2022 HOMETOWN HEROES MAGAZINE

2022 Hometown HEROES Magazine LINCOLN DAILY NEWS May / June 2022 Page 21 later, here we are entering the next season of Open Arms.” For Carlton, reaching and loving the community is why Open Arms is here. He said one vision is to reach the lost and raise future leaders. In August, Crawford said they will be launching another outreach with Celebrate Recovery, which helps people overcome hurts, habits and hang ups. The ministry of Open Arms expands beyond Lincoln. Crawford calls Open Arms a local church with a global impact both nationally and internationally. He considers that a model for the church seen in the book of Acts chapters 2, 11 and 13 where people were being set apart to reach people. One way the local church provides global impact is by having Cadmiel Santana translate Crawford’s sermons into Spanish. Santana is from Puerto Rico and often goes with Crawford on mission trips to interpret. Recently, Crawford and Cadmiel did an international conference online for ministers in Nicaragua. As part of their goal to make disciples of all nations, the church partners with HopeCo in Tanzania, Africa. Crawford has travelled to both Tanzania and Kenya more than once to minister to people there. Crawford has made other trips through World Christian Outreach. Additionally, Crawford has made eight trips to the Dominican Republic preaching and doing evangelistic crusades. On trips in 2018, 2019 and 2021, Crawford said big groups from the congregation joined him, leading VBS and doing various projects. During his travels, Crawford has taught pastors at international conferences. Carlton said recently Crawford has continued to do that remotely. Through the various outreaches of the church, Crawford and his congregation are making a difference in the community. [Angela Reiners]