Mobilizing the Church in the Northeast towards the Nations

As a pastor’s daughter, I had the privilege of growing up in a Christian home. But more than that, I had the blessing of being discipled by a diverse community of believers in the local church. This community helped shape the person I am today. The local church taught me to love others that are different from me, gave me a passion to understand the Word of God for myself, and helped me see the beauty of reaching the lost for Christ. The local church is near and dear to my heart.

Moving from Florida to Connecticut, I knew I needed to find a local community that would walk alongside my husband Brian and I in our new season as a married couple. God blessed us with a great local church where God called us to serve. Eventually, I joined the staff overseeing missions and outreach. I never thought this role would prepare me for an opportunity that God designed for me.

In January 2020, I answered the call to serve as a missionary with Converge International Ministries (IM) to help fulfill their vision of asking God for a gospel movement among every least-reached people group – in our generation.

In a season of prayer, the IM Leaders discerned this unique calling for our family of churches to focus on the least-reached. It is a God-sized vision that raises big questions: How would this work? Hundreds of new global workers (missionaries) will be needed to spread the gospel to unreached peoples, but where do those workers come from? How can this vision happen without our local churches (when less than 1/3 of Converge churches currently partner with IM)?

Three years ago, God began to provide his answer to these questions when Converge IM birthed the U.S Engagement Team. This team, which has grown rapidly from no staff to a team of fifteen, exists to serve our churches as they find their place among the nations. I work every day to coach and connect churches in the US, mobilizing them towards obeying the Great Commission. And we are seeing the first glimpses of the vision fulfilled! Powered by prayer, fueled by generous funding, and encouraged through engaged churches, Converge missionaries have begun to see spiritual breakthroughs in dark places daily.

As a Church Mobilizer, my teammates and I get to serve local churches in the Northeast by providing missions coaching. Our main coaching tool, called 2:10 FOCUS is founded on Ephesians 2:10, “For we are Gods handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” We believe that God has uniquely designed your congregation to do good works among the nations. Since we are all support-raised missionaries, we are able to provide our services at no cost to the churches we serve. We can help your church family discern global opportunities and mobilize your whole congregation to reach the least-reached - activating the untapped potential in your church.

We are currently coaching three churches in the Northeast through this process with three more churches prayerfully considering when to start the 2:10 Focus. If you are interested in learning more about 2:10 Focus coaching or would like any other missions ministry assistance, please reach out to me at Candacef@converge.org. I look forward to serving your church as you discern how God is calling you to reach the nations – here, near, and far.

To learn more about Candace and her initiatives, visit her ministry page.

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The Holy Spirit graciously provided for our church in transition a tool that is helping us bring clarity to our missions efforts here, near and far. There is welling up a fresh vision and focus unique to us that will engage more people to be purposeful towards what God has specifically created us to do in this new season. 

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Read about how 2:10 FOCUS helped one church learn how God uniquely equipped it to reach people in Africa