God has led Matt and Heather to serve His people in SE Asia. After spending a term taking in the culture and learning some of the language, He has excited their hearts to work with the local church in creative entrepreneurship. Their desire is to see the Body of Christ thrive holistically; to see the Church in SE Asia not be shackled by poverty and oppression but to know the freedom Christ offers.

Upon returning to SE Asia in 2013, Matthew will begin and continue several business endeavors with the local church. Heather will begin working through preschool materials with their three-year-old son Judson and will also nurture their newborn.

Both Matt and Heather graduated from the University of Illinois at Springfield; Matt in Political Science and Heather in Communications. After serving their first term of three years on the field in SE Asia, Matt completed an MA in Economic Development from the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce at the University of Kentucky in December 2012.

Hugs from English students in rural SE Asia

Britney Sue currently serves as an apprentice with YouthHOPE and has the privilege of retelling the stories of what God is doing with the YouthHope global youth workers through regular e-news and blog updates. Britney Sue’s hope is to encourage and mobilize the body of Christ for global youth ministry. She is developing and leading the internship team of four college students to Bulgaria this summer as well as serving as the YouthHOPE point person for furloughing missionaries and visitors.

Loving ministering to girls in SE Asia

Brittany is from St. Cloud, Florida, where she became deeply involved in youth ministry within the local church.  In 2007, Brittany did an Outdoor Leadership and Discipleship School through Snowbird Wilderness Outfitters in North Carolina.  Through that semester and working at Snowbird, God really began cultivating a desire for missions within her. She graduated from Montreat College with a degree in Outdoor Ministry and minor in Human Services.  During college, Brittany became more aware of the issue of sex-trafficking and was involved with Hope House ministry (home for domestic adolescent victims).  After going with YouthHOPE to Cambodia in summer 2010, Brittany was excited to realize how all these passions could be blended together.

Brittany joins YouthHOPE as the Internship Coordinator and Human Trafficking Educator.  She will be involved in recruiting college students, planning internships, and bringing awareness to the issue of trafficking and how to respond with the gospel.  God has led her to bring awareness to the issues youth face globally, to help support and encourage workers that are already involved, and to encourage more people to follow God’s calling on their life.

Brad has worked in various youth ministries around the United States for the past 15 years.  After marrying in 2002, Heather joined him with a heart for missions.  Their most fruitful ministry as a couple included an extreme sports ministry in Montana, where they ministered to more than 2000 skateboarders and BMXers annually. 

In 2008, Brad and Heather were called to Bariloche, Argentina. Bariloche is an epicenter for extreme sports in southern South America, receiving people from all over the world.  Their family is excited to bring a surprising and fresh approach of community outreach and discipleship to a city and region with such need—using their own family as a catalyst for a discipleship-focused house church movement.

Brad and Heather joined YouthHope, a ministry of New Mission Systems International, in 2012.  They are excited about partnering with YouthHope as they reach youth and families with the transformational love of Christ.

Ryan is Director of YouthHOPE Projects in one of the Southeast Asian countries they have a presence in.  Ryan graduated from Johnson University in 2005 with a Youth Ministry and Preaching degree.  Since joining NMSI in 2005, he has traveled to 19 different countries teaching youth pastors, directing conferences, and overseeing other holistic youth ministry projects.  Ryan is currently working toward a masters in International Development at Eastern University.

On June 22, 2010, Ryan proposed to Mary who said, “Of course.”  Ryan and Mary were married on January 7, 2011, and are currently serving in Southeast Asia.  Mary holds an English degree and is working toward her Masters in Organizational Leadership from Development Asssociates International (DAI).

YouthHOPE has been training youth pastors in Southeast Asia since 2006.  This has led to partnerships with Global Youth Ministry Networking and Christ In Youth.  God has been leading Ryan and Mary to continue developing a youth pastor network and creating resources for youth pastors.  The greatest need urban youth have in underdeveloped Southeast Asian countries is job creation, thus Ryan and Mary are creating the Opportunities NOW Entrepreneurship School for Youth where they will be taught how to start small businesses.  Ryan and Mary have also published the first book on youth ministry last October written by youth pastors in country in which they serve.

God has given Derek and Hiatt Fields a heart for the K. people of SE Asia. After a short-term trip to SE Asia in the summer of 2011, God has called them to partner with other missionaries in that region to plant a church that seeks to reach out and restore hurt and broken people, especially those affected by human trafficking.

Derek and Hiatt will be working in one of the highest concentrated sex-trafficking areas in the world to share the light of the gospel with a community that desperately needs it. They will be serving within a culture which is predominantly Buddhist. Their hope is to plant a justice-minded church that can provide hope for a people who truly have little in their lives.

Derek graduated from Florida Christian College in 2009 with a degree in Bible and Worship. He has served in full-time Worship Ministry for four years in Kissimmee, Florida. Hiatt holds a degree in English from the University of South Carolina. She has the heart of an artist who longs to see broken women restored to God.

The Fields are currently building their prayer and provision team, inviting others to partner with them in this important ministry. They are looking at deploying in September 2012.

Preparing for a conference with youth leaders

Johnny and Janelle met while in Bible College.  They were serving at the same youth ministry and fell in love.  Johnny and Janelle both have BA in Intercultural Studies from Lincoln Christian University.  Johnny also has a MDiv from Lincoln Christian Seminary.  They married in 2008 and soon began pursuing ways to serve overseas.  In 2010 their first son Will was born.  They moved to Southeast Asia in May of 2011. 

Johnny and Janelle felt called to work with those in our world who have little chance of hearing the good news of Jesus Christ.  They know that this happens best by equipping nationals to reach their own culture for Jesus.  Janelle has a love for serving children and women.  Johnny has a passion for reaching youth, as well as using media to equip and disciple.  They are currently language learning in an effort to better understand and engage with the culture in which they are serving.

Brian and Elizabeth met in Chicago at Moody Bible Institute, which led them to explore missions and resulted in their serving in Macedonia.  They were introduced to NMSI through David and Brenda Aderholdt, who are affiliates in Macedonia. They resonate with the vision of NMSI to join with God to restore his dominion on Earth and to foster Jesus following communities. 

Brian and Elizabeth work with professionals in Skopje, Macedonia. Through partnering with the International Church of Skopje and volunteering in local businesses, they are able to come alongside individuals in Macedonia and introduce them to an authentic relationship with Christ.

The Richards have also been involved in starting two churches through leading Bible Studies, women’s outreaches and children’s programs.  Elizabeth is working at an International School, teaching children with dyslexia, giving her opportunity to work closely with other teachers and to develop relationships with many families.  Brian is developing a Corporate Social Responsibility program that challenges business to focus on people and the environment, rather than simply profit.  This enables him to develop relationships with people in the business community and share Christ with them.  Together, they serve in the International Church of Skopje on the worship team, and Brian on the preaching team.

Brian and Elizabeth have four children: Micah (1996), Josiah (1998), Anastacia (2001) and Zechariah (2004).

Ministering with an adult short-term church team in Haiti

Mike and Sarah Sheagren met at Lincoln Christian College in 2003 and joined NMSI the day after they were married in 2004.  At that time Mike joined the CGO staff as the Director of Go Global and later transitioned into the role of Director of Short-term Ministries in Florida.  Sarah is involved in the SW Florida community as she stays home ministering to their foster children. 

Mike’s first experience with NMSI was as a summer intern to Bulgaria in 2004.  What drew Mike to NMSI was the organization’s desire to see Mike completely fulfilled in what Christ had planned for him, whatever the cost.

In his role as Director of Short-term Ministries, Mike oversees the process of recruitment and placement of Short-term participants involved with NMSI for less than one year.  He works to foster spiritual growth and leadership development in the participants through extensive pre-field training, on-field community experience, and post–field debriefing.  Mike also communicates with NMSI missionaries and associates on the field to set up projects for the participants.

Teaching eager youth at a retreat in Haiti

Sarah is a Youth Ministry graduate from Kingswood College and grew up with her family in Prince Edward Island, Canada. Sarah has a passion for youth ministry and to disciple young women to live up to their God given potential. She thrives on seeing “the light come on” in young women’s mind as they begin to have hope for their future.

Sarah was introduced to NMSI and YouthHOPE during a Global Youth Ministry course in college. She then did a six month apprenticeship with YouthHOPE (2009) and then lead the summer internship to Malawi (2010).

In 2010, Sarah formally affiliated with NMSI and will be working within the YouthHOPE department where she will be assisting the Director with administrative duties. Sarah’s responsibilities include recruiting college age students to participate in summer internships and apprenticeships as well as creating an opportunity for youth ministries to do Hunger Strike Challenges to create awareness of the needs and lives of youth globally.

While serving in YouthHOPE together, the Lord brought Sarah together with Josh Kaminsky, like-minded and like-hearted. They have plans to marry in 2012. Pray that the Lord would prepare them for marriage and the ministry that He has for them together training and discipling youth.

Teaching in a village church Sunday service

José Ricardo grew up in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil.  In 2000, he began to follow Christ and became involved in his church, Comunidade de Cristo in Ribeirao Preto, Sao Paulo, Brazil.  In 2004, shortly after he had finished law school, missionaries from NMSI led a seminar at his church about missions.  José felt God calling him to become a missionary.  In June 2005, José was sent by the Brazilian church to Timor-Leste, an underdeveloped Portuguese-speaking island in South East Asia.  In Timor-Leste he began working together with the Labor Department drafting labor laws for the country.  José specializes in International Labor Standards by the International Labor Organization (ILO), the United Nations (UN), and also works as a legal advisor to the ILO, in support to the Secretary of State for Vocational Training and Employment of Timor-Leste where he has written several drafts of law.  José Ricardo also works with the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other missionaries in Timor-Leste, especially regarding to legal advice.

