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World Outreach Podcast
World Outreach Podcast
EP 46 Capturing the Divine Narrative: Filmmaking, Faith, and the Frontlines of Global Missions
Wes, a filmmaker with an earnest passion for missions joins me for this latest conversation. Throughout our conversation, We reflect on their short term experience serving with WO and unearth the essence of the Great Commission and how Wes and his wife Mariah bring to light the dedication and adversities missionaries face in their quest to reach the unreached. It's not just about the act of filming; it's a journey into the hearts of those who go to extraordinary lengths to share their beliefs, often in isolation from their spiritual communities.
In the realm of global missions, every trip tells a story of transformation – not just for those on the receiving end, but for the missionaries themselves. Witnessing God's work in the most remote corners of the world serves as a powerful faith amplifier. It thrusts believers into a profound reliance on divine provision, reshaping their understanding of worship and community. Wes sheds light on this metamorphosis, revealing the grit and grace that underpin the missionary experience and how it reignites our own commitment to the divine narrative.
Wes also shares the role storytelling plays in stitching together the global church. By archiving the experiences, triumphs, and struggles of those who live their lives in service to the Great Commission, we inspire future generations and maintain the vigor of these testimonies. Wes's own reflections, coupled with insights into guiding the next generation's engagement in missions, carve out a path for authenticity, connection, and a shared understanding of our roles in God's expansive and ongoing story.
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you're listening to the world irish podcast dynamic conversations designed to empower our community as we engage unreached people groups everywhere. Today I'm sitting with wes in his home here in the us and we're going to share about his experience and his wife's experience at west mariah doing a short-term service with us. They spent three months with us this last year visiting a variety of different mission sites and doing some filming and documentary work for us. We're going to share a little bit about their journey, what it was like and what the Lord has been speaking to them through that experience. So, Wes, thanks for joining us, man.
Speaker 2:Yeah, thanks for having us Ben Appreciate it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, super awesome to sit here with your newborn baby and your family and stuff and really appreciative of your time. So last year you joined us in a short-term service capacity and stuff. What drew you?
Speaker 2:to get involved that way.
Speaker 2:So my wife and I always had a heart for, I'd say, specifically the stories of the missionaries just all over the world that are dedicating their lives in just a deeper way to the Great Commission.
Speaker 2:And you know, obviously we had like limited knowledge of what an unreached people group looks like and the reality of the dedication that it takes to live amongst one and to reach them.
Speaker 2:But that concept is like obviously incredible and biblical and and just the stories that are behind those testimonies we always just had like a huge curiosity about and and I think you know, we, we more recently got married.
Speaker 2:We've been married for about a year and a half now and we just really, you know, as we lived here in the States, we just continue to grow like a passion for telling those stories and had a few opportunities to a little bit of exposure to doing that through film videoing and creating kind of mini documentaries about people who you know are forwarding the kingdom and people who are on a pursuit to bring the Great Commission to life.
Speaker 2:And so that was kind of the original inspiration is just these stories that we've heard from missionaries and been able to be a part of, like just meeting different missionaries, people who have dedicated themselves to that cause, and as we heard more of those stories like they really just struck all our hearts, of course to be a part of it in a way, but also just to get those stories out to the general public. You know, I will say like I feel like the area that we're in and you know, all over the world there's people that know of the concept of the Great Commission amongst Christian communities but don't know the reality of those stories and what it takes to be a part of that. So it's just a passion of ours to share some of the reality of that.
Speaker 1:You are a filmmaker. That's what you do. You help people tell stories, you dive into stories and stuff like this. But when you come into this idea of missions, what do you think is kind of misunderstood in the general church? Maybe in your generation you have a younger generation around this idea of missions and what it is and what it could be.
Speaker 2:I feel like there's two contradicting parts of it.
Speaker 2:So there's the people who hear the incredible adventures and stories and beautiful testimonies of missions and they think that one it's like this kind of fantasy-like adventure that is not quite, as you know, hard sometimes and difficult and like it doesn't take so much perseverance like the Bible talks about and stuff.
Speaker 2:There's one aspect of that that it's important to show people what it really looks like to walk in that journey. Then I'd say the contradicting side of that, the other side of that which I see even more, is people. I know a lot of people also who hear those stories but they don't understand, like they don't understand the reality of the beauty of being a missionary and filling out, you know, fulfilling the Great Commission and the way that the Lord comes alongside of you in that you know that is his job, his task for us as followers, and the way that he honors those who take out, you know who set out to complete that task. He honors and walks along with those people you know in such a beautiful and explicit way, and I feel like to be able to visually show people the testimony of those things is just really wonderful to help encourage and motivate people to be aware of what's going on in the kingdom and how the Lord's working through those works.
