Saying ‘Yes’ to the Unexpected
A Journey They Never Planned
Todd and Emeris Rhines were not looking for a life overseas. Both raised in faith-filled homes, they knew the importance of missions, but assumed their role would be one of support, not stepping onto the mission field themselves.
Emeris grew up with global ministry woven into everyday life. “We were always involved in missions, locally and globally. My parents’ story as immigrants from France and the Philippines shaped our home and our heart for the world,” she recalls. But even then, she imagined herself in a corporate role, supporting others from a distance.
Todd’s early exposure to missions was limited. A few visits from missionaries at church, a high school friend whose parents served abroad, and a short-term trip with his dad in 2016. “I went to Kijani Farm when it had just begun, and it was only tents and land,” he says. “It was a great experience, but I came home thinking construction and missions were not for me.”
Marriage brought Todd and Emeris together in both vision and values. They loved the idea of working side-by-side, and for two years they built careers, hers in marketing, and his in design. “We always imagined doing something together eventually,” Todd shares. “But missions never crossed our minds.” Then they were asked a big question.
Wrestling with the Call
Friends of Todd’s family, Brian and Heather, started a ministry in Kenya (the same one Todd visited in 2016) called Kijani Farm. They invited the Rhines to join the team. Not once, but multiple times.
“We kept saying no,” Todd admits. “We didn’t think it was for us.”
Eventually, they agreed to visit for two weeks. The first week brought more questions than answers. “We prayed every night,” Emeris says. “It seemed like God wanted us there, but we just didn’t feel like we fit.”
The turning point came in their second week. “We prayed again and asked God to help us just see what He was doing,” she remembers. “That week, we started meeting more people in the community. We saw physical and spiritual transformation happening, and we realized God is already at work here. We’re just being invited in.”
That perspective shifted everything. “It wasn’t about what Todd and I could do. It was about how God might use us, even in our weakness.”
A Lesson in Trust
When they returned home, the decision felt clear. The path forward did not.
Their sending organization required 100 percent of their funding before they could go to the field. Fundraising was slow. There were seasons of discouragement, sleepless nights, and doubt. “We had so many beautifully crafted presentations that went nowhere,” Todd recalls. “Then we’d meet someone by chance and receive a donation we hadn’t asked for.”
Through it all, their community rallied. “People from Center Church supported us, prayed for us, and showed up for us,” Emeris says. “God kept confirming His plan in the most unexpected ways.”
Their obedience to go didn’t mean an easy start. Within their first few months in Kenya, they walked through heartbreak and spiritual warfare. A young girl they had been helping passed away unexpectedly. “We kept asking if we had done enough, if she knew Jesus, if we could have done something differently,” Todd shares. “It was a sobering reminder of the brokenness we live in and the urgency of the gospel.”
Building Life in Community
Day by day, their rhythms took shape. And so did their relationships.
The Maasai people are deeply community-oriented. “Every day at 10 a.m., we stop for chai,” Todd says. “It’s inefficient, but it’s sacred. Everyone greets each other. No one is forgotten.”
From these rhythms grew friendship and trust. Emeris began leading a weekly women’s Bible study. “We worship together, sing without instruments, and learn from the Word. Some of these women are sharing what they learn at church and in their families. You can see the transformation.”
The men, hearing their wives speak at church, began asking questions too. Now there’s a men’s Bible study as well. “It started because they were hungry to know what their wives were learning,” Todd says. “That still amazes me.”
One of their favorite stories is of a local pastor who had prayed for years under a tree that God would bring help and hope to his village. Today, that same tree stands at the heart of Kijani Farm. “God was moving long before we ever arrived,” Emeris says. “We just got to be part of His plan.”
Joy in the Everyday
Todd and Emeris have found joy in the small, everyday parts of life—Saturday celebrations, soccer matches with students, laughter with friends, and the deep connection of shared meals.
We’ve met people we never would have crossed paths with otherwise. And now they feel like family,” Todd says. “It’s humbling to think we might have missed all of this if we hadn’t said yes.”
Becoming parents to their son Henri has only deepened their perspective. “Now I relate to the women in a whole new way,” Emeris shares. “And I think more about what it means to invest in the next generation.”
For Todd, fatherhood brings a powerful glimpse into the heart of God. Learning to be a dad and trying to take care of Henri has made him reflect on how God takes care of us. He loves us and wants to provide everything we need, just like a good father would.
What It Means to Say Yes
Todd and Emeris are quick to remind others that not everyone is called to go, but everyone is called to participate in missions. “We talk about goers and senders,” Todd says. “But what matters is that you say yes to the role God is inviting you into. The church needs both.”
Because of Center Church’s support, water is flowing, kids are learning, and entire families are encountering the love of Jesus. “All of this is happening because people back home said yes to supporting us,” Emeris says. “And we want others to know your yes matters too.”
Their story is still being written. But one thing is clear. Saying yes to God’s unexpected invitation brought them into a life richer, harder, and more beautiful than they ever imagined.
“We’re nobodies,” Emeris says, smiling. “But the fact that we get to be part of His story is the greatest privilege.”
What’s Your Next Yes?
Whether you feel called to go, give, pray, or encourage—your part matters. When you say yes to what God puts in front of you, you never know how He might use it. Todd and Emeris said yes—and lives are being changed.
They live among people facing physical and spiritual poverty every day, but they believe there is hope and opportunity through Jesus. None of this would be possible without the support and partnership of people like you.
If you would like to inspire the next generation and help create more opportunities for the Maasai people, visit their giving page. 100% of your donation goes directly to the ministry of the Rhines'.
