As the new year steadily approaches, I’m reminded of family that we create through our mutual relationship with God. In this way, we all have family – or at least, the opportunity to create one through our God-given gifts and His message of the importance of community.
Kent and Jody are special people, missionaries devoted to God’s will in their own lives as well as the lives of those around them.
In a recent conversation, I requested they allow me to talk about them here – as a way to broaden the scope of God’s reach in a hurting world, and a way to help their mission grow. It is standard practice for the community that surrounds missionaries to financially support that mission if it is in line with God’s leading for their own lives. This allows the missionaries themselves to focus on the mission and the next task at hand, as they are usually abroad and without regular supports.
I am grateful they chose to allow me to talk about them here. Their goals are stated as a three-pronged approach to gathering God’s sheep into His fold via their Way Walker Ministries in Spain and are described in the following quote from Jody:
“The Mission Statement on our Newsletter generally defines the vision God has given us. In addition to that, we see the most important goals being:
1) That we develop genuine relationships with people through sharing the love of Christ.
2) That in doing so, we strive to create disciples who will in turn create more disciples of Christ, and
3) We desire to provide "real-life" opportunities for young people to go and share the Gospel Message. That's it in a nutshell. God's definitely at work in Spain. We are just excited that He lets us be a part of His plans.”
I am definitely excited right along with them. Imagine breaking out of your normal routine life in order to travel to a foreign country knowing God has a plan in mind for you but you have little idea what that plan is supposed to look like! You probably wouldn’t go, right? Well, that’s what missionaries are for: relationship-building to make the leap from hope to faith to salvation an easier route for not-yet-Christians to take. I believe Kent and Jody are a gift from God to the people of Spain, as they make their trek on foot across the Camino de Santiago.
Walking the Camino is a pilgrimage that many, many people undertake yearly in order to find peace within themselves and God. Kent and Judy are there to talk with people about their relationships with God and guide those who are willing to a new relationship with Him through salvation. Sounds deceptively simple, but it involves being in the trenches – so to speak – rain or shine. No matter the weather, my experience with this couple has been that they seek to touch the hearts and lives of God’s people (that’s all of us) no matter what is going on around them. I see a commitment in them that is a rarity in this day and age. I’m honored to show a little of their life here.
If you’d like to read their most recent newsletter, you can click here.
If you’d like to support their ministry financially, you can do the following:
- Go to their newsletter and scan the QR code with your smartphone; or
- Go to the end of the newsletter and follow the printed directions.
May God Bless and keep you in the upcoming year!