Speaker 1:What you've shared with me in the past and kind of what you just alluded to. There was this idea that there's a passion within you to see other people understand the Great Commission, understand, maybe, what their role could be in and help advance the gospel among unreached people groups. How have you seen your skills that you have as a filmmaker, storyteller, coming together or alongside that?
Speaker 2:call of the Great Commission Mobilization. As I'm sure many of the people who are listening to this podcast realize, mobilization is a huge, key part of the process of bringing missionaries to the field, and that's something that I definitely knew a tiny bit about going into it. But through spending time with you guys in World Outreach, like it's, it was revealed to me in such a stronger way. Like there's, there's so many people, there's a lot of believers who, um, who do want to do something, but they just haven't. They haven't had the opportunity to be mobilized in that way. So, uh, I feel like, with filmmaking, the role of filmmaking and us as storytellers, a lot of the time it fits into kind of the beginning stage of striking that inspiration, which is kind of like the first part of mobilization. So then there's a lot of learning in the next steps of how to actually connect with ministries and stuff like that.
Speaker 2:But I think one of the most important things for believers to do is also just to see for themselves what some of these stories are and how people are helping in their own communities or in other communities.
Speaker 2:I think that's the reason why short-term mission trips for a lot of people for the first time is so eye-opening and so mind-boggling is because it just expands their horizon. Their borders just explode and they suddenly see what the Lord's doing all around the world, and so to be able to take film around to where people are comfortable and kind of show them a world that's outside of their comfort zone the Lord is so active in is, I'd say, a big part of that first step of mobilization. So you know, our goal in that is to create these moving films that not only benefit the people that we are filming, that they have a chance to share their story and honor those who are dedicating their lives to the Lord, but also, you know, the goal is to for them to go around to as many different parts of the world as possible and inspire others to do the same, whether it's in their local communities or outside of their local communities in a foreign environment. It's just a good physical, visual example of people who have done it well in the past.
Speaker 1:So the idea is to inspire people into asking that question what could it be for me? To live a life of missions or to be committed to a life of seeing the kingdom of God expanding and stuff? So inspiration, stories and stuff, but also a call to action, whether it's prayer or whether it's going, whether it's helping send people to go. You spent about four months with us and I think we went to like six different countries. We met with a variety of different people and captured quite a few stories an amazing testimony of what God's doing. What did God kind of do in your heart during that season? Yeah, that's a great question.
Speaker 2:I definitely would say, for me and Mariah, the three months that we spent together, a big part of that was like we knew we had this dream of telling stories in this way, but we definitely practically didn't know exactly what it would look like and the logistics behind it, how sustainable, you know, is like that type of travel and fitting in that many projects in a short amount of time. And, um, what are the realities of telling some of these people's stories? You know, there are, there are missionaries in difficult situation, there's missionaries in places where we have to be cautious about the type of content that we're capturing and stuff, and so it was a really good, like hands-on, you know, incredibly immersive opportunity to jump into. How can we do this? And I'd say like, even from point A, at the beginning to the end, we were able to learn a ton logistically about what it looks like to pull off those kind of projects.
Speaker 2:And then, along the way, you know, in my heart, in her heart, I think just the Lord just blossomed so much more of that dream, like unfolded so much more of it.
Speaker 2:And you know, at first it was just this kind of idea of like, wow, it'd be incredible to tell these stories that have moved us so much.
Speaker 2:But then going and experiencing them and being in those places and hearing them face to face and then getting to capture, you know, with a camera and like the reality of these stories, it just so further cemented the importance of them in my head and, um, how you know, you leave each of those countries with a just a burning desire for everyone you love and everyone around you to also have seen those things. I think everyone feels that, like when they come home from a short-term or a long-term mission trip, like it's almost this unrelatable experience be able to experience a glimpse of that with you. So, yeah, in our heart, it really just, it really just expanded the dream that we had in the first place into a lot more and really gave us, you know, more of an awareness of what the reality of missions is and how we can potentially play a small part the reality of missions is and how we can potentially play a small part, and, as you look at it from that side, what kind of part could you play in it?
