By November 2024 EFM had made a commitment to launch seven of the nine fields that were under exploration. Those seven fields are now moving on to the prayer and pre-launch planning phases.  Meanwhile, we are currently still sending Luke 10 Exploration Teams to consider other potential fields. You can learn more aquí.

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 the Dalmatia region of Croatia. There was an additional phase of the trip where part of the team stayed longer to accomplish pre-launch planning.  The following is a report for the 10:2 Prayer Trip written by team member Jonelle Liddell.

Who Was On The Trip?

• Christy Neifert
• Soni McGrew
• Fred and Jonelle Liddell
• Jim LeShana
• Kathleen Dungan

Where Did You Travel?

We traveled in the Dalmatia region of Croatia, and briefly crossed the border to Capljina in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Trip Highlights

On our first day together as a team, we visited the Croatian church in Vela Luka, Croatia. We were all encouraged by the open arms of the pastor and the congregation. This Croatian pastor and his wife are key potential ministry partners and mentors for our long term team, and is modeling love for others across ethnic lines, evangelism to neighboring communities/islands with no current evangelical presence, and active presence in your community for relationship building and witness.

This open armed welcome was repeated in our other interactions with existing contacts. We had a sense that previously there had been expressions of welcome with emotional reserve (which aligns with what we’ve been told about the culture in this region), and that this reserve had reduced or vanished. Now, we were just brothers and sisters.

We went on prayer walks in several villages, towns, and cities, and at different points most of us felt a sense of the either the Spirit speaking or impressing a message, or of spiritual resistance and oppression. This resistance was felt physically as several of us had significant health issues, unrelated to each other. God’s timing and provision was clearly seen, but the resistance was clear.

How You Can Pray…

• We sensed that the hearts of many individuals are closed like shuttered windows.  We prayed that God would remove the spiritual shutters and let His love and grace pour in, driving out sin’s darkness.
• We thanked God for the faithful believers we met and prayed that God would bless their witness and bring many to Himself.
• We prayed that spiritual stronghold would be removed and this whole country would be filled with the knowledge of the Lord.
• In addition to joining in those prayers, please pray that the workers God is calling to this field would respond.

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 aquí or fill out this interest form!

The post Luke 10 Pre-Launch Prayer Trip | The Balkans first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

The Liddell Family | Preparing to Serve in The Balkans

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He Who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.” Hebrew 10:23-24

In June, we moved out of our house and left for Idaho, visiting several churches there in July and enjoying sweet fellowship with individuals. Then we headed east and were encouraged by our time at the yearly meeting sessions for Evangelical Friends Church-Eastern Region. As we were driving east for those sessions, our house went on the market, we accepted an offer, and we are now under contract. The next few weeks will be spent visiting seven churches and several loved ones around the East Coast. It is easy to get caught up in the busy, but we opened with this passage and close our presentations with it for a reason.

First, we pray this for each church and person we visit; that you would both hold fast and hold out your confession of hope without wavering, holding to and introducing your neighbors to the faithful one who promised. Known locally for the way you love and the way you live out that love.

Second, we need that prayer. As we visit churches and as we go to the Balkans, we want to live this. Local pastors and missionaries reported that many workers come into this region and leave within two years due to discouragement, but that doors of opportunity open if you stay past that point. We need prayer to hold fast to our confession of hope, holding out the faithful one, living love.

But most of all, we pray this for the people in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro, that they will gain a confession of hope and will hold it fast, that they will know the faithful one who promised. That a place known for bloodshed and deep ethnic hatred will be known for the way its people love one another.

“And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love, yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.” May this be true in our churches, here and around the world!

Alabado sea el Señor In the chaos of moving, I (Jonelle) was feeling quite stressed. Driving a load of stuff somewhere, we passed a field and Alex got excited and insistent until I looked, “Look, Mommy, it’s soft green grass in a meadow by a little stream! Just like Jesus gives! He makes our hearts quiet!” He was referencing a children’s version of Psalm 23 and has applied it a few times, in a few places. Praise God that this little disciple is seeing God’s gifts around him. For the body of Christ with which we have been privileged to fellowship. They are not just loving us well, but we are getting glimpses of the ways that God is using each local body to shine where they are and make his name great. It is a delight to see! For two potential teammates, who are praying about their role in the Balkans and are taking steps to go! Por favor, oren... We are driving hundreds of miles around the East Coast, then back to San Diego, where we will base with Fred’s parents, then to Colorado for a month of training, then back to San Diego. Pray for safety on the road. For those potential teammates as they continue to discern God’s leading. And if God does continue to lead them to this field, pray for unity as a team. “Jesus, I miss (grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, friends, my house, my cats). I’m sad. Jesus, you stay with me?” We are hearing that prayer regularly from the backseat, as Alex processes goodbyes. Usually followed by “mommy, I prayed, and Jesus is with me, now I’m happy!” Please pray with us, as our kids navigate this season of change and goodbyes, that even when they aren’t happy, they will know Jesus is with them. May we all be so quick to cast our burdens on the Lord.

