IMAGINE MOVING TO A NEW TOWN and a new home where you know no one. Now, imagine moving into a home with strangers. Many people would feel anxious in a situation like this. For children arriving on the Boothe Campus, this is what they are walking into. Luckily, on the other side is a set of houseparents ready to welcome them, caseworkers to walk alongside them, counselors to help them work through issues that arise and support staff to help guide them. Most importantly, they do it all while being examples of Christ’s love for the children.

Jonathan came to STCH Ministries Homes for Children in June 2021 on the verge of turning 16. Having endured some difficult times throughout childhood, he lashed out with violence when in an uncomfortable situation. Coming to the Boothe Campus was one of those difficult moments for him. He felt “awkward” and unsure of what the future held. Little did Jonathan know he was being covered in prayer and it would ultimately change his life.

From the beginning, Jonathan’s houseparents wanted him to know that he was part of their family. One common scene on the Boothe Campus is a cottage coming together for dinner every evening. This one simple act helps create a time for the children and houseparents to feel a sense of normalcy. Around the table, they talk about their day, enjoy laughs together, share disappointments and grow together. For many of the children that come to Homes for Children, their first dinner is a memory that stays with them. Jonathan recalls his first dinner on campus as Cajun Sausage Pasta Alfredo, something he says he will never forget.

From early on in his time on campus, his houseparents saw his potential to be a leader in the cottage. “He’s always been a great kid,” his housemom shared, “he will volunteer to do stuff when I ask for the boys to do something without complaining.” As summer progressed, Jonathan felt genuine relationships starting to form between him and his houseparents and him and student ministries coordinator, Benjamin Brewer. He started opening up more and found ways to better channel his anger. He also began to seek a relationship with Christ.

When Jonathan arrived on campus, he knew of God but he did not know God. He had never pursued a real relationship with Him. Children that live at Homes for Children are given many opportunities to learn about Christ. The cottages attend local churches on Sunday mornings and on Wednesday nights there is chapel hosted on campus. More than that though, staff members like Benjamin, spend time with the students helping them understand the Bible and what it means to be a Christian.

In March 2022, Jonathan attended a D-Now weekend at his church. D-Now is a weekend retreat for middle school and high school students with worship and Bible studies. The theme for the weekend was “Through the Storm” and Jonathan felt like God was talking to him because he was personally going through a big storm. One night during worship, he decided to make a life-changing decision. “I felt God touch my heart,” Jonathan shared. He walked up to the front and found Benjamin who was one of the leaders for the weekend. Benjamin walked Jonathan through a prayer to accept Jesus into his heart. Even after D-Now, Jonathan continued to deepen his relationship with Christ and started to look for more ways to become a leader around campus. He sought discipleship from some of the staff and feels like those interactions have helped him grow immensely.

During the summer of 2022, Jonathan traveled to the Dominican Republic with other students from Boothe Campus. In order to go on the trip, the students had to prove they were responsible and could handle a trip of this caliber. Jonathan had shown so much growth since coming to Homes for Children, the staff saw him as a great addition to the trip. He enjoyed the trip and getting to see a different way of life and the different hardships people face. “Us STCH Ministries kids think we have it all bad but we don’t have it as bad as them,” Jonathan shared. “They live without food sometimes but they are more welcoming than we are. They welcomed us into their homes.” This experience is something he will hold close to his heart forever.

Next, Jonathan was asked to attend the Association of Christian Childcare Administrators Youth Leadership Conference at Shepherd of the Ozarks in Arkansas. Jonathan and one other student attended with the intention of them learning how to become better leaders on campus. “It was a time that I got to step up and be a leader,” Jonathan shared. “It was touching because the other student from here got saved while we were there and I was able to pray over him the whole time.” Jonathan came home from the trip ready to share his experience and step up as a leader.

Every year in September, schools across the world participate in See You at the Pole. Students gather around the flagpole at their school and spend time in worship and prayer together. Jonathan stepped up this year to be the student leader for the event. He feels a calling on his life to feed into the lives of those around him. “I didn’t always have the best experiences growing up. I want to be able to help those that are in similar situations to mine. I want to help them get through that time. That’s my calling,” Jonathan shared.

