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Teams!
Recently a team from Sunbury, Ohio visited the Meyers and Bob Lesher in Macapá. Missionary Bob Lesher gave his personal take on the team’s visit for himself and for his church community. “Well, it’s pretty simple, I just appreciate people coming. It’s good to see people from my home church, especially my pastor. There’s an excitement about them coming. People responded during prayer ministry, which is rare in our church. So, the Spirit is really present and gives us a boost! I think the church gets an experience of the broader church without leaving home. They get to touch and hear people that have the same faith.”
Short-term international mission teams have the ability to make an extraordinary difference in the lives of the three parties involved, the people visiting, the missionaries, and the local community being visited.
The local community being visited feels uniquely blessed that people would spend their time and money to come and minister to them. Their expectation that God is going to move is heightened by this act of coming, being available, and loving on them even when language is a barrier.
The missionaries are encouraged with the interest in their day-to-day ministering. They feel loved on, listened to, and seen.
The people visiting receive a more ample worldview as their lifestyle assumptions are challenged by a different culture. They often feel more open to giving testimonies and serving outside their home environment. Few return unchanged.
In early July, a team from Puerto Rico visited the Blaylocks in João Pessoa and held a trauma and inner healing conference which was impactful to their work.
Currently, there is a team from Reynoldsburg, Ohio visiting the Dolans in Belém. Please be in prayer for this team and the team they will have in October.
Be encouraged to go on an adventure with a purpose with a short-term international mission team. Our church planting missionaries in Belém, João Pessoa, Macapá, or Palmas will have the coffee ready!
For more information about bringing a team, email Marsha Wilson – marsha.wilson@xingu.org
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