Sara Richter has a heart for missions, but for years, she struggled to find opportunities to serve.
After moving to the Nashville area four years ago from Seattle, Washington, Richter began attending Cedar Grove Baptist Church. There, she discovered Tennessee Woman’s Missionary Union’s annual Missions Get-Together in Gatlinburg — an event that would change everything.
“I was amazed that a missions conference could be that big and so organized,” Richter said. “They had activities, different booths promoting different things and gathered people who are like-minded and have their hearts for missions. It just changed my mindset. Being a missionary can actually be not only happy but joyful.”
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Growing up in Taiwan, Richter witnessed firsthand the scarcity of the gospel in her community. She was surrounded by ancient pagan temples and shrines — four or five on every corner — while churches were few and far between.
“Living here in Tennessee, it’s very easy to find a church. We are so blessed and we don’t even know it, but not everybody in this world has it that way,” she said.
Despite her passion for missions, Richter had struggled to find opportunities before joining a Southern Baptist church.
“I had never participated in Southern Baptist before,” she explained. “I always had the heart for missions but lacked opportunities because in those non-denominational churches, they are not known for outreach or missions, especially nationally.”
Opened doors
WMU opened doors Richter hadn’t known existed.
At a Get-Together about two years ago, she discovered Off the Grid, a ministry that began in 2023 and organizes hiking, backpacking, fishing and even motorcycle excursions across the country. For Richter, who’s an avid hiker, it was perfect.
“Not only do we have like-minded people, but they usually invite a missionary to hike with us, and then we get to know the missionaries on a personal level,” she said.
On one trip to the Smoky Mountains, Richter and her daughter, Trinity, hiked with a missionary who had served in Laos. Around the campfire, the WMU group shared testimonies, played games and learned about the missionary’s experiences overseas.
“We have devotion times, we pray for each other, and we eat,” Richter said. “I would say it’s better than vacation.”
Annual tradition
The trips have become an annual tradition for Richter and Trinity, celebrating both her birthday and Mother’s Day on the trail.
Then, last fall, Kim Cruse, missions discipleship specialist at the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, sent an invitation to Richter’s hiking group. It asked if anyone would like to serve on a missions team in Italy during the 2026 Winter Olympics in February.
“I was like, ‘Wow, that is very unique,’” Richter said. “Usually when people hear about short-term missions, they think about working in VBS or participating in some building project. But when you do straight witness, it requires more preparation.”
Richter had some evangelism experience, having served on a Billy Graham online missions team for two years. But this would be different.
“I enjoyed doing that, but I was hiding behind the screen,” she said. “When you do street witness, it’s all a bit different.”
After praying and talking with her family, Richter decided to go.
“My husband said, ‘Yeah, go. Just eat ramen for three months and you’ll save up enough to go,’” she recalled with a laugh. “I said, ‘Well, I like ramen anyways. Ramen is cheap.’ So, okay, I’ll do it.”
With the Olympics drawing visitors from around the world, Richter will have opportunities to share the gospel with people from diverse backgrounds. She’s especially excited to use her native Chinese language.
“I have been practicing sharing the gospel in Chinese as well, because that’s my mother language,” she said. “I’m very excited.”
For Richter, WMU has been more than an organization; rather it’s been a gateway to living out her calling.
“I just love WMU and love Get-Together and love our hiking group,” she said. “When God calls you, you’ve got to get ready and just go.”
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Zoë Watkins and originally published by the Baptist and Reflector.
