A Work in Progress: Asian Training Village Update

We are anticipating a finished project as the Asian Village is coming along. So many people have put in countless hours of work and skill into creating an incredible place where future teams traveling to this type of culture will have the cultural experience before going overseas. We foresee many wonderful nights of worship and learning in this training village. Please join us in praying for the future of this facet of School to the Nation's mission in training the next generation to reach the unreached for the Glory of Jesus! Pictures of the progress: 

Breaking ground and placing the poles. 

Working up high! 

Framing the Walls

Roof and walls nearing completion 

Walls nearly complete along with the roof

This guy has given countless hours to this project, thanks Jim! 

Most current picture, front entry way complete! 

Thank you to everyone who has a had a part in designing and constructing this project! It will be a great tool as we continue to reach the nations for Jesus. 

July Volunteers of the Month: Larry and Josh Stevens

Larry and Josh working on the Asian Village

For the past few months a group of men have been working hard at designing and building our newest addition to our U.S. Base Campus, our Asian Village Training Center. Two of these men, Larry and Josh Stevens (father and son) are both custom home builders and have grabbed hold of the vision that the Lord has placed in their hearts to reach the nations using the gifts that God has given them. We are so thankful to have these men as critical members of this crew as they not only have the skills needed to construct such a project but also they both grasp why School to the Nations exists.

The Stevens Family

In their free time, Josh enjoys bow hunting and is a competitive bow shooter while Larry enjoys fishing and boating. When asked why enjoy serving for STN they said, "We have a heart to see people come to Jesus and we both want to make a greater impact with our gifts...to serve with our building skills to help reach the nations for Christ." Pictured on the left with Larry's wife Melody, and both sons (Josh and Jared) the Stevens are members of Ridgecrest Baptist Church in Springfield, MO and live in Republic, MO. 

Proverbs 22:29 says, "Have you seen a man who is expert in his business? He will take his place before kings; his place will not be among low persons." These two men are experts in their business and are using all that they have to help future mission teams prepare to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

Thank you Larry and Josh for your commitment to Christ's calling and for using your gifts to reach to the ends of the earth!

Botswana Outreach 2012 Recap - "In that day the deaf will hear..."

"In that day the deaf will hear the words of the scroll, 

and out of doom and darkness the 

eyes of the blind will see." 

Isaiah 29:18 

After many days of traveling, dirt, long days, and more dirt our Botswana team returned to the States full of amazing stories of all that the Lord did during their mission. It would be impossible to share each and every story, but hopefully by highlighting some of the major ones you will see a glimpse of what it is like to be on the field, and to see those who have never heard, hear for the first time and decide to follow Christ. 

It is important to highlight that this team did not fly overseas to work in a different culture completely unprepared. In fact, this team completed 6 months of missional training at the School to the Nations Training Center where they were trained in every aspect from cross-cultural living to storying the Bible with non-believers. The high quality training was evident once in Botswana as the team worked hard, stayed unified, and were prepared for the shock of being in a different culture. 

Here is a brief recap of their trip...

The first city they worked in was a smaller one outside of the capitol city, Gaborone. Here they shared the Gospel with hundreds of deaf children and teenagers along with teachers and staff members at a residential deaf school. Our team was creative with their presentation of the Gospel and shared in many unique ways. Not only did they share with the students but they also had a chance to bless and honor the teachers who sacrifice so much to work with these students each day. Our team included two educators and they were able to connect and relate in many ways in order to bring hope and encouragement in the Word of God. 

The next stop was in the city of Maun which is in northern Botswana. A school of 900 children (deaf and hearing) sat here, and the team was welcomed with a song from the students: 

During their time in Maun, the team met a 17 year old boy (far left in this picture) who was deaf due to the medication he was given to treat HIV. After hearing the Gospel message, this boy gave his life to Christ! Also at this school, the headmaster gave his life to Christ as well. He told the team that his family had been praying for him to receive Christ, and that prayer was answered and the team was honored to be a part of his decision! Our team also hosted a dinner to honor the teachers and staff members at this school and it was a special time of encouragement for each of these teachers. 

After finishing in Maun, they traveled a LONG days travel in 110 degree weather (missions are not for the weak!) on a bus to Francistown with no air conditioning. Once they arrived they were welcomed into Francistown Center for Deaf Education where they were able to share the Gospel and show the children's version of the Jesus Film. Many children heard the Gospel for the first time and many seeds were planted! One 23 year old man gave his life to Christ! 

Their next stop was back to the capitol, Gaborone, where at a bus stop they saw some men standing around playing pool. One of the team members started a conversation with them, shared the Gospel, and 11 of these men accepted Christ right there at the bus stop! What a wonderful picture illustrating that God orchestrates divine appointments! These men were not even from Botswana, they had crossed the border from Zimbabwe. Praise God for bringing our team to these men at just the right time. 

Overall SIXTEEN people came to Christ during the teams trip in Botswana and many seeds were planted among children, teenagers, and adults that will hopefully be the beginning of many coming to Christ among the deaf community. The future is bright for our partnership in Botswana. Our team met with the President of the Baptist Convention in Botswana, Benjamin Kabika, who is excited about the future partnering of School to the Nations and Ridgecrest Baptist Church among the deaf in his country. This trip established clear and strategic inroads for future work to evangelize and disciple the deaf. 

Thank you to our wonderful team, who worked hard, stayed positive, and made lasting impacts on the children and adults they met. Thank you to Ridgecrest Baptist Church for partnering with us in taking the Gospel to the deaf. Thank you to our prayer partners and financial supporters who were a part of this team as they lifted us in prayer each day! 

To God be the glory for all that He has done and will continue to do among the deaf around the world! 

