Celebrating Betsy’s 18 Years of Ministry in Central Asia
February 2025
For nearly two decades, Betsy poured herself out to serve young adults with disabilities in Central Asia. She walked the streets and visited remote villages, searching for these individuals who had been forgotten by society. She built relationships, offered the help she could, and—most importantly—shared Jesus’s love. It was work that few saw, but through her faithfulness, God grew a ministry that is now flourishing under national leadership.
Betsy's passion for missions took root when she was just five years old, inspired by a children's ministry leader who had served among the Navajo people. Later, her brother’s experience on a mission trip to Papua New Guinea cemented the urgency in her heart: there were people in the world who longed to hear the gospel, but no one was there to tell them. That reality is what propelled her forward.
After graduating college, she was given the choice of two mission fields: Argentina, or Central Asia. For her, the decision was easy: she chose the unreached, largely-Muslim region, and in 2005, at the age of 23, she bought a one-way ticket to Central Asia.
During her early years on the field, Betsy immersed herself in language learning and student ministry. But in 2012, God gave her an experience that changed everything. At a camp for children with disabilities, she realized that these individuals were invisible to their society, often hidden away due to stigma and shame. With no resources available to them, she began seeking them out.
For years, Betsy knocked on doors, met families, and invited local believers to engage. She didn’t have much to offer—sometimes just a game of Uno and a listening ear—but she did have God’s love. And that love grew into something lasting. In 2020, God brought a special education teacher to her city, and together they expanded the work, launching summer camps, monthly events, and training programs for therapists and parents. The ministry took off. By 2023, their Christmas party welcomed 70 people with disabilities and 30 volunteers from local churches. The local church, which was once unaware of these individuals, now finds joy in embracing them as treasured members of God’s family.
One of the most powerful stories came from a young woman named Bari.* Born with cerebral palsy, she had never stepped foot inside a school. When invited to a church event, she hesitantly came, and over time, she experienced God’s love. One night, after a church leader shared the gospel with her, Bari replied, "You mean your God would accept people like us with twisted arms and twisted legs?" Islam had told her otherwise. But in the body of Christ, she experienced a genuine and selfless love. "I get it," she said. "Jesus loves us the way you guys love us." She gave her life to Christ, and her Muslim mother was so moved by the kindness shown to her daughter that she purchased a Bible for her.
After spending 18 years on the field, God made it clear that it was time for Betsy to come home. The ministry was thriving, national leaders were ready, and Betsy knew that her presence might hinder its continued growth.
Betsy says, "The gospel has to be preached, but there's a cost." The years had taken a toll on her—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Living as a single woman in a Muslim-majority country required constant vigilance. She also felt the weight of seeing all the suffering and watching children die from preventable conditions for lack of medical care. But through it all, she clung to one truth: the mission was God’s—not hers. She says, "If you focus on the needs of the unreached, it’s overwhelming. But if you focus on the glory of God, you remember that He has promised to build His church. And He invites us to be part of it."
Today, Betsy is back in the States, investing in the next generation of missionaries as a full-time mobilizer. She speaks in classrooms, meets one-on-one with students, and gives them an honest look at the joys and hardships of missions.
We celebrate the countless sacrifices Betsy made to impact this least-accepted population in this least-reached people group. Jesus so clearly lived through her during her time there, and she is a true hero of the faith. We’re so glad she can experience a different facet of God’s love during this new season of rejuvenation. We praise God for the work He did through her overseas and feel honored to now have her heart and expertise on our mobilization team.
*Name changed for security
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