Family in Need

Isabela Rainey, 13

By Anthony S. Policastro

UPDATE: - A benefit was held for Isabela yesterday(Sept. 7) at the Mexicali Brewz Cantina on the Beach Road from 2 to closing.There was a pig pickin' and several local bands will performed. Donation was $8 per person and all funds will go to the Rainey family.
You can see photos of the event by clicking on the photo below.

Isabella Rainey

________________________


I need your help.

Isabela Rainey, my good friend Gordon Rainey's daughter, suffered a brain aneurysm and is fighting for her life.

She is only 13 years old.

The family needs your help. Isabela has been in a coma since July 31 when she was flown to Children's Hospital of the Kings Daughters in Norfolk, VA.

A part of her skull had to be removed to relieve brain swelling and she has undergone brain surgery. She will need therapy afterward to relearn everything all over again, according to Gordon.

"She is trying so hard to live. I am amazed at her strength and determination," said Janet Rainey, Isabella's mother.

Please donate. Any amount would help and all monies go directly to the family for current and future medical bills.

You can donate to the Isabela Rainey Fund online at the Outer Banks Relief Foundation. Be sure to note Isabela Rainey under "Donation in honor of" or you can mail a check to Outer Banks Relief Foundation, Inc., in care of Gateway Bank, P.O. 506, Nags Head, NC 27959. Make sure to put Isabella Rainey Fund on the check.

Any amount would be greatly appreciated.

OBPC Combines Faith, Family & Friends with Anniversary Celebration

Photo by Anthony S. Policastro

Founded as a church whose mission was to reach out to meet the needs of not only its locals but also those who visited the Outer Banks, OBPC will celebrate thirty-one years of serving Our Lord on the Outer Banks on Sunday, September 19.

Functioning as a church devoted to strengthening its faith, loving and supporting its family and reaching out to our friends in need, we will celebrate our past and our future. 

Plan to join us for a worship service that will emphasize the joy of having an extended family where we all strengthen our faith as brothers and sisters, united in Christ. 

Invited guests will include former pastors and their families, former members who have moved, community groups who use our church as their home base and all our friends and neighbors on the Outer Banks. 

Following the service there will be a luncheon in the Fellowship Hall and a chance to catch up with old friends and to make new ones.

Community Benefit for Randy Spruill and Family

A benefit fundraiser will be held for Randy Spruill and his family on Friday, August 13, at Soundside Park in Harbinger, NC.

Randy is a Kitty Hawk native and Scout Leader here at OBPC who suffered a brain hemorrhage while riding his bike on June 6. He remains in Norfolk General Hospital.

The event will include: 

• Bake Sale: 10 am to 9 pm; 
• Yard Sale: 10 am to 4 pm; 
• Chicken or Fish Dinners: 3 pm to 8 pm. 

For more information or to follow his progress, please visit: www.randyspruill.webs.com. 

For information about the fundraiser, please contact Powells Point Baptist Church (252 491-8599).

Supper for Six Picnic - Change of Date

We have been hearing horror stories about Saturday traffic, so we decided to change the date of the picnic so you don't get caught in the traffic.

Our first get-together will be at

the Martin's Point Pavilion

Friday, August 20 (NEW DATE)

4:30-8 p.m.

We ask you to bring a side dish or appetizer, your own drinks, plates, cups and cutlery. We are planning to provide the meats, in which case we'll ask you for a couple bucks. A sign-up sheet is in the Gathering Space at church.

If you have any questions, you can contact Karen Lurie or Jeanne Martie (or anyone who has participated in the past). If you cannot attend on August 20 but want to be part of a group, please let us know.

Youth Group raises $1,125 for children with cleft palates

Thank you for your support!

The youth group is proud to announce that we raised $1,125.00 to sponsor children in need of a cleft palate surgery.

The youth challenged the congregation to meet their donation of $250.00 the congregation responded and raised $525.00. A visitor in the church the day the challenge was presented went back to their home church in Bristol, VA and told them what our youth group was doing. Within a week we received a check from Central Presbyterian Church in Bristol for $250.00.

On Sunday, June 13 the youth group was able to present a check of $1,025.00 to Jann Schultz, director of donor relations and niece of members Lee and Pat Yoder. Since the presentation we received another $100.00 bringing us to the new total.

Thank you for your generosity.

New Church Sign

Photo by JR Matthews

A new sign welcoming the various groups that use our building for their meetings and their community programs was hung under the marquee on Friday, June 4th by members of the Evangelism Committee.

Rev. Dr. Andrew P. Martinez, left, and George Wood fastened the new sign on the church bypass marquee.

The sign welcomes the following groups that use the church as a meeting place:

• Club Scouts Pack 116
• Boy Scouts Troop 116
• Angel Food Ministries
• Alcohol Anonymous
• The Outer Banks Stamp Club

We hope that the sign provides greater awareness in the community that our church serves as the home for these organizations and that these groups will feel like a welcome and important part of the OBPC family.

Sue's Story - The Inspiration Behind Faith, Family and Friends

Sue, the mother of two teenage sons, was diagnosed with MS in 2001. She had problems emotionally and physically.

She sought financial help from Social Security but did not qualify for Assistance. She struggled along until 2004 when she applied again for aid and was granted an interview in 2008 – four years later. When asked what she wanted from Social Security she said, “Nothing – just listen to my story.”

She then told them about her physical, emotional and financial difficulties due to the MS – how her family had intervened when she took too many prescription drugs.

The Social Security representative asked how she had overcome the MS. Sue replied, “You don’t overcome MS – you learn to live with it and I can sum it up with three words – Faith, Family and Friends.”

A Word from Our Pastor

Dr. Andrew Martinez and daughters, Joy Claire and Lauren

By Dr. Andrew Martinez

Our beloved Jack Dempsey's favorite poem was The Children's Hour, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. It is that dear children's poem where we get that expression, 'patter of little feet.' I include it because the presence of children is moving, warming and precious.

The poem reminded me of what I heard John Maycomber tell me over the phone shortly before he died. John's prayer and hope was that we would continue the Master's calling of chidlren into Christ's sheepfold.

The poem reminded me of what I have heard from church specialists over many years now - a healthy church enfolds the lambs (as well as tends the grown sheep. It's never either one or the other. Never.)

I believe every church is like a ship...when we chart our course and leave the bank, God will provide the wind for our sails. I believe that as we carefully pull together we can be a church on the OBX that meets the needs of all ages.

I feel we are in a tremedous position. We have you. We have your prayers. We have your indomitable spirit, your friendlienss and your support. We can enjoy the patter of little feet and enjoy all the sacrifices made to welcome them among us. Service can inspire. Outreach has it's own reward.

I hope you will pray for the patter of little feet at OBX Presbyterian. Our master had some people to train once. "Then little children were being brought to him in order that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples spoke sternly to those who brought them; but Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.' And he laid his hands on them and went on his way." (Matthew 19:13-15)