Friends in Action International (FIA), a local nonprofit headquartered in Middletown, will hold its 2022 Missions Banquets in celebration of 30 years of ministry. Community members may attend on Friday, Oct. 28, at 6 p.m. at Lebanon Valley Bible Church, 1482 Horseshoe Pike, Lebanon, or Saturday, Oct. 29, at 5 p.m. at the Sheraton Harrisburg Hershey Hotel, 4650 Lindle Road. Each event will include a buffet dinner, giveaway drawings, games, prizes, music, and testimonies. The keynote speakers will be Mike and Ruth Butler, FIA field leaders to Papua New Guinea.

Guests will hear stories of God's faithfulness, provision, and protection during FIA's 30 years of ministry. In this time, more than 1 million people have had an opportunity to hear the Gospel; 300,000 people have learned about the Lord through approximately 2,000 partnering ministry projects; 5,000 donors have empowered transformation through financial investments in the Great Commission; and 2,700 missionaries have been assisted by various FIA services and projects to stay longer and reach farther.

To make reservations by Saturday, Oct. 1, visit http://www.fiaintl.org.

Currently at work on 10 projects in six countries, FIA supports mission work in areas of limited infrastructure worldwide by using construction projects and other practical services to spread the message of the Gospel to people who have never heard it before.

FIA's recent projects include establishing a relationship with the Rough and Tumble Threshermen (R&T) via R&T's connection with Rob Donley, Friends in Action International's (FIA) supervising mechanic. Donley has been attending R&T's Reunion show for 36 years - since he was 13 - and has displayed items at the show.

Donley went on his first trip with FIA in 2008 to Nicaragua, where FIA has been building houses, water systems, and a playground and meeting other community needs for the Rama Cay people since 2002. Donley returned to the same project in 2010 and 2012, and in 2017, he and his wife started to feel God calling them to full-time missions with FIA. In January 2021, Donley left his job at PennDOT and started his career as a full-time missionary.

Through its relationship with R&T, FIA will provide opportunities for blue collar workers and others to learn how they might use their trade skills in remote, off-the-grid regions of the world to advance the Gospel. Although the Reunion show occurred in August, Donley will attend R&T's "Time of Harvest" event on Saturday, Oct. 8, fresh from a trip to West Africa and Vanuatu, where he worked on servicing equipment and conducting preventive maintenance. The equipment in these countries helps to support construction projects and water well drilling efforts.

FIA is currently recruiting more volunteers for trips through the end of the year to West Africa, Vanuatu, Peru, and Nicaragua. All types of skilled and unskilled laborers are welcome.

The community is invited to join the efforts of FIA through prayer, by providing financial support, by donating construction materials, or by taking part in a short-term work trip. For more information, readers may contact FIA at 717-546-0208 or fia-usa@fiaintl.org or visit the aforementioned website.