With Jill Duggar and husband Derick Dillard’s organization, Dillard Family Ministries, becoming a subject of criticism, the couple was recently rejected as missionaries by the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) and the International Mission Board (IMB) due to their lack of qualifications.
While many speculated that the pair’s mission work in Central America had been supported by local Baptist churches or the IMB, such rumors have been proven false.
After the Duggar family’s hit reality series, ‘19 Kids and Counting,’ was cancelled by TLC in May following Josh Duggar’s molestation scandal, Jill and Derick submitted incorporation papers for their non-profit organization. Subsequently, funds were solicited from donors for purposes that were not disclosed.
More than a month later, fans learned that the Dillards had signed up for mission work in a foreign destination.
Now, Jill and her family are set to return to TV along with her pregnant sister, Jessa, and husband Ben Seewald. The main focus of such TLC specials will be on Jill’s mission work in Central America with her family as well as on Jessa’s own preparations for welcoming her first child.
“We are looking forward to reconnecting with everyone with the new specials on TLC—many have asked about our mission work and about the challenges of taking our family to a different country, culture and learning a new language," Derick shared on Instagram, referring to their latest projects. "We appreciate your prayers."
TLC’s executive vice president and general manager Nancy Daniels also shared about the main emphasis of such programs.
“What we will be following in these specials is Jessa preparing for her first child," she said in an official statement. "And we'll be watching Jill preparing to make a major move to Central America with her family, which we know is something our audience will be interested in."
In addition, parents Jim Bob and Michelle recently posted images that they will be joining their daughters in their onscreen comeback.
The Duggar folks shared a number of photos on the Duggar Family Official Facebook page, showing a group of people gathered for Jill and Derick’s going-away celebrations.
As the couple prepared to return to their mission work in Central America after a month-long visit to their families back in the US, TLC camera crew members were present to film their family members, close friends and “financial support partners” who were sending them off.
“Thank you to all our prayer and financial support partners who were able to join us last night for an evening of ministry discussion and fellowship!” the family wrote on the Duggar Family Official Facebook page. “Thank you also to our financial partners who were not able to attend last night! We can’t do it without you!”
