MISSIONS: Deploy

Lakeshore periodically supports the deployment (travel) of Lakeshore members to other destinations in the United States and around the world. 

  • Bahamas: Hurricane Dorian Relief - Our partners at Samaritan's Purse are actively seeking volunteers to deploy to the Bahamas to assist them with hands-on, hard physical labor projects to aid those impacted by catastrophic Hurricane Dorian.  

  • U.S. Disaster Relief - Closer to home, Samaritan's Purse has a number of domestic disaster relief and recovery operations going on which welcome volunteers to assist. 
      
  • Missions Deployment Q&A - Here are some of the most common questions people at Lakeshore ask when it comes to deployment opportunities on missions trips, and we provide some answers.  

  • Past Missions Trips - See some of the great work we have accomplished overseas in the past. 

Missions: Deploy Q&A

Here are some of the most common questions we get from Lakeshore members and regular attenders about deploying overseas on missions trips.

Where in the world does Lakeshore send people to?

Over the last few years, Lakeshore has deployed members on missions trips to:

  • Italy
  • Nicaraugua
  • Mozambique

These are just examples of recent locations, Lakeshore will go wherever God guides us. 

I've never done a missions trip before, where do I begin?

Our Missions - Deploy opportunities are designed for more mature Christians who are solid in their walk with Christ and ready to take the next step in sharing the Good News with others.  Before considering a missions trip overseas, we recommend that you:

The commitment to an international missions trip can be a great one.  You may wish to consider a deployment within the United States first alongside our partners at Samaritan's Purse U.S. Disaster Relief. See below for more information.

When is the next Lakeshore Missions Trip?

At this time, there are no scheduled trips on the calendar. There are a few ideas being discussed, but no firm plans. 

You can still make your interest known to our Missions - Deploy Manager, Sean Dubman. 

I have my own ideas for a missions trip, will Lakeshore help?

If you have a specific missions trip idea or opportunity on your heart, please let us know by contacting our Missions - Deploy Manager, Sean Dubman.  

Past Mission Trips

Below are the mission trips taken by Lakeshore teams over the past 5 years.

Mozambique 2019

This past July I was blessed to join a team from Iowa and Children’s Relief International in traveling to Mozambique.  Although I have been there before, this trip had a very specific focus.  Relief.  Mozambique had suffered a severe cyclone, destroying many homes and disrupting lives.  We met with all the project leaders to assess needs.  I participated in 9 food distributions, delivering bags of rice and cooking oil.  Most importantly, we listened and prayed together with folks who described their homes melting.  These wonderful people praise God for delivering them during the storm.  They know Lakeshore and pray for our church.  Thank you for helping me travel there to renew relationships.

Attendee: Sue Strowe

Italy 2019

https://www.lakeshorechurch.org/italy2019

Attendee: Javier Malave

Italy 2018

This team again went to Italy to support a youth camp run by Gianni and Licia Saillen.  The main focus of the trip will be to provide English lessons through sports, music, games, and crafts to kids in 1st through 8th grade. The team from Lakeshore will be supporting the local Italians to help these kids understand the love of Jesus and the hope He gives to those who follow Him.   

Attendees: Javier Malave, Josh Grugnale, Dan Robillard

Italy 2017

This team went to Italy to support a 2 week youth camp held by Gianni and Lica Siallen.  The main focus of the trip was provide English lessons through sports, music, games, and crafts to kids in 1st through 8th grade. The team from Lakeshore will be supporting the local Italians to help these kids understand the love of Jesus and the hope He gives to those who follow Him.   

Attendees: Pastor Frank De Luccio, Laura De Luccio, Javier Malave, Josh Grugnale, Dean Fragnito, Andrea Fragnito, Josiah Fragnito and Sofia Fragnito

Nicaragua 2017

Our team of four adults and six teens went on a Mission Trip in August 2017 in partnership with ORPHANetwork to aid in poverty relief efforts in Nicaragua.  The purpose of our trip was two-fold: to observe the efforts taking place through the local church initiatives and communities, and help these efforts by serving along side them.

