Missions Monitor

The Christ Venice Church Missions Festival

David Scott Fields II, Senior Writer • February 22, 2025

Image courtesy of Pixabay.com

VENICE, FLORIDA – On Sunday, February 15, 2025, I had the opportunity to attend the Missions Festival at Christ Venice Church in Venice, Florida. My primary reason for going was to visit my friend Jason Sheets, a missionary in Arequipa, Peru, and the lead pastor at Iglesia Bíblica Cristiana Ciudad de Dios who was in attendance at the conference. I drove over from Jupiter, Florida, that morning, eager to participate in this Christ-glorifying event.

The conference was a beautiful celebration of global missions, with representatives and honorees from various countries and continents, including Africa, Albania, Brazil, China, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, Haiti, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Liberia, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Ukraine, and the United States. The morning worship service began with a moving presentation of the flags from each of these regions, reminding us of the vast reach of God’s kingdom.

The Scripture reading for the day was Luke 15:4-7, which speaks of the shepherd leaving the ninety-nine sheep to seek out the one that was lost. This passage is a perfect reflection of the heart of missionary work—going out into the world to seek the lost and bring them into the fold of Christ.

The opening morning speakers were Harry and Deby Miller, missionaries serving in Israel with One Mission Society. The Millers have remained steadfast in their ministry, despite the ongoing war in Israel, providing humanitarian aid, discipleship, and outreach programs. Deby, a Jew herself, founded the Rak Mederim Hebrew School, which serves new immigrants and underprivileged families while sharing the gospel. This school has already seen more than 40 participants, with four people accepting Christ.

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Harry serves as the OMS field director for Israel and plays a crucial role in expanding missionary work throughout the Middle East. He also collaborates with Men for Missions, and in 2024, five men from Florida joined his efforts, helping feed over 185 Arabic and Jewish Israeli families. Through these efforts, four families came to faith in Christ. Despite personal hardships, including a miscarriage and the dangers of war, the Millers remain unwavering in their mission, emphasizing that the Gospel must be shared wherever we are.

One of the most touching stories they shared was about an elderly Russian couple who initially had no belief in Christ but, through prayer and personal connection, ultimately gave their lives to Him. Their testimony was a powerful reminder that God can use any moment to draw people to Himself. More information on their ministry can be found at https://onemissionsociety.org/missionaries/detail/harry.

Following the morning session, the conference continued with a BBQ fundraiser, which included a dessert auction to support the church’s youth short-term missions program. The goal was to raise $5,000 for a mission trip to Washington, D.C., and the generosity of the congregation was overwhelming. Jason even contributed Peruvian chocolates, which were auctioned off for an astounding $600! During the auction, Kevin Cox, a missionary from Brazil, shared a brief message about his ministry.

Unfortunately, I had to return to Jupiter shortly after the BBQ, but the conference continued throughout the following week. On Tuesday, February 18, at 10:00 AM, Jason participated in a panel discussion, sharing about the ministry work at IBC Ciudad de Dios. The Missions Festival brought together an incredible lineup of missionaries, including Michael Mozey from Africa, Kevin Cox from Brazil, Denny and Michelle Craker from China, Dan Christopherson from Cuba, Pastor Sairy Marte and Sarah Rosenburg from the Dominican Republic, Daniel Motakatla from India, Harry and Deby Miller from Israel, Craig and Sue Querfeld from Latin America, Pat and Melenda Edmiston from Papua New Guinea, Rev. Sunday Agang from Nigeria, and Jason Sheets from Peru.

Attending this festival was an incredibly encouraging experience. Seeing the dedication of these missionaries and hearing their testimonies reaffirmed the importance of spreading the Gospel. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have been part of this event and look forward to seeing how God continues to work through these ministries.