Where Australia and Kenya Meet

This summer marked a historic moment for CMF as we held a first-ever gathering in our 75-year history, bringing together around 175 missionaries and staff for an unforgettable week.

The objectives were to connect with each other, listen and learn from each other, and gather around our unified mission of creating dynamic Christ-centered communities that transform the world!

Every time you turned a corner, or stepped into the dining room, or onto the back porch, you would witness CMF missionaries and staff who had never talked to one another before, sharing with each other, sharing their experiences and passion for people to know Jesus, listening to each other.

Making New Connections

Eric Schlipf, the team leader for our campus ministry team in Brisbane, Australia, shared that the entire team left inspired, brimming with ideas and a renewed sense of purpose. One of the most significant connections made was between Eric and Joel Williams, a CMF missionary dedicated to equipping church leaders in Kenya to initiate Disciple Making Movements.

Joel’s impactful work over the past eight years has led to the establishment of more than 7,000 Discovery Bible Study (DBS) groups across Kenya. This simple yet powerful tool helps individuals explore life’s profound questions through Scripture. Through the efforts of Joel, his wife Rachel, and those they’ve trained, over 12,000 people have been discipled and baptized, and more than 100 churches have been planted. Remarkably, over 34,000 non-believers are regularly attending these groups and are actively being discipled. Additionally, they have launched 14 disciple-owned businesses, transforming communities and ensuring sustainable support for discipleship efforts.

Australia Beach Camp

This last weekend, our campus ministry team in Brisbane, Australia took over 30 people to Bribie Island, a beach 1.5 hours away, for their biannual retreat. Joining them as the main speaker was Joel Williams. He talked about how we can shape our lives towards something or someone, with his "someone" being the teacher Jesus. He and the campus ministry team encouraged the students to think about how the way they move through the world is actively shaping them towards something. Their hope and prayer is that the students on the retreat continue to reflect on which direction they are pointed, and that this leads to increased movement towards Jesus.

The weekend was a great time for laughter, for deep conversation, for intentional encouragement, and for a solidifying of the group’s communal identity. One of the students said, "beach camp gives you what you need." Teammate Cascade Sculley said that for each person she talked to, she found that to be true. “For some, it gave much needed rest from the stressors of Uni. For others, it gave time to share with someone honestly where they are in life. And I hope for all, it gave the opportunity to be reminded that it is good to point your life towards Jesus. I pray that this beach camp continues to catalyze transformation in the lives of our community.”

Celebrating Fellowship

Beach Camp beautifully illustrated the broader community we share in Christ. Joel shared his faith journey, forging connections with the students he encountered. Eric shared, “Joel’s talks were unbelievably relevant for our students; he communicated exactly what they needed.” Witnessing a teammate and new friend from Kenya connect deeply with the needs of students in Australia underscores the transformative power of our shared faith, a dynamic we affectionately refer to in CMF as "The Fellowship."