PHOTO: Paul Obregn
Orlando is the worlds number one tourist destination, with 46.2 million visitors each year. Resort missionaries Marc and Sandy Johnston see Orlando not only as a huge playground, but also as a mission field that reaches the world. Any day of the week youll find people from all over the world, says Marc. You name the country, we have people here from those locations. Its been so exciting here in Orlando because weve been able to touch literally hundreds of thousands of people each year who are from all over the world. Weve seen people from Holland, Wales, France, Germany, England, Braziljust to name a few!come to know Christ. Its been wonderful to see these people go back home and take Bibles and tracts in their own languages to their families and friends.
Marc and Sandy use a variety of ministries to reach out to the millions of people who visit Orlando each year. They provide chaplaincy service to several hotels in the area, they minister at major amusement parks, and they use creative arts at several other tourist locations. In the summertheir busiest timethey use a volunteer force of summer missionaries, sojourners, innovators and church mission groups to make an impact on the city.
We lead worship services at one of the major attractions in Orlando as well as some of the hotels. Its wonderful to be able to put together a worship service for the guests, says Marc. Many times the guests are from all over the world, so worship services at hotels and major attractions provide a church away from home for many guests.
The Johnstons have found that tourists are very open to hearing the gospel. Many are looking for a new experience, others are looking to get away from it all, and that makes them more open to new things. With our being in the tourist area we have an opportunity to plant seeds that otherwise would not have been planted, explains Marc.
The creative arts team they develop every summer is very important to their ministry. Performances include music, choreography, puppets, fire eating, juggling, clowning, whatever talents the people have to use as a way of ministryof reaching out with the gospel. Orlando is a major player in the entertainment industry, so you have to be very professional in what you do. Weve created a ministry team that we can offer to venues like Pointe Orlando or Watermania and some of the hotels, says Marc. We bill it as free family entertainment and use it as a way to connect with our audience.
As soon as the creative arts program is over, volunteers flood the audience so they can share one-on-one. Weve been able to plant many, many seeds like that, and we have seen people come to know Christ through these presentations.
As director of resort ministries, Marc supervises all the volunteers (about 1,500) who work in the resort ministries area. He also coordinates worship services and sets up ministry activities. We believe that all Christians are called to serve. Here in Orlando we have a great opportunity to show volunteers of all ages how to be on mission. Our youngest volunteer was six years old; our oldest, 84. We put them in places where they can share their faith in Jesus Christ and meet people where they are hurting. Part of our ministry is teaching volunteers how they can share their faith in the various settings where weve placed them.
During the summer, Sandy takes on a lot of the supervision of the summer missionaries. As the year goes along, she also participates in the fair ministry as a clown, face painter and balloon sculptor.
Marc and Sandy started their ministry in the Orlando area in 1994. We saw different kinds of people working from all different walks of life with different perspectives, and we just saw that as a huge opportunity to touch the world for Christ without ever leaving our doorstep, without ever leaving Orlando.
To find out how you can be involved in resort missions visit www.namb.net/beonmission/volunteers.