Croatia Family Team
Each year we have the pleasure of traveling to the beautiful country of Croatia and partnering with Darko and Gorana Mikulic in the city of Slavonski Brod to put on a series of community events called Brodsko Sidro (Ships Anchor). Each day we hold a morning VBS for elementary age children, an afternoon sports camp for middle school to high school age students, and in the evenings, we hold community events in their downtown area such as Bingo, Just Dance on a giant 30 ft screen, and a game based on the TV show Amazing Race which engages local businesses in our events. This trip is relationship built and the children expect us each year to come back next year. We can’t count how many times we heard the phrase “See you next year!”. The hope is to connect these precious children with Darko and Gorana who will be there throughout the year to help care for their spiritual growth as well as show these little hearts and minds the love of Christ through us and point them to Jesus.
Amy Bellwood
Peru Family Team
Our consistent objective of the Peru family team mission trip each year is to provide “wind and water” to our partner church, relationally encouraging and supporting their staff and members as we join them in the work that God is doing through them. This summer our family team locked arms in multiple ministries with staff and members of the church in Comas, reaching out to and serving the surrounding communities in practical ways. We experienced God working in specific, tangible ways every day of the trip – from creating meaningful connections to drawing others into a personal, living relationship with Jesus and/or healing deep wounds.
We taught English at several public schools in various classes and shared a devotional with all the teachers. As part of the inauguration of a covenant between one of the local public schools and the Christian Missionary Alliance Church in Comas, we joined the pastors in a special celebration with the school’s administration and teachers.
With the continued growth and expansion in the Savings and Credit Association (SCA) groups at the church, we were able to visit a new savings group at the very top of a mountain, climbing higher than we have in all previous years. It was exhilarating to experience this group in the beginning stages of life transformation!
We also participated in the first combined gathering of all the community kitchen volunteers, held at the Ano Nuevo daughter church. The church was packed, and it was a glorious time of fun, laughter, prayer, and praise.
We contributed to activities within the church including a marriage conference (where our team shared testimony through word and dance), a senior adult service, several kids’ clubs, and teaching all of the elementary and high school students at the Jack Goldfarb School.
Sandy Butters
FSM Guatemala Team
Our team’s focus was to be Christ-centered, present, and joyful throughout our trip. Our students led VBS at an elementary and middle school with the theme “you are loved”, sharing about God’s love for each person and how we are called to love others. Our students also got to know families in the community through home visits, being able to build relationships, share their testimonies with, and pray over the families. On our final day we got to spend time building relationships, playing games, and sharing testimonies with the higher education program students. God worked in specific ways in the hearts of each of our students, reminding them that He sees them, loves them, and is using them for His glory.
Stephanie Todd
FSM Slovenia Team
This summer, FSM continued our partnership with Josiah Venture’s Fusion camp in Celje, Slovenia. Our team joined native Slovenes to show the love of Jesus to middle and high school students. Fusion is year-round relational ministry that uses fine arts as a tool and this camp is just the cherry on top! One of the best parts of our trip was watching our students own their unique giftings to connect with Slovenes so that the seed of the Gospel could begin to take root. Thank you for your support and prayers!
Amy Moore
Greece Team
Fellowship Bible Church supports Johnathan Macris and his mission in Greece through Hellenic Ministries. Our trips have mainly been to participate in and support the mission of Operation Joshua (OJ). OJ is typically about one week long and takes place in July each year; the goal is to place a New Testament in modern Greek in every home in every village and town across rural Greece. Hundreds of people from all around the world come to Greece to participate in this incredible undertaking. Hellenic Ministries has divided the country into manageable-sized areas based on census data, to organize the effort among all the drivers. Drivers lead teams in vans and cars to their predetermined villages, and at the end of the day, we share a meal and highlight the day’s progress, celebrate divine appointments, and praise God for the work He is doing across Greece. These evenings are translated between English and Greek and provide incredible unity to the teams, who will scatter again tomorrow to do more of the same.
This year was unique in that by the close of OJ week 2023, every home in every village across rural Greece had been visited by someone participating in Operation Joshua to distribute the Word of God to these beautiful people. This herculean evangelistic work has taken over 15 years to accomplish. Over 1.5 million New Testaments have been given to the Greek people who live in a land where the Apostle Paul first began to spread the Good News of Jesus and from where it would eventually reach the western world for our very own eyes and ears. Praise God from Whom all blessings flow.
JB Palmer
FSM Peru Team
Before leaving for Peru, I watched excitedly as the FSM students’ nerves rose because I knew that meant there was so much room for the Lord to work. After 10 days I witnessed students who came in quiet and shy, be confident and faithful, initiating prayer over Peruvians. Students were encouraging one another and pressing into the unfamiliar. Good is good and He changed the lives of our FSM students.
We had the opportunity to visit a special needs school, evangelize in the mountains, share our testimonies, pray over Peruvians and each other, and worship together as a USA and Peruvian family.
Lauren Ummel
