Phil and Allie’s Journey to Central Asia

Phil and Allie have always had a passion for global ministry. They attended a church that sent cross-cultural workers, and they loved hearing about God’s work throughout the world. But serving overseas themselves was not something they had considered. 

This changed when Phil and Allie became friends with SIM USA workers from their church. Their curiosity grew as these workers shared their experiences from the field. 

The workers noticed something different in Phil and Allie’s level of engagement. 

“Your interest in our lives seems above average,” the workers said. “Have you ever considered going yourselves?”  

This caught Phil and Allie by surprise. They wanted to be open to anything God had for them, but cross-cultural ministry had not been on their radar. Still, this conversation encouraged them to consider the possibility.  

They prayed about the idea of going, opening their hearts fully to God’s leading. Church leaders prayed with them and encouraged them to explore global ministry. For Phil and Allie, the first step was attending a SIM USA Connect event. From there, they decided to take the next steps with SIM. They discerned a ministry location, did pre-field training, and raised support. 

Throughout this period of preparation, Phil and Allie’s local church was crucial. Each step toward global ministry was shaped by their long-term church involvement. 

“All of SIM’s training was really, really helpful, and MTI training was helpful too,” Phil said. “But I feel like being a part of a local church for a long time was the best way for us to get prepared and equipped—serving right where you are.” 

After a season of preparation, they were sent by their church and supported by SIM USA to serve overseas. Equipped and ready to follow God’s leading, Phil and Allie arrived at their ministry location: Central Asia. 

“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” Proverbs 16:9

Phil and Allie’s main focus during their first term in Central Asia was learning the local language. At the same time, they remained attentive and open to ministry opportunities. 

“We’d received counsel at the beginning that it’s great to have ideas of what you might enjoy doing, but to not hold really tightly to a specific thing,” Phil said. “We were encouraged to go in with a loose hand of not being exactly sure what we would do after language study, but praying God would reveal it in His timing. And He did—He was faithful to that.” 

During their language study, they met a family of global workers who had moved to Central Asia to start a medical clinic. Phil and Allie learned that the clinic doctors were overwhelmed with non-medical responsibilities. They needed someone who could step in and handle crucial behind-the-scenes work. Those needs strongly aligned with Phil’s background and experiences.  

“We became close friends, and, along the way, we realized we had an aligned vision on a lot of areas of work, ministry, and life. I was asked to come to the clinic to help with non-medical responsibilities,” Phil said. “It was God directing our path there. I look back and see how His timing worked out. Once language study was done, He provided this work opportunity to use my background to serve in the clinic.” 

In Central Asia, traditional ministry is often restricted or even illegal. Because of this, SIM USA workers serve through Alternate Pathways. This means they serve through everyday roles in local workplaces while living as faithful Christian witnesses. For Phil, working at the medical clinic was a perfect fit. 

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6

Allie sees God at work through everyday relationships within the community. This often looks like meaningful conversations with the nannies who help care for her children. During language learning, Allie frequently practiced the local language with the nannies. Over time, these conversations grew deeper, often focusing on spiritual topics. 

At first, the nannies were Christian, so Allie discussed Bible translations with them. Allie would ask how to say a Bible verse in the local language, and the nannies would ask how to say it in English. This grew into Allie and the nannies memorizing Scripture together in the local language. 

“I was able to pour into them, and it turned into this really cool, informal discipleship-language combination,” Allie said. “I could tell it was mutually encouraging … It was such a joy.” 

These nannies eventually moved on to pursue other work, and Allie welcomed new nannies into their home. Recently, the nannies she has worked with have been nonbelievers. Even so, there have been many opportunities to live as a Christian witness.  

Still practicing the local language, Allie may share a Bible story with the nannies. She asks to read it with them in their language to practice. The nannies are typically curious and open to hearing the story. 

For Phil and Allie, these small moments reflect something larger happening in their country. They said the Church here is growing through everyday relationships with believers and the community. It is not dramatic or always obvious, but the Church is growing through the steady rhythm of relationships. 

“God is slowly building His Church there. It’s not a large revival that’s happening dramatically, but it’s through ordinary means of grace, of people being discipled,” Phil said.  

“He told them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.’” Matthew 13:31-32 

As Phil and Allie reflect on their journey to Central Asia, they are struck by the importance of having a sending church in the United States.  

Their church journeyed with them into global ministry and has maintained a connection with them ever since. The church gives them mentorship, encouragement, and a prayerful community. Members of the church have even visited Phil and Allie in their country every year.  

“We’ve tried to diligently maintain that connection with our sending church and the people there,” Phil said. “They’ve responded and cared for us … Their partnership is really an essential component of what God is doing here, and I’m really thankful for our church taking that role seriously. It’s made a huge difference in our lives. It’s really important to us, and to our kids, and to the local believers around us who see the power of the Church and their care for us.” 

The local church and sending organization are both essential in supporting global workers. The church sends and spiritually cares for workers. They also help with parts of their preparation. Sending organizations focus on training, practical equipping, and cross-cultural support. When both work together, they provide the care, guidance, and structure needed for healthy and sustained ministry. 

“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” Philippians 1:3-5

Are you interested in serving God cross-culturally? There is a place for you with SIM USA. Like Phil and Allie, you can use your passions and experience to make an impact in countries where Jesus is least known. 

“We’re just normal participants in a church, and those are the sort of people who are helpful to have alongside us. They’ve got a career and a normalcy to their day-to-day lives. But they get to use that in a place where people around them are living and dying without meeting a follower of Jesus,” Phil said. “Whether that’s healthcare, or engineering, or education, or whatever it is, there’s a space for that in Central Asia.” 

God can use your skills and career to make His love known in places where traditional ministry is limited. Everyday work is an opportunity to build relationships, serve others, and point people to Jesus. 

Take the next step toward serving with SIM USA! Connect with a mission coach and attend a Connect event to learn more.  

“And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ Then I said, ‘Here I am! Send me.’” Isaiah 6:8 

*Names have been changed for the privacy and safety of our workers, ministry partners and those we serve.  

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Maggie Watts
Content Creator

I am a Content Creator with SIM USA. It is a joy to use writing and multimedia to glorify God and tell stories about how He is working around the world.