Nathanael and Nicole Sommers
While we both got to it differently, Nicole and I have a calling from God on our lives. Nicole has been a believer since she was in middle school, and God shaped her into a compassionate woman seeking to serve others. She knew in university that her calling was to work with international nonprofit organizations to share Jesus and serve the physical, mental and emotional needs of others. She did not know exactly how that was all going to play out, but God has given her the experience and training to work with community centers and educational programs through previous employment and her degree.
I became a believer later in life when I was 20. In the midst of university, God called me to Himself and changed the direction of my life dramatically. I changed my education to focus on a degree in ministry and began to grow in my relationship with God. He called me to World Gospel Mission the last year of university, and when Nicole and I got married, she joined me with the organization. Our plan was to go to Barcelona, Spain to work with Muslim immigrants. Through some unforeseen circumstances, our plans changed shortly before leaving. God closed one door to then open another on the border of Mexico. We visited Texas/Mexico Border Ministries and immediately knew God intended for us to be there. We finished our fundraising and came to McAllen in 2015.
World Gospel Mission has a field in McAllen, Texas comprised of the Taylor Christian School (TCS) and Taylor Community Center (TCC). TCS is a small Christian school for Pre-K through 8th grade. The staff is built from both local hired staff and missionaries with raised support. TCC is a community center in the heart of McAllen focused on partnering with local nonprofits, an after school tutoring program, and a soccer academy called Soccer Lions Academy.
The ministry is focused on low income families in the metro area of McAllen and the surrounding cities. Due to the demographics of our area, this means we often minister to immigrants. Our city has a diverse ethnicity with cultures from all around the world coming together. It is a beautiful expression of the diversity of God’s creation and His Church. We seek to glorify God through unity in the midst of diversity and express the love of Jesus Christ to all who we come across.
Nicole: Nicole is primarily the Director of Taylor Community Center. Her other roles include tutor, soccer coach, and Work Team Coordinator. She is also the P.E., Technology, and Health teacher at Taylor Christian School.
Nathanael: Nathanael is the Director of Strategic Initiatives for Taylor Community Center and Taylor Christian School which includes marketing, networking, graphics, social media, strategic planning, and vision casting. His other roles include facilities manager, tutor, soccer coach, and field writer. He is also the Missions Director and Lead Pastoral Assistant at Storehouse Community Church. His role there is comprised of administrative duties, missions, community group coaching, teaching, and preaching.
Both Nathanael and Nicole serve on the mission field Executive Committee.