Growing up, missions was never on my radar. By “never on my radar,” I mean I didn’t want to be involved aside from hearing cool stories missionaries would share on their brief visits back to the States. Senior year of college, however, I began learning of Japan’s need for Jesus. Appearing to have it all together on the outside (technologically advanced, 1st world country, etc.), depression, isolation, and suicide are rampant. The second largest unreached people group, this entire country is destined for an eternity without God unless more people do something about it. This broke my heart, and I knew I could no longer sit by and do nothing.

I began searching what it would look like to be a global worker in Japan. As I traveled, talked with many people, and learned more of the general missions scene, however, I began to see a gap. On one side are billions of people who, like the Japanese, have little to no access to the gospel. Ministering to those multitudes are just a handful of people. On the other side are many American churches who, though they may desire to be involved with missions, often don’t know how to find missions partnerships that line up with their own, unique ministry heartbeats or don’t know how to be involved other than supporting with money. I learned that only 3% of overall missionaries go to people groups who don’t have access to the gospel without outside help, and only 1% of overall missions financial support goes to the same. How do we bridge that gap to bring more awareness, manpower, care, and resources to the unreached?

That’s when I found out about Converge’s U.S. Engagement Team – a team designed for that very purpose! As part of this team, my goals are to increase awareness about unreached people groups; to create and promote innovative ways to increase prayer for missions; and to connect missionaries and American churches, coaching them to build thriving partnerships, so those in unreached mission fields may know the love and hope of Jesus.