A River Runs Through Them

God is on the Move

Testimonies from our Time in Ministry

Healing in the Streets of Paris

Why did the limping Indian man cross the road... I'm not sure, but he wasn't getting away from me! Through google translate I was able to ask him if his leg was hurting and if I could pray for him. To my surprise, he quickly agreed to let this random stranger on the street pray for him!

I prayed for him not just to be healed, but to come to know God's love for him and to know Jesus as his savior. After praying, I asked him how it felt. He looked up in amazement and told me that the pain was gone! I quickly typed out that Jesus had healed him!

Indian College Student Salvation!

Our YWAM team helped host a Christmas party focusing on reaching international college students. The event was well-attended and after a meal, Christmas carols, and Gospel presentation, we had some students interested in learning more about Jesus. One of these students, Vinayak, went to breakfast with Caleb and a couple other staff later in the week and after a three hour conversation decided to give his life to Christ! We praise God for Vinayak’s salvation and Caleb is excited to journey with him as he matures in his faith.

Happenings in the Lives of Former Students

YWAM is a missionary training school. Inasmuch, as staff with YWAM we train up disciples to be intentional to share their faith for the rest of their lives. Between the two of them, Kelsey and Caleb have staffed ten schools with YWAM. They’ve encountered countless students in this time and have been the point-person for mentorship for several of them. Here are a few testimonies regarding what some of them are up to now.

Elisa F., Pioneering in France

Elisa was one of Kelsey’s students in Paris in 2019. She has transformed from a girl pursuing her own dreams to one who greatly fears the Lord and is submitted to the lordship of Christ. She has just completed an education degree in Germany and now is on staff with a pioneering YWAM base in Marseilles, France.

Kalai M., DTS Staff

Kalai was a student of Kelsey’s in the 2021-22 School of Biblical Studies. She has gone on to staff the School of Worship in Montana as well as a DTS in Mexico. She is planning to continue staffing DTS’s moving forward. In speaking of her time in SBS being discipled by Kelsey, Kalai noted, “A lot of the words I heard during the school have fallen away, but the way you do life with Jesus- diligently pursuing Him- has impacted me profoundly in ways you will never know.”

Savannah D., Apologetics

Another student of Kelsey’s from the 2021-22 SBS, Savannah just returned from outreach to NE Asia. She is heading to Kona, HI to do an apologetics school to be better equipped to defend the faith in evangelism contexts.

Savannah noted: “The greatest thing that happened to me in SBS was that God restored my hope in Jesus. I’m so thankful God used Kelsey to continually challenge and love me well while God was restoring my life through the Bible. I keep the note she wrote me at graduation in my car as a constant reminder of the transformation God did in my life.”

Jael and Jasmine, Bible Translation in Asia

These two girls, students of Kelsey’s in SBS 2022-23, are complete gems. They are currently in Asia working to translate Scripture using oral mother tongue Bible translation techniques. Before SBS, Jael was considering leaving her faith. Now, check out this update in August ‘23 from the two of them:

“The language we are working with is a completely Bibleless language with over 18,000 people within the people group. Yesterday was the first time that they had ANY scripture in their Mother Tongue. This is incredible and it's such a privilege to be a part of it!”

SBS Students from 2021/22 and 2022/23

Transformation in the Nations!

Below are some stories of how we’ve seen God change the lives of those He has led us to minister to in the nations.

Unexpected Salvation Story

When leading a DTS outreach in Portugal, Kelsey witnessed to a young adult from Finland, Jonna, who didn’t know Jesus. She was curious, but she did not feel ready to give her life to Jesus. In 2023, four years later, Kelsey got the following message over FaceBook:

“You prayed for me and you told me about Jesus. We first met at the train and you came to talk to me. Then we went to the beach and even took some pictures in the wind!… All glory to God I’ve finally given my life to Him. I got baptized some time ago and just felt like writing to you… Thank you for your kind words- I could really tell that you were a woman of God even though I didn’t even know you- or God… This life is so much more than I ever imagined.”

Miracles in Asia!

***A Caution***
If you have been personally informed of where in Asia we have done ministry, please do not disclose that location online, especially when linked with the photos. It can be dangerous for the well-being and ministry of native believers in Asia. I have used pseudonyms for the people in the testimonies below so as to further protect their identities.

