“Knowing that there are people out there who don’t know Jesus, we just have that pull on our hearts to share the gospel with them and spread His Kingdom,” Nolan* says. 

He and his wife, Emily*, both grew up going to Momentum Youth Conferences, where God got a grip on their hearts. “That’s where things made sense for me, and that was when I decided to give my life to Christ,” Nolan says. Emily shares a similar experience, saying “I decided to make my relationship with Jesus personal in middle of high school, going to those conferences.” 

As they grew closer and closer to God, they started considering missions as a career—and now they’re going on an exploratory trip to Southeast Asia this summer. On the trip, they will experience the culture for the first time, meet our ministry partners there, and engage in ministry to college students. “We want to see what God is doing there and see if that’s a possible long-term option for us,” Nolan says.

And God has been preparing them with numerous missions experience over the years. Emily has been on trips to Haiti several times in high school. She also served as an intern in Guatemala for three months with a ministry partner. Both Nolan and Emily participated in a number of mission trips to LA in high school that involved working with homeless ministries by serving food, getting to know people, hearing their stories, and sometimes praying with them or sharing Jesus. Both Nolan and Emily also served as leaders on these trips.

Yet these short term experiences always felt more like a teaser to them. They’re both highly relational people who desire sustained connections. These trips often left them wishing they could stay longer and build deeper relationships with the people they met. They believe that long-term missions are particularly suited to them because it allows for deep connection, stating, “We’re both very relational people, and going long-term would let us walk alongside people as they come to know Jesus.”

We love how God has been stirring Nolan and Emily’s hearts for the lost, which is why we’re excited for them to go to Southeast Asia with us this summer. Their upcoming trip will be a significant step in discerning God’s plan for their lives, as He builds on years of experience and their desire for building long-lasting relationships. As they prayerfully consider where God might lead them, they invite you to join them in this work. When you partner with Nolan and Emily, you can play a direct role in helping this young couple discover God’s call on their lives while also making an impact in Southeast Asia for Jesus. 

*Names changed for security