Skip to main content

Author: danl

Discern Your Place in God’s Mission

Written by danl on . Posted in Asia, Chile, Globalscope, Ministry Opportunity, Reach, Uruguay.

What if a few months could change the direction of your life?

When Rachel Rubin was a student at Auburn University, she watched other students return from international ministry experiences with stories of deeper faith, transformed perspectives, and a growing passion for God's work around the world. She was inspired, but she also had doubts. Leaving friends, raising support, and postponing graduation all felt like significant obstacles. Still, she sensed that what she might learn and how she might grow were worth the risk.

Rachel served with El Oasis in Santiago, Chile while she was still an undergraduate at Auburn University. While there, she discovered an important truth: she wasn't bringing God to a place where He wasn't already at work.

"God was already just as alive and at work in Santiago as He was in the United States," Rachel reflected. Through friendships with students and families, she experienced the joy of building genuine relationships across cultures and gained a deeper understanding of God's heart for the nations.

What Rachel didn't realize at the time was that this season would help shape her future.

After returning home, she found herself thinking about the unique opportunity campus ministry created for students exploring faith and searching for community. Over time, what began as an impactful experience grew into a sense of calling. Today, Rachel serves with CMF's Globalscope ministry in Montevideo, Uruguay, where she has spent nine years helping university students encounter Christ through discipleship, Bible studies, retreats, and authentic Christian community.

Rachel's story illustrates the heart behind Global Residency.

Global Residency is an immersive opportunity for young adults to learn, serve, and discern their place in God's mission. Serving alongside CMF teams around the world for four to ten months, residents become part of the daily rhythms of ministry while receiving mentorship from experienced missionaries.

More than a ministry assignment, Global Residency is designed for formation. Through mentoring relationships, cross-cultural learning, guided reflection, pre-departure preparation, and debriefing, residents are given space to listen for God's leading and discern how their gifts, passions, and experiences might fit into His work around the world.

Not every Global Residency participant will be called to long-term missionary service. Sometimes the next step is simply the next step.

That's what happened for Isaac.

In 2025, Isaac spent eight weeks with CMF's Reach Internship in Thailand with Globalscope. Through relationships, ministry experiences, and life alongside the Grapevine team, God began stirring something deeper than a memorable summer experience. After graduating from Milligan University, Isaac took the next step by becoming one of CMF's first Global Residents. Today, he is serving in Southeast Asia, continuing to learn, grow, and discern God's direction for the future.

Though their journeys look different, both Rachel and Isaac demonstrate a common reality: discernment rarely happens all at once.

A summer internship becomes a season of deeper formation. A meaningful ministry experience becomes a clearer sense of calling. Curiosity becomes conviction.

Global Residency exists to create space for those next steps.

Rachel offers this encouragement to anyone considering an experience like Global Residency:

"You don't have to feel called to a lifetime of international mission work to take a few months to go and serve a community that could really use your presence and your gifts. You never know how those few months might alter the trajectory of your life, or the life of someone else.”

Whether you're exploring cross-cultural ministry for the first time, considering a future in missions, or simply seeking a season to better understand God's direction for your life, Global Residency offers an opportunity to learn, serve, and discern where He may be leading.

Come discern your place in God's mission.

Explore our Global Residency opportunities here. Or support one of our Global Residents here.

 

More Than a Mission Trip: Fifteen Years of Partnership in Tanzania

Written by danl on . Posted in Partnerships, Tanzania.

What does a 15-year partnership in missions look like?

For Hazelwood Christian Church in Clayton, Indiana, it looks like faithful support, lasting friendships, and a commitment to walk alongside brothers and sisters in Tanzania year after year.

A recent visit by members of Hazelwood Christian Church offered a glimpse of that partnership in action. The video below captures one of the highlights of their trip: a combined worship service near Oloserian, a Maasai community whose name means "place of peace." On that Sunday, eight local churches gathered across denominational lines to worship together as one body in Christ.

