Category: Boardwalk Chapel
by Allison Hill, OPC Short Term Missions Administrative Assistant As each summer day comes to its end in Wildwood, New Jersey, the sun fades and is almost seamlessly replaced by twinkling fluorescent bulbs all along the boardwalk. Running the length of Wildwood beach, the boardwalk attracts vacationers with two-and-a-half miles of enticingly aromatic food, boisterous music, carnival games, and intriguing
Dave shares his experience serving at the Chapel, including the opportunities he has had with the youth from his church and with teens on the boardwalk. “The teaching at the Chapel is definitely Gospel-centered. It’s speaking the truth to others, and the need to speak it in love. Not argumentative, not from a place above them because we’re sinners just
This year was Claire Vanderwey’s second time serving at the Boardwalk Chapel and she was thrilled to have personally shared the gospel with multiple people on the boardwalk. Claire says, “I have had quite a few conversations where people are just so interested. They really wanted to hear, asked really good questions, were genuinely interested, and left with a Bible
Two brothers, Justin and Luke, have spent many summers serving at the Chapel and are confident their faith has been strengthened because of it. They share their favorite things about the chapel, and why they keep coming back. Justin: “My favorite thing about the Chapel is that our efforts to evangelize are steeped in prayer. It helps the kids see
No doubt you’ve noticed the near-depleted list of short-term mission opportunities the past two years due to COVID restrictions. But praise the Lord, things seem to be changing and we’re encouraged! According to the travel site, Kayak, as of November 24, 2021, the borders of five countries are now open, with no restrictions. 166 countries’ borders are open, with limited
by Emma Nakhla member of Calvary OPC, Glenside, PA The flashy, noisy boardwalk of Wildwood, New Jersey is far from physically dark, but it desperately needs to see the light of the gospel, and the Boardwalk Chapel provides this in such a unique and important way. The Boardwalk Chapel has just wrapped up another fruitful summer! Over 175 Chapel volunteers representing
by Molly Rose Youth Group Leader, Covenant OPC, Orland Park, IL “Once a king or queen in Narnia,” Pastor Jim Zozzaro quipped as we stood around a makeshift dining table in a dingy screened-in back patio for our Friday night debrief. “Everyone who visits is forever part of the Chapel family.” And so it has felt to me. For five years, the
by Trish Duggan OPC Short-Term Missions and Disaster Response Communications Coordinator Summer conjures up thoughts of longer, warmer, less stressful days. On paper it can appear to be a less productive time, but the somewhat slower pace allows for the Committee on Diaconal Ministries to concentrate on some crucial, behind the scenes work, as their duties continue to expand. David Nakhla, in addition to his duties
The first ever Boardwalk Chapel Street Preaching Conference has come to a close. Over 4 days, up to 25 people have been trained in street preaching and evangelism and have gone out onto the Boardwalk. People seeking to grow in evangelism traveled from as far as Alabama and Georgia, and from closer to home: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania. The faithful preaching of
by Tom Pfeil 2020 Evangelism Coordinator, The Boardwalk Chapel, Wildwood, NJ It is important to understand that what makes the evangelism joys so sweet is the repetitive rejection that we experience often while witnessing. Often in preaching, I will hear preachers speak of instances when “God moved.” The Bible teaches us that God the Holy Spirit is always proactive when
Mike, from Heritage PCA, has been coming with his church to the Boardwalk Chapel for four years! Mike plays bass on stage, performs gospel skits, and evangelizes every night with the staff. “What I love most about the Chapel is being able to evangelize to people on the boardwalk. At the Chapel, there are so many ways that we, the
This past summer was Athan’s first time coming to the Chapel with his youth group. One of his favorite aspects of the Chapel was being able to take part in the programs. For those who don’t know, the Boardwalk Chapel’s nightly programs run for an hour and a half, involving evangelistic music, skits, and word segments. Athan said that he
Lucie, from one of our youth groups, has been serving at the Chapel for four years. Each summer she comes back with an excitement to be able to serve alongside her youth group and the Boardwalk Chapel staff. Each summer, Lucie’s faith is deeply encouraged by the staff and the things that she is able to learn. Through the staff’s
Sam is a Boardwalk Chapel alumni who was on staff in 2018 and served on the evangelism team. Prior to him coming on staff, Sam came to the BWC for the first time in 2017 with his youth group. That year at the Chapel was the year that Sam became a Christian, praise God! It was because of one of
Lauren from New Hope OPC in Maryland shares her recent experience at The Boardwalk Chapel. “I have been coming to the Chapel for 6 years with my youth group. Every year, while being at the Chapel, I love seeing the staff’s infectious love for the Lord. It is such a joy to be able to serve alongside them for the
Rachel, from New Hope OPC in Maryland, shares about her recent experience at the Boardwalk Chapel: “Hi everyone! I have been coming to the Chapel for 5 years now with my youth group. What I love most about being at the BWC is the community that you create when you are here. You truly feel like a family, both with
Elanor from the Harvest PCA Team at the Boardwalk Chapel writes, “This was my 6th year coming to the Chapel with my youth group! I absolutely love the true sense of fellowship that I’ve only ever felt at the chapel. It really feels like all the bloat of modern church life falls away, and I feel connected to the disciples
