Log in to your Account

Don and Angie Finley have served in Brazil for 26 years and previously ministered in Central Asia. They train Brazilian youth to plant churches and make disciples in Muslim areas of Africa. Here they share some of the life-changing lessons they have learned through cross-cultural ministry, and how God is working through their students.

Earlier in our missionary career when we faced trials, we thought it wasn't fair. We went through some very difficult times when we were in Central Asia. I almost died from an assault. I can remember kissing my daughters goodbye in the middle of the night on the way to the hospital, not knowing if I'd ever see them again.

When Angie and I were going through some of those trials, we felt like it wasn't fair. After all, we were just trying to do God's will, and why wouldn't God honor that?

Through that experience, we came to understand that trials are a part of faithfully living out our call.

Angie and I now live in Brazil and train young people to minister in Muslim areas in Africa. We have learned tremendous lessons from these young people who have been our students. In the way that they have lived out their missionary calling, they have become our teachers as well. We have just been amazed at what God has done in and through them because of their faithfulness.

One of our heroes is a young woman, Carlota*, who went with the very first group to Africa. While she was in Senegal studying French, she became very ill. She was hospitalized in Dakar and not given a lot of hope.

Her team members took turns staying with her in the hospital and praying for her. They put verses up around her room. At first, the doctors and nurses were very antagonistic toward Carlota and her team because they were Christians. However, over the course of several weeks, because of the witness of her team members, the medical staff began to show more respect and concern for Carlota, and she began to get better. People were saying, "It's a miracle! Your prayer is powerful!”

Suddenly, Carlota took a turn for the worse and was given up for dead. At that point, the Brazilian mission agency sent her to Spain for care. When she arrived in Spain, the doctors said there was nothing they could do.

People around the world were praying, and God did a miracle in Carlota's life. She lived.

Carlota came back to Brazil for a few of months of recuperation. When she returned, all of her hair had fallen out and she was extremely thin. She is the only Christian in her family, and her family said, "See there. See what this God did to you? You went to serve Him, and you almost died." Carlota said, "That's right, and as soon as I get well, I'm going back."

Carlota did return to Senegal. She immediately went to the hospital and found the doctors and nurses who had cared for her. She told them God had restored her health so she could share the love of Jesus.

Carlota served in Senegal for four years before returning to Brazil and earning her nursing degree. She is now a registered nurse, preparing to return to Africa to serve and share the love of Christ.

These young people have become our heroes and our teachers. They challenge us to ask ourselves, What are we putting on the line? What are we holding back? What does God want from me? Am I willing to sell out so that God can do what He wants through me?

*Pseudonym used for security purposes.