On August 29, six young adults descended on the Rosedale International Center (RIC) in Columbus, Ohio, with their families in tow. A small but mighty group, they had arrived at the beginning of their next great adventure: to pursue the call of Jesus on their lives. They were here to begin REACH 2026-27.
The opportunity to serve in another country is often the pull for first-time REACH participants—but the transformational work begins long before they leave the States. REACHers spend the first three months of the program immersed in Discipleship Training School (DTS). Each morning, they participate in educational sessions that cover a multitude of topics, ranging from the spiritual gifts to the authority of Scripture to prayer and fasting.
“The sessions in particular have really been a point of growth for me,” reflects Vincent (Team Thailand). “On Tuesday morning, I felt challenged by the Spirit to change something in the way I am living. The session was on intimacy with God. The speaker had us create a chart of the pain we’re avoiding and the people who love us. As I wrote down the pain in my life, I realized that I need to give this pain to God and invite Him not only into the broken parts of my life, but also into the places where I feel comfortable and loved.”
Another vital aspect of DTS is the work of building a strong, experienced team. REACHers participate weekly in outreach, not only with the goal of serving local ministries, but also of learning how to serve—and how to work together. By the time they reach Thailand and the Himalayas, each team will have built a strong foundation of teamwork, confidence, and experience in ministry.
"What a beautiful thing to be able to meet them even for a few minutes and hopefully speak life through the Holy Spirit.”
Reflecting on a recent prayer challenge in downtown Columbus, Olivia (Thailand Team Leader) shared, “It was intimidating at first to walk up to random people on the street, but it was really encouraging to see how open many people were to being prayed for. As I learned in team leader training: they’re all people. People, people, people. Each one has a story. What a beautiful thing to be able to meet them even for a few minutes and hopefully speak life through the Holy Spirit.”
After completing discipleship training, the REACH teams will transition to six months of outreach on the field. Team Thailand will join the ministry of long-term workers Jacob and Danielle, who have been building relationships and discipling new believers in Bangkok since 2019. After time spent in language school, this group of four will teach English, lead worship, minister to children and refugee families, and seek relationships with locals.
Team Himalayas will work alongside a local believer and his family. The team of two will trek through the mountains with the goal of ministering to local churches and believers in remote villages. During their time in each village, they will teach English, complete service projects, and share the gospel. This year, they may spend a portion of their outreach assisting in flood relief efforts.
“I am confident of two things in this journey,” shared Leo (Himalayas Team Leader). “It will be difficult, and it will be good. It is a season of sacrifice, service, and intentionality. It is a time of seeking the Father through the Word, teachings, and relationships with each other. Keep us in your prayers as we spend this season of our lives dedicated to following the Son.”
We’re excited to see what God has in store for each of this year’s participants and invite you to support them through prayer over the next nine months! We encourage you to follow the team blogs to get first-hand insight into what they’re learning and experiencing throughout DTS and their overseas assignments.
Photo credit: Diana on Pexels
