Calvary Church Annual Report AnnualReport-201617-web | Page 25

I’m confident that the greeters sealed the deal. If she
decides to go to a church, she’ll come to Calvary. We
had a very short time to make a positive impression
and the greeters nailed it.
Internationals
Nam Kim, Pastoral Staff
One program that embodies what our ministry to in-
ternationals looks like is Sister to Sister, led by Nam
Kim and his wife Bo-Ram. Sister to Sister pairs Ko-
rean women with Calvary women for the purpose of
forming relationships and learning English through
Bible study. These Korean women are here in obe-
dience to God’s call, supporting their husbands who
are attending seminary. It’s been so exciting to watch
these women grow, not just spiritually, but gain con-
fidence in speaking English to the point that some of
them are now co-leading the Sister to Sister ministry.
Prison
Ardo Draper, Pastoral Staff
With more Calvary volunteers coming forward to
participate in Sunday worship services in prisons,
another prison location was added in the Ionia area
this past summer. Many Calvary volunteers are par-
ticipating in the Pen Pal ministry, corresponding with
inmates, sharing the gospel and encouraging them.
The Prayer Partners ministry has several Calvary
women praying for women in the Kent County Jail.
It’s encouraging to see God working in the lives of
women who participate in a bible study at the jail
and who are willing to share prayer requests. They
have many difficult issues to deal with in their lives
and some are coming to Christ. Please pray for these
people who “live life on the inside.”
Forever Hope
Sheri Schmidt, Facilitator
We’ve seen God moving in the hearts of families to
become more involved in orphan care. Our focus is
not only to raise up more adoptive and foster fami-
lies but to care for the families in our congregation
that have adopted and fostered. We want to teach
the congregation that everyone has a place to serve
within orphan ministry.
God has provided great opportunities to get more
people involved. We kicked off the ministry year with
a back to school event where ten adoptive mothers
connected and shared prayer requests for the up-
coming school year. In October, we provided a 30-
day prayer guide to the congregation to prepare the
hearts of the congregation for Orphan Awareness
month in November. Calvary Young Adult Ministry
partnered with Forever Hope in April and provided
35 Easter baskets with a Bible as well as a personal
letter to Russian orphans. This partnership occurred
with Joanna Mangione, one of Calvary’s missionaries
who serves with SOAR.
In the last twelve months nine new families began
the process of adoption either domestically or in-
ternationally. Additionally, eight new families began
the process to become licensed foster parents for
domestic and refugee foster care. We celebrated 8
new adoptions that were finalized this year. One of
my greatest joys is engaging with families that sense
God calling them to either adopt, provide foster care
or give wrap around care. I was able to meet with
17 families this year to encourage them as they start
the adoption/foster process or find a way for them to
connect within the ministry.
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