Bartow, FL

I am a wife, mom, musician, author and missionary! More on the "missionary" part...

Twenty-five years ago, I walked the streets of Lakeland and Bartow, Florida, with a ministry team. We passed out bagged lunches, prayed for people and broke out of our comfort zones. As a worship leader, I was used to "vertical" ministry to the Lord, and had been deeply changed in His presence. What I didn't expect was how radically He would also show up in the faces of the poor, the broken, the addicted, the children and the homeless. I was "ruined" forever! 

Much of my life since then has been given to serving in these same locations, as well as continuing the legacy of discipling teams of people who will love Jesus with all of their hearts and then take His love to the streets and to the nations! 

During a few years of great personal trials and life changes, I had to take a long season off. 

By God's grace, He is allowing me the honor of returning to Bartow, Florida, as an Urban Missionary with Dwelling Place Church. I will also be teaching in their school of missions and discipleship. 

My approach is "relational missions," where people are valued over programs, and everything we do, from feeding a meal or teaching reading, to playing with kids or making home visits is as unto Jesus himself. 

How you can help:

There are three important ways you can help us! 

1. Pray! Pray for revival in the East Bartow community, for favor and good connections in the city, for strength, guidance and protection over myself and our team, and for all the precious people God places in our care. 

2. Go! If you feel called to volunteer with this ministry in some way, contact us for more information. 

3. Give! As I re-start this journey, I am trusting God to supply every personal and ministry need. You can partner with me easily and safely here on our website. Just click the "Give" button, follow the link with my name and location, then drop down to choose a one-time gift, or set up an ongoing financial partnership. All donations are tax-deductible. Thank you for your generous support!   

My name is Emerson Brady, and I want to share a piece of my heart with you.

Last summer, God called me to step out in faith and journey to the Silk Road region on a mission. Saying “yes” to Him led me into a community that is 99% Muslim, where I had the incredible opportunity to build relationships, teach, and show God’s love in tangible ways. Many in this region have never heard the name of Jesus. For those who have, He’s often seen only as a prophet. Here, religion is deeply tied to ethnic identity—people often say, “I’m from _____, so of course I’m Muslim.” The idea of knowing Jesus personally as Savior is completely foreign.

Now, God is asking me to go back. This time, I’ll be overseas for three months, teaching English at a local school and sharing the gospel through the relationships I build. I know these months will be filled with prayer, learning, waiting, and listening to God’s guidance. My prayer is that Jesus moves so powerfully in this region that it makes headlines across the world.

Of course, stepping into this call isn’t something I can do alone. I’m humbly asking you to pray about partnering with me—whether that’s through financial support or lifting this mission up in prayer. My fundraising goal is $5,400 by January 5th, which will cover essential costs like food, insurance, and accommodation during my time abroad. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps make this mission possible.

Thank you so much for taking the time to hear my heart. Your support means more than words can express, and I am deeply grateful for any way you feel led to partner with me in this journey.

With love and gratitude,

Emerson