The 2024 Twenty-Somethings Greece mission trip was such a powerful and impactful time! Serving 150 Greek high schoolers at camp and serving alongside the Greek leaders was so fun! Not only was it fun to serve and experience the trip with folks I have the privilege of shepherding, it was cool to see God working in each of them and growing them throughout the trip. As we often say, mission trips can often be as much about growing those going on the trip as it can be for the people they minister to. This trip was no different.
A particular moment on the trip illustrated this for me. After preaching for the camp, a young Greek camper began to ask me many questions about the existence of God. He and I talked about many evidences for God’s existence. After a little bit, I told him that the best way to see evidence of God’s existence was to see how Jesus had brought about transformation in the lives of people. I shared some of my testimony with him.
After hearing my testimony, the young camper turned to a PV Twenty-Somethings young woman who had been listening to our conversation. She is incredibly shy and has a very tough life story and testimony. The camper looked at her and said, “How has Jesus changed your life?” The young woman’s eyes got big and you could almost hear her inner dialogue with herself: “Am I really going to share my testimony? That’s scary! I’m not sure if I can do this!” But suddenly I watched resolve take over and she proceeded to share her full testimony in beautiful vulnerability. Her words had a profound impact on the Greek camper and so much more so than any sermon I could’ve preached!
I watched my team member take a big spiritual next step that day. God used that step in a powerful way in the life of the Greek camper. That moment in itself made the whole trip worth it! God was gracious to provide us countless moments like that. We all came home from the trip tired (2 weeks of 4-5 hours of sleep and heavy physical labor is tiring!) but deeper in love with Jesus!
While I was participating in PV’s Mission Engagement weekend last fall, I heard about Love INC from a friend, who I had previously served with in another area. She shared some information about the organization and the following week I went for an on-site visit. I started volunteering right away – that was 16 months ago and I love it. You can find me there pretty much every Monday working alongside a small, but mighty staff and great group of volunteers.
Love INC is a national organization, and our local affiliate partners with area churches, other agencies, and like-minded individuals to help Clay County, MO residents who need help paying their rent and/or utility bills due to an emergency or unforeseen circumstance. Families who are working to get back on their feet are given baby supplies (if needed) and a six-month supply of hygiene and household products. Love INC is a Happy Bottoms partner and through that partnership can help keep a lot of babies in diapers! Love INC also comes alongside families who come to the program spiritually through prayer and connection.
Events are held throughout the year to benefit families, including Kits for Kids which is happening now. Kits for Kids provides hygiene kits for high-school kids as they get ready to go back to school. Kits are provided by donors and distributed by volunteers right here in our community, benefiting kids in Liberty and Kearney schools.
I witness God at work every day, not only in the lives of the families Love INC is able to support, but also in our partner churches, volunteers, and individual donors. The ministry of Love INC could not be done without them. When our Executive Director puts out a call for needed pantry items, Christmas family adoptions, or anything else, donors show up with bags of supplies that can be shared with families.
God is also faithful to provide volunteers and staff with wisdom and discernment as they meet with every person who comes in. Sadly, not can’t everyone can be helped and there are always more requests for help than can be provided. When that happens, we do our best to provide someone with alternate agencies that may be able to help. We pray with them or give them a hug if they are open to it – but it’s never easy to turn someone away. More donors and volunteers are always needed.
The need is great, but our God is greater. By volunteering at Love INC, my faith continues to grow as I am witness to His faithfulness and serve Him by serving others. I’ve also met some amazing people who are a witness to his faithfulness as they battle through difficult circumstances in His strength. If you are interested to learn more about Love INC or want to get involved, please visit our office or our website: www.loveincofclaycounty.org.
We first heard about Greece from our community group leaders, Gary and Vicki Hostin, about six years ago. Immediately, we were interested and ready to go, but God said wait. We later found out why. During the next two years, Sean had a heart attack, our oldest son Austin took his life, our daughter Katie was diagnosed with a chronic illness, we started fostering our three grandsons, and our other son Dylan decided it was time he move out to adult. It was a rough couple of years and we couldn’t have gotten through any of it without God and our community group. We never stopped wanting to go to Greece but life just kept getting in the way.
Last year Gary and Vicki invited us again and we decided it was time-life was about as calm as it was ever going to get. This team was going to teach marriage workshops and wanted us to tell our story. It was hard to imagine anyone wanting to hear our story halfway across the world but wow, were we wrong! It was amazing to meet all of these strangers who were so kind, understanding and appreciative that we made the trip just to talk to them-strangers no more. God is so amazing! We saw these churches doing so much with so little. We were able to make fast friends with the other members on our team and with them, meet so many people and talk to them about the difference having God in our marriages has made.
