Designated Ministry: Oblation—April 6, 2008

Suggested worship service for this day.
PowerPoint presentation to support the story.

For stories about what’s happening in Apostle Rick Maupin’s Caribbean, Mexico, and Texas Mission Field, read the April Herald “Sharing in the Field” section.

A. Disciples’ Generous Response Story: World

Dominican Republic—The Promise of Hope

Each Sunday we are invited to “share equally” with Mission Tithes for local and world ministries. These stories are provided to keep us in touch with how your contributions to Mission Tithes are spreading the peace of Jesus Christ.

This story, The Promise of Hope, takes us to the Dominican Republic, part of Apostle Rick Maupin’s Caribbean, Mexico, and Texas Mission Field. Rick relates: On a day when I drove across the Dominican Republic, my group encountered considerable wind and rain. When we arrived in Santo Domingo, due to the downed trees and flooded streets, we had to take alternative routes to get to the hospital where we were making a visit. Later that day we became aware that we had been driving through Tropical Storm Noel. The next day we began hearing stories and seeing pictures of how this storm had taken several lives and had done much damage to homes and other structures due to the flooding and mud slides. In a country where the average annual household income is only about $3,000, devastation from storms such as Noel can create catastrophic conditions.

Within a short period of time, our full-time ministers in the Dominican Republic were getting reports from church members of the damage in their communities. Your generosity brought hope into those communities and homes through Oblation aid. Church leaders were able to assess the need, relay that need to the financial officer, and very soon organize congregations to provide food and other basic provisions. Through the Saints’ generosity, we were able to send $8,000 to bring relief to nearly 700 families who had experienced significant loss and pain. Because of your contributions to the Oblation Fund, hope exists once again in the lives of many persons. Thank you for responding faithfully by sharing so very generously.—Rick Maupin, apostle, Caribbean, Mexico and Texas mission field

B. Disciples’ Generous Response Story: Local

What is happening to you or in your congregation as a result of giving to local ministries through Mission Tithes? Share those experiences as part of your congregation’s Disciples’ Generous Response.

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C. Blessing on Our Offering

From Luke 24: 30 – 35 (NRSV) we read: When [Jesus] was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight...That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.”

Sharing our Mission Tithes equally between local and world ministries changes lives locally and around the world. Let us share in the prayer of blessing for our offering.