Single adults are invited to the 2013 Raft/Bike Retreat, August 2 to 4, hosted by the Infusion and Single Impact Adult Education Fellowships of the Hershey Free Church. Past trips have ranged from 20 to 70 single adults who enjoyed a weekend in western Pennsylvania where they went rafting on the state’s best whitewater on the Youghiogheny River, or biking along the Youghigheny River Rail Trail.

Bruce Nilsen will be the speaker this year.

Most people will take the whole or a half day off on Friday, August 2, to carpool to Ohiopyle State Park and set up tents. Friday evening after arrival we plan an icebreaker and devotional session at camp. Saturday will be a full day of rafting or biking. Sunday morning, Bruce will challenge us to follow Christ.

Full details, including costs and raft or kayak reservations, can be found by clicking here and downloading the Word document found on this page. This also is the link for registering.

If you have questions, contact Julie Funck, Dave Rittger or Kim Leitzel.

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Session 1, Monday, May 13, Dr Dorlus session 1

Session 2, Monday, May 13, Dr Dorlus session 2

Session 3, Monday, May 13, Q&A session

Session 4, Tuesday, May 14, Dr Wawa

Session 5, Tuesday, May 14, Q&A session

Session 6, Wednesday, May 15, Mark Lewis and panel discussion

Haiti Consortium PowerPoint [download]

Haiti Partnership Defined PowerPoint [download]

In the audio files:

Dr. Jean Dorlus, Haitian educator, theologian and former President of Seminaire Theologique Evangelique du Port-au-Prince (STEP).

Dr. “Wawa” Wadestrant, director of student affairs for STEP Seminary in Port au Prince, Haiti, whose father was a voodoo priest.

Mark Lewis – director of Crisis Response for ReachGlobal. When a disaster strikes, Mark travels to the area to evaluate needs with the goal of sharing Christ with those afflicted by disasters. Disaster causes people to re-evaluate their lives and they often are more open to hearing the gospel.

Steve Spellman – ReachGlobal missionary. The Spellmans served in Brazil for 20 years and Haiti for three years. Steve teaches, mentors and encourages church planters. ReachGlobal works closely with a number of partners in Haiti, and with partners coming to Haiti from countries such as Brazil, Columbia, Congo and the Czech Republic.

Bruce McMartin – advocate for fair trade commodities produced by Haitians, particularly coffee.

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Click here to download sermon notes and discussion questions.

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By Carolyn Kelly-O’Keefe

We all struggle with grief and the mourning of loved-ones, as my parents did following the loss of their first-born child. Perhaps their story may help to ease the pain of others as they face each new day. The example of the grace with which my parents lived their lives, always humbly loving and trusting our Lord, helped me cope when they died a few years ago, after 65 years of marriage.

Many parents are grieving in empathy for those affected by the recent school shootings and imagining – perhaps for the first time – what it might be like to suddenly lose one of their own children.

This is how my parents handled the tragedy that nearly broke their spirits and could have destroyed our family.

Jack and Mary Kelly were barely 29 and 30 when they had to face an uncertain future and learn how to live again with brave and open hearts. My sister Karin, age 8, was thrown from a horse, breaking her neck. Karin died alone on a hospital gurney in a hallway outside an operating room before Mom and Dad could reach her side, touch her cheek, or hold her hand.

The tragedy took place despite my parents’ every precaution, from the fact that Karin was wearing a regulation helmet and boots, to her being under the close supervision of a trained riding instructor. No one can prepare for such a loss, let alone the young parents of a child with such a shining future.

Years later, my mother told me she had stayed up all night, sewing a nightgown and robe for her little girl to wear when she was buried. Sadly, most of their closest friends – all parents of small children – were paralyzed with grief and avoided our family as if Karin’s death might be contagious.

It was decided to limit the funeral to immediate family. Only Mom’s best friend Esther dared come to the cemetery. She stood in the distance, praying for my parents to find the strength to cope with the loss of their eldest child.

The pages of Dad’s daily pocket journal remained blank for several days before he could write again, pleading for God to heal Mom’s broken heart. But she was nearly catatonic and had to be hospitalized while Dad cared for their three younger children.

When Mom came home, she was bereft and depressed. A nurse at the hospital had seen her crying and ordered her to stop. Mom never cried again, ever. The turning point in her recovery came when Dad shared his faith in God with her. Gradually, Mom gained strength as she read the Bible, where she found the life-source she had needed.