Attendees:  Sean Dubman, Tom Saluzzo, Mirella Martorano, Pat Hartman, Julia Dubman, Emily Mejia, Siena Saluzzo, Karlee Auid, Jordan Dick and Josh Dykstra.

 

Nicaragua 2015

This team went down to Nicaragua with ORPHANetwork and traveled to Minagua and Matagulpa.  Our objective was to see up-front what ORPHANetwork does in Nicaragua and also to help train some of the orphanages staff.

Attendees:  Pastor Vince DiPaola, Ken Oemcke, Sandy Oemcke, Jay Brooks, Rachel Christopher, Deb Schmeer and Dan Robillard.

BAHAMAS: Samaritan's Purse Hurricane Dorian Relief

Samaritan's Purse is now operating our Emergency Field Hospital in Freeport on Grand Bahama, performing lifesaving surgeries and otherwise treating patients for a variety of injuries and illnesses. In the wake of Hurricane Dorian, we airlifted the mobile facility, along with a large medical team, at the request of the World Health Organization and the Bahamas government.

The 40-bed hospital can receive more than 100 patients daily and features an operating room with capacity for 10 surgeries per day. We've already seen more than 3,400 patients since opening on Sept. 10.

We have also flown over more than 320 tons of emergency relief items, including heavy-duty shelter plastic, generators, water filters, hygiene kits, blankets, and solar lights. Distributions are ongoing on the Abaco Islands from our base at Marsh Harbour.

Volunteers will soon begin working on Man-O-War Cay, one of the hardest-hit areas on the Abacos Islands. Volunteers will be tarping roofs, clearing debris, and doing mud-outs at flooded homes.

The people of the Bahamas are in desperate straits after their archipelago was hit by deadly Hurricane Dorian, a Category 5 storm packing sustained winds of 185 mph with gusts up to 225 mph.

“Please join me in praying for everyone affected by this hurricane, and for our teams as we respond in Jesus' Name.”—Franklin Graham

“Families in the Bahamas are suffering,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan's Purse. “Please join me in praying for everyone affected by this hurricane, and for our teams as we respond in Jesus' Name.”

Dorian made multiple landfalls in the Bahamas on Sept. 1. Then the storm stalled over the islands for almost two days, pounding the hardest-hit areas, in particular, Grand Bahama and the Abaco Islands (i.e. Marsh Harbour). Thousands of houses were severely damaged or destroyed—70,000 people are reported homeless. At least 50 people were killed, likely many more. Hundreds are still missing.

Dorian was one of the most severe Atlantic storms on record and perhaps the strongest hurricane to ever hit the Bahamas.

In September 2019, the Lakeshore Missions Team made a special contribution to the Samaritan's Purse hurricane relief fund.

Now, Samaritan's Purse is seeking volunteers to travel with them to the Bahamas to assist with relief efforts. Conditions Apply. See the following website for more details: https://spvolunteer.org/project-response/217

If you are interested in deploying to this Samaritan's Purse Bahamas Hurricane Dorian Relief project, please contact Dave Bujak for more information. 

UNITED STATES: Samaritan's Purse Disaster Relief

Lakeshore has a long-standing relationship with Samaritan's Purse through the annual Operation Christmas Child (OCC) shoebox donation program each Christmas.  Samaritan's Purse does so much more throughout the world, including disaster response here in the United States. 

In a new initiative for 2019, Lakeshore has partnered with Samaritan's Purse U.S. Disaster Response to identify potential opportunities for Lakeshore members to serve and minister to those in need somewhere closer to home. 

Samaritan's Purse US Disaster Relief offers individuals, families, and groups of up to 10 - 15 people overnight housing, meals, tools and the training needed to help out after floods, wildfires, hurricanes, windstorms, tornados and more.  The type of work being done varies by location and time since the disaster occurred.  Many of the currently open projects are seeking volunteers to help rebuilding homes many months after the disaster occurred.  

For a listing of current projects seeking volunteers, please visit: https://www.spvolunteer.org/

If you are interested in deploying to a Samaritan's Purse US Disaster Response project, please contact Dave Bujak for more information.