Speaker 1:What do you think you learned from interacting with the different missionaries and cultural experiences that you had? That kind of give you new insight of being what a global worker could look like, or what a missionary could look like, or how God is stirring in the nations. What did you take away from those experiences?
Speaker 2:One of the things that revealed to me is how easy it is for me as an individual, and then like so many of the you know, the people around me it's so easy to put the Lord in a box.
Speaker 2:It's just incredibly easy and whether that's a you know a box with your understanding, your faith, but like also a cultural box, I definitely have been subject to that as an American who I haven't spent a ton of time traveling and stuff, and to be able to do that, just the cultural box that I see the Lord in through my lens is just so quickly eroded and you see, the way the Lord works and the way that the Lord pursues and loves people in different cultures is so beyond what I understood the Lord to be capable of, and so that was huge for me. It was, you know, I remember, like each time we would go to a new situation, that there were differences and things that I felt like were probably hard. You know families who moved to a country that's remote and in an environment that's harsh, and there are times where you know I have to picture myself in those situations every time and of course, in those moments I'm like this would be very difficult for me it's a totally different language, totally different environment and it's hostile and in that way I, you know, I know deep down the Lord is pursuing these people and loving these people in the same way, if not more, than where I'm comfortable. So if that's the case, the Lord's boundaries are just so far beyond mine and that was one of the most humbling and also encouraging things for me. Humbling in the sense that my world is small and the box I can put the Lord in is a terrible thing. But you know, like, it's just also so encouraging in the way that the Lord is so far beyond the box that I put him in, you know.
Speaker 2:So, yeah, both sides. For sure.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's really good. I think that's a really important thing is we all go through that, right Because of our limited experience, our limited perspective of what we can see, and God moves beyond that and is moving in many places and amongst many people's lives and amongst many different people groups. That is kind of outside of our own expectations. When you reflect back on your experiences, what were some of the key character traits or things that you picked up as lessons from the missionaries that you interacted with?
Speaker 2:You know these seem pretty general, but faith and perseverance, just in a way that I hadn't witnessed before, there's just a whole new level of dependency in the Lord, in environments where everything that is normal to you and also everything that's convenient to you is stripped away.
Speaker 2:And I say convenient to you, and a lot of the time like that would probably make you imagine things like wow, it's nice that I have constant electricity, things like that, but convenient to you, and a lot of the time like that would probably make you imagine things like wow, it's nice that I have constant electricity, things like that, but convenient to you in a deeper level, like community, in any sense of encouragement, you know, on the daily or, uh, communal worship at the regular and things like that that are so, um, I feel like in my life they're so pivotal and necessary for my constant refilling.
Speaker 2:And so when a lot of those things are stripped away, where does all of your dependency go to? Well, it has to be on the Lord, because nothing else is going to fill that void, and it's just like a new level of understanding of the Lord's grace, the Lord's love, and I think I saw that, even if it was in a different way. I saw that in every single missionary we were with, every single person who has dedicated their life to that cause has full dependency on the Lord in a way that I definitely yearn for.
Speaker 1:One of the things that, as I travel around and meet with people and witness what you do, is how God graces each person for the thing that he's called them to do and whether that season they're in or whether the work that they're trying to do. That when we're walking in God's will and we're walking with him and he leads us, that he gives us a grace to overcome some of these things or to things that would be there's no way I could handle this. There's now like actually God's carrying me and supporting me through this and we get to see that. And that's always one of the things that I really appreciate is we go around and meet with people and share their stories and connect with them and hear what God's calling them to. When you think about that kind of grace that God's given for different circumstances, grace for different skills and types of ministries, how do you see God's equipping of you and his skills that he's given you to like your own personal ministry? How do you see those connections coming?
Speaker 2:together? That's a great question. I think there were definitely multiple moments, like along the trip, where I had a particular vision for a documentary, or the way I wanted the shots to go and the stories to go and it all to flow together. And, of course, because of the reality of life, most of those things don't happen the way that you expect them to. And, um, you know, I think the Lord so faithfully reminded me in a gentle way in those moments. I have, you know, enabled you to be tasked with this, but I'm the one who has woven this story together way before you were born, and I've been weaving this together in a way that is beautiful and that is worth capturing. But let it be my way. And so I think there were plenty of times where even we would come back from a country or something and it would feel like I didn't have enough, or enough footage or things wouldn't, you know, come together in the way that I was hoping. But the Lord would always just like bring it together in an incredible way. You know, I think I see that through the people he's put around me as well, you know, to help like creatively. My wife, mariah, is an incredible writer and storyteller and she's able to see perspective in the way that these stories come together, in a way that I can't. And then the people we're with as we tell their stories, they have just such an incredible way of reliving the testimony that the Lord's put in their lives, and so all those things together are elements that I feel like the Lord has highlighted for these films to come together, so for our ministry to form.
