“You might be right.”

Introduction

Recently, our community hit a major milestone: AIRO has now eliminated over $3 million of missionary student debt. 

Reaching this milestone is the result of years of faithfulness across our community. While it’s attached to a dollar sign, we are grateful for more than your generosity. For volunteering at galas and vision dinners. For praying for our first missionary partners all the way to our 179th. It’s this faithfulness that advances the gospel among the unreached. Thank you! 

Today’s story follows the work of Parker and Eliza Driscoll. They’ve served faithfully in West Asia for over a year. Now, that work is beginning to bear fruit.

“You might be right.”

Each year, Parker has a party to celebrate his “birthday”. That’s in quotes because this isn’t his actual birthday. It’s when he came to know the Lord and gave his life to Christ!

Before moving to West Asia, this day was like most others. He and Eliza would spend time thanking God for his goodness, maybe even have some friends over for dinner. But in this new culture, living among new people? Parker’s “birthday” was the perfect opportunity to spend time with unreached friends in their community! 

So they planned a party. 

The Driscolls invited their teammates and friends to celebrate Parker’s “birthday”. One of their teammates brought a local friend named Mark*. He’d grown disillusioned with his culture’s worldview and beliefs, leading him to search for truth in Jesus. 

Parker and Eliza were thrilled to hear this news. Not only was Mark open to hearing about Jesus, but this “birthday party” was never really about Parker. It was to celebrate the life saving truth of Jesus. 

They sang hymns and read Scripture together. Mark took part in all of it. The party ended, and Mark went home. All Parker and Eliza could do was pray that God would move in his heart until the next time they met. 

That day came a few months later when Parker saw him at a study gathering. In that time, Mark had begun reading the Bible daily and reciting hymns on his own. “When we were singing hymns that night, I felt something weird and wonderful inside me,” Mark shared. His hunger for understanding the gospel had only grown!

Parker got to discuss that feeling and answer Mark’s many questions. Through it all, Mark kept coming back to a sense of peace he had when reading God’s Word. It led Parker to share Philippians 4:6-7, to which Mark responded, “Yes! It’s exactly that.” Parker responded.  

“Mark, I think that all these questions about Jesus is your brain trying to catch up with what your soul already knows: that Jesus Christ is Lord, and you want to be His.” 

He paused for a moment. “You might be right.” 

Parker is hopeful for more talks with Mark at future study gatherings. Until then, he and Eliza pray daily. They invite you to join them in asking God for more opportunities to share the gospel with Mark. 

Thank you for freeing up the Driscolls to serve faithfully in West Asia. By eliminating their barrier of student debt, they’re able to share the light of Jesus where it is deeply needed. We could not do this work without you! 

*name changed for security reasons

The Field Report

Each quarter, we gather to pray for our missionary partners bringing light to spiritually dark places. This virtual 30-minute prayer gathering focuses on their stories and the people they serve. Join us on August 27th at 5:00 PM (PT) as we gather in focused prayer for them! 

We send with great joy.

It’s our greatest privilege to help send missionary partners like these to the field and to keep them there long-term!

Want to be part of our mission? Become a Ropeholder today and join our community as they eliminate barriers to advance the gospel to the unreached!