I have known about the work God was doing through CCM for many years, have heard dozens of reports from trips and teams during that time, and have known Wallace Nix personally for a while now.  I have never experienced it myself, however, until this past September. I had an opportunity to lead a team of 18 from First Baptist Gowensville in Landrum, SC to Nicaragua to work with CCM for a week. While there, our team was joined by 3 others from a couple of different churches. What a powerful week we had!

The trip was technically a feeding trip, but it turned out to be so much more. In just one week we packed in what felt like a year's worth of ministry! We went from door to door evangelism, to feeding the hungry, to weddings, to baptism, to worship services, and that was just on Wednesday!

We found there to be a hunger, not only for the physical food we had to offer, but also the bread of life. No less than 40 people prayed to receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, and countless others heard about the life changing truth of the Gospel as seeds were planted for a future harvest. Often
times when the Gospel is shared and decisions are made, we are uncertain about the prospects of ongoing discipleship. Not so with CCM. We were thrilled to hear that the local pastors and CCM staff follow up with discipleship in the barrios we visited.  We trust God will mature these new believers through the continued presence of His servants.

Our team didn't know quite what to expect from this trip, but I can honestly say it was a life changer for them. As the week was ending, and Tropical Storm Matthew was rolling through Nicaragua, threatening to postpone our return home, I firmly believe our team would have been ready for a few more days of ministry. We pray that our trip to Nicaragua will just be the beginning. For the glory of God and the making of disciples of all nations, we pray for a long partnership with Chosen Children Ministries.

~ Josh Phillips, Associate Pastor & Team Leader

In addition to our time of Bible teaching, we were able to distribute over 220 hygiene bags along with dozens of door to door visits.  We also built a house for a local church member, hosted a community meal, shared the Gospel with, taught four days of VBS, conducted four days of discipleship training, and offered alcohol and drug addiction counseling. 

During our week of ministry, we were blessed to see 7 adults pray to receive Christ, and to minister to over 65 children at VBS and over 35 adults in discipleship training. 

One of the great things of the trip was how God coordinated the right people and right message for the right time.  For example, a couple of our girls visited a house and found a man new to faith.  He stated he wanted to become a better Christian but struggled with addiction.  Both girls visiting were counselors that specialized in dealing with addiction.  They sat up a day session in which people who had addiction problems could come and get a little help to encourage them to start the road to recovery. 

Also, on the day the discipleship team was teaching about using your gifts for the church and forgiving those in the church, a man showed up who used to lead worship for a church but left because of some disappointment.  What he heard was he needed to forgive the situation and be using his gifts for the church. 

It was a blessing to minister in Nicaragua!

~ Lance Stack, Minister of Single Adults & Team Leader

What a wonderful, God-filled week we had in Nicaragua!! God never ceases to amaze us with the opportunities He allows our team to be a part of while we are there!

We ministered in El Chague in the Leon area, worked in the new community of Flags, worked in Las Torres and visited the precious children in Juigalpa.

We were able to hold church services in El Chague and Flags and Vacation Bible Schools were taught in both of these communities using CCM materials.  A "True Love Waits" session was presented for teenage girls and we had both men and women's Bible studies each day.

Our team provided over 1,000 pounds of beans, rice and sugar to hungry families in both communities as well as providing for the pastors and their families.  Corn, squash, watermelon and cantaloupe seeds were given to Pastor Carlos in El Chague and to Pedro for use in Flags.  Salvation Dolls were used to present the Gospel  to 120 children.

Our most humbling experience was building plastic homes in Flags.  One was built for an older lady who was actually going from place to place every night staying with whoever would let her stay. 

As always, one of our highlights each year is our visit to the orphanage.  We held a Vacation Bible School class there and of course, invited the ice cream man to arrive at the appointed time.  Rice and beans were given to Pastor Luder at Las Torres and at the orphanage.  We left cases of school supplies with the principal at Las Torres.

It is always an honor and a pleasure to see what God is doing in Nicaragua through CCM.  We are blessed to be a part of God's ministry.

~ Bill Whitfield - Team Leader

The Nicaragua Missions Team from Calvary Baptist Church of Fulton, New York would like to thank the many partners who supported them with financial assistance and prayer. So many local businesses, friends, family and the congregation at CBC took on the challenge to help us help the people of Nicaragua. The trip was a complete success as the group visited two barrios outside of Managua. The twelve members built 2 homes, repaired 8 homes and constructed a shelter over a community well. In addition the team distributed food to 200 families along with medical supplies, clothing, school supplies, silly bands and gave out candy to many children. A vacation Bible school program was performed along with a short marriage seminar and two days of preaching and door to door evangelism. Our theme for this trip was James 2:20 "Faith Alive." Although we were way outside of our comfort zone we knew God was always in control and we experienced and accomplished things only by faith.

This trip has no doubt changed the lives of the twelve that answered the call to go and we all look forward to many more opportunities and want to thank our supporters and the Lord Jesus Christ for a mission accomplished and safe return. God has already blessed the twelve and may God bless you all. 

~ Dave O'Bryan -  Team Leader

This mission trip was special. We would have to endure rain, mud, and heat. The bus carrying us pulled off the main road to a side road. We could go no further in the bus because of the mud. Many church members were waiting for us at the Emmanuel Church and we needed to make a decision. Our Nicaraguan leader (Guillermo Morales) asked if we wanted to come back at a better time or walk in the mud for about a quarter of a mile to the church. In one accord the team started walking in the rain and mud to the church. When we arrived the church was overflowing with people and the joy of the Lord hit the place when the Nicaraguans saw us coming. Souls were saved that night! For two days we walked in mud and rain to present the gospel of Jesus and the ladies on our team went door to door witnessing to people about Jesus in ankle deep mud. Again more souls were saved.

Meanwhile the men were working in the rain and mud on a new home for Associate Pastor Francisco. This team had come to Nicaragua with fire in their hearts to do the work. It took two days, but the team completed a new home with shower and outhouse for the pastor. I was so proud of Pastor Mike, Jamie, Pastor D, Edgar, Reggie, and Joseph for the extra work poured into this project. To God be the glory!

Next in the Xiola Barrio, the ladies on the team (Diane, Missy, Brooke, Alexandra, and Sue) did a program for the school children and the men did a soccer match with the young men. Again the Lord was faithful in giving us many souls for our labor. In the Flags barrio, which is a new work, we found that the people living here are poor and hungry with very little housing. Our team went right to work providing 147 bags of groceries, repairing three homes and providing 300 sweet rolls for the children. The Gospel was shared and souls were saved.

The muddy road, the rain, the heat were difficult, but in the end 137 souls were saved. Praise Jesus! Special thanks to all who provided the money for the projects and food. We are eternally grateful!

~ Dave Walton - Team Leader