News Articles by Jesse LyauteyBaptist Press

Side by side Amy Hutchison (right) works alongside her daughter, Danielle, to minister to children in a school near Ambato, Ecuador. The Hutchisons, who attend Far Hills Community Church in Dayton, Ohio, recently participated in the first International World Changers Family Project. Photo by Kristen Nicole Sayres

AMBATO, Ecuador (BP)--Tommy Hutchison, 17, admits he sometimes goes on youth mission trips to get away from his family.
      Tommy didn't think he’d ever go on an international mission trip with his family. But that's exactly what happened recently, thanks to International World Changers (IWC), a Southern Baptist program that mobilizes teens and college students for mission projects around the world.
      In July, Tommy and his family -- parents Amy and Thomas “Hutch” Hutchison and two younger siblings, 15-year-old Joel and 12-year-old Danielle -- participated in the first IWC Family Project in rural Ambato, Ecuador. The Hutchisons, who attend Far Hills Community Church in Dayton, Ohio, were one of 12 families from five states who participated in the project.

What about me? A young Quichua boy looks on as his father receives a “salvation bracelet” from a volunteer with the International World Changers Family Project in Ecuador. The bracelets, which illustrate the plan of salvation through colored beads, were one of many ways parents and teens on the family team shared the good news of Christ. Photo by Kristen Nicole Sayres

      During the weeklong trip, the families shared the Gospel 8,280 times. More than 280 people prayed to accept Christ as Savior.
      After presenting an evangelistic drama to indigenous Quichua people in the village, Tommy experienced -- for the first time -- leading someone to Christ. His father watched proudly as Tommy prayed with several Quichua who surrounded him to learn more about the drama and Gospel tracts they received.
      “Tommy got to be with people who accepted Christ,” the elder Hutchison said. “It’s a great feeling knowing God is using your family to grow His Kingdom.”
      Talking with his family later in the week, Tommy shared that he was humbled by the experience -- and that he realized the value of working together as a family.