On August 30, the REACH class of 2025-26 arrived at the Rosedale International Center (RIC). This year’s class is the thirty-fifth in the program’s history and is composed of fourteen participants representing two countries, eight states, and fourteen churches.
In the first three months of the program, REACHers will stay at the RIC as they complete discipleship training school (DTS). They’ll participate in educational sessions that cover a multitude of topics, ranging from the Holy Spirit to healthy sexuality to writing a blog post. Each session equips students with skills and knowledge that will be utilized in their overseas work.
In addition, they will spend time learning to connect with each other as teammates, building close relationships through recreational activities, outreaches in the city of Columbus, and shorter in-country trips designed to serve as a trial run for overseas outreach and to deepen their relationships with God and others.
This first month has been a time of adjustment, but these young adults are already beginning to experience growth. Reflecting on a recent prayer challenge in downtown Columbus, Elliot (Team Mediterranean Trek) shared, “The main objective is to talk to as many strangers as possible and hopefully have the opportunity to pray for them and listen to the situations they are going through. Something we discussed as a team during this time is how evident it is that people want to be heard, not just heard, but listened to. I’ve started to realize it’s not always about fixing people’s problems, but just listening and joining in their story and giving them a chance to be understood.”
After DTS, the REACH teams will transition to outreach on the field. Team Zambia will build on the work of previous REACH teams, living in a rural village and serving alongside Love’s Door staff. Love’s Door has worked for decades to bring holistic, empowering development to neglected neighborhoods in southern Zambia. The team of four will join their church planting movement, their work with orphans, and their discipleship of new believers.
Team Mediterranean Trek will be directed by a long-term RI worker family, and will travel to mountain villages and make contact with unreached peoples. They will carry solar-powered players with the good news, and will find creative ways to engage in the community through language acquisition and relationship-building. They will also serve through work projects.
Team Mediterranean will join RI’s long-term team as childcare providers and home education aids. They will spend time in language school, where they will work on building friendships with classmates and teachers. They may serve through teaching English, caring through hospitality and prayer walks, and supporting the long-term team and their families.
Team Himalayas will work alongside a local believer in connection with RI. They will trek to various communities to minister to local churches and believers. They may serve through teaching English, preaching, sharing their testimonies, or service projects.
Since its beginning in 1992, the REACH program has played a significant role in RI’s identity and work. It has allowed young adults to sow new seeds and to reap fruit from the work of those who have come before. We trust that this year will be no different. As Madeleine, a 2024-25 REACHer who returned to lead the Mediterranean Team, reflected, “This program has changed me so much in the past year, and I cannot wait to see how much our team learns and grows over these next nine months. Thank you all for your support, and we ask that you continue to pray for us as we create stronger relationships.”