CHANGE OF DIRECTION
For nearly a decade the Badgley family has been on a journey to reach the Shuar tribe of Ecuador and Peru with the gospel of Jesus Christ. It started when Russ and Sarah took a “Perspectives on the Christian World Movement” course and did a research project on an unreached people group. The group they studied was the Shuar. At that point they began to sense that the Lord wanted them to do something about the Shuar’s need for the gospel.
It wasn’t long until the Badgleys arrived to Greenleaf Friends Church in Southern Idaho and then soon afterwards began talking with EFM. Eventually the Badgleys moved to the southeastern part of Ecuador where they have been pioneering a new field for EFM. In a relatively short amount of time they have been able to establish relationships with the Body of Christ in Ecuador and get a much closer look at the realities of life for the Shuar. The need for the gospel is truly there. So is the opportunity for making disciples of Jesus Christ.
As you know, this journey has been a rough one for the Badgley family. There have been health challenges that have led to bouncing back and forth between Ecuador and the U.S. Until recently they did not feel released from a sense of call to live and minister in Ecuador. That release has now come after a period of seeking the Lord’s direction together.
The Badgleys will be relocating to the Pacific Northwest before the end of 2019. They will be stepping down from their roles as missionaries with EFM and looking for ways to serve the Lord through their professions. EFM is committed to helping them with their relocation which includes leaving Ecuador well, processing what the family has been through during the last few years as well as what they will go through as they adjust to living in the U.S, and also doing what we can to help them with some of their needs while they get settled in their new location (which is yet to be determined).
You have faithfully journeyed with the Badgleys through your prayers, giving, and encouragement. We ask that you continue to stand with them indefinitely through your prayers and encouragement and financially through March of 2020 in order to help cover the costs of relocation and missionary care.
This change of direction does not mean that the Badgleys’ journey with Ecuador and the Shuar is over. They want to be a part of helping whoever takes their place to pick up where they are leaving off. They also want to find ways through their professions to contribute to these efforts. So please pray that they will have eyes to see how the Lord wants them to do this. Pray also that the Lord of the harvest will send more workers to reach the Shuar. Thank you for praying.
Your fellow servant in Christ,
Dan Cammack
Executive Director of EFM