Mercy Ministry
The OCF Mercy ministry exists to share the love of Jesus in practical ways with marginalized and disadvantaged people outside the church. While some ministries we support have a worldwide scope, we focus primarily on local Los Angeles area ministries to disadvantaged children and their families. We provide financial support to these ministries and encourage church-wide participation through volunteer work and prayer support. Check out our new Online Mercy Blog to view ministry updates.
OCFers reach out with compassion and hard work to help our community. Here are some of the ministries we're currently involved with:
Adoption Ministry
The adoption ministry exists to inform those who are considering adopting a child, to encourage those who are in the adoption process, and eventually, to offer tangible assistance to those who wish to adopt but cannot afford to on their own. We believe that by welcoming a child into our family, we experience in a unique way the "spirit of adoption" by which our heavenly Father draws us to Himself.
Adoption Ministry Contact Info: Craig and Ann Rouviere at 310-787-9766 or via email.
For His Glory Outreach
For HIS Glory is an adoption outreach ministry dedicated to placing orphaned, Haitian children in Christian homes. For HIS Glory is dedicated to evangelizing to the birth parents of voluntarily orphaned children and those living in the surrounding areas; providing education and discipleship; and preparing them for eternity. To learn more about the needs of children in Haiti, and the work being done for them, watch this video or visit www.forhisgloryoutreach.org. If you would like to make a donation make checks payable to Oceanside Christian Fellowship and write Haiti in the memo section. Or donate online at their website.Love INC. (Love In the Name of Christ)
Love, INC. helps to mobilize local churches to meet the needs of the poor and disadvantaged while transforming the lives of people and communities in the Name of Christ. Love, INC. receives and assesses requests for help, refers the request to a local church or other faith based organization and provides follow up to assess the outcome and connect the recipient to a local church. Local churches participate by volunteering, contributing financially and through prayer.
Love, INC. Contact: Joe McMahon at 310-714-9703 or via email.
Meals Ministry
For OCFers, the Meals Ministry provides home-cooked or take-out meals to aid families going through stressful times due to a new baby in the house, health problems, a death in the family, etc. This ministry is not technically part of Mercy Ministry, but it's a great way to show "mercy" to your fellow OCFers.
See the Meals Ministry page for more information.
Nehemiah House
The Nehemiah house, built in 1897, provides housing and discipleship for S.A.Y. Yes! and youth mentors who spend a year learning more of God’s heart of compassion as they minister to the children of the Pico Union area and their families.
The Nehemiah House also shares facilities with the S.A.Y. Yes! ministry. OCF volunteers have participated in construction projects at the Nehemiah House.
The OCF Mercy Ministry is organizing workdays to assist the remodel of the Nehemiah house. The first two workdays will be Saturday, September 12, and Saturday, September 19. We need skilled carpenters, masonry experts, and ditch diggers.
Nehemiah House Contact: Joe McMahon at 310-714-9703 or via email.
New Life Beginnings Mothers' Home
This facility and ministry in Long Beach provides shelter, education, counsel and health care for unwed mothers-to-be. Their housing has recently expanded to allow more space for moms with small kids who are fleeing abusive situations.
We participate in an annual grocery drive, and help with projects such as construction, plumbing repairs and installing computers.
New Life Beginnings Contact: Denni Dunham at (310) 722-5625 or via email.
NextSteps
NextSteps is dedicated to equipping foster youth with the core skills needed to successfully transition from foster care into productive, independent, confident adults. Training programs are administered by caring instructors and mentors.
Next Steps Contact Info: Sharon Marino at (310) 379-6188.
Pregnancy Help Center
As the only crisis-pregnancy resource in the South Bay, this organization provides counseling and support for women with at-risk pregnancies. Once a week, a doctor is available to provide pre-natal checkups. Volunteers answer calls to the helpline.
Pregnancy Help Center Contact: Denni Dunham at (310) 722-5625 or via email.
Samaritan's Purse: Operation Shoebox
OCFers are involved in an annual Christmas outreach headed by Franklin Graham. Operation Shoebox delivers Christmas boxes to war & AIDS orphans, and children in countries ravaged by drought, earthquakes or other disasters. OCF members purchase gifts and toiletries, place them in shoeboxes (provided by OCF), decorate the shoeboxes, and help with the preparation for shipping.
Samaritan's Purse Contact Info: Sharon Marino at (310) 379-6188.
S.A.Y. Yes! - Center for Youth Development
S.A.Y. Yes! provides an after school program for 40 children in grades 1 through 11, living in the Pico Union area of Los Angeles. The children receive tutoring, Bible lessons, art, recreation, field trips, family events, music, mentoring and more from dedicated mentors and volunteers.
You can support the ministry by becoming a volunteer at the Center one or more hours a week, by providing financial support as a Kid Partner and/or receiving the newsletter & by providing prayer support.
Click here to read the latest Say Yes! newsletter.
S.A.Y. Yes Contact: Joe McMahon at 310-714-9703 or via email.
ShareFest
ShareFest is dedicated to positive change through tangible acts of service. South Bay churches join together each spring to meet the needs of local schools and social service organizations. Each year ShareFest sends thousands of volunteers into our community to work on projects designed to meet tangible needs. We paint, clean, plant, refurbish and beautify schools, parks and public facilities all at no cost to recipients. Due to our relationships with city leaders, school administrators, large and small businesses and the faith community we can accomplish these projects at a fraction of what it would normally cost. Since 2004 we have mobilized over 27,000 volunteers that have completed over 555 projects saving cities and schools over $4.6 million.
Next year we are anticipating another significant Workday. So mark your calendar and register below to join us for our the 8th Annual Workday in Spring 2011.Click here to register!
Click here to see OCF's ShareFest 2009 video!
Sharefest Contact Info: Joe McMahon via email.
World Impact
World Impact presents Christ to the unchurched through Bible clubs, Bible studies, evangelistic outreaches and worship services. We nurture people to maturity in Christ and train them to teach others about Christ.
Volunteers may serve as youth workers, camp counselors, nurses, or teachers. Other ways to support the ministry include praying regularly for outreaches & missionaries, sponsoring a student in our Christian schools or Bible clubs, by supporting a missionary, or by sending a child to camp.
World Impact Contact Info: Judy Frilando at (310) 897-3626 or via email.