The monthly gathering was pioneered by Bishop Joseph Ngida of Community Christian Church of Tanzania, who encourages neighboring congregations to come together in unity on the last Sunday of each month. For Hazelwood's team, it was an opportunity to experience the vibrant faith of the Tanzanian church firsthand.

But the story behind this video began long before this year's visit.

A Partnership Built Over Time

For more than 15 years, Hazelwood Christian Church has faithfully supported ministry in Tanzania, especially through the community child sponsorship program that serves orphaned and impoverished Maasai children in northern Tanzania.

The church's partnership extends far beyond financial support. Over the years, Hazelwood has welcomed Bishop Joseph Ngida to Indiana for Vacation Bible School programs and church services, strengthening relationships between believers separated by thousands of miles but united in Christ.

Generations of church leaders and members have helped sustain the partnership. Under the leadership of former pastor Steve Ranson and his wife, Kim, and now under Pastor Tim Gephart and his wife, Beth, Hazelwood has remained committed to the work in Tanzania. Numerous church members and ministry advocates have regularly traveled to visit communities, encourage local leaders, and witness firsthand what God is doing through the ministry.

Today, Hazelwood members sponsor approximately one-third of the children served through the Tanzania sponsorship program, helping provide education, nutrition, medical care, and spiritual support.

Investing in the Next Generation

One of the most encouraging aspects of Hazelwood's involvement has been its commitment to involving young people in missions.

In 2024, a team from Hazelwood traveled to Tanzania and facilitated a Vacation Bible School near Ormee Schools, a private Christian school established by Bishop Joseph. By the final day, more than 700 children had attended.

When the church returned this year, the focus shifted from children's ministry to deeper discipleship among young adults.

A team of 18 Hazelwood members partnered with 12 pastors, 14 teachers, 12 worship band members, and four interns to host a youth conference for approximately 200 Maasai high school and college-age students. Together, they spent three days helping young adults grow closer to the heart of God through worship, teaching, fellowship, and encouragement.

Remarkably, about half of the Hazelwood participants were teenagers themselves.

For the Tanzania team, seeing young people engage in cross-cultural ministry is one of the partnership's greatest blessings.

Mutual Encouragement

While mission partnerships are often viewed through the lens of what one group provides for another, the relationship between Hazelwood and the Tanzania ministry tells a different story.

The partnership has become one of mutual encouragement, where believers on both sides learn from one another, grow together, and witness God's work in new ways.

Michelle Swai, CMF's Tanzania field team leader, has seen that impact firsthand.

"For more than 15 years, Hazelwood Christian Church has shown us what it looks like to faithfully walk alongside the ministry in Tanzania, actively investing in people and relationships while supporting a project. We are deeply grateful for the mutual encouragement this partnership has brought, especially for the way they have invited their teenagers to experience missions firsthand. It is beautiful to see how God uses that kind of long-term commitment to transform lives on both sides of the partnership."

That transformation is evident not only in the lives of sponsored children, young adults, pastors, and church leaders in Tanzania, but also in the lives of the Hazelwood members who continue to return, serve, and grow through the relationship.

Looking Ahead

The work in Tanzania continues through church planting, leadership development, community sponsorship, community health initiatives, worship ministry, and discipleship. At the heart of it all is a commitment to equip Tanzanian believers to reach their own communities with the hope of Christ.

Partnerships like the one shared by Hazelwood Christian Church and the Tanzania team remind us that lasting ministry is often built through faithful presence over time. Year after year, God uses relationships, shared experiences, and a common mission to accomplish more than either group could achieve alone.

The video above offers a snapshot of that story. The partnership behind it is the reason the story continues.

More Than a Mountain: Adventures with Eternal Impact

Written by danl on . Posted in England, Globalscope, Kenya, Missions of Hope, Scotland, Tanzania.

Some adventures take you to breathtaking places. Others change the way you see the world. CMF Adventure Trips do both, combining physical challenge with spiritual purpose as participants step beyond their comfort zones and into God's work around the globe.

