Category Archives: Uncategorized

10th Annual OFOP Auction

We have many challenges this year, but OFOP supporters have spoken and they would like to see our 10th Annual Auction event happen live! The date, venue, and auctioneer has been secured, and we can now announce that it will happen Saturday, November 14th at the Annex in LaHarpe at 1pm.

A couple important changes we need to address is that our event will be held in the Annex WEST building rather than the building we’ve historically used. The two buildings are adjacent from one another, so for those only familiar with the normal West building, it will be easy to find. In addition to the slight location change, we will NOT be serving lunch prior to the event. The facility will be open, as usual, the morning of the auction as we accept donated items to be auctioned later that afternoon. We encourage you to come early and check out the spread. While we will not be serving food, you are welcome to come early for fellowship and browsing.

Our annual auction is a great place to pick up Christmas gifts for your loved ones (or yourself). There will be tools, home furnishings, clothing, electronics, baked goods, and much more.

With the exception of antiques, we will only auction off new items in their original packaging, so please keep this in mind as you’re preparing to make your generous donation.

Stay tune for more information about the auction, but until then, save the date! See you November 14th!

Let’s do this, 2020

2020 has presented us with many challenges. Our organization of volunteers and donors have been built on face-to-face relationships and fundraising. Navigating a global pandemic with social distancing expectations and a nationwide shortage of lumber has been a challenge for planning this year, but in the end, the Lords work will continue. He is greater than the circumstances we all face.

We appreciate your patience as we’ve done our best to be conscious and respectful of valid health concerns. After weeks of deliberation and prayer, we can now officially announce our plans to return to Hamburg Iowa for our winter disaster relief project.

Last year, we met Amy–a single mother who was providing 24/7 in-home care for her grandmother. The Iowa floods destroyed her grandmothers home, leaving Amy and her children homeless, and without a steady source of income. We heard her story, and knew our organization would possibly return to assist her in her search for a place to raise her children.

We were not the only ones who wanted to help Amy. A local Junior High School had a vision of assisting her with a project of their own. The building trades program was equipped with a willingness and tools to lead a service project of their own. These projects are a considerable task for anyone, let alone a group of Junior High students and school faculty during a global pandemic . We realized that OFOP’s expertise and experience with volunteer builds complemented the school’s abilities, and could provide assistance with some of challenges they were facing.

We have officially teamed up with the school to help raise the funds needed, and provide guidance and volunteer assistance to complete the task. The build will look much like it does on a normal year. We will be working behind the scenes to have a safe and comfortable place for volunteers to stay, and encourage all those who have participated in our builds (and even those who have not yet) to come and participate.

The build will once again begin the Monday after Thanksgiving (November 30th), and will conclude just a few short days after it all begins (December 11th). We need all hands on deck to respond to this call for help.

Building materials have significantly increased in price, so we need donors to consider ways to help make this happen in an extremely challenging year.

In the coming days and weeks, we will be announcing volunteer housing, and our decisions on moving forward with our normal fundraisers, including the annual OFOP auction.

Once again, we appreciate your patience, and ask for your continued prayer. We have seen miracles happen in year’s past, and we know that if we strive to keep the focus on Christ, God will provide the funds and volunteers to complete this incredible task.

Stay tuned for more announcements! We look forward to seeing you all in Hamburg, November 30th-December 11th!

Farewell for now, our friend

It’s with the heaviest of hearts that I share the news of the passing of our beloved brother, Kevin Fichter. Kevin faithfully served on every ONE FAMILY ONE PURPOSE job-site from 2012 to our most recent project in Iowa in late 2019. He was instrumental in the growth and success of OFOP from the very early stages of the organization. His passion for the young ministry helped pave the way for years of successful builds that followed.

Kevin was a servant in the truest sense of the word. He understood the value of silent wisdom, and the capability of actions rooted in Christ’s love. For Kevin, life was more about “doing” than “saying.” He was quiet, but when he spoke, he spoke with conviction and the authority of the Spirit that filled him.

Over the years Kevin recruited dozens of volunteers to serve on the job-sites, including many family members and friends. Kevin’s circle of friends grew every year as those around him on our projects grew to love and appreciate his strong character and love for Christ. He was a pillar of strength and consistency for all of us, and he will be greatly missed, but never forgotten.

While we grieve his passing, Kevin smiles in the presence of his Savior. No one deserves the welcome he is currently receiving in paradise more than him. We love you Kevin, and we all look forward to the day we see you again.

Please keep his family in your prayers, as I know he would do for us.

Prayers needed

We’ve just received word that a missionary friend is in need of prayer. Many OFOP volunteers have served in Mexico alongside one of God’s servants named “Gator.” Today, Gator fell off scaffolding while working in the mountains in Mexico. Please join us in prayer for our brother.

CAN IT REALLY BE THE END?

It’s really hard to say goodbye, but that time is near. The house will likely be finished later tonight, and the keys will be handed over tomorrow at 10am (or noon if we need a little extra time). The Lord has focused our minds this year on restoration. The lives of the volunteers serving are examples of the most grand restoration–restoration by the blood of Jesus. We may never fully comprehend what all he’s done here in Hamburg during the days and Shenandoah during the evenings, but we know He has done plenty, and we thank Him for letting us witness it. Thank you Jesus.

We’ll post pictures of the complete home tomorrow following the 10am dedication.

Friday update

The volunteers have made great progress. Today they continued to side and hang drywall. The first layer of mud is going on now, and another half day of siding should wrap up the exterior. Have I mentioned that renovations take time? It’s a lengthy process, but the volunteers continue to smile and praise Jesus for the renovation that has happened in their own lives. It’s a pleasure to serve a loving God.

Oh and it was also laundry day for the volunteers who have been here for a week. 😬😷