Family Joy On Tucson Mission with Jesus!

🔥 IGNITE July 2025

On June 21^st, at 5 AM, 35 short-term missionaries from The Well loaded into a caravan of vehicles and began the 12hour journey of joy to Tucson, Arizona. For our 2^nd year, we partnered with Doxa Church, a new church plant in Tucson, to co-lead a vibrant, four-day kids’ camp. It was a sun-drenched, fun, and faith-filled experience with God’s Word and His glorious presence at the helm. He filled it with His multiple miracle moments.

This trip marked a first for our CCM trio:
Colin Charles, Christopher Charles, and Caleb Colin Millar.

 

We enjoyed a lot of time just BEING together in Tucson; pure joy!

It was truly a life and heart-expanding time with God and one another. We lodged in three spacious Airbnb rentals. They were perfect for afternoon rests, laughter, and building community, which included (as pictured below) little milkshake excursions designed to BEAT THE HEAT!

 

Each afternoon, two PIT Crews were assigned to assist with meals. Our culinary chef par excellence, Hannah Duran, pictured below, graciously coordinated the menu. Hannah had worked, prepared, planned, and budgeted for every ingredient and every meal before our departure, including spice packages.

 

Our culinary chef par excellence, Hannah Duran, and daughter Ava.

 

We watched and witnessed her masterful execution with patient grace and joy-filled excellence. Each evening’s recipe was truly a heavenly, culinary experience. Then, after dinner, our PIT Crews of four would meet to pray over and into each other’s lives, the day’s celebrations, and challenges. We closed our evenings with worship and shared shout-outs from the day that fueled our souls.

 

🏀 Swish Prayer Drill

As one of the six basketball coaches, we led 12 kids (grades K–6) in 2 X 60-minute basketball breakout sessions each day. As most of you would guess, I often weave prayer into everything I do, and basketball was no exception. ♥️🤣🙏 We blended basketball and prayer to impact kids spiritually and physically!

This concept was one of several basketball drills tied to scripture lessons and prayer techniques that we designed for our kids’ camp. We taught them with energy, fun, and faith. Across the camp, about 60 children also experienced soccer, football, dance—all with a powerful mix of “Prayer + Play.” Read the powerful example and testimony below.

Drill

Kids dribbled to the hoop and attempted free throws, aiming for “nothing but net.”

Truth Taught

Just like a swish goes straight to the heart of the basket, so prayer grounded in God’s Word goes straight to God’s heart.

Scripture

Psalm 46:10 – “Be still and know that I am God.”

Prayer Focus

Scripture-driven prayer.

On Day 2, we started the Swish Prayer Drill, coaching the kids with six children at each hoop. One younger boy, Ethan, could hardly even get the ball up to the net. He was so diligent and determined, he would declare the scripture out loud each time.

On the third layup, he personalized the scripture and shouted, “Be still and know that I am a child of God,” and shot a swish basket through the hoop! All of us were rejoicing in the Holy Spirit, particularly Ethan. Radiant with joy, he shouted: “That’s the first basketball hoop I’ve ever shot!“

We had several stories of Ethan doing layups during break time, declaring, ‘Be still and know that I am a child of God,’ and then shooting the ball. Praise God! 🙌

 

 

Caleb Colin Millar, running determinedly for a touchdown!

 

🍳 A “Window to the Soul” Moment: My friend, will you determine to be an everyday missionary?

It was a rainy Monday morning, and my sweetheart and I stopped at a little breakfast spot for a bagel. As we parked the car, we saw this precious redhead girl, inside, cleaning the windows.

We came in, ordered a couple of bagels and coffee, and sat down next to the window watching the rain when Jane (not her real name) brought us our bagels. We thanked her, commending her on the great window washing job we’d seen her doing. Then, we gently asked: “What’s the one thing we could PRAY NOW for you personally, Jane?”

As she just so happened to be moving into another apartment in San Marcos the next day, she had an immediate response and said, “For my move, that it will go well!” We joined hands and prayed briefly for Jane, then asked a few more questions and chatted a little while. Fortunately, she had no one else to tend to at the time. Side-note: When sharing with wait staff, always be sensitive to the fact that they’re waiting on others.

In the end, Jane was deeply touched in her heart, and said, “I deeply appreciate you both; you’re just so kind! Can I give you a hug?” We stood up and said, “YES, we’d love to receive a hug.”

While eating our breakfast, I realized that Jane was back cleaning the lower windows this time on her knees.

The Holy Spirit led me to say, “Jane, that’s a very good place to be, ‘on your knees!’ Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ?” And she openly responded: “Well, I’m not very religious.” To which I gently said: “I’m not talking about religion but rather a relationship or friendship like we have been growing with you;” to which she said: “Then no, I don’t think I have a relationship with Jesus.”

I said: “Jane, just as you are cleaning the windows, Jesus wants to wash the window of your soul so that you can see and clearly understand His love for you.” I shared God’s word from John 3:16, saying that she could accept the gift of friendship with Jesus at any time.

Suddenly, it started raining heavily, so we jumped into the car and wrote a note to her in a Waiting on God book. Then, we pulled through the drive-thru and gave Jane the book with our note. She was blessed, and so were we.

🙏 Will You Share the Joy and Love of Jesus?

Would you make this your PRAY NOW moment? Every day this week, let’s share Jesus—briefly, boldly, and kindly:

• Ask three people this week the PRAY NOW question.
• Use a Scripture like Psalm 46:10 or John 3:16.
• Offer grace, a word of encouragement, or simply your presence.

Experience the Joy of Giving

WE THANK GOD for your faithfulness in praying and giving to IPA. Will you BE STILL for a minute, and then ask God if He would have you make a special gift right now?

Thank you for giving! God bless you and your growing prayer life, in Jesus’ name… Amen! Chkk-Chirrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

With a heart full of gratitude,

Colin & Nancy Millar