The following testimony from one of our newest missionaries was shared with our training department last week. Savannah shares about how she came to be interested in disciple making movements and why she chose to go with Beyond. “Growing up in a Christian home, I heard and believed the gospel from a young age. But, shyness and fear prevented me from making a lot of friends and speaking up in groups.
In college, I felt convicted by God to share the gospel with people who were far away from Him, but this was really hard for me because I wouldn’t naturally reach out to people I didn’t know. Then, a friend reminded me that God loves me no matter what, even if I struggled with fear or if none of the people I talked to received the gospel. That was so freeing! I felt like a new person.
During college, I went on two summer mission trips; one to Bangladesh and one to China. After returning from the second trip, I was looking for other people with a heart for the nations. While searching online, I clicked on a small group at my church. It turned out to be the Launch Global group: a year-long training for aspiring missionaries to make disciples. I learned how to make disciples, and helped lead groups the following two years. Today, I still keep in touch with women serving in Asia, South America and the Arab world that I discipled through that experience.
As God nudged me that I, myself needed to go as a missionary, BEYOND was a natural choice for me for several reasons. First, I knew Kent and Erika, BEYOND’s president and his wife, from attending church with them before I went to college. Second, BEYOND’s vision for launching movements of disciples among unreached people groups resonated with my own heart. Additionally, the collective wisdom from experience of BEYOND’s members and their willingness to help me in my journey to the nations attracted me to join. I’m excited to serve with BEYOND among an unreached people group in Asia.
Please keep Savannah in your prayers as she adjusts to living in another country and culture. Pray that the Lord will go before her, that He will give her favor, that He will bring persons of peace to her and create opportunities to share His great love.