Dear Prayer Partners,

Thank you for continuing to pray with us as we walk and serve with Jesus in Central/East Africa. We are thankful for your partnership over all these years.

Brad has now been living in Rwanda for 20 years, and in June, Chelsea will have been here for 17 years. We praise God for the many ways that He has helped and empowered us to be a part of what He is doing!

Much has happened since we last wrote.

Thank you for praying for the trip to Burundi and South Sudan in December. The trip was great. It is exciting to see how God is leading Burundi Friends in preparing a plan to send missionaries to unreached people in Tanzania, and Rwanda Friends preparing to send missionaries to South Sudan in May.

In January, our EFC-Rwanda Friends hosted a team from EFM who led a 5-day Small Business Development training that we believe will be an important part of how God wants to give Rwanda Friends new ways to do His mission here in Rwanda and beyond. Mission through businesses is exciting and will open many opportunities for ministry in the communities.

On January 29–30, the Administrative Council of EFC-Rwanda met to discern the Lord’s plan for who the next executive leaders of EFC-Rwanda are to be. We believe that the Lord helped the group make wise decisions.

On February 14–16, we will have some important D4D meetings with David Thomas, one of our D4D coaches.

On February 17–18, there will be an important Pastors’ retreat. On February 19–20, there will be Yearly Meeting sessions to fill several other leadership roles for the coming years. Please pray for God’s blessing and help in those days of discernment and decision.

Please also pray for a retreat that Brad will attend in Kenya from February 19–24 with others working in Disciple-making movements. Pray for good connections with God and others who are doing similar work. Please pray for Brad to have special times that are renewing and refreshing with the Lord. Also, please pray for Chelsea and the kids, who will be home in Musanze.

We continue to be so thankful for the ways the Lord helps us stay healthy in general, and the ways He heals us when we do get sick. We are still praying for Brad’s stomach issues that interfere with his sleep. Our kindergartner, 4th grader, and 7th grader continue to show diligence and kindness at school, and we also all enjoy the school events that help us feel like a community. We are thankful to have rhythms of hosting special visitors and everyday home life—normal days and exciting days, work and rest. We pray the Lord blesses you with these things as well!

Brad, Chelsea, Sarai, Gideon, and Ian

The post Brad & Chelsea Carpenter | February Update first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

Amados Familia y Amigos,

Estamos seguros de que también ustedes como nosotros han experimentado el amor, la misericordia, y la bondad de Dios múltiples veces. Los últimos tres meses del año 2025, para nosotros fueron de grandes cambios, noticias, y también de oportunidades intencionales de descanso y renovación. En medio de tantos sentimientos encontrados y transición es muy hermoso ver las manifestaciones de amor y gracia de nuestro Señor.
Dios nos permite seguir sirviéndole a Él con pasión y emoción haciendo nuestra tarea de movilización de misiones con EFM. Prontamente nuestro calendario se está llenando con invitaciones de varias Juntas Anuales de Latinoamérica para llegar a motivar y movilizar a las iglesias para que crezcan en su involucramiento en el envío de más misioneros y apertura de nuevas obras. Alabado sea el Señor por todas las oportunidades que El nos está permitiendo.
Para empezar, del 20 de enero al 7 de marzo estaremos participando en las sesiones de la Junta Anual de Honduras, visitando iglesias en El Salvador, y estar presentes y participar en las sesiones de la Junta Anual de México, para seguir ayudando en el avance de VM32 y promover misiones.
Como mentores, estamos trabajando uno a uno con varios jóvenes de Latinoamérica que se están sintiendo retados por Dios con un llamado misionero o plantadores de nuevas obras y están dando pasos hacia el discernimiento y confirmación del su llamado. Por favor apóyennos a orar por Ana de Guatemala, Daniel de Bolivia, Angélica de México, Maribel de Philadelphia, Luke y Ximena de Kansas, y Grace de Oregón. Oren para que nosotros seamos efectivos en nuestro trabajo y Dios nos use para animar y ser mentores para caminar con ellos en el proceso hasta un día verlos salir al campo donde Dios los envíe.
Seguimos sirviendo de Coach para el misionero José Olivas, él ya está de regreso en Ecuador ahora con su visa de residencia, ¡sirviendo y viviendo entre el pueblo Shuar en el Amazonas! Vemos muy obviamente la unción y respaldo de Dios en la vida y ministerio de José. ¡Gloria a Dios!
Estas diferentes tareas que Dios nos ha dado para desarrollar vienen con sus retos, pero también nos sentimos bendecidos y emocionados. Y también agradecidos por todos ustedes que son parte de nuestro equipo con su apoyo, su amor, y sobre todo sus preciosas oraciones que apreciamos y valoramos grandemente.

