e3 Legacy - Families on Mission

e3 Family Legacy

Alternate content supporting alternate title

Installing the latest Flash player from this Web page may require you to restart your browsers, and potentially your operation system. Save all of your work before moving forward.

Get Adobe Flash player

Your Family...His Glory

Families were God's idea, so let Him use your family to impact families for Christ around the world. Seems impossible considering no one in your family has shared the gospel before, right? What you can't do, God can as we've seen Him do with any family willing to be obedient to Jesus' Great Commission.

Explore More

brazil

Ways to Connect

Your Legacy

e3 Legacy News Blog
Missions 101: Terms Missional Families Should Know
If missions is new to your family, the jargon can be confusing.  As you pray about joining us on an e3 Legacy mission trip, review these terms with your family to discover how much you know.  Double-click above on "Missions 101" for an easier-to-read format.

We're pleased you're considering joining us on a short-term mission trip. e3 Partners, of which e3 Legacy is a part, is a para-church mission agency committed to establishing church planting movements.   As your family ventures out to the mission field, be prepared to see God work in amazing ways in and through you. You will be working cross-culturally, most likely in a third-world country with unreached peoples.  Prior to your arrival, while you're developing support and establishing a support team, the e3 national director of the country you'll be serving in will be working with indigenous churches to identify mission points for your team to minister in.  All participating members of your family will serve as Christian missionaries, evangelizing using the evangecube.  Each day, you will go to the same mission point with the same national and translator to share the gospel.  After someone receives the gift of salvation, you will disciple him each day.  And ,as you return home, your family is well on its way to developing an amazing spiritual legacy.

Listed below are our definitions of the terms highlighted above.

Christian missionary is any person, regardless of age, who has put his trust in Jesus Christ alone for his salvation and shares with other people how to have a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.
Church planting means starting new churches.  
A church planting movement is a rapid and multiplicative increase of indigenous churches planting churches within a given people group or population segment.
Cross cultural missions is the task of taking the gospel to other nations so that every human being has the chance to accept Jesus as their Saviour.
To disciple is to share your life with someone less mature in Christ in such a way that causes him to grow in his spiritual walk.
The evangecube is a rubics cube-style evangelism tool with eight panels depicting the gospel and Christian growth.
Evangelism is the practice of sharing God's love with pre-believers and often is referred to as "spreading the gospel."
The gospel, in short, is Jesus Christ crucified, buried, and resurrected.
Indigenous means native; originating in or having characteristics of a certain place or country.  
Indigenous music usually is created by nationals in their local style.
Missions is the process of evangelism that results in new churches being planted.
Mission agency is a Christian organization helping to further God's work in the world.
Mission field is anywhere that missionaries do their work, not necessarily out in the countryside.
A mission point is the location where Christians are hoping to plant a new church.
A national is any person who is from the country you are serving in.  The nationals on your short-term mission team are those who call the country you visit their home.
A national church is one led by national leaders.
An e3 national director is a national who oversees the e3 strategy and implementation of a church-planting movement in a specific country.
Para-church refers to a Christian organization independent of any church denominational structures.
A short-term mission trip is the mobilization of a Christian missionary for a short period of time, ranging from days to a year.  
Support is the finances and prayer others sacrificially give for a missionary's short-term trip or a career missionary's personal and ministry expenses.  A supporter is someone who gives and prays.
A support team is the group of people who supports a short-term or career missionary.
Translators are nationals who will spend all ministry time with you, serving as your friend and mouthpiece in sharing the gospel.  
Third world countries typically are underdeveloped economically by western standards.
Unreached peoples are essentially "unchurched" peoples lacking an indigenous (native), evangelizing church-planting movement.  Without such a movement, people within these groups likely will never hear and obey the gospel.
Monday, November 16, 2009 10:55:13 AM
Testimonies From the Field
Catch a glimpse of how ministering as a family can create a stronger spiritual legacy and blessings for  your family.  Double-click  above on "Testimonies From the Field" for an easier-to-read format.

A Mother’s Joy

My 15-year old son Jordan and I were working in a barrio in Ecuador.  On a long street, amongst an endless row of houses stood a small neighborhood store that sold sodas and basic food necessities.  I had made a mental note to visit the shop keepers to share Christ with them, but wasn’t able to make a stop there until the end of the week.  After getting to know these two sweet young women, I asked if I could share God’s love for them.  The women’s faces light up as they said, “We heard all about that a few days ago.  Jordan told us about having a relationship with Jesus, and now we’re Christians!”  

It was an incredible joy for me to tell them that Jordan is my son, a joy because God was using my son to bring lost souls to the throne of Grace.

Terri in California

My Commitment to Come Caused His Commitment to Christ

When I was 16, my family and I went on another mission trip, this time to Ecuador. My translator, Jonathan, national, Senor Clever, and I went to the home of a couple that Senor Clever had been visiting with for several years.  After asking if it was alright with them if we told them about God’s love for them, I asked if they knew where they would go when they died.  They answered in unison, saying they didn’t know.  From there, I proceeded to share the evangacube with them, going through each part of Jesus’ life.  When I got to the part on the cube where it shows God reaching down from heaven, with heaven above him and hell below, I presented them with a choice; they could either follow Jesus or choose to reject him.  The couple thoughtfully chose to accept Jesus Christ’s gift of eternal salvation, and I led them in the sinner’s prayer.  Next, I shared with them some of the responsibilities that come with being a Christian.  Before leaving, we made an appointment to return to do a discipleship lesson with them.  