Download this month’s prayer letter here…

The post August 2025 Prayer Letter first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

Right now, life feels like a whirlwind, and there is too much to describe it all here. Our time with Rocky Mountain Yearly Meeting was a lot of fun, making new friends and getting to know some friends better.  This continued with the Future Missionary Retreat, and we are so excited to see how God leads these others who are seeking his direction! We had good fellowship and prayer time throughout this week, extending into the EFM spring board meetings. Then a too brief visit with some of my childhood friends, and a fun morning at Denver Friends Church. Each night, I expected all of us to be exhausted and drained in the morning. Each morning, we woke up with increased energy and excitement. This busy respite was so needed! We topped the trip off with a drive home through western Colorado, a visit to Arches National Park, a night with my brother’s family, and so much beauty throughout the drive that we were amazed.

Now we’re in the last stretch, preparing to list our house and head out on the road. June 27 is our departure date, it’s coming quicker than we’re ready for, but we’re excited too! It has been amazing to see how God is meeting needs through local believers whom we don’t even know, and to receive the help of so many family and friends with various aspects of the process.

One highlight of our time in Colorado was a visit to the Dinosaur Museum with some of the future missionaries. Alex is still telling people about it and can’t wait for the next one we find. He is a good encourager, “Mommy, look at Jael, she climbed the ladder! Good job, Jael!” Jael has finally started answering when people ask, “What is your name?” and has begun asking the question herself, multiple times a day, to everyone around her.  “Mommy, what’s your name? What’s his name (pointing to Alex)? …”. They are both loving warmer weather, with barefoot play in the front yard.

• For God to provide the right buyer quickly.
• For physical and mental energy as we finish the move-out/cleanup phase.
• For peace and protection as we begin this extended period of travel. Pray that we will be encouragers and that God will use us to build up the congregations/believers that we meet.

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

• West Chehalem Friends (Newberg, OR)
• Crossroads Community Church (Astoria, OR)
• Entiat Friends Church (Entiat, WA)
• Cherry Grove Friends Church (Battle Ground, WA)
• We went to an EFM orientation in Brea, CA
• Jonelle and the kids attended the Northwest Yearly Meeting Pastor’s Conference at Twin Rock Friends Camp on the Oregon coast.

It’s been a lot! A lot of travel, a lot of logistics to juggle, a lot of delightful, encouraging, refreshing time with the Body of Christ!

Upcoming: at the end of this month, we’ll be in Colorado for Rocky Mountain Yearly Meeting’s annual sessions, a future missionary retreat, the EFM board meetings, and to share at a church. Then we’re moving out of our house, putting it on the market, selling our cars, and hitting the road in the EFM van. In early July, we’ll be in Idaho, then we’ll drive east and visit some churches on the East Coast. September is COMPASS missionary training in Colorado, for the whole family. Lots to pray for!

One quick answer to a question we’ve been getting recently: EFM doesn’t take a percentage of missionaries’ support for administration costs. Administration and office expenses, etc., come from separate giving.  So, when you give to us or other EFM missionaries, your gift goes directly to our/their expenses.

The Kids

The kids had a rough spell in March when one of our cats escaped and didn’t return. We got a preview of how they might respond to upcoming goodbyes, and while it was hard for all of us, it helped us start practicing some tools that we hope will help in the coming months. They have loved meeting so many friends (or “pwends” to Jael), seeing cousins a bit, and finding playgrounds. Jael has been singing the ABC song, mostly repeating this section, “Q, R, S, T, U, W.” Alex reads books to her, and it is adorable. They love to help with things like loading and unloading the dishwasher, making breakfast, and vacuuming. Last time I told you about Alex thanking us for helping “my sister,” now Jael does it when we help her, “thank you for helping a sister!”

We currently have 278 prayer partners and have a goal of raising it to 500. If you know anyone who would like to pray for our ministry, please forward this form to them.

We are currently raising funds for our monthly needs. We are so grateful for those of you who have already begun supporting us financially and in prayer! We are currently 56% funded! Please partner with us, we would love to share in this ministry with you.

There are four ways to financially partner with us: 

• Online. Visit our personal support webpage aquí. You’ll be given the opportunity to indicate whether you are making a recurring or one-time gift.
• Credit Card. This may be given online (as stated above) or by calling the EFM office (303-421-8100) to give your information to a live person.
• Automatic Bank Transfer. Download the form aquí and email it to Debby McElroy (EFM Bookkeeper) at debby@friendsmission.com. Please note that ACH payments are processed on the 10th or 25th of the month.
• Check. Mail a check to EFM, P.O. Box 771139, Wichita, KS 67277. Make sure to mark your check “Liddell Family Support” and note if you will be giving on a recurring basis (monthly, quarterly, etc.). Pay to the order of “EFM.”

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