Noticias de nuestra familia

¡Una de las noticias que queremos compartir con ustedes es que nuestros hijo Edwin Isaac entregó el anillo e hizo la pregunta y su linda novia Jessica Grace dijo que si!! entonces estaremos celebrando su boda en el verano de este año. Increíble que Edwin Isaac solo tenía 3 añitos cuando Dios nos llamó a las misiones, y ahora está por casarse. Oren por la bendición de esta unión y que Dios los use para que ellos sean ejemplo de un matrimonio y familia bajo la voluntad de Dios.
Nuestra hija Faviola está disfrutando mucho su trabajo como terapeuta en comportamiento para niños con autismo. A nosotros nos encanta cuando ella nos cuenta del avance de sus pacientes. Damos gracias a Dios por que ella tiene la maravillosa oportunidad de ser las manos de Jesús para estos hermosos niños y sus familias.
Otra de las noticias es que nosotros nos mudamos y ahora nuestra base de residencia es el sur de Houston. Dios siendo tan increíble nos ha proveído, nos ha abierto puertas y oportunidades expandiendo ministerio para nosotros servir e impactar el reino. Estamos inmensamente agradecidos por la Iglesia de Bayshore Friends quienes nos han adoptado con tanta generosidad y nos han recibido proveyendo una casa transicional mientras buscamos la que será nuestra nueva casa permanente. Pedimos a Dios que pronto podamos tener la casa adecuada que sea donde lleguemos a renovarnos y restaurar nuestros espíritus, mentes, y cuerpos en la presencia de Dios después de cada viaje, y que sea de mucha bendición para la familia y amigos que desean llegar a visitarnos.
Una de las muchas razones que nos emocionan de este cambio es nuestro involucramiento y colaboración con la Junta Anual de MidAmerica, a la cual pertenecemos ahora. Soñamos y pedimos a Dios que nos use para ver ánimo y crecimiento para seguir la expansión de su reino. Algunas de nuestras pasiones es ayudar a levantar nuevas obras, capacitación de liderazgo y desarrollo de discípulos. Deseamos y pedimos a Dios que para su honra y gloria use, nuestras experiencias, talentos, dones, y pasiones para ser de bendición a MAYM.

Peticiones de Oración

• Para que Dios nos permita seguir con buena salud, energía y ánimo para llevar a cabo nuestros diferentes roles siendo efectivos y productivos.
• Por nuestra adaptación a nuestra nueva base en Texas. Para que pronto podamos tener nuestra propia casa de descanso y restauración.
• Por su unción, gracia y sabiduría en cada presentación, taller, capacitación, etc. en donde tengamos la oportunidad de compartir. ¡Toda la honra y gloria sea a El!

The post Actualización de Giron | Celebrando juntos la fidelidad de Dios first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

Beloved Family and Friends,

We are certain that you, like us, have experienced God’s love, mercy, and goodness many times. The last three months of 2025 were filled with significant changes, news, and intentional opportunities for rest and renewal for us. Amidst so many mixed emotions and transitions, it is truly beautiful to witness the manifestations of our Lord’s love and grace.

God allows us to continue serving Him with passion and enthusiasm, carrying out our Missions Mobilization ministry with EFM. Our calendar is soon filling up with invitations to various Yearly Meetings in Latin America, where we will travel to motivate and mobilize churches to increase their involvement in sending more missionaries and establishing new ministries. Praise the Lord for all the opportunities He is providing us.

