How We’re Mobilizing the Next Generation

“If we don’t have people willing to go to the mission field, then there are people who may never have the chance to hear the gospel,” says our Director of Mobilization, Dave Pacheco. “But in order to get people to go, we need people on the front lines, recruiting them and walking them through the process.”

And that’s exactly what Dave and his team do. They travel to churches, conferences, and college campuses where they help people discern their role in global missions. And God has stacked our Mobilization Team with people who know the beauty and challenges of missions work firsthand:

• MaryAnn has served in Europe for 32 years and now uses her deep experience and love for people to mentor and encourage the next generation
• Betsy served nearly 20 years in Central Asia and now invests in students at Grace College as a missionary in residence
• Malachi is a recent graduate of Lancaster Bible College who now connects with students, helping them explore God’s calling on their lives
• Whitney is the team’s administrator who helps keep the entire team moving forward smoothly and effectively

And together, our Mobilization team is raising up the next generation of missionaries! This summer alone, 12 young adults are serving on mission fields around the world through our team internships program. For many of them, their journey began with a simple conversation with someone from Dave’s team.

One thing that makes our mobilization team unique is that they aren’t simply trying to “fill positions.” Their goal is not to convince people to go overseas no matter what. Instead, they genuinely want to help each person discern where God is leading them. “If that's overseas—great!—we want to help them get there,” he says. “But if that's staying here in the States to help send people, pray for them, and give towards missions, then that's the direction we want to lead them in.” It doesn’t matter if their contacts go on a short-term trip, become long-term missionaries, or decide to help send others—Dave and his team just want to help people take whatever next step God is calling them toward.

Dave and his team actually view the recruiting process as a form of discipleship. “We get to disciple people through the process of determining where God wants them,” he says. “Seeing people serve where God wants them to serve is one of the things that gets me most excited about the recruiting process.”

Not everyone is called to go overseas, but we’re all called to play a part in the Great Commission. Dave and his team are doing their part by recruiting new missionaries. You can play a part too, by giving to the Encompass World Partners Annual Fund. By giving, you are partnering with the mobilization team as they initiate those first conversations and disciple people towards whatever God’s calling them to next. Thanks for investing in the least reached as we seek to mobilize the next generation together!



Dave, MaryAnn, Betsy, Malachi, and Whitney