On March 22, 2026, Our Savior Lutheran Church in Centerville, Texas, joyfully sent out five newly trained evangelists to serve their community with renewed purpose and intentionality. Debbie and Jimmie Curry, Sandra Salters, Charles Leslie, and Susie Hill were SENT following four months of dedicated training through the Texas District.
Meeting consistently on Zoom, these evangelists were equipped under the guidance of Laura Sanders, Area B Lead Trainer. Throughout the training, they also gathered with their pastor, Rev. Keith Bowman, alongside other evangelists from across Area B. Together, they learned, encouraged one another, and were strengthened through prayer and shared experiences.
What makes this group especially encouraging is that they were already actively engaged in their community. Each quarter, they faithfully serve at the Centerville Farmers Market, grilling and giving away free hamburgers, hot dogs, and water as a tangible expression of Christ’s love. They also regularly visit a local nursing home, offering presence and care to residents.
Through the evangelist training, however, their approach has deepened. They have learned to focus not just on acts of service, but on intentional listening and engaging in meaningful spiritual conversations. With tools like Discovery Bible Study and an emphasis on identifying and walking alongside a “person of peace,” they are now better equipped to build relationships that lead to lasting spiritual impact.
As part of their training, each evangelist also developed a personalized Evangelist Ministry Plan. These plans prayerfully consider how to expand their reach beyond their current efforts, seeking new opportunities to engage their neighbors and communities. With faith and expectation, they are asking God to bless these efforts and bring about new faith communities right where they live.
Rev. Keith Bowman shared his vision of seeing an evangelist in every community throughout Leon County, Texas—a vision that is already beginning to take shape through efforts like these.
In a touching moment of gratitude, the new evangelists presented their trainer, Laura Sanders, with a handcrafted “GRACE” woodcut puzzle, purchased from the very Farmers Market where they serve. The gift reflected both their appreciation and the deep connection between their training and their mission field.
As these five evangelists go out, they carry not only new skills but a strengthened commitment to listen, love, and share the hope of Christ in everyday conversations. Their sending marks not an ending, but a beginning—of deeper relationships, Spirit-led encounters, and a growing Gospel presence across Leon County, Texas.
Prayer Requests:
- Thanksgiving for the faithful service and dedication of these five evangelists
- For continued boldness, wisdom, and compassion as they engage in spiritual conversations
- That God would lead them to persons of peace and open doors for Discovery Bible Studies
- For the Evangelist Ministry Plans, that God would bless and multiply their efforts into new faith communities
- For Rev. Bowman’s vision—that every community in Leon County would have a Gospel witness
- For ongoing unity and encouragement among evangelists across Area B
Laura Sanders
Texas District Evangelists Training Ministry
Evangelist Development Ministry Support Specialist
Lead Evangelist Trainer – Area B