Missions Update - August 2026
Monthly Missions Update / AUGUST 2026 / volume 3 issue 8
Hello Morning star family
Check out the updates below from our Local & Global Partners to see how God is at work in our community and around the world! You can be actively involved in lots of practical ways so see what God is preparing for you and jump in!
GLOBAL PARTNER - JEFF AND SARAH
Oregon Visit and upcoming trip to Central Asia
It's been a wonderful blessing having Jeff & Sarah here with their family over the Summer months. We've shared a meal & heard about the Kingdom impact their school is having on refugees in Central Asia. We hope you've been as blessed hearing about their work as we have!
As our team prepares to join them in Central Asia on October 15-24th we're working diligently on fundraising.
One new opportunity we have is a Garage Sale to help raise funds for this trip to encourage and help Jeff & Sarah in their work of providing an education to the refugees in Central Asia. The sale will take place on Friday & Saturday August 28th & 29th at 9am to 3pm each day.
2728 Mia Ct SE
Salem, OR 97306
United States
For more details click on the Central Asia Garage Sale page.
LOCAL partner - Salem for refugees watch party recap
A big thanks to Corban University for letting us use the flags for decor, Bethany Baptist Church for letting us use their kitchen to prep & store food, SFR for allowing us to host, David Irby & Surge Soccer, and Aly J Photography for taking pictures throughout the event.
As July comes to a close, we are grateful for another month filled with opportunities to build community and celebrate together. From cheering side by side at our World Cup Watch Party to summer activities for children and families, this month has been a reminder that belonging is created through shared experiences and meaningful relationships.
Thank you for being part of Salem for Refugees' mission to bring people and resources together to empower refugees to thrive.
World Cup Community Watch Party
More than 200 people from across our community came together this month to celebrate the World Cup Final at a watch party hosted by Morning Star Community Church. Families enjoyed an afternoon of exciting soccer, delicious food, and special activities for children, creating a welcoming space where neighbors from many backgrounds could connect and celebrate together. We are deeply grateful to Morning Star Community Church and all of the volunteers who made this event possible. Partnerships like these help create a place where refugees and longtime community members can truly find uncommon community.
Help protect employment authorization for Ukrainian families
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed changes that could make it more difficult for many humanitarian parole recipients—including Ukrainians who arrived through the Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) program—to obtain or renew Employment Authorization Documents (EADs).
Under the proposed rule, individuals renewing their work authorization would need to demonstrate economic necessity and, in most cases, show they are employed by or seeking employment with an employer participating in E-Verify.
DHS is accepting public comments on this proposal through August 4, 2026. Public comments—especially those that include personal experiences—can help demonstrate the real impact these changes would have on families, employers, and local communities.
How to Submit a Comment
- Visit Regulations.gov.
- Search for USCIS-2026-0067.
- Open the proposed rule titled "Clarification of Discretionary Employment Authorization for Certain Aliens."
- Click "Comment" or "Submit a Formal Comment."
- Paste your comment in English, include your personal story, and submit it.
If you are submitting a comment, please include 2–5 sentences explaining why you support the Ukrainian community, share your experience working with Ukrainian families, having Ukrainian neighbors, coworkers, employees, or friends, or explain why it is important to you that Ukrainians are able to live and work legally in the United States.
Personal stories and real-life experiences help demonstrate the positive impact Ukrainians have on local communities and carry significant weight during the public comment review process.
Thank you for taking a few minutes to make your voice heard. Your support can make a meaningful difference for thousands of Ukrainian families.
You’re Invited: Ten Together
Join us as we celebrate 10 years of Salem for Refugees at Ten Together, an evening of stories, community, and gratitude.
Whether you've been with us since the beginning or are just getting to know Salem for Refugees, we'd love for you to join us. Bring your family, invite your friends, and help us celebrate a decade of building uncommon community—together.
Sunday, September 14
6:00–8:00 PM
Riverfront Park Amphitheater
Everyone is welcome. We hope to see you there!
As we look ahead to the months to come, we are reminded that none of this work is possible without the generosity, partnership, and encouragement of our community. Thank you for standing with refugees and helping create opportunities for families to build new lives in Salem and beyond.
Mike Silva - Global Partner
Dearest Pastor Jared,
51 years later, we had the thrilling opportunity to go back to where it ALL began: Honolulu, Hawaii! It was there that we met, married, became parents, and were trained—and launched—into ministry.
We had an impromptu interview with our daughter, Kristianna, to talk about the highlights. Enjoy this slideshow of new and old memories, and join us as we reminisce about one of the most treasured seasons of our lives!
Lovingly,
Mike & Crystal
Cùcuta, Colombia
- March 9-15, 2027-
We have an exciting and unique opportunity to reach the nations of Colombia and Venezuela through our Festival Por La VidaOutreach.
Potential Outreach Opportunities:
Food & Clothing Distribution
Street & Prison Ministry
Medical & Dental Care
Student Outreaches
Water Well Projects
Discipling Leaders
And MORE!
