Paige Hoerle is part of a Globalscope campus ministry team in Tübingen, Germany called Unterwegs where she consistently invests time and love into the busy lives of students. Here she shares a story of how a need in their ministry was met in a very unexpected way.
Kenny was encouraged to not use the term “life-changing” too loosely; the true meaning of the phrase can get lost, his hosts said, unless you take deliberate steps to change your life when you get home.
On Tuesday, October 7, our dear friend and longtime CMF missionary, Larry Kineman, woke up in the presence of Jesus. Larry and his wife, Debbie, served faithfully in England from 1993 until their retirement in 2021, leaving behind a legacy of love, laughter, and Kingdom impact that will ripple for generations.
As part of Michael Grimm’s work in Mexico City, he has the great opportunity to share the Gospel and lead a bible study at a local rehab facility, known in Spanish as the Anexo. Here he shares how local church members are trying to provide hope in a challenging place.
Payton Jacob’s journey to Kenya as a REACH intern began with a simple connection—her home church’s close relationship with CMF missionaries Joel and Rachel Williams. Initially, Payton planned to serve as an intern in 2024, but when that didn’t work out, she encouraged a friend to take the opportunity instead. That friend had an incredible experience and came back saying, “Payton, you have to go.”
Payton first became interested in a REACH internship after meeting Joel and Rachel during one of their furloughs. “I’d always had a heart for missions and a strong desire to experience missions in a longer-term context,” she shared. “When I heard about the ministry Joel and Rachel are part of, it sounded so effective and beautiful.”
Through her church, First Christian Church in Champaign, Illinois—where her mom serves on staff—Payton connected with the Williams family. She considered going the summer after meeting them, but the timing wasn’t right. Instead, her friend Caite stepped in. “It was amazing to see how the Lord made it possible for her to go at the last minute,” Payton said. “But I never stopped having the same desire to go.”
The following summer, Payton applied and was accepted. “I’m so thankful I was able to go in His perfect timing,” she said. Caite’s stories only deepened her desire, and Payton felt God confirming that His timing was best. “He wanted Caite to go when she did, and He wanted me to go when I did.”
One of the highlights of Payton’s experience was her team. “My teammates—Payton, Karilla, Emmerey, and Becca—were amazing,” she said. “It couldn’t have been clearer that the Lord orchestrated us to be together. We were all so different, but each carried beautiful aspects of His character. Our stories and personalities were unique, yet we bonded and grew in ways only the Holy Spirit could have planned.”
Payton, a student at Illinois Wesleyan University studying elementary education, says the experience shaped her faith and future. “I’m still not sure what’s next, but I know the Lord convicted me and taught me in ways that were formative,” she said. “The model of discipleship I saw—simply doing what Jesus did, the way He did it—is something I’ve started applying as a college student. I’m surrounded by people every day that I’m called to love and disciple. I know this for certain, and I’m continuing to pray about what life after undergrad may look like.”
Are you interested in a REACH internship in 2026? Applications are now open! Explore more at cmfi.org/reach.
REACH internships give young adults a front-row seat to life and ministry on the mission field—and it’s been part of CMF’s story for over 30 years. This year, we’ve got a lot to celebrate and even more to look forward to.
Travis and Emily Weeks work with the CMF church-planting team in Ethiopia, where they have been since 2013. They serve church leaders and believers among the Oromo, Gumuz, Shakka, and Karo peoples. They also support the international community in Addis Ababa. As part of their furlough in the U.S., they are serving at Milligan University. Below, Travis shares what their time there looks like.
From a young age, both Chandler and Madison Ospina felt a strong calling from God to commit to the mission field. This seed was planted early on, and over the years, as they led short-term mission trips with their local church, that calling became clearer. Now, thanks to the influence of their church, they are actively raising up partners to support their future ministry in Ethiopia. Here's the story of the role their church has played in their missions journey.
CMF International is pleased to announce a new partnership with Proem Ministries, a dynamic, locally led Christian organization based in Poland. Proem is known for its deep commitment to church planting, education, and youth outreach across Poland and beyond.
For Ryan and Diane Zelhart, hospitality has always been a gift. They love gathering people, creating meaningful spaces, and curating memorable meals. But in the fall of 2024, they began to ask a deeper question: How could this gift serve something greater than themselves?