As a gifted artist, Mom had always drawn the family’s Christmas card, which featured an ever growing number of Kelly kids. For the next two years, Karin continued to appear in the cards, only now she had the wings of an angel.

The year I was born, Mom drew Karin in the form of a bright star illuminating the night sky as we looked up, transfixed by the light, standing outside our church on Christmas Eve.

Two more babies joined the family and as the years passed, our home was filled with love and laughter. Mom’s Christmas cards now featured Karin’s portrait hanging on a wall close by as her brothers and sisters made cookies, trimmed the tree, or gathered around the piano to sing hymns.

One of Dad’s ways of dealing with his daughter’s absence was to begin every entry in his daily journal with the words, “Miss my dear girl, Karin.” He made no secret of it and his journal was available to each of us to read.

Our parents’ expressions of their abiding love for Karin comforted us and instilled confidence. The six surviving Kelly children had the assurance that if we should die, we’d remain in Mom and Dad’s daily thoughts and continue to be a part of the family.

Dad did something far braver than most men could do under such circumstances. He kept his heart wide open and loved each one of us despite the great risk. He knew this left him vulnerable and the terrible price he would pay if he lost another child. Yet, he didn’t distance himself from us. Instead, Dad was generous with his love, which he showed in a hundred ways.

One day, nearly 50 years after we lost Karin, Mom saw me looking at the outgoing mail lined up on a table by their door. As he did every week, Dad had prepared an envelope for each of one of us. He’d fill them with photos, newspaper articles, favorite comic strips and little notes.

Mom said softly, “You know, your Dad thinks of each one of you children every single day.” Her words were a gift I treasure … because I knew they’d always include Karin.

In the years following her daughter’s death, Mary W. Kelly became a devoted student of the Bible. She answered a calling to child evangelism and taught children’s Sunday school classes for more than 35 years. She often said that her husband’s testimony, coupled with Karin’s death, brought her to the Lord. She followed Christ faithfully all the remaining days of her life. Jack and Mary Kelly’s loving example led their six other children to become Christians.

Karolyn Kelly-O’Keefe is a member of the Hershey Free Church.

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By Laura-Jean Watson

Haiti has been on my mind so much recently. I have been checking online to learn more about the people, but I wanted some human contact so I could ask questions. I took some time off the one day to pray for different needs including the Haiti Summit, and that is the day a Haitian came to my door. He is in the U.S. for two months for course work, but he was helping my neighbor out with some yard work. My neighbor brought him to my door so I could meet him. He lives two hours from Port-au-Prince, and he is a born again Christian.

I asked him what he saw as the greatest needs in Haiti. He replied, “The people need to love their own country.” He went on to explain that too many Haitians are eager to leave when they have the opportunity. They need to love their country and people and work to help others in their country. He was planning on using the education he was getting to help improve things back home. The second pressing need he saw was for education. People need a chance to receive an education that can help them advance from poverty.

I asked him what Americans should know coming to Haiti. The first point he made was to never, ever give Haitians money on the street. He stressed that it is important that people work for a living and not depend on Americans for easy money. Like a welfare system, it teaches people to depend on others rather than working for themselves. He said if you want to help a Haitian, help them have the opportunity to receive an education so they can help themselves and others. His second point he wanted for Americans to understand was that we are all very blessed. We have so much and do not realize it. He hears Americans complain about what they want and do not have, but they often seem to be oblivious to the fact that they have so much more than their brothers and sisters around the world.

All of us at Hershey and others from churches across the U.S. will have a chance this coming week to have a Haitian come to our door. On Friday, Haitians will be arriving in Hershey, PA. Sunday morning at Hershey Free Church, Dr. Jean Dorlus, former President of Seminaire Theologique Evangelique du Port-au-Prince will be the guest speaker for all three services (8 a.m., 9:15 a.m., and 11 a.m.). In place of the Adult Education Fellowship (AEFs) classes there will be a panel discussion on “The Haitian Church Speaking to the American Church” featuring Dr. Wadestrant, Mark Lewis, Steve Spellman and Bruce McMartin in rooms 401-404. On Sunday at 6 p.m., Dr. Wadestrant, the son of a voodoo priest, will give his testimony and talk about what a partnership with Haiti will look like. This will be followed by a concert of prayer. Here is an opportunity for our church as well as neighboring churches to come and make a difference for Haiti.

