What would you give up for someone to know Jesus? For many missionary families, this isn’t just a question—it’s a query that shapes their lives.

In response to Mission Refocus, a global initiative responding to the world’s most significant mission challenges, the South American Division (SAD) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is sending missionaries to areas of need.

When I talked with some of these families, it was evident they shared similar experiences—leaving behind careers, adjusting to unfamiliar cultures, and stepping into uncertainty. They had counted the cost and said yes. Why? Because someone, somewhere, needed to know Jesus.

Here are some of their stories. I’ve withheld their names, where they serve, and where they’re from in some cases to protect their ministries.

Pastor V and family

Pastor V and his family are missionaries who serve in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. They’ve dedicated their lives to sharing God’s love, where doing so is often difficult.

Pastor V first sensed a call to mission when he was 15, inspired by the legacy of his missionary parents and grandfather. When he was 20, he studied English and Portuguese, gaining the tools he needed for service.

Pastor V’s wife grew up in an Adventist home, but it was at university that her faith came alive. She felt a clear calling to help others find God. She also felt impressed to study English, Portuguese, and French. She didn’t understand the reason but followed the Spirit’s leading.

The couple’s passion for mission brought them together. Three years after their marriage, they accepted their first assignment. Their original destination was Mongolia, but Jessica’s multilingual gifts led them to the MENA region instead.

“It was a crazy decision,” Pastor V recalls. “We were working well in our country and changed everything to come to the unknown. But we believed God had chosen us to come here.”

The couple arrived in a country that hadn’t had missionaries in years. Locals kept their distance. There was no church in the community. But slowly, with love and intentional friendship building, they began gaining people’s trust. “Here, mission must be personal,” Pastor V says. “It must be one-on-one.”

The couple’s children have also become powerful missionaries, inviting friends home and showing them what a Christian family is like.

Pastor V and his family don’t measure their success in this challenging region by the number of people baptized. Instead, their focus is on discipleship. “We want to leave disciples who continue the work. We won’t be here forever,” Pastor V adds.

The couple asks for your prayers for more missionaries, guidance from the Holy Spirit, and God’s blessings on a new children’s ministry project they dream of starting.

To those considering mission, they say: “Everyone is called to be a missionary. Don’t be afraid. The same God that calls you will provide everything. Parents, work with your children to love mission. The sooner they start loving mission, the better.”

Pastor G and family

Once a college student new to the Adventist Church, Pastor G serves in cross-cultural ministry with his wife in the 10/40 Window region. From the start of their marriage, they shared a conviction to serve. His wife’s roots in mission run deep. Her parents helped plant a church, and she was active in outreach from a young age.

After they married, the couple decided to become missionaries. To prepare, Pastor G enrolled in the seminary, and he and his wife read widely, prayed constantly, and studied languages and cultures. Pastor G also trained as a health responder to serve in areas with medical needs.

Their foray into the mission field was challenging. They faced culture shock, and learning the local language seemed impossible. But God sent a seasoned missionary to offer encouragement and practical help. From this, fluency came, connections formed, and locals began to receive the gospel.

The couple states that this cross-cultural experience has strengthened their faith and broadened their perspective about the gospel. “God has prepared in the gospel provision for all cultures, all languages, all peoples on earth,” Pastor G says. “If someone struggles with shame, there’s a message for them. With guilt, there’s a message. With fear, there’s a message.”

The couple’s children, born in the mission field, learn firsthand what it means to serve cross-culturally. Pastor G and his wife hope they’ll grow into culturally intelligent disciples of Christ.

The couple asks for prayers for spiritual growth in their family and in the lives of those to whom they minister.

Matheus and Ana Lessa

Pastor Matheus and Ana Lessa, a Brazilian couple, are preparing to serve in Hungary. Matheus is an evangelistic pastor who once served as a missionary in England with Adventist Volunteer Service. Ana is a journalist working for the Adventist University of São Paulo.

Pastor Matheus and Ana were content with their lives in Brazil. However, they began to sense a call to mission service during the Maranatha SAD youth convention. When they received a call to go to Hungary, Ana was overjoyed. Initially, Matheus was concerned about going somewhere unreceptive to the gospel. However, he gave his fears to God and trusted His plan.

The couple has been preparing for service for more than a year, studying Scripture, reading mission books, learning about Hungarian culture, and trying to master the complex Magyar language. Though the experience has been challenging, they are determined.

