“I didn’t expect to see you here!” remarked one of our new global workers at the January 2022 Core Training. They were surprised to see a Charis Fellowship pastor at a mission training event.

Periodically, Encompass runs a course called Core Training, a week-long, in-person training event where Executive Director Dave Guiles introduces new global workers to Encompass World Partners’ history, ethos, and vision. It is a time of fellowship, challenge, and orientation to the needs around the world. There are follow-up sessions and homework.

This particular class was made up of a young couple headed to Okinawa, Japan, and a couple preparing to work in administration and mobilization. Also included in the group was pastor Trevin Hoekzema from Calvert Grace Community Church in Owings, Maryland.

Trevin and his wife Clancy have been a part of Calvert since 2021. Although he is not new to ministry—having taken a dozen mission trips to 15 countries and serving seven years at another local church—Trevin is new to the Charis Fellowship. Through this invitation to Core Training, he learned the Charis Fellowship’s history and involvement in world missions in a concentrated way. He was also able to meet some of our newest workers.

Trevin feels called to inspire, equip, bring, and send the local church to share the gospel with the least reached. He has learned that outreach—local, national, or international—is the foundation of gospel ministry. He has also found that when people get excited about sharing their faith locally, they want to share it on an international level. A course like Core Training helped him to plug his passion into what Encompass has done and is doing in the world now.

Currently, Calvert Grace supports over 30 missionaries and organizations from Calvert County to the mid-Atlantic and all around the world. There is a strong mission ethos within the leadership at Calvert Grace and, with the influx of new attendees and shifts in membership, their desire and prayer are to see that this passion permeates the church. Calvert Grace is eager to continue partnering with Encompass to help see that happen.

Perhaps like Trevin you are new to the Charis Fellowship, or you simply want to learn more about our history and what God is doing now. Reach out to our recruiter Mike McKeever or learn more from Trevin today via email!