This year from Saturday, July 5th to Friday, July 18th, 2008 Operation Onesimus will be celebrating its 37th season of service in the Christadelphian community and has worked to train and encourage nearly 400 youth to be useful and active members of the body of Christ.  Onesimus gives young people the knowledge, skill, and experience they need to feel comfortable and more confident in working for the Lord.  Often our young people have an unmatched passion and energy for God’s work, yet may lack the necessary experience and direction for their enthusiasm and energy. The Onesimus Program offers intensive Bible training as well as service opportunities in ecclesial settings and in public preaching to the surrounding communities.  The program gives young people the tools and experience they need to continue as confident and effective preachers in Christ.

   The Onesimus program consists of two major components.  First, there is a two-week training period devoted to intensive Bible study with 5-7 classes a day.  The teachers focus on spiritual growth and challenge young people to make their faith a tangible and practical part of their daily lives.  Interactive classes also teach the students practical skills such as how to handle many of the common questions that arise while preaching to non-believers.

   Following the training, a core group of young brothers and sisters go on to form the Onesimus Full Program Team. The team travels for most of July and possibly August, serving in host ecclesias, Bible schools, and youth camps.  They focus their energy on ecclesial in-reach activities such as Vacation Bible Schools, visiting and assisting the elderly, or babysitting kids for a parents night out.  There are also external preaching efforts organized by the host ecclesias which may include Bible classes in coffee houses, hymn sings in public parks, and leafleting for Reading Your Bible More Effectively Seminars.  Each team brings its own energy and enthusiasm to the ecclesias while the ecclesias, in turn are examples to the team.  Both the young people and the ecclesias benefit and strengthen each other in the Lord.