| Which came first: teams or the relationships? For years, Manna has said that Teams are the lifeblood that keep us moving forward. I don’t disagree—but I find myself asking, “Which came first: the chicken or the egg?”To have a Team is to have a relationship. So, is it Teams that are the lifeblood… or is it the relationships?Either way, it’s the relationships through Teams that have been our lifeblood—fueling partnership, connection, encouragement, and learning over the years.As the Director of Teams, I’m deeply encouraged by another successful summer. From beautifying spaces and building meaningful connections, to providing opportunities for local ministries and deepening the bond between Teams and Manna—it has been a powerful reminder of what God can do through partnership.On behalf of all of us at Manna, thank you for believing in what the Lord is doing and for choosing to partner with us. We are grateful for you! – Jeff Reese |
| Why teams are important to the local vision from a local leader standpoint:Dominican Republic This summer has been phenomenal as our teams came alongside local leadership to further their Kingdom efforts. If you joined us on a trip this year—thank you for submitting yourselves to the vision of our local leaders, for being a living sacrifice in their service, and for encouraging them in their ongoing work!One of the greatest joys we celebrated was four baptisms at the end of the summer—a beautiful culmination of the intentionality poured into each week by you and the leaders you served alongside. Thank you for not being “just” a short-term team, but for living as partners in our long-term mission and in the gospel. Your service is bearing fruit, and we are grateful.We are praying that the same intentionality you lived out here will continue to grow and flourish in your daily lives back home.With gratitude, – Jeff & Vicki Rogers Costa Rica For the second consecutive year, Ronald Mena and our partners in Costa Rica have welcomed a team from Tennessee—and what a gift it has been! This trip was truly a shot in the arm for Ronald and those he serves. To come alongside someone in their mission, to love the people they love, and to encourage those they encourage is such a beautiful picture of partnership. We are thrilled to see teams continue to join in the work in Costa Rica and look forward to even more opportunities ahead. ¡Pura Vida! Cookeville, TN As we hosted our very first team in Cookeville, we are thrilled to say it was an incredible success! It was such a blessing to serve in our own community alongside amazing local partners. Our team worked on various projects with partnering schools, helping beautify their campuses just in time for the new school year. In the evenings, we held a three-night VBS for children while also creating space for adults to participate in a three-night ESL class. Overall, the week was an amazing success, and we are excited to continue hosting more teams in Cookeville in the future! |
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