In 2010, Jose Ricardo initiated a ministry called “Marketplace Fellowship” which is targeted to mobilize Christian professionals (UN, embassies, government, entrepreneurs, members of national and international organizations) and to involve them in prayer and fellowship.  Since its beginning, representatives from diverse professional areas and from 30 countries have already participated in the meeting, including the Secretary of State of Labor of Timor-Leste.

Gailynn made her first trip missionary to Timor-Leste in 2001. Through YWAM she returned to the Timor-Leste in 2004 where she taught for a year at a village daycare.  In 2007, while still with YWAM, she participated a program for “at-risk children in Brazil to prepare to return to Timor-Leste to work in the missionary project called “Casa Vida” (House of Life), a home for girls who have suffered sexual and domestic violence.  Today, Gailynn develops work with the young mothers and babies who live in the House of Life, helping in the development and recovery of self esteem of the mothers and stimulating the physical/psychological development of its babies.

José Ricardo and Gailynn also support other ministries outside the capital where they develop activities in a local church and support activities such as health, water security, and education for the most needy in several villages.

José Ricardo is supported by a unique partnership that joined together to send this young Brazilian attorney to Timor-Leste—NMSI; Central Christian Church, in Henderson, Nevada; Norkenzie Christian Church, in Eugene, Oregon; and Comunidade de Cristo, in Ribeirao Preto, Brazil.

Bill and his family were missionaries in Japan from 1985-1998.  After their return to the U.S., Bill worked as a mission pastor and college professor until 2002 when he became a part of NMSI.  While serving in various capacities he was asked to join the NMSI board as a consultant in 2005, and became a regular member of the board in 2009.  Beginning in 2011, Bill assumed the responsibility of Asia/Pacific Regional Director, and still retains a place on the board.

Youth worshiping the Lord in Haiti

Nego was born in Port Au Prince, Haiti. He has been trained as a youth preacher in the church that he got baptized in.  After going to an internship in 2005, he became deeply involved in missions as a youth minister.  By the year 2005, Nego started working for Farsight Youth Ministry, a ministry of the Farsight Christian Mission, Inc.  Nego joined NMSI in January 2008.  Nego also had the privilege to earn a degree in Adult Psychology with Penn Foster College/ICS Canada.

Ellen was born in Ontario, Canada, and attended Durham College to become a graphic designer.  She worked with a Baptist church in Canada as a volunteer with their children’s programs and as a youth leader for Lakes Community Church and Littleton Pentecostal Church.  Ellen made her first trip to Haiti in January 2008.

Nego and Ellen met in 2008 while working with Haitian youth at a summer outreach program in the mountains of Seguin.  They were married in March of 2009 in Haiti by a Canadian pastor.

Their mission and focus for the work in Haiti is to see and fill needs.  Nego and Ellen meet people who have a vision and project ready to help fill the needs of Haitians. They work in creating networks that will help bring more projects and relief to Haiti.  Connecting with people who have projects and who are looking for guidance, Nego and Ellen show people where their projects could be used effectively. Nego and Ellen have partnered with youthHOPE, a ministry of NMSI in reaching the youth of their country.

Nego and Ellen work alongside the Bezalel Movement, a Haitian Christian Organization that Nego started in 2005, working in Jacmel,  with the goal of “Leading the Youth of Haiti to Christ.”

Paul Moelker is from Grand Haven, Michigan, and is retired after working in the food service industry for 36 years. He has been working in his local church with a deep desire to encourage and serve people through various ministries, with an emphasis on freedom in Christ.

Seven years ago, Paul started to have vision and dreams of going into full-time missions work with life experiences, and when his mentor joined NMSI in 2007 and told Paul about it, it sounded as a perfect fit to his vision. Upon retirement, through encouragement, Paul came to NMSI with prayers of working at the Center for Global Outreach (CGO) in spiritual formation to work with and to go to missionaries wherever they may be to help with spiritual encouragement and a compassionate heart to help meet any needs or feelings that they may be struggling with.

Paul’s purpose: to be an encourager and prayer partner able; to be in service to missionaries on home assignment or in the field.

Ryan and Meghan worked with a church in Selston, Nottinghamshire, England, as interns in 2006-2007.  They are currently working with a new church plant, Frontline Church South in south-central Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Ryan is working as a trauma-informed care specialist at The Genesis Project, a group home for children that are victims of abuse.  Meghan is working in the hospitality and administrative areas of Frontline Church South.  They strongly desire to follow the passion God has given them to serve in church planting in England.

Ryan and Meghan met at Ozark Christian College in Joplin, Missouri. They were married in 2005.  Ryan graduated with a Bachelor of Theology degree majoring in Intercultural Studies.  They are currently expecting the arrival of their first child in April of 2012.

Adam and Beth grew up in opposite ends of Indiana but God brought them together at Purdue University.  They were married in June 2007. Adam graduated with a B.S. in Network Engineering Technology and Beth in Organizational Leadership and Supervision.  Adam and Beth joined NMSI in the summer of 2009.  They have been serving at the Center for Global Outreach (CGO) in Fort Myers, Florida, since January 2011; Adam as the Short-Term Projects Coordinator and Beth as the Executive Assistant to our vice president of International Operations.  While in these roles, they actively prayed for and pursued God’s direction in where they would serve overseas.

God has revealed to Adam and Beth His desire for them to move to Southeast Asia!  There they will be joining a growing team of young families who are helping to equip local churches and their communities.  Beth’s desire is to bring freedom and to connect others to the heart of God through women’s ministry and inner healing prayer.  Adam’s desire is to partner with nationals in starting innovative businesses in order provide jobs to break the cycle of poverty. Adam will also train leaders to lead their communities and churches inside and outside the church.

Adam and Beth are currently preparing to deploy to Southeast Asia in early 2013.

Bob holds a BS in Christian Ministries from Hope International University, an M. Div. in Homiletics from Lincoln Christian Seminary, and a D. Min in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary.  Peggy holds a BA in Child Growth and Development from Hope International University.

Bob and Peggy Kuest are a husband and wife teaching team dedicated to strengthening national church leaders to teach others in biblical leadership, children’s education and parenting skills.  They provide this training via seminars taught in nationally led Bible Colleges.  By preparing national leaders, local churches are strengthened and nationals train others working among unreached people groups.  Bob and Peggy recruit teams to travel with them who can teach other subjects necessary to preparing national leaders.

Bob’s book, Uncommon Leadership: Servant Leadership in a Power-Hungry World, teaches the biblical principles for Christian leadership.  The book provides written material for national leaders who have few resources in their language.  It is currently available in ten languages, with others in progress.  Peggy has a ministry of encouragement and instruction to missionary wives.  She also teaches various craft skills helpful for family and/or income. 

Bob and Peggy have had the privilege of participating in ministry projects in 26 countries.

Preaching and teaching among the Lisu

Amanda (Bryan) Wongnirattisai is a 2002 graduate of Ozark Christian College and a 2004 graduate of Missouri Southern State University.  She was called to the mission field in high school and was invited by a missionary to spend a summer at the Lisu Bible Institute (LBI) in Chiang Dao, Thailand.  Amanda grew to love the Lisu people and returned to LBI in 2006.

While teaching at LBI, Amanda met one of the LBI alumni, a village pastor named Yoha (John) Chwa, whose Thai name is Nipon Wongnirattisai.  Yoha and Amanda married on July 4, 2009, and served in Yoha’s village of Saingam.

Yoha and Amanda are serving in the Mae Hong Son province in northwest Thailand to reach the Lisu people, Yoha’s tribe, and plan to plant a church in the village of Doi Pilou, near Yoha’s home village of Saignam.  While the Lisu have been successfully evangelized in the countries of China and Myanmar (Burma), they have been less responsive in Thailand, where most of the Lisu worship spirits and follow witch doctors and shamans.  Yoha and Amanda are now called to plant churches among the unreached Lisu in Northern Thailand.

Jenni has been involved in missions mobilization since graduating from Ozark Christian College (OCC) in 2001. Upon graduation, she served NMSI in the Short Term Department acting as the Director of a youth missions program called ‘Go! Global’. In August 2005, she returned to her alma mater to work as the Administrative Assistant in the Missions Department. During her time there, she connected with an organization called Rapha House.

Rapha House is a safe home for young girls rescued out of sex trafficking and is located in Cambodia. After reading up on the issue and leading two summer internships there, Jenni had come to the point of no return in her understanding of the issue and the biblical response to it. She has chosen, as an act of obedience and love for Christ, to pursue ministry in Cambodia.

* surname withheld for security reasons

Both Ingo and Capri have been professional counselors since 1993.  Each received an M.A. degree in Counseling Psychology from Regent University.  Ingo is finishing a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and supervision also from Regent University in 2012.

The heart of Ingo and Capri’s ministry has always been Christian counseling, combining professional knowledge with theological wisdom and biblical direction.  In Berlin they are establishing counseling and educational services for missionaries, expats, military, and local residents of Germany while seeking opportunities to expand services via new technology into education hubs in Europe and beyond. 

