“that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings…”
—Philippians 3:10
This is what the Easter Sacrificial Offering at Tenth Presbyterian Church is all about. Because we have experienced the power of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, which we celebrate at Easter, we give sacrificially. We give sacrificially to ministries that bring aid to those who share in Jesus’ sufferings, sometimes physically, sometimes spiritually, and sometimes both. We also give to those ministries that aim to bring people who have not yet experienced Jesus’ resurrection power under his reign as resurrected king.
Each year the Global Outreach Commission solicits requests from ministries who wish to receive funds from the ESO offerings in support of their work. The GOC gathers these requests and prayerfully deliberates regarding which ministries to support. The Commission then brings a list of these ministries to the Session for approval. This year, we at Tenth will support seven ministries through ESO, five of which we will highlight in this article. Two others will be profiled in an upcoming Tenth Press article.
SIM Galmi Hospital
Since 1950, the SIM Galmi Hospital has been an oasis in the desert. Located on the south edge of the Sahara Desert in Niger, West Africa, this 180-bed hospital provides compassionate care to Nigerians from all walks of life and serves as a training center for surgical residents from several African countries. Galmi’s outpatient and HIV clinics serve up to 300 men, women, and children daily, each of whom hears the message of the gospel through educational films and their interactions with hospital staff. This year’s offering will support the general operation of the facility and provide funding for much needed structural improvements.
Sight for Souls
Sight for Souls is transforming the lives of communities through the gift of sight for the body and for the soul. Started by Tenth members John and Lori Kempen and motivated by the love and example of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Sight for Souls seeks to alleviate blindness through sustainable programs in the areas with the greatest need. Their inaugural project is the establishment of the Discovery Eye Institute (DEI) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The DEI is a joint initiative of Ethiopian and American ophthalmologists to provide world class clinical care and serve as a leader in advanced training for doctors and eye care personnel in Africa. This sacrificial offering will allow Sight for Souls to continue providing for the spiritual and emotional needs of patients and their families affected by blindness in the developing world.
Orphans and Widows in Africa
Joseph leads a ministry focused on helping widows and orphans recover from tremendous hardship and loss. The ministry helps the women and children learn new skills and re-establish themselves by providing food, schooling, and job training. A portion of the 2019 Easter Sacrificial Offering will supply these widows and orphans with food, sewing machines, and schooling.
Forgotten Voices International
FVI is an organization that equips local churches to meet the physical and spiritual needs of children orphaned by AIDS in their communities. The organization has partnered with nearly 100 churches in Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Malawi and is currently on pace to serve more than 15,000 children and their caregivers this year. Our ESO offering will enable Forgotten Voices to continue their ministry and help them attain their goal of serving as many as 20,000 children and their caregivers by next year.
Rock Spring Evangelical Reformed Presbyterian Church
Rock Spring Presbyterian Church was planted in Monrovia, Liberia, through the teaching, encouragement, and financial support of Tenth. Since 2003, Tenth saints have visited Rock Spring, engaging in training, evangelism, and medical ministry. Tenth supported a youth leader from Rock Spring, helping him to graduate from African Bible College University. He has since helped to plant two new churches in the northern part of the country. Thus, a fledgling presbytery of about six mission churches is beginning with the denominational name of Evangelical Reformed Presbyterian Church of Liberia. This April, Rock Spring will celebrate their 13th anniversary with representatives from Tenth in attendance. After renting a facility for many years, Tenth helped Rock Spring acquire property on which a foundation and walls have been built. The Easter Sacrificial Offering will help towards completing the project with putting a roof on the structure. The hope is they can start using the new building later this year.
Romans 6:4 states, “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” Our gratitude for that newness of life can be very concretely expressed in giving to this year’s Easter Sacrificial Offering. Thank you for your participation.