The Haiti Summit begins on Monday. Monday through Wednesday is rich with opportunities for worship, learning about Haiti and how we can help, being enriched by Haitian speakers with keen insights, and meeting with church leaders from across our country who want to be involved helping. There is a fee for the summit, but it is possible to attend one day or evening for a reduced cost. You may register as late as Monday, but it is helpful for meal planning if you register in advance.

It is not often that a Haitian comes to our door. I hope everyone realizes what a rich opportunity this is and we are willing to change our schedules to be open to what God will do this week in your life.

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Our Core student ministry will be taking short-term mission teams to Philadelphia and Haiti this summer. The goal for these teams is not only to take the gospel to these areas through work projects and witnessing, but also to bring back a new mindset for sharing the gospel as part of a believer’s lifestyle. This will be a discipleship experience for them as they participate in our mission of joining together in God’s ongoing, redemptive mission.Please be praying for them this summer.

Two teams are going to Haiti, July 6 to 12 and July 20 to 26, where they will be partnering with ReachGlobal, the mission arm of the Evangelical Free Church of America, as well as Haitian churches. Our efforts will emphasize partnerships with local Haitian churches as part of the broader ReachGlobal vision to have indigenous, disciple-making and multiplying churches within walking distance of every Haitian. While in Haiti, our students will seek to build relationships with children and adults, pointing them to our partner churches using VBS English camps and sports opportunities. Our teams are expecting to come home with ideas and passions in their hearts to serve the Lord in new and meaningful ways.

The Philadelphia team, June 23 to 29, will be learning about compassion, justice and crossing cultural and socio-economic borders with the gospel. They are going on one of the EFCA Bridging Urban Mission Projects (BUMP) and will work with Grace Church, a two-year-old church plant in the city.

Pray for Our Teams This Summer

Students going to Haiti:

• Nathan Beachy
• Ashley Ebersole
• Monica Flickinger
• Carissa Hostrander
• Erika Hufford
• Lydia Hunter
• Abby Hyatt
• Sun-Ah Kim
• Chad Krick
• Ben Moore
• Hannah Miller
• Steph Nicholson
• Ben Ross
• Jacob Rutz
• Tabitha Torres
• Courtney Wagner
• Anna Zipprick

Adult Leaders:

• Pastor David Boerema
• Shawna Boerema
• Pastor Craig Maart
• Kathy Nicholson
• Cynthia Wakefield
• Megan Yingst
• Steve Yingst

Students going to Philly:

• Ben Broomell
• James Davidson
• Aaron Harris
• Josh Haverstick
• Sarah Haverstick
• Daniel Hibshman
• Janelle Hibshman
• Joel Hoffsmith
• Ally Hufford
• Josiah Joseph
• Kayla Joseph
• Kaitlyn Kalmbacher
• Meghan Lathrop
• Karina Long
• Kaylor Long
• Cameron Maart
• Eric Marra
• Becca McIlhenny
• Mitchel Miller
• Lauren Moore
• Benjamin Murray
• Michelle Murray
• Teresa Rogers Myers
• Sarah Oh
• Jen Ray
• Andrew Royer
• Rachel Royer
• Noelle Shellenberger
• Zach Som
• Jeff Stanford
• Kendra Strickler
• Kyla Strickler
• Caleb Thompson
• Joshua Thompson
• Josh Wakefield
• Sarita Walters
• Elizabeth Zimmerman
• Koen Zimmerman

Adult Leaders:

• Pastor Craig Maart
• Joanna Maart
• Laurale Royer
• Caitlin Lizotte
• Dain Kulp

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Summertime is camp time, and our Treasure Park elementary ministry will be holding a Fine Arts Camp at church for 3rd through 6th grades on July 29 to August 2 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Our preliminary schedule includes sessions for the 56 Band, choir, speaking, writing and art.

On the final evening we will hold a festival with our campers providing music, testimonies, poems, art displays and more as we worship God through fine arts.

We need volunteers to help with all aspects of the camp: planning, greeting, assisting with sessions and other tasks.

Registration information for campers will be coming soon. If you can help with the camp, contact Cathy Gannaway, 533-2092, ext. 2004, or cgannaway@hersheyfree.com.

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There are no sermon notes this week. In your small groups, discuss how you can participate in our “On Mission – Haiti” initiative.

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Click here to download sermon notes and discussion questions as a Word file.

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By Paul Lankford
Communications Intern

After Tropical Storm Lee blew through the area in the fall of 2011, Annette Hauck noticed the neighbor’s yard was cluttered with fallen branches. As usual, the house was quiet with minimal light and little sign of life.

