Lake Center Christian students headed to Dominican Republic

Special to The Alliance Review
·3 min read
Student missionaries Marisa Varner and Matt Warder give a presentation to first-graders at Lake Center Christian School about their upcoming Dominican Republic mission trip. The classroom “adopted” the two seniors to provide them with encouragement as they prepare to serve.
Student missionaries Marisa Varner and Matt Warder give a presentation to first-graders at Lake Center Christian School about their upcoming Dominican Republic mission trip. The classroom “adopted” the two seniors to provide them with encouragement as they prepare to serve.

HARTVILLE – Thirty-four Lake Center Christian School student-missionaries soon will put their faith into practice, when they travel to the Dominican Republic to share their faith.

The Mission Team of juniors and seniors and 10 adult chaperones, including campus pastor Jeff Knori and some LCCS faculty members and alumni, will aid impoverished Haitian villages in the vast sugarcane fields of the Dominican Republic from March 16-23. Their service will include construction work, food distribution, Vacation Bible School with children, evangelism and prayer.

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Lake Center Christian School senior Marisa Varner, seen during a 2023 missionary trip where she evangelized with a 17-year-old, right, and the woman's 1-year-old son, soon will return to the Dominican Republic with the school’s mission team.
Lake Center Christian School senior Marisa Varner, seen during a 2023 missionary trip where she evangelized with a 17-year-old, right, and the woman's 1-year-old son, soon will return to the Dominican Republic with the school’s mission team.

Continuing service to Christ in the Dominican Republic

The mission trip helps deepen the visitors’ faith while providing an understanding of the struggles people face in other parts of the world.

A group of seniors heading to the Dominican Republis will be returning for another session of work.

“It was my favorite week of my entire life, because I got to do what I love doing, which is serving Christ,” senior Matt Warder said of the 2023 mission trip. “I am very blessed to have the opportunity to go back and continue God's work.”

Senior Marisa Varner will reconnect with individuals she helped last year while meeting new people through door-to-door evangelism.

Warder said his eyes were opened last year to how little the people of the DR know about God.

“This may be the only time they hear the Gospel, so I am preparing to share this great news with everyone I meet,” he said.

Since 2010, Lake Center has been taking teams to the Dominican Republic through Meeting God in Missions, a non-denominational, short-term mission trip ministry.

LCCS juniors request prayer for first mission trip

For most Lake Center Christian School juniors, this will be their first mission trip. Members of the group said they are thankful for the opportunity to live out their faith and have requested prayer for safety, effective ministry, and personal spiritual growth.

“I look forward to seeing how God can work through me and our group,” said junior Luke Sommers.

Junior Victoria Wilson grew up seeing Lake Center students depart to the DR for missions, igniting a desire to serve one day.

“It is such a blessing God has trusted me with this opportunity to further His kingdom,” Wilson said.

Warder said the believers in the DR are joyful, “worshiped the Lord with big hearts even though they have so little.”

The school’s campus minister Jeff Knori appreciates taking juniors and seniors to the Dominican Republic because they return “fired up for Jesus” and transform school culture.

Lake Center Christian School junior Victoria Wilson, campus pastor Jeff Knori and junior Luke Sommers are part of the Lake Center Christian School mission team that will travel to the Dominican Republic from March 16-23. The team is seeking prayers as they prepare to head out this month.
Lake Center Christian School junior Victoria Wilson, campus pastor Jeff Knori and junior Luke Sommers are part of the Lake Center Christian School mission team that will travel to the Dominican Republic from March 16-23. The team is seeking prayers as they prepare to head out this month.

Partnering with the mission team

While the team members prepare to serve, they are being encouraged by Lake Center’s younger students, faculty and staff. Classes “adopted” a student-missionary to pray for and bless through cards and letters going with them to the Dominican Republic.

“This adoption has been an incredible blessing to our team in the past, and it is a blessing to the classes as well,” said Knori.

Currently, the team is engaging financial support partners to help fund the trip. As of Feb. 27, the group had raised 86% of the funds needed. Donations can be made at www.lccs.com/spiritual-life.

This article originally appeared on The Alliance Review: Lake Center Christian group heading south. Here's where they'll serve.