Training Report: Botswana Team

Last Saturday we spent the day training our team headed to Southern Africa (Botswana) to work with the deaf people in that area later this month! Our Extreme Adventure Challenge Course is a great way to build team unity, learn each other's strengths and weaknesses, and come together as one unit in preparation for the upcoming trip.

Many of our team members are deaf, and we are excited to see how God uses their gifts to cross cultural barriers and minister to the deaf in Botswana, who in many ways are just like them. We saw clearly as they conquered the ropes course on Saturday that communication comes in many different forms, and when a team has a unified goal, anything can be accomplished.

Please join us in prayer for the team as they prepare to leave. Pray for their families they are leaving at home, for their jobs, for their protection, and for their ministry while they are in Africa.

If you would like to join the prayer update list please email theabicopeland(at)gmail(dot)com or visit here for a specific prayer guide for the trip: Prayer Guide 

Video Friday: Who We Are - Training

We desire to fuel the mission field with passionate people ready to share the Gospel with the unreached around the world. Watch this short video about the Training aspect of School to the Nations: 

Who We Are: Training 

Know a church or organization in need of training? Share this video and help us get the word out! 

Created and Edited by: 

Matt Douglas and James Copeland

Real Encounter: Taking the Gospel on Wheels

One of our core values at School the Nations is Biblical Partnerships. We are acutely aware of the importance of not just functioning as a single ministry, but instead coming along side other ministries and organizations who are also following the call to take the name of Jesus into all parts of the world. 


We spent some time this week with a group from Real Encounter  who are preparing for a trip to North Africa. The guys from Real Encounter present such a clear picture of how we each have unique gifts that can be used to bring glory to God among the nations. This team will travel overseas and once there, travel on BMX bikes into remote areas of Northern Africa sharing the Gospel along the way, literally taking the Gospel on wheels. 


After completing our Missiological Training course, this team is equipped and excited about all that God has in store for them as they travel and we are so honored to partner with them along with the International Mission Board. 


Join us in prayer for Real Encounter and for this team as they prepare to leave in September. May God richly bless each individual and the families they represent. May they be used to see many come to Christ in North Africa, and may all the glory and praise be given to Jesus, the "Author and Perfecter of our faith..."(Hebrews 12:1).


For more about Real Encounter click here!

Biblical Partnerships: Raising up the Next Generation of Missions Leaders

School to the Nations is honored and excited when the opportunity comes to train young people on our Home Base Campus. We see the importance of raising up young men and women with a global perspective and a heart to serve ALL people.

Recently we were able to host students from two area churches and are excited to share that experience in hopes that we will continue to see churches encouraging their students to gain a global vision and a heart for missions across our world.

On July 11th, fifteen students from East Sunshine Church of Christ  in Springfield came out and volunteered on our grounds. They were a huge help in completing some maintenance work on our Kelunka Tribal Village and we are so thankful for their hearts and willingness to partner with STN in this way.

Following that, on July 12th, 184 students from Northpoint Church in Springfield took part in a variety of things including working on our Extreme Adventure Challenge Course and took part in a missions awareness event including the Prayer Trail where they were introduced to different unreached people groups and spent time in prayer for each group. We are thankful for churches like Northpoint who are building global missions awareness into the DNA of their student ministries.

Praise the Lord for each student and leader that came out and took part in advancing God's Kingdom into the unreached places of the world!

Heart to Serve: Jenna Kilgallin

For those that know Jenna Kilgallin personally, you are aware of the amazing heart this young woman possesses. Jenna serves as our Cross-Cultural Training Director and is a Field Director on our Frontier Advance Team. Her heart is one full of hope and passion for all people to know Christ. She has traveled numerous times all over the world, including a five month stay in India where she finished her teaching degree from Missouri State University. 

Jenna has a wealth of experience and maturity, far beyond her age. She is "at home" overseas and has a huge heart for each person she meets along the way. Her authentic love for Jesus is evident and her deep love for all the nations of the world is contagious. She attends Emmaus in Springfield, Mo. 

Her heart to serve has an incredible impact on School to the Nations. From welcoming teams that visit for training, organizing trainings for church groups, or researching about future frontiers for STN to serve she has helped us in incredible ways and we are so thankful that the Lord called her to work alongside us in reaching the unreached for Christ. 

Thank you, Jenna, for your heart to serve! 

In the words of Christ, "Well done, good and faithful servant..." (Matt. 25:21) 

Each of our Heart to Serve featured staff members/volunteers will receive a free 16oz. frozen yogurt from Orange Leaf in Nixa, MO. We are happy to partner with the wonderful people at Orange Leaf to honor these special people who are using their gifts to change the world!!

Convoy of Hope Interns: Biblical Partnerships

Last week School to the Nations had the privilege of hosting 25 interns from Convoy of Hope. These interns, all college students, are from all over the U.S. and are currently in Haiti now serving for Convoy of Hope on a short-term trip. While the team was here they went through our Kelunka Tribal Village Training, Missiology Training, Cross-Cultural Training, and our Extreme Adventure Challenge Course to build team dynamics and unity. 


Part of our calling as a missions organization is to build Biblical Partnerships with organizations and churches who are also following the call to global missions, organizations like Convoy of Hope. This team of interns experienced every aspect of mission training and we are excited to partner with them as they spend their summer serving.  


Join us in praying for these interns throughout the summer, especially as they are working in Haiti. May God use the knowledge and experience they gained here at School to the Nations to advance the Gospel to all the un-reached people across the globe. To God be the Glory! 

Stay Updated with the Interns all summer! 

 Twitter: http://twitter.com/COHInterns 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cohinterns