Photo Courtesy of Jonathan Mercill
A small group from Grove Church, Ky., joined nearly 20 volunteers from across North America for a two-week mission trip to Costa Rica, where they led revival meetings, partnered with local pastors, and participated in community outreach.
Organized through the international ministry ShareHim, the effort brought together church members from Kentucky, Canada, and New Mexico to lead evangelistic meetings in 15 local congregations across the Guanacaste region. Participants preached nightly revival messages, connected with residents, and worked alongside Costa Rican pastors to encourage spiritual growth in their communities.
For Thomas Martin, who has used a wheelchair his whole life, the opportunity was an answer to prayer.
“Usually going on a mission trip would be really hard or out of the question,” said Martin. “But, this time God opened the doors. My family and friends came to help me, and others covered most of the costs. I learned that everything is possible with God.”
Brenda Morris, who stepped in only three weeks before departure when another church member fell ill, served as a caregiver and mentor to young participants. She described the trip as life-changing and a lesson in stepping out of her comfort zone. One of her most memorable moments for her came from watching a shy 21-year-old woman in the group, who had never been out of the country, faithfully prepare and deliver her sermons despite her fears.
“It was such a blessing to see people grow in the Lord.” said Morris. “I was excited to see the young people take the vision. Even though they were scared to preach, they caught on that even if one person came to Jesus, it would be worth it.”
Team members said the local pastors’ enthusiasm for the meetings was contagious. Services often drew first-time visitors, and several baptisms followed the end of the series. Beyond the services, volunteers formed lasting bonds with residents and with each other, even across language barriers. Both Martin and Morris emphasized that the mission’s impact went both ways.
“I want people to remember the amazing things God can do for us if we surrender our lives to Him,” said Martin. “Before, I would read mission stories and think, ‘Oh, yeah, everything’s possible with God, but I’m in a wheelchair, so I probably won’t actually do something like that.’ And then, after the mission trip it’s like, wow! God could actually take me here or take me there or help me preach or do all kinds of stuff that are impossible for me.”
Kentucky-Tennessee | October 2025
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