HERMISTON – Kelly and Laura Sager and their five children will leave soon for a mission in East Africa.

The family took part in a special service at Grace Baptist Church earlier this month to commission the family as missionaries to East Africa. Garry Benfield, director of mission for the Columbia Basin Baptist Association, and the Rev. Joe Gonzalez of Grace Baptist Church presided over the service. Family, friends and Grace Baptist Church members and members from throughout the Columbia Basin Baptist Association attended the service.

The Sagers attended a commissioning service in February in Richmond, Va., with 53 other missionaries, and were appointed to serve as missionaries on the International Missions Board of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Kelly Sager is the son of Harley and Bertha Sager of Hermiston. He and his wife, Laura, have five children, Darby, 8; twins Brick and Tegan, 7; and two adopted babies from Russia, Nyssa and Kooper, 2.

Sunday, Darby Sager was baptized by her father.

The family left Monday for Richmond to begin their missionary training. They will attend language school and orientation learning how to live in Africa. The family will leave for Africa in May.