"Be still and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth." Ps. 46:10
What an astonishing command and reminder! Be still – in the midst of battle, stop, lay down your weapons, allow yourself to be weak, and let go. The past few months have been overwhelming, yet looking back, we can't help but marvel at how God made everything work. Had we insisted on our own way, it could have been a mess.
TEAM 4:5
First, we want to thank you so much for all your prayers, encouragement, and financial support. We couldn’t have done this without your partnership. Last year, our family took a vacation to the island of Palawan. We visited the place where Julie and I first met years ago, during a Teen Missions Team trip. That place has now transformed into a beautiful camp, where we stayed for a few nights and reconnected with old friends. In our conversations, the idea of running a summer camp came up, and as we prayed, we became certain that God wanted us to pursue it. And so, a vision we had for five years became a reality this year. TEAM 4:5 was born. What is TEAM 4:5? The vision is to create a short-term missions program that encapsulates the entire long-term missions process. Participants apply to be on a team, get recommended by their pastors, raise support, and are commissioned by their churches. At camp, they undergo a week of intense training: living in tents without cell phones, learning practical skills for ministry, and learning to work as a team. Following this, they head to their assigned teams for 15 days, serving alongside missionaries. They share the gospel, work on ministry projects, and, most importantly, experience God personally. Our hope is to see these participants return home as disciple-makers, ready to share what they have learned. Once their time in the field is complete, they return to camp for a 3-day debrief, where they reflect on their summer, learn how to share their experience, and apply their newfound knowledge in their home churches. This summer, we had 13 Filipino and 16 American participants spread across three different teams. Two of these teams stayed in Palawan and the international team went to Thailand. The Backpack Team (9 total), led by Gilmer (with Luke also on the team), traveled by van for 4 hours, stayed the night then hiked for 8 hours with all their gear up the mountain. They ministered to a tribal community, teaching basic literacy and building a multi-purpose structure to serve as both a school and a church. Gilmer injured his knee at training camp so plans had to adjust and his co-leaders picked up the slack and did an amazing job working as a team. The Boat Team (13 total), led by Tom, (the president of our partner organization- Royal Servants), traveled 6 hours by land and an additional 2 hours by boat to reach their remote island location. They visited different islands, evangelizing and leading Vacation Bible School programs. Then moved the second week to their next location doing the same ministries and partnering with the local pastors. The Thailand Team (7 total), led by Julie (with Josiah on the team), flew all day from Palawan to Chiang Mai, Thailand, and the next day another 8 hours by car to reach Mae Hong Son. They ministered to the unreached Shan Tribe, teaching English in schools and communities, and working with the children's home where they were staying.
We have seen God work miraculously this past summer. He answered prayers. He brought partners from both the U.S. and the Philippines, 3 volunteers (not on teams and entirely at their own expense) to help teach and run the entire program. He provided the finances needed for the participants and operational costs. The teams ran well, had only small health issues, did a wonderful job in their ministries, grew in their personal walks with the Lord, and came home on fire to serve God where He placed them. Their sending and supporting churches loved hearing the reports of how God worked and were also challenged themselves. We praise God for every participant who joined us this summer. We are so proud of them, it was a huge step of faith. One of the leaders stories is highlighted below.
Thank you for continuing to walk alongside us in this mission. Your prayers and support enable God’s work to thrive.
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