INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH
Through the Missions Committee, the congregation is involved in outreach around the world.
Dominican Republic Service Trip 2026
The St. John’s team has returned from the annual service trip to Iglesia San Gabriel in Consuelo, Dominican Republic! Seven teens and seven adults had a delightful, albeit warm, week in fellowship with the San Gabriel community. Our team of 14 joined the San Gabriel team, made up of their Rector, Revda Bileisy, and her husband, along with 29 adult and teen parishioners for a week of Vacation Bible School and physical plant improvements.
The mornings (8:30–noon) were dedicated to VBS for 88 children ranging in age from 4 to 14 years. We brought 10 suitcases filled with games and activities (balls, cards, sidewalk chalk, bubbles, Playdoh, frisbees and water balloons) and craft supplies (beads, crayons, paint and paintbrushes, T shirts, mandalas, picture frames and Polaroid film, construction paper and string bags) all of which was generously donated by St. John’s parishioners. The campers and VBS counselors were delighted to spend time with the St. John’s team as we engaged them with different materials and games every day.
After a delicious lunch prepared by the ladies at San Gabriel, the team changed into work clothes and then prepped and painted four classrooms, the adjoining hallway, and exterior property walls that were funded by last year’s SJEC donations. We took a tour of the church, education buildings and kitchen, and saw all the improvements to the campus that have been facilitated by cash donations from St. John’s over the past several years.
We are pleased to report that we met our goal and raised $9,978 which will be used to fund two physical plant projects during the next year. The 2027 team looks forward to seeing the new roof and the updates to the bathroom in the church when we return to work with our dear friends the week of July 17, 2027.
The annual service trip to the Dominican Republic exemplifies the act of reaching out and putting our faith into action as we extend the loving outreach of God to our sisters and brothers in Christ at Iglesia San Gabriel. Please join us this fall (date TBD) for a more in-depth discussion of our time in the DR, along with photos and personal testimonials from the 2026 team!
Gracias,
The 2026 Dominican Republic Service Team
| Emma Amos | Makai Samson |
| Jennifer Amos | Drew Stayin |
| Julie DeLong | Sadie Jane Stayin |
| Lili DeLong | Stefanie Stayin |
| Margaret Kerfoot | Sarah Tyler |
| Remy Malpass | Emily Blecksmith-Walters |
| Kyle Nevins | Eleanor Walters |
Since 2002, St. John’s has partnered with Iglesia San Gabriel in Consuelo, Dominican Republic, primarily through annual service trips in July. Over the past 20+ years, St. John’s parishioners have built a relationship with San Gabriel through participation in Vacation Bible School and construction projects for both the church and school buildings and playground.
Our work in the Dominican Republic is one example of how St. John’s fulfills the biblical command “by love serve one another.” We are grateful for the support from the St. John’s Mission Committee and from parishioners.
St. John's is Involved
Reaching the World’s Poorest
The St. John's family continually discerns the needs of the global poor by researching and supporting organizations that seek to meet these needs. We focus on ways to reduce poverty, hunger and disease, foster maternal and child health, broaden educational and employment opportunities, and enlist global cooperation to sustain these efforts.
Educating the parish by means of presentations, informative articles in church publications, and engagement with communities outside our own are ways we reach the world’s poorest.
Partnership in the Dominican Republic
St. John’s has been in partnership with Iglesia San Gabriel in Consuelo since 2002. At the request of the bishop of the Dominican Republic and in response to a 30% unemployment rate in that area, we funded and participated in the construction of the Bob and Ellen Snow Technical School. This is the first Episcopal school of its kind in the Diocese, and we hope that lessons learned here will benefit other Diocesan technical schools currently under construction. The school has classes in hair and nail salon operations, secretarial skills, and other skills needed for productive jobs.
St. John’s conducts annual service trips to Consuelo, to assist in construction, repair and maintenance of the trade school facility, and to participate in a Vacation Bible School for elementary school aged children. Teenagers, college students, and adult parishioners participate in a year-long orientation in preparation for the trips.
If you want to know more, or would like to participate in our 2024 service trip to Iglesia San Gabriel, please contact Stefanie Stayin.
Concern for Refugees
Among the care of selected communities, St. John’s cares for those in the world who flee from violence around the world. Download more information about refugees and migrants HERE.
