Dominican Republic Missions Trip

The last week of January I had the privilege to lead a group of Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary biblical counseling students and Sonrise Baptist Church members to the Dominican Republic. While I spoke at the Gracia Iglesia Bautista annual biblical counseling conference, the team served at Fundacion Red de Misericordia, the Mercy Network Foundation, an orphanage for Dominican children. Started by Senora Olga Arocha, in its eighth year, the foundation serves over 100 children.

The Papillion House

The group stayed at the Papillion House, a beautiful and safe place just across the street from the Foundation where volunteers who work at the Foundation stay. Along with our hostess Jaileen, the great ladies who served here provided excellent meals, a clean place to stay, and a place to meet, study, and reflect.

Serving the Orphanage

Throughout the week, our group served the children through Bible lessons, crafts, and game time. While the children were in school, the group served the Foundation on various projects. Most days, the group also served the smallest of the children as well in the nursery.

Our group enjoyed getting to know the children and serving them. We also observed how the principles of biblical counseling are grafted into the DNA of this orphanage. From daily training to discipline, the staff serve from a robust view of sanctification. They use David Powlison’s Three Tree Model of sanctification. Throughout the orphanage, nice posters remind the children and workers of his sanctification model as well as Ken Sande’s diagrams from Peacemaker.

In order to make it a more child-friendly environment, we had the privilege of painting a mural and a playground.

Serving the Church

For the second year, I had the privilege of being the speaker at their annual biblical counseling conference. This year they asked me to teach on Christians Living in a Complicated World. I spoke seven times alongside one of their pastors, Pastor Oscar Arocha. I appreciate their trust and consider it an incredible privilege to serve them.

Teaching Team

Speaking in the Conference

Serving for Christ

In sum, our trip turned out fantastic! We served and were served. These brothers and sisters sacrificially serve those who can’t do anything for them in return. We were challenged by the incredible sacrifice of those who serve the children in the orphanage every day. We recognize how the love of Christ, love of His Word, and love of others motivate them.

Have you ever considered how much work and resources it takes to serve over 100 children each day, twenty-four hours per day, seven days a week?

These people live out what Jesus’ half brother James calls pure religion.

If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. (James 1:26-27)

You Can Help

As I wrote earlier, it takes incredible work and resources to serve these children. If you have any desire to help serve these children, feel free to check out the Foundation’s website. There is a donation button. You can support a child monthly or just give a one-time gift. You can contact Jaileen for more information.