As believers and counselors, their ministry serves local churches with consulting and educational services and individuals and couples with counseling. A s their ministry has taken root since its beginning in 2008, local Germans have begun using their services.  Capri specializes in ministry to women, MKs (missionary kids) and teenagers, and Ingo works predominantly in counseling couples, and in direct work with churches and businesses.  The needs are extensive, and even though Germany is a well to-do country, the churches and missionaries in Europe need great encouragement and support.

Ingo and Capri are the parents of Lukas (9/96), Katharina (5/99) and Annika (5/02).

Berliners worshiping in the church of Thomas Gemeinde

Amadeus and Sofia are German nationals ministering in Berlin, their capital.  Amadeus is an ordained pastor with the German denomination of “Muelheimer Verband Freikirchlich-Evangelischer Gemeinden”, commissioned to church planting.  He is a graduate of the Giessen School of Theology in Germany and Dallas Theological Seminary.  Amadeus felt called to ministry at an early age.

Amadeus and Sofia have partnered with NMSI since 2002 to minister in the district of Steglitz-Zehlendorf, the southwest of Berlin.  As a minister with a local German church, the Lukas-Gemeinde in Berlin-Schoeneberg, Amadeus gathered a core group to start a new, contemporary style church in the community they live in.

Their dream is to demonstrate the love of God in their materialistic society by creating a loving, authentic and caring church in their midst.  A church where everyone can experience God personally.  A church that cares deeply for the world we live in.  A church striving for transformation one life at a time.

Amadeus and Sofia have four lovely daughters: Lina (2002), Kaija (2004), Nike (2006) and Jule (2009).

Will and Tanja teaching at RESET

Will and Tanja work with RESET Berlin, a church that meets in a café, and focuses on relational ministry through small groups, mentoring, and living life with other couples and families.  Their approach to ministry involves biblical and theological teaching, spiritual disciplines, worship, counseling and living by example.  Their desire is to help people grow into life-long, committed, mature followers of Jesus. 

Many people have fled to Berlin due to war and political problems, thus creating a unique environment in which many nations can be found in one city.  Will and Tanja have a passion for growing the church in Berlin.  They desire to use their education and experience to mentor future leaders and disciple people at all levels of belief and commitment.

Tanja grew up in East Berlin and worked as a nurse for many years. She is currently finishing her degree in Bible, theology and counseling. Will has lived all over the Midwestern US and has degrees in biblical languages, philosophy, and biblical interpretation. Emelie enjoys reading, sports, and playing with other kids.

Enjoying the bounty of God’s earth

Megan began to feel an ever-growing calling towards mission work in Africa in 1998 when she went to Uganda and spent two years working with university students.  She returned to Zimbabwe, Africa, in 2007 to work with an agricultural ministry called Foundations for Farming (FfF), a ministry that combines biblical principles with sustainable agricultural techniques.  Demonstration gardens, called “Well Watered Gardens,” are planted in local communities and serve as living billboards. Megan feels called to work alongside small-scale farmers and children, helping them increase their profitability and come fully into their identity as greatly loved children of God.  She affiliated with NMSI in 2009.

Megan is a 1998 graduate from Taylor University and a 2003 graduate from Wheaton College Graduate School.  She also completed a year-long internship in tropical agriculture with ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization). During her internship at ECHO, she took care of the Foundations for Farming demonstration plot at ECHO, and eventually traveled to Zimbabwe to learn first-hand from the founder of this powerful ministry.

Megan begins her ministry in Malawi January 2102 with a Foundations for Farming team, located outside of Blantyre.

As God led Derek and Ashley into full-time missions ministry, they chose NMSI after participating in summer internships with the organization in 2004.  They both had positive experiences, and knew that one day they would return to full-time mission work and NMSI was always at the top of the list! 

God has led Derek and Ashley to care for our missionaries in the field. Ashley has a background working in business and hospitality and has a passion for making sure that our missionaries are cared for in every way.  Ashley works alongside the Strategic Leadership Team as the Human Resources Director to protect, empower and sustain affiliates for long term service.

Derek has a background in Youth Ministry and works in NMSI’s Mobilization Department training Internship leaders, recruiting college students and encouraging NMSI affiliates.  Derek is very passionate about getting the next generation mobilized to do what God is leading them to do. He is taking that passion to the next level by mobilizing college students to work with NMSI affiliates in hopes that one day, those college students would be passionate about missions for the rest of their lives.

“We believe it is important for our missionaries in the field to continue the work that God has set out for them to do.” 

Derek and Ashley Ried have been married since 2005.  Derek and Ashley graduated from Lincoln Christian University, Derek with a degree in Youth Ministry and Ashley in Business Management.  They are currently expecting their first child in May 2012.

Worship in Harare

Emmanuel and Betty serve the southern region of Africa from their home in Zimbabwe. The Zihoves were married in 1979 and have four children: Faith, Oral, Memory and Simba. They also have foster children Susan, Ribecca, Anele, Rachel, Betty, Babiana and Nyasha.

Emmanuel and Betty serve through church planting, running a Bible school, street kid ministry, orphan care, pastor mentoring, community Bible studies, community care, famine relief and counseling. Emmanuel is also the Southern Africa Director for Community Bible Study International (CBSI).

Emmanuel and Betty are serving orphaned kids by providing for their basic needs (food, shelter, education) through a ministry of “Oasis of Grace.”

serving in Ukraine with joy

Alys grew up in a home where missionaries were welcome and was drawn to missions conferences in her youth. Yet it was after her first short-term project in Ukraine after college, that it became clear the Lord was calling her to full-time missions. Her love for children was what drove Alys to join NMSI in spring 2006, and following a two-month time under the care of local church in Ukraine, she learned of the needs of many disabled children. 

Currently, one orphanage in Tsyurupinsk, Ukraine, that is home to about 200 mentally and physically disabled children is the focus of her ministry since 2008.  Showering them with love and teaching basic skills encourages these kids who in many ways are the outcasts of society, but who are precious to God.  Alys reaches out to the orphanage staff as well, sharing her time and energy with them that they too will claim the love of God for themselves.  Helping to teach children at a local school for the hearing impaired also provides avenues to reach the children of Ukraine with Christ’s love.  As the body of Christ grows, Alys hopes to provide connections for believers to serve in the community.

“As the Lord taught us to love the least of these, He led me to them and they are so desperate for love, in whatever manner it is expressed.  They are treasures waiting to be discovered and the joy on their faces expresses the treasure as it unfolds, when the box to their heart is opened.” 

Rejoicing with first missionary training group

Originally from Upstate New York, Wendy moved to Kentucky for the first time to complete her B.A. in Bible and Intercultural Studies at Kentucky Christian University.  Upon graduation, she entered a 2-year cooperative program in which she taught English in China while completing her M.A. in Intercultural Studies/TESOL through Wheaton Graduate School.  In January of 2004, Wendy moved back to Kentucky to teach Intercultural Studies at her alma mater as an assistant professor in the School of Bible and Ministry.

Wendy first heard about NMSI when two of her students at KCU completed summer internships and returned talking about their great experiences.  She knew if an organization could conduct internships well, they were doing something great as a whole. When Wendy sensed God leading toward NMSI several years later, she was excited to accept the call to train and support missionaries around the world, including her sister Alys who is an affiliate with NMSI serving in an orphanage in Ukraine.

Wendy leads the Training and Development Group of NMSI’s Human Resource Department.  She writes and facilitates training programs that are conducted at the CGO.  She also works on a variety of projects, developing opportunities for missionaries to pursue ongoing educational and skill development.

Strategizing at the Brazil mission leaders meeting

After 18 years in Brazil (church Planting and Leadership Development), God led Lowell and Blanche to join NMSI. The core of their passion is to see individuals and churches globally discover their role in seeing lives and communities transformed by the gospel, especially among unengaged/unreached peoples, and to see them equipped and supported to fulfill their call. 

Lowell and Blanche bring a wealth of education and experience to their roles at NMSI. Lowell with an M.A. in Missiology from the School of World Mission, Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California and Blanche as a Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine from Western States Chiropractic College (Portland, Oregon), and an Advanced Diploma on Biblical Counseling, Light University, Virginia.

Lowell serves as Vice President of International Operations, and has two huge passions: 1) the development of and multiplication of “Strategic Partnerships” that will directly facilitate seeing lives and communities transformed and, the multiplication of “Jesus-following communities” globally; and 2) to assure the overall ‘well being’ and effectiveness of field missionaries, to assist and resource them in the development and effective implementation of their ministry objectives.

Blanche serves as a Biblical Counselor, serving those on the field and at the Center of Global Outreach (CGO) and serves with the Member Care group in various capacities. 

Using sports in ministry to build the Kingdom

Serving as missionaries in Mexico, Shawn and Susan were married in 2002 and are both graduates of Manhattan Christian College in Kansas.  Shawn also studied at the Kanakuk Institute and received his Master’s Degree from John Brown University in Arkansas.  Raised as a missionary kid in Mexico with dual nationalities (US/Mexico), Shawn has returned to Mexico to serve there with his family.

In 2000, God called Shawn to start a sports camp ministry in Mexico.  After growing in experience as the director of Lakeview Christian Camp for four years and finishing Shawn´s master´s degree, the Inchaustegui family moved to Mexico in 2009.  They are currently living in Cuernavaca, Mexico (1 hour south of Mexico City) and are developing a camping program to disciple and train youth through experiential outdoor programs.