Staff members from Boothe Campus continue to see the work that God is doing in and through Jonathan. “Jonathan has grown to be a respectful leader at school in his extracurricular activities especially athletics and on campus,” Greg Huskey, vice president of campus ministries shared. “He has shown leadership by taking responsibility. Jonathan has a great willingness to serve others, lending a hand whenever needed.” Benjamin Brewer shared, “Jonathan is one of the most thoughtful and servant-hearted kids out here. He is usually always looking to help and make life easier. He was having a bad day just the other day and came to an event and saw that some of us were running around busy, he put away his own stuff and helped us before he relaxed! He even said thank you for letting him help.”

When Jonathan first came to STCH Ministries he saw the people on campus as strangers. He saw God as a stranger. Through building relationships with staff and other students, Jonathan found a spiritual family. More importantly, these relationships allowed him to see God’s love for himself and as a result, Jonathan developed a true relationship with Him. Through this time, the leaders around him saw his potential and continued to pray and support him. Jonathan is forever thankful for the support from spiritual leaders that continue to pour into his life and hold him accountable. He is excited to see how God continues to use him as a leader on campus, in school and in life.

“WE ARE ABOUT MUCH MORE THAN CHICKEN!” Denise Martinek, owner of the Chick-fil-A location in Calallen stated. “Our employees are at the heart of everything we do.”

In 2019, Denise moved to the Corpus Christi area to manage her first Chick-fil-A location and chose the Calallen area. Once established, she searched for a chaplain to enhance the overall well-being of her employees. Friends recommended Pastor Raul Elizondo from New Life at the Cross, and after interviewing and mutual prayer, Pastor Raul volunteered to fill that position. Denise also recognized a need shared by several employees for financial management skills. Pastor Raul recommended STCH Ministries and the Faith & Finances class.

Faith & Finances is uniquely positioned to teach basic financial principles and their impact on relationships. It begins with the fundamental truth that Jesus is making all things new, including our money and our relationships. Whether in a family, in a church or in a marriage, financial issues can cause stress, resentment, jealousy and even depression. However, with knowledge and correct application of key principles from God’s Word, wise financial management strengthens relationships. Individuals learn how to make a spending plan that works, manage debt and loans, improve their credit scores, set goals, prepare for the future and overcome past mistakes.

For eight weeks, the faith-based class was offered on Sunday afternoons in the empty Chick-fil-A restaurant. A diverse group of 16 individuals enrolled, including a father and son, a single mom and her oldest daughter, while younger siblings played outside, joined by Denise and her manager. For those who volunteered to attend, a small incentive was given for perfect attendance.

Jackie Caldwell, a certified STCH Ministries facilitator, agreed to teach the class, supported by Jimmy Rodriguez, director and Alicia Tijerina, site coordinator. Jackie’s background made her the ideal person to lead this one-of-a-kind class. Retired after 38 years as a teacher and administrator with the school district, Jackie also leads Enlightenment Counseling, a resource for training and professional development for the work environment. Her years of experience have convinced her that effective teaching must be interactive. “What the students DO, they will understand and remember.” In every lesson, the students participated in an activity that reinforced the financial principles they were learning.

Some of the activities included a Wheel of Fortune game, fill-in-the-blank as a team, drawing a picture that represents core teaching and “pay it forward” with a bag of gold coins as they shared with another person. Every participant made a list of their priorities, and each week they evaluated their expenses to eliminate one thing that didn’t fit their goals. They learned from each other and grew in their ability to trust and support one another.

A core principle emphasized during each class was, “God wants to use our money to accomplish His purposes in this world.” As the restaurant owner, Denise shared that she prayed, “Okay, God, how do you want me to do this?” God’s answer was confirmed during the graduation celebration as employees shared what they had learned, their wins and the impact of the class.

“I never realized the impact of finances on my relationships.”

“I had enough money, but I was just wasting it in small and bigger ways.”

“I redirected my passion for coffee by purchasing a frother, buying locally and sharing it with others.”

“It works! It works! For the first time, I was able to start a savings account.”

“I never went to church before but during this class, I decided I needed the teaching and support of a church family.”

In Houston, San Antonio and Corpus Christi, Faith & Finances partners with churches and community organizations to connect people with God’s plan for their finances. The “battle of the budget” is not one confined to low-income families. The insatiable appetite for more, conflicting interests and priorities coupled with inflation are all exacerbated by the pressure of time. When next month’s paycheck is spent before the month begins, how do we get off of this treadmill? A re-assessment of God’s plans for our finances can lift our eyes above the immediate to an eternal perspective. As one doctor’s wife reported, “I knew I should tithe 10%, but I always thought the rest was mine to spend. Now I realize that God owns it all, and He wants me to be a good steward of these resources.”