We also met a few refugees and heard their stories, helped feed the homeless, and went on a prayer walk. Everyday we saw God’s work, His love and His plans being lived out in a real way. We believe we got more out of the trip than the people that we went to help (and the food, forget about it…amazing! ). In the end, we realized that God originally said wait-not no-but wait. Our story wasn’t ready five years ago and we wouldn’t have had the impact that we were able to have at this moment.
So in God’s timing, not ours, we were finally able to go to Greece to meet people and serve in a way we never imagined. Would we recommend it to others? Absolutely! Do we want to go back? We started talking about coming back before we even left! For two weeks we did life together with strangers who became friends and friends who became family. It was a beautiful experience-life changing really…and if God is calling you to go, then what are you waiting for?
In February of 2024, I had the opportunity to travel on a two-week mission trip to encourage and enable ministry leaders in India. I was invited by Pastor Brad Daniel to consider going on this trip. To be honest, I was hesitant at first given that I would have to take so much time off from work and travel so far. I kept talking with Brad about the trip though, and he shared more details about what we would be doing while we were there. The focus for this team was primarily to teach about different topics such as Leadership, Spiritual Formation, and Christian Ethics.
I typically serve within the church in a behind-the-scenes role that does not include front-and-center teaching and was not sure I would be a good fit for this team. Through my conversations with Brad, I realized God had been preparing me for this trip through my job as a software consultant. Through my position, I have had the opportunity to grow in my public speaking skills and gain confidence by speaking at conferences and in key sales deals-these were skills I knew I could use on the mission field in India.
By going on this trip, I learned that God puts each one of us in a specific place and gifts us with specific skill sets for a reason and can use us to grow His kingdom. Maybe God is calling you to use your skills on the mission field? He called me and I hope you will reflect on how you can be used to advance God’s kingdom globally.
Last October, I embarked on a journey that pushed me far beyond my comfort zone and into the heart of Sierra Leone, Africa. Initially, the idea of traveling to an unknown country, with its different food and lodging, stirred up fears within me. Yet, what unfolded during my time there was nothing short of extraordinary.
From the moment I set foot in Sierra Leone, I was welcomed with open arms by warm and hospitable people. Despite our differences in culture and background, there was an undeniable hunger among them—to hear the stories of God’s word. What struck me the most was their eagerness to explore a religion different from Islam.
During our time together, we shared the miraculous stories of Jesus. I witnessed firsthand how they eagerly absorbed every word and lesson. Their dedication to learning and enthusiasm in practicing and retelling these stories were truly inspiring. It was as if a spark had been ignited within them, compelling them to go forth and share these stories with others in their community. Through this experience, I was reminded of the transformative power of faith and the universal language of love.
Yes, the journey was challenging, and there were moments of discomfort and uncertainty. But looking back, I am filled with gratitude for having had the opportunity to be a part of something so much greater than myself. It was a journey of self-discovery, of stepping outside my comfort zone, and embracing the unknown for God’s kingdom.
To anyone considering joining a mission trip to Sierra Leone or any other unfamiliar destination, I wholeheartedly encourage you to take the leap of faith. Yes, it may be daunting at first, but the rewards are immeasurable. You will not only impact the lives of others but also experience a profound transformation within yourself.
I am forever grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of this life-changing journey. May we continue to spread God’s love and light wherever our paths may lead us.
Almost 8 years ago, the Lord prompted me to pick up a family walking alongside the road. It was an uncontrollable urge to pull over and trust that He would protect me and my girls from any harm. I listened and an unexpected relationship formed over the next 17 months. The family happened to be homeless and hopping from place to place; the boys were 1 and 3 years old and the young mother was pregnant again. My family joined me in my calling to help this family, and God knew my heart and planted me in their lives to show His deep love for them. Addiction and abuse ended up separating the parents and moving the boys to foster care. The mother needed a safe place to heal and overcome addiction.
Hillcrest is an organization in Liberty that provides housing and stability to those in need, working to get them back on their feet and stand on their own.
Their mission is to empower the homeless and working poor to achieve personal independence through transitional housing, accountability, education, and community support. The young mother was accepted into the 90-day program, where she was required to work full time, follow program guidelines and attend volunteer-taught classes in life skills, employment, community living and budgeting. She was given a new start and eventually got her boys back.
I witnessed first hand the transformational impact that Hillcrest has on people in need. Through this experience, I believe God revealed my calling and deepest desires to serve the undeserving, under-privileged and marginalized in this world. The place God calls me to is the place where my deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.
I have served Hillcrest with my community group as a sponsor to Apartment #1 for 6 years. We prepare the apartment for tenants by cleaning, repairing and furnishing for a welcoming stay. We stock the apartment with groceries, pantry items and kitchen items, as well as a welcoming meal on the first day. Most importantly, we get to build a caring and supportive relationship with each tenant that aligns with the Hillcrest mission, and God’s commandment for us to love one another.
I am often reminded of the young mother who always wanted to give her boys a better life, and Hillcrest was a transformational experience for her family and continues to be for so many others.
