Mark and Cathy Wilson have been members of FBA for many years, actively participating in choir, Sunday school, and special events as a family with their six children (Rachel [25], David [23], Hannah [21], Sarah [19], Leah [14] and Deborah [12]). Following God’s command to “Go and make disciples of all nations” and waiting upon the Lord for His timing and opportunities, Cathy now serves with the North American Mission Board (NAMB) as a Missionary Service Corps Missionary. She works in the refugee and immigrant international communities in Atlanta, serving in community development, medical missions, music and evangelism. Cathy is an R.N. with experience in neonatal ICU and newborn nursery, and she has been to Spain, Morocco, Ukraine and Honduras on short-term mission trips. She sat down with us and answered a few questions about her call to missions, her current responsibilities, and how we can pray for their strategic ministry.

Q:  How long have you been at FBA?

A: I came to FBA when I was 19 years old, and I’ve been here about 30 years.

Q:  Where did you grow up?

A: I grew up in the Chamblee/Doraville area. I was involved with apartment ministry starting at 12 years old.  One of the places I served at as a kid was Willow Branch, which is one of our outreach apartment communities today. I’ve come full circle!

Q:  When did you first feel called to missions?

A: I always felt called to missions, and I remember a very distinct point in my life when God called me to serve in this way. I went on a FBA Singles Retreat to Hilton Head in the Summer of 1982, and I was praying for direction.  It was on that same retreat that I met my husband, Mark. We knew we wanted to serve God together, but we didn’t know exactly how, when or where God was calling us.

Q:  How have you been involved in missions in recent years?

A: Every year at FBA’s World Missions Conference, I was impacted. I would cry when I heard some of the testimonies, and I really wanted to serve as a missionary. I remember one year, Ken Whaley (former FBA Missions Pastor) told me, “Just trust God, Cathy. He will show you what to do.”

Q:  How did you go from being a homeschool mom who wanted to get involved to a NAMB and FBA-supported missionary working with apartment communities every day?  What was the timeline?

A: In 2006, I participated in “Impact Atlanta,” an FBA outreach program where church members were organized in teams and ministered to various apartment complexes through BBQs and children’s activities. I remember thinking, “I wish I could do this every day!” In 2007 I was accepted as a NAMB missionary. I started ministering primarily to mothers and babies in the apartments. In 2008, I continued to work in the apartments with NAMB missionaries Bennett Ekandem (Family Heritage Foundation) and Tim Cummins (Whirlwind Missions). In 2009, I started a Refugee Children’s Choir.

Q:  What type of ministry are you doing now?

A: This year, my husband Mark and I were assigned to The Falls apartment complex. The families and children are great, and each day we get to know them better. We organize afterschool programs, childbirth classes and infant care, one-on-one ESL (English as a Second Language) classes, music activities and women’s ministry. My two youngest daughters, Leah and Deborah, help out during the week. It keeps us very busy!

Q:  How did your short-term trips prepare you for your current ministry?

A: In 2003, I felt called to go to Spain and Morocco to serve on a short-term trip. I still use some of the Arabic phrases I learned on that trip with the refugees I work with now. I went to Honduras in 2009, and I learned some Spanish on the trip. I am now in a 90% Latino apartment complex. I can see God’s hand in everything I’m doing today!

Q:  What are some ways we can pray for your ministry?

A: We really need more volunteers, especially people who will consistently work with our kids and build relationships with their families. We also need a bigger space to meet, because our afterschool program is bursting at the seams. We would love to have some men step up to organize men’s ministry as well.

Q:  What is your long-range vision for this ministry?

A: Ideally, I would love to see a church plant started in this apartment complex. Then we can move on to the next apartment! I love what I do … it’s fast-paced, lots of variety, and there is never a “routine” day. One of my goals is to enable others to see that they can be a missionary wherever they are at, even if they are a mom like me! God will equip them to serve Him, and it’s so rewarding to see Him work through us!