Bob & Katie’s Mission Trip

To our famiy and friends,

Hey everybody!  We hope and pray that you are all doing well.  We wanted to take just a couple minutes of your time and share with you an exciting opportunity coming up for Katie and I to impact the lives of others, and to ask you to consider how you might be able to partner with us.

As many of you already know, Katie and I are leaders in the youth group at our church, Ni River Community Church.  Over the last few years, we have had the incredible experience of working with and ministering to the most incredible young men and women not only as they grow physically, mentally, and emotionally, but also as they grow in their relationships with the Lord.  Although the youth group consists of students in both middle school and high school, and we have relationships with all of them, Katie focuses primarily on the midde school girls while I mentor the middle school boys.  While our goal is to bless these kids and see them grow, the challenges, opportunities, and blessings of leading young men and women in their spiritual walk has caused Katie and I to stretch and grow in countless ways, and left us amazed and blessed, time and time again.

Two summers ago, we had the opportunity to partner with our church and an organization called Team Effort to take these students on a mission trip into south-eastern Washington, D.C.  This part of our nation's capital is not where you would plan a family trip.  Unfortunately, south-east D.C. has been plagued for decades with a high level of poverty, drugs, and homelessness.  Team Effort has worked tirelessly to impact the community by partnering with churches nation-wide to clean up neighborhoods, minister to the homeless, and to spread the Gospel of Christ in the community.  Our youth were able to work hand in hand with Team Effort and take part in their efforts while also witnessing first hand the need for Christians to have a faith that calls them out of the church pews and into action.  The exposure to the reality of needs in our own back yard was a catalyst for change in these kids, as well as a turning point in their faith.

Now, we have the opportunity to take another group of kids back to Washington D.C. to partner once again with Team Effort and make a difference while sharing Christ.  We are looking forward to this opportunity, and ask each of you to prayerfully consider how you can partner with us.

First of all,  you can commit to pray for us.  We are in need of prayers for safety as we travel and in all of our interactions with the community, not only for us, but for these kids as well.  You can also pray that God would provide everything we need to make this trip possible, as well as allowing us the opportunity to share Christ while we are there.

We also need financial support.  Katie and I need to raise a total of $660 dollars for this trip, and as I'm sure you know, that is no small amount for a young, newly-married couple.  Luke 8:16 says "No one, after lighting a lamp, covers it with a basket or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand so that those who come in may see it's light."  This is why we spend countless hours volunteering our time, efforts, and resources to lead these kids spiritually; because we have been given the gift of salvation through Christ, and that is a gift we can't help but share.  Any support in this effort through prayer and finances are greatly appreciated.

Will you consider partnering with us to bring the life changing good news of Christ to a broken and hurting world?  Thank you in advance for your support!

With love,

Bob and Katie Bock