They were so excited to see us when we returned. When we finished the discipleship lesson, the husband shared with us that just three months earlier, he had been involved in a very serious accident and was told that he would never be able to work again.  He then told us that Senor Clever, who was unable to be with us that day, had come and prayed for him following the accident, that he had been miraculously healed, and that he was working again.  But even after he was healed, he was still wary of accepting Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.  But, he said when I had come all the way from the United States, just to speak to him, God confirmed that now was time.

It was great to be used by God like this.  It shows that if you go, God will take care of the rest.

Garrett in California

A Bold Witness

In the back of my mind, there was this doubt.  I had seen God use my family in such incredible ways in Costa Rica, but what would happen when we returned home to the States?  God was faithful in using in using my wife and three children as we shared the gospel with hundreds of people while working in the barrios of Juan Vinas.  Would we have the same boldness to share our faith at home with neighbors and strangers?      .                                                                                                                                                                                     

Now, we were back to reality, sitting on the tarmac of the Miami International Airport.  The passengers were getting restless as we waited for the airline to complete a repair on a mechanical issue.  To my surprise, my 12-year-old daughter, Katelyn, twice stood up in the middle of the aisle and shared the gospel with the captive audience!  Using the evangecube, she shared the love that our heavenly Father had for each one of them, how He had sent His only Son to die for their sins, and how He desired to have a personal relationship with each one of them.  All of my doubts were erased.  The boldness that my daughter had gained as she saw God answer prayer after prayer and use her to bring so many into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ had become ingrained in her.  It now was a part of her.  Our family will never be the same.

Brad in California

A  Lesson Learned

It was my last day of evangelism in Ecuador, and I, at 14 years old, was excited to be used by God that day.  I saw a woman in the distance and decided to visit with her.  She said that because she had to catch a bus two miles away, she only had two minutes, which was not nearly enough time to give a gospel presentation using the evangacube.  Well, I still wanted to share with her, so I jogged backwards and pointed out the pictures on the cube, while my translator jogged beside the woman.  We did this for two miles until we arrived at the bus stop.  Fortunately, I did not trip.  

The woman kept saying that she had put her faith not only in Jesus, but also in saints and idols, because they gave her things when she prayed to them.  Obviously, this was not true faith.  She agreed with me that everything in the Bible was true.  So, I explained that in John 14:6, Jesus does not say, “Me and saints and idols are the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through Me, saints and idols,” but rather Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Me.”  By this time, the bus was arriving.  I had a chance to pray that the truth would be revealed to her, before she got on the bus.  

Now, I was tired, about two miles from where I needed to be, and the woman did not truly put her faith in Jesus Christ alone, so I was a little discouraged.  Next to the bus stop was a long  street lined with shops.  So, nstead of going immediately back to where I was supposed to be, I shared about Jesus with the shop owners first.  Every shop owner I shared with, through the Holy Spirit, accepted Christ!  

I learned that God really was drawing those shop owners to Himself at that moment and not necessarily the woman.  God just used her to bring me to the shop owners.  So when you feel discouraged because a situation doesn't turn-out as you'd hoped, don't dismiss the possiblility of God using you to bring even more lost people into His kingdom.

Matthew 19:26b “But with God all things are possible.”

Jordan in California
Saturday, November 14, 2009 6:14:00 PM
FAQs From Families
The mission trip you're considering is probably a step of faith for your family,and you must have lots of questions.  Addressed here are some answers to commonly asked questions.  (Double-click above on "FAQs From Families" above for an easier-to-read format.)


What constitutes "family" for an e3 Legacy mission trip?

E3 Legacy is committed to building mission-minded families, so whoever makes up your family, you’re welcome to join an e3 Legacy trip.  These multigenerational trips often include an entire family, a single person, a parent and a youth, a husband and a wife, a grandparent and a grandchild.  

How do I know if my family is ready to take an international mission trip?

First, you do not need to be spiritual giants.  Most people going on an e3 Legacy trip have never led anyone to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, let alone shared the gospel with someone.  Interestingly, most team members think that God is going to use the other people on the team, but they doubt that He can use them.  But since God is simply looking for obedient families, He takes care of filling in the gaps.   Besides, each team member has a translator and notional with them, who can help out as necessary.  If you, as a parent, desire to make a difference for Christ, and your kids are ready for an adventure, God can work through your family.  And no, there’s not necessarily an ideal time to go, mainly because it’s more about God than about your family.  If you’re waiting for your family to be “ready,” chances are you won’t ever go.

How old do my children need to be to go on a mission trip?