Brother “Faithful”

My Dear Brother "Faithful"
In 2019 I got put in contact with Pastor Faithful. Little did I know then what an impact on my life and ministry this pastor would have!
Pastor Faithful has been in ministry for over a dozen years and is currently leading a church and speaking in dozens of others. He knows probably over 100 pastors and he is involved in and has a heart for some unreached regions in his country that have never even heard the name of Jesus! Our hearts bonded over this mutual desire to empower the church and to go to the harder to reach places in pursuit of those lost in darkness. Since that trip, he has become my Brother, “Faithful” and a dear friend as well!

Brother Faithful did a DTS when he was being trained to become a pastor, and he has carried a passion for the lost and for training up church leaders, ever since! During my (Titus Project) team’s trip to teach and minister, Brother Faithful was our guide, translator, shepherd and friend! He put us up in his home, fed us, and watched over us during the entirety of our stay with them. I’ve never experienced hospitality like I did under his care!

The following stories are stories of my time with Brother Faithful!

Sometimes God works in Mysterious ways!

This first story is about an older woman who came up for prayer after we had preached to a (large) small group. She had a fever and she asked us to pray for her. As I began to pray, I first asked the Lord if there was anything specific that He wanted me to pray over her or if there was a specific way that He wanted to heal her. I felt an impression that the Lord wanted me to pray for her but then instruct her to take a cold shower and that she would be healed. Now let me give some cultural context... this was at night, the weather wasn't cold, but it was cooler for them, and often times they add boiled water to their bucket showers. So a cold shower was not fun, nor is it usually wise to do when you're sick and feverish.

I was a bit confused by this, and I questioned if I was hearing God correctly. Unsure, I asked again. And again, I felt the same impression. So I told her those instructions, hoping and praying that I'd heard right, and she gave me a confused look, but she went away. Brother Faithful told me either the next day or the day following that the woman had gone home and in faith done as I'd instructed and she was healed!! I was so blessed by this because both of our faith had grown that night. My faith grew because I didn't let my understanding, or a fear of what she might think or that it might not work, from keeping me from sharing the instructions. Her faith grew from facing cultural and traditional norms and understanding and through obedience in doing something that was uncomfortable. Cold bucket showers aren't fun!

Is there a way that God might be asking you to step out in faith this week? To maybe do something uncomfortable or that might sound or look silly? Are you willing to ask God if there's something that He would have you do or if there's someone that you can pray for or share the Gospel to this week?

The Good Shepherd!

A man from Brother Faithful's church came to his house where we were staying and told us that his cows were sick, they were getting skinnier, and that one was even urinating blood! This was a primary source of income for (David) and for his family, so he was quite worried!
Brother Faithful, Kelsey, and myself went with David to his manger. On the way David told us of how his father had passed away due to Covid, and as the oldest son, he was now responsible for taking care of his wife and two children, his mother and likely for his other siblings as well. David was probably only in his mid thirties and we could see the worry and stress written plainly in the furrow of his brows as he shared these things with us. They were definitely weighing heavily upon his shoulders.
As we prayed I felt the Lord first lead us to pray for healing for his cows and to pray for blessings over them. As God had blessed and looked after and multiplied the livestock of Abraham and of the Israelites throughout the Old Testament, so I asked that God would do so for this man. We then felt the Lord lead us to pray over the young man. As we were asking God what to pray over him, Kelsey and I felt led to remind David that God sees his needs, hears his prayers and that God is his Good Shepherd and Heavenly Father and he can trust God to take care of his and his family's needs. I also felt led to encourage him to continue to pray for his cows’ health and even to sing some worship songs over them. Not only that, but Ps. 91 kept coming to mind.

I questioned if I was hearing clearly or not because Ps. 91 is one of my favorite Psalms. I wondered if I was just thinking that one up myself. So I prayed a few times asking God to make it clear if it was Him or if it was just my own thoughts. It kept coming to mind, so after several minutes of internal prayer and wrestling I finally shared that with him. As soon as I did, Kelsey confirmed that it was from God when she said that she had also been feeling the Lord highlighting Ps. 91 to her as well! David immediately began to cry. He cried silently for a minute or two, after which he began to explain (it is uncommon for men in that nation to cry publicly). David told us that his father's favorite Psalm (he was a long time Believer) was Psalm 91... and that was the last thing his father had asked to have read over him right before he died!

How incredible is that! God knew right where David was at and what he was going through. It might very well be that God allowed for this man's cows to get sick, so that He could heal them and speak to this young man's heart and remind him that he was not alone. And that's exactly what God did! A couple of days later he contacted Brother Faithful and let us know that his cows were already looking healthier and that the one cow was no longer bleeding!

