WEST AFRICA — "We've been praying for this." 

After 45 years of ministry, Crossworld workers Cindy and her husband, Bruce, returned to the United States. Their years overseas had been filled with serving in education, discipleship, and investing deeply in the lives of others. Returning home marked the start of a new season, one that came with both opportunities and challenges. 

Adjusting to life in the United States after so many years abroad was not easy. Slowly, Cindy and Bruce settled into new routines and a new community. For Cindy, one of the greatest gifts of this season was the chance to gather regularly with other believers, study God's Word, and keep growing in her faith. 

But her thoughts often turned to three women she had discipled for years: Marie, Fabienne, and Rose, who had each moved from the Caribbean to remote villages in West Africa with their husbands. In places where few people follow Christ, and where some are openly resistant to the gospel, the women were faithfully serving and sharing their faith. 

As Cindy settled into the rich community she'd found back home, she couldn't stop thinking about her friends still so far from that kind of support. 

"I get to experience this rich community," she reflected. "But what about them?" 

The question stayed with her, until she reached out to ask whether the women would be interested in meeting online for a Bible study. 

Their response came quickly: "We've been praying for this. Yes!" 

Since then, they have gathered online every Monday, studying Scripture together verse by verse. Though separated by thousands of miles and several time zones, they have found a way to stay connected through God's Word. 

The impact has been evident. A few months into their study, Marie's husband told Cindy, "Thank you. I've seen such a change in my wife." 

What began as a simple thought about long-distance friends has grown into a thriving online community for women serving in difficult places. Through technology, friendship, and a shared commitment to Scripture, Cindy continues to disciple, encourage, and strengthen these women in their faith, proving that distance is no obstacle to the work God is doing. 

Even after decades of ministry and a major life transition, Cindy's story is a reminder that God opens unexpected doors for discipleship. Sometimes all it takes is a phone call, an invitation, and a willingness to keep investing in people, wherever they are.