Introduce Yourself

[Daycee]

Thanks for taking the time to get started, Emma. I look forward to hearing more as we walk through the next months of preparation. We’re excited about what God has in store for you both!

[Emma Hodges]

Hi my name is Emma! I grew up in a Christian household, and from a young age I felt like the Lord was tugging on my heart to eventually one day go overseas and tell people about him. When I was 12 I heard about unreached people groups for the first time and I realized what a beautiful gift I had been given to be taught about Jesus my whole life. But, still there are people in the world who will live and die without hearing the beautiful name of Jesus. I knew that I had to do something about that! After I graduated high school, I knew I wanted to equip myself better for overseas missions, so I ended up at Summit Pacific College. I also met my husband Jaylen there. He is someone who also has the same passion as me for missions and I feel so blessed to have met someone who is walking alongside me in this journey!

I recently graduated from Summit Pacific College with my degree in Non-for-Profit Global Leadership and am excited about whatever God has next for me. I don’t know exactly what that will look like, but I am trusting God to provide and sustain Jaylen and I as we step into this journey. We are feeling led towards East Africa and are currently preparing for that in the upcoming months and years.

[Daycee]

Thanks for sharing your story, Jaylen! I look forward to hearing more as you walk through this season of equipping.

[Jaylen]

Hello, I’m Jaylen 👋

I’ve grown up in a Christian household, particularly in the circles of ACOP as of 10 years ago my Dad was a part of ACOP and the director of LifeForce. Many of my childhood memories include different ministry events and Church gatherings, but I never really personally identified with Christ until I graduated High School. I wasn’t living for God behind closed doors, and I knew that was wrong, but I didn’t care enough to make changes. Regardless, I felt if I didn’t submit to God soon I would wake up 40 years old and have forgotten who God was all together; this possibility scared me. I felt that I needed something radical to shake me into my faith, so I went to YWAM Perth as some kind of “Hail Mary” hoping that it would inspire me to follow Christ. Though the logic has some holes it in, my tactic worked and my relationship with God was initiated over my DTS, and alongside that I developed a strong heart for missions.
Ever since then, I’ve known that Missions was a part of my calling, I just didn’t know how I’d get there. I did plan to go back to YWAM again, but COVID sort of canceled those plans. So one thing lead to another and I ended up going to Summit Pacific college for 3 years, where I met my beautiful, awesome, mission-loving wife Emma. All in God’s plan, not my plan, did life bring me to where I am now. Preparing to go out into the field long-term in East Africa was not in my deck of cards 5 years ago, even 2 years ago… but I know my path is right because God has paved the way!

I feel called to unreached people, motivated by the Great Commission, and driven by purpose and the willingness to give my life to God in ways that many people aren’t willing to. I think in many ways there is no better way to give your life as a living sacrifice to God than to move overseas to share the gospel, and as scary as it is, it is equally exciting to have such a rich call set before me.