I want to take a moment to boast in our Lord Jesus Christ. In May 2025, Sarah finished her indoor professional volleyball season with the San Diego Mojo, leaving her schedule completely open from June to December. As I mentioned in my last newsletter, after days of intentionally praying and asking the Lord, “How would you like to fill the rest of this year for Sarah?” she received a call from Hector Gutierrez, head coach of Texas Christian University Beach Volleyball. Amid the surprise, we knew quickly this was an answered prayer. The Lord had ordained for us to move to Fort Worth.
In all transparency, this move was a tough pill for me to swallow. We went from living a 20- second walk from the beach to what felt like a humid desert! All jokes aside, I felt like we had just found our groove in Oceanside. We were making disciples, we had baptized three young men, and then the Lord said, Leave! Sarah and I are used to a nomadic, sojourning lifestyle, but being uprooted is always painful—especially those first few months in an unfamiliar land where nobody knows you.
I wonder what Abraham must have felt like. Living in Ur, a land of familiarity, the Lord told him, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you” (Genesis 12:1). He was called to a place of total unfamiliarity. Yet, the command came with a blessing: “And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing” (Genesis 12:2).
What great assurance Abraham must have had to GO with God’s promise! We know that “God is not a man, so He does not lie. He is not human, so He does not change His mind. Has He ever spoken and failed to act? Has He ever promised and not carried it through?” (Numbers 23:19). Although our new land brings new challenges, battles, doubts, and failures, God’s promises stand firm. His promise to Abraham rings true for us today:
When we obey and go, God may not make us into a literal great nation, but we know we are a part of that GREAT NATION in Christ. He does not always make our name great, but Jesus Christ’s name is made great through us! Not only are we blessed, but we get to be a blessing to many others through Jesus. This is exactly what we are beginning to experience here in Texas.
He is so faithful.
Sarah’s Coaching Journey
With year one finished, I am incredibly thankful to the Lord and proud of Sarah for fully embracing her transition from player to COACH. It came with growing pains, but she has done a fabulous job with the team this year. Not only has she grown as a coach, but she also became a counselor to the team. Her office transformed into a safe space for the girls to cry, celebrate, and pray, as she faithfully interceded for them in the secret place. Taking the summer off, we continue praying for the returning team and the incoming girls—that they would experience a spiritual awakening and a fresh encounter with the Living God, and that we would be ready to disciple and share our hope and love in Jesus.
Building Community at TCU
Taken at House Church. From left to right: Brett, Steve & Kandi (Brett’s parents), Mitch & Sarah, Maddy, and Dani (indoor women’s volleyball team manager).
Speaking of volleyball, the Lord faithfully introduced us to Brett and Maddy Anema. Brett is the assistant indoor women’s volleyball coach and has an office just two doors down from Sarah. We quickly learned how much this Spirit-filled couple loves the Lord and the athletes at TCU. We also discovered they had been dreaming about leading a house church before we even met! Since then, we have been running together in faith, preparing for what God wants to do, and offering our homes to the Lord as places of prayer, worship, and discipleship. We love Brett and Maddy so much!
Recently, the Lord also brought a church into our lives that shares a similar mission for house churches and TCU. I believe there is immense potential for a Kingdom partnership in developing life-group discipleship houses all around the campus! More to come on this!
Ministry & Outreach
On the outreach side, the Lord opened a door for me to start a boxing program at Diamond Hills Community Center. I’ve had the privilege of coaching young men (ages 18-24) Monday through Thursday mornings, which has provided many opportunities to pray and share Jesus with them. Alongside Diamond Hills, I’m coaching at a Christian homeschool co-op called BALA Academy. There, I teach about 12 students the art of boxing, using it as a tool to teach about the Kingdom. I am also praying and knocking on doors to bring boxing fitness to TCU as a group class in the campus recreation center. I am excited to see what the Lord will do as I step more fully into my calling as a physical and spiritual trainer (1 Timothy 4:8).
If you’re wondering why I haven’t posted much recently on the Faith in Action blog, it’s because I’ve been busy writing for my last semester of seminary! I just finished my final course at Wesley Seminary in Indiana. I have my final capstone in August and will be graduating in December! I am very excited to have some free time this summer to continue writing and sharing about God’s grace and putting faith into action.
Looking Ahead to Costa Rica!
Finally, we are preparing for another CANOPI outreach trip to Costa Rica from August 1-9! We are thrilled to return to this beautiful country to share the gospel on the streets and pour into the harvest workers fighting the good fight there.
We would cherish your prayers as we prepare for this journey. Thank you so much for reading, following along with our story, and encouraging us as we step out in faith. We bless you in the Name of Jesus with peace, joy, and boldness to go forth as Ambassadors of Christ here on earth.
Love,
Mitch & Sarah
What a wonderful and specific overview of how the Lord has so faithfully honored y’all’s “faith & obedience” to leave the comfort of homeland and trust Him for new “open doors” in what some might call a “foreign land”; at least it was to you both! Like Abraham discovered, God honors those whose faith leads them to obey…then new doors begin opening. A vivid affirmation of Proverbs 16:9
So happy for you both; and can hardly wait for forthcoming episodes in your faith-journey with the King of kings…Jesus! He has just begun a new thing “for and with” you both in this new land of Texas! Welcome to your new home!