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passport to discipleship
by Judy Lytle
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“I thank the Lord every day for the experiences He allowed me to have as a result of E-TEAM 2006. I feel as if the Lord has allowed me to grow up mentally and spiritually. I just wanted to express to you both what an impact you have made on my life…. I am praying for you every day.”
An E-TEAM participant sent this e-mail in January 2007 to his leaders of the previous summer. The words convey the bond often formed between students and leaders of E-TEAM.
Although they are an essential component of E-TEAM, leaders are seldom celebrated. Leaders may be tall or short, newlyweds or grandparents, employed or retired. Leaders may be missionaries, former missionaries, teachers, pastors, laymen, employees, and employers. Usually, leaders are a married couple.
Profile of an E-TEAM Leader
David and Pat Shores have led E-TEAMs to St. Croix (2002), Uruguay (2003), and Brazil (2004). The Shores were introduced to the vision of FWB student missions by then retired missionaries Ken and Marvis Eagleton. Ken called his program TEAM—an acrostic for Teens Equipped and Active in Missions. The Shres say, “We were enthused, excited, and elated at the possibility of FWB young people visiting missionaries on the field, assisting in their ministry.” The program needed young volunteers to participate and it needed adults to donate time, energy, and leadership.
“We never dreamed we’d someday lead such a group,” Pat declared. “When asked to do so, we carefully considered the responsibilities, prayed for guidance, and honestly evaluated our ability to take on this wonderful task. We accepted the challenge—in spite of being retirement-aged, unseasoned travelers.”
During the 20-hour flight to Sapporo, Japan, a team member asked Pam (pictured above) and Seldon Buck (France 2006 and Hokkaido 2007) why they chose to be E-TEAM leaders. “He really wanted to know why we were willing to give up a big part of our summer to take a group of teenagers we didn’t know to a foreign country. If asked that question prior to our first E-TEAM experience,” Pam mused “we may have said we wanted to become more involved in missions or we wanted to visit a mission field. But after two E-TEAM trips, we confidently assert we participate to establish relationships with, and impact the lives of, the young people involved.’”
Retirees Billy and Geneva Walker served as E-TEAM leaders to Panama (2006) and Chicago (2007). When first approached to lead an E-TEAM they replied, “Are you serious? You really want this senior adult couple to be leaders of a group of teenagers for three weeks?” Once over the shock, the 70-something couple was excited at the chance to be involved in mission work. “It was a challenge to keep up with 10 students,” Geneva asserted, “but it was thrilling to watch as they realized they have a purpose in life.”
We are Family
“This was my very first E-TEAM experience, so I was a little nervous about being in charge of seven teenagers for three weeks. They were great kids!” enthused Jane Johnson. Seven months before E-TEAM began, Pete and Jane began praying daily for “their” teenagers. Seven students were assigned to their Cuba team and the Johnsons prayed for one each day of the week. They also began building relationships by e-mailing the students often.
“When we met, we immediately ‘clicked’ and felt like we were family. We had daily meetings, devotions, and prayer, and showed our teenagers we truly cared about them. By the end of the trip, our teens were calling us mom and dad, and we actually felt like they were our own kids. What a great experience!” Jane concludes, “We still e-mail back and forth and are interested in what our kids are doing.”
“We became a family that loved and cared for each other, not just members of a team,” pronounce Pam and Seldon Buck. “We saw each other at our best…and worst! We laughed together, cried together, and prayed together.”
The Potential
 “Each year we’ve lived the same cycle: meet the students, get acquainted, share, give and take, facilitate reconciliations, pray together, learn together, finalize the program for the field, and finally, go to the airport as a team,” proclaim veteran leaders Pat and Dave. The Shores saw the young people, not just as high school kids, but also as the future of FWB missionary activities. “We found their new ideas, fresh approach to ministry, beyond-belief talents, and commitment to serving the Lord refreshing. We fell in love with them, and worked to bring them together, not as a group, but as a team.”
Photo: Megan Nelson (TN) and Mary Yerby (AL)
The Experience
Dave and Pat make it sound simple: “As leaders, all we had to do was get them together, escort them to the designated country, introduce them to the host missionaries, then step back and watch God glorify Himself through them.”
Usually, upon arrival the team is ushered straight to ministry. Both leaders and students work hard. They paint, clean, and roof. They lead devotions, plan daily activities, and pray. They present open-air song and mime programs, conduct children's carnivals at churches, give gospel presentations in schools and civic organizations. They pass out tracts and invitations, testify and preach on the streets and in parks.
Teams receive a first-hand glimpse of mission work in progress. They learn people worship differently, but God stirs hearts and is active around the world. Cultural differences don’t negate an individual’s need for God. Seeing missions up close and personal is life changing.
“I knew the history of our FWB work in Cuba, and having the opportunity to go was exciting,” writes Jane Johnson. “I saw Mom and Pop Willey’s legacy, and was encouraged to find our Cuban brothers and sisters in Christ are still as faithful as they were back in the 1950s.What a blessing the Cuban believers were to each member of our E-TEAM! We wanted to help them and encourage them, but I feel we were the ones encouraged.”
The Rewards
The bond does not end when goodbyes are said. Many continue to stay in touch through e-mails and phone calls. “We have answered our cell phones many times to hear the voice of one of our team members saying ‘Hey, just called to talk,’ or ‘How are you doing?’” says Pam Buck. “These young people have forever touched our hearts and enriched our lives. We pray for them, we give guidance when asked, we console them in sad times, and we celebrate with them in happy times. Encouraging them to always put God first and seek His will for their lives, seeing them leave their comfort zone and take a hard look at the things they value most, watching God open their eyes and reveal the Great Commission, building relationships with young people who love God and want to serve Him, all of these are reasons to be E-TEAM leaders.”
Billy and Geneva attest, “Sometime in the future we believe we will see some of these young people actively engaged in mission work. It’s humbling to think maybe we had a part in their decisions.”
The Challenge
The importance of the leader role becomes more and more apparent with each E-TEAM we send. Not everyone is cut out to be an E-TEAM leader. Not everyone can be away from work or family for three weeks in the summer. Not everyone has the health and stamina to meet the demands of the rigorous schedule. But those who answer God’s call to be involved in cross-cultural ministry and in mentoring teens are ready for the challenge of a lifetime. Effective leaders approach the entire experience as a ministry and mentoring opportunity, not just a trip overseas.
Are you up to the challenge?
About the Writer: Judy Lytle is the recruitment coordinator for the International Missions Department. She and her husband Steve live in Antioch, TN.
E-TEAM (Eagleton-Teens Equipped and Active in Missions)
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Established 1992
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Over 600 young people have participated, many multiple times.
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1992—one team, 10 students, two leaders
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2007—nine teams, 76 students, 18 leaders
LEADER REQUIREMENTS
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Married couple
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Good health
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Commitment to entire 3.5 week E-TEAM experience
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Desire to disciple and mentor youth
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Member of FWB Church
To apply to be an E-TEAM leader or for more information, please contact us at:go@fwbgo.com or call (877-767-7736).
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