No minimum age exists for participating.  Several factors, however, influence when a specific child is ready for an e3 Legacy mission trip.  Younger children are welcome to go if they can handle seven long days of in-country training and evangelism work alongside a parent, taking turns sharing the gospel with the evangecube as the parent deems appropriate.  For older youth, they work with their family in a specific village all week, but then go out each day in teams of three with their own translator and national.  To date, the youngest child to share a translator with her parent was nine years old, and the youngest child having her own translator was twelve years old.  Contact e3 Legacy Directors Andreas and Terri Mehrguth for help in determining if your child is ready.

What will be my children's role on the mission trip?

Every person who goes on an e3 Legacy trip is considered a part of the team, and like any team, each person's role is crucial to its success.  So whether a team member is twelve or 71, he has the same responsibilities as the rest of the team.  The youth on a trip train, pray, share their faith, and disciple new believers at a level that they are capable of doing. Where they fall short, the Holy Spirit stands in the gap.  In the afternoon of each ministry day, a children’s program is held in each village.  Generally, the youth on the team are responsible for leading those gatherings with the evangeclub materials.


How safe is it for my family?

Thinking about traveling to a foreign country, let alone a third-world country, creates some degree of concern in most parents.  The unknown—rather than reality—can be their greatest enemy.  Team leaders take every precaution possible to protect all team members.  With that in mind, Legacy team members do not minister door-to-door after dark.  Some kids have a finicky palette, so most meals are eaten in the hotel that the team is staying at, except lunch, which is a brown bag consisting of an American staple—peanut butter and jelly, a granola bar, and local fruit.  The team leaders carry a first aid/medical kit for basic situations, and all team members have emergency medical and evacuation insurance.  Fortunately, no one on an e3 Legacy trip has experienced a dangerous situation.  Of course, it’s important for parents to do their due diligence, but stepping out in faith and trusting God for protection is a valuable life lesson for children to witness in their parents.


What kind of training will my family receive?

E3 Legacy trains its team members in three two-hour sessions where team members get to know each other, pray together, gain cross-cultural insights, and practice sharing their faith using the evangecube.  When possible, these training sessions are in person, but if distance prevents some people from being physically present during training, they are conferenced in by phone.  In addition to this training, each team member receives an e3 Toolbox with a one-hour training DVD, personal prayer journal, tracks, and evangecubes.  Your e3 Legacy team leader also will provide one-on-one coaching through the support-raising and evangelism training processes.  Once in-country, cultural training will be provided by the country’s national director.


Is it really possible for my family to raise the necessary funds to go on a family mission trip?

As directors of e3 Legacy, it has been our experience that some of the greatest lessons learned on a mission trip have to do with God’s provision for families needing to raise financial support to fund the trip.  And, honestly, God has never failed to provide.  The means of provision rarely looks the same for each family, probably because God is so creative.  Some families have achieved their financial goals through mailing support letters to family and friends, others through unexpected bonuses and raises, church dinners, community-sized garage sales, babysitting, and still others by hosting in-home parties such as Avon or Pampered Chef, or finding a small product, like bracelets, to sell.  Some families have decided to forgo birthday and Christmas gifts for a year and put those funds toward the mission trip. Use this as an opportunity to pray as a family about what God has for your family.  Remember, with the sad state of the family in America, even in the Church, people want to support families who are trying to make a difference for Christ.  If we want to see God work in unimaginable ways in your family, take that step of faith, so God can show Himself trustworthy. 

Friday, November 13, 2009 12:59:00 PM
This feed has 3 articles on 1 page
  • Let God exalt Himself through your family.
  • Sadly, only 1% of American families have experienced a mission trip as a family.
  • Grow your family's spiritual legacy by taking it deeper with a family mission trip.
  • Spend time as a family doing what really matters.
  • Parents...Give your children a field trip that will shape them for life.
  • Intentional families take risks to experience God in fresh ways.
  • Good families--even great families-- are off track 90% of the time!  Get back on track with a family mission trip.
  • True happiness comes when people are involved in pursuits that matter to them.

Watch Our Video

Welcome to e3 Legacy

American parents are intentional about many aspects of their children’s lives: education, athletics, the arts.  Yet, how intentional are we about our children’s spiritual lives outside of Sunday school and an occasional prayer time? Family mission trips provide an effective means for parents to build a mission mindset in the hearts of their older elementary and high school-aged children.  Strengthen your family bond and develop a Great Commission-oriented family by serving together on the mission field for a week.

e3 Legacy is committed to leading family-friendly mission trips to “equip believers to evangelize the lost to establish multiplying churches.”  God designed the family unit.  And when families minister together, it profoundly impacts indigenous families, who often are hearing the Gospel for the first time.

Headquarters 2001 W Plano Parkway Suite 2600 • Plano, TX • 75075 • 214.440.1101 • 800.542.2646
San Diego 16787 Bernardo Center Drive, Suite 7 • San Diego, CA • 92128 • 858.485.9904
Birmingham 1400 Urban Center Drive, Suite 115 • Birmingham, AL • 35242 • 205.949.4464
Nashville 317 Main Street, Suite 207 • Franklin, TN • 37064 • 888.354.9411

GoodSearch for e3 Partners ministry!