South Sudan Expedition: What's next for the Wintermantels?

Recently, Cyrus was studying for a test and shared with us the definition of expedition: “a journey undertaken by a group of people with a particular purpose.”

Following a season of prayer, fasting and seeking the Lord, we have determined that God is calling us to take next steps on our family expedition.  We plan to move forward in the process of moving to, and serving Him full-time in Africa.  So many of you have come to us and told us that you have prayed with us in this decision.  We are grateful for your prayers.

This expedition has two beginnings. It started initially when God placed a love for Africa, and its multitude of lost peoples, in the heart of Gina when she was a young veterinarian.  The second beginning occurred 18 months ago when we learned of the missionary team being formed in Torit, South Sudan.  While the journey has taken some time, it has been a blessing to follow the Lord, and wait on His revelation about what is next.

Our recent family trip to Torit helped greatly to solidify God’s calling for us.
Our first and primary calling will be to help fulfill the mission, “We glorify God by being disciples who make disciples of Jesus Christ.”  Our plan is to work together with the members of our missionary team and church leaders in Torit to help raise up and equip young disciple-makers who will return to the Lotuko tribal villages around Torit.  Their mission will be to make disciples who make disciples, and plant/start new churches.  We will support these young men and women in their ministry through relational discipleship, theological education, fellowship, and prayer.
 

Just as Jesus met both spiritual and physical needs, we want to follow him in that mission.  Along with making disciples, and helping to plant churches, we hope to help people raise and grow more food. South Sudan has great potential to feed its people, and more. And yet people are starving, even in Torit.  With Gina’s veterinary degree and experience, and Steve’s agricultural degree and farming experience we will seek ways to help people to provide better nutrition for their families.

South Sudan is hungry.  There is a deep hunger for the nourishing food of the gospel.  Jesus is the Bread of Life.  He is our Hope.  He is our Peace.  He is Life.  We look forward to bringing and sharing the good news with the lost, and help make disciples of those who have found Christ.

By God’s grace, and with your prayers and support, we hope to keep our family on an expedition for our Lord Jesus.

We have another entry on the blog that goes through some "FAQs" on our expedition!

Grateful to be serving Jesus together with you,
Steve, Gina, Hazel, Abe, Josiah, and Cyrus