GracePoint in Outreach Magazine

A few months ago an editor from Outreach Magazine was on the web looking for churches who were finding innovative ways to serve abroad. Somehow, he landed on GracePoint's website and our our Moldova project. He contacted Steve, asking if they could do a write up on us. Colleen Young gave him all the info and now we're published! The article is in their current September/October issue. Here is the text from the article:

"Traveling out of the Moldovan capital of Chisinau is like going back in time as paved roads give way to dirt, and shacks pass for homes. Two hours outside the city, one of many orphanages in this, Europe's poorest nation, is home to 100 children.

"Living a modest existence there—where showers are rusty and moldy and children use an outhouse because the bathroom is broken—the kids know when visitors from an American church arrive and run to
greet them.

"These kids have nothing," says Colleen Young, a member of the outreach team at GraccPoint Community Church (GracePointne.org) in North Andover, Mass., who visited the orphanage in January. Providing necessities and spiritual hope to the orphanage in Tocuz, Moldova, has become an outreach mission for the congregation of 100.

"Since its inception almost three years ago, GracePoint has partnered with missions agency Little Samaritan Mission (LittleSamaritan.org) to support orphans throughout Moldova. In the last two years, the church has focused on helping the orphans in Tocuz. One year, church
members filled backpacks with school supplies and other items. Most recently, the congregation stuffed clear plastic bags with gifts like flashlights, toothpaste and new winter coats. One church member donated a new pair of sunglasses for each child.

"'The kids loved them,' says Young, one of five GracePoint congregants who traveled to Moldova this year. 'They had never had sunglasses before.'

"The congregation also plans to pay for repairs on the bathrooms and showers. While the children cherish the gifts they receive, GracePoint's team intends to show them the love of Christ—not just be the 'Americans who bring things and leave,' Young explains. During their visit, the team played games with the children, studied the Bible, and prayed with and talked to them about reaching out to God when they feel alone. Back home, GracePoint members pray for the kids daily.

"'It is a country where the people feel forgotten, and having the love and peace of Christ will change their lives,' Young says."