Churches are often frustrated by efforts to reach people outside the church walls. Unfamiliarity, prejudice or fear of commitment seem insurmountable obstacles. Following Jesus’ example in Luke 14, they are able to minister to the needs of hurting people by offering “bread” to satisfy the hunger of their lives. Faith & Finances is uniquely positioned to help churches set a banquet table of strategies based on Biblical principles. Members can invite those “lamed” by life’s circumstances, and teach practical life skills, find support through the church and grow in their personal relationship with Christ.

First Baptist Church in San Antonio became aware of a large number of Burmese refugees in their community, and the daunting task that each person faces—language, jobs, housing, schools, culture, faith. Where to start to be the hands of Christ for them? Among other outreach efforts, FBC sponsored a Faith & Finances class for Burmese pastors and leaders. At graduation, they shared, “We had to escape for our lives, then live in a refugee camp for years. Banking? We don’t understand how you do that! Now, thanks to STCH Ministries, we can help our communities in their own language with their finances.”

Oak Hills Church in San Antonio has partnered with STCH Ministries Faith & Finances to integrate and undergird their discipleship and mentoring programs. The principles of Faith & Finances have brought dramatic life change to the initial 19 students, coupled with additional follow-up support from the church that encourages debt repayment and savings contributions.

Desperately understaffed, community organizations call to ask, “Can you help us reach this community?” In Houston, we have teamed up with Attack Poverty, a Christian non-profit that empowers individuals to break the power of generational poverty. San Antonio Hope also addresses the root causes of poverty to help the community become holistically sustainable. They have incorporated the Faith & Finances course into their offerings.

In Corpus Christi, an increasing number of classes are held for parents of children in public schools. School administrators recognize the chaos of the family system that inevitably impacts their finances. Since the teaching is faith-based, the classes are held after school and often in nearby venues—apartments and fellowship halls of nearby churches. With little or no teaching available in the traditional school curriculum, they hope that a faith-based curriculum might offer a lifeline of strategies to support the change that is so desperately needed.

In every city, the opportunities and ministry sites for Faith & Finances are unlimited and increasing. The Faith & Finances ministry staff cannot begin to meet those needs without the assistance of trained and certified facilitators, like Jackie Caldwell. When asked why she dedicated the time to teach, Jackie said, “It’s about paying it forward. I didn’t grow up knowing what I know now about finances. I see the joy of students reaching their goals, and I feel God is pleased!” Please pray for this need of more facilitators and visit www.STCHM.org/ff for more information if you would like to serve in this ministry.

Why is helping people becoming more difficult? This is a question I seem to ask myself daily. One might surmise that fewer folks are interested in getting help. Another view might be that with an
increase in need, more families are “falling through the cracks”. We could also look to the dramatic polarization that we seem to be witnessing in so many aspects of society as a whole. While I believe these statements contribute to an increase difficulty in helping people, I want to focus more on the “helpers”.

We all, to some degree, are helpers. Now the manner in which I describe a helper is simply someone that is available to another in their time of need. Through our willingness to help we should build relationships with those in which we help. Once this relationship has been established and needs have been met, the world and society can be changed in enormous and eternal ways. The idea or concept of a helper is intricately interwoven throughout Scripture. The Hebrew word for helper is “ezer” (pronounced “ay-zer”) which speaks of God’s strength, power, protection and being a rescuer.

It is vital to understand no matter your role you can be an eternal “rescuer”. You might be reading this as a stay-at-home mother, a construction worker, a landscaper or as a retiree (to name a few) and wonder how this applies to you. I want to say to you no matter how you see yourself, God has a grand purpose for your existence. Please pursue what God has for you with all your being, He will use you to bless others. God will use your time, talents and treasures to be a blessing to others.

It is also important to see ourselves as ones that need help. At different times we all need a rescuer. We must remember that our Heavenly Father is the ultimate Healer and Rescuer but He uses us to be His hands and feet. In Galatians 6, Paul talks about the concept of “bearing one another’s burdens”. Paul instructs the Galatians (and us) to bear each other’s burdens so that the law of Christ can be fulfilled. What a great responsibility and honor to serve God through the burdens we all face together! Paul never told us that this “burden bearing” would be easy.

Thankfully, we also learn throughout scripture that we are to cast our burdens, our anxieties and our worries on Him. The way I like to think about the burdens I see and experience is that I should
transfer those burdens to my heavenly Father so that He can use me in these situations. I am afraid too many times we remember we should bear one another’s burdens but we forget to give those burdens to God and failing to do so is a sure recipe for burnout.