To begin, from January 20th to March 7th, we will be participating in the Honduras Yearly Meeting sessions, visiting churches in El Salvador, also attending and participating in the Yearly Meeting sessions in Mexico, to continue supporting the advancement of VM32 and promoting missions.

As mentors, we are working one-on-one with several young people from Latin America and the U.S. who feel challenged by God with a missionary calling or a call to plant new churches and are taking steps toward discerning and confirming their calling. Please join us in praying for Ana from Guatemala, Daniel from Bolivia, Angélica from Mexico, Maribel from Philadelphia, Luke and Ximena from Kansas, and Grace from Oregon. Pray that we will be effective in our work and that God will use us to encourage and mentor them, walking alongside them in the process until one day we see them go out into the field where God sends them.

We continue to coach missionary José Olivas, who is now back in Ecuador with his residency visa, serving and living among the Shuar people in the Amazon! We clearly see God’s anointing and support in José’s life and ministry. Glory to God!

These different tasks that God has given us to carry out come with their challenges, but we also feel blessed and excited. And we are also grateful for all of you who are part of our team, for your support, your love, and above all, your precious prayers, which we greatly appreciate and value.

Family News

One of the pieces of news we want to share with you is that our son Edwin Isaac proposed to his lovely girlfriend Jessica Grace and she said yes!! So, we’ll be celebrating their wedding this summer. It’s incredible that Edwin Isaac was only 3 years old when God called us to missions, and now he’s about to get married. Please pray for the blessing of this union and that God will use them to be an example of a marriage and family according to His will.

Our daughter Faviola is really enjoying her work as a behavioral therapist for children with autism. We love it when she tells us about her patients’ progress. We thank God that she has the wonderful opportunity to be the hands of Jesus for these beautiful children and their families.

Another piece of news is that we’ve moved, and our home base is now in South Houston. God, being so incredible, has provided for us, opened doors and opportunities, and expanded our ministry so we can serve and impact His Kingdom. We are immensely grateful to Bayshore Friends Church, who have so generously adopted us and provided us with a temporary home while we search for our permanent residence. We pray that we will soon have the right home, a place where we can come to renew and restore our spirits, minds, and bodies in God’s presence after each trip, and that it will be a great blessing to family and friends who wish to visit us.

One of the many reasons we are excited about this move is our involvement and collaboration with the MidAmerica Yearly Meeting. We dream and pray that God will use us to see encouragement and growth as we continue the expansion of His Kingdom. Some of our passions include helping to establish new ministries, leadership training, and discipleship development. We desire and pray that God, for His honor and glory, He will use our experiences, talents, gifts, and passions to be a blessing to MAYM.

Prayer Requests

• That God would grant us continued good health, energy, and enthusiasm to fulfill our various roles effectively and productively.
• For our adjustment to our new base in Texas. That we may soon have our own home, where we will go back to after each trip, for rest and restoration.
• For His anointing, grace, and wisdom in every presentation, workshop, training session, etc., where we will have the opportunity to share. All honor and glory be to Him!

The post Giron Update | Celebrating God’s Faithfulness Together first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

Preparing to Join God’s Work in Croatia
Please Pray for the Liddell Family

Fred and Jonelle Liddell, along with their children Alex and Jael, are preparing to move to Croatia in early 2026, stepping into a calling shaped by prayer, patience, and deep trust in God’s timing. They are joining God in what he is already doing among the people of Croatia, long before they arrive.

During recent prayer walks through Croatian cities and towns, Jonelle was struck by the image of an old house, weathered, cracked, yet still standing after generations. It became a powerful picture of the spiritual landscape they are entering. In a place where religion often exists as cultural identity rather than living faith, the Liddells are praying that God would do something new and that the knowledge of him would no longer be distant or abstract, but personal, present, and transforming.

Their preparation season has been full and at times heavy. Training, travel, meetings, and international planning have been layered with unexpected health concerns and logistical hurdles. Yet through each interruption, the Liddells have continued to sense God’s steady invitation: Will you notice what I am already doing? Will you join me? With open hands, they are answering yes!

