The God of Wonders | A Reflection on 2025

Sitting by the glow of the Christmas tree, I am filled with joy as I reflect on all that God has done through 28:19 Ministries in 2025. In 2024, God moved in ways that felt impossible, moments that left us standing in awe and wonder. We took steps that required bold faith and courageous obedience.

This year felt different. Instead of dramatic leaps of blind faith, God met us in the ordinary, one person, one need, one heart at a time. So many times, we showed up feeling ill-equipped, only to discover that the God of Wonders had already gone before us. He had provided exactly what we needed! 

A Table Where the Nations Gather

This fall, we celebrated two years of our English Learning Community (ELC). Every Wednesday night, volunteers sit around tables with learners who are new to the English language. Together we practice vocabulary, grammar, and everyday conversation. We end each class by reading a Bible story.

The learners are serious about learning, but the room is always filled with joy and laughter. Many learners are deeply moved that someone would take the time to teach them, and through that kindness, they experience the genuine love of God.

When we first launched ELC, God spoke to me and said, “28:19 Ministries will be able to reach the nations by sitting at a table in Henrico, Virginia.” I believed Him, and that promise gave us the courage to begin. This year, I’ve been reminded of the depth of that promise as I’ve sat across the table, coffee in hand, listening to Jose from Venezuela share how his life has been completely transformed by Jesus. Just this past Sunday, Jose was baptized.

What began as an English class has become family. So much so that we now gather outside of class for Bible study affectionately called Familia Bible Study. Tears fill my eyes as I think about William and Diana from Colombia, their newfound faith in Jesus, and the sweet time we enjoy gathered around their kitchen table, reading God’s Word with other students from class. The God of Wonders invited us to the table, and He has done abundantly more than we ever imagined! 

This year, we were also able to provide school supplies for the children of our ELC families. Imagine facing a back-to-school supply list when you can’t speak English. It was a blessing to equip each child with everything they needed to start the school year.

Faith Taking Root in Belize

In August, The Gathering, our church plant in Belize, celebrated two years under the leadership of Pastor Fredrico Lord. This year marked powerful milestones: baptisms, the establishment of a leadership team, and deep growth through discipleship.

Four young women were baptized in March, and leaders were identified and equipped to lead like Jesus. The testimonies coming out of The Gathering are beautiful reminders of God’s refining work.

“God is refining me. Pastor Lord’s sermons help me make decisions in my everyday life. I’m growing in knowing the Word of God.”

 “We feel comfortable asking for prayer. We are not judged. It’s a blessing every Sunday.”

“This is where God wants us to be. He is everything we need. Put God first in every area of your life.”

This year, in addition to meeting weekly, The Gathering began livestreaming services, expanding access to community and discipleship. They have also been very active in meeting physical needs in their community through their grocery outreach, where members donate grocery items and visit those in need.  

Discipling the Next Generation

In late 2024, a Sunday School outreach program was established through The Gathering called Gathering Disciples.  Each week children from around the village are picked up from their home to come together to learn about Jesus.  About 30 children enjoy fun worship, engaging Bible stories, and a snack.  Parents continue to share how their children are learning to pray, read Scripture, and look forward to church each week. Gathering Disciples is an answer to our prayers for ongoing discipleship.

In January 2025, 28:19 Ministries was awarded the Watson Missions Grant through the Dover Baptist Association. This grant has helped to sustain Gathering Disciples with funding for weekly transportation, snacks, and curriculum supplies. 

Witnessing God Move 

In March, we joined believers from around the world for Gather25. Gather25 was a 25 hour livestream where the global church gathered for the first time in history! It was surreal to stand in worship with our church family in Belize, hear testimonies of global revival, and witness the first baptisms of The Gathering!

Each year, our first endeavor is forming a team to serve in Belize for the Mission Experience. This year, 25 people committed to serve with us on our Mission Experience team. Although the Mission Experience is in July, our team meets throughout the first half of the year, fundraising, preparing, and serving alongside one another. By July, our team was unified, spiritually equipped, and ready to serve far beyond themselves. Throughout the Mission Experience, I was consistently impressed by the ways our team glorified God. At every opportunity, they stopped to pray and seek His will above all else.

Every morning, we welcomed more than 100 kids to our Bible Adventure camp, which was themed, “Once Upon a Time,” inviting kids to discover God’s everlasting kingdom. Throughout the week, the kids learned that God is our King, Shepherd, Defender, and Provider. There was endless joy and excitement as the kids explored the truths of God’s kingdom through worship, crafts, and games.

In the afternoon, the boys and men from the team hosted a camp for about 50 young men. Together, they studied the life of Daniel and what it means to live as a man of God in a culture that begs you to be anything else. At the same time, the young ladies on our team hosted a teen girls camp for about 50 young girls. They heard testimonies of the transformative power of a life with God and how each one of them is, “Made for More.”  Nearby, women from the team hosted our fourth annual women’s conference for 50 women in the village. The women studied moments from throughout Jesus’ ministry that highlighted the meaning of faith, learning what it means to truly follow Jesus.

