Penn Valley church lending a hand south of the border

The Rev. Sandra Chipchase of Word-A-Live! Church in Penn Valley and three members of her congregation soon will touch the lives of orphans in Mexico.

Chipchase, Jerri Herrera, June Pearson and Kim Forrester are traveling with a humanitarian group from Channel of Love, a nonprofit evangelical association based in Redding. Herrera and Pearson have been on humanitarian trips with Channel of Love for the past three years.

"We are taking clothes, shoes and toys to five orphanages in the Tijuana area," Chipchase said. "During the day, we'll be administering the gospel to children. In the evening, we'll preach to the public."

Chipchase needs toys, clothes and shoes to take on her trip, she said. Donations must be mailed to Pastor Jose Solis at 162 Zenith Street, Chula Vista, Calif. 91911, Chipchase said.

The week-long trip starts July 21, so donations need to reach Chula Vista by July 19, she added.

"Missions are a passion with me ... whether it's on foreign soil or our own in America," Chipchase said. "I also love children and to be able to bless them, whether it's with a hug, a word of encouragement, a smile or a need. We are not always in touch with the world when we are in our own small world. (So) it's good to go and be a blessing to others."

Chipchase and her husband Mike started the Word-A-Live! Church in Penn Valley 16 years ago.

"We started the church in a cottage in the Western Gateway Park," she said. "We now own a 6,000-square-foot building right across the street from the Penn Valley fire department."

Word-A-Live! is a non-denominational church and has about 100 members.

"We encourage members of the congregation to give to missions, locally and out of the area," Chipchase said. "We have quite a few teenagers who go on mission trips. Charity is important in our church because it's one of our main areas of emphasis."

To contact Soumitro Sen, e-mail ssen@theunion.com or call 477-4229.