In the midst of transition, family life remains central. Alex eagerly talks about Croatia, while Jael fills their days with songs, coloring, and imaginative play. Together, the family anchors their hearts in simple truths: Jesus is strong and kind, he calms the storm, and is near in seasons of change.

As they look toward their move in early 2026, the Liddells are asking others to join them as supporters and as prayer partners. The work ahead will require language learning, cultural humility, spiritual discernment, and endurance. Above all, it will require listening closely to the Spirit as they seek to walk faithfully among the people God loves.

God is already at work in Croatia. The Liddells are preparing to join him!

Please pray:

• For health, strength, and clarity as ongoing medical needs are addressed.
• For peace and focus as preparations and logistics continue.
• For language learning and cultural understanding once they arrive.
• For open hearts in Croatia, that many would encounter Jesus personally.

The post January 2026 Prayer Letter first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

Hi Friends and Family,

I’m writing to you from the Wycliffe compound in Juba, South Sudan and am a little over halfway through my trip. For the past 6 days, I’ve had the opportunity to meet the missionaries and the South Sudanese who work with Wycliffe here, and I have absolutely loved it! I’ve felt so welcomed by various people making sure I have what I need and looking out for me, and several people have had me over for dinner on various nights to get to know me better. Beyond that, I’ve loved being with people who have a love for linguistics and Bible translation. From conversations about the process of Bible translation to Greek and Hebrew to the software tools Wycliffe uses to aid the translation process, I feel very at home here.

But one of my favorite things has been sitting in with a couple of translation teams (the Avokaya team and the Fur team) as they work on translating the Old Testament. The Avokaya team, who I visited on Friday, were checking their draft of Exodus 21 and talking about various exegetical and translation issues that came up. The Fur team, who I visited on Monday, were checking their draft of Joshua 14 and doing the same. I’ve learned a lot by watching them and was able to help out in small ways when they had questions about the original Hebrew text or about the cultural context of the passage they were working on.

Today (Tuesday), I will leave Wycliffe’s compound and have a different focus for the rest of my trip. Pastor Nicodeme, a missionary from Rwanda, has been in South Sudan for the past two and a half months to figure out the logistics of his family and him living here starting sometime next year. The plan is for Nicodeme and his family to be joined by Evangelical Friends Mission (EFM) missionaries in the near future so that we can partner together in planting churches in South Sudan. I, two pastors from Rwanda, an EFM missionary, and an EFM director will spend the rest of the week with Nicodeme to be with him, encourage him, and help him debrief. I’ve already gotten to spend some good quality time with Nicodeme when he’s visited me at the Wycliffe compound and am looking forward to hearing more about what the past few months have looked like for him.

Finally, I’m so grateful for all of you! Thank you for how you’ve prayed and are praying for me and for how you’ve given so that I can begin a disciple-making apprenticeship with North County Project in January. Currently, I’m 73% funded! Thank you for your incredible generosity! As a reminder, if you’d like to partner with me through financial gifts, here are the ways you can do it:

• Online: Visit the NCP Apprentice donation page by clicking this link. Once there, scroll to find my name and select your gift amount. You’ll have the opportunity to indicate whether you are giving monthly or as a one-time gift.
• Credit Card: You may give online (as stated above) or by calling the EFM office at (303) 421-8100 to provide your information to a live representative.
• Automatic Bank Transfer: Download the form here and email it to Debby McElroy (EFM Bookkeeper) at debby@friendsmission.com. Please note that ACH payments are processed on the 10^th or 25^th of the month.
• Check: Mail a check to EFM, P.O. Box 771139, Wichita, KS 67277. Please mark your check with “Thomas Moore NCP Apprentice Support” and indicate if your gift will be recurring (monthly, quarterly, etc.). Make the check payable to “EFM.”

Thank you again for how you’re coming on this journey with me. I look forward to giving many of you more details about this trip. I’d love to meet with you to tell you more about it if you live in Southern California or talk with you over the phone or video chat if you live elsewhere.

