Shana Sands serves at Kingdom Life Church in Simpsonville, South Carolina. Her husband Alex is the pastor, and they have been a part of Kingdom Life from the beginning. 

“If you had asked me 25 years ago if I would ever be a pastor’s wife, I would not have hesitated to say no,” Sands emphasized. “I never would have imagined it.”

Pastors Visit Sub-Saharan Africa

Last year, Alex and Shana Sands traveled with a team of South Carolina Baptist pastors on a vision trip to sub-Saharan Africa. “The trip was so beautiful,” remarked Sands. “I can’t describe the love of Christ I felt.”

Sands’ life was impacted by the Christians she met. “I’ve been in church my entire life, but I can honestly tell you I’d never experienced anything like that,” Sands added. “They were totally reliant on God. They opened my eyes to the fact that, while I thought I was humble and that God was the center of my life, I didn’t have a clue.” 

First African American Visitors

Sands struck up conversations with some of the women at one location. “I was surprised to hear that we were the first group of people who looked like them – the first African Americans to go there,” shared Sands. 

When the pastors returned, their congregation rallied around African missions and hosted an event in partnership with the International Mission Board (IMB) to encourage individuals and churches to learn more about the mission field in sub-Saharan Africa from IMB missionaries.

A Renewed Missions Mindset

The goal of IMB missionaries in sub-Saharan Africa is to engage 55 unengaged, unreached people groups with the Gospel by the year 2025. Among these groups, there are few or no Christians or churches. 

Sands believes God used the vision trip to plant a seed in Kingdom Life’s congregation. “It only takes one seed to let things grow. The trip sparked something in our congregation. We have several young people who want to be missionaries now — something I didn’t think was possible.”