Sports camping allows youth to practice and improve in their chosen sport while experiencing Christian community and encountering the gospel message in a fresh and impacting way.  Shawn, along with a team of other Mexican believers, have now formed Misión Sports Camps and had their first camp in summer 2011.

Shawn and Susan Inchaustegui are the proud and blessed parents of of Isabel (2003), Kaleb (2006), and Isaac (2008).

Dan grew up around New York City and attended college in upstate New York.  After a short career as a chemist, he decided to try something he’d always dreamed about: farming.  Through this, God gave him a passion for missions, starting with a visit to a church in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Mary’s first experience with NMSI was as a summer intern to Malawi, Africa in 2003.  After graduating from a Christian college with a degree in missions, she joined the home office staff at the Center for Global Outreach (CGO) as Director of Summer Internships.  Dan and Mary met in 2007 at NMSI’s CGO in Fort Myers, Florida, when Dan attended the COAT missionary training program.  They married in September of 2008.  Their lovely daughter Olivia was born 2010 in Zimbabwe.

Dan and Mary partner with church-based ministries following principles based on the concepts of Foundations for Farming (FfF).  FfF is a Christian initiative aimed at making disciples using the context of sustainable conservation agriculture as a launching point for life transformation.  Their focus is on curriculum development, leadership training and one-on-one mentoring. 

Derek and Tracy Ulmer have been married since October 2010.  They both grew up in Kentucky and met in the summer of 2008 while serving as summer program staff with Crossings Ministry.  They affiliated with New Mission Systems International (NMSI) in fall of 2010 and are building their support team to serve NMSI’s Center for Global Outreach (CGO) in Fort Myers, Florida. 

Derek’s first encounter with NMSI occurred in the summer of 2007 when he participated in an internship to Japan.  He graduated from Johnson Bible College in Knoxville, Tennessee, in May of 2008 with the degree of Bible and Missions.  Derek’s ministry role will be coordinating Short-term projects with NMSI’s stateside and international missionaries at the CGO. 

Tracy graduated from Lindsey Wilson College in Columbia, Kentucky, in May of 2010 with a degree in Christian Ministry as well as Recreation, Tourism and Sport Management.  She will be involved in planning retreats, conferences and seminars for missionary renewal on regional and global levels.

God has led Derek and Tracy to be servants in His ministry to reach the hearts of the unreached through their daily ministry of equipping, developing and supporting the missionaries of NMSI.

Judah attended the University of Mandalay and then graduated from the Bible Institute. Judah then attended Florida Christian College from 1995-1997.  He connected with NMSI while living in Florida and attending school.

He returned to his country in 1997 and married his betrothed, Khaw, and then taught at the Bible Institute in Myanmar.  Judah and Khaw have five children, three of whom are adopted.

Judah has been teaching at The Eastern Bible Institute since 1998.  In 2000, Judah started the Wireless Church of Christ which continues to meet in his home today.  In 2002, Judah was led by God to open an orphanage, starting with six orphans.  Today Judah loves, educates, houses and supports several orphans in a one room hut that is a 20-minute walk from his modest home.  The Sunday School classes for his church meet at the orphanage, Judah’s home and in six other homes spread out over several villages.  They also have weekly Bible study classes that meet in various peoples’ homes on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday nights.  Judah and Khaw teach all of these, and the Bible students help on Saturdays nights.

An abundant harvest of moringa leaves

Holly is from Omaha, Nebraska, and graduated with a BS in Agriculture Missions from Lubbock Christian University.  After graduating, she spent a year doing a tropical agriculture internship at ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization) in Ft. Myers, Florida, to better prepare for future service in a developing country.

Jesus cares about the whole person, body and spirit, and He placed on Holly’s heart a desire to do holistic ministry in Southeast Asia.  In 2006, Holly joined NMSI and spent two years in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, teaching about agriculture and nutrition.  She then joined the work of CAMA (Compassion and Mercy Associates) Services in 2009 in Battambang, Cambodi,a doing church-based community development.

In Battambang, Holly and CAMA have done things such as a rice coop, AIDS homecare ministry, agriculture and nutrition training, and job/income generation.  CAMA also started “Moringa for Health,” a growing social enterprise that produces and sells nutritional products and beauty products made from the moringa tree.  This business/ministry employs and empowers Cambodians, opens doors to share about Christ, and has given supplemental income to marginalized AIDS patients and church people living on the edge financially.

Worship draws Berliners into God’s presence

Ben and Jasmin met in Berlin in 2003.  Ben was spending a year abroad studying German and Theology.  Jasmin had just moved to Berlin from the south of Germany where she was born and was seeking to discover her calling.  Over the next two years, a common desire for missions grew, and Ben joined NMSI in 2004 after finishing university.  In 2005, Ben and Jasmin were married and started working alongside RESET Berlin, a German church that meets and runs out of a café.  They use their gifts and talents in music and design to help RESET love God, love people and love the city.  Their passion is to influence emerging generations with the Gospel through relationships and creativity.

Ben and Jasmin live in a budding arts community in Neukölln, a mainly Turkish and low-income district of Berlin.  The Seidls’ ministry is relational by nature.  Ben and Jasmin develop and train worship leaders and song writers as well as encourage creatives in and outside of the church.

Roemer Collective: Ben and Jasmin’s music and design site
Proskuneo : Website for worship leaders in the German-speaking world

Hanging out with teens in Sofia

Gabriel and Melissa married in May 2005 after graduating from Milligan College - Gabriel with a B.A. in History and Melissa with a B.A. in Bible and Ministry.  When looking for a mission organization, the opportunity to work at NMSI’s home offices and the authenticity of NMSI’s community brought Gabriel and Melissa to Fort Myers until the Lord led them overseas.

Gabe and Melissa have been called to Bulgaria where they are ministering to youth.  They arrived in August of 2007 and have been effectively using their gifts and passion for youth and family ministry.  Their ministry consists of connecting with students through outdoor adventure sports which includes mountain biking, hiking and backpacking, as well as leading a youth Alpha Course (an introduction to Christianity).  In addition, they are working in schools, leading experiential learning and team concepts, as well as teaching the book “Youth at the Crossroads” created by Agape Ministries.  Gabe and Melissa desire to make disciples among the youth of Bulgaria and long to see the local Bulgarian church growing stronger with the Christian leaders of the next generation.

God has led Melissa on a path amazingly orchestrated to prepare her for a life in ministry overseas.  She obtained a B.S. in Elementary Education and Bible, a TESOL (Teaching English as a Second and Other Language) endorsement, and an M.A. in Teaching with a Specialization in National Board Leadership.  Since 1998, she has been in the educational field instructing, developing curriculum, leading professional development, and administering summer schools.  During this time, she has trained and led several short-term trips in Latin America.

Melissa has felt God’s call to assist a church (Iglesia Gran Comisión) in La Ceiba, Honduras, where she will help them expand an existing nutrition program for the at-risk children (K-6 grade) in the community.  She’ll also teach English which will include lessons in agriculture and computer skills. 

Her vision is to enable these children to reach a higher income potential and thus sustain their families in the future.  La Ceiba is the third largest city in the country with over 170,000 in population.  If these children learn English, they can obtain employment as a taxi cab driver or as a hospitality worker.  Tourism is on the increase and these service jobs will be in demand. 

Youth are coming to Christ and being baptized

Mioche received a BA in Pastoral Leadership and a BS in Biblical Studies and Mission at Minnesota Bible College in 2001 and an MA in Ministry: Church Planting and Development from Lincoln Christian Seminary (now University) in 2005.

The Rocks were called to serve in their homeland of Haiti primarily to connect people to Jesus, the Savior.  Based in their hometown of Pignon, they reach out with the Word in diverse ways.  The Rocks’ ministry includes two growing churches in the village of Bouyaha and the town of Pignon.  Vibrant children’s and sports ministries target the area’s youth.  They also operate a Christian school in Bouyaha where 268 children are being educated and learning about God.  Through a radio station which they run, they reach an audience of 300,000 people with the Good News every day.

Since the recent tragedies of earthquake, cholera, flooding, etc., they have been involved in relief ministry to those victims.  The church in Pignon has an active counseling program with a fantastic team providing help and spiritual support to hospital patients and quake victims.  God is doing marvelous things and Mioche and Rosie are glad to be part of it. 

Building the church in Malawi

After joining NMSI in October 2003, the Renfro’s began ministry in Malawi in March 2005.  Their ministry includes working with orphans, people living with HIV/AIDS, well projects, famine relief and food security, and teaching about the love of Christ.  The birth of their first church in July 2007 was a highlight of their ministry.

The Renfros are from Illinois originally, but lived in Florida for 17 years where they raised their family.  Larry worked for over ten years for a social services agency. He and Mandy worked for Cookson Hills Children’s Home and did other types of full-time childcare and therapeutic foster care for emotionally disturbed children.  Larry has a B.S. degree in Psychology from Clearwater Christian College in Clearwater, Florida.  They both have served in many capacities in their home (and sending) church, First Christian Church of Seminole, Florida.

The local church—faithful and strong

Slava and Masha both come from families of believers, but personally came to know the Lord in 1990, a year after they were married.  They were baptized, fellowshiped and served in a church in the region of Stavropol, in the south of Russia.  Slava is a Stavropol University graduate, majoring in agriculture.  Masha was an elementary education major in a community college.  Both were working and managing a grain producing farm business in that area.