Do you see yourself as a helper in light of the definition shared above? Take a moment and ponder how often you help someone on any given day, week, month or year. I would suggest you are more of a helper than you ever thought possible! Also, check your heart and see if you are becoming overwhelmed with the weight of your responsibility as a helper, if so reach out to us, we would love to help!

Psalm 55:22 Cast your burden on the Lord, He will support you! God will never let the righteous be shaken!

LAURA STORY, a contemporary Christian singer and composer, uses the phrase “the aching of this life” to describe the problems swirling about us in our world1. Anxiety, depression, burnout, isolation, discouragement and disenchantment, lostness—the list is endless.

The search for a solution ranges from substance abuse and suicide to abandonment of family and faith to the Great Resignation or constantly switching jobs, and more recently, “quiet-quitting”— just doing the minimum to get by and not get fired. Perhaps the cause and the solution are embedded in the word, purpose.

Just how important is purpose for our lives? Research has consistently linked purpose to heightened levels of emotional and mental well-being and overall life satisfaction. A Yale University
School of Medicine study linked individuals’ experiences with depression to a declining sense of purpose. Viktor Frankl, a holocaust survivor and psychiatrist, wrote, “Woe to him who saw no more sense in his life, no aim, no purpose, and therefore no point in carrying on. He was soon lost.”

The Apostle Paul wrote, “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” From the beginning, we were created with an innate need
for meaning and purpose in life. The STCH Ministries’ mission of “healing hearts and sharing hope” influenced the development of

Faith & Work, a curriculum that guides individuals to discover their God-given purpose, develop a vision for their future and acquire the tools to fulfill their goals. Faith & Work classes use a 10-week curriculum to focus on the critical intersections of work, values and a meaningful life purpose from a biblical perspective. Before time began, the eternal God planned to accomplish his purposes in Christ through us as we work. Work existed before the fall when all things were towb, the Hebrew word meaning excellent, pleasant and agreeable (Gen 1:22). God designed us to reflect his image in our ability to create, cultivate and care for our planet and the people who inhabit it.

Sin changed all aspects of God’s design; work that once produced abundance became “painful toil.” Even worse, sin broke our relationship with God and with others. The human companionship we need was infected with the “aching” of this life—anxiety, fear and shame. The resulting internal and external conflict changed how we work and why we work into burdensome
and unproductive toil.

How do we recover work that is good, pleasing and agreeable, even if those words do not describe our work environment? Dorothy Sayers challenged us to reject “the notion that a man’s life is divided into the time he spends on his work and the time he spends in serving God. He must be able to serve God in his work.” In Christians at Work, the Barna Group reported that the average Christian will spend 90,000 hours at work, and only 2,000 hours in church. When we understand the sacredness of work and discover our unique giftings, work becomes an expression of worship,
adding a holy purpose to any job.

Faith & Work classes use practical methods to examine our identity and the experiences that shaped us, good or bad, in light of biblical truth. Interactive tools help to highlight aspects of personality, spiritual gifts and core values that equip and motivate us in our labors. Equipped with such self-knowledge, we can dig into how to express our faith through teamwork, effective communication and overcoming challenges in the workplace. Finally, we look at specific ways to integrate faith and work so “people may see your good work and give glory to the Father” (Matthew 5:16).

When we see our job as an opportunity to accomplish God’s purpose in this world, it impacts the quality of our work, our relationships with co-workers and even our families. Faith & Work provides intrinsic motivation for how we work and serve others, found in the love of God expressed through Jesus.

Kevan Etheridge is an excellent example of how participants learn and grow as a result of Faith & Work. Kevan had a background in home remodeling, which prepared him for his role as Facilities Manager for The Warrior’s Refuge, a homeless shelter for military veterans. Through a Faith & Work class, Kevan came to incorporate faith in his day-to-day life and expanded his service to veterans. He took advantage of growth opportunities provided by his employer, becoming a specialist in equine therapy for PTSD victims. Now pursuing his certification as a licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor, Kevan attributes the advances in his career and self-esteem to the concepts he learned in Faith & Work. Aware that God’s plan encompasses every part of his life—home, family, church and work—Kevan is thrilled at the prospects for his future and the blessings he has received.