In Him,
Thomas Moore

The post Thomas Moore | December Update first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

A 10:2 Prayer Trip is an annual trip to the mission fields where EFM has committed to sending missionaries. Teams are asked to pray for the soil (Matthew 13:1-23) and pray for the workers (Luke 10:2). Teams are sent or guided by sponsoring regions/yearly meetings of the new EFM fields that have been leading exploration. 10:2 Prayer Trips will target appropriate communities for prayer walking and interceding that “the Kingdom come, and God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven” in those places.

In November 2025, a 10:2 Prayer Trip took place in Athens, Greece. The following is a report written by team member Evelyn Portillo.

Who Was On The Trip?

• Kenn Dirrim – Missionary to Greece for almost 20 years (Southwest)
• Matt Macy – EFM staff (MidAmerica)
• Robert Garon – Pastor to Sherwood Community Friends Church (Northwest)
• Alexis Lopez – Canyon Hills Friends Church and Immigration Services Volunteer (Southwest)
• Evelyn Portillo – Friends Southwest Staff and Orange Friends Church (Southwest)

Reflections From The Field

Greece is an entry point for refugees, with the hope of establishing themselves in other countries throughout Europe. As they are on the “go”, so is God pursuing their heart and lives. At this point, some refugees are returning to Greece after months or up to two years of trying to complete their immigration status in other European countries. If their immigration documents have been denied, they need to return to their entry point in Europe. This can be heartbreaking, for their dreams may be shattered but it also provides an opportunity to support them and strengthen their faith. 

Church planting is possible in non-traditional ways: home churches, small groups with a mentor, and a church site. We need to keep in mind that our goal is to form communities of believers and make disciples who will go make other disciples.

How You Can Pray

• Pray for a new team of EFM missionaries to begin a new EFM disciple-making effort with Muslim refugees in Greece.
• The immigration laws and processes continue to change. Pray that people with knowledge in this area will continue to step up.
• Pray for God’s grace and mercy for the refugees as they navigate complex documentation and financial hurdles.
• Pray for the worldwide missionaries who serve in Greece as their hub, that they will continue to work in unity, led by the Holy Spirit. May they continue to experience divine moments.
• Pray that national leaders will continue to develop and step up. Also pray that new believers will continue to take leadership roles with passion and grace.
• Pray for freedom from oppression, and that refugees may be able to fully live a life in Christ.

Are you Feeling Called to Join EFM?

Are you interested in exploring missionary service? Do you know of anyone of any age who might be interested in exploring the idea of serving as a missionary overseas for two or more years?

EFM is currently looking to contact and connect with people about opportunities to explore serving as missionaries with the Friends Church!

To learn more, visit here or fill out this interest form!

The post Luke 10:2 Greece Post Trip Update first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

Dear Prayer Partners,

Many things have happened since we last wrote. We are so thankful for your prayers and partnership in the whole-life discipleship movement here in East Africa!

From Saturday, December 13, until Sunday the 21st, Brad will be on a trip to Burundi and then South Sudan. Time in both countries will be focused on starting new mission work and partnership with our African friends. Please pray for wisdom and sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, and to each other, as we (EFM) work with EFC-Rwanda and EFC-Burundi. We are praying for God to lead us into the best ways of partnering together for more effective mission to the nations. Please pray for health, safety, and blessing over those who are travelling and for their families at home.

We are thankful that we are all fairly healthy after being sick recently. We are also really thankful that Brad’s parents are with us until the beginning of January! We look forward to spending this Christmas season with them and some friends in Musanze.

Most of all, we pray that all would hear about the hope that God offers through Jesus. May He be glorified all throughout the world!

Thank you!
Brad & Chelsea
Sarai, Gideon, and Ian

The post Brad & Chelsea Carpenter | December Update first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

A 10:2 Prayer Trip is an annual trip to the mission fields where EFM has committed to sending missionaries. Teams are asked to pray for the soil (Matthew 13:1-23) and pray for the workers (Luke 10:2). Teams are sent or guided by sponsoring regions/yearly meetings of the new EFM fields that have been leading exploration. 10:2 Prayer Trips will target appropriate communities for prayer walking and interceding that “the Kingdom come, and God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven” in those places.

