December Missions Spotlight: YL Capernaum

Serving Young People with Disabilities

River Oaks’ own Rachel (Halley) Johnson serves locally with Young Life Capernaum, a ministry dedicated to creating spaces of Christ-oriented belonging for teens and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (and their families). Rachel leads a team of volunteers to host events and do personal discipleship here in Orlando. They seek to help these young people see God’s purpose in their lives and to know that they are uniquely and specially made image-bearers of Christ.

To find out more about the mission and vision of YL Capernaum, watch the following brief video:

Here are a few ways you can pray for Rachel and the work of YL Capernaum:

• Transition to a new ministry model that gives the students of Capernaum more opportunities and training to serve and disciple others
• Rachel’s work with the local chapter of Joni & Friends aimed at helping churches become more inclusive and accessible to families with special needs
• Additional financial support to grow the ministry and its leadership board, particularly as Capernaum moves to become its own independent ministry within Young Life
• Wisdom for Rachel as she mentors her volunteer leaders (students and young adults)

Other Prayer Requests

• Dale & Carmen Phillips (Paraclete): Pray for two families that have lost a loved one. Both gentlemen were close friends with the Phillips. Pray for two groups who have gone through their program Deep Community Experience, as the Phillipses seek to follow up with them.
• Ryan and Katie: Praise that all the paperwork for them to leave was finished on time, and they are now in their host country. Pray for provision for a rental home, for their girls to adjust well, and for language learning.
• Julian and Christiana Russell: Pray for Tim and Beverly Hart, who have been approved by MTW to work with the Russells and are currently raising support. Pray that men from their church will be raised up as local leaders.