In 1995, they went into ministry full-time as missionaries to the Siberian city of Tobolsk where Slava served as an assistant pastor for 3.5 years. In 1996, he graduated from the Bible Institute (Russian Baptist Union project).  In 1998, they were transferred to their new ministry location, Church in Yaroslavl, where Slava served as assistant pastor for the congregation of 300 until 2002.

Since 1996, Slava has been working with the Bible League of Russia, first as their missionary and later as one of their teachers, and in 1998 became the Bible League Regional Coordinator for central Russia.  In 2000-2002, Slava received further training from the Bible Training Center for Pastors (BTCP), Moscow. Today he has a vision to plant new churches and train local pastors in church planting and pastoral care.

During their time in Yaroslavl, Slava and Masha also put efforts into planting a new church in the part of Yaroslavl where Pleskach family currently lives. By God’s grace, the first Bible study was started there in 2000 and grew to a church of 65 members today.

Celebrating the investment in the students’ lives

Lena Pira graduated from California State University Los Angeles with degrees in early childhood education and curriculum development.  In 2008, Lena felt God calling her to Uganda for full-time ministry and partnered with NMSI to aid her in walking in Christ’s footsteps.

Lena has been in Uganda since July 2009, working in partnership with Africa Renewal Ministries (ARM) and Africa Renewal Christian College (ARCC), formerly Gaba Bible Institute (GBI).  ARM is an indigenous NGO started in 1990 in order to train up a new generation of Christian leaders.  Since joining ARM, Lena has helped launch the diploma program in Child Development at ARCC, and is now currently working on a multi-level leadership curriculum to meet the needs of ARM’s 8,000+ sponsored children.  In addition to that, Lena is also responsible for coordinating the development of leadership materials into a variety of local languages, in order to better met the needs of the non-English speaking population of Uganda.

Lena loves art, Christian music, design, any type of encouragement, hanging out with friends, and watching God work in unexpected ways.  Her desire in all she does is to bring glory to God.

Jackie grew up in Indiana and graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University with a Bachelors in Business Administration and Christian Education in 2007.  She also graduated from there with her MBA in Executive Management in 2011.  Jackie’s first experience with NMSI was as a summer intern to Estonia in 2006. In September of 2007, she affiliated and joined the CGO staff. She has traveled to several place around the world which have grown her love for God and her heart for ministry.

Jackie currently serves in the Center for Global Outreach in the Finance Division.  She is able to serve missionaries that are presently on the field as well as those in the CGO.  Jackie desires that all people would come to know Christ and to live in the fullness of what He has for them.

Jace was born in southwest Kansas, and Jesse is from Tulsa, Oklahoma.  They graduated from Ozark Christian College and were married in 2006.  Jesse loves to sew and create with her hands; Jace is passionate about all things coffee.  Hazel loves anything pink, castles, and superheroes.  Drake likes being outside, breaking things, and other boy stuff.

The Pavliks currently live in Tulsa where they are building their Prayer and Provision team in preparation to serve in Berlin, Germany, at a church plant called RESETBerlin, alongside NMSI missionaries Ben and Jasmin Seidl.  RESET meets in and runs a café that focuses on fellowship and belonging.

God has led the Pavliks to use Jace’s experience in the coffee industry as missions.  Jace plans to help develop and expand the coffee house / cafe ministry and Jesse plans to stay home with the children and be involved where needed at RESET.  Our focus is to share Christ with Germans in the relaxing atmosphere of a coffee shop.  Through fellowship and community build relationships that focus on the love of Christ and lead people into a relationship with Him.

Todd and Angela Owen met while studying at Ozark Christian College (OCC).  Todd graduated from OCC in 1993 with a 5-year degree in missions and Bible.  Angela graduated from Missouri Southern State College with an associate degree in nursing.  In 1993, they moved to Duncanville, Texas, to study linguistics and Bible translation principles making a 1997 move to Papua New Guinea.  In New Guinea, the Owen family lived with the Somau Garia people, learning their language and culture and translating the Gospel According to Mark, which was dedicated Easter Sunday, 2007.

Todd and Angela affiliated with NMSI in 2010 to continuing ministering to missionaries with pastoral care.  God has asked us to care for missionaries in a way that helps them stay vibrant and fruitful in their prospective cross-cultural ministries.  For now that means working here at the CGO, developing the member care and crisis management ministries.

Todd is helping build resilient teams at NMSI through leadership of the Member Care and Retention Group and Crisis Management and Contingency Planning Team.  Angela ministers to NMSI missionaries through hospitality and prayer ministry.  The Owen kids are third-culture kids who grew up in the jungles of New Guinea and are uniquely gifted to reach out to missionary kids.

The Owen family is: Todd and Angela, Andrew (1/94), Samuel (8/95), Abigail (12/97), Hannah (10/2000) and Josie (1/2004). They love to cook together, laugh and share life with others.

NASHA—meeting the needs of the community

Elijah and Ellen married in June 2004 and joined NMSI in 2005. Elijah and Ellen share a strong calling to minister to street, needy children and their families in Narok, Kenya. Elijah started the ministry in 1999 after attending Professional Development Services with Banking and Accounting and later studied Community Based Project Planning and Management. Ellen graduated from Milligan College with a degree in Sociology in May 2003. Ellen has also been involved in the ministry since 1999.

In 1999, a short-term team from Southeast Christian Church, from Louisville, KY, visited Narok.  They met Elijah while serving these needy children in town through meeting both of their physical and spiritual needs. The children had no place to stay and were living on the street. The Nasha Needy Street Children’s Project Intl. (NASHA) was burdened for them but had no means of supporting them.  A few faithful supporters began giving and NASHA began impacting and transforming the lives of these children and their families.

The ministry serves 250 children currently attending the school at the Christian Eminent Academy, and 130 through the sponsorship program.  Food, clothing, training, sheltering and education are provided.  They are encouraged to attend church, VBS camps and are involved in a behavioral rehabilitation program.  The families have been helped to start small income generating programs that have been helping their economic growth.  Our major goal is to mobilize churches and community leaders to transform their community for Christ as well as training local leaders and Sunday school teachers for effective children ministries.

Investing in the lives of eager students

Melissa graduated from Bible College in 2005 with a Bachelor’s degree in Christian Ministry.  She then spent that summer on an internship in Thailand and during that time began to experience a special love for the Thai people.  In time, it became clear that God was opening the door for her to return to Thailand, and in September 2006, Melissa affiliated with NMSI. Melissa returned to Thailand in 2007 and is grateful to now be in her second term of service!

God has led Melissa to work with girls and young women to help them experience the love of Christ and find healing and experience freedom in Him.  For now, that means serving with a fabulous Christian-based NGO in Chiang Mai, Thailand, that works with young ethnic minority women who are at risk for, or victims of, human trafficking, forced labor, and sexual abuse.

Melissa’s ministry currently includes teaching English to residents while also providing assistance to national staff in regards to resident care.  She assists with English language correspondence and English language proficiency for staff.  In addition, Melissa pursues small grant opportunities, draft reports, and assist with donor and guest relations.

An NMSI internship team strengthening local leaders

“What excites me is to see the lives of young people being transformed to the glory of God.”  This has been in Lloyd Ng’ambi’s heart since God called him to serve as a full-time Synod Youth Coordinator for the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian Synod in Zambia.  In this role, he is responsible for youth development and programs for about 60 churches.  As Lloyd served as a pastor in different congregations both in rural villages and cities, he discovered that young people are the most vulnerable group in the church, and therefore, they are in great need for someone who can love and accept them unconditionally the way Jesus Christ loved us and died for us.

Lloyd connected to YouthHOPE at the Urbana conference in 2010 and joined NMSI later that year.  In connection with YouthHope, the youth ministry that Lloyd leads exists to transform the lives of young people in Zambia holistically.  “We want to be the light and salt to our society by demonstrating the unconditional love of our Lord Jesus Christ.  We want to reach out to our fellow youth with the gospel so that young people in Zambia can experience the love of God in the midst of the many challenges which affects them daily such as: HIV and AIDS, youth unemployment, prostitution and poverty just to mention a few.”  He desires to train youth workers who can train others and to develop a youth training farm that will generate funds for youth ministry in Zambia that will provide practical training.

Lloyd has degrees in both Theology and Youth Ministry.

Adam and Kristy leading an intern team to SE Asia

Adam grew up in Georgetown, Ohio, and became a Christian in high school. After graduating in 2004, Adam enrolled at Ohio State University and the following summer went on a short-term mission project to Haiti with his home church. God used the exposure to extreme poverty and the great need of His people to change the direction of Adam’s life, which led him to Cincinnati Christian University (CCU). While at CCU, God planted in Adam a desire to do youth ministry outside of the USA. Adam found NMSI which offered an internship involving both missions and youth ministry and spent the summer of 2007 in India as an NMSI intern. Kristy grew up in Texas and graduated from Ozark Christian College with her Bachelors in Bible and Psychology in 2008. Through several short-term mission projects with her church and college, Kristy discovered her love for impoverished communities, youth and God’s heart for those who have not heard the gospel.

Adam and Kristy affiliated with NMSI in 2008 and are currently working out of NMSI’s Center for Global Outreach (CGO) in Fort Myers, Florida, working with YouthHOPE, NMSI’s global youth ministry division. YouthHOPE exists to transform the lives of global youth through equipping the Church to meet the holistic needs of their youth. Adam serves as the Director of Community Development and Kristy serves as the Director of Holistic Outreach and Mobilization. They are often in Africa or Asia working on a projects training youth workers, partnering with the local church to create sustainable ministries, and leading short-term teams.

