Our Story, God’s Leading

Cole and Debbie Albright are both Iowa natives who were raised in Christian homes in central Iowa.  Cole trusted Christ as His savior as a child with the faith of a child.  As Cole became an adult, he sensed God leading him towards missions, and enrolled in Bible College at Faith in Ankeny.  Debbie is the daughter of a pastor and trusted Christ as a young child as well.  As she became an adult, she developed a love for God and a deep appreciation for her salvation.  She didn’t care if she married a pastor or a plumber, she just wanted to serve God with her life along side a husband who loved and served Him as well.  Cole and Debbie met at college where Cole pursued a degree in missions.  He enrolled in a one-year internship held in Lima Peru for his Junior year of college.  Debbie and Cole had begun dating just prior to him leaving and her staying for a year.  They both wondered if their relationship would last a year apart. During that year at home in the states, Debbie poured herself into her work, studies, her church, and the unsaved ladies she worked with.  There were many ups and downs in that year that helped Debbie realize God is enough, and that he provides exactly what you need when you need it.  Cole had a rollercoaster year being thrust into a new culture, language studies, and a foreign internship that drastically shaped him.  He came away with a new language learned, and love for the people of Peru, and a love for what God is doing all over the world. 

Upon being reunited in the states, Cole and Debbie joined a new church plant that was being started in South Des Moines Iowa called Living Water’s Fellowship. They signed on for a one-year commitment of their time, talents, and treasures, to be used by God to help serve and start this church with a young Church Planter named Josh Daggett.  That year was also a year of transition, as they were engaged, finished college, were married, and worked their tails off to pay what was left of their college debt. God was blessing the new church and Cole and Debbie’s marriage and finances. The stage was set to start support raising and begin pre-field ministry. 

Their plans were halted abruptly and unexpectedly, as their new church was unwilling to support them going into ministry.  The leaders of the church sat with Cole and explained to him, that though zealous, he lacked in maturity, humility, and ability to be a missionary. OUCH! That hurt. God had stopped Cole and Debbie’s plans, but not his own.  After much prayer and seeking of counsel, Cole and Debbie decided to wait on the Lord, and lean into the ministry right there in South Des Moines, to be used by God as lay servants, however God would see fit to use them.  

So what does leaning in look like anyway? Well, for them, it looked like: hospitality, purchasing a home in the neighborhood, attending a small group, leading a ministry of setting up and tearing down the mobile church, helping disciple people, serving as a deacon, leading a small group, teaching in kids ministries, starting a local business in the community, leading a building project for the church, taking meals to those in need, blessing families with new babies, having babies of their own, counseling young engaged couples, leading the youth group, doing youth camps, filling the pulpit for Pastor Josh on occasion, and eventually using Cole’s second language to start a Spanish ministry and become a lay pastor of Living Waters Fellowship.  Somewhere in the middle of that, Cole and Debbie fell in love with their church, neighborhood, business, family, and life at Living Waters in South Des Moines. The desires to be moving to missions faded, and they believed God had them EXACTLY where they were meant to be.  That their mission was right there in South Des Moines.

Then God intervened, as only He does.  Two of Cole’s best friends sensed that God’s call towards ministry was not done.  They asked him to consider dumping his business and ministry at Living Waters in pursuit of full-time ministry. Cole’s head was spinning.  Why? Life is good now. Why now? As much as it took Cole and Debbie off guard, it was God’s way of waking up an old desire. After much prayer, fasting, and seeking the Lord, He made it clear that it was time to start pre-field ministry.  He has used ten years to mature, humble, and equip them for the ministry in Lima Peru. Cole and Debbie have NOT arrived. They are still sinner’s, saved by grace. But they are sinners being sent on mission for the Glory of God.

The ministry they are planning on being involved in is geared at discipleship, evangelism, and training up nationals for the work of…you guessed it…church planting. Cole and Debbie will be added to a small team in the big city of Lima Peru, with a BIG task in front of them.

To Spread a passion for the Glory of God through the Gospel of Jesus Christ to Every tribe, tongue, and nation.