From the onset of our marriage, the Lord has stirred up our family to have a heart for the nations.  That began in 2012, in a class called Perspectives (https://www.perspectives.org/), where we gained an understanding of the need for more laborers, and the harrowing fact that around 40% of the population on our planet have no access to the gospel, and have never heard of the name of Jesus (the unreached).  Since that time, the Lord has been kind to bless us with three little girls and allowed us to serve and lead in different areas within the local church, and what a joy it has been to serve the Lord in this way. But, as we prayed for and supported others who have gone before us, the Lord consistently kept our hope and desire to see the nations hear the name of Jesus Christ.  It was in February of 2018, when we began to feel the Lord calling and stirring our hearts in what it would look like for our family to go. In time, the Lord led both of us to lay our “YES” down to go and has continued to keep us unified! This blessing of unity has been the most affirming and catalyzing aspect of this journey so far and we praise the Lord for his presence and peace.

Currently, in the sending program we are a part of something called a Goer Missional Community (GMC). In this community we intentionally live in close proximity (walking distance) and spend time together focusing on loving God, loving our neighbors, and loving the nations. We have learned and practiced tools for sharing the gospel in everyday life and spent hours praying together for God to move among our neighborhoods and the nations. The goal and hope is to be equipped to take the gospel to people in the world who have no access, and to be built up and encouraged to call others into the mission of God within our community and to the ends of the earth.  Within our GMC this semester, we have seen the Lord save, the people of multiple apartment complexes in Lewisville hear the Good News of Jesus, and grown in humility and faith as we practice and learn how to faithfully pursue seeing the Kingdom of God proclaimed in our community!

Also, as a part of our GMC, we have the opportunity to take what is called a, “Vision Trip” with others in our community.  This upcoming February, we will be traveling to Germany and Lebanon, to gain clarity on what the Lord would have for our family, while also getting the opportunity to share the hope of Jesus with Muslim refugees!  As many of you may know, the Lord has given us a heart for the work that is being done in Germany. While we are there, we are hopeful to come alongside a team currently there, to pray with them, care for them, and encourage them in the work they are doing, all while getting the opportunity to see what it will look like contextually to share the eternal refuge found in Jesus with those who are seeking physical refuge.  In Lebanon, we will get our first glimpse of seeing and being a part of the vision of The Village Church to work among Muslims within the Middle East. There is a training hub where long-term workers are trained in language and culture for one to two years before they are sent out to the surrounding regions within the Middle East to carry the Good News of Jesus to the unreached. We will be able to meet with three long-term teams in the area and will have an opportunity to learn from them while also engaging Muslims with the gospel. We’re excited about what the Lord is up to in each of these places and we will be prayerfully asking him to give us His heart and clarity around if either are a good fit for our family. We’re also particularly excited about the opportunity to see what it looks like, through those whom have gone before us, to contextually share the Gospel in an environment that looks and feels different than our own.

The cost we are raising to go on this trip is $4,300 (for Katie and I), and we humbly ask that you prayerfully consider partnering with us financially to reach this goal. We also ask that you please continue to pray for humility, abiding faith, unity, and clear vision for Katie and I as we continue to seek all that the Lord has for us in 2019.  Pray we are able to be a blessing to the long-term teams currently on the field, that seeds are sown broadly while we’re there, and that the Lord would give us wisdom regarding next steps. Lastly please pray for our girls and our family who will be taking care of them while we are away. We believe the Lord has exciting plans for our time on this trip, and we would sincerely love for you to be a part of it!

Our funds are due in total on February 15th, 2018.  If you would like to help financially, all donations are 100% tax-deductible.

If you’re interested in learning more about our trip, we would love to chat with you more and bring more clarity around what the Lord is doing in our lives!  We can be reached at:

• chriscarley12@gmail.com

• katiecarley7@gmail.com

• (214)493-8840 (Chris’ Cell)

• (214)493-8833 (Katie’s Cell)

Thank you for your prayers, and for all you’ve done to shape, encourage and equip our family for the call the Lord has placed on our hearts.  It’s truly a gift to partner with you in seeking to see the Kingdom of God come to this city and to the end’s of the earth! We deeply love and are grateful for each of you!

Blessings,

Chris, Katie, Selah, Norah and Ava Carley