Adam and Kristy met at NMSI and were married April 10, 2010.

Jonathan and Jenny Frohn are from central Illinois.  They met in high school and were married in 2003.  In 2007, they graduated from Lincoln Christian University (Jonathan with a BA in Worship Ministry and Jenny a BA in Children’s ministry).  They served on staff in the local church since 2004 and affiliated with NMSI in the spring of 2011.

Jonathan and Jenny have a deep passion for discipling children and youth while equipping parents to be the primary disciplers of their children.  Over the past few years they have felt God’s call to serve in Europe by partnering with existing churches and exploring innovative ways to encourage youth to follow Jesus Christ.  Most individuals make a decision to follow Christ before age 18. During those years, decisions are made regarding values, time and money, major relationships, and ultimately, whom they will worship.  Jonathan and Jenny look forward to encouraging children and youth to find the truth in Jesus Christ, to make God-honoring decisions, and thus become all that God intends them to be.

Preaching to youth, challenging them in their faith

Miguel was born in Chile and studied at Dallas Baptist University with a major in Business Administration. He serves on the International Team of Youth Specialties, Spanish division (Especialidades Juveniles), and as a Director of Global Youth Ministry Training with youthHOPE.

Miguel’s ministry focuses on youth focus primarily in Latin America. He is excited to be be working with youth globally through YouthHope. His goal is to provide resources and opportunities of training for those who work with young people globally.

Jacquemise leading during a baptism ceremony in Port-au-Prince

Martin is a pastor serving in his own country, Haiti. In 1998, Martin met former NMSI president, Phil Hudson, in Port-au-Prince, serving as his interpreter. The next year, Phil took a team again to Haiti, and Martin made himself available for the team. Martin then joined NMSI in February 2004.

Martin married Jacquemise in February 1996, and they have four children: Monica, Jephthe, Caleb and Debora.

After graduating from Bible school in 1997, Martin, Jacquemise and three others started Agape Evangelical Church. This was the ground work for Agape Christian Ministries of Haiti (ACMH), a ministry dedicated to planting churches all over Haiti through agape love. ACMH is made up of one church in Port-au-Prince, one in the slum area of Cite Soleil, two in Jeremie, a Bible school for the training of lay workers, and two other churches being planted in Delmas and Aquin.

In fall 2005, Martin started a new ministry which focuses on meeting people’s physical needs (a school sponsorship program for needy children, clothing, etc.). Their motto is “Agape love never fails“ (1 Corinthians 13:8). Jacquemise not only takes care of the children, but is also involved in the worship team and women’s ministry. Recently, Martin has been collecting resources and support to start a micro-enterprise printing business. With this business he plans to print Christian materials and use the revenue to help support other ministry projects.

CV inaugurating a school of discipleship in Cambodia

CV and Judy Elliott participated in a short term mission to Honduras in 1977.  On their third mission a year and a half later, they experienced the confirmation of God’s call to vocational missionary service.  The Elliotts served through another agency until early 2007. 

CV had been teaching pastors and church leaders at the grass roots level of churches in Asia and Africa since 1990, and continued that ministry when he joined NMSI in 2007.  In 2009, the Elliotts relocated to Fort Myers to work from NMSI’s Center for Global Outreach.

CV initially was the Director of Field Services, then became the Asia Regional Director.  In early 2011, CV handed off that role to another missionary colleague to continue teaching.  Later that year he added the role of Director of Development for the mission. 

Married since 1968, the Elliott’s have no children of their own, but have spent their lives in ministry to children of all ages.  Judy has decided to step back from international travel, but continues an active ministry through their local church in Cape Coral.

Loving on HIV/AIDS orphans in Ethiopia

After finishing graduate school in Communications at the University of Oregon, Scott worked in the communications field in SW Florida for 22 years.  In 2004, he began serving Sanibel Community Church as Missions Team leader, but never expected to go into the field himself.  However, in 2006, God called him into full-time service in Ethiopia with Project Mercy.  While there, he received a vision and assignment from the Lord to help children orphaned by HIV/AIDS.

Gigi Haile is an Ethiopian national with a diploma from Commercial College.  She immigrated to England in the 1990s and upon receiving British citizenship and national Youth and Child Care certification (Level 3), spent over 15 years working in the government’s Foster Parent program.  She returned to Ethiopia in 2010 with an interest in serving her own country.  She is joining NMSI and with her executive and child care skills will serve Ethiopia Hope Village as Executive Director.

Scott and Gigi are partnering with a national Ethiopian Church to begin a “Village” for orphans, street children and other vulnerable children.  The vision includes an orphanage, youth center, sports fields and agricultural development projects.  Ethiopia Hope Village is a holistic ministry which is community born, empowering of local people, and self-sufficient in the long term.

Joe and Brittney grew up in the Midwest, and both graduated from Northwest Missouri State University in 2009: Joe with a Bachelors degree in Accounting and Corporate Finance, and Brittney with a Bachelors degree in Elementary and Early Childhood Education.  Joe has been a Christ-follower since a young age, and Brittney came to Christ in her early teens. 

Joe and Brittney are both humbled to be able to use their secular education in a way that is so connected to world evangelization.  They affiliated with NMSI in 2009 and minister through the Center for Global Outreach (CGO) offering their time and labor directly to NMSI missionaries.  Their desire is to use their God-given gifts to lift loads, lessen burdens enabling missionaries to focus more on ministry and God’s purpose for them. Joe advises on financial matters;  Brittney has been teaching and loving on the children of missionaries going though the Orientation program.  While Orientation is not in session, our Human Resources Department loves to steal Brittney away to help in Human Resources. 

Joe and Brittney have one daughter, Ezra Nicole, born in February 2011.       

Ministering to skaters on the streets of Santiago

John, a small town Kentucky boy, feels led by God to urban youth ministry in the big city of Santiago, Chile.  John has a Bachelors degree in Education from Kentucky Christian University and a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign/Second Language) certification from Oxford Seminars.  Teaching in public schools, foreign language institutes, and church youth ministries since 2001, have provided diverse, unique, and exciting experiences for John. 

In 2009, he affiliated with NMSI to begin full-time youth ministry/missions with Urban Action Ministries in Santiago, Chile.  John understands that youth are a critical group to minister to, and that they are often overlooked.  John has been in Santiago, Chile, since summer 2011.  He loves skating at the parks, getting together to eat meals, and sharing the hope of Jesus with those who haven’t yet heard or understood the gospel.

Teaching youth in Haiti

Joshua began attending church when he was 15 and felt called into full-time ministry during his senior year in High School. He attended Milligan college and in 2006 gained his degree in biblical studies with a minor in sociology. God has led him to work with youth in ministry and missions for the past 10 years.

Although Joshua thought his work would be with youth stateside, about 8 years ago He began to realize God was calling him to overseas mission with youth.  Joshua interned with NMSI in 2006 and loved the way they did mission.  After learning about YouthHOPE, he realized God was asking him to serve youth overseas, wherever that may be. He affiliated with NMSI in 2009.

Joshua is taking on the role of Assistant Director of Global Youth Worker support and development.  This involves communicating with the Global Youth Workers (GYW) and searching out the best way NMSI can support and encourage them stateside.  As requests come in from GYWs, he will be managing those requests or passing them along to the correct person as needed.  He looks forward to participating in the development of our partnership in Haiti with Nego and Ellen Pierre-Louis.

In February 2012, Joshua will be marrying Sarah Waddell, fellow YouthHope youth worker.  They Lord has given them shared passions to reach global youth.

Preaching and teaching in the local church

Three years after James and Marta completed their education in the States, Dr. Bob Kuest wrote telling them he left pastoral ministry and joined NMSI. James felt that this mission was something different and decided to join.  James is married to Marta, and they have four children: Mary Sanra, Me Lunzi, Melody Grace and Punshin Aung.

James pastors the Church at the Christian Center, which is the base for all their ministries.  James is one of the founding members of Eastern Bible Institute where he teaches one subject every semester.  He also serves as chairman of Myanmar Vision Ministries that plants churches in nine states and divisions across Myanmar.  Due to the need to train local pastors and Bible school teachers at a graduate level, James and Marta coordinated the Eastern Summer Graduate School (ESGS) where qualified visiting professors and locals teach together.

James and Marta have published five Christian books and have more on the way. Marta teaches women Bible seminars, creates flower arrangements, prepares lessons for women and children, and does the housework. Since 2004, they have started a three-month Bible School for those who want to minister but have no academic qualification for a college education.

Bob joined NMSI in the summer of 2002 after over 26 years in campus ministry.  Married to Anne for over 30 years, they three grown sons.  Bob serves as a consultant and crisis counselor caring for missionaries and teaches his spiritual formation course internationally.  His ministry involves caring for missionaries by providing encouragement, resources and godly counsel.  Bob also provides leadership in the Crisis Care and Counseling of missionaries.  Anne is the Child Nutrition Education Coordinator for the Community Food bank of Southern Arizona.

Getting youth involved in God’s global work

Justin was saved by Jesus in 1999 and called into vocational ministry in 2001, the same year Karena trusted Jesus as her Savior.  In 2003, God positioned them in a local church youth ministry in which they served for over 7 years. Justin’s B.A. is in Religious Studies and Karena’s B.A. is in American studies from University of Maryland-Baltimore County (UMBC).  Justin will finish Graduate classes next year from Huntington University with an M.A. in Youth Ministry Leadership.

