Category: Albania
Monday, 27 March, 2023 12:16 Written by sofmadmin
Hello Everyone,
We have a request and a way that you can join us in helping to build an army of Jesus followers in Albania… [the photo to the left is a majority of the current A-Team army]
For the past several years SOFM has helped Pastor Plator with finance support for his Summer VBS and Summer Youth Camp. His desire has been to have 1 week for the younger children (about 400-500 non-Christians) and a 1 week discipleship camp for the high school youth that have been desiring to grow deeper in their faith as well as those who are just now coming to know Jesus as their Savior.
This year Pastor Plator is planning a 1-week VBS for about 500 non-Christian elementary children at a cost of $6000. These children will come for 5 days to learn about Jesus through skits, songs, crafts and games and food. The camp is amazing with many of Plator’s staff and
volunteers creating the scenery and various ways that the children will be able to understand and receive Jesus as their Savior.
In the past Plator has asked for financial help with the youth camp also. Last summer there were 75 high school students who came to the 1-week discipleship camp. This year there are 250!! God is truly raising up an army of Jesus followers! The current staff and volunteers who go out and minister in some capacity 7 days a week in and around Libonik, have come through this discipleship program.
There is a need to have 2 youth camps this summer. Each camp costs $6000 so that is $12,000 for the youth camps and $6000 for the VBS.
When I first started to volunteer with SOFM, before becoming the missions coordinator, founder Bob Hager gave me very good advice. He told me that when God presents a need, put it out to people you know and watch what God does with it.
$18,000 for 3 camps can seem like a lot to raise, however, we won’t know unless we let the need be known!
We have seen first hand what God is doing in Albania and if the past 8 years are any indication to what the next 8 can bring, it is a very exciting time to be a part of what God is doing there.
Please share this need with those you know and pray. Pray that God will provide the financial needs so that these eager young people can receive discipleship training and then go out and become more of the growing army of Jesus followers that is being raised up in Albania!
If you want to help us meet this goal, we need to receive all support by June 1st since the camps will be in July.
You can give through Paypal under WAYS TO GIVE / ALBANIA / ALBANIA RELIEF and when prompted please indicate that the money is for either the VBS or Youth Camp. Or you can send a check to : Step of Faith Ministry / PO BOX 805 / BRICK, NJ 08723
Thank you!
Thursday, 02 March, 2023 12:23 Written by sofmadmin
Hi Everyone!
Because of a couple local churches loving support, there are many children in the small town of Moglica, Albania (tucked far up in the mountains around the city of Korca) who are warm and very thankful today!
Today, the evangelistic team drove over 2 hours into the mountains to distribute the new coats, and knit hats and scarfs! I was told that the children were so thankful and kept saying :”thank you” to the team. Wednesday, 08 February, 2023 14:39 Written by sofmadmin
Hello Everyone!
Here is a brief update on 4 of our main ministries… Brick, NJ ~ Atlantic City, NJ ~ Haiti ~ Albania
Maple Leaf Tutoring Program ~ Brick, NJ
Over the past 10 years, many volunteers have come and served the community of Maple Leaf. Some stayed and a few new volunteers have started which makes up our current volunteer base. Through all of them, a weekly program continues to run strong for the 10-12 students who have been asked to join us again this year. The weekly Bible time continues to reach their hearts. When we once had to “beg” the students to pray before the meal, now sometimes we have 6-7 raising their hands to pray on a weekly basis! The homework side of the program has changed as the volunteers are now focusing on more of an individual basis to help each student with their reading and comprehension. Each week brings its own set of challenges and blessings, with the blessings leading the way!
Atlantic City, NJ
After returning from last summer’s mission trip, some of us have returned twice to help New City Fellowship bring a 1-day Bible program to both Carver Hall Apartments and Stanley Home Apartments. In the fall we were able to be outside at Carver Hall and had a beautiful afternoon bringing songs, games, craft and a short Bible teaching. Last weekend a small group returned, but this time we were inside at Stanley Homes [where New City has their Sunday morning service]. The day was very cold and most were not outside. However, the team walked around the neighborhood looking to see who they can invite. They stopped and prayed for the neighboring apartments on one of the corners and then returned to Stanley Homes. When no one came, the team, along with Pastor Pete and his family, had lunch and talked a while. We played some of the worship songs that we brought to teach the neighborhood children and spent time encouraging each other. As we were preparing to leave, a brother and sister showed up. We invited them in, went through the worship songs, handed them snacks and the craft that was brought down and invited them to come back the next day for the children’s program at church. Then we left. We found out from Pastor Pete that these children returned the next morning and Katie (Pete’s wife) was able to share Jesus with them. God always knows why He sends us out and where, we just need to say “YES”! This year’s mission trip will be August 5 – 11th.
Lac’ajue, Haiti
Since returning from Haiti last May, the country has continued to go through much hardships. Today, there is no government in place, with the cost of food extremely high and the ability to get fuel almost impossible. With this in mind we have decided not to take a team down this July. We do not want to put Joseph, the Aslan Director, in a difficult position trying to prepare and oversee a team. Instead we will look to raise funds to help some of the summer programs continue, like taking the students who have graduated to the next grade level, to the beach. A cost of about $950.00. While a team will not be going this year, Pam will be going down in March, along with Craig from Aslan, to do some much needed administrated work. We hope to have more updates on the state of how things look after that trip.
Albania
The team that returned from Albania last September brought back a lot of excitement and stories about what is going on through Pastor Plator’s ministry in and around the town of Korca. Then in November and December the Libonik worship team, along with Pastor Plator and Pastor Geno came to Chicago and then here to NJ and spent 2 1/2 weeks with us. During their stay, more excitement was building throughout the churches that they visited as to how we can help come along side them even more to help with the ministry. Supporters began giving to help support some of the children at the Day Center and Residential Home, as well as an increase of support for some of the staff who work so diligently to spread the Gospel. As the team returned to Albania, they distributed 5000 Christmas Shoeboxes to the 98 villages. With the winter months upon them, we were able to collect 55 winter coats from Living Faith Bible Church and as many knit hats from St. Paul’s Methodist Church, which will be taken back to Albania next week by Pastor Plator and distributed to the children in the tiny town of Moglica. And most recently a large amount of money was raised for a family who suffered greatly when their roof collapsed on their home, paralyzing their son. We will be returning this August with a team to continue helping bring the Gospel message to the villages that surround Korca along with Plator and his staff and volunteers.
