Team Testimony - Jackie’s Story

After Jackie’s first Builders trip, our Team’s Department followed up with her by phone to hear about her experience.” From the moment she picked up the phone, Jackie couldn’t hold back her joy as she burst out with, “That was the most amazing time of my life!”

Her voice was filled with excitement as she described how the trip had changed her. “I was able to see the move of God, like real revival.” Her team served at the International Church of Barcelona (ICB), a thriving church that holds four services every Sunday, each with over 400 attendees. Jackie jumped right in, greeting guests and ministering to children during services.

“The services were exciting and moving. The Holy Spirit was there in a powerful way. I’ll never be the same,” she said. She described the people as hungry for God, and as she prayed during one of the services, she found herself asking, “Lord, how is this happening?” She sensed His reply clearly: “Like in the days of Moses—the answer is in your hands. What you find your hands to do, do it.”

So she did. Jackie and her team spent the week moving 86,000 pounds of rock, shoveling gravel, building stairs, and working hard—steel-toed boots and all. “We ROCKED!” she joked. The work was physically intense, but she said, “The Lord renewed our strength.” Each day ended with a sense of fulfillment, even as fatigue crept in. When the team leader would call it a day, Jackie always asked, “Can we finish one more thing?” And when the final day came, she rallied everyone to “finish strong!”

What stood out most wasn’t just the work—it was the people. Jackie discussed the strong bond that developed between team members, the other Builders team members serving alongside them, and the ICB staff. “We came from different backgrounds, but working together felt like an orchestra. God brought us together, and now I have a real sisterhood with the ladies from my church.”

One story she shared was about a 17-year-old young man from her church who started the trip, a bit shy, timid, and unsure. “We watched him grow up before our eyes,” she said. By the end of the week, he was calling all the ladies on the team “Auntie.”

Before the trip, Jackie hesitated. “This is going to cost me,” she thought—time off work, travel expenses, all of it. But by day three, her heart had shifted. “The cost? Really?” she said. “I received far more than it ever cost. The people I met, the things I got to be part of—this whole experience was such a blessing.”

The phone call ended with a time of prayer…thanking God for Jackie, for her courage to say yes, and for the lives impacted along the way.

 Lead Your Own Team: Jackie’s story is more than just a testimony—it’s an invitation. God is calling people just like you to step forward and lead. You don’t need to have it all figured out—just a willing heart and a desire to serve. 

What’s in your hands? As Jackie discovered, it’s more than enough!