God has led the Hannekens to work with youth in the nations and to advocate for the poor and marginalized around the world.  Under the direction of NMSI, they are joining the youthHOPE team where Justin will serve as Director of Outreach.  While teaching and preaching, he will be managing social networks for youthHOPE and also connecting youth pastors all over the U.S. with what God is doing through NMSI around the world.  The Hannekens desire to minister cross-culturally and to see God’s Kingdom grow wherever God chooses to lead them.

Praying with a Lisu family

Niw and Jamie met in Thailand in 2005, while working together at a children’s home.  God has called them to partner together in life and ministry, so they married in March 2008.  They trust that the Lord will use them in unique ways, and use their intercultural marriage to cross cultural boundaries to spread the Gospel and the love of Christ to those in need.

Niw and Jamie spent a year teaching believers from the Lisu tribe in northern Thailand and are preparing for a permanent move to Thailand in January 2012.  They welcomed their son, Anson David, on September 25th, and upon receiving Niw’s citizenship, they will return to Thailand as a family of three!

Niw and Jamie will be creating a sustainable evangelistic and mentorship program for youth (age 12-20) living without their parents in the city of Chiang Mai. Many youth come from tribal families who live in mountain villages, hours from schools, so they move to the city for an education while their parents stay in the village to work their farms. Niw and Jamie’s vision is to unite the local churches and children’s homes to minister to the youth living in those homes and those who are living on their own. There is great need for this kind of ministry—for the youth to be sincerely loved, guided, and introduced to Christ. The potential outcomes are invaluable: decreased drug use, prostitution, poverty and high school drop-outs and a generation who knows Christ and has hope for the future!

Preaching and discipling in Pachuca

Luke and Lindsay Greer were both born into Christian homes.  Luke grew up in Amarillo, Texas, and was baptized at church camp in the seventh grade.  Lindsay grew up in Dallas, and was baptized in her home church at the age of eight.  In high school, both Luke and Lindsay decided to pursue full-time Christian service, and began attending Dallas Christian College where they met 1997.  They were married in 2000.

In college, Luke and Lindsay trained in various ministries including inner-city outreach, youth ministry, and overseas missions.  Upon graduation, they moved to Mexico City to work in urban ministry, leadership development, and cross-cultural ministry.  Since 2007, following studies at Wheaton College Graduate School, they began serving with IMPACTO Latino in Pachuca, Mexico.  Their focus is church planting, leading small group Bible studies, teaching at local churches and events, and developing discipleship curriculum.  The Greers affiliated with NMSI in 2010 as the IMPACTO Latino ministry partners with and comes under the leadership of NMSI.

Luke and Lindsay have two daughters, Isabella and Olivia, who were joined with Elijah in summer 2010.

The Habitat for Hope Design Team

Andy Gross grew up in Iowa and attended Lincoln Christian College in Lincoln, Illinois, for bi-vocational missions.  As part of the degree, he went to trade school for mechanics in Laramie, Wyoming, in 1998.  Andy worked in Bloomington, Illinois, as a mechanic at a Cadillac dealership for four years when he met Phil Hudson and others at the National Missionary Convention in 2002.  He clearly felt God calling him to join NMSI. Andy served at the Center for Global Outreach (CGO) for five years as the Facilities Manager over the office building, several campus houses and community vehicles.  He also led the guy’s Bible study on campus and helped lead worship at the CGO.

In 2006, Andy started serving as the field advisor for an NMSI missionary couple working in Memphis, Tennessee, ministering to families enduring childhood cancer or life-threatening illness.  The ministry is called Habitat for Hope (HFH).  Andy traveled to Memphis several times for various short-term building projects, and eventually knew this was the next place God wanted him to serve.  He began full-time work in January 2008 and married his wife Ginny in April 2008.  Ginny is a nurse at St. Jude’s Research Hospital and has served overseas in medical missions on many short term projects.  Andy serves HFH through pastoral care for families with cancer, building development and leading events on the HFH property.

Andy and Ginny welcomed AJ to their family in January 2010.

George (staff) and student with first cabbages harvested

EBENEZER
Ebenezer is a training centre that aims to equip young people in rural Zimbabwe with the practical skills needed to run their own small scale agricultural businesses, and the spiritual maturity to be able to live Christ-centered lives in their communities.

OUR VISION
Equipping young people for life in Christ.

OUR MISSION
We exist to enable young people to live as a light for Christ in their communities by equipping them with appropriate business, agricultural and life skills.

EBENEZER’S APPROACH
Apprentices at Ebenezer receive instruction in basic business principles, small-scale agriculture and the Christian life. The training combines classroom discussion and practical outworking. Therefore, each apprentice at Ebenezer not only learns about small-scale agriculture, they actually start and run their own agricultural business.

During the two year residential program, they are able to make enough profit to repay their start up loans and buy the livestock and equipment needed to continue their business at their home. Ebenezer desires to give people the opportunity to not only become successful farmers and business people, but also to become mature followers of Christ. Therefore in this area, as in with the farming and business teaching, classroom discussions based on the Bible are made practical as staff and apprentices live alongside one another and serve the community around them.

The hope is that this holistic, integrative approach, combining business, agriculture and Bible teaching, will produce men and women who can provide for their families and be mature, Christ-centered leaders in their rural communities.

Kyle training youth workers in Bulgaria

Kyle and Mindy have been married since 2005 and are graduates of Ozark Christian College.  Kyle grew up in central Kentucky.

Kyle and Mindy recently returned from a period of service in England where they partnered with local churches and worked to pioneer a new ministry in NW Leicestershire. Kyle has since been named YouthHOPE’s Director of Global Youth Worker Support and Development.

YouthHOPE, a ministry of NMSI, exists to transform the lives of global youth by equipping the church to meet their holistic needs. Through encouragement, resourcing, and sound strategy, Kyle’s ministry seeks to serve YouthHOPE’s global youth workers in a way that positions them for faithfulness and success.

Leadership development in Pachuca

Eric and Dee both accepted Christ in their youth in Indiana. They were married in 1979 and are blessed with two children, Holly (married, serving in Mexico) and Andrew (recent graduate Milligan College).

Eric graduated from Milligan College with majors in Bible and Missions and completed his Masters of Religion at Emmanuel School of Religion in 2004. Dee is a graduate of Ball State University in Special Education. She also has a certificate in TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language). Eric was ordained in 1979 and then they were commissioned as missionaries.

After serving in Indonesia for many years, Eric and Dee began ministry in Mexico in 1984. In 1995, they moved to Pachuca, the capital of state of Hidalgo, for a new church plant, where they have served as zone pastors and counselors for families and couples. Eric also preached and taught, while Dee lead worship, trained Sunday School teachers and taught English as evangelistic outreach.

With a heart for Latin America, Eric and Dee founded IMPACTO Latino in 2003. Since 2007, they minister in the Pachuca Project in east Pachuca, reaching the University community. Their daughter Holly and her husband, Sergio, joined their church plant team in 2008.

Eric and Dee affiliated with NMSI in 2010 as part of the IMPACTO Latino ministry team.

Reaching and discipling youth on their turf

Habacuc and Liz Diaz, with their children, have been missionaries to Habacuc’s hometown, Santiago Chile, since December 2006. They met and married while studying at Kentucky Christian College. They were blessed to minister in church planting and camp ministry before becoming missionaries to urban youth in Santiago Chile. Their passions are relationship, relevance and hope, and how Jesus Christ is at the center of them all.

In the summer of 2002, the idea of Urban Action presented itself. Since then, God has been guiding Habacuc and Liz in making UA a reality. Urban Action is a ministry that focuses on building meaningful relationships with the urban youth of Santiago Chile ¬and right now that attention is focused on skateboarders.

Habacuc and Liz go outside of the church to reach the skaters where they are at, building a relationship on the common interest of skateboarding. As they build meaningful relationships with the youth, they’re able to share with them the amazing message of Jesus Christ and how He gives hope to every aspect of their lives and to ours.

Guiding affiliates in joining NMSI

Joyce’s passion is prayer and she joined the Prayer Department of NMSI in 2008. This group meets weekly to support our missionaries in prayer and plan prayer events for the Center for Global Outreach (CGO).

As a teenager, Joyce was interested in missions, but had no idea how to pursue that interest. After high school, she married, had a family and later began a career in banking while acquiring her college education online. Books and prayer fed her passion for missions, along with a short-term project in 2006. 

God tapped her on the shoulder in 2008 asking her to use her passion for prayer and her administrative skills to serve in the CGO. They pray for our missionaries, as well as the countries where our missionaries are serving, using Operation World, a prayer guide for every nation. In Human Resources, she uses her administrative gifts to protect, empower, and sustain our affiliates. 

Mentoring a local farmer in Mozambique

Craig spent a year studying agriculture at ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization) in Fort Myers, Florida. God then led him to serve through NMSI, spending 15 months with agricultural ministries in both Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Rachel spent a total of 20 months in Uganda, serving through World Harvest Mission with holistic ministry and teaching English.

Craig and Rachel are passionate about living in community and sharing life with rural farmers. They will be based in the northern province of Nampula, Mozambique, taking on the role of agricultural specialists as they start a training center that seeks to equip rural farmers with the knowledge of Christ and the skills to be profitable and confident growers.  Craig and Rachel will also be giving agricultural consultation to the commercial business partners they will be connected with in the areas of field crops, vegetables and fruit trees.  They will be joining Communities of Fusion, a team of Mozambicans, Zimbabweans, South Africans, and other nationalities, to raise the farming standards of Southern Africa with the knowledge of the Gospel.