We only have 50 SPOTS available so please don't miss this unique opportunity!
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!
Salem free clinics - local partner
Run for Salem Free Clinics
For the past 14 years, our community has come together each summer to lace up their shoes, enjoy a morning at Minto Brown Park, and make a lasting difference through the Run for Salem Free Clinics. On the right is a picture from one of our early races, back in 2014!
What began as a community race has become one of our most impactful annual traditions. Last year, more than $41,000was raised to provide free medical, dental, and counseling care for patients who otherwise wouldn't have access. This year, we're aiming even higher with a goal of $55,000 to assist with our growing number of patients.
Whether you're an experienced runner, a casual walker, or looking for a fun family activity, there's a place for you. Choose from a 10K run, 5K Run/Walk, or 2-Mile Fun Walk and know that every registration helps provide compassionate healthcare to neighbors in need. You can see in this picture some of those who joined us last year!
Join us on Saturday, August 8th, and help make every step count. Together, we can continue providing hope, health, and healing to our community. Registration is open!
Run for Salem Free Clinics
Saturday, August 8th | Minto-Brown Island Park
In-Person & Virtual Race Options Available
national association of free clinics - gold rating
We are honored to share that Salem Free Clinics has received the 2026 Gold Rating from the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NAFC) Quality Standards Program.
This national recognition reflects our commitment to providing high-quality, compassionate healthcare to every patient who walks through our doors. The NAFC's Quality Standards recognize free and charitable clinics that demonstrate excellence in patient care, safety, and organizational practices.
While we're grateful for this recognition, the real achievement belongs to our dedicated volunteers, staff, and supporters. Because of your generosity and commitment, Salem Free Clinics continues to provide quality healthcare that not only changes lives here in our community but is recognized also by others, evidenced by this rating from the NAFC.
Community Partners Making Care Possible
We are grateful to the Braemer Charitable Trust, with funding through Trust Management Services, for their generous $15,000 grant in support of our volunteer program. This gift helps sustain our Volunteer Coordinator position and other essential pieces that ensure that our 200+ volunteers have the support they need to serve our patients with excellence.
We are sincerely grateful to The Salem Foundation – George & Laura Kreitzberg Memorial Fund for its generous $5,000 grant in support of Salem Free Clinics' mission. This funding provides the flexibility to meet our greatest needs: helping ensure our patients receive the care they need. We are thankful for this gift and their investment in improving access to healthcare for our community.
global partner - petr samoylich - praise report
Dear friends,
I want to thank you so much for your prayers for the children camp last week.
This was a blessed event again.
We welcomed 85 children, many of them were from underprivileged families and orphanages. This was more than we have had recently, forming 12 groups.
We have to admit running this camp was not without struggles, financially as well as while forming a team; we needed more leaders due to the large number of kids. And the rewarding fact is that we were able to hold this camp and share the love of God with the children. Despite a lot of behaviour difficulties at the beginning, the children started to open up to the leaders during the camp and gradually became more open for spiritual conversations and themes. Every day in sermons and Bible studies we discussed various qualities of God and His character.
It is rewarding to see that many young people from our church are now joining the camp volunteers team. We have invested in them a lot, and can see the fruit of our ministry, praise God!
We received grateful feedback from parents after the camp for the blessed work which was done with the children.
Again, thank you so much for your support in prayers!
Serving His Kingdom together,
Petr Samoylich and team
Global Partner - Reid Saunders - praise report
What an amazing outreach last month in Java, Indonesia, the largest Muslim-majority nation on earth! Thank you for all your prayers!
We witnessed God's favor at every turn, especially when the circumstances felt humanly impossible, from receiving government approvals just-in-time for events to a miraculous change in weather for the weekend festival. Our local partners shared that an event of this nature is extraordinarily rare, but it was clear that the Lord prepared the way.
We are rejoicing and thanking God for all He did through our time there:
5,350 heard the Gospel
641 decisions for Christ
59 churches involved
Here are a few highlights I will treasure in my heart from the outreach:
At a women's event that drew more than 400 attendees, many placed their faith in Christ after our longtime team member, Norma, shared her testimony.
At the festival, a 17-year-old from a Hindu background gave his life to Christ and sought me out afterward to share the news. I was thrilled to learn that we were the same age when we each came to faith, and I prayed a blessing over him and his generation.
A young Muslim student met Jesus at a youth event and returned just two days later with a Muslim friend, bringing her to the festival so she could hear the Gospel too. New believers are already making disciples!
Thank you for taking the Gospel to the ends of the earth with RSA!
"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:21
All for Jesus!
Reid & The RSA Team
We are so grateful to report back from OneFest in Dallas, Oregon! What an incredible gathering in our own backyard of the PNW.
Churches from across the region united, the Gospel was proclaimed, and people responded in faith, saying “yes” to Jesus!