Whether standing on the summit of Africa's highest peak on Mt. Kilimanjaro or conquering the Three Peaks Challenge across Scotland, England, and Wales, these journeys offer more than unforgettable experiences. They create opportunities to connect with life-changing ministry, support kingdom work through fundraising and community, and discover how God can use adventure to make an eternal impact.

Three Peaks Challenge  |  June 27-July 3, 2027

Climb the highest peaks in Scotland, England, and Wales over three unforgettable days while helping support Canvas, CMF's campus ministry in Birmingham, England. Trip cost is $2,200 + airfare, and participants commit to raising or donating at least $3,000 toward the ministry's future impact.

 

Learn more & register here!

 

Mt. Kilimanjaro Climb  |  September 5-16, 2027

Stand on the summit of Africa's highest peak while helping build a permanent school for children served through CMF partner, Missions of Hope International (MOHI) in Nairobi, Kenya. The trip cost is $2,900 + airfare, and participants commit to raising or donating at least $10,000 toward the Grogan School project.

 

Learn more & register here!

 

Reserve Your Spot Today!

Space is limited on both adventures. To secure your place, submit your non-refundable $500 deposit by September 30, 2026.

Whether you're ready to conquer the highest peaks of the United Kingdom or stand atop Africa's most iconic mountain, we'd love to have you join us for a life-changing adventure.

Meet Ti and Andrea Dinh: Taking the Next Step to Serve in Kenya

Written by danl on . Posted in Kenya, Missions of Hope.

For nearly a decade, Ti and Andrea Dinh have been exploring God’s call to missions through short-term service opportunities around the world. Since 2017, their family has served in countries including Thailand, Mexico, Chile, and most recently Kenya, where a partnership trip through Eastside Christian Church introduced them to the life-changing ministry of Missions of Hope International (MOHI).

Continue reading

Kenyan Women Building Kingdom Businesses

Written by danl on . Posted in Kenya.

For many families in Kenya, especially those serving in ministry, making ends meet can be a daily challenge. Pastors and church leaders often dedicate themselves to serving their communities while struggling to provide for their own families. Recognizing this need, CMF missionary Mary Leonard has been helping women develop microbusinesses that can create sustainable income while strengthening their impact in their churches and communities.

Continue reading

A Forty-Year Legacy of Caring for the Maasai

Written by danl on . Posted in Kenya.

John Sankok faithfully leads an extensive medical ministry in Kenya that includes eight clinics run by local Christian health professionals. These clinics treat tropical diseases, immunize children, and combat HIV/AIDS. The Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health facility addresses the unique health challenges faced by women and infants in the region. Known as Community Health Partners, this ministry now supplies more than 80% of the area’s primary healthcare needs. Below, John reflects on CMF’s long history with the ministry.

“One generation commends Your works to another.” Psalm 145:4

CMF began this work in the late 1970s and early 1980s with village-to-village evangelism and church planting among nomadic pastoral communities in Southern Kenya. Teams moved with the people, sharing the Gospel in hard-to-reach areas with deep-rooted cultures and traditions.

As churches were planted, the need for healthcare became clear. That same mission of love expanded beyond the church tent. CMF helped build a strong primary healthcare system for these communities. Clinics, maternal care, and newborn support grew from the foundation of local churches.

More than 40 years later, the fruit is visible. Thousands of mothers and newborns have been impacted. Lives have been saved, families strengthened, and hope restored in places that once had little access to care.

Today, CMF is a recognized leader in evangelism, church planting, and healthcare among nomadic communities in Southern Kenya. The name stands for faith that moves, churches that serve, and healthcare that reaches the last mile.

Hundreds of churches are now led and planted by empowered local leaders. What began with CMF missionaries from the U.S. is now carried forward by pastors and leaders raised from within these communities.

For 40 years, CMF has moved with nomadic peoples, bringing the Gospel, healing, and hope. Through churches planted, leaders raised, and communities transformed, CMF continues to fulfill its call—making disciples of all nations, one family at a time.

Father, we thank You for obedience in the 1980s. Seeds planted in the wilderness, among deep-rooted cultures and hard-to-reach places, have become forests of life. For those who are empowered, give us Your strength and will to continue watering the seed and passing on the faith to the next generation. It has been a model that has worked for four decades of faith in action.

