Dec 2022 Spotlight Update
Missions Discipleship

Spotlight Update: Gospel Continues to Go Forth through Nehemiah Teams

Since Jess and Wendy Jennings, who are the featured missionaries on day three of the 2022 Week of Prayer for International Missions, shared the story of Tatay, God has continued to work in their ministry. In fact, Jess and Wendy have seen a lot of response from the summer 2022 Nehemiah Teams program.

Students with Nehemiah Teams—an avenue for students to serve with the International Mission Board (IMB)—reached Tatay in his remote village. Currently, Tatay is being discipled by Filipino believers.

In the summer of 2022 alone, another 105 students were trained and equipped in missions through Nehemiah Teams. God used their obedience to draw people to Himself.

The students presented the gospel 4,500 times over the summer, and around 3,000 children attended Bible classes, Vacation Bible School, and primary health classes.

All of this gospel sowing was rewarded in a tangible way for the summer 2022 Nehemiah Teams students. More than 100 people indicated a desire to follow Christ. However, the work is not done.

“Every year, we are intentional in communicating to the students that short-term missions is important and what they are doing for the summer, alongside our career workers, is strategic,” Jess shared. “But we also communicate to them that the world will not be reached with short-term missionaries.”

Jess said that, on the last night, as the team debriefed about their experiences, leaders gave an invitation for students to commit “their whole lives to take the gospel to those who have never heard.” This is a challenge they give each year.

This summer, 60 of those 105 students made that commitment.

Pray with Jess and Wendy for these students, as they follow up with them and encourage them in their calling.

by IMB Staff