International Campuses Embark on Global PEACE Trips

This summer, Saddleback Berlin achieved a significant milestone as they sent their very first global PEACE team to serve in Rwanda. Their sacrifice helped to take the Good News to the last 3,000 unreached tribes on earth—the “H” goal of our Daring Faith campaign. 

Comprised of six members, the team made Saddleback history as the first global PEACE team from Saddleback’s Berlin campus, and the first team to ever serve globally from one of our four international campuses. 

Trip leaders Linda Koch and Kevin Miller, both members at Saddleback Berlin, began their journey earlier this year when they felt God tugging on their hearts to go beyond local opportunities and serve the country of Rwanda. Unsure of how to begin, they reached out to the staff at Saddleback Berlin and started a dialogue with Lake Forest’s 401 Missions Team.

Over the course of the following months, the team engaged in long-distance coaching as they prepared to go to Rwanda. Twice a week they connected by phone with the Missions Coach at Saddleback Lake Forest. They also coordinated with the support team in Rwanda to identify how their SHAPE might meet the needs of the churches in Rwanda. Once they clearly identified their shared focus, they spent several weeks leading up to the trip preparing materials and defining their roles.

On July 29, Linda and her husband Carsten set out on a 10-day PEACE trip with their three teenagers and friend, Kevin. Their goal was to serve the local churches in the Rwandan cities of Kigali and Butare. Having recognized a great need for audio training, they focused on sound theory and how it can be used as a tool for ministry.

“We were all gifted in the use of technology,” says Kevin. “We met with 12 churches in seven venues to talk about and demonstrate different tech topics.”

From sharing a pastor’s message to enhancing a worship experience, they were able to provide formal training on soundboard use and technology. In addition to audio training, team members were able to share their stories several times with a women’s fellowship group. By identifying their Abilities and Experiences—the “A” and “E” of SHAPE—the Berlin team could meet the needs of the local Rwandan churches.

“We held workshops for churches in sound, video, presentation, and social networking,” explains Linda. “Everyone was responsible for a specific topic in teaching: Carsten oversaw sound-check and soundboards, Malte handled recording and editing of video and photos, Linus, shared his experiences with presentation tools and software, Kevin instructed on how to research with Google and how to build a website, Nele took pictures of the kids and printed photos for them, and I taught about social networking with Facebook and WhatsApp.”

Although the team prepared general materials prior to the trip, once in Rwanda, they found unique opportunities to share their personal experiences and passions.

“It’s impossible to prepare for everything ahead of time, like whether or not streaming a video will work,” says 16-year-old Malte Koch. “Rather than plan too many details, it’s more important to answer their questions and help solve their problems.”

As PEACE trip pioneers for Saddleback Berlin, they entered the trip with few expectations, uncertain of what equipment churches might have due to budget limitations and poor electricity. According to Linus Koch, 14, “It surprised me that even big churches only had second-hand microphones, and some of them were really damaged.”

Having never visited a third world country, the team expressed a solemn thoughtfulness at the experience. The group had never seen such poverty, encountering many local homes without running water or electricity.

“I learned how privileged I am,” says Linda. “God gave me so much, which means I have more responsibility than I thought. I never had this feeling of being responsible for another country until now. What’s standard for me is running water, clean toilets, fast Internet, and a comfortable lifestyle. But even if Rwandans have almost nothing, they are happy and worship God in a heart-filled, joyful way.”

Despite the cultural challenges and lack of creature comforts, the team returned home with gratitude and awe of what they had experienced, and all look forward to the day they can return to Rwanda.

“We feel that we gained more than we gave,” Kevin says. “We were most impressed by the total forgiveness and reconciliation that Rwandans have, after losing loved ones in the genocide.”

Linus added, “Most of the children had smiles on their faces, no matter how bad it is for them. I would like to be part of another PEACE trip.”