An Upstate church has leased a home, purchased furniture and filled a pantry for a family thousands of miles away.


The Springwell Church mission team has devised an elaborate homecoming for one of its missionary families.

The Evans family is expected in Travelers Rest on July 16.

Danny and Debbie Evans and their seven children work in Thailand. It’s part of an eight-year mission in Asia. The Evans are taking a year-long sabbatical to rest and share their story with churches in the Southeast.

The family of nine will return to the United States with two suitcases each.

“They aren’t bringing a truck,” Springwell Associate Pastor Dan Dather told WYFF News 4’s Beth Brotherton. “They’re bringing suitcases. It is hard to move in a suitcase.”

To make the family more comfortable, church members plan to furnish a leased home, fill the refrigerator with food and put two cars in the driveway. The church is seeking donations from its members and the community.

The list of needed items is long.

“A lawn mower, dry goods, all the things they will need, hair dryers and such,” missions team leader Dan Howard said.

Dather and Howard hope to make the Evans comfortable and thank them for their sacrifice.

“They are already uprooted as missionaries, they leave familiar surroundings. This is a coming home,” Dather said.

If you’d like to donate, or purchase the family a gift card, you can contact the Springwell Church office at 268-2299.