The Journey to Supporting Women National Missionaries

“So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body, we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight.”
– 2 Corinthians 5:6-7

There are moments in life when these words truly take hold when overwhelming circumstances keep us tethered to the truth that God sees us, and He is working in all things for His glory and His purpose. In those moments, our flesh limits us, and we often walk without sight of what lies ahead or even understand what has so grievously fallen behind. It is in the darkest of times that we fully recognize the beautiful gift of faith given to us by our Heavenly Father. Faith born through desperation transforms our lives, taking the most broken pieces of ourselves and molding them into a vessel worthy of impacting the world around us for the sake of the Gospel. 

For many years now, I have had the privilege and the honor to work with women of this deep, sustaining faith all over the world through the ministry of Reaching Souls.

1 Corinthians 1:28-29 says, “God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.”

He uses the broken, the scarred, and the invisible to bring light to what is hidden in Him and to reveal His beautiful plan for the salvation of man. Women everywhere understand what it means to feel unseen, and many of our sisters worldwide often bear the harsh consequences of living in an unstable system. They see the world with compassion and empathy born of their suffering and choose to allow the light of Christ to shine through the brokenness. They see those unseen by others and carry the message of hope with unstoppable determination. 

In 2001,  Reaching Souls began holding classes for women in leadership at our Leadership Development Institutes. Over the next 20 years, increasing numbers of women would attend classes alongside pastors and Reaching Souls’ National Missionaries. Many traveled long distances and pushed through unfathomable barriers to attend. They came with their children in tow and with little more than the clothes they were wearing. Very few even owned a Bible. But these women knew God, counted the cost, and devoted their lives to the call of God to take the Gospel to the lost.

We walk with these women as they go into their communities to share the Gospel. They go into bars and brothels and engage with those many deem unreachable. They walk gently and full of love, but they speak with firmness and clarity about the salvation found only in Christ Jesus. They minister to young women caught in the sinister web of human trafficking and bravely speak the truth in the presence of their enemies. They minister to the momma holding her baby while laboring over an open fire and share hope with the drunk man stumbling in the street. They walk with a bright countenance that speaks peace as they lean into the power of the Holy Spirit to move mountains. It is a powerful thing to see. 

After years of praying about partnering with these women evangelists, the door finally opened for Reaching Souls. We started by adding women National Missionaries in three countries. We watched as tears of thankfulness flowed, expressed from hearts that never sought or gained the affirmation of men. These women were overwhelmed with gratitude to God for support, enabling them to carry His message more effectively than ever before. 

We’ve all read the stories of great women of faith in the Bible, women who trusted fully and completely even in the face of unimaginable circumstances. I encourage you to read them again. Through these women, God gave His people victory over the most feared of enemies, saved His people from destruction, restored righteous rule over Israel, ordained and preserved the lineage of our Savior, and brought forth the Messiah. What a beautiful picture of the essence of surrender.

“Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will act.”
– Psalm 37:5

After adding women National Missionaries in Cuba, Kenya, and Zambia, we’ve seen more than 40,000 souls come to Christ through the ministry of those women alone and in just a few months. Forty thousand people were reached by women uniquely designed and purposefully gifted for this time and in these places. The addition of women exponentially increases the demographic of people who can be reached for Christ through Reaching Souls International.

“But the Word of God increased and multiplied.”
– Acts 12:24

To quote my husband, “women were the last to remain at the cross, and the first to witness the resurrection of the Lord.” Through their tender-hearted surrender, God spoke. Just like the women of the Bible, women across the globe are still affecting generations as they surrender by faith to the One who has the power to change the hearts of men.

May these women be an inspiration to you as you read this. God sees you. Scars and all, you are loved by God with a love that knows no end. He’s calling all of us to a life of surrender and it is in the surrender that we find purpose and peace.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
– Romans 15:13

Thank you for partnering with us. The teaching, the tools, the community, and the support speak life to our missionaries in the field.