Ocean Hills Community Church Missions: American Cancer Society Relay for Life

By Mike Lopez
San Juan Capistrano, CA

On Friday, July 25, 2008, the National Center of Chaplain Development started a three-part journey and took the lead for the spiritual care for the 2008 American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life in San Juan Capistrano. I want to personally thank Sr Chaplain Ken Schlenker, Executive Director National Center for Chaplain Development (NCCD) and the following Chaplains for their love, concern and service to the community of San Juan Capistrano and the American Cancer Society: Chaplain's Toni Sutton, Hal Henderson, Maggie Neeley, Diana Torrence and the leadership skills of Chaplain Kevin Torrence, Director of Operations National Center for Chaplain Development. This three day event was an experience of a lifetime and we are very grateful to NCCD. We also would like to give thanks to Ocean Hills Church without whose help this journey could not have been made possible. Specifically Senior Pastor Jim Nicols, Pastor Rick Myers and Steve Sharp as well as the prayers offered by the entire body of Ocean Hills Community Church, San Juan Capistrano. Lastly, we would be remiss without giving the ultimate praise to our Lord and Savior JESUS CHRIST.

The start of this journey started back on Sunday, May 11, 2008, when Joanna Reed presented the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life to the Ocean Hills church body. Many people were touched through what Joanna spoke about and what Pastor Jim preached. Two people, Terri White and Michael Lopez, in particular were touch in a way that Gods sovereignty would manifest itself in a way that was not expected.

After attending the first planning meeting for the 2008 Relay for Life, San Juan Capistrano, both Terri and I (Michael Lopez) realized a huge need and opportunity to provide spiritual care for this event. It was very clear that the National Center of Chaplain Development would be the organization to fit this need. Contact was made with the founder Senior Chaplain Ken Schlenker and this need soon became a reality.

As this event drew near and the final details were put in to place, it was time to put this journey into motion. So, on Friday, July 25, 2008 at 6:30pm, with the help of Steve Sharp from Ocean Hills Community Church, NCCD rolled out to participate in the 2008 American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, San Juan Capistrano. As the big 22 foot white box-truck, aka “Mighty Whitey,” started to roll out at the San Juan Capistrano Sports Complex, we met up with Chaplain Toni Sutton and touched the banks of the Jordan (kind of sounds familiar doesn’t it). By 10:30pm the EZ-up shelters, tables, chairs, food and the gas BBQ were setup and NCCD was ready to begin serving.

The day started at 6am on Saturday July 26, 2008, and ended somewhere around midnight…boy was that a long day, but a great day well spent serving the Lord. At approximately 6am the fragrance of bacon being cooked on the BBQ emanated throughout the entire venue. Boy were we a hit with everybody! Think about it, a breakfast burrito with freshly cooked bacon and a crisp Saturday morning walk with your friends what more can you ask for?

As the day went on, we once again met up with the NCCD Chaplains. Chaplain Toni Sutton managed the NCCD prayer tent, Terri White handled the volunteer check in and I handled the logistics and all the cooking and meal preparations. Through-out the day we were blessed by the presence of Chaplain's Hal Henderson, Maggie Neeley, and Kevin & Dianna Torrence .

The day was filled with many blessings, from the opportunity for prayer to the feeding of the “five thousand”; we actually fed the Reserve Fire Fighters from the Orange County Fire Authority along with numerous members of one of the other disaster teams, so much for being prepared!

On Sunday July 27, 2008 the day started with a morning devotion given by Pastor Mike Evans from Iglesia El Buen Pastor a Hispanic Church located at Ocean Hills Community Church.

The mere presence of the NCCD Chaplains made this event a very special one. To see, God’s hand in every opportunity that was presented to the NCCD team, was a sight to behold and knowing the fact that the American Cancer Society’s staff was extremely pleased with the service.