STCH Ministries continues to expand how we offer both Faith & Work and Faith & Finances courses. A major advance has been translating all the course materials and teaching into Spanish, opening opportunities across Texas, the United States and internationally. In addition to in-person classes offered in the Corpus Christi, Houston and San Antonio areas, we also provide live Zoom and hybrid formats. Some exciting conversations are underway with potential ministry partners in the Rio Grande Valley and West Texas. We invite our readers to join us in praying for more great teachers to facilitate classes in English and Spanish as God opens new doors.

Millions of people are re-evaluating their relationship with work and seeking more meaningful lives. Faith & Work groups, under the direction of a trained facilitator, provide the opportunity for significant life change as individuals discover that they were created on purpose for God’s purposes. There is no better time for individuals, churches and community groups to take advantage of the Faith & Work courses provided by STCH Ministries.

For information and registration for future classes, please visit: www.STCHM.org/fw

1 “Blessings” on the album Blessings, Laura Story, 2011
2 “Why Work?” Letters to a Diminished Church, 1942, p.8. Christians at Work (2018), p.17.

STCH MINISTRIES’ MISSION of “Honoring God, reaching children and families with His love and truth, and enabling others to join us” spurred the international ministry expansion to the Dominican Republic and the development of unique family mission trips in 2005.

God began guiding our thoughts and fledgling efforts as we envisioned the impact on families and children on an international mission trip. How could children and families share God’s love and experience together the joy of serving others? What if families could have the chance to get their eyes off of the American “bubble” of material values and priorities? Could a mission trip impact a family system with more lasting values?

Family mission trips were not common. After all, what could a child do on mission realistically? The logistics were daunting—family housing, good food, translators, transportation, plus hands-on
activities for children—to name a few. Although we did not have all the answers, we began with a faith step. Not a cloud by day, nor a pillar by night, but just as clearly, God led the way.

We began to see God’s fingerprints all over the process, beginning with a partnership with the Quisqueyana Baptist Church (IBQ) and Pastor Rudy, a relationship whose roots extended more than 70 years into the past. Their passion for reaching children and families matched STCH Ministries’ mission and purpose. Pastor Rudy soon led us to our gifted Dominican ministry partners, among them, Rebeca Dinzey to direct the children’s ministries, then Russell Jerez to direct construction projects. With the growth of our sponsorship program, the medical needs of the children became a priority—just as Dr. Francisco finished medical school in Cuba and was looking for a job. God led to orphanages and schools with incredible needs. Despite grossly insufficient resources like a chicken coop or a lean-to perched on the side of a gorge, their love for Jesus motivated their passion for teaching children.

American churches, families and individuals soon responded to God’s call. First Baptist Church in Kenedy and Trinity Baptist Church in Kerrville were among the first family mission teams. Fifteen years later, some of the original parents are now grandparents and the former children are now married with children of their own who continue to serve.

Recently we visited with them and several other long-term mission participants and asked them about the experiences that impacted them. We asked how God spoke to them and what the results have been in their lives back home.

Many shared the relationship-building effect on their individual families. Jennifer Ebell from University Baptist Church in Houston reported, “Family vacations are often about persons doing their own things. On a family mission trip, we are working together towards a common goal—serving others. As our family shared a room and a bathroom for a week, we had to depend on each other. It helped us to connect with each other as we shared our experiences.”

A common theme reported by several was the quality time spent with families from their own church. “Most of us attend different services, or are involved in different ministries or Bible classes and we don’t really get to know each other. It was an awesome opportunity to build and strengthen those relationships.” The Houston CityRise participants added, “It is amazing how much closer we grew to other CityRise church families that were serving on the trip with us. Bonds were forged doing life together and serving during the week that cannot be created in other environments.” They also enjoyed seeing their children bond as older kids looked after younger kids and the parents worked together as one team.

The priority of relationships was emphasized even during the work projects. One participant remembered, “We were building a train for the orphanage in Santiago. In this case, we had to find a
way to lift our heavy wooden train over a 10-foot wall, and we were challenged to get this accomplished. Russell Jerez took me aside and reminded me that although the task was important, the most important goal was relationships and allowing even the children to have a part. This insight has changed the way I work on a team to serve God no matter where I am.”

Rynie Badenhorst agreed, “Construction was not just about getting the projects (benches) done. We were encouraged to involve the smaller kids and to give them a chance to try some of the tasks. This changed my whole outlook from getting it done as soon as possible to taking time to notice others, teach them, involve them and encourage them. This did loads for my son’s confidence and sense of accomplishment.” Rynie went on to say, “An added bonus about going on consecutive years was finding the benches we built the year before now being used in the Higuey orphanage. All the kids signed the benches on the bottom last year and they felt a sense of achievement finding the benches they built being put to good use.”