Speaker 2:We couldn't tell an incredible story without an incredible story the Lord has highlighted for these films to come together, so for our ministry to form. You know, we couldn't tell an incredible story without an incredible. So the Lord has woven that, you know. And we, we couldn't uh, you know, I, I couldn't do what I do without the people that the Lord's around me.
Speaker 2:So that's another huge factor, and so I feel like he's just kind of, even the way I met you, ben, is like so of the Lord and we wouldn't have been able to do this otherwise. So he's just like so clearly set out the steps to get to this point and, and now it's just like the um, the need for me and Mariah to choose into it every day, because he has more and more, and I I recognize that if I don't do it, he's got plenty of other creatives that he's going to use to do this, and that always flares up the competitive side of me a little bit. I'm like, well, I want to do it, that's right, that's right. So it's our opportunity for the taking and we just want to be the ones to live out that task.
Speaker 1:So it's a sense of call of obedience, just like everybody else we have to. This is what God's given you skills, given you gifting, and you're like I think this is what I'm going to do. So how am I going to walk in obedience and using these things Right, which is awesome, and I really have appreciated, you know, the time that we've spent together with Mariah as well, just listening to your guys' heart and your passion for the lost, for God's kingdom and for getting more people to understand God's heart for the nations. I wanted to ask you which is a little bit of a transition, but this idea of story.
Speaker 1:So last night you just screened one of the documentaries that you put together, which was fantastic and it was really cool to see, because when we filmed it, even you were like I don't think we have all the pieces, I don't have enough content and et cetera, et cetera, all of these things, and yet God was able to bring, like you said, a beautiful story together of you know, a missionary family who's gone to an unreached people group, who's starting to see the growth of the church and disciples being made and people becoming free in Christ and stuff. So it's just amazing and obviously there's the combination of God's directing your skill. What's so powerful about?
Speaker 2:story. I mean, the first thing that my mind goes to is the examples that have been set before us. So, um, I mean, the Bible is by far the biggest inspiration. The disciples, in their final days, were telling stories. You know, paul was in prison writing down the testimonies of the Lord and writing to the fellow churches, and I think that that is like a huge element of his is the Lord. The Lord has made it pretty clear that, like stories and parables and all these things are part of his plan and the way that, especially the way that the disciples shared, shared in the stories of Jesus, you know, and his testimony and the things they experienced while walking with him and stuff, I think, in the same way that the life of the disciples is, the life of the disciples is so inspirational in the way that we read it in the Word. The Holy Spirit is alive in the exact same way in the missionaries that are abroad right now. It's just that there's not the same level of, you know, storytelling. It's just very occasional, you know, and it's when those missionaries are willing to write or share their stories. It's huge, it's impactful.
Speaker 2:I really believe that some of these, some of the stories that are so broadly known these days of, you know, martyrs or missionaries. I think the separating point between those and the missionaries that you never hear about is just the fact that they documented them. So there's, you know, incredible, incredible stories of missionaries past. You know who have written about their lives, and they find journals. You know of them and stuff like that, and that's. I really believe that that's part of the reason that they have come to this point, you know. So to be able to document the stories of what the Lord is doing in missionaries right now is super important for our future generation, because we can't keep relying on stories from, you know, 80 years ago. It's like so important to hear those, but also to hear relevant, you know, modern, present day stories. So where do you see?
Speaker 1:people fall short in their storytelling.
Speaker 2:Yeah, well, I mean it's very legitimate causes a lot of the time and I think it's hard for people to know how to balance ministry and storytelling and in a way you know I'd love to see. Now, I do not have the experience of living amongst men, so there's so much I can say you know, but for sure.
Speaker 1:But you're a storyteller, you're a videographer, so you understand the concepts behind that and what to do it Right, I think.
Speaker 2:I think, just like carrying on the retelling of the Lord's testimonies in your life, whether that's through the people around you, which I'm sure is something that's more common or it's writing it down, or it's sharing with your supporters things in that way make a huge difference for helping mobilize people and I think just having that bank of resources of people who are willing to share about what the Lord is doing in their lives, that helps so much. The next step of mobilization, which is giving people real, concrete examples of what it looks like to go out onto the field, and also, I think, for every individual on the mission field, storytelling is such a huge aspect and such a huge asset they have available to them when they're able to to share with the people who are trying to step alongside this journey with them, so their supporters, their family, to be able to share with them the testimonies of what the Lord is doing, is just a massive benefit. You know and can help everyone in so many different ways financially to massive benefit.