At the end of the Mission Experience, we invited more than 200 people from all over to gather under a tent for the Night of Worship. With a full moon rising to one side and the tent filled with worship on the other side, the Night of Worship felt like a glimpse of Heaven. For a few hours, nothing else mattered except offering worship to the King of Kings, and His presence was undeniable – bringing healing, deliverance, and salvation.

Grace Girls: A Work of Multiplication 

This summer, God did something very unexpected. When several former team members  were not able to say yes to the Mission Experience, God turned their availability into an amazing opportunity!  We had been longing for a mission-focused discipleship program here at home, and God used these girls to answer that prayer!

From that small group of girls, Grace Girls began! Then, each of those girls invited a friend to do a Bible Study with us. Suddenly, there were 19 Grace Girls. Then, the multiplication continued. Now, we have 31 girls joining us for our online Bible study group, AKA Grace Girls.

Grace Girls has quickly become a precious community of women, searching for connection with people and God’s Word. Through Grace Girls, women are experiencing God in a fresh, new way.  We have heard so many beautiful testimonies of how God is moving in the lives of these women. We are in awe of this sweet surprise of Grace Girls! Because of what started in Grace Girls, we are excited to announce that on February 21, 2026, 28:19 Ministries will host the first ever Grace Girls Conference in Richmond at River Road United Methodist Church.

Light Breaks Through 

In December, we returned to Belize to celebrate Christmas with the village. Our small team of five was welcomed by all 300 children and 23 teachers at St. Matthew’s Anglican School through a special welcome ceremony complete with the kindest words, gifts, and special performances. We are so thankful to be part of St. Matthew’s family.

After their grand welcome, we set up the church on campus for a special Christmas surprise. Class by class, each student was invited to take their school picture and receive a special Christmas bag filled with rice, beans, hygiene items, and small gifts. Like our summer programs, this gift was made possible by so many of you who purchased items from our Amazon wishlist or made financial contributions to 28:19 Ministries. Because of your generosity, we were able to gift each teacher with teaching supplies too!

Honestly, if I could invite you into any moment from this year, I wish I could show you the faces of the students as they unpacked their Christmas bags. They squealed with joy at the soap and toothpaste they received, and immediately opened their bubbles for everyone to enjoy. The little boys couldn’t wait to show their beans and rice to their moms. 

Hours after her class had visited us, one little girl came over to us during her lunch break. With a group of eager friends in tow, the little girl handed us something from her Christmas bag, a bright red card we had given each child. “Will you read this for me?” She politely asked. On the back of the card, we had written the true story of Christmas. The God who came to rescue us, be our best friend, and offer us true peace. On the front of the card, it said, “Good News for All People.” 

As we read the card to the little girl and her friends on the steps of the church, it struck me how simple of a moment it was. We spend so many months planning for the perfect opportunity to share the Gospel with others. We host camps and catch flights just for this moment, just for this question. 

Will you read it to me?

Will you tell me?

Will you share the Good News with me?

The best part is, in her question, all of the little girls’ friends got to hear the answer.

I remembered this moment only a few nights later at our Candlelight Christmas Service. For the second year, we worked alongside the village council to host a beautiful Christmas event in collaboration with their village tree lighting. The entire community was invited and people came from miles away to join us. 

At the end of the night, we sang Silent Night, as each person turned to light someone else’s candle one by one. Slowly, the darkness was replaced by light, and the basketball court we stood on was glowing from all of our candles.

In the same way, God calls each of us to be the light, bringing the Good News of Jesus into the darkest places, sharing His love with people one at a time.

Making His Wonders Known Together

2025 was filled with wonder! I can hardly believe all that God has done through 28:19 Ministries, but I can’t help but marvel at the simpler moments, huddled around a kitchen table in a Spanish-speaking Bible study, joining a video call with the Grace Girls, praying over a chair before the Night of Worship, reading a Christmas card to giggling girls. For me, it’s in these simple moments that the God of Wonders reveals Himself.

As you read these stories, we invite you to pause and ask where God is inviting you to join Him. The God of Wonders is still at work, meeting people in ordinary moments and drawing hearts to himself one at a time.

I want to invite you to consider where God is revealing Himself to you – in the incredible moments and in the simple ones, remembering the God of Wonders is still at work.

Finally, I am so thankful for all of the support 28:19 Ministries has received in 2025. I am thankful for every volunteer, donor, Legacy Partner, and church partner that makes our ministry possible. Thank you for walking with us, praying with us, giving with open hands, and trusting alongside us. Together, we will continue to make His wonders known!

Amy Gordon, Founder and President of 28:19 Ministries