Women on Mission - May 2026

Women on Mission - May 2026

May 2026 Update

Women on Mission were blessed on May 11 to hear from Gary Pate, who shared how he and his wife, Dena, were gradually drawn into full-time mission work after taking that first short-term mission trip 45 years ago.

Initially doing anything needed — from evangelism to construction to medical care (Dena is a nurse) — after praying for 21 years that God would "please use us and not refuse us," they were led to Ecuador by "that still small voice saying this is the time."  They moved to Ecuador in 2013 to the southern Andes mountains.

Gary said that even though he didn't want to work with children because he had managed adults most of his working life, the Pates started children's Bible clubs in nine rural villages and hosted 35-40 mission teams per year. The children are given Bible verses to memorize, and when they successfully recite them they each get a small gift.  If the children are too young to read, their mothers memorize the verses and the children repeat them, thus exposing both adults and children to the Gospel.  Children and parents, Gary said, walk miles to come to the Bible clubs, bringing their siblings and friends with them. 

"They know Jesus in their heads but not in their hearts," Gary said.  "Our message to the children is that they can have a relationship with the one, true God.  [Instead of going through a priest] they can read the Bible themselves and talk to God themselves." 

In 2019, Gary said God burdened his heart for the villages along the Ecuador coast, specifically Montanita, the surfing capital of Ecuador. "The Lord was telling me 'these surfers have a soul and I love them, but no one is telling them I love them,'" he recalled. The Pates began a one-week-a-month ministry on the coast of Ecuador where 98% of the people are unreached for Christ.  They started nine more Bible clubs with 25 people coming the first month and 130 the next month.  They now work with about 500 children. Five Ecuadorians work in the ministry with them. "We thought we were going to reach surfers but we are reaching families," Gary commented. 

In 2022, the Pates started their transition to the coast fulltime. Every quarter, though, they drive back to the mountains and provide resources that local ministry leaders need to continue the work there.  Gary said that 80% of the people in that region don't know if they will eat tomorrow.  Monthly income averages just $480 a month, and while people genuinely want to work, there is very little work available, he said.

Pate Ministries leased and improved a concrete building in Montanita and used it on Tuesdays for movie night. In May 2022, 70 people showed up to watch the movie "Finding Nemo." Now, movie night draws 250-300 people each week, who also hear the Gospel message presented both through "The Chosen" movie and through preaching. A Sunday-night Bible study averages about 30 unchurched people each week, Gary said.  "God is creating that hunger and desire to bring people to Himself," he added. 

Every two weeks, Dena offers a medical clinic focusing on young women with babies, or, as she put it, "children in their own homes with children."  She opened a mobile store where the young mothers say Bible verses from memory to earn tickets which they can redeem at the store.  Once a month, during children's Bible club time, she travels to each village that has young mothers, teaching them how to be a mother including lessons on nutrition, first aid, and CPR, among others. 

"They don't care how much you know until they know how much you care," Dena said of the young mothers. 

WOM has provided a gift of $500 for the Pates to purchase supplies for their outreach when they return to Ecuador.

Coming in June

Pam Alexander, executive director of Hope House of Union County, will be guest speaker when Women on Mission meet June 8.

Now in its 15th year, Hope House is a faith-based organization in Blairsville that provides assistance with the basic necessities of life to Union County residents, transients, and homeless population who are in critical need. Funding is provided by individuals, the annual Super Chef Showdown fundraiser, and 15 participating churches, including First Baptist Blairsville.

This year, some 78 community businesses, churches, organizations, and individuals participated in and sponsored the Super Chef Showdown to raise $25,000.
Hope House is staffed by volunteer caseworkers and receptionists. Pam has been the executive director since 2017 and is assisted by executive assistant Caroline Warburton.
In preparation for the June meeting, WOM members are asked to contribute the following to Hope House’s supply closet for distribution to those it assists: child and infant toothbrushes, soap, shampoo, and wipes; for adults, hairbrushes and razors; and household items such as all-purpose cleaner, dishwashing liquid, laundry detergent, paper towels, and tissues.
The June 8 WOM meeting will start with a covered-dish luncheon at 11:30 a.m. in the Buchanan Hall at First Baptist followed by the speaker’s presentation at noon.

Ongoing Activities

WOM also supports Hope House of Union County by collecting personal hygiene items such as shampoo, body wash, deodorant, etc., which are distributed free of charge to Hope House clients. Through offerings collected monthly and budget funding from First Baptist, WOM are supporting the following ministries:
  • Cowboy Church of Jerusalem to purchase food and new boots.
  • Pure Love Pure Water for more filters to be sent to missionaries.
  • The Clarkston After-School Ministry, which provides a meal for the children and to purchase supplies for the children.