In October, a 10:2 Prayer Trip took place in Dubai. The following is a report written by team member Matt Chesnes.

Who was on the trip?

The team included: Stan Leach, Zach Bohler, Beth Sarrice, Norbu Tamang, Sam Chappidi, Matthew Chesnes.

Where did you travel?

Persian Gulf States – Technically, we went to Dubai but it is kept more general for location.

Trip Highlights

The Lord opened doors for us among Nepali congregations. These congregations invest a major portion of their budget on transportation. Since the Lord has placed ‘Business as Mission’ in our hearts and mind, there was an immediate understanding of how we can come alongside these churches to help. We would help them start a transportation business. There are multiple benefits to the individuals and to the church.

A partnership door that opened in January 2025, opened wider on this trip. We met with leaders from an evangelical church that has 120+ nations attending with over 6,000 in attendance. Approximately one thousand individuals leave this church every year. Many of them will return to their homeland. We want to come alongside this to equip men and women to plant disciple making communities when they return home. Our role would be to develop a strategy and curriculum to equip these individuals to accomplish that task.

Prayer focus: What did the team pray for and how can others continue praying?

• Pray for open doors.
• Pray for potential partnership with the local church. This is still in the works.
• Our top priority is “who will go?”

The post Luke 10:2 Dubai Post Trip Update first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

To the Kitchen and to Croatia!

At one of our stops this summer, Alex was playing with some animal and dinosaur figures and a toy shopping cart. He loaded all the toys into the cart and announced “Bye Mommy!  I’m going on a walk!” “Where are you going?” “To the kitchen and to Croatia!”

We’re Fully Funded!

We laughed at Alex’s remark, but were also struck by how fitting that answer is. Where are we going today? Probably somewhere mundane, like the kitchen or the classroom or the store. But in a few months? We’re going to Croatia! Because, praise God, we’re fully funded! Thank you to those of you who have partnered in prayer and those who have partnered with their finances, God has been using you and we are a major step closer to going!

Our Summer of Travel

A lot has happened this summer: We moved out of our house in June, put it on the market in July, closed in August! We drove east then west, visiting churches and lots of friends in Idaho, Ohio, Michigan, New York, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Washington D.C., and Kansas, ending in California. We visited museums with dinosaur bones, national monuments and national parks. We shared 16 times at churches, small groups, annual sessions/yearly meetings, and VBS’s. We drove through 26 states (I think) going one direction or another, ending up most recently in Colorado for a month long training at Mission Training International (MTI).

Sharing at Evangelical Friends Church -Eastern Region’s Yearly Meeting Sessions

Mission Training International

All four of us are in class all day, 5 days a week, learning strategies and techniques to learn a new language faster, tips for adjusting to a new culture, techniques to help with the emotional roller coaster of moving overseas, and spiritual practices to help keep us grounded throughout. This program has been even better than we hoped! We’re making friends, loving our classes and trainers, already seeing progress in some things as we implement the tools we’re receiving. For instance, I have never been able to trill an “r” and I need to if I want to speak Croatian well. Last week one session was working on “r’s” and I was able to trill for the first time!  Sounds minor, but it felt major!

Still to Come

In October we will be doing a bit more visiting in the mid-west, then driving back to San Diego for some downtime with Fred’s parents.  In November, Fred and I will fly to Ohio for some meetings with EFM, then will fly from there to Croatia for two weeks.  This trip will start out focused on pre-move logistics, then will shift to a time of focused prayer in several key locations. We will be joined by a few people from across the country, including two potential teammates!  Language school in Split, Croatia starts at the end of February, so we hope to move by the end of January.  It’s coming fast!

The Kids

Our kids have been blessed by quick connections everywhere we’ve gone. They’ve gained extra grandparents and an awful lot of friends. This has been a great blessing, but the goodbyes are hard. Through the summer we’ve seen signs of increased emotional stress in both Alex and Jael, peaking right as we got to Colorado. Being in one place for more than a week has helped with that. But within the first few days of training, we also learned more of the early indicators to watch for, as well as a steadily increasing number of tools to use. It has been empowering and encouraging to see the differences as we use things they have taught us mixed with things we figured out on our own. Please keep praying for them though, their world is already shifting and their hearts hurt for the people and places we’ve already said goodbye to.