Meet This Summer’s Boardwalk Chapel House Parents: Michael & Melissa Spangler by Sarah Klazinga This article was originally posted on www.opc.org Michael and Melissa Spangler with their sons, Michael, Jr. (4), and Josiah (2). Boardwalk Chapel House Parents take care of the staff throughout the summer, discipling them, caring for them as they’re away from their homes and churches, and
This article was originally posted on opc.org. by Trish Duggan Fun (and evangelizing) in the sun? It almost seems impossible with all that’s going on these days, but it may still be. This year is certainly different for OPC Short-Term Missions. We may be down, but we’re not out. If you were thinking of a missions’ trip, but it was
How Can You Pray for Our Missionaries? As some of our fields anticipate not being able to welcome teams and friends this summer as they normally do, would you commit to pray for each of our missionaries? Feel free to use the schedule below, if you find it helpful: Week of April 22: for the Boardwalk Chapel as they prepare for
January 3-10, 2020: For the first time, the Boardwalk Chapel band is going on tour! They’ll be performing at six OPC churches in five states…
Two Boardwalk Chapel Ministry Team members’ testimonials appeared in the October 2019 issue of the OPC’s New Horizons magazine…
I still think of what God may be doing in the lives of those to whom we witnessed. We didn’t go alone onto the boardwalk on those evenings, neither do we go alone in anything we do. God calls us and equip us to the tasks he has given us…
It is the Boardwalk Chapel’s last official weekend of the summer as we wrap up with Fri-Sat night concerts and continue the process of collecting feedback, thinking and praying over the summer’s events…
We must remember, whenever we are doing outreach, of any sort, that these works are not our own. And, even more, that God is sovereign. He will guide us to the right conversations, he will make sure and certain that we say the right things and the right times. It’s not our own works that bring men to Christ…
Fun video of members of the Chapel staff and friends standing on the boardwalk looking into the Chapel, singing along with the team performing on stage…
Kyle Learn created this excellent video on the ministry of the Boardwalk Chapel…
Remembering Twenty-Five Summers at The Boardwalk Chapel by Ron Elwell The Elwell Family at The Chapel in 2006. For twenty-five years groups of young people and adults from Faith Church in Pole Tavern, NJ have traveled to Wildwood, NJ to participate in the ministry of the Boardwalk Chapel at the end of the summer. Truthfully, support and participation in the
Boardwalk Chapel, Wildwood, NJ: We had about three hours of training every day, and the staff really pushed us out of our comfort zones. We learned about different kinds of questions to ask while evangelizing, and we also practiced giving a gospel presentation in under three minutes…
Imagine a whole summer of church camp and living with a bunch of young people who love the Lord and love to serve Him, all rolled into one …
A selection of photos from the summer of 2019 at the Boardwalk Chapel in Wildwood, NJ …
Boardwalk Chapel, Wildwood, NJ: I was nervous at first when going out onto the Boardwalk to evangelize, but when we actually got out there and started talking with people, I felt energized. I was inspired, and felt as though I could walk up to anyone and present them with the good news of Jesus Christ…
Boardwalk Chapel, Wildwood, NJ: Fun photos from the album put together by the Ministry Team that served during Week Four…
Boardwalk Chapel, Wildwood, NJ: Walking away from the conversation, I remember this feeling of pure joy and excitement. Here was an example of God using me to bring people closer to himself…
One of the best opportunities for short-term missions in the OPC is at the Boardwalk Chapel in Wildwood, New Jersey…
The Boardwalk Chapel is truly a “don’t miss” opportunity for anyone wanting to sharpen their faith and strengthen their evangelism…
I would recommend a stay at the Chapel for anyone wishing to grow in their gifts in a challenging way…
Anyone who wonders what a Ministry Week at the Boardwalk Chapel looks like, will get a very good idea from this blog…
I saw a message in the S.T.O.R.M. Report about the need for a small group to do some projects at the Boardwalk Chapel in Wildwood, New Jersey. After making plans with Rich Seither, the Chapel’s property manager, the six of us headed down to Wildwood…
One night on the boardwalk after the nightly program, we went out to evangelize. This time was different because as we prayed we asked our Heavenly Father for soft hearts to receive the Gospel. So, on a calm cool night not only did we meet soft hearts, but other groups said the same as well…
The Boardwalk Chapel started in July 1945. The work continues to this day with the efforts of trained staff and volunteers who proclaim the good news of the Lord Jesus Christ all summer long…
We received biblical training, spent much time in prayer, and enjoyed sweet Christian fellowship, both amongst our team and with the Boardwalk staff. The staff was amazing; I had never been amongst a group of young people that lived and breathed and radiated the love of Christ like they did…
To raise funds for it youth group to travel to Wildwood, New Jersey, and serve as a Ministry Team at the Boardwalk Chapel this summer, Covenant OPC (Orland Park, IL), replicated the atmosphere and nightly program of the Boardwalk Chapel…
Jesus commands us to go out and make disciples. We must be bold in proclaiming the gospel. I really enjoyed my time at the Boardwalk Chapel and I was definitely strengthened and encouraged. I really hope I can come next year . . .