Do you know that the Lord speaks? Did you know that He wants to speak to you too? If you have any questions, please let me know and I'd love to give you a call! It is one of my favorite things to teach and when I was taught to discern His voice, it changed and probably saved my life! Or if you have any questions about where we see that in Scripture please do not hesitate to ask! :)

The Father’s Heart for a Mother’s

One evening, we were told that a family was coming for prayer. This wasn't uncommon as we did a fair bit of house visits during the one month that we were with Faithful and his family, but what occurred this night was special.
When mother, father, and their son and daughter had arrived, the parents asked us to pray a blessing over their children for favor and good grades in school. They also asked us to pray for healing for the mother who had a migraine. Brother Faithful asked me to pray and said that he would translate. As I was about to start praying I felt the Holy Spirit urge me to pause, and as I did, He reminded me of something a seasoned missionary had once told me... "whenever you're praying for physical healing, ask God if there is something else that He would have you pray. Because the person has already given you permission to pray for them and maybe God is wanting to do something deeper (paraphrased)."

So I asked God if there was something else that He was wanting to do that night, and then I began to pray out what came to mind. I prayed for the mother, not for healing for her migraine, but that she would know that God loves her and loves her children more than even she does, and that He had their future in His hands. I felt the Holy Spirit impress upon my heart to share with this mother that even if she couldn't give her children everything that she wished she could (as they were quite poor), that God was pleased with the mother and wife that she was, and that He would take care of her children’s futures. As I prayed this the mother began to weep.

I had felt like the Holy Spirit had said that this mother was exhausted with worry and she feared her children wouldn't have the best future that they could. God knew this worried mother's heart, and He spoke right to it. And more than that, her husband and her children and all those present heard God's praise over her as a mother and as a wife! This was something I think her husband and children needed to be reminded of. I don't think I specifically mentioned the migraine in my prayer, I had a feeling I didn't need to. When I finished praying, I knew the migraine was gone too. I asked to be sure, and she confirmed it. I told her that I believed God allowed the migraine that night because He wanted her to know that He saw her, loves her, and was with her. And that while she came for a blessing and for a physical healing, God was wanting to do a deeper healing… God was after her heart. Sometimes God allows “bad” things to happen (not causes). But if we will turn and cling to Him and listen, He is always with us, and He will always lead us through. And He can redeem any situation and use it for His glory and for our growth & good. Rom. 8:18-39 (emphasis on v28)

What about you? Is there a circumstance or challenge, pain or sorrow that you are struggling with? I encourage you to go to other Believers and ask them to pray with you and for you. You don’t need to go through it alone!

Need Prayer?

A Farewell is a Hopeful See You Soon!

Brother Faithful and I still talk regularly! He calls me once or twice a month and we catch up on ministry. He is still doing incredible work for God’s Kingdom in Asia. I can’t wait for you all to one day meet him whether here or on the other side of The Pearly Gates!

What Students are Saying about Kelsey

“I really am in awe of the person that you are… your conviction, faith, passion for purity, and heart to live rightly before the Lord is so inspiring to me. You are one that I look to when I need a good picture of what it looks like to pursue the will of God whole-heartedly. All of your teachings have been incredible…” - Elizabeth R.

“Kelsey is someone who puts others first in her life and will point others to Christ no matter who they are. The impact she made on me during SBS will last a lifetime, of truly knowing God in a personal way herself and making Him known whatever the cost” - Kyra S.

“Thank you for being someone students and staff can look up to for the fruit that comes from having a life devoted to God in the secret place. The fruit I see from spiritual disciplines in your life is the beautiful kind that I want to emulate. I see how it makes you love Jesus more and more” - Jenna B.

“You are so clearly gifted in not only the area of teaching, but also discipleship and integrity. Your personal devotion to the Lord and personal integrity in your walk with Him produces such beautiful fruit in the more public areas of teaching and discipleship. Thank you for your example of sowing into your relationship with the Lord. It is a pleasure working with you” - Angel S.

“The passion and excitement you have for the word is infectious. The humility and vulnerability you bring in your teaching makes class so engaging and the books so real” - Allie S.

“Your heart for application and to see yourself and the students do the word and not just keep it at head knowledge is so inspiring” - Isaac T.

“You have been such an amazing staff and coach to me. It is refreshing how pure you are and how deeply you care for people to grow in faith” - Ethan E.

“You are so intentional about centering your life around Jesus and chasing after him, and it challenges me to practically and diligently pursue Him” - Jonathan T.