Many commented on the relationships developed with sponsored children. Every trip prioritized a time for each sponsoring family to spend with their child. The relationships deepen and grow over the years. The STCH Ministries model of investing in children to develop their God-given potential and become future Christian leaders is an inspiring process in which to
participate. The sponsored child becomes a part of the mission trip family and both eagerly await the next opportunity to be together.

The joy of serving others was a common theme. “For our kids, the most important thing was realizing that serving others can be a joyful and fun experience,” the Shung family wrote. Other comments were, “We came to serve, but were blessed by their service to us. We think we sacrifice and give up certain things to come, but these Dominican Christians show us what a heart of service really looks like.”

Most participants recognized the planning of ministries and logistics by STCH Ministries’ staff as a significant factor in successful family mission trips. “The trip is convenient and accessible in terms of travel, doable ministries that are family-focused. The proposed schedule for the trip included an opportunity to help with light or heavy construction projects, VBS, medical outreach, sewing and sports for kids. We would also spend time at an orphanage, deliver food, visit with families in need and get a little time to explore the city of Santo Domingo.”

Some linked serving to careful planning. “I learned that serving God needs to be strategic—our ability to involve everyone, even the children, was due to careful planning.” Others shared, “The trips are so well-planned that it takes responsibility for the logistics away and lets us focus on using our gifts and doing the ministries without worrying about tools, transportation, translation. Food is safe and tastes good.” Families also appreciated the housing, “Each family received a room assignment which was named after one of the fruits of the spirit. Our room had two bunk beds for the kids and a queen bed for the parents including A/C and an ensuite bathroom.”

Parents expressed varied reasons for bringing their children on a mission trip. Exposure to the larger world, international travel, the awareness of different cultures and the ability to relate to another culture, were coupled with the opportunity to practice Spanish.

Parents desired to impress on their children that their suburban American life was not the norm. “We wanted our kids to see how others live and appreciate what they have.” Others elaborated, “You can hear about poverty from others, and read the statistics but there is no comparison to the impact on our empathy meter when actually seeing it, eating together in a home with heavy cardboard walls, curtain doorways, and dirt floors and discovering our common love for Jesus.”

The Vickery family from Kenedy reported, “The trip completely changed our home. The way they welcomed us into their homes, dressed in their very best, honored to host us, in spite of dirt floors, and not enough dishes for everyone to eat at the same time. We came home and decided that our home would be a sanctuary where people are welcome to eat, stay and share our love for Jesus with them.”

When asked about the trips, children’s responses included a wide range of perspectives, depending on their ages. Younger children commented, “The best part was playing with all the kids. It helped me not be afraid; I could interact even with a different language.” Others stated, “I learned Spanish!” and, “We could share what we know about God with others through our skits.” While some talked about their experience with serving a tangible need, “I liked serving others when we delivered groceries. I remember a little girl who was disabled. She sang for us. She was so joyful some Americans visited her.”

Older high schoolers mentioned, “It affects how I reach out to others in my school, church, neighborhood who are from other cultures—makes it less intimidating, more comfortable.” Others shared, “I learned appreciation for my own blessings and am challenged to be joyful without depending on material needs being met.” Some left with questions, “It confronts me with the question, ‘What do I do next? How does God want me to live when I get home?”

Without exception, every family shared on the spiritual impact of the trip. Worshiping together and singing familiar hymns in two languages was a powerful experience. Comments included, “I felt a sense of awe, and glimpsed eternity.” “A different language but same God.” One family shared how it truly changed their lives, “Our first Mission Trip had such an impact on our kids that our two daughters asked to be baptized when we returned home to Houston. It felt like a lot of the ‘gospel puzzle’ came together for our kids on this trip.”

For others, the most valuable activity on the mission trip was the morning worship time on the roof overlooking the city. “It was an opportunity to recalibrate—get my priorities refocused on God’s
values and our purpose on earth.”

Raising children and building a family on a solid foundation of faith and Christian values is often a daunting, confusing, and fearful responsibility. A STCH Ministries family mission trip offers
a unique opportunity to help parents reinforce the training in “the way they should go,” as Proverbs states. “We highly recommend families make the time so they can create the room to expand their Christian walk, especially for their kids,” stated one father. Charles Kemp concluded, “Sixteen years later, I see the results in my children’s lives that mission trips have helped to create—a servant heart toward God and others.”

For more information about STCH Ministries International and family mission trips visit, www.STCHM.org/International.