God is the Creator and King over all the earth! As such He deserves the praise of every man, woman and child He made in His image!

Before His ascension to heaven, Jesus himself commanded His church to make disciples of all nations!

So we are committed to supporting the spread of the Gospel not only in Lake Mary but also to every people group on the earth.

To this end ROC supports several missionaries in many different countries around the world! We are thrilled that God has enabled us to look beyond ourselves to the needs of others. River Oaks currently supports the following missions.

Larry Sherman • Open Hands to Africa

In August 2010, Larry Sherman retired from the U.S. Customs Service after 36+ years and moved to Namibia exchanging success for significance. Since 2002, Sherman began fulfilling a life long pas sion in the African countries of Namibia and Angola where he co-founded a non  profit charitable organization named Open Hands to Africa.Their mission statement is to provide SEEDs of Hope (Spiritual, Educational & Economic Development) to the poorest of poor in Namibia and Angola. Extensively travel ing the remote regions of these countries, Sherman has embedded himself in the lives of the indigenous folks by living and working in their villages. There he provides micro-business loans, livestock plus animal husbandry techniques, agri cultural seed projects, medical & eye care, as well as educational opportunities to help people help themselves by offer ing a helping hand rather than a hand out. Pray for his ability to not only fulfill the immediate needs of many but also boldly proclaim the Gospel that will fulfill their spiritual and eternal needs.

Bob Gregory • Good News Jail and Prison Ministry

Bob was born and raised in DeLand, FL. He graduated from Davidson College in NC, spent two years as a Military Police Officer in the US Army, and worked in a small bank in Davidson. Bob then moved back to FL to work in the family business and eventually start a business of his own. It was in FL that he began volunteering in jails and prisons. In 1983, he was a member of the first President's Council in Seminole County. He remained on the Council until he became a full-time Good News Jail & Prison Chaplain at the John E. Polk Correctional Facility in 1999. In 2003, he assumed the duties of Senior Chaplain. Bob lives in Sanford, FL, with his wife, Janice.

Cesar and Grace Cubas • South American Mission, Inc.

grace.cubas@gmail.com

Cesar was raised in Puerto Supe, Peru and has an exciting testimony of how God brought him through Communism, eastern religions, and the occult to find peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace was raised in a conservative, missionary-minded home in Wheaton, IL. As a child God directed her toward missions, and then amazingly confirmed that calling as an adult school teacher. She worked as a single missionary in Peru for more than 10 years until falling in love with Cesar. They were married in 1977 at her home church in Wheaton.  In 1981 Cesar, Grace and their two children headed to eastern Bolivia where they ministered for more than 24 years with the South America Mission.2005 was a year of drastic change. Cesar and Grace continued with the same mission agency but switched from the jungle to the desert; from the interior to the coast; from an urban setting to a small fishing port; and from Bolivia to Cesar’s home town in Peru.  God has provided Cesar with a unique platform for his witness. In this town he is seen as “the local boy who made good in the outside world and then came back to help.”   We are here to demonstrate a Christ who can change lives.  We pray that those changed lives can help change families and make a difference in Puerto Supe.

Dale and Carmen Phillips • ReachGlobal Europe

daleandcarmen@gmail.com

Dale and Carmen have been serving in missions since 2001 when God laid it on their hearts to serve in a local church in a small town in Southern Romania.  They spent four years there before moving three years ago to ReachGlobal's Europe Division Offices in Budapest, Hungary.

Dale is the Associate International Leader of Staff Development and Operations and leads an operations team known as SERVEurope that serves 33 church planting teams across Europe.  He helps with finances, communications, media production and event planning as well as team health, leadership development & strategic leadership.  Carmen keeps busy hosting the many wonderful volunteers that come through Budapest to serve in missions and teaches their four kids at home.   

Vision for Europe:   Awakening His church on the new dark continent.

Prayer Request:  That God would use us as living examples of the difference God can make in a person's life.  Our prayer is that people would see the continual transformation in our lives as evidence of our great God! 

II Corinthians 4:7  "But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us."

Ed McDougall • Mission to North America

mcdougall.ed@gmail.com

I was in the real estate business for over 30 years when my wife Anne and I started praying for an opportunity for kingdom service.  The Lord opened a door for me 2009 to work for the Central Florida Presbytery to help plant new churches.  Since then, 35 churches in North, Southwest, and Central Florida have joined together to form a church-planting Network. Pray that the Lord will raise up the pastors we need to start Gospel Centered churches and reach more people with the good news of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Paul and Sarah Taylor • Mission to the World

paul.taylor@mtw.org

Paul is a graduate of Taylor University, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and Fuller Theological Seminary where he earned a doctorate of ministry. Prior to coming to MTW, Paul was the Coordinator for Church Planting with Mission to North America, serving there from 1984-1991.  Sarah, the daughter of missionaries to India, married Paul in 1966. She has served as Teaching Leader for Bible Study Fellowship in Manila for three years while being an active member of the team. Paul serves MTW as International Director for Asia/Pacific. He is involved in overseeing MTW’s work in the 35 countries of Asia/Pacific and opening up new ministries in countries not yet served by the PCA. He also works with national leaders in places where the PCA has ministry, but no missionaries. 82% of the people living in the Asia/Pacific region are in countries that are considered “closed” or “restricted access.” Paul’s new role as an International Director will free him to pursue his vision for the spread of the kingdom in Asia.  Bonnie (7/16/68), Paul (5/9/70), Becky (8/11/71), Bethany (11/23/79).

Scott and Tiffany Kelley • The Friends of Refugees

refugeeinfo@generalmail.com

Scott & Tiffany were married March 7, 1992.  Scott is the Executive Director of Friends of Refugees in Clarkston, Georgia a ministry among refugees in the Atlanta area. Tiffany is a huge support and home school mom. We have three children Abby born 6/28/99 who loves reading and horses, Micah born 9/27/00 who loves creativity, Legos and soccer, and finally Nathan born 12/5/02 who loves Legos and baseball.  Our vision is for refugees to experience Kingdom living in relationship with God through Jesus Christ.  Our mission is to care for refugees through relationships and opportunities that provide for the refugees well being, education, and employment as they become contributing members of society.  Some ministry programs are after school tutoring, clothing distribution, and summer camp for the children.  May your prayers for us be from Ephesians 3:14-19 or Philippians 1:9-11.

Warren and Yukari Griffith • Mission to Japan

info@MissionToJapan.org

Mission To Japan brings Japanese high school and college students to Orlando to share the love of Christ through a program called "homestay".  The program allows Mission To Japan to share the gospel with Japanese students who know little about Christianity.  The students stay with volunteer Christian host families for 2-4 weeks, take English and Bible classes, go sightseeing and make friends with young Christian American students.  Mission To Japan's goal is to share the gospel with Japanese youth through a friendship/cultural exchange program and to encourage Christian host families and Christian American students to be involved in world missions through hosting, activities, retreats and mission trips.