Speaker 1:You know and can help everyone in so many different ways financially connecting people mobilization, mobilization, buy-in, emotional buy-in support, all those things of connecting with people. So where do you see people tend to fall short in their storytelling skills.
Speaker 2:I'd say it's very easy for us, as believers, to turn storytelling into a sermon, like those. Things can very easily shift, so so it's easy to begin to tell a story but to see, um, you know, to see the biblical truth behind it and then to turn it into a gospel message, which isn't, you know, an incredible resource at times and that should be used, but there's, I'd say there's, a time for a gospel message and there was a time just to reflect on, like you know, uh, actually, account.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:Right, right. So I feel like the more that missionaries are willing just to share straight up, like this is what my life looks like. Sometimes it's bad, sometimes it's great, sometimes it has incredible testimonies and sometimes it's really hard, those realities that's the life of a believer and that's the life the Lord has called us all into. So not you know, I think it. I think a lot of missionaries fall short as well and waiting for the right stories, and there's no right stories in my opinion. I think all of you know the life of a missionary is one that is so, so testimony filled and so important.
Speaker 2:Ben, you've mentioned to me before that, like your life, even with all this travel and all the incredible stories that you've heard, like you kind of forget how incredible they are because you hear so many of them all the time. You know you hear testimonies that are incredible or that are sad, constantly, and so the things you know, I remember traveling to some places with you and just being blown away by some things that you were just kind of like, yeah, you know, like I heard a similar story yesterday, and so I think, remembering that those who we need to set out to mobilize, like every story that you have in your storybook is vital and that could change a person's life.
Speaker 1:So remembering the value of the testimony, yeah, yeah, that's good man when you think about kind of missions and your younger generation.
Speaker 2:I won't you're not speaking for the whole generation but you know, when you think about it from kind of you know younger generation at this stage, you know your early twenties, what's kind of on people's hearts and minds in the in the area of mission I would like to say that, um, there are people in my generation and you know I can speak more easily for, obviously, the community right around me and those in the area that I live but I would say that there is there's a stirring for real connection with the Lord, um, and I think that there's a, that there's a desire to see more of what the Lord is doing, period, and I think, just like a connection of the experiences of the Lord is something that is desired, and I'd say, like you could look at that and say that, yeah, well, this generation needs to be more biblically grounded, which I also feel like is always true. But there is a hungerness that can be tapped into of people in my generation who are hungry to experience the things that the Lord is willing to do, you know, and because of that, I think it's important to go and to tap into that, you know, to really see, to give these people a glimpse of full life in the Lord, and not just these little experiences, but walking in that type of lifestyle constantly, and so I'd say there's a lot of curious people, which is exactly what I would hope for, you know, as someone who's making these documentaries and wants to, I want to get them in front of as many eyes here as possible. I know the stories are incredible, like you guys listening to this, but the missionaries in your ministry, ben like, are unbelievable. They have incredible stories, and so to get these to, to get those stories to the young people who are, um, who are hungry, for they want to know what the Lord's doing, they have a hunger to to find out like the limits, which is limitless, you know and and so, and so I would say there's definitely a curiosity there.
Speaker 2:There's there's a lot of communities here in my area, out West, more towards California. I have friends who are like part of these communities of young people who are right out of high school or right out of college taking these gap years, like just pursuing the Lord, and so all they know to do is to go to some of these gap year programs and discipleship programs, which is incredible, and they're growing in the Father and in their understanding of the Word. But there's like so many opportunities for next steps after those programs, and so to tap into that a little bit would be a dream of mine to see, for them to get their eyes on what like a continuation of their life with the Lord looks like in the in a pursuit of the Great Commission. So that's definitely something I've seen. That's relevant.
Speaker 1:That's great man, that's really interesting. I think that's right. So, as a representative of the older generation or an older generation than you, you could be I have a child your age. What words of wisdom or advice would you give us to help us nurture that calling or to bring that exposure, that invitation, to the next generation to pursue a life of missions in the Great Commission.
