ministry update Archives - TEAM Christian Missions Blog

Diving Deep for the Gospel

Despite opposition and personal sacrifice, global workers exemplify “Passionate Service” that goes well beyond surface level.

Jun 01 2023

Author’s Note: Here on the blog for the past few months, we’ve been featuring stories that exemplify each of TEAM’s Defining Values. As we came to the value of “Passionate Service,” I knew I wanted to share a story about a TEAM missionary with a passion for cross-cultural service. Here’s what God showed me in the meantime. A New Adventure I held my breath and kicked hard for the surface. Snorkeling in the teal blue waters off the coast of the Philippines was a new adventure for me. For the first few minutes, I had stayed close to the…

For TEAM workers Barry and Dawn, a posture of lifelong learning comes from reflecting on all that God has done.

May 01 2023

In this series of TEAM Ministry Updates, we’re sharing stories that highlight each of TEAM’s defining values. The following narrative is shared by Barry Winchell, a second-generation TEAM global worker who served in the U.S. and Italy and now acts as one of TEAM’s Regional Executive Directors. Barry shares this story as a beautiful iteration of “Lifelong Learning.” When I reflect on TEAM’s value of Lifelong Learning my thoughts tend to consider the future and how we need to keep learning and growing as we move into the days to come. Imagine my amazement when I recently encountered this…

In ministry partnerships around the corner or across the globe, creativity and flexibility are key in our ever-changing world.

Apr 04 2023

In this series of TEAM Ministry Updates, we’re sharing stories that highlight each of TEAM’s defining values. The following narrative is shared by “Samantha” (name changed), a TEAM Ukraine global worker, as an example of the value of “Creative Vision.” A common saying among overseas workers is the adage, “Blessed are the flexible for they shall not be easily broken.” Although not technically numbered among The Beatitudes, this truth is one that all who minister cross-culturally should keep in the back of their minds. Maybe we should even cross-stitch it on a pillow and place it somewhere we have to…

Matthew and Sara Titus led a diverse team in this amazing project.

Sep 15 2022

Since Day One of the Ukraine war, TEAM’s Matthew and Sara Titus have worked tirelessly to provide shelter and support to refugees. Their initial efforts included visits to Poland as well as renovating a series of apartments and other buildings in Prague, Czech Republic. Now about an hour outside of Prague, the Tituses’ latest project is renovating a 120-year-old farmhouse to provide housing for displaced families as they struggle to find a new normal. …

Despite the devastation of war, the Holy Spirit is on the move in Ukraine.

Apr 12 2022

Two years ago, we braced ourselves for a pandemic that rocked the world and called the Church to prayer. Today, we have a new reason to go to our knees, this time in intercession for the nation and people of Ukraine. The Russian invasion which began Thursday, February 24 is the most aggressive act of war in Europe since World War II. At the time of the Russian invasion, TEAM had two global workers in Ukraine, Maria* and Samantha*. Both were safely evacuated shortly before the onset of fighting but left behind churches, ministries, and Ukrainian believers they know and…

Gaby thought Christians were fanatics. Now, Gaby’s whole life is centered on knowing God and leading others to Him.

Oct 13 2021

“I remember that my mother told me, ‘Now that you know about the word of God, are you ready to wear a straightjacket?’” Those aren’t the words you expect a Christian mother to say to her newly-saved daughter. But Gaby knew her mom’s teasing came from a place of inexpressible joy. Gaby married and had children young, so she spent years trying to recapture her youth. While her husband “worked all the time,” Gaby says, “I really like to be in the streets.” Her mom tried to tell her about God. Gaby thought it was madness to give up freedom…

Two Italian women walk along the waterline.

Francesca was doing all the right things — praying, reading Scripture, going to church. But she still couldn't find the peace she saw in her evangelical friends.

Oct 15 2019

Francesca felt like she was going to explode — and being around Christians only made things worse. They were so happy and peaceful. They prayed like they really knew God and shared Bible verse with real conviction. But when Francesca tried the same things, it all fell flat. It wasn’t just her Catholic church that was the problem. Francesca had tried going to church with the evangelicals. She read Scripture. She prayed. She even went to extra Bible studies with her church friends. So why did Francesca’s evangelical friends have so much peace while she just felt tired and upset?…

Sometimes, everyday tasks can turn out to be ministry opportunities. That's what happened for TEAM missionary Sandy Rios!

May 21 2019

Leticia had a lot on her plate. And on her mind. Her husband was on kidney dialysis twice a week. He was dying — and afraid. And Leticia was his only caretaker. His fear of death was becoming so crippling that Leticia decided to take him to a psychologist. But while Leticia was waiting for the right time to schedule his appointment, she turned 60. That meant she was finally eligible for her Mexican senior citizen discount card. She just needed to swing by the Office of the Aging to pick it up. Leticia had no way of knowing that…

Missionaries try to reach people who are caught in ancestor worship like these people here.

Through your support, people like Dumisani are freed from the practices of ancestor worship. Now they're learning to study the Bible for themselves!

Apr 17 2019

Dumisani was a good South African. He grew up believing everything his parents taught him — to go to church on Sundays, but then to worship the ancestors and put his faith in traditional healers the rest of the week. But when he started his freshman year of college, a group called the Zion Students Christian Organization caught his attention. Out of curiosity, Dumisani began attending some of their Bible studies. The more Dumisani learned about the Word, the more it challenged everything he thought he knew about salvation. And at one open-air church service on campus, Dumisani was faced…

Tag - ministry update

Diving Deep for the Gospel

A Legacy of Lifelong Learning

Blessed are the Flexible

Farmhouse Turned Sanctuary for Ukrainian Refugees [Photo Journal]

Gospel Work Continues in War-Torn Ukraine

A Hurricane Destroyed Her Neighborhood — and Led Her to Christ

11 Years of Church Couldn’t Give Her Peace

When Jesus Finds You in a Government Office

From Ancestor Worship to Jesus Worship