Sending Church: Fellowship Baptist Church—Marshalltown, Iowa

One day Jennifer ran across an old letter describing her parents’ short-term mission work in the Philippines. She thought about how interesting it would be if God ever led her to the Philippines. When Jennifer’s parents could not return to that country, they prayed: “God, please put our children into full-time ministry.” It was a prayer God delighted to answer.

It wasn’t hard for Jennifer to love ministry. From Jennifer’s childhood, her parents and church encouraged her to serve, and they made it feel like a joy instead of a burden. She loved learning about missionaries, finding their countries on a map, and discovering ways she could support their work. She gladly joined her youth group on the many mission trips they took across the US.

In 2024, Jennifer received a request that intrigued her: Would she serve for six weeks in the Philippines to help with a missionary-led orphanage? The opportunity fit her perfectly. Jennifer had grown up helping her parents raise dozens of foster children. She even trained alongside them, picking up valuable understanding of trauma care. Jennifer herself is of Filipino descent through her father. Her parents were careful to maintain his cultural traditions within the family. 

Jennifer fell in love with the orphanage ministry and afterward struggled to readjust to life the US. She truly left her heart in the Philippines. Through a missionary’s message, Jennifer sensed God leading her to go back. In 2025 she made a six-month trip that confirmed He wanted her there full-time. 

Once her support is raised, Jennifer will help in the children’s daily care and train Filipinos in trauma care. The city of Manaoag, where the orphanage is located, is a Catholic pilgrimage city. Jennifer sees great opportunities within her church to share the gospel with her community. She’ll also help the church’s music ministry by teaching piano, and she’ll assist with children’s Bible clubs. The Lord answered her parents’ prayer powerfully and also built in Jennifer a deep joy in serving as she becomes a career missionary.