First Fruits

Throughout this summer, we have shared about the preparation and prayers surrounding our summer mission trip and ABBA Elijah-Elisha Conference. Now, as our teams and participants have returned home, we are beginning to hear testimonies of how God used these experiences to renew hearts, strengthen faith, and inspire a greater commitment to serving His Kingdom.

Lady, one of our Riverside Tree graduates who participated in both STMT and the ABBA Conference, describes the two experiences as ones that “have definitely anchored my faith.” The mission trip to Iquitos was particularly meaningful as her first opportunity to serve as a missionary. It was even her first time traveling by airplane, something she never imagined she would experience so soon. Looking back, she writes, “I’m so glad that my first flight had a beautiful purpose behind it,” as she traveled not simply to see somewhere new, but to serve others for Christ.

But the fruit of this summer did not end when Lady returned home. Through STMT and the Elijah-Elisha Conference, she was encouraged to invest more intentionally in the children she serves through Sunday School, seeking new ways to make her lessons engaging and purposeful. Her church was also encouraged to reactivate its youth group, opening another opportunity to disciple and raise up the next generation.

Lady returned with a renewed vision for her own church: “I want to keep living my life for Christ and see my church united, working together, led by the Holy Spirit to go and keep on making disciples and followers of Christ. That is a vision I pray for.”

We praise God that the prayers offered throughout this summer are already bearing fruit. As participants return to their churches and communities, we pray that what God began through STMT and Elijah-Elisha would continue to grow, producing faithful servants who will make disciples and raise up the next generation for His Kingdom.