Thirty years ago, Pastors Darey and Karen Jolley say the Lord asked if they would be willing to radically change their lives for the sake of His people. More than willing to answer that call, Ambassadors to the Nations was founded.
An international mission ministry based out of the Jolleys’ home church – Freedom Christian Center in Charlotte, NC – their work focuses on meeting both the physical and spiritual needs of the most impoverished communities in Central America and North America, through short-term mission projects such as establishing schools, churches and medical clinics. Getting to know the Jolleys and their heartfelt commitment is a true blessing!
LKN: Since you established the ministry in 1992, you’ve done amazing work in Nicaragua, Mexico, the Philippines, Cuba and Nigeria. Have other areas been added?
KAREN: We are still active there, but also in the Congo, Cameroon, India, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Jamaica and in the United States in the Cherokee mountains.
LKN: What inspires you most about the communities in these parts of the world?
KAREN: The areas we work in have so much poverty. We are called to help educate the children in our Christian schools, after-school programs and Bible training feeding programs in these countries. We want them to be productive people in their communities, as they grow up knowing the love of God. We’ve also built tiny homes in these countries for families living in shacks and cardboard – that is life-changing for them.
LKN: What do you find most life-altering about working with children?
KAREN: The changes we have seen take place in their lives is worth it all. Many came to our programs sick – especially in the Congo – and now they are healthy. In Nicaragua, we have seen more than 800 students graduate from our schools and have gone on to universities to become doctors, lawyers, nurses, mechanics, teachers, pastors and missionaries. That is the best joy to see taking place!
LKN: What other national organizations are you involved with?
KAREN: We work with a few other organizations, with Andrew Wommack Ministries being the main one. We also work with Redeeming Love Ministries in the Congo, Miskey Ministries in the Philippines, New Song Ministries in Nicaragua, and Movement of Faith in Mexico.
LKN: How many ministry volunteers do you have locally? What are some ways our readers can contribute to your missionary work, volunteer or help spread the word?
KAREN: We have a mission headquarters in Charlotte, NC where our staff and volunteers come Monday through Friday 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. We have around 15 to 18 who work each day and more when youth groups or other adult groups call with offers to help. We always need more volunteers to help package hygiene bags, toy bags and bags of new shoes, new clothing and new school supplies to ship to the countries we serve. A great way to help us spread the word is to invite us to share about our missions at your own church, school, Bible study or neighborhood group. We even have two awesome children’s books that inspire young people to get involved in missions: Princess Ava Jo and the Great Adventures of Poncho the Clown!
LKN: Tell us about your Sponsorship Program for supporting an individual child?
KAREN: We currently have a sponsorship program for children in Nicaragua and Mexico for only $10 a month. That enables them to go to our schools or after school programs for free, where they are educated, fed and taught God’s love. Sponsors can give gifts to the children two or three times a year, and they receive a newsletter every month to keep up with what’s going on in their lives. We also ship Care Boxes to the children in these countries two or three times a year, and we encourage our local community to make up these shoebox-size boxes, filled with school supplies, hygiene items, new summer clothing, socks, toys and stuffed animals. These boxes go to children from age three up to 18 years of age and are often the only gifts these children receive throughout the year. Every included item must be new!
Karen notes the group will be in Nicaragua during December for toy distribution, Mexico in January and Cuba in March – then back to Mexico in June and to Nicaragua again in August – as their ministry continues to flourish!
Please visit the website ambassadorstothenations.com for more information on upcoming mission trips, or if you are interested in sponsoring a child in one of the countries the Jolleys serve. Karen and Darey love sharing their inspiration: “God has proven to us that nothing is impossible with Him! Greater things are still to be done!”
