The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
– Luke 4:18-19
Coming home from a mission trip is always an adjustment. The emotional and spiritual processing that needs to happen after witnessing God move in such powerful ways takes time. This trip—Mission Partners For Christ’s third to this particular island nation—was unlike anything our teams had experienced before.
In this particular country, sharing the gospel openly can result in imprisonment. Local believers risk everything when they choose to follow Christ. In past trips, local missionaries we partnered with were very careful about how they shared the gospel. But this time around, God was up to something.
For the first time, they weren’t hiding. They were not taking people behind buildings to share secretly. We had translators hearing gospel conversations in their vehicles as we travelled from one village to the next. We established a visible prayer and counseling area where our local partner Rachel (more on her later) boldly shared about Jesus with anyone who would listen.
The transformation was remarkable. Seven people professed faith in Christ, with two of our translators showing interest in learning more about Jesus. God was clearly opening doors.
Left to right: Heather, Dr. Kim, Jen, Robbie, Sheri, Christine, Tammy,
Sheila, Rosemary, Denise, Mitchell
Voices for the Persecuted
Among the most inspiring people they encountered was a local believer we will call Rachel (not her real name for security reasons). Rachel represents the courage and faith that thrives even in the face of persecution. As a woman who has boldly declared her faith in Christ, her entire community knows she is a believer—and they haven’t all been receptive to her decision.
Rachel’s boldness has come at a significant cost. She was actually imprisoned for sharing her faith, spending several days in jail where she courageously shared the gospel with 37 male inmates before being released with a warning not to share about Jesus for six months. But Rachel’s heart for evangelism couldn’t be silenced.
During our team’s visit, Rachel rode with us to the different villages, using every opportunity to share the gospel with our translators and anyone else who would listen. She served as a powerful example of what it means to count the cost and follow Christ regardless of the consequences.
Rachel embodies the kind of bold faith that transforms communities. Her willingness to share despite the personal cost demonstrates that the gospel’s power transcends any government’s ability to suppress it.
Rachel wasn’t alone. Other bold believers came alongside us to also share what Jesus means to them.
A few of the believers Sheri has come to know over the years have shown incredible growth in faith. One young man who became a Christian on their first trip six years ago—whose father and grandfather are mosque leaders—was initially afraid to be seen with Mission Partners For Christ. This time, he came out the first day and stayed to help for three consecutive days, no longer hiding his faith.
These long-term relationships are what make mission work sustainable. It’s not just about providing medical care and leaving; it’s about partnership, discipleship, and watching God work in people’s lives over years, not just days.
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When Heaven Touches Earth
Sometimes God chooses to reveal His power in undeniable ways. On their fourth day, in the most beautiful village setting overlooking the Indian Ocean, an 11-year-old deaf boy was brought to their medical station. Normally, nurse practitioner Rosemary, who often volunteers on our medical mission trips, only saw adults, but something prompted her to take this child.
When they discovered the boy was completely deaf, Rosemary called Sheri over to pray with her. They laid hands on his ears and prayed simply, trusting the Holy Spirit to move. Immediately—not gradually, but immediately—the boy could hear perfectly.
They had him answer questions to test his hearing, and then asked him to say “Jesus is Lord.” Clear as day, he repeated those words.
Moments like these remind everyone why they go. They remind them that the God they serve is still in the miracle business.
Tangible Impact, Village by Village
The scope of our medical outreach was extraordinary. Over the course of five days, we served five different villages, treating a total of 1,408 patients with 247 people attending prayer and counseling sessions. Seven individuals made decisions to follow Christ.
For security reasons, we can’t share the actual country or village names, but here’s a glimpse of the daily impact:
Day 1: our medical mission team treated 212 people, including 34 children. Thirty individuals attended prayer and counseling, with four making decisions for Christ.
Day 2: The largest single day brought 433 patients—212 children and 221 adults. Sixty people participated in prayer and counseling, with one person accepting Christ.
Day 3: We provided care to 421 patients (110 children and 311 adults). Fifty people attended counseling sessions, and two accepted Christ.
Day 4: We served two villages. In the first, our team treated 145 people (105 adults and 40 children)—this was where the miraculous healing of the deaf boy occurred. In the second village, our medical professionals cared for 251 patients (54 children and 197 adults), with an incredible 107 people attending prayer and counseling.
These numbers represent real people—mothers seeking healthcare for their children, elderly individuals needing medication, and hearts open to hearing about hope.
On our final day, we enjoyed a boat ride on the Indian Ocean to see the beautiful volcanic landscape of the island. Though we didn’t spot any dolphins, the team had a wonderful time swimming and taking in the stunning views.
Even when one of our boats hit a wave and capsized, everyone stayed safe thanks to their life jackets, and we were able to recover all belongings. It turned into an unexpected swimming adventure for those who hadn’t planned to get in the water, and a fun time was had by all!
The Power of Cultural Sensitivity
One of the most meaningful compliments they received came from a local translator who thanked their team for dressing appropriately and wearing head coverings. “It means a lot to us that you’re trying to adapt to our culture,” he said.
This attention to cultural sensitivity isn’t just about following rules—it’s about love. It’s about showing respect for the people they’re called to serve. It’s about removing barriers so the gospel can be clearly heard without cultural distractions.
The Ongoing Impact
The medical care our team provided was significant—treating hundreds of patients across five villages, addressing everything from basic health education to complex medical needs. We provided valuable health education on topics like hepatitis, HIV, malaria prevention, and general hygiene—knowledge that will benefit these communities long after their departure.
We also left behind audio Bibles in the local language, funded by team member Rosemary’s nonprofit organization, Momentum in Missions. Our team helped to facilitate and strengthen relationships with local believers who continue to meet secretly for fellowship and growth. They encouraged missionaries who have been faithfully serving for years, sometimes with little visible fruit.
And they came home changed. Again.
A Challenge to Grow
One thing that sets our organization apart from other medical mission groups is our weeks-long spiritual preparation process. While many mission organizations simply gather their teams at the airport, we spend weeks studying together, praying together, and building relationships through emails, zoom calls, and our WhatsApp group before we ever leave the country.
As one seasoned missionary traveler on the team told them, “This is the first time where I actually did spiritual preparation prior to the trip”—and she goes on five mission trips a year with various organizations. This intentional preparation creates unified teams and hearts ready to be used by God in powerful ways.
Are you ready to join us on a life-changing trip?
If you’ve been considering missions, ask yourself this question: Do you actually want to grow spiritually? Because if the answer is yes, if you’re willing to be stretched and challenged and changed, then mission work will transform you in ways you never imagined.
You’ll see God heal a deaf boy with a simple prayer. You’ll watch former Muslims boldly share their faith despite the risk of imprisonment. You’ll experience the deep joy of partnerships that span cultures and continents.
You’ll also face unexpected challenges and navigate difficult situations. But in the midst of it all, you’ll discover that the God who called you to go is the same God who sustains you, protects you, and uses you in ways far beyond your abilities.
And you’ll come home different. Forever changed. Ready to step into whatever purpose God has for you next.
