This has been an extraordinarily fruitful season for Doulos Partners—not only in the opportunities God has given us to serve alongside ministry partners around the world, but in the reminders that the story doesn’t end when a trip is over. Through relationships formed, lives impacted, and disciples empowered to make disciples, the work of God—and the story of Doulos—continues long after we leave the field.
Over the past several months, our team has had the privilege of serving alongside ministry partners such as e3 Partners, BigLife, DOOR International, and New Generations throughout Central and South America and Africa. Together, we have shared the gospel, strengthened local churches, encouraged leaders, and explored opportunities to expand Kingdom impact in places where God is opening doors for multiplication.
What encourages us most, however, is not simply what happens while we are there. It is seeing how the story continues after we leave.
Recently, we received a powerful reminder of that truth from Colombia.
Jeff, a longtime leader with e3 Partners, was serving with an expedition team in Cali, Colombia.
As he stood in the hotel lobby preparing to send teams out to local church ministry sites, something caught his eye.
A young Colombian man was wearing a Doulos Partners hat.
Out of curiosity, Jeff asked him about it.
The young man immediately smiled and shared his story:
“I met a North American missionary named David Johnson. He started this ministry, and he gave me his very own hat! He signed this hat for me. He told me the story about the demon- possessed man whom Jesus healed, and the demons were cast into the pigs. Jesus saved that man, and the world is still talking about this man today because he became a Doulos for Jesus from the day he was set free.”
The young man’s name was Ian, a translator serving alongside Jeff’s team in Cali.
As a leader with e3 Partners, Jeff was already familiar with Doulos Partners’ recent ministry trip to Barranquilla. In fact, he had originally been scheduled to lead the trip when it was planned for January. After the trip was rescheduled to May, another e3 leader accompanied the team. That’s why seeing Ian in Cali weeks later—and hearing firsthand how his time with David and his connection to the Doulos Partners team in Barranquilla had left such a lasting impression—was such an encouragement.
During Doulos Partners’ time in Barranquilla, David and Ian spent time together sharing the gospel, serving alongside local believers, and talking about what it means to be a servant of Christ. Before returning home, David gave Ian his personal Doulos hat. Ian then asked David to sign the inside brim—a simple request that revealed just how meaningful their time together had become.
Now, weeks later and in a completely different city, Jeff found Ian still wearing that hat and still talking about the gospel message David had shared with him.
The story became even more encouraging when Jeff saw Ian continuing to serve as a translator for ministry teams working throughout Colombia, helping local churches reach people with the gospel and make disciples.
When Jeff shared the story with us, he wrote:
“I was very encouraged to be a witness of fruit that lasts because of the partnerships we are fortunate to participate in with Doulos and e3 Colombia. Thank you so much for coming to Colombia to work with us to reach the lost, make disciples, and strengthen and multiply the churches of Colombia. The work is continuing this week in Cali as Ian is serving as a translator on a new team of North Americans working alongside an equipped Colombian church that is ready to harvest new believers into new expressions of the church in Cali. Praise God for fruit that lasts!”
Moments like this remind us why we go.
Mission trips are not simply about a week of ministry. They are about investing in people, strengthening
local churches, and trusting God to continue His work long after we have gone home.
Sometimes the Lord graciously allows us to see a glimpse of that ongoing work.
This was one of those moments.
The story didn’t end in Barranquilla.
It continued in Cali.
And by God’s grace, it will continue through every life that is touched by the gospel, every disciple who makes disciples, and every partnership committed to advancing the Kingdom of God.
Thank you for praying, giving, and partnering with us. Your investment is helping create fruit that lasts far beyond a single trip, a single conversation, or a single city.
Together, we are seeing lives transformed and disciples multiplied for the glory of God.
Until All Have Heard,
The Doulos Partners Team
