Stefan and Marie Dell

A Soccer Tournament with Eternal Impact

Like millions of people around the world, we have been enjoying the excitement of the FIFA World Cup. Even though Orlando is not a hosting city there is plenty of soccer vibes going around and we are proud of Bafana Bafana.

What has encouraged us even more is seeing how God is using this global moment to draw people to Himself.

In Burundi, a local leader shared, “Before our first World Cup watch party, we showed clips from the JESUS film. Nineteen people chose to follow Christ before the match even began. We are now helping them grow in their faith and multiply through small groups.”

Another exciting initiative has been through Athletes In Action®, our ministry that use sport to reach people. Nearly 10,000 “Jesus Loves You” soccer balls have been distributed around the world. Each ball includes a QR code that links people to gospel-centered media. In the first week, people in 133 countries scanned those codes and explored the message of Jesus.

We were also encouraged by what is happening in South Asia. Local missionaries and volunteers handed out 12,000 World Cup-themed flyers and posters with QR codes leading people to a gospel-centered NextSteps digital journey.

The first question people saw was simple: “Who do you want to win the World Cup, Argentina or Brazil?”

That one question opened the door to much deeper conversations. So far, 887 people have entered the journey, and 67 have indicated decisions to follow Jesus or a desire to learn more about Him.

We love seeing the creativity of our missionaries as they look for natural ways to start spiritual conversations. Whether through a soccer ball, a flyer, or a community watch party, every interaction becomes an opportunity to introduce someone to Jesus.

On a personal note, we will be flying to Thailand on Monday (6 July) to serve at a Summer Project. Marie has the privilege of leading the communications and design track, helping students discover how their creative gifts can be used for the furtherance of God’s Kingdom. Stefan will be investing in students throughout the project, encouraging them as they prepare for a lifetime of ministry.

Prayer Requests:

For safe travels, good health and for the students to grow in their faith and sharing Christ.
For God to give each one of the participants a vision for reaching the nations.

Thank you for praying, giving, and partnering with us. It is a joy to serve together with you and to see God using ordinary moments, whether a soccer tournament or a summer mission project, to change lives for eternity.

Training the Next Generation in Thailand

God often uses students to help spark missions movements. Many of our missionaries invest in students and use university holidays to take them on mission trips. Looking back, our own student mission experiences played an important role in shaping our lives and calling. Stefan travelled to Transkei, Botswana and the Caprivi Strip in the early 1990s, and Marie went to Bulgaria shortly after the fall of Communism. Those trips left a lasting impact on both of us.

This July, we are grateful for the opportunity to serve in Thailand with students from around 30 different countries. Marie has been invited to lead a communications and design track for students who want to use their creative skills to serve God’s Kingdom.

What makes this project especially exciting is that it combines practical training with hands-on ministry experience. The programme will take place at the Campus Crusade for Christ office in Chiang Mai and functions much like an internship. Students will receive training while helping meet real operational needs for missionaries serving around the world.

Alongside tracks in technology, event planning, and communications, students will also be involved in evangelism and discipleship as we reach out to Thai students together

We are excited to pass on some of the practical lessons the Lord has taught us over the past 30+ years. So much of what we have learned has come through experience, and it is a joy to encourage young believers eager to be used by God in missions.

You can learn more about the project on this website and we will write more closer to our departure date.

Prayer Requests:

Pray for the students preparing for the Thailand project, that their faith would be strengthened.
Pray for God’s provision for all the travel and ministry expenses needed for the trip.
Pray for strength and unity for our family during this busy season.

Thank you for your prayers, encouragement, and faithful partnership. We are continually grateful for the way you stand with us in the work God has called us to.

Blasts from the past -photos from our early student mission trips.

Easter Impact: Millions Watch “JESUS”

We trust you had a meaningful Easter, reflecting again on the hope we have in Jesus. We’ve been praying for the many outreaches that took place this season — that hearts would be open, and lives would be changed as the good news was shared.

We’re so grateful to share a glimpse of what God has been doing through the “JESUS” film Project this Easter. We know that 103 TV stations showed “JESUS” or one of our other films during the Easter season. Although the final viewer numbers will not be in for a few more weeks, we trusted the Lord for at least 120 million views over the Easter season.

