“They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word…” — John 17:16-20, ESV
It Only Takes One
In the quiet stillness of Gethsemane, Jesus lifted His eyes to heaven and prayed not only for His disciples, but for all who would one day respond to His call. In this sacred moment, on the brink of betrayal and crucifixion, He laid the foundation for a mission that would echo throughout the ages: “As you are going, make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19, literal translation).
This commission—simple, direct, and deeply personal—still resonates today. While few may be called to physically “Go!”, all believers are called to participate in sending. Every disciple has a role: whether stepping onto a plane or onto their knees in prayer, whether giving of time, resources, or encouragement. The Greek word used by Jesus, ἀποστέλλω, speaks of sending, with divine purpose, messengers of the Gospel. And in every generation, God raises up those who are called and those who will send them.
For more than 33 years, Spiritual Orphans Network (SON) has lived out this divine mandate. What began as a simple desire to connect spiritually-isolated people with the global family of Christ has blossomed into a dynamic mission that spans continents and cultures. Tens of thousands of lives have been touched—sometimes in small, quiet ways, and other times in dramatic, life-altering encounters. Yet every transformation begins with just one.
One Moment. One Call. One Soul.
It only takes one person to say “yes” to a short-term mission trip—and it forever changes not just their life, but the lives of those they encounter. It only takes one SON English Bible Camp (EBC) or Teen Life & Adventure Retreat to awaken a camper to the joy of knowing they are loved by a Father in Heaven. One summer can sow seeds of faith in a community where access to spiritual truth has been denied for generations.
A Summer of Sending, Serving, and Spiritual Impact
This summer was no different.
Teams from SON engaged in the Gospel with Latvians, Albanians, Slovaks, Germans, Ukrainians, and Roma peoples, sharing the Gospel through camps, conversations, and countless Spirit-led connections. Though they have since returned home, the impact is still unfolding. Seeds planted in faith are already bearing fruit—seen in new friendships, deepened faith, and testimonies that ripple through churches, homes, and communities around the world.
Latvia class trust exercise
2025 Albania English Bible Camp class
Enthusiastic campers at Albania Camp opening ceremony
As stories from the field are shared at upcoming convocations and gatherings, one theme rings true: mission doesn’t end when the plane lands. The call to make disciples continues in our homes, churches, and neighborhoods. Every testimony is a reminder of how God moves—through the willing hearts of those who go, and the faithful support by those who send.
It is a sacred privilege to be commissioned—to serve as the hands, feet, and voices of the Gospel in places where God’s love has long been suppressed.
Slovakia International Teen Retreat
Slovakia Teen Retreat campfire
Many of the regions SON reaches are still healing from the wounds of their communist past, where scientific atheism replaced spiritual formation and generational faith was uprooted. Today, a new generation is seeking something more—truth, purpose, identity—and through SON, they are discovering they are beloved children of God.
This is why we continue.
This is why we send.
This is why we go.
God is Still at Work!
God is still at work—in us, among us, and through us. Through the ministry of SON, spiritual orphans are being connected to the global family of Christ, and the Gospel is reaching hearts that might otherwise remain untouched.
Thank you — for every prayer, every gift, every “yes” offered in faith. Because it truly only takes ONE.
TO GOD BE THE GLORY!
