Equipped for the Mission: My RevivEE Training Experience
RevivEE is a 10-month mission program focused on sparking spiritual revival across Eastern Europe by helping people know God. Sixty disciples from nine countries—young and old, married and single, with and without children—quit their jobs, sold possessions, and left their families to take part in this life-changing journey.
We began together in Chișinău, Moldova, for two weeks of intense training before splitting into five different teams serving in Moldova, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Croatia.
The Purpose: Loving God and Loving Each Other
The goal of our two-week training was simple: to get close to God and to one another.
Each morning devotional began with encouragement and love. Every participant literally hugged all 59 of their teammates and reminded them of God’s love. At first, the words were, “God loves you.” But over time, it shifted naturally into, “I love you.” For meals, we were intentionally assigned to different tables to connect with new people. Long bus rides between training sites became opportunities for deep, vulnerable conversations. And every day, teammates shared stories of how God was building their faith—whether through answered prayers or encouragement from another disciple.
It was inspiring. We were living out the two greatest commandments:
“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
—Matthew 22:37–40
You could feel it happening: friendships forming, unity being fought for, and the Spirit of God moving powerfully.
One of the most inspiring examples was the Moldova team itself. Made up entirely of Russian-speakers—both Russians and Ukrainians—they chose to set aside nationalism, politics, and personal opinions in order to be united in Christ. Watching them love each other so deeply reminded me of the power of the cross to tear down walls that the world cannot.
As Paul writes:
“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
—Ephesians 4:4–6
That is what we were striving to live out together.
Training Schedule: Mornings of Devotion, Afternoons of Equipping
Each day started at 11 a.m.—but the mornings were perhaps the most important part of our training. We were encouraged to spend that time alone with God in prayer and Scripture. A nearby lake was perfect for prayer walks, and many of us used the balconies in our rooms for personal bible study. In the midst of busy, packed days, these mornings became a sacred space to rest, reflect, and recharge with God.
At 11 a.m. sharp, we gathered for devotionals led by Shawn Wooten. He reminded us that if we aren’t filled with God’s love, we won’t have love to share with others. These sessions—filled with worship, the word, and discussion—refocused our hearts on living life to the full, building godly relationships, and listening to the Spirit’s guidance.
The afternoons were dedicated to practical training. Topics included:
- Mentoring and God’s plan for transformation
- Discipleship and obeying His Word
- Evangelism and spreading the gospel
- Functioning in small groups
- Time management and prioritizing prayer
- Leading people back to God
We also studied Ed Anton’s Disciplemakers Series—a set of ten Bible studies covering repentance, baptism, the Word of God, the church, counting the cost, and more. These sessions were dense, challenging, and deeply motivating. My fingers cramped from taking notes and my brain often felt overloaded—but my heart was stirred with fresh conviction to not just know these Scriptures, but to live them out and be ready to teach them.
Ed’s teaching carried real weight—conviction, confidence, research, experience, and deep biblical insight. We were urged to study the series thoroughly, even to memorize it. On top of that, we practiced sharing our testimonies in four different versions—45 seconds, 2 minutes, 5 minutes, and 15 minutes—so that we could always be ready to give an answer for the hope we have (1 Peter 3:15).
Why It Matters
These aren’t just lessons for a 10-month mission trip. They are the foundation of a faithful Christian life.
In fact, this was one of the main reasons I joined RevivEE. For years, I had asked my local church leadership for mentoring and training—not because I planned to go into full-time ministry, but because I wanted to be equipped to meet both the physical and spiritual needs of people around me. It took traveling 5,000 miles, but I finally found what I had been praying for: men and women who both walk the walk and talk the talk, and who are determined to pass that knowledge on to the next generation.
Continuing the Journey
Though our two-week “training camp” in Moldova has ended, the learning hasn’t stopped. The 60 of us still meet twice a week on Zoom from our mission cities to keep learning from Shawn and Ed. The difference now is that we’re not just listening—we’re actively applying what we were taught. We’re using the tools, living out the Scriptures, and following the structure we’ve been given.
And as I work through the Disciplemakers studies myself, I’ll be posting them here with my own reflections so you can follow along—and, I pray, that it re-inspires you as well.