On our other channels, where we have “JESUS” available, like YouTube, we reached an all-time high of 18.2 million views over the 7 days of the Passion week. On Good Friday alone, 4.2 million people watched — our highest single-day viewership ever, surpassing the previous record set in 2023.

Behind every view is a real person — someone choosing to press play on the story of “JESUS”, perhaps for the very first time. Thank you for standing with us in this work.

Please pray with us:

That many who watched the “JESUS” film would take their next step towards Jesus.
Pray for Marie and her team as they prepare for Campus Crusade for Christ International’s 75th anniversary.
Stefan will be in Armenia and Georgia for the next two weeks. Pray for safety and good connections with our church planters and missionaries in those countries.

A glimpse of heaven in Ethiopia

The voices of 308 people from 93 countries rose together in worship of our Risen Saviour. It felt like a small glimpse of heaven.

Thank you so much for praying for the Motus Dei church planters conference in Ethiopia. It was a meaningful and fruitful time, with rich discussions around the tables and wisdom shared by experienced church planters. We are grateful for how smoothly the conference unfolded.

Not everyone could attend. Around 80 people from 30 countries were unable to come due to the conflict in the Middle East.

Our own journey was unexpectedly difficult. A week before departure, our route changed from Dubai to Johannesburg, giving us a hoped-for 28-hour stop at home. We were so excited to see family, meet our new niece, and celebrate Marie’s birthday together.

But severe weather disrupted everything. After leaving Orlando on Wednesday, we missed our connection in New York by minutes. The next day brought more delays, and we missed another connection. By then, it became clear we would not arrive in time. After two nights in hotels and much uncertainty, the airline arranged a direct flight with Ethiopian Airlines. A kind check-in agent even tracked down our luggage that had been checked in days earlier.

When we finally took off on Friday, we could only laugh. The Lord gave us peace throughout, and we were deeply aware of your prayers, even though it was exhausting.

Very happy to finally be in Addis Ababa!

Arriving in Addis Ababa on Saturday morning brought great relief. It was a privilege to spend time with believers planting churches in some of the most challenging places in the world. Their faith and perseverance deeply encouraged us.

We were also reminded how much prayer matters. Even when we pray for places we cannot place on a map, God knows and faithfully answers. Thank you for standing with us in prayer. Please don’t grow weary — your prayers matter.

Happy Easter!

Prayer Requests:

Praise God for the Motus Dei conference and for those who were able to attend. Pray that lasting fruit will come from this time together.
Pray for all the Easter outreaches this week that the Lord will soften the hearts of people and draw them unto Himself.
Pray for Monica’s internship in June and July in Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand, that all details will come together.
Pray for Marie and her team as they prepare for Campus Crusade for Christ International’s 75th anniversary.

On Our Way to Ethiopia

We are grateful for the ways you continue to stand with us in prayer and partnership. God has been reminding us again and again that His work in the world is far bigger than anything we could imagine.

This week we will travel to Ethiopia for the Motus Dei 2026 conference. Motus Dei means “Movement of God”, and that name captures the heart behind the gathering. Our prayer is to recognise and join what God is already doing among the nations.

Almost 400 church planters from 125 countries will be there. Rather than simply listening to talks, the week is designed for collaboration. We will share real ministry challenges, pray together, and look for practical ways to help the gospel spread further and faster.

Behind it all is a vision that continues to inspire us: to see a healthy church or faith community for every 1,000 people on earth.

The theme of the week is “Vital and Sustainable.”

Vital speaks about spiritual life. Our desire is to see local communities of believers who truly love Jesus and are passionate about reaching the people around them.

Sustainable points to multiplication. We long to see churches that not only grow but send people out to start new communities of faith in their own villages and neighbourhoods. When ordinary believers are equipped to lead, the gospel spreads naturally from one person to the next, reaching a whole community.

We have built times of prayer and fasting into the rhythm of the conference. We know that lasting fruit only comes when the Holy Spirit leads the way.

Please pray with us for:

Stefan, he is the conference director. Pray for good health and stamina.
Safe travel and protection for everyone attending. We already had a few flight changes and delays but trust to arrive in Africa tomorrow.
A fresh movement of the Holy Spirit as we seek the Lord’s face.

Your prayers, encouragement, and financial support make it possible for us to take part in opportunities like this. We are deeply thankful for the way you share in the work God has given us.

