Trust

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Before leaving Japan, I was often asked what I would be doing when I returned to the US. My answer was usually something about visiting supporting churches and trusting God to guide me to the next right thing. When I returned to the US in April, I was often asked what I would be doing next. My answer was usually, “God has guided and provided in the past, so I am trusting him to do so again!”

I am grateful to announce that I have been asked to join the NAB international missions team as the mobilization director. God has truly provided in his way and his timing. He has shown me the way I should go, and I am entrusting my life to him.

If you would like to read the official announcement and a little more about what the role entails, please visit nabconference.org/2025/07/global-mobilization.

My new role begins on September 1. Until the end of the year, I will have the dual responsibility of this new role and home assignment duties of visiting my supporting churches. God has provided at just the right time. The new role is a support-based role, so I will be asking my supporting churches to continue supporting me if you are able. Thank you for praying with me as I continue raising support and begin this new role.

I have had the privilege of sharing at some of my supporting churches over the past three months. It has been a joy to reconnect with many of you, to share stories and laughs and tears. How grateful I am for the faithfulness of God’s church in supporting me in Japan over the past 25 years!

In May, I mostly traveled around North and South Dakota to visit churches. However, I did get to go to Edmonton, Alberta to participate in NAB’s Fit Assessment for those seeking to plant or revitalize churches or to become missionaries. What an amazing, prayer-guided process.

While I was there, I was able to see some former missionary friends and catch up on life. There is a special bond we have when we have adventured together for Jesus in another country. Yuri was fresh off the plane from her quick return trip to Japan to finalize the legal paperwork. Praise God for his provision through the entire legal process.

Thanks to my scheduled church visits in June and The Gathering in July, I was able to visit both the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans. My second day on the East Coast tour, I bought a national park pass and have been putting it to good use as I travel. I have hundreds of pictures of drives and hikes through various parks if anyone is interested!

While I have thoroughly enjoyed all the parks I have visited so far, well, except for the extreme heat at Arches National Park in Utah, one visit that was special for me was at Crater Lake National Park. There is a picture of my grandmother sitting on a wall by the lake on the day she and my grandpa got engaged. I had fun reminiscing about my grandparents while I explored.

Mid-July every three years, NAB youth from around the US and Canda converge on Southern California for The Gathering. The students spend the mornings and early afternoons doing service projects around Orange County, specifically in Orange and Anaheim. Late afternoons are for free time, and then the evenings are filled with worship, teaching, and small group time. I was so encouraged by the students and their willingness to joyfully work hard. I had the privilege of visiting most of the projects and heard stories from the organizers of these amazing youth who did more than was expected, and who even randomly broke out into song and dance! Youth pastors and leaders and parents, the hard work you do is evident in the young people you are raising. Jesus’s love and joy was shining brightly in California this July.

Church visits this quarter:

Shan Reed