The Bankses are Watermark members being sent to train pastors and church leaders to carry the gospel to the ends of the earth. Their focus is the 10/40 Window, a portion of the world where a large population of people have little to no access to the gospel. As you read about their journey and what God has ahead for them, consider where he may be calling you.
Share your journey with Christ and how it led you to missions.
Rebekah: “My parents were the people who didn’t just go to church on Sundays—the gospel of Jesus transformed their lives, and they shared it with us constantly.
“One night on a drive with my dad, I told him I wanted to accept Christ into my life. He pulled the car over, and after talking it through with my family, I understood that I was broken and needed a Savior, and I accepted Christ (Romans 10:9-10).
“From there, I was discipled by my parents and our church. In college, faithful women helped bring me to maturity in Christ through accountability and support. Even seemingly simple ways, like encouraging me to practice praying out loud, helped me grow in my relationship with the Lord. I look back and am grateful that people didn’t leave me when I accepted Christ, but walked with me.
“I was familiar with the idea of missions early on. We would invite missionaries into our home often. I even dressed up as Lottie Moon, a famous missionary, for Halloween one year. It was so embedded into my life.
“Later, in college, I worked with international students and for a nonprofit that worked in Zambia. After, I became very involved in missions in the States.”
Michael: “Similar to Rebekah, my parents were sharing the gospel with me and my siblings from a very young age, and I was very quick to recognize that I’m a sinner in need of a savior. I saw how the gospel influenced the way they handled conflict, life change, and relationships.
“I came to faith at a young age, but what was really formative for me, in addition to being involved at our local church, was being involved in ministries like Cru that really understood discipleship and did it well.
“I later worked overseas in South Asia for about a year with the Cru ministry when I graduated from college, and it opened up the whole world of global missions to me.”
How did you decide to pursue global missions together?
R: “When we met, our stories about how we approached missions looked very different. Michael was very confident in where the Lord was calling him, while I was very willing. My view of God’s calling for me really transformed when I read an article that said, ‘If everyone who was willing went, imagine what missions would look like.’
“Not only did I personally feel that I was ready for missions; there was an outward confirmation from my community and family, who also saw God’s calling for me. Internally, I felt peace from the Lord for what was ahead.
“After Michael and I were married, we continued ministry in Dallas, while figuring out what it would look like to move forward in missions with our local church. The Lord really opened doors for us, and now, two and a half years later, it is an act of God that Watermark is sending us.”
Where is God leading you now?
M: “We’ll be in Asia working as missionaries and educators to disciple, train, and mobilize current and future pastors from the Middle East and Asia. It’s not just one country that we have a connection with, but a variety of countries with unreached people groups where our students will plant churches, start ministries, and disciple others.”
R: “Watermark is not just sending us as missionaries. This local church has poured into us by preparing us theologically and spiritually, strengthening our marriage, and encouraging us through the whole process. People here have prepared us for the field and made us feel known just as members of the church. Yes, we’ve been financially supported, but the most significant piece is the prayer and community they’ve given us and will continue to provide while we’re overseas. We have people who will check in on us, visit us, and pray for us while we’re gone.”
_How can we pray for you in this season? _
R: “Please pray for our transition as we enter into a new culture and context. The cost of going is significant—and not primarily financial. We and our families feel the cost of being far away, among other things. Pray for comfort and intimacy with God as we make the move. Please ask God to protect us and our students spiritually and physically against sickness and disease. We know that spiritual warfare is a reality because we’re doing something the enemy hates. And ultimately, please pray that our ministry glorifies God and that pastors and leaders will be equipped and trained to reach people for his sake.”
Learn more about Michael and Rebekah’s journey, international missions with Watermark, and our future as A Sending Church.
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