As we drove back to Wildwood, we spent some time praising God for the fruitful conversations we’d shared in and praying for the people we’d talked to . . .
My wife, Natalie, and I joined the caravan of high-schoolers heading down to Wildwood, New Jersey. In God’s providence, our trip to the Boardwalk Chapel taught us not only about the youth group, but also about the value of short-term mission trips . . .
Boardwalk Chapel newsletters (now called “Prayer and Praise Bulletins”) include openings for leaders, staff, musicians, youth groups, skilled volunteers; news items; prayer requests; info on how to donate, and more…
A Ministry Team is a church group that comes to the OPC’s Boardwalk Chapel in Wildwood, NJ, for a week at a time, from Saturday to Saturday, between mid-June and early September, to serve alongside the Full Time Volunteer Staff in carrying out the ministry of the Boardwalk Chapel . . .
I (used to) have a very small, enclosed bubble of what I was comfortable doing and who I was comfortable talking to. Going on the trip would mean essentially popping that bubble and doing things far outside my comfort zone . . .
Boardwalk Chapel 2017
I think I can speak for all of us when I say that we had a time we will never forget! Daily working for the Lord, praying, learning, singing, performing skits, living like a little family, were just some of the highlights of the week . . .
NEW HORIZONS, February 2017: The opportunities for outreach in Wildwood are truly endless. With the Lord providing more manpower and increased resources each year, we hope to use the practical gifts we have been given to work harder for the kingdom of Jesus . . .
More than anything else, this summer at the Chapel was characterized by one word: prayer. We prayed more intentionally, regularly, spontaneously, and fervently than we did last summer or at any other time or place I have ever seen . . .
The words of a song can draw people in and bring them to a better understanding of Christ, but so can faces full of joy! When you see a young adult smiling, singing proudly, and worshipping Jesus on stage, you can tell that there is something different about him or her . . .
Boardwalk Chapel 2016 (Set 3 of 3)
Boardwalk Chapel 2016 (Set 2 of 3)
Boardwalk Chapel 2016
Here at the Boardwalk Chapel we aren’t just another group of young Christians on a summer mission’s trip. The Boardwalk Chapel is different. We live together in one house as a community of believers, and each night we perform a program at the Chapel so we can share with people walking along the Boardwalk the love and joy that Christ
Boardwalk Chapel 2016 (Set 1 of 3)
In this brief video, Susanna Buckley, Pro-Life Coordinator at the Boardwalk Chapel, explains her role and shares some of the materials designed to help her bring hope and truth to those seeking answers about abortion and life . . .
Boardwalk Chapel 2016
NEW HORIZONS, June 2016: As an international hot spot, Wildwood is particularly ripe with opportunity for young believers to proclaim the gospel boldly while learning to face culture shock for future mission endeavors . . .
Following the nightly Chapel services, teams of Chapel workers stroll the boardwalk, striking up conversations with strangers about Christianity. The first few times you do this, every doubt you’ve ever had about the Christian faith is drawn to the forefront of your mind . . .
My visit to the chapel influenced me in more ways than I ever anticipated it would, and I’ve come to see Christianity from many new perspectives that continue to build my relationships with God and his people . . .
No other week has given me greater proof that God is active in His relationship with me. I came to the Chapel looking to be revitalized with a stronger passion for Christ, and the Spirit answered my prayers far beyond what I could have ever expected . . .
Boardwalk Chapel 2015
We just want to say “thank you” to the volunteers who are helping the Boardwalk Chapel get spruced up for the summer season . . .
The Boardwalk Chapel ministry has blessed countless people from all over the world, both saved and unsaved, and the Lord has sustained and grown many disciples within its walls. All this, and much more, I have been blessed to know firsthand . . .
Boardwalk Chapel 2014
Amidst this burst of physical exhaustion, the Spirit fills us up. On a personal level, there is no way to survive the summer intact without fleeing to the feet of the God we walk the boards to proclaim. This reliance on Christ as well as our brothers and sisters in Christ brings joy-filled fellowship . . .
As always, God does and will continue to provide for the Chapel and His ministry. Thank you so much for all help, consideration, and prayer . . .
Jon W. Stevenson, long-time Director of the Boardwalk Chapel ministry in Wildwood, New Jersey, retired on March 31, 2013 . . . “It all began for me as a college student with the giving of a testimony on the Chapel stage in 1967 . . .”
We had other plans for the summer – but God had one that was better than anything we could have imagined. Our work at the Chapel has given us a deeper appreciation for missions and evangelism . . .