Nick Moore, his wife, Kyndra, and the couple’s seven children are moving to Zimbabwe.

Their announcement at the International Mission Board’s May 13 commissioning service at Highview Baptist East in Louisville garnered a collective gasp throughout the auditorium.

“We’re trying to show that when God calls you and makes it clear that you are called, he will provide the way for that to happen,” said Moore, 30, a two-time alumnus of Southern Seminary. “Don’t limit God’s ability to make a way where it seems there might not be a way.”

The IMB is sending Moore to help revitalize the Baptist Theological Seminary of Zimbabwe, which has struggled since national Baptist leaders forced out a liberal principal in 2011 for refusing to adhere to the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message.

Moore said his goal as a professor at the seminary is to become part of a conservative resurgence in Zimbabwe by grooming national leadership for the institution, strengthening academic offerings, and mobilizing national church planters. But he will also face many practical challenges such as restoring electricity to the seminary because it is currently in debt to the power company.

When he made his first trip to Africa in 2009, he realized the “need for theological education overseas” and used 2 Timothy 2:2 as an inspiration to go to the nations and train leaders. With the IMB’s refocused efforts toward theological education, Moore saw an opportunity for full-time ministry in Zimbabwe.

While some may marvel at the sacrifices Moore and his family are making, he says he has grown accustomed to handling challenges. Moore married Kyndra at the end of his first semester at Boyce College in 2003 and worked a handful of jobs to support his growing family while continuing his education.

After graduating from Boyce (2007) and earning his M.Div. from Southern (2010), Moore led the launch of Redemption Hill Baptist Church in Fisherville, Kentucky, in 2012. He served as the lead pastor while working on his Ph.D. in Old Testament Theology. Recently finding new leadership to replace him at Redemption Hill was the “final peg” in Moore’s decision before he accepted the call earlier this year to move his family of nine to Zimbabwe.

Moore, whose seven children range in age from 10 to 1, hopes his family’s obedience to the Great Commission will serve as an example and encouragement for other families, no matter their size.

“Trust God to open the doors as you step forward in faith,” Moore said. “If God calls you to do something, don’t use the family size as an excuse not to be obedient.”

Moore says Zimbabwe is a “great place to raise a family” and his large family will actually be an asset in ministering to the culture. He plans to remain in Zimbabwe for three to four years before returning stateside to finish his Ph.D. at Southern and then going back to the mission field.

For information on the Moore family and to receive updates on their service with the IMB, email pastornick130@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared in the Fall 2015 issue of Southern Seminary Magazine.