Community churches host Bible School

This past week, three Malta churches came together to host Vacation Bible School to an average of 75 children each day. The volunteer staff voted on a mission project that the VBS children could help support. "Operation Heal Our Patriots" is a ministry of Samaritan's Purse designed to strengthen the marriages of wounded and injured members of the U.S. Military. The project includes a week long wilderness retreat at Samaritan Lodge Alaska providing physical and spiritual renewal to wounded veterans, active duty service members, and their spouses.

Community Church, Grace Fellowship, and Lighthouse Baptist Fellowship worked together to provide a well rounded Vacation Bible School that enabled our Malta children to be a part of a much bigger mission field. Operation Heal Our Patriots (OHOP) is the only program of its kind for wounded military service members and their spouses. The ministry to military couples extends beyond their stay at Samaritan Lodge Alaska. Ongoing aftercare connects couples with military chaplains and churches in their local communities to create a system of support upon their return home.

OHOP is open to current and former military service members who were wounded or injured in combat or combat-related activities after Sept. 11, 2001. Couples interested in participating can submit applications online. The application process opens February 1st of every year. All expenses, including accommodations, airfare, and activities are covered by Samaritan's Purse through donations.

According to Samaritan Purse web site, a few facts given since 2012, over 500 couples have participated in the program and another 150 couples are expected to attend this summer of 2016. In a few short years the program has seen 203 individuals make commitments to Jesus Christ, 233 have been baptized, and 227 couples have publicly rededicated their marriages to God.

The boys and girls this week raised $641.00 to send to Samaritan's Purse on behalf of the Heal Our Patriots project. There was a contest each day where 2 gallon jars were used to deposit their coins or bills. One little boy was heard saying, as he dumped in a few bills, "That's all the money I have". Samaritan's web page is SamaritansPurse.org.