOVE Ministries started in 1981 and has completed 45 projects around the world.
Life “happened” to me when my first husband died. After walking through my own grief, the Lord allowed me to walk alongside many others who were also grieving. Doors continued to open in this area, and when the opportunity arose to serve with Marketplace Chaplains, I felt a confirmation from God that this was where He wanted me. I started as a chaplain shortly after applying, and two years later I was offered the job as Director of Operations for a new team formed in South Florida.
Marketplace Chaplains is a ministry that stands out from others due to how it was formed and its core reason for existing. It was formed by a former military chaplain, Gil Strickland, in 1984. After his experience of being served by chaplains in the military, Gil desired to provide a similar service for his community through this unique ministry. Marketplace Chaplains has teams made up of male and female chaplains who each assist in the care of the employees within companies throughout the United States and Canada. Relationships within these companies are built through routine chaplain visits that happen weekly, bimonthly, or monthly. These regular visits help the employees become comfortable with the chaplains so that when a crisis happens, they are more likely to call for help. Chaplains are available to the employees 24/7, assisting with bereavement, funerals, suicide prevention/support, and family crises.
Marketplace Chaplains has teams made up of male and female chaplains who each assist in the care of the employees within companies throughout the United States and Canada.
A few years back, a leader of one of the companies I serve called in a panic when one of his employees was sobbing, having discovered that her healthy, 40-year-old husband had died suddenly in his sleep. The leader asked me, “What do I do?” He had offered her condolences and covered her flight home to begin arrangements, but despite this, he shared that such a tragic situation made him feel helpless and weak. I reminded him that when we feel weak, the Lord promises to be our strength. I also let him know that in times of tragedy it is often not what we say but simply our presence that God uses. As I spoke, I realized that all I had walked through in my own grief had helped me support this leader through this huge trial.
There are challenges with being a Christian chaplain in spaces that recognize all faith traditions. I remember a particular moment when I was in training at the hospital when the program’s director insisted that the name of Jesus could not be used to close a prayer without the patient’s consent. I wrestled with this concept, even wondering if this limitation was God telling me not to serve in this type of ministry. Later that day, I was making my rounds on my assigned floor in the paralysis unit, which serves patients with injuries impacting their ability to walk. I entered a male patient’s room, greeting him with a simple, “Hello, sir, how are you?” In an extremely loud and animated voice, the patient responded, “There you go!” Assuming I wasn’t welcome, I responded, “I’m sorry, sir, I’m not sure I understand you. Did you want me to come back a different time?” To which he responded, “How can you leave now? You just brought the Holy Spirit in here!”
I was shocked; I knew that a greeting was all that I had spoken. I hadn’t offered prayer or said anything about God. This man hadn’t even seen my badge of chaplaincy when he made this statement. In this moment I saw the power of God’s presence in my life. I was able to see that when I support and serve patients or employees in secular spaces, Jesus goes with me whether I mention His name or not. God can and will use me in this role as a chaplain, and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve Him in the marketplace.
I realized that all I had walked through in my own grief had helped me support this leader through this huge trial.
For those who sense a calling to serve as a chaplain or who simply want to learn more, Marketplace Chaplains is often looking for men and women who sense the call of God to impact their community outside of their church. Visit this website to search for jobs and learn more about this amazing way to transform lives: www.mchapcares.com
About the Author
Kwabea Francis
Kwabea Francis serves as Executive Director of Operations with Marketplace Chaplains and is an ordained Open Bible minister. Her heart is to share the love and purpose of God with those she ministers to as a chaplain, preacher, and teacher of the Word of God. She attends Living Word Open Bible Church in Cooper City, Florida. Kwabea earned her Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary and is a graduate of the University of Florida. She and her husband have five sons and three grandchildren.
On September 19-21, pastors from around the country gathered for the 2024 Open Bible National Hispanic Conference, held in Antioch, California. Attendees of the conference numbered close to one hundred and represented nineteen different Open Bible churches. Templo Santo Community Church was the hosting church for the conference, and our theme was “CHANGED: Transformed to Transform.” We were blessed with the presence of powerful speakers: President Michael Nortune, Dr. Nicholas Venditti, and Pastors John Mendez, Michael Zakarian, and Caleb Plummer.
The Church as a whole, the Open Bible denomination, and Hispanic Ministries are needed for such a time as this.
The conference started with a welcome dinner where pastors and leaders were able to reconnect with old friends and connect with new friends who were first-time attenders. We had a powerful night of worship during which President Nortune spoke a prophetic word about entering a new season. God has opened a wide door for Open Bible, and new opportunities are on the horizon for our ministries.
Throughout the following days, we heard challenging messages on embracing our vision (Dr. Venditti), navigating culturing changes (Pastor Mendez), loving and embracing the next generation (Pastors Zakarian and Plummer), and depending on the presence of God (President Nortune). In addition to these incredible sessions, we had the opportunity to explore the beautiful city of San Francisco and the surrounding areas.
In our closing session, Pastor Mendez encouraged us that we were chosen for this time in history. The Church as a whole, the Open Bible denomination, and Hispanic Ministries are needed for such a time as this.
As we concluded with a time for more fellowship, here are a few of the things we heard people saying:
“This conference exceeded my expectations.”
“I felt the love and unity within the Hispanic Ministries.”
“The messages were relevant for our time.”
“Best conference ever!”
We look forward to what God has in store for Open Bible’s Hispanic Ministries. We believe that a door has been opened for our dream to come to life – having a Hispanic ministry in every state in this nation.
About the Author
Jorge Navarrete
Jorge Navarrete was appointed as the senior pastor of Templo Santo Community Church in May 2002. Prior to that, he served as youth pastor, Sunday school teacher, member of the Board of Elders, and as church administrator for Templo Santo. In May 2017, Jorge was appointed to serve in his current role as Director of the Hispanic Ministries for the West Sector. Pastor Navarrete also works for the Supreme Court of California as the Clerk/Executive Officer. He has served in this role since 2016.
There are over 10,000 homeless citizens in Lee County, Florida, but thanks to a creative nonprofit idea and a fully sponsored shower trailer, Open Bible Community Church (OBCC) has found a unique way to serve them.
Located in North Fort Myers, OBCC is pastored by Joe and Pat VanEst. When Hurricane Ian hit their county in 2022 and homelessness exploded, pastors Joe and Pat responded by founding “Hope Ambassadors,” a nonprofit designed to empower individuals through disaster relief and ongoing rehabilitative efforts.
Beginning by providing food and hygiene kits to homeless communities, the team soon realized there was a need for showering facilities. Through a string of miracles and one philanthropic donor, a shower trailer was purchased, and Hope Ambassadors now owns the only shower trailer in Southwest Florida. Housing two rooms and ten total shower units, the trailer visits two homeless communities twice a week and has already provided nearly 500 showers to families in need.
“This has totally changed the thinking of our church,” says Pastor Joe VanEst. “We are building relationships with these folks, and it’s only a matter of time until we can share Jesus with them.” Already, the church has seen growth from visitors who have come to church after using the shower trailer.
Hope Ambassadors is quickly building relationships with other local nonprofits that provide services like haircuts, food, and clothing. Future dreams include creating a commercial kitchen that would create nutritious, freeze-dried meals for hungry families. Hope Ambassadors’ mission statement is “To heal communities in the spirit of unity,” and thanks to God’s grace and provision, they are well on their way.
“This has totally changed the thinking of our church”