Over the years, Annette noticed that this neighbor was elderly, mostly alone and suffering from something. What, she wasn’t quite sure, but life at this house was not normal. She passed it several times a day and wondered, “Who lives there? Does she need help? Is she all alone? Can she manage the clean-up from this storm?”

Before the storm, Annette noticed there had been no light in the house for weeks, even months on end. She feared her neighbor had passed and she had missed out on a ministry opportunity. Then the lights were back on, and because of the storm she decided to write a letter and offer help. Her neighbor’s phone number had had been disconnected or changed. Making this contact took perseverance, but the Spirit provided the motivation and eventually the meeting happened.

Pastor George Davis’ messages about overflowing God’s love and grace into the lives of others prompted, even provoked, this contact. “I wanted my life to overflow positively onto – or is it into – someone else,” Annette said. “A paradigm shift had happened in my thinking. I was making proactive, intentional decisions to positively impact others. I wanted to be a disciple who was making disciples.”

Annette had been a Christian for years, so most of her contacts were other Christians. “Something needed to change if I was to reach any ‘unreached’.” In fact, the Hauck’s whole Life Group has been more intent on ‘overflow.’ “George’s messages have had a profound impact on us,” Annette explained.

Another member of the Life Group, Dawn Renner, agreed to go along for the initial visit with “Clara” (not her real name). Clara had called Annette, saying she received her letter and would be glad to meet with her. Dawn and Annette learned that Clara lives alone, has had two strokes, and manages on her own with minimal assistance from paid help. It was an ideal situation where the church can step up, step in and help out.

This visit happened before GraceWorks 2012. Dawn and Annette discussed their visit with the Life Group and everyone decided to give Clara a day of service. The group cleaned inside and out; dusting, sweeping, washing, weeding, raking, pruning, hacking, sawing and mulching. What a blessing. Clara has said “thank you” to them over and over.

This contact has gone from a GraceWorks ministry project to friendship. Clara has become a friend to many in the Life Group. Jodie Seygal and Annette have run her to doctor appointments, taken her shopping and taken her out to lunch. They have taken her to Messiah Village, Masonic Village and the Brethren Home for interviews to evaluate her needs and make plans should she need assisted living.

Jodie agreed to finish a quilt that Clara had started. Since her stroke, with her ability to sew curtailed, nothing was getting done on this project. This is a big commitment, but Jodie is happy to help this dear, elderly friend. The Haucks have invited Clara to their house for meals, Easter and Christmas dinners. “She can only handle short visits, but it’s nice for her to be able to get out of the house even if it’s just for an hour or so,” Annette said.

With health issues, Clara thought she would sleep better with a hospital bed. She couldn’t afford a new one, so Randy did some research and found a used one for a good price. He and another Life Group member, Rob Nilsen, delivered it one Saturday. “This was a beast of a bed, extremely heavy,” Annette said. “Randy said it would take a lot more than he and Rob to carry it into Clara’s house.” They rounded up Kim Renner, another Life Group member, and Gary Lathrop, a near-by neighbor. Clara was so pleased to have an electric bed at a fraction of the cost of a new one. She was so appreciative of those men. “I believe the guys prayed for her before they left,” Annette said.

Finally, an event happened that gave Annette an opportunity to “overflow” the gospel into Clara’s life.

“One day I was painting at home,” Annette recalled. “This was a big project that was taking forever! Randy came home from an early-morning errand. He said, ‘An ambulance is in front of Clara’s house’.”

Annette kept painting but started praying. In an almost audible way she heard the Holy Spirit say, “Are you making painting more important than Clara?”

“Lord, can I just finish this wall?” she prayed. She painted a few more minutes, then again, “Really, Annette?” So she wrapped up the brush, changed her clothes and ran straight over to Clara’s.

Annette arrived before the ambulance left. She told Clara to call her or Randy from the emergency room if she needed anything. She went home, back to painting, and then again she heard it. “Are you really going to put painting over Clara?”

Realizing she had to go to the emergency room and be with Clara, she changed clothes again and went to Hershey Medical Center’s emergency room. Clara was having an allergic reaction to some new medicines. She seemed concerned and anxious. It was then that Annette was able to share the gospel with her.

“God knew this event would open the door for serious conversation. I’m glad I listened to the Spirit,” Annette said. “For our Life Group, GraceWorks has become more than an event. It has turned into a lifelong relationship that we hope will bear eternal benefit.”

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