—from Nikki Lewallen Gregory
Last year, I joined a mission trip that completely changed me. And I don’t say that lightly.
After just the first night—listening to stories and sharing conversations with strangers—I told my husband, “We’re selling everything. We don’t need our cars. We don’t need our house.” I was completely rocked. It’s wild how stepping out of your bubble can shake you to your core.
Travel alone can open your eyes. But being part of a group on a mission to serve others facing deeply rooted challenges? That’s next-level. It brings a raw clarity—about privilege, about gratitude, about what really matters.
But more than anything, it reminded me of the power of connection. In just three days, I formed bonds with strangers who now feel like lifelong friends. One woman I served alongside and I still talk regularly. We’ve cried together on the phone. We laugh, we share, we support one another deeply.
And it got me thinking: If this kind of deep connection is possible with strangers in just three days, what would happen if we created space for this kind of service with our coworkers? What kind of trust, understanding, and transformation could happen in our workplaces if we rolled up our sleeves and served together?
That’s why I invited the founders of Homes of Hope, Sean Lambert and Andrea East, to join me for a conversation.
A Movement That Started with One House—and a Three-Year-Old’s Question
Sean’s story starts decades ago. At 19, he sold everything he had (which, as he admits, wasn’t much) and headed to Thailand on Christmas Day to work with Cambodian refugees. Eventually, he married and began leading high school groups on mission trips to Tijuana, Mexico.
One day in Tijuana, Sean’s friend Sergio showed him a family living under a blue tarp, using garage doors as walls. Despite their circumstances, Sergio described them as “smart”—they owned their land and were slowly, over many years, working toward building a real home.
That conversation lit a spark. Sean rallied some friends, raised money, and returned to build a single house. That was the only plan. Just one house.
He even brought his young daughter Andrea, who was just three and a half at the time. While Sean and his team built, Andrea made friends with a nearby family living in an abandoned bus. And at the end of the trip, she asked, “Dad, are we going to build a house for the bus family too?”
That simple, heartfelt question changed everything.
Sean called another youth pastor. More teams came. More homes were built. One “yes” turned into another. And now? Homes of Hope has built over 8,000 homes in more than 30 countries.
Small Yeses, Big Impact
“I like to say, small yeses to a big God,” Sean told me. And he’s right—those little decisions can lead to huge ripple effects.
Years later, when two business leaders from YPO joined a build trip with their kids, they asked: “Why isn’t there something like this for whole families?”
Sean’s wife, a fellow yes-person, responded with, “We’ll do it with you.”
That conversation in the back of a van launched the first family-focused build experience. It started with 75 YPO families—and by the end of that weekend, people were already asking for next year’s dates.
Since then, over 1,000 company presidents have participated in Homes of Hope builds. Some return with their executive teams. Others bring their entire companies. It’s become a powerful tool for culture-building, leadership development, and meaningful impact.
One company in Indianapolis, Defenders, even took it a step further: “If this is good for our owners and our leadership team, why wouldn’t it be good for everyone on our team?”
The Invitation: What If?
What if we stopped separating the “doing good” from the “doing business”? What if we created experiences that transformed people and relationships—not just strategy?
This is the heartbeat behind Homes of Hope—and the heartbeat of leaders who want to make the most of this one life we’re given.
This mission trip reminded me how powerful it is to serve together. To share purpose. To be vulnerable. To witness transformation, not just in the people we serve, but in ourselves.
So here’s my challenge to you: What’s your next “yes”? And could it be something that transforms not just a stranger’s life—but the culture and connection inside your own organization?
Listen to the episode: Gut + Science | Episode 279: Serve Together: Impact, Lifetime Memories + Deep Connection with Andrea East and Sean Lambert
Key Takeaways:
- Transformative Power of Service: Serving others not only helps those in need but creates a deep bond and sense of purpose among those who give.
- Connection Through Immersive Service: A mission trip creates stronger relationships between coworkers by uniting them in a meaningful cause.
- Purpose and Impact in Leadership: Today’s workforce seeks purpose beyond a paycheck—serving as a team fulfills that deeper desire for meaning and trust.
