Ever wonder what actually makes someone leave family, routine, and comfort to serve in another country? Pastor Lee sits down with Ava and Martin, two missionaries with United in Christ ministry, for a candid, hope-filled conversation about calling, obedience, and the surprising power of simple presence. We talk about how children’s ministry opens doors to entire families, why discipleship looks like shared meals and long talks more than quick slogans, and how showing up with humility can change a neighborhood.
Ava shares how her vision of missions shifted to relationships around tables, and how waiting at home prepared her for the internship when the timing was finally right. Martin opens up about battling the belief that he can’t learn Spanish, the importance of working from intimacy with Jesus rather than for it, and the joy of recognizing the same Spirit across cultures and languages. Together they recount vivid scenes from Mexico and Chiapas: soup kitchens where people ask to hear the Word, youth events that meet teens on their level, and a quiet moment when a man too weak to speak visibly embraced Christ.
If the story moved you, subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a review to help others find the show. And if you want to support Ava and Martin’s work, visit cfochurch.org and click Giving. Your encouragement and generosity make a real difference.
