Hello all! I hope the beginning of summer is treating you well. Univerity ministry is done, but summer ministry is in full swing! Please keep us in prayer as we bring the Gospel to the lost.
As I asked in my last update, ARE THESE UPDATES HELPFUL? How can I make them better? I’d love to hear your feedback. What’s good, and what’s not so good? I want to use these updates to encourage you and others, so please let me know.
I also want to help those who don’t know about Open Air Campaigners understand who we are, and what we do here in and around Northern California. Please let us know your feedback, and please pass this info on to friends and church leaders who might be interested.
Finally, as I mentioned previously I stepped away from my secular work at the beginning of the year and we have been trusting the Lord and his people for our needs. Please consider partnering with us financially if you are able. I’d be happy to share more about what the Lord is doing, so give me a call or send me a message if you’d like to talk. You can also give at the link below.
Thanks!
Dan B.
408-768-9262
dan@yoursoulmatters.org
You can give to our work at: https://dan.livethegospel.net/donate/
WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING
National Director’s Conference
In April the NorCal Branch played host to our OAC National Conference. Most of our missionaries were able to attend, as well as most of our board of directors, and David Proaño, our international president and his family. It was a very blessed time. We spent time sharing ideas, hearing from our different branches, and praying for the work God is doing. We also had the chance share some of our local beauty with the team, many of which had never been to the Bay Area. So much fun!
Following the conference, several of our missionaries, including the Proaño family, our personnel director Tom Fox and his wife Carmen, and our Wyoming director Kurt Schafli stayed for an extended time of ministry and fellowship. We were also briefly joined by Traian, our national Director from Romania, which was a treat. After a trip to San Francisco we had a meet-and-greet after church on Sunday so people could learn more about the ministry. Finally, the Proaños joined Brenten and I for a local radio broadcast, and the next day for a homeless outreach in Gilroy, where their Spanish skills really came in handy. It was an amazing time! Please pray for OAC USA and OAC International. There is so much work going on, and so many around the globe that need to hear the Gospel message.
oacusa.org
oaci.org
The best bits of the radio show – Go HERE and select April 27th
The Ben Kelly “No Contest”
This was year one at a very unique outreach opportunity. Brenten and I were invited to help at the Ben Kelly No Contest surf event in Santa Cruz. Ben Kelly was a young man, and local surfer and surf board shaper (carving surf boards by hand) who was killed by a great white shark five years ago. The event is in his honor, and is called the No Contest because Ben was much more interested in the friendship and fun of surfing that in competing and wining prizes. So surfers were invited to “compete” with friends and family, and it was all about fun and community.
The event was also about something else even more important. The Gospel! We were invited to help by Pastor Dave Campbell of Calvary Capitola, who was Ben’s pastor when he went home. Brenten helped with providing sound for the contest, sharing about Jesus when he could, and I handed out tracts and spoke to people near a model of a shaping booth (see the picture below). The story of Ben’s life and his hope in the next one was a great conversation starter. We were also encouraged by Ben’s wife Katie Kelly and his parents, all strong believers, who were excited to see the good news shared.
Ben Kelly Surfboard and the No Contest Info
ECHO RANCH – Year 3
Last week I was able to visit Echo Ranch Bible Camp in Alaska again. I can’t say enough good things about this place! Not only is it one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been, but it’s extremely gospel-focused. Many kids hear the gospel message for the first time here, and the camp has a great reputation in the community. This was my third year, but our ministry has been teaching there for more than years. I pray this partnership will last for decades to come.
What does a week of camp ministry look like? We’ll, for me I teach 6 chapel sessions over four days, starting with the Creation story, covering sin and the fall, moving on to the ministry of Jesus, the crucifixion and resurrection, and finishing with four essential points of the Christian life. Each year we have a different theme we use to connect with the kids and keep them engaged. This year the theme was Masterpiece, and we talked about creativity and great works of art, and God as the greatest artist. I told a story about a man breaking one of those works of art, and trying by his own efforts to solve his problem and save himself, before coming face to face with the Master Potter. The kids loved it, and had great questions.
After chapel the kids meet with their counselors to talk more, and to get into to Bible. This time is so important! I spent that time walking between groups, praying for them and answering any other questions the kids have. It’s great to hear feedback from the counselors. This year I heard of a couple kids who asked for their own Bibles. One came out of a chapel session crying, and his counselor asked him what was wrong. He said “I finally understand what sin is, and I don’t like it!” That made me choke up a bit. God is good, and He’s at work!
When they’re not in chapel (a good portion of the day), they get to do just about every fun camp activity you can think of. Horseback riding, canoeing, swimming, field games, laser tag, archery, capture the flag, you name it. And when I’m not praying or prepping I get to hang out but he camp trading post to interact with the kids and answer more questions. Perfect!
I’ll post the week’s report video once it’s uploaded. In the meantime, the videos below talk a bit about the camp and it’s history. Enjoy!
Echo Ranch 60 Years of Ministry
Our New Church Home
We are now officially members of West Hills Community Church – San Jose! We love the people, the preaching, and the new opportunities God is opening up for ministry. I have partnered with their Morgan Hill campus off and on from many years, and Becky has connections from work, homeschooling and former churches, so it’s an excellent fit for both of us. If you’re looking for a church home in the San Jose area, this is an excellent option.
West Hills Community Church – San Jose
WHAT’S COMING UP
If you’re not already receiving out weekly text updates, showing where our local outreaches will be, give me a call or send me a message with your phone number (mine is above) and I’ll add you.
Church Outreaches
God has opened many opportunities in 2025, but I am still praying for opportunities to partner with more churches. I can only reach so many people myself. Let me know if I can encourage you, your church, or your small group. I preach and teach on sharing the Gospel, have people and groups join me for outreaches, and I can help with ideas about reaching your neighborhood. Sound interesting? Let’s talk!
Fourth of July Outreach – Details are still pending, but I plan to be out at the Morgan Hill Freedom Fest Parade again this year, and then doing recognizance at a new event in Hollister. Please pray for wisdom.
Tiny Heartbeat Ministries Visit – Tiny Heartbeat Ministries is a pro-life education and activism group out of the Washington/Idaho area. Each year their summer interns visit our branch to work on street evangelism. Pro-life ministry can be tense, and their director Andrew Kerin (who almost joined OAC) wants to make sure they are prepared for sharing the gospel in any situation, so they come down here to visit, and I take them out to some of our best outreach spots. Please pray that God works through them again this August, and throughout their ministry time!
Kids Bible Clubs – We have been waiting for a long time, and it looks like we finally have a couple churches interested in helping with our Kids Bible clubs! We’ll be laying the groundwork for the next month and-a-half, and then one of our senior evangelists will be visiting to help with what I hope will be a successful launch. Please pray!
MINISTRY/PRAYER NEEDS
Please pray for:
Financial Support. I mentioned this above already, so I won’t belabor it. Please pray that God provides!
New Church Ministry Partnerships, particularly with Grace Bible Church – Hollister
Kids Bible Clubs being planted in the near future
Wisdom on outreach locations for the remainder of the summer
For our daughter and her husband who just gave us our first grandson!
What Else is going on? THIS!
Waterfront Outreach
University Ministry
Fanime Outreach
Mall Outreach
Downtown Outreaches
Farmers Market Outreach in Hollister
THANKS FOR YOUR PRAYERS
PLEASE SUPPORT OUR WORK!
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