United in Mission: Rei and Karina’s Journey with Jesus

For Rei and Karina, discipleship wasn’t something new when they got married. During their singleness, each had led their own group, discipling others and helping them grow in their faith. However, just two weeks after their wedding, fresh from their honeymoon, they received an unexpected phone call from some family members and a married couple who were struggling. Rei’s family had heard about his transformation and, feeling a deep need in their hearts, they told him: “Rei, whatever you have, we want it. We need Jesus.”

The impact of that conversation was powerful, and without hesitation, Rei knew what had to be done. Though he didn’t mention it to Karina immediately, about a week later, he told her, “By the way, we’re going to start Jesus Disciple with our cousins.” Without hesitation, Karina was fully on board. Her heart was aligned with the same mission: to see people encounter Jesus and experience freedom in Him.

This became their first discipleship group as a married couple. Because their cousins lived farther away, they had to do the sessions over Zoom, something new for them since they had always done Jesus Disciple in person. Rei initially worried about how well they were receiving it, especially with technical issues like static on the calls. But the following week, when they met again, their cousins shared powerful testimonies. They had prayed to invite the Lord into their hearts and felt an overwhelming peace. Both of them wept as they shared their experience, and Rei couldn’t help but cry too. It was a clear reminder that this journey wasn’t about him—it was about Jesus. When God’s Word is spoken, lives are changed.

As the discipleship continued, their cousins became more and more hungry for the Lord. By the end of the program, they didn’t need any encouragement to take the next step—they wanted to be baptized. So, Rei and Karina hosted a big dinner to celebrate them, and right there in their pool, they baptized their first Jesus Disciple group.

Meanwhile, God was also working in another couple’s life—Karina’s old friends from before she gave her life to Christ. They had been dating for years and had recently gotten married. In her singleness, Karina had walked closely with the wife, Kimberly, guiding her into salvation and discipling her one-on-one. Eventually, Kimberly brought her husband, Eric, to their group. Seeing Karina now married and transformed by Jesus had a deep impact on Eric. He couldn’t deny that what he was witnessing was real. He began attending the discipleship sessions and quickly developed a hunger for the Lord.

Eric’s life began to change dramatically. He started sharing what God was doing in his life with people at work, even ministering to others during his lunch breaks. He excitedly shared, “If you pray for opportunities, they come! People just come to me, and I get to tell them about Jesus.” As they progressed through the course, all the married couples in the group made the decision to get baptized—including Eric. For Karina, this was an answered prayer. She had been believing for her friends to come to the Lord, and now, they were saved, on fire for God, and walking in His truth.

What started as one discipleship group quickly grew into something greater. Rei and Karina’s family group completed Territory 1 and immediately wanted to move on to Territory 2. The married couples they discipled did the same, committing to continue all the way through Territory 3 and even praying about starting Territory 4 together when it was released.

For Rei and Karina, discipleship isn’t just a program—it’s a lifestyle. They don’t see it as an obligation but as a calling to follow Jesus’ example: leaving the ninety-nine to go after the one, being good shepherds, and becoming true fishers of men. Looking back, Karina never imagined herself in this position. She once preferred to keep to herself, thanking God for her own personal relationship with Him. But the more she read His Word, the more she saw His heart for others. Now, they have strong friendships in Christ, a community of believers growing together, and a passion to continue making disciples.

Their journey with Jesus Disciple has not only transformed the lives of those they disciple but has shaped their own marriage and faith in ways they never expected. And they know—this is just the beginning.