A Season of Praise and Perseverance

In partnership with

Dear Missionaryish Family,

It’s been a while since our last update, and I’m so grateful to finally sit down and share what God has been doing in our lives and ministry. Before anything else, I want to begin with a heartfelt thank you.

Thank you for your prayers, your care, and your continued generosity — all of which have carried us through this season. I’m happy to announce that I have officially passed Greek, and not just by scraping by, but with a solid pass! This has truly been a miracle of God’s grace, made possible through your faithful intercession and support. Thank you for freeing me up to study well, for believing in this calling, and for walking with us through the challenges of seminary life.

For those interested in seeing some of the fruit of this past semester, I’ve included my final paper in this letter. If you’d like a glimpse into the kind of work and study involved at this stage of seminary, feel free to read it through the link provided.

A Letter of Praise

This update is, above all, a letter of praise. Though this season has been academically intense and full of fundraising work, the Lord has still opened doors for ministry and relationship — often in quiet, unexpected ways.

I’ve been intentional not to overextend myself by seeking out new outreach opportunities, focusing instead on finishing seminary well. Yet, as I’ve shared with mentors, that doesn’t mean ministry stops. When God brings someone across our path, we do our best to honor that divine appointment — even within the limitations of this season.

Interestingly, I’ve found myself feeling more like a “pastor’s wife” lately — supporting and empowering others more than leading from the front. Reagan has been such a blessing in this; she has a special gift for connecting deeply with women, understanding their unique struggles, and walking with them through faith and healing. Together, we’ve continued ministering to Sarah, a single mother of three whom many of you have prayed and given toward.

Walking with Sarah

Sarah has remained in our lives, continuing to attend our church’s community group. This has been a huge encouragement. Sunday attendance can be easy — you show up, listen, and leave — but community group requires contribution. You bring your story, your heart, your presence. Seeing Sarah take that step has been beautiful.

She’s still early in her journey of faith. Having grown up in a nominal Roman Catholic background, she’s learning the basics of the gospel with an open but still-questioning heart. A few months ago, near Father’s Day, she and her children spent nearly an entire day with us. With five of our own and her three, it was a chaotic, joy-filled household of eight children running around — the kind of chaos that makes a home feel alive.

Reagan prepared breakfast and lunch, and we simply spent the day together. Our evangelism has always been about the exposure of all of life — not just words, but deeds. We try to make our home a place where people can see and experience the gospel lived out. As we say often, “words will come naturally when love and presence are already there.”

That day, Sarah began asking deep, searching questions — especially about the fairness of grace. “How is it fair,” she asked, “that someone could live a whole life of sin and, at the very end, say a prayer and still go to heaven?”

It’s an honest and profound question — one even the psalmist wrestled with in Psalm 73, when he saw the wicked prosper and wondered why. We talked about how sin and idolatry are cruel masters; that even when life looks comfortable on the outside, living apart from God destroys us from within. Idols always take more than they give.

We helped her see that while some may “get away” with sin temporarily, they lose far more — their peace, their wholeness, their relationship with the Giver of life. We also spoke about the brevity of worldly success and the eternal reward of investing in the Kingdom. Like a child learning T-ball, Sarah is just beginning to grasp the basics. It takes time. We can’t dump all the theology at once; we’re simply helping her drink the milk before the meat — learning to digest truth little by little.

The Work of Prayer and Presence

There were moments when we wondered if she’d drifted away. For a while, she stopped attending church and our gatherings. But we kept praying — because more than any strategy or wisdom, prayer is the real power of ministry.

And God has been faithful. Sarah recently began coming back — even rearranging her daycare schedule so she can attend community group without distractions. Week after week, we see small steps of growth, openness, and faith.

Recently, she wrote this message to our community group:

She then shared memories of her late mother — how they listened to her favorite songs together when she was dying, and how music still connects her to that deep place of loss and love.

Reagan continues to walk with her through the ups and downs — from her dating life as a single mom to the joys of workplace promotions. Sarah often apologizes for “dumping” her emotions or “talking too much,” but we’ve reminded her again and again: this is exactly what the Church is for.

The Church is a spiritual hospital — where Jesus, the Great Physician, heals the deepest wounds of the soul. We’re all patients here, pastors included. Some days, faith feels easy. Other days, we question everything. But through it all, Christ continues His healing work. And one day, we hope to see Sarah so transformed that she herself will comfort and disciple others as she’s being comforted now.

Looking Ahead: Prayer Requests

As we look toward the next season, I’d love your prayers for a few specific things:

• New Semester: I’m beginning two new seminary courses — one on Hebrews and Revelation and another on Genesis and Deuteronomy. Classes begin October 22, and I’m working with a new, more compressed schedule to hopefully finish seminary by the end of next year.

• Ministry Vision: Please continue praying for clarity as we explore the next stage of Missionary-ish — including possible international outreach opportunities for our family.

• Sustaining Grace: Pray for wisdom to balance study, family, and ministry — that our hearts would remain anchored in Christ and not merely in productivity.

Thank you again for your faithful partnership. Every prayer, every note of encouragement, every act of generosity — it all matters deeply. We couldn’t walk this journey without you.

Now let’s go love our neighbors.

Much Love in Christ,

David & Reagan

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