What an incredible celebration we had in the beginning of January as we witnessed 16 of our Karenni friends following the Lord in Believer’s baptism. One teenager testified after being rebuffed by her Buddhist relatives, “ I do not care what other people or my my family says. I will follow Jesus and I want everyone to know that He is my God”. She and the other new believers smiled and praised God as they declared their Faith in Christ. Tim also had the extreme joy of baptizing two additional young ladies, one of our incredibly sweet volunteers and our beautiful, youngest daughter Zoe!!!! What an amazing evening!

 

 Exciting news about where you can  see “New Start” coming up soon: we will be ministering at a youth conference in Lexington, NC on March 2nd then onto Antioch Baptist Church in Mt Airy NC on the morning of March 11th and to finish out the month, sharing with Old Town Baptist Church in Winston Salem during morning worship on March 25th. Stay tuned to hear where these kids will be used of the Lord this summer of 2012!!

 

We have heard the old adage, “ You can

never truly understand a man until you walk a

mile in his shoes”. You can look at pictures or

videos of someone’s life but until you have

been to a place and seen for yourself,

planting yourself firmly in the middle of

sights, sounds and smells, you cannot really

relate to their world view point. God showed

us how true this actually can be when He

allowed us an incredible opportunity to visit

the Thai-Burma border and to travel the

“opposite” journey that our refugee friends

followed just months before. We were

blessed to go to Thailand with a wonderful

group of volunteers to help with a group of

workers’ children while the workers

attended encouraging and informative

meetings. After a few days, we went with

dear Karenni friends to visit the refugee

camp where a lot of our friends had lived.

We arrived in Mae Hong Son and were so

overwhelmed to fellowship with 40 Karenni

Bible college students who were studying

just outside of the camp gates. To hear

Christ praised and lifted up in the Kayah

language was fantastic. The next day we

drove down the narrow mountain path into

Refugee Camp #1 where we were kindly

greeted by the Thai police. The rest of the

day, we scurried throughout the small

bamboo huts and visited with friends and

relatives of our Karenni people, bringing good

news to people waiting.....waiting for war to

end, waiting for lives to begin, waiting for

answers. Visiting in the orphanage there

later that day and sharing hope with the

children in “Freedom House” was heavenly!

We lifted our voices together in worship!

You can check out a photo slideshow of our

trip by clicking here: www.

We want to thank all of our volunteers, supporters and friends for another incredible year of reaching "the world in your own backyard"! We also appreciate WBFJ and their listeners for all of the love and encouragement that we have received for us and our refugee friends. It has been such a fantastic adventure and God continues to perform miracles all around us like fireworks in the sky! 

Open Arms Refugee Ministry began in January of 2009, after we (Tim and Jody Cross) came back to the United States from the foreign mission field, where we worked with refugees who were fleeing war, devastation, tortuous persecution and death. Most of the refugees we worked with came from the 10/40 window, the area of the world where there is the least evangelization and the greatest humanitarian need. Refugees have lost their homes, most of their possessions and even members of their families. All have been severely wounded, if not bodily, definitely psychologically and emotionally. They are victims of horrific crimes against the innocent. When we arrived in the States for a year long furlough, we found that the same people groups of refugees that we ministered to overseas, were also being relocated to the States. Many of the churches we were visiting during our furlough had no idea that people from Burma, Nepal and many other nations, were living right in their communities. What an opportunity for believers to reach out and be the "Hands and Feet of Christ" to hurting, hopeless people from the other side of the globe....without getting on an airplane! We knew that God had a plan to bring these beautiful people here so that they could feel the warmth and love of His people and hear His Good News. 

If you want to volunteer with Open Arms Refugee Ministry, please e-mail us cross_bearers@yahoo.com. Some opportunities to minister: taking refugees to doctor's appointments, teaching ESL and/or life skills, helping refugees read and understand their mail, teaching refugees how to drive, helping refugees fill out forms, helping refugee children with homework and taking refugees to Walmart or food shopping (they normally have to take the bus or walk). All volunteers will be asked to fill out a questionnaire and a background check authorization.

If you would like to donate grocery store or gas station gift cards to provide food for newly arriving families and gas for transportation needs, please mail to Open Arms Refugee Ministry, 5241 Bridge Pointe Drive, Clemmons, NC 27012.

