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The Skavdahl’s

The ORPC Missions Committee (John Browne, Matt & Lacey Biggs, Bethany Mulder, and Dave & Connie Nice) are excited to announce that Dr. David and Dr. Josie Skavdahl of the Christian Health Service Corps serving at the Bongolo Hospital in Gabon, west Africa are now an Our Redeemer supported missionary family.

Drs. David and Josie Skavdahl have wanted to serve in resource poor medical settings since they met as rock-climbing pre-med college students. Josie completed her midwifery training and Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine at Bastyr University in Seattle, and David completed a master’s degree in public health at Drexel and his medical degree with Tufts University.

During David’s medical school and general surgery residency, they adopted 4 children to join this adventure: Noa, Maria, Micah, and Anica. They now live, work, and play at Bongolo Hospital in Gabon, west Africa.  Click here to learn more about the Bongolo Hospital.

David is operating and training the next generation of Christian African surgeons. Josie is training new midwives and taking care of very tiny or very sick newborns. They are grateful to be a part of the gospel-centered mission of Bongolo Hospital, to see God glorified as people are healed, saved, equipped, and sent.

His Helping Hands

Our Redeemer Presbyterian Church has been a long time supporter of the ministry, His Helping Hands (HHH).  A local ministry to the homeless and low income within Grant county and the Ephrata area, supported by local churches and community members, HHH has a heart to see those often felt unseen and to serve the community by offering basic toiletries, winter clothing, and periodic financial assistance with utilities, groceries, transportation, emergency housing, and more.

Throughout the winter season (November-February) HHH is open Saturdays and Mondays from 10am to 2pm.

In the 2023-24 winter season over 950 people were served by supplying warm clothing & toiletries and over $5000 has been used to support people in crisis with coverage of their basic bills (PUD, City, housing, gas, food, bus tickets, and car parts). On Christmas day 2023, 625 people were fed and 390 local youth under the age of 18 were given gifts, stockings, and stuffed animals.

Our Redeemer supports HHH through a monthly donation, regular drives to collect clothing, gifts, and supplies, volunteers at the weekly center, and also hosts their annual Christmas Day dinner.

Other Missions Ministries

Our Redeemer Presbyterian Church also supports the local food bank and the CrossRoads Pregnancy Resource Center.