Speaker 2:It's definitely on my heart to begin to pray for these young people to be willing to take a step and experience. You know, even whether it's like a short-term trip to see some of these things, I think it's hard, for it's just a. It's difficult for a lot of them to know where to go, like we mentioned before, to know where to go after some of their discipleship that they've had After high school, after college, those who don't feel settled with like a career path. They want to see what's next, what they can do for the kingdom. I think it's really important just for us as a community and, ben, like you know, as you mentioned your generation and other generations just to begin to pray for them to see clarity. It's so easy for the world and the things the world has to offer to get in the way to shroud the importance of taking that next step into mission work, the things that Lord has to offer there. So one, an easy step that everyone can be a part of. Pray for the generation to have clarity in the next steps. That's an important aspect and, lord willing, if you have flocks of young people ready to join the ministry, it's not going to look perfect. They're not going to know what they're doing at first, but they're eager to start, and so that's what this generation, your generation, has to offer is the knowledge and the wisdom and the understanding of how to go about these things.
Speaker 2:No one said it's easy, but there are people who want to be willing. And then I think practical steps as well is be willing to share your stories to the people in my generation who want to know. Those stories are invaluable and the time spent doing that is worth it. That's what continues the mission, and so, whether that's being willing to share, if a couple like us who wants to film, you comes by, sure, but also like just you, can find ways to you know, even document. Like us who wants to film, you comes by, sure, but also like just you can find ways to you know, even document yourself. And your story now doesn't have to be in an incredible way, even if it's writing it down in a journal Like those things are huge to continuing.
Speaker 1:For me like it was thoroughly enjoyable to spend the four months together as we traveled and we did different things together.
Speaker 1:Your guys' excitement and zeal for life, your zeal for God, your zeal to pursue his kingdom was infectious, and I saw it rubbing off on people as well, and I know it rubbed off on me just and it was just great to hang out with you guys and just spend time with you, and I think it probably would do us good to have more experiences like that from both generations. You know know the sharing of life, of experience and wisdom, but then also the energy and the opportunity. You know, hey, what about this chance, what about this thing? What could we do? And bringing those together, I think, is really important for the advancement of the kingdom as well, and so we both have roles in that, which is awesome. So any kind of final closing words of advice or kind of your experience like would you encourage people to do something similar? If you're thinking of? Like would you encourage people to do something similar If you're thinking of doing this? What would you advise them to do?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I'd say, if you, you know, ever have an interest in how to potentially share more about what your life as a missionary looks like to others. There's so much opportunity there, I think you know there's, of course, like, there will always be the task of doing it cautiously and doing it in a way that does benefit others, but there's, you know, there's such a connection, and sometimes it's a blessing, sometimes it's a curse, but there is a there's. It's so easy, there's so much accessibility to get your face out to the public, and so, whether that's via social media or just through platforms like a blog or an email chain or something like that, I like, for one, am so passionate about hearing stories from others, and that's something that, like drives me is just like hearing what the Lord is doing around the world. Being willing to give back in that way and give, you know, share more about what the Lord is doing through you is just such a blessing for the others around you. Definitely, continue to pray about how you can do that, whether it's with the community that you're working in or anything like.
Speaker 2:That is, you know, super appreciated, and us as you know my generation we would love to hear more of their stories to be able to be inspired and be filled up and continue to learn what the next steps are. And it's been a blessing to experience a few more of them, a few more of the stories, and we can't wait to hear countless others. And the Lord is going to continue to do incredible things through each of the missionaries that are working through this, and so it's just a matter of being faithful. In that way, we want to be faithful in telling them, so we couldn't, you know, do remotely what we're wanting Our dream of, you know, telling these stories without people living it out. And so we're just, we're praying for them every day and we're just thankful beyond words for the dedication that they've chosen into the path that the Lord has set out before them.
Speaker 1:Thanks, wes, for sharing your story and your experience and for serving our mission in the way that you guys have over the last several months, and look forward to more adventures into the future with you guys Absolutely. Thanks so much. So, listener, thank you for tuning in today. I hope you found this conversation encouraging and inspiring about how we can share our stories for the glory of God, to inspire other believers to pursue Him more and to invite the next generation into missions with us so that people, groups everywhere, can come to have access to the gospel and be able to hear the good news of Jesus. If you'd like to learn more about our short-term opportunities or opportunities to serve, you can check out our website. I'll have a link to that in the show notes and, as always open to feedback and comments and insights for this episode or for ideas for future ones, you can email me. The email is in the show notes and thanks for tuning in and God bless.