We also are in need of blow dryers (new or used) for several families. They need to be able to dry their hair after bathing before they head out into the cold weather of winter.

If you would like to make a tax deductible financial contribution to the Open Arms Refugee Ministry: Please check out this link to the North American Mission Board to make an on-line contribution:

 http://www.namb.net/msc-onetime/  

or checks can be mailed to:

Calvary Baptist Church

5000 Country Club Road

Winston Salem, NC 27104

designate Open Arms in the memo section of the check!   

or

NAMB

P.O. Box 116543       

Atlanta, GA 30368-6543 

 

be sure to put #9361 in the memo section of the check! 

 

Thank you for your prayers and support!!!

 

 

In the book of Acts, it talks about the first 

century missionaries going out and how God 

faithfully led their way and provided for 

their needs. New Start’s mission trip to 

Jacksonville, Florida and Clarkston, Georgia 

was definitely full of God’s miracles, His 

provision and His overwhelming mercy!! 27 

Karenni teenagers called “New Start”, the 

Cross family and the Sowers family, left on a 

hot and muggy Saturday morning, ready for 

adventure, praying for God to go before us 

to work in hearts and lives. We enjoyed 

singing in worship at Westside Baptist 

Church in Jacksonville and ministering with 

their teenagers. New Start went to two 

different apartment complexes, singing to 

Burmese, Nepalese and even Congolese 

refugees. Face painting, “A Minute to Win 

It” games, hot dogs and a bouncy castle were 

fun for all of the refugee children and even 

a few of the adults! God poured out His 

Spirit as New Start shared a very clear 

Gospel presentation at each complex, 

translating into three different languages so 

the good news could be understood in the 

people’s heart languages. Thanks to 

Westside Baptist Church and other churches 

that partnered with New Start to bring 

Jesus to the Nations. Our last night in 

Florida was spent with First Baptist Jax in 

worship and testimony. The kids sang praises 

to their Saviour and took the congregation 

to the foot of His throne. 

The next stop was Clarkston, Georgia, a 

suburb of Atlanta teeming with refugees and 

lostness. New Start canvased apartment 

complexes, inviting other Karenni refugees 

to hear the Gospel at a huge outreach Friday 

night. The kids led in singing, did a powerful 

drama, shared testimonies and prayed for all 

of the Karenni, many of them hearing the 

Gospel for the very first time. Karenni New 

Testaments and Bible storying CD’s were 

distributed and the kids talked and prayed 

with people well into the night as we shared 

a huge meal together. Life changing trip!!!! 

 

 

Community Serve week was AMAZING! 38 

members of  Virginia Voices International Choir 

partnered with Calvary Baptist Church members to 

hold our annual Karenni VBS in the mornings with 

this year’s theme being “The Story”.  Arts and 

Crafts, an inflatable slide, a petting zoo and water 

games were some of the highlighted fun. Once again, 

a clear Gospel presentation was given and many of 

the children prayed to receive Christ. Our 

afternoons consisted of basketball camp, dance 

camp, choir rehearsal and swimming fun with all of 

the kids-God Bless VVI and our Calvary volunteers 

for getting out in the heat and love on these 

beautiful children and their parents! 

 Every evening our Karenni teenagers, “New Start” 

would venture out with the Virginia Voices to 

minister at the Winston Salem Rescue Mission, 

Bethel Colony of Mercy, Davie FROG program, 

South Fork Assisted Living and finishing up with a 

community concert to benefit Prodigals 

Rehabilitation Center. One of our sweet teenagers 

smiled at us and said, “ I am very tired but it is a 

good tired because it is for Jesus!” 

 

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound.....the Karenni youth certainly did have a sweet sound as they shared in song about God's grace, His Love and His redemption. We loaded up the bus with 54 youth and children and headed to South Fork assisted living center where the kids gave a "mini concert" and spent some time loving on the residents there at the center. A blessed time was had by all. The refugees especially enjoyed giving something back to the community since they has been given so much by others. We are looking forward to future ministry opportunities for the kids during the summer such as a mission trip to minister to refugees in Florida during the first week of August, a community outreach in the middle of July and a concert in Fayetteville in May. We enjoyed sharing time with our brothers and sisters at Cornerstone Baptist Church in April. They had an incredible "potluck" dinner for us afterward and it was truly a feast!! If any other churches or organizations are interested in "New Start" coming to minister, please let us know so we can get it on the calendar. Thank you so much!

