Go therefore and make disciples of all nations
Matthew 28:19
Church of the Servant’s desire is to fight poverty and injustice so lives are transformed. We work with trusted global partners that have a holistic approach to caring for people’s spiritual and physical needs.
A Return to Vietnam!
April 14 - 23, 2023
Church of the Servant has received an invitation from Rev. Dr. Ut To, President of the Vietnamese Methodist Church, to bring a team to Vietnam in April of 2023. Tentative plans have us departing Oklahoma City on Friday, April 14th, with a return on Sunday, April 23rd. We will be traveling to Hanoi and be joined by a group of Vietnamese pastors. From there, we will travel on scooters (accompanied by a support van) to points west into the mountains of the far north as we visit congregations along the route.
God willing, this will be my seventh trip to Vietnam, and I could not be more excited to renew the relationship between our people. A combination of the pandemic and political struggles within Methodism required we place our shared work on hold for a season, but with this invitation, a new day has come!
People often ask, "What is the purpose of such a mission trip?" My answer is twofold. First, it is impossible to confuse the context of the church in Vietnam with what we experience here in Oklahoma City. While it is not illegal to be a Christian in Vietnam, the winds of social pressure press hard against such a choice. Our travels will take us deep into the countryside, where Western faces are rarely seen. To have a group of Christians from the far side of the globe make the journey to pray and worship together provides support and validation--and builds a bridge to evangelism to neighbors and friends.
But the flip side of that coin is elemental as well. The people who make this trip will return with a new perspective on what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. Given the relative comforts available to us in the Western church and the low cost of participation in its ministries, it is easy for us to become complacent and take for granted the blessings offered. Gathering for worship with our brothers and sisters in Vietnam provides a stark reminder of what is essential and what is optional, what is central to our life in Jesus Christ, and what is merely a matter of personal preference. My experience with the church and the people of Vietnam has changed my prayer life and understanding of what it means to be a disciple. If you commit to such a journey, I expect it will have the same impact on you.
This mission trip is not the easiest of journeys, but do not overlook the opportunity. We are looking for a small group of ten to twelve adventurous people with a passion for Jesus Christ and a heart for mission to form this team. If you are interested in participating, do not hesitate to contact me at rshrauner@churchoftheservant.com for the full details. God is at work in his Church in Vietnam. Let's join him there!
Rev. Randy Shrauner
Executive Minister
Church of the Servant
God willing, this will be my seventh trip to Vietnam, and I could not be more excited to renew the relationship between our people. A combination of the pandemic and political struggles within Methodism required we place our shared work on hold for a season, but with this invitation, a new day has come!
People often ask, "What is the purpose of such a mission trip?" My answer is twofold. First, it is impossible to confuse the context of the church in Vietnam with what we experience here in Oklahoma City. While it is not illegal to be a Christian in Vietnam, the winds of social pressure press hard against such a choice. Our travels will take us deep into the countryside, where Western faces are rarely seen. To have a group of Christians from the far side of the globe make the journey to pray and worship together provides support and validation--and builds a bridge to evangelism to neighbors and friends.
But the flip side of that coin is elemental as well. The people who make this trip will return with a new perspective on what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. Given the relative comforts available to us in the Western church and the low cost of participation in its ministries, it is easy for us to become complacent and take for granted the blessings offered. Gathering for worship with our brothers and sisters in Vietnam provides a stark reminder of what is essential and what is optional, what is central to our life in Jesus Christ, and what is merely a matter of personal preference. My experience with the church and the people of Vietnam has changed my prayer life and understanding of what it means to be a disciple. If you commit to such a journey, I expect it will have the same impact on you.
This mission trip is not the easiest of journeys, but do not overlook the opportunity. We are looking for a small group of ten to twelve adventurous people with a passion for Jesus Christ and a heart for mission to form this team. If you are interested in participating, do not hesitate to contact me at rshrauner@churchoftheservant.com for the full details. God is at work in his Church in Vietnam. Let's join him there!
Rev. Randy Shrauner
Executive Minister
Church of the Servant
Kenya mission
"Update on Kenya" by Ann Knutson, Kenya Team Coordinator
We have tentatively scheduled dates for our next trip to Maua Methodist Hospital in Maua, Kenya for June 15 – July 1, 2023. Late in 2022, an information meeting will be scheduled for anyone interested. The trip cost is usually between $3,000-$3,300. This includes airfare, all hotels, meals, tips, etc. It does not include passport, visa, immunizations (all COVID vaccines and boosters are required by the hospital in Kenya), and spending money. For more information, please fill out the form below.
Dr. Jon Fielder, co-founder of African Mission Healthcare, recently spoke via Zoom from Nairobi to the OU Infectious Disease department. He gave a fascinating talk about some possible reasons why COVID has not affected as many people in most parts of Africa as had been feared. His presentation is very easy to understand and I hope you take a few minutes to listen to it. Maua Methodist Hospital has an ongoing relationship with AMH. For information about Kenya, please contact Ann Knutson at annknut@gmail.com.
https://m3missions.com/conference-2020/speaker-jon-fielder/
Dr. Jon Fielder, co-founder of African Mission Healthcare, recently spoke via Zoom from Nairobi to the OU Infectious Disease department. He gave a fascinating talk about some possible reasons why COVID has not affected as many people in most parts of Africa as had been feared. His presentation is very easy to understand and I hope you take a few minutes to listen to it. Maua Methodist Hospital has an ongoing relationship with AMH. For information about Kenya, please contact Ann Knutson at annknut@gmail.com.
https://m3missions.com/conference-2020/speaker-jon-fielder/
