Sherree Wemp completed nursing studies at Bellingham Technical College and Washington State University in preparation for a career in nursing and headed to Zambia for a one-year term in a Serving in Mission (SIM) hospital in Luampa. Sherree, who grew up in IBC, was financially supported by IBC and many friends and family. She extended her commitment a second year. Her call to service in missions confirmed, she enrolled in the one-year Bible studies program at Capernwray-Australia.

Steve Francis, a Brit, had a banking background. During a short term of service in Zambia at the SIM Luampa station he discovered it was possible to use his skills and training as a finance administrator for the mission. His short-term commitment became his long-term goal. He prepared himself for missionary service at All Nations Christian College in England. Steve’s sending church is Victoria Baptist Church, Eastbourne, England.

Steve and Sherree married at IBC in Bellingham among family and friends from many countries. During the SIM-enforced sabbatical from field service (required for all newlyweds), they performed administrative work at SIM in England and researched overseas fields of service to determine where God would have them serve next. They determined not to return to Zambia; the next base would be Chiang Mai, Thailand, where they would assist the mission in financial matters throughout the Far East and new missionaries with the logistics of settling into their assignments and navigating the unfamiliar bureaucracy. After ten years in Thailand, Sherree and Steve became convinced God was moving them to another field…Nepal…where they served until 2020.

Having determined God’s leading to leave their foreign missions careers, they prepared themselves, transferred their workloads, packed their few remaining belongings…and waited. The pandemic made exiting Nepal unpredictable. Uncertainty prevailed until a friend alerted them to a couple of open seats on a rare flight out of the country, and they almost literally ran for the airport.

Due to travel restrictions, visiting supporters outside the U.K. to say “goodbye” was impossible, until now. Steve and Sherree will be at Immanuel on July 25, when they will be sharing in the morning worship service. An open house will be held in the IBC social hall, also on Sunday, July 25, 3:00 to 5:00 p.m., where you can get up close and personal.