Want to help support this life-giving ministry?

Dr. Angela Meipuki is a licensed physician who enables CHP to treat complex cases, respond to emergencies, and ensure patients receive quality, compassionate care. She also strengthens the clinical team—mentoring staff and ensuring excellence throughout all of CHP’s clinics.

Sustaining a licensed, full-time doctor on staff with CHP is essential! Click here to help fund her work.

Sent, Together: Inside CMF’s Mission Formation Training

Written by danl on . Posted in Uncategorized.

This June, CMF welcomed 11 missionary recruits to Indianapolis for a week designed to prepare them for the road ahead. Mission Formation Training brought together individuals and families preparing to serve in Ethiopia, England, Ivory Coast, Mexico, and South Asia—many of whom will depart in just a few short months.

Continue reading

Globalscope Celebrates a New Partnership in Kenya

Written by danl on . Posted in Globalscope, Kenya.

CMF’s international campus ministry, Globalscope, is excited to announce a new partnership with Ukarimu Ministries, an established university ministry serving students at Daystar University in Athi River, Kenya. This step reflects CMF’s ongoing commitment to walking alongside students as they grow in faith, leadership, and service around the world.

Globalscope exists to welcome, reach, disciple, and develop university students—equipping them to follow Christ and influence their communities for the Kingdom. Through partnerships with trusted, locally led ministries, Globalscope strengthens existing work rather than duplicating it, coming alongside those already engaged in fruitful campus ministry.

Ukarimu Ministries—named after the Swahili word ukarimu, meaning hospitality—embodies this vision in deeply relational ways. The ministry walks closely with students during formative seasons, offering mentorship, discipleship, and a Christ-centered community where they are known and encouraged. Much of this happens at Ukarimu House, a gathering place and home for student interns.

Through fellowships, small groups, mentoring, shared meals, and one-on-one conversations, students experience more than programming—they experience belonging. For many, Ukarimu House becomes a “family away from home,” where spiritual growth and everyday faith intersect.

The Orunga Family

Ian and Stella Orunga lead this ministry, investing deeply in students through relational discipleship and leadership development. Ian, a Daystar graduate with a background in Management Information Systems, also coaches field hockey and leads a sports outreach through a local church. Stella, with a degree in Purchasing and Business Logistics, is passionate about student care, discipleship, and worship. Together with their two young children, they cultivate the Christ-centered community at Ukarimu.

Kami Burns Reed, Director of Globalscope, shared her excitement about the partnership:

“For years, Globalscope has dreamed of being part of campus ministry work in Kenya… Each time we explored starting something, we saw that many ministries were already doing excellent work, and we didn’t want to duplicate that. Through connections in the campus ministry world, we learned about Ukarimu and heard firsthand how being part of a fellowship like Globalscope could bless them. I’m excited for them to connect with other Globalscope campus ministers around the world—we all have so much to learn from one another.”

This partnership also opens the door to deeper collaboration within CMF’s work in Kenya. Kami shared her hope:

“I dream that Ukarimu can partner with CMF’s other strategy areas—whether that’s welcoming MOHI graduates as students at Daystar or raising up leaders who serve in churches, clinics, and ministries across Kenya. CMF missionaries have already begun building relationships—BJ Leonard is mentoring Ian, and Sam Loibor-Mongi has led a Discovery Bible Study with students, introducing this impactful approach.”

As Globalscope and Ukarimu Ministries move forward together, the vision is clear: that students would encounter Christ, grow in faith, and be equipped to live out the Gospel wherever God leads. This partnership is a reminder that impactful campus ministry is built on hospitality, relationships, and faithful presence—and that God is at work among students around the world.

 

 

How you can be involved

This new partnership with Ukarimu Ministries creates fresh opportunities to invest in university students in Kenya. If you’d like to learn more about serving with this ministry through Globalscope, we’d love to connect and help you explore the next step. Email us at mobilization@cmfi.org to start the conversation! Truly invest in these students by supporting this ministry here.