Grace and peace to you,

Stefan and Marie

Impacting the Next Generation

In December and January, we saw a record number of students gather for conferences around the world for training in prayer, evangelism and discipleship. We are very encouraged by what the Lord is doing in the emerging generation as many of these students commit themselves to being instruments in the Lord’s hands for the furtherance of His Kingdom.

Here are just a few of these conferences:

1. In South Korea, 7 000 students attended prayer and fasting days in 12 locations.

2. In Hong Kong, during the conference, a “Life & Death Education” experience was a profoundly impactful exercise, where students simulated the end of life with mock coffins and funeral photos of themselves. They considered the questions: “If life is so fragile, what is the meaning of life?” and “Who is truly the King of my life?”

By the end of the conference, over 50 students had surrendered to the calling to full-time service. Many had discovered their new identity in God and their new mission — to be a witness of this gospel of “radical rest” to a restless generation.

3. In the U.S.A., 12 Winter conferences took place with 7 200 students attending.

Here in Orlando, three students left the Winter conference with car trouble. They called an Uber, and during the ride, they shared the gospel with their driver, John. By the time they reached their destination, John had placed his faith in Christ.

Meanwhile, at the Minneapolis conference, a first year student named Braden — who wasn’t a believer — attended with his friend Evan. After watching his peers live out their faith for two days, his intellectual barriers began to fall. During the conference while driving in a car with friends, Braden suddenly yelled out, “I want to trust Christ!” His friends explained how he could do that, and Braden received Christ right there in the car.

We thank God for each of the students. Join us in praying for them for boldness and faith as they live for Jesus.

Yours in Christ,

Stefan & Marie

Gospel Impact Around the World

We had a wonderful visit to Argentina in December to see Monica as she completed her semester abroad. We were in awe of the beauty of the places we explored and grateful to experience another part of God’s creation. You can enjoy a few photos from our trip at the bottom of the page.

We are also encouraged by what God is doing around the world:

The “JESUS” Film has now been translated into 2,259 languages. Last year, every two seconds someone indicated a decision to follow Jesus, and the YouTube channel surpassed 3 million subscribers just before Christmas.

Digital Outreach: In a North African country closed to the gospel, an online ad asking “How Do We Get Closer to God?” led to 1,100 conversations and the discovery of two believers—one of whom has already seen a friend come to faith.

East Asia: More than 5,000 people, many of them students, joined short-term mission trips in 2025—a 40% increase from two years ago.

Europe: Cross-cultural mission trips have more than doubled in number. Here is just one story – In Prague, a team from the United States met a student who had read the New Testament on her own and believed it because she was inspired by a TV series character who had also read the Bible. She had never been to church and didn’t know any Christians. That day, she met Christians and is now being discipled

Looking forward to 2026: The U.S., Canada and Mexico are jointly creating a campaign for the Soccer World Cup, called Victory: Beyond the Cup. People will be captivated by the competition — and it’s an opportunity to point hearts to something greater than any victory on the field: the eternal hope found only in Jesus. We are praying this strategy will maximize the moment of the World Cup to empower 100,000 Christians and 10,000 churches with tools to share Jesus with their neighbors.

Prayer Requests:

Praise the Lord for Monica’s amazing semester in Argentina.
Praise the Lord for the progress we see in the gospel going out around the world.
Pray for stamina and provision for our missionaries as they faithfully serve the Lord.
Pray for wisdom and guidance as we seek to be obedient to the Lord every day.

Beagle Canal Ushuaia Lighthouse

Glacier Perito Morno

La Boca Buenos Aries

The highs and lows of 2025

Monica in Antartica.

As we celebrate the miracle of Christ’s birth, we pray that you experience the “exceeding great joy” described in Matthew 2:10. What a privilege it is to share that joy and hope with others.

Highlights:

Kenneth began his career as a surveyor, moved to a new city, and is building a solid community of friends. His stories—from chasing rattlesnakes on farmland to flying drones over forests and cityscapes—keep us entertained and grateful for God’s protection.
Monica spent a semester in Argentina and visited Antarctica – She loved every moment. Her host family, faithful followers of Jesus, welcomed her into their church and home. She also hiked extensively and delighted in the breathtaking beauty of Ushuaia.
Marie implemented a secure, integrated communications platform for our missionaries around the world—a 20-year dream finally realized.
Stefan witnessed new churches being planted and leaders rising up to carry the work forward across many regions.