This Spring, we have the opportunity, with the help of the Boy Scouts, to have a community garden for all of our Karenni refugees. Two lots have been donated for this purpose and Jake Womble, a local Boy Scout, has offered to lead a team and head up the preparing of the lots as part of his Eagle Scout Award. This is a huge blessing for our local Karenni people which will offer them a chance to grow some of their own food to share among themselves. This is especially important for them since they are coming from a country where farming and gardening is such a big part of their lives, to living in apartments where this is not possible. At this point, Jake has visited several local businesses where he has been able to procur lots of donated supplies needed for the gardens including soil, wood, and hardware. Although he has been able to get many items donated, he still needs some supplies.To complete six raised beds and three picnic tables, he still needs the following: 

•         45 2”x6”x8’ treated boards at $3.14 ea.

•         18 2”x10”x8’ treated boards at $5.98 ea.

 If you would like to contribute financially to help with this project, please send a check, in any amount, made payable to Open Arms and mail to:

Open Arms Refugee Ministry

re: Community Gardens

5241 Bridge Pointe Drive

Clemmons, NC 27012

 

Any amount would be helpful and much appreciated! 

.

 

 

This past Sunday the "New Start" Karenni youth choir shared in worship at Shiloh Baptist Church in Hamptonville, NC. They lifted their voices above the rafters, their songs floating upwards on a breeze, through the clouds to rest at the beautiful feet of Christ! Honestly, we sniffled and our eyes became blurry as we thought about their journey to freedom and hope. Two years ago, every single one of these children was behind a barbed wire fence, in bleak surroundings, labeled as "stateless" individuals. Now, they are here, going to school, laughing, singing, marveling in a future full of promise. Yes, they are free physically but many of them have also been set free spiritually! They have found the One who died to give them a hope and peace that will be with them anywhere-here in the land of the Free...and He even gives that hope and peace to those still behind the barbed wire. We had such a sweet Sunday with brothers and sisters at Shiloh. They were truly a blessing to us! The ladies from the church prepared a huge feast after the service and we ate like royalty!!! Thank you so much for allowing us to come and worship with you! We were blessed beyond measure.

 

We definitely cannot believe that we are already in the second month of 2011! January flew past us but a lot happened that we would love to share with you. We received two new Karenni families here in Winston Salem and another Karenni family arrived in High Point this month. We were expecting a fourth family but due to an illness, the family was not permitted to board the airplane but hopefully they will all be well and ready to come "home"! Pray for this family along with the new arrivals that they will adjust quickly, learn English and find jobs-WHEW! We are tired just thinking about all of the challenges but our friends are so courageous! They jump in and relish the opportunities!

Ice skating has now become an annual highlight for our Karenni children. We even were able to rally some of the adults to give it a try. Thankfully, we had no broken bones or trips to the ER even though we had a few bloody and pinched fingers! Some of the teenage boys skated around the rink like professionals-we should do this more than once a year.

Tim was able to visit with one of our partnering churches in Jacksonville, Florida. Westside Baptist Church hosted their yearly Global Impact Celebration and while Tim was there, he was able to visit with a refugee family in the Jacksonville area that are relatives of friends here in NC.

We look forward to spending the morning with Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in Hamptonville, NC on February 13th. We plan on taking the Karenni Youth Choir, New Start, with us to minister to the people there. We have had a lot of sickness (virus) going around our "village" and everyone looks  a little pitiful! So please keep all of us in your prayers that we can be healthy and filled with His Holy Spirit, ready to serve Him.

"New Start" the singing group formed by our Karenni teenagers was able to sing at the 3rd annual "Christmas for the City" held in downtown Winston Salem, North Carolina. This event is sponsored by Winston Salem First Church with the help of about 50 other local area churches! It's a huge Christmas party for our city where we are able to "Love Out Loud" and share the Love of Jesus!