Below are just a couple of the many testimonies we are thanking God for:
A Grandfather’s Faithful Love
One of our counselors, Tara, was asked to speak with a man and a young woman who had responded to the Gospel invitation. The man, Matthew, shared that he had walked with the Lord alongside his grandfather, but when his grandfather passed, he walked away for six years.
Recently, Matthew had a dream where his grandfather appeared and told him it was time to come back to Jesus. The young woman beside him couldn't find words, only tears. Tara prayed over them both, and as she did, a crowd gathered around them, kneeling and laying hands on them. Only God!
The Prayers of a Sister: Joseph & Sophia
Sophia and Joseph's father is a priest, but two years ago Sophia had a personal encounter with Jesus that changed everything. From that moment on, she began praying for her brother, Joseph. Sophia brought him to OneFest, and he put his faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Two years of prayer answered!
Thank you for making encounters with Jesus like these possible through your faithful partnership with RSA.
If you missed our radio interview on KYKN 1430am ahead of the event, you can listen to the full recording here: kykn.com/podcast/newsmakers-at-noon-6-22-26.
Ministry in the PNW continues this summer!
I will be preaching at Praise in the Park on Saturday, July 12th in Rainier, Oregon, as part of the Rainier Days in the Park Fair. The morning begins with a united church service at 11:00am. I will be preaching at the festival at 11:30 AM and 4:00 PM If you know anyone in the area, please send them our way. Click here for more details: rainierdaysinthepark.com
Thank you for praying, giving, and believing with us. The harvest is here!
All for Jesus!
Reid
P.S. We hope you'll join us on August 4th at the Acts Center from 12:00-1:00pm to honor Doug and welcome Dan, our new Executive Director, in person. It's going to be a special afternoon!
Hope Station - Local Partner
WE REACHED OUR $33,000 MATCHING FUND GOAL!
Our $33,000 June Matching Fund was reached! This means a total of $66,000 was raised because of your contributions, sharing, and support of our mission. Thank you so much to all of you who generously contributed.
Hope Station recently received 3,340 lbs. of limes, lemons, and peppers from Gleaners of Clackamas County, as well as coleslaw mix, pre-packaged lunches, and many other produce items. Gleaners is a food share program, with whom we are grateful to have been partnered for a long time.
We are deeply thankful to these and all other organizations partnered with Hope Station for helping us feed our community.
Shoppers of all ages!
It is a joy to serve over 2,000 children through Hope Station each month, through our member and community programs, respectively! This sweet baby is the youngest of seven children and loves to help her mom shop and make our volunteers smile.
Would You Like to Make a Difference With Only Two Hours A Month?
We have an ongoing need for more volunteers, primarily in our warehouse, but also in the office. If you or someone you know has the time and willingness to assist even once a month for a two-hour shift at least, please reach out to Marci at (503) 886-9138or email marci.m@hopestation.org. Don't let any hesitations stop you from reaching out! Thank you!
June drawing for members
As we have noted in previous newsletters, Hope Station holds a drawing for its members each month to ensure everyone gets the opportunity to receive larger items donated to Hope Station. Notable items from June include an Instant Pot, multiple kids' bikes, a portable cold plunge tub, and multiple air mattresses!
Hope Station - Brazil
As you can see in the first photo, we are hard at work on what will become Novo Horizonte's stationary clinic in Rio de Janeiro, and house the mobile clinic!
We humbly ask for prayer, as we will have inauguration this Saturday, August 1, due to timing constraints, but still find ourselves approximately three weeks away from completion.
We had a setback July 29 with unprecedented hurricane-like winds over 70mph that left the city without electricity and halted construction entirely yesterday. Please pray that electricity will be returned to the city so construction can continue as much as possible on the main structure of the building and the inauguration can proceed as planned. (Note: this image is not of the clinic — just examples of an unrelated building near by. We are thankful that the clinic was not affected.)
The flooring is done and wall plastering is completed, and we are working on painting the walls and building the side walk.
Currently, our greatest needs for furniture are:
Cabinets —$3,000
Stove — $400
Fridge — $600
Ten waiting room chairs + six office chairs — $600
Two office desks — $250
Two air conditioning units — $950
If the work touches your heart, please choose an item or two to donate. Thank you!
On the financial side, Hope Station's matching fund for Brazil was $10,000, and we raised $8,300, approximately $3,700 short of the $12,000 goal we had noted in the previous newsletter.
Please prayerfully or thoughtfully consider donating to this project; your help means the least fortunate in Brazil can receive vital medical services sooner!
Thank you all for all the ways in which you continue to support Hope Station in both the United States and Brazil!
As it is written: I have made you the father of many nations — in the presence of the God in whom he believed, the one who gives life to the dead and called things into existence that do not exist.
Romans 4:17 (CSB)
To learn more about each of our Global & Local Partners, CLICK HERE. If you’re interested in helping more with Missions at Morning Star, please email: jared@mstar.church
Thanks for all you do to help share the Good News of Jesus with a world in need!
– Morning Star Missions Board
