Modeling, Nurturing and Nudging: How Missionaries Are Made

What do the Bybee, Hogan, Hobby, Merritt, Norton, Reese, Westbrook, and Woodroof families have in common? They are a few from our church family with second or third generation family members who are serving, or have served, full-time in the mission field!
     Since children of missionaries are those most likely to serve as missionaries, the influence of those parents seems clear. Their kids were nurtured in an atmosphere of godly service and saw the missionary life modeled by their parents. The effect of that training was a gradual “nudge” toward the mission field.
     To cite one instance, Theo Westbrook and his fiancé, Rochelle Reese, are preparing to enter missionary service in a few years. Both of them had missionary models in their parents and grandparents, and grew up surrounded by a loving and nurturing network of family and friends.
     Other College Church parents and leaders are doing what the Westbrooks did. For example, Greg and Deana Brooks took their children, Josh and Katelyn, to Guatemala with the Health Talents team. Todd Miller modeled mission service with the youth team that went to Kayenta, AZ; Grant and Kayla Fitzhugh with the Hawaii team of university students.
     Other examples abound. Our congregation is blessed with Christians who want to carry on the tradition of fulfilling God’s “great commission.”
     The Great Commission Sunday special offering (Oct. 19) is one way we help them do that! Our GCS funds helped Theo obtain language and cultural training overseas. The Guatemala, Kayenta, and Hawaii groups all received assistance from our short-term campaign support fund. Thanks to GCS funding, John and Beth Reese will be hosting a retreat for children of missionaries, helping them adjust to life in the U.S.
     Another person helped by GCS, Rocky Stone, just made his fourth trip to Zambia. His family and Dr. Richard Duke, leader of WestReach, modeled mission service for him. Now he does the modeling: his grandfather, father, brother and sister have also been to Zambia. All the while, Rocky was being nudged toward full-time mission work.
     When our children begin modeling the very things we as a church family have modeled for them, we can see God’s kingdom grow. When we create an environment that encourages our family to be Spirit-led and Word-fed, God is glorified. Nudge on! D3 is happening!