Author: Bridget Barrett, GFMA Staff
The Wears Family
David and Michelle Wears and their four children have been back in the states since May because of the ongoing restrictions in Portugal during coronavirus. David said they have to return to America every five years because of their status in Portugal, so it seemed like the right time to head home. While they’re here, the Wears have several important goals in addition to catching up with supporting churches, family and friends. One of their goals is to raise their monthly support as they plan to move to a more expensive neighboring city to plant a church.
The Wears have been living in Montijo since they arrived in Portugal in 2018. That city has a church established by fellow Global Faith missionaries, David and Sarah Booth. It’s vital for the Wears to move to nearby Alcochete as they hope to plant an evangelical church there. David said there’s about 18,000 people living in Alcochete, but the two churches there are Roman Catholic and Jehovah’s Witness. David and Michelle want to move into that community to make connections and relationships as they continue language study. They hope to start small Bible studies that will grow and eventually lead to the establishing of a church in this suburb of Lisbon. To do this they need to raise an additional $1500 in monthly support. The Wears said the average cost of housing is double that of Montijo.
Another important goal for the Wears is finding an insulin pump for their daughter Karis. An auto-immune disorder has caused Karis to be insulin-dependent, and a pump is the best resource for her. The Wears need prayer as they seek advice about this and try to find an insulin pump that will work in Portugal.
As we consider the Wears' goals today, it’s important to look back at where they’ve been and how God led them to Portugal. When David and Michelle married in 2004, they knew they wanted to serve the Lord. Michelle remembers God changing her and helping her overcome her shyness during college as she was convicted to love and serve people. “I knew it was from God. He was just giving me a desire to help people and to witness to others,” Michelle said. However, taking that step to move to Portugal was terrifying even though she knew it was God's will. She was afraid of leaving her family and her home. “The will of God can have a difficult side to it,” she said.
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David and Michelle pictured with the Alencars. They hope to plant a church together in Alcochete.
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Alcochete, Portugal
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"Missionaries are immigrants..."
For David, the process of becoming a missionary caused him to reflect on immigration. “I wish there was a greater understanding that missionaries are immigrants, and that immigration can be a good thing,” David said. “Cultures are tough to figure out and to adapt to. You have to put yourself in uncomfortable situations trying to build a friendship while also hoping to have a genuine opportunity to share the gospel,” he said. David is still getting used to the greeting kisses in Portugal and the lack of personal space when communicating with friends. Michelle also said that adapting to the culture can be a humbling experience. It’s difficult to go into a store and have trouble buying shampoo because of the language barrier. But the Wears know God is faithful and is helping them "clothe themselves with humility" (1 Peter 5:5) as they adapt.
Pray for the Wears that God will supply their need of additional support and the insulin pump for Karis. And that God would bless them as they try to settle in Alcochete and master Portuguese when they return to Portugal in January. To learn more about the Wears and their ministry, visit their website.
Global Faith
Mission Agency
gowallapin P.O. Box 3326
Chattanooga, TN 37404
Envelope office@globalfaith.net
Alternate Phone 423.702.5811
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