At Servant Leaders International, we are convinced that the local church is not just a participant in God’s mission—it is central to it. From the beginning, God has chosen to work through His people, gathered in community, to make His name known across the earth. The New Testament clearly demonstrates that the local church is both the sending and sustaining base for mission work. As the Apostle Paul wrote, “Through the church the manifold wisdom of God should be made known” (Ephesians 3:10).
Our vision has always been to help churches recognize their God-given opportunity—and responsibility—to carry the gospel into their communities, across their nations, and to the ends of the earth. We do this by walking alongside churches, equipping their members, and providing practical tools that enable them to raise up, send out, and support missionaries with confidence and accountability.
Just a few weeks ago, Kerry and I had the privilege of traveling to Madrid, Spain. This trip was the latest chapter in a beautiful story of partnership that began several years ago in Cuenca, Ecuador. Through our ongoing relationship with El Camino Church, we have helped train and mobilize men and women who feel called to serve beyond their borders. One of the most encouraging fruits of this partnership is Cristina Torres.
Cristina was raised up within the community of El Camino Church and, with their prayer and support, was sent to Madrid to serve the gospel there. Servant Leaders International has been honored to serve as a tool in God’s hand—helping local churches not only develop missionaries but also maintain a long-term vision for their care and effectiveness in the field. As Paul and Barnabas were sent out by the church in Antioch (Acts 13:1–3), Cristina has been sent with similar prayer, affirmation, and local church oversight.
Our trip to Madrid was focused on strengthening Cristina’s ministry by building a partnership with a local church in the city—ensuring that she is rooted in community and that her gifts are used to edify the body of Christ while reaching out to the lost. In this way, the model of missions remains deeply biblical: local churches raising up faithful servants and working together globally to fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18–20).
As we reflect on this journey, we are filled with gratitude for how God is using simple obedience and partnership to advance His Kingdom. Please pray with us for Cristina, for the church in Madrid, and for more churches like El Camino to rise up and respond to the call to “go and make disciples of all nations”—starting right where they are.