Craig and Rachel have two children: Asher (2/28/10) and Adah Joy (12/25/11).

bringing youth to deepening relationship with Christ

Jesse is originally from Daytona Beach, Florida. He graduated from Ozark Christian College with a Bachelor of Christian Ministry degree. His study emphases were in New Testament theology, Greek, and preaching. He is currently working on a Master of Arts in Organization Leadership from Lincoln Christian University. Jesse has been ministering since 2001.

Jesse and Cynthia were married in June of 2004. Cynthia is originally from Washington, Missouri near St. Louis. She is also a graduate of Ozark Christian College having completed a Certificate of Christian Ministry. Cynthia’s studies included family and youth ministry, teaching and counseling. She also worked as a Cosmetologist before the birth of their son, Josiah, who was born in April of 2006. Their second child, Clara, was born in September of 2009. Cynthia has experience as a church secretary, Sunday school teacher and small group leader.

The Frames are currently serving with the Charlestown Church of Christ in Charlestown, NSW, Australia, located about two hours north of Sydney. Jesse is focusing on preaching, discipleship and youth ministry while Cynthia balances being a full-time mom and her involvement with outreach, youth/children, and women.

Great joy with the children

God led Tucker and Becky to Habitat for Hope in 2009 to support, serve, and care for families whose children are critically or chronically ill. Memphis is a major pediatric hospital hub; families have left homes, jobs, friends, families, and churches to come there. The heart of Habitat for Hope is to be the hands and feet of Jesus. With a committed group of volunteers and staff, they serve families by feeding them, providing shelter, transportation, counsel, times to gather at the Habitat for Hope campus, and staying in close contact once they return home.

Tucker is a native Memphian with a degree from Auburn University and a Masters in City and Regional Planning from the University of Memphis. He uses his skills as a planner / designer to create a retreat for families enduring a life threatening illness in the life of their child. His personal bout with cancer gives him a unique empathy towards this group.

Becky is also a native Memphian with a degree from Auburn in Early Childhood Education and shares Tucker’s passion. Her heart is to build a loving community for hurting people so they can see Jesus, begin to follow Him, and find the hope and peace He gives in the midst of pain.

Using the internet to minister globally

Jim and Cindy were married in 1990 in Holland, Michigan. Jim had been a widower with four grown children, and Cindy had just returned from being a missionary in Taiwan for eight years. They were active in prayer and discipleship ministry in the local church. In 2000, they moved to Port Charlotte, Florida, to help with a church plant.  In 2003, they moved to Fort Myers to do Freedom in Christ ministry, prayer and Bible studies.

Jim was ordained by Gospel Ministers and Churches International, certified as a Chaplain, trained by the Navigators and Neil Anderson’s Freedom in Christ ministry.  Cindy has a background in Elementary education, a Master’s Degree from Columbia International University and served in Taiwan for eight years with Overseas Missionary Fellowship (OMF).

Cindy’s ministry at the CGO includes weekly prayer sessions with missionaries, contacting missionaries for their requests for the weekly prayer calendar for the website and CGO, and leading a workshop on developing prayer teams for new missionaries attending Orientation. Jim’s is living out his passion to reach the lost for Christ by responding to online requests-sharing the gospel, answering questions, encouraging new believers, and praying for specific needs.

Jim and Cindy both enjoy swimming, bike riding, and watching sports on TV. Cindy likes to read and knit, and Jim likes to work on puzzles.

With a heart for youth in Latin America

Joy grew up in a mission-focused church and participated in her first short-term project in high school where she worked alongside veteran missionaries in Panama while leading a short-term project in 2005. She attended the University at Buffalo where she received her degree in International Studies,  while continuing to develop skills that would help her during a 3-year term in David, Panama. After much prayer and searching, God led Joy to NMSI where she affiliated in Fall 2007.

During her years in Panama, Joy worked on building a campus ministry at the agriculture university, taught English, and helped facilitate a Bible study on campus. In the local church, she entered into the ministries to women and youth as well. Joy provided monthly Sunday School materials to the churches in the Ngobe indigenous region, and helped facilitate short-term projects.

Upon completing service in Panama, she decided to pursue ministry with IMPACTO Latino and moved to Pachuca, Mexico in October 2011. Joy‘s work with the IMPACTO Latino team in Pachuca focuses on youth and young adult ministry. She also teaches at the Friendship English Institute engaging students and young professionals.

Laura Clancy has been serving as President and Chief Executive Officer of NMSI since June 2010. Laura comes to her role well qualified by her gifts and experience. She has served as a field missionary, Board member, Board chairperson, and acting CEO in 2008 for NMSI. Laura, her husband Will, and their son, Marc, began their service with NMSI in 1996 as field missionaries in St. Petersburg, Russia. She also has wide experience as an educator, trainer, and leader in public education. Laura has a heart for God, for people, and for NMSI. Her comprehensive understanding and experience with NMSI, formal education, and variety of leadership experience makes her well-equipped in her current leadership role.

a glimpse of daily life in SE Asia

Susan was appointed Chief Financial Officer for New Mission Systems International in June of 2005.  She came well-equipped to lead in this capacity.  Susan is a self-taught entrepreneur with experience as a business owner in a construction and rental management company.  She has experience building systems and processes that aid in organizational efficiency as well as legal compliance issues.  As CFO, Susan recruited and trained new finance staff, tripling the size of the Finance division while seeing our donor contributions increase from $1.5 million to over $6 million annually.  She led NMSI in the membership process for ECFA, and under her leadership, NMSI has achieved the highest rating both from Charity Navigators and ECFA. 

Although Susan serves as CFO, her gifts are not limited to finance.  She feels called to minister to and pray for missionaries worldwide, teaches during our NMSI Orientation program for new affiliates, serves on the Strategic Leadership Team, and finds joy in writing and editing for multiple NMSI publications.  She is currently in the processes of becoming a certified Life Coach.

Susan and her husband, Donald, are long-time residents of Fort Myers, FL.  They have been married since 1980 and have four children: Adrienne, Janelle, Ellis and Shelby.

Missionary kids telling their stories

Joanne earned a Bachelors in English and a Masters in Elementary Education at Truman State University. After teaching in St. Louis for three years, she affiliated with New Mission Systems International (NMSI).  Joanne spent a year and a half working in the Media Department at NMSI before deploying to San Jose, Costa Rica, to teach at an international school named Sojourn Academy.

Currently Joanne aims to bring hope and stability to missionary children in transition through consistent love and quality education. Soon she will return to NMSI’s home office to debrief her experience overseas as well as pray and research future deployment options to Hispanic locations with NMSI.

Joanne’s long-term desire is to facilitate emotional and spiritual transformation in children through deep, ongoing relationships. She has a particular passion for encouraging those who are outcasts, those who are anxious, have been abused, or are poor. She longs for all children to know that they are unique, safe, deeply loved, and will never be abandoned by Christ.  Joanne is currently seeking God for more specific information about ministry context and location.

Ministering to women in Central Asia

Ben and Angela share a passion for “re-construction” both physically and spiritually.  Ben, raised in Guatemala and Mexico and educated in both theology and music (Moody Bible Institute—MBI), is a licensed cabinetmaker/carpenter, responsible for maintenance and construction at NMSI’s headquarters, the Center for Global Outreach. He is passionate about serving with his hands, encouragement and one-on-one discipleship.  Angela is an author and an advocate for the issues of women globally, educated in biblical studies and international missions (also from MBI).  Through writing and speaking, with an emphasis on spiritual formation and women’s issues, Angela is serving, influencing and empowering women globally to fulfill their God-given value and potential. The Blyckers are honored to meet, pray with and stay connected to global missionaries, humbly ‘washing their feet’ in service to Jesus. They, as well as their Kingdom-minded children (Larsen 8/00, Anders 12/05, and Kiersta, 8/09) meet short-term needs that arise internationally in the areas of construction, encouragement, speaking/teaching and further training.

Celebrating with local believers

Phil first went to Colombia, South America as a missionary in 1973 and while on furlough in 1978 married Kathy.  They served in Colombia until 1982 and in Mexico City from 1984-2001.  They returned to Indiana in 2001 and since then have ministered to Hispanics and other immigrants.  They joined NMSI when the mission with which they had worked for many years decided to phase out its ministry among U.S. immigrants.  Phil has a B.A in Missions and Bible from Cincinnati Christian University and an M.A. in Intercultural Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary, School of World Mission.  Kathy has a B.S. in Nursing from Indiana University.

Phil and Kathy partner with churches in the U.S. to assist them in reaching out to the cross-cultural mission field in their own back yard.  Activities such as English language classes, assistance in living in the U.S. and activities for children, help to develop friendships, which lead to sharing the Gospel.  Once the immigrants make the decision to follow Christ, they are integrated into a partner church to be discipled and trained to become strong members and leaders in their congregations both locally and globally.

Baptism during Nsaru conference

Rutherford and Tsahai Banda are the Country Directors of AfricaHope Malawi. As such, they oversee the various programs and make sure that they are integrated and line up with the vision of AfricaHope. Rutherford has served as the National Coordinator for Teen Missions, and led numerous youth teams from the US to Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania.

Rutherford