The Lessa’s journey has already involved sacrifice. They sold most of their belongings and moved in with Matheus’ parents, who allowed them to live rent-free in their home. “We’re leaving everything behind to go to the mission field, so we’re fully depending on God,” they say.

They ask for prayers for their language skills, adaptability, open hearts, and joy during this unfamiliar experience.

Pastor Y and his wife

Pastor Y and his wife are preparing to serve in the 10/40 Window. Their hearts were stirred whenever they heard stories about mission work in this region. During a pastoral meeting, they were asked to draw their desire for the future. Their sketch included a Bible, an airplane, and the words “Asia Travel.” Just months later, God opened the door for them to serve in Indonesia.

When the invitation came, they felt joy, nerves, and gratitude. Their family and friends were surprised but could all see God’s hand at work.

Pastor Y and his wife are preparing through prayer, Bible study, and learning the Bahasa language. They expect challenges with acclimating to a new environment, but know God will guide them.

“We long to see lives transformed by the love of Christ,” they say. “We want to be instruments in His hands to bring hope, education, and present truth to those who have not yet known the eternal gospel.” They plan to teach English, support community projects, and focus on disciple-making.

The couple asks for prayers for the hearts of the people they will minister to, wisdom, protection, spiritual strength, adaptability, and God’s provision.

To anyone thinking about mission service, they say, “Accept the challenge! Go beyond borders. If God places the desire to serve in your heart, He will open paths where there seem to be none. Mission isn’t easy, but it’s an eternal privilege.”

The Villarreal family

Mauricio and Camila Villarreal, an Argentinian couple, are preparing to leave for Slovenia. Mauricio was the principal of an Adventist school where Camila taught. Their shared passion for education and service has been a strong foundation for their marriage.

Camila’s interest in mission began when she was a teenager. She watched videos of missionaries and dreamed of becoming one herself.

Mauricio’s call came in his early twenties after volunteering for a year in Central Asia. He had accepted the invitation, thinking it would be a one-time experience. But the desire for mission service never left him.

Serving in Slovenia, a post-Christian country, will be difficult, so their preparation is essential. While waiting for their departure date, Mauricio and Camila have focused on their spiritual, mental, and physical health.

The Villarreals had to vacate their on-campus residence and sell most of their belongings. However, God helped them find a temporary home fully furnished. This experience strengthened their belief that God is walking with them.

Mauricio and Camila plan to focus on health initiatives and building relationships with the people of Slovenia. They ask you to pray for those they will minister to.

Pastor R and his wife

Pastor R and his wife are preparing to leave for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Both communication professionals, the couple has built a ministry centered on sharing Jesus in person and online. Now, they’re stepping into a new chapter, trusting God will continue using their gifts in a region where the gospel can be challenging to share.

Pastor R first sensed the call to mission at the age of eight, the same year he was baptized. He knew he wanted to preach the gospel one day, so he studied theology.

The couple was excited when they heard about an opportunity to serve in the Middle East. But reality soon set in, bringing anxiety and uncertainty. They would be leaving family and a thriving ministry. Some friends questioned the decision. They told them, “The church needs you here.” Still, the couple moved forward in faith.

Pastor R and his wife have been preparing through Bible study, learning the local language, and seeking advice from those who have served in MENA. They’re aware of the challenges they’ll face, particularly language barriers and the limitations on media in the region. But their plans are clear: build friendships, meet people where they are, and share health lessons as an avenue to introduce Jesus. Digital ministry, when possible, will also be a key part of their outreach.

“If we leave behind people who were touched by the Holy Spirit and decide to go into mission, that would be success to us,” Pastor R says.

As the family gets ready to leave, they ask for your prayers—for God’s guidance, continued spiritual growth, and clarity as they prepare their hearts for service.

Pastor R encourages others who feel called to mission: “If you have that desire in your heart, let it grow. Don’t think too hard about how things will be. Your questions are important, but don’t allow them to distract you. We need to be focused on the people who need the message of salvation.”

Mission Refocus

Mission Refocus is a global strategy whereby the world church is prayerfully recalibrating its personnel, funds, resources, and goals to reach the greatest mission challenges facing it today: the 10/40 Window, the Urban Window, and the Post-Christian Window.

Matheus and Ana Lessa

Mauricio and Camila Villarreal