Lowlights:

Stefan’s mom suffered two traumatic falls and underwent surgeries within a month, eventually needing to move into assisted living.
The opportunities before us in ministry continue to outpace our capacity. The harvest is truly plentiful, and the weight of so many open doors is both exciting and humbling.

Through it all, we remain deeply grateful. Thank you for your friendship, prayers, encouragement, and support throughout 2025. You have been a tangible expression of God’s grace to us.

May the Lord bless you richly this Christmas and use you in ways that bring His hope and light to others.

Merry Christmas!

“I’ve Never Seen So Many Come to Faith”

A missionary recently shared, “I can’t remember another season when I’ve seen so many people come to faith in Jesus.” What a statement of joy! And what’s even more encouraging is that we are hearing this same refrain from teams in many nations.

Just last week, our missionaries serving among students worldwide gathered for their quarterly virtual meeting. Their reports were overflowing with good news — this year, they have already seen a 27% increase in the number of students hearing the gospel and a 40% increase in students becoming multiplying disciples — young believers who, like in 2 Timothy 2:2, are helping others follow Jesus and do the same. Praise God!

Here’s more from the missionary in Chicago who shared that inspiring line above:

“Through our Roseland outreaches alone, at least 75 individuals indicated decisions to invite Christ into their lives!

We partnered with local church leaders to set up prayer and outreach booths at two community festivals. Handing out cookies opened the door for over 350 spiritual conversations with adults and another 350 with children — many of whom began a relationship with Jesus.

Darrell, a man from a Hindu background, stopped by for cookies but expressed curiosity about Jesus. After an hour-long conversation with our team, Darrell chose to put his faith in Christ as his Savior.”

Stories like these fill us with wonder and deep gratitude — for God’s work in people’s lives, and for your faithful prayers and partnership that make these moments possible. Together, we are seeing the gospel reach hearts in places and ways that only God could orchestrate.

Photo credit to Monica Dell – these are King penguins from Argentina. They are over 1 meters tall. The chubby brown ones are the juveniles. Their coats aren’t as compact as the adults, so they look much bigger.

Please join us in prayer:

Praise God for the many open doors and hearts ready to receive the gospel.
Pray for wisdom, stamina, and grace for Marie as she helps solve complex challenges that will strengthen how we communicate with and resource our missionaries globally.
Pray for Monica’s protection as she travels to Antarctica (12-22 Nov.) — and praise God for this unique opportunity she has to witness there.

Stories You Would Like

Marie presenting communication ideas to the team.

I (Marie) just returned from meetings with our Global Executive Team. The highlight of our time together is always hearing the latest stories of what God is doing around the world.

Josh Newell, our leader for Jesus Film Project®, shared about an encounter with a church-planting pastor from Germany: “I mentioned my role with Jesus Film Project, and he immediately replied, ‘Jesus Film? Thank you for saving my church. We were dying. My leaders and I were praying, “Lord, send a revival in our midst.”’

“He led us to see the community around us. It was full of refugees and immigrants from the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia.”

God led this pastor to host church dinners for refugees and show them ‘JESUS.’ They were given a computer memory card with the film in many languages, and they were able to use it in their video projector.

“People began coming to faith — Iranians, Iraqis and others. Not only were they coming to know Jesus, but the pastor told me they began sharing in their immigrant communities, resulting in a revival. Their church was saved … reborn, a multicultural church!”

We also heard from a war-torn country in Africa. Despite this reality, our team shared the gospel with 323,388 people over the last 12 months, and 45,602 have indicated decisions for Christ.

A staff member shared, “We are encouraged by how God is using the war to change lives. Our staff and disciples are even more determined in sharing their faith amid the insecurity going on in our country.”

We trust these stories encourage you too. Thank you for your prayers and support of our family.

Prayer Requests:

Thank the Lord that Monica is enjoying her studies in Argentina and that Kenneth successfully moved into his apartment close to where he works (about an hour from our home in Orlando).
Praise the Lord for the recovery of Stefan’s Mom after two falls and surgeries.
Stefan and I are both coordinating big projects at the moment. Pray for wisdom, clarity and creativity to help solve some of our obstacles.