Loving God by Serving Our Neighbors
Visions of Grace, Bringing the Gospel into full view
Visions of Grace, an eye care ministry, is a chaplain-led missionary outreach, answering God's call into Third World countries. The most recent trip was to remote Mayan Indian villages in the mountainous areas of Guatemala. Missionaries have been traveling yearly to these isolated regions to share the Gospel and provide essential medical treatment. Most of the inhabitants of this remote area travel miles on foot to receive medical treatment. Both children and adults numbering 60-120 per day receive eye care. In cooperation with other mission teams, general medical care is provided by three team doctors with a pharmacist on hand to dispense medications, and the Visions of Grace eye care team provides vision screening, eye drops and glasses. Drs. Bill and Julie Crunk have witnessed some visions of grace of their own. According to Julie, "After receiving eyeglasses enabling him to read again, one man kissed the bible he was given!" Donated prescription eyewear and other medical needs offer adults, children and entire families a clearer view of their world through the love of Christ.
Visions of Grace volunteers are in need of prescription glasses for both children and adults as well as adult reader glasses. Due to the increasing incidence of cataracts as workers spend long hours in the sun, sunglasses are also welcome.
*Glasses and sunglasses must be in good condition and clean. We cannot accept broken or cracked glasses
Picture of several of two of our members and the leader of VIsions of Grace serving the people of Guatemala!
Anglican Chaplain Adoption Fund
Christians are called to care for orphans as a reflection of God's gracious adoption of them into his family through Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit. Additionally, Biblical Christianity has a commitment to the dignity of human life made in the image of God. Therefore as faithful Christians, we support initiatives that encourage pro-life possibilities for mothers who courageously birth a child but are unable to continue to care for the child and seek an adoption plan.
Anglican Chaplains are committed to pro-life initiatives that care for orphans and make possible their adoption into Christian families. In an effort to aid in the costs incurred by Anglican families who seek to adopt children, the Anglican Chaplain's Fund (ACAF) was created.
ACAF was developed under the Jurisdiction of the Armed Forces and Chaplaincy which supports the endorsement and care of chaplains under the oversight of the Bishop of the Armed Forces and Chaplaincy serving in the US military, federal and local government, hospital and hospice, law enforcement and other vocational and volunteer chaplains serving their communities. The fund's board is made up of Anglican Chaplains and is committed to raising awareness of adoption needs and assisting adopting families.
These are some specific ways that the fund will support Anglican families in the adoption process:
• Provide prayer support and partnership.
• Provide reimbursement directly to the Adoption Agency on behalf of the family for specific expenses
in the adoption process such the home study and placement fees.
• Provide information and counsel on other resources for adopting families.
Further, ACAF seeks to be an advocate for adoption in the Anglican Church in North America by partnering with other Jurisdictions, Dioceses, and churches to raise awareness and assist in coordinating resources. For more information about ACAF email: john.mabus@Anglicanchaplains.org. If you would like to donate or get an application click “Learn More” below!
Endless Food Drive
Each member of Good Shepherd is committed to bringing one non-perishable food item on Sunday as a simple and easy way to serve our neighbors by feeding them. We are committed to becoming a community that reflects Acts 2:42-47.
We support the great people at Oak Mountain Missions by serving as a collection point for non-perishable food items.
Oak Mountain Mission is open Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM, but not everyone can make it at those hours or days. So feel free to drop off your donation on Sunday and we’ll bring the food to them on Monday!
The Centurion Project
In recent years, Americans have become more aware of the sacrifices of our Armed Forces, Missionaries, First Responders, and their families. Anglican Chaplains realize the heavy burdens these brave men and women carry as a result of their service, so we have created The Centurion Project.
This intense four-day retreat is designed to build community and to bring spiritual, physical, mental and emotional renewal and vitality to those who suffer from PTS, PTSD, Combat Operational Stress, Trauma, and moral injury through times of fellowship and solitude, under Holy Spirit guided prayer and worship.
Retreats will be offered two to three times a year and thanks to the kindness of generous donors like you, the program is offered at no cost.
Angel Tree
We are honored to serve the children of parents who are incarcerated by providing Christmas presents and the Gospel to those who would have nothing on Christmas. Learn more about Prison Fellowship’s Angel Tree program by clicking the button below!
C H A P L A I N C A R E P A C K A G E
We support the ministries of our military chaplains by sending deployed chaplains care boxes to show our love and support for them and the soldiers they are ministering. Chaplains often have a lonely ministry, without a home parish and their work is crucial to spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the soldiers they serve alongside.
Each week we take donations on Sunday to send to our Anglican chaplains serving across the globe. As John Wesley, an Anglican priest, once said, “All the world is my parish.” This could not be any truer for our military chaplains.