The next few photos are the kids with their bonus and real grandparents!

Please Pray

• For these next few months, that we would be drawing near to God and finding rest for our souls, even as we do all the things that need doing before we can leave.
• For the kids, that they would know God’s nearness as a constant.  That we would have wisdom and patience as they deal with the stresses of this time.
• For our potential teammates, that God would guide their process and draw us together in unity even before we reach the field.  Pray for clear discernment and peace as they seek to follow His leading.

The post Liddell Family: September 2025 Newsletter first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

A 10:2 Prayer Trip is an annual trip to the mission fields where EFM has committed to sending missionaries. Teams are asked to pray for the soil (Matthew 13:1-23) and pray for the workers (Luke 10:2). Teams are sent or guided by sponsoring regions/yearly meetings of the new EFM fields that have been leading exploration. 10:2 Prayer Trips will target appropriate communities for prayer walking and interceding that “the Kingdom come, and God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven” in those places.

Dear Friends,

We’re excited to share a report from the recent Prayer Trip to the Sertão Region of Northeast Brazil. The following is a report written by team member Philip Burgi.

Who Was on This Trip & Where Did We Travel? A team of nine, representing six churches and three Yearly Meetings, traveled from the USA beginning July 14-24, 2025.

The group included: Jacob Stooke, Calen Brudos-Nockles, Ryan Barber, Phil Burgi, Christy Neifert, and Frank Penna from Rocky Mountain YM. Shawn Wilson and Sherry Schoening from Indiana YM. And, Jan Cammack from Northwest YM.

Stop 1 – Carpina (near Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil) Our potential partner, World Renewal Brazil’s ministry, is centered here. The group was hosted by Tele Moraes and spent a day visiting and praying with the staff at the International School and over the ABBA Youth Camp near Carpina.

Stop 2 – Sousa, Paraíba, Brazil We were hosted by Pastor Flavio Travassos. We prayed for:

• the Cigano (Gypsy) community and a future church site near the Christian leader Bozzano’s home
• Pastor Flavio and his family
• their children’s ministry located north of Sousa

Stop 3 – Mirandiba, Pernambuco, Brazil We prayed and ministered over three days, meeting with local pastor Joel Candido and participating in the first Missions Conference held in the Sertão, organized by Joel.

We also had wonderful prayer opportunities during these days. Our team split into smaller groups and prayed as we walked the streets of Mirandiba and nearby communities. We experienced a number of “divine appointments” – praying in homes, open fields, and on the streets.

Return Journey – Caruaru, Pernambuco On the way back to Carpina, we stopped in Caruaru to visit with Pastor Cesario, who, with his wife and son, is starting a new work supported by World Renewal Brazil.

We prayed with Pastor Cesario for:

• the community
• their new kids’ ministry (already reaching about 40 students)
• more workers to come alongside them

A Trip Highlight

There were so many spiritual highlights. However, the group’s sense of unity over the “call” to the Sertão seemed the most significant. The physical and spiritual needs are so evident, the people are so welcoming, and the few Christians we encountered in ministry are also praying for workers in this needy field.

Although a difficult place to live and minister, we affirm the sense of those on previous trips that the Mirandiba area of the Sertão would be an excellent place to center an Evangelical Friends Mission ministry in Brazil.

We also felt the area around Caruaru, on the edge of the Sertão, had possibilities as a ministry center. It is much closer to ministry resources near Carpina, as well as more adaptable for families with children.

Thank you for your prayers and support. We believe God is stirring hearts for the people of the Sertão, and we invite you to continue praying with us for His work in Northeast Brazil. We look forward to sharing more news as it becomes available about what we are finding and discerning in EFM’s Luke 10 Initiative.

To learn more about how you can join these trips or if you are interested in exploring missionary service, visit here.

The post What God Is Doing in Brazil’s Sertão first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.