purpose
Many of Berean's young people and adults spent four days ministering and serving in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. Our first stop was Fellowship Baptist Church of Western Branch, where our group led a youth rally with praise music, drama, and preaching. Our young people joined the youth group of Fellowship in singing praise to God. Danny Brooks of Berean brought a challenge to those there, encouraging them to live every part of their lives as God's dedicated servants.
The youth worship band leads in praise and worship: L to R: James Owen, Laura Tuttle, Suzanne Tuttle, Josh Alley. Not pictured: Daniel Bennett, drums.
Danny Brooks challenges the teens from the Bible.
That night, we returned to Camp Hope Haven, a ministry of the Union Mission in Norfolk. We stayed at Hope Haven each night for the duration of our trip.
The next day, we went to work at the Union Mission, a rescue mission for homeless men and women in downtown Norfolk, VA. We did plenty of cleaning, sorting, and sweaty work in the family shelter and in the mission itself.
The group in front of the mission.
 Josh Alley dusts some of the molding high on the wall of the mission lobby. |
 James Owen and some of the other guys seem right at home working inside this dumpster. . . |
 Stephanie Martens did not want her picture taken as she cleans windows. |
 Daniel Bennett wanted his picture taken . . . a little too much. |
That night, our group had the opportunity to minister in the Union Mission's daily supper line, serving food and giving testimonies of how the Lord has been at work in our lives. The Mission seeks to do more than merely meet the physical needs of hunger and thirst; they also tell about Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life. After the meal, we took part in the nightly chapel service, with singing, dramatic presentations, and preaching. Our pastor and his wife were able to speak to the women and children in the separate family shelter.
 Jessie Merriam began the evening meal at the mission by giving her salvation testimony. |  Stephanie Martens, Laura Tuttle, and Travis Lamb serve food to the homeless. |
On our third day, we split up, with the guys going to work at "Little Siberia," the Mission's warehouse, which receives donated items and sorts them for sale at one of the Union Mission's thrift stores in the area. The ladies worked on sorting and putting together packets of amenities for the women and children of the family shelter.
Amid all the hard work and ministry opportunities, we also found time to visit the Battleship Wisconsin, open for tours within walking distance of the Mission. We made a night-time trip to swim and play football at Virginia Beach, and one evening we took a ride on a ship around the harbor.
The group poses by an anchor near the Battleship Wisconsin.
Just before leaving, we say good-bye to John Gray and his family.
John is an administrator at the mission, and coordinated our trip for us.
L to R Back row: Steven Owen, Heather Peterson, Andrew Tuttle, James Owen, Ross Bennett, Josh Alley, Ben Mansoor.
Middle row: Travis Lamb, Suzanne Tuttle, Nancy Tuttle, Kelly Mansoor, John Gray & family.
Squatting: Jessie Merriam, Jon Tuttle, Danny Brooks, Laura Tuttle, Stephanie Martens.
ministries
worship
missions
activities
schedule
location
contact us