Hannah is the daughter of Everglades Baptist Church (EBC) Pastor Doug Nickalson and his wife Rachel. The Nickalson have raised all nine of their children in Okeechobee, home educating for many years and then enrolling the younger children in Okeechobee Christian Academy where Pastor Doug teaches several subjects, while also shepherding his flock at EBC.
Hannah graduated from high school in 2024 and immediately left for Snowbird Wilderness Outfitters for a year as an intern. When their duties end this summer, Hannah and three friends will be boarding a plane for Uganda, where they will be helping with the many ministries in which the Helms family and their team serve.
The children’s ministry consists of a program on Saturdays for 30-60 children ranging in age from 2-13 years old. The children come from all over the neighborhood where the Helms family lives and some from farther away. The program involves games, songs, learning the attributes of God, catechisms, scripture and reading from the Word of God.
On Tuesdays, the team goes to the women’s prison where approximately 100 women, some with their children, live. Each week, approximately 40-50 women join the Bible study. These women are from South Sudan, Congo and Uganda. Together, they read Scripture, sing songs, have a time of prayer and soon will begin biblical counseling.
Every Sunday, the Helms host a time of fellowship in their home. 15-25 people attend, some from Greg’s discipleship group, some from children’s programs, some are friends, neighbors or ministry partners, etc.
In Uganda, school students enjoy a break three times each year. They have three school terms, and each term is broken up by a three-to-five-week holiday. During these holidays, the Helms’ home is open to students, and many attend multiple times each week. Because most of the schools in Uganda are either boarding schools or day schools with long hours, the holidays are the best time for the missionaries to reach them and become involved in their lives and spend time in intensive Bible study explains Greg.
There is also a literacy program beginning when the next school term begins. Because there is no extra help for students who struggle academically, Greg and Kilby will begin offering weekly reading help for any age, whether they are in school or are unable to attend school due to the financial burden of tuition fees.
Hannah has some specific prayer requests as she prepares for her three-month mission trip to Uganda.
“I do ask if you will please pray that the Lord will use me as a vessel to spread the gospel and be able to show the love of Christ to the people of Uganda. Pray that this next season of life will be a new season of growth and I will be pushed to model my life after Christ. Pray for boldness, meekness, courage and compassion.”
