Coming and Going part 2

The Samaria Report for 2009 - North America

New York - Lake Placid

We have a great partnership with our North American Mission Board, (NAMB) in the Olympic Village of Lake Placid. Derek Spain, who was our former Student Ministry pastor, is the NAMB missionary for this region. The name of his ministry is North Country Ministries. Through this ministry Derek does outreach at all of the sport venues at the Olympic village in the Lake Placid area. He works with athletes from all over the world when there in the area training or competing at a world class events. Bible studies through out the week are a regular occurrence. Another ministry that has been born from his work in the Adirondack's is the Hospitality to the Internationals. This ministry is aimed at international athletes who are training in the area. Some of these athletes have sold everything they have and have left it all behind to chase their dream of becoming a world class athlete. Derek and his people offer everything from rides to a place to lay their tired bodies and something warm to eat.

Derek is also pastor of Lake Placid Baptist Church. He has a growing congregation that have sold out to help Derek reach their community. Two years ago Derek added an associate to help with his growing and challenging ministries. Dacula's own Jeff Grey has joined the ministry and has played a big part in helping Hebron feel welcomed when we have gone up to serve in the North Country.

This past winter Hebron went to Lake Placid to do sports outreach at the Wold Championship of Bobsledding and Luge. We also helped out with the ministries I just mentioned along with ministering to Derek's congregation. It is definitely hard soil to break with ministering to the athletes but so rewarding when you earn their trust enough were the ask you to pray for them right before their race.
I hope you will pray about going to the North Country and help Derek reach his world for Christ. You may ask, "Is it very cold?" Well let me just say you really can't tell the difference between 5 degrees and 25 below. It's a dryyyy colllllddddd. Just dress in layers and let the Holy Spirit warm you up!!!!

We will continue next week with more adventures in Samaria in part three in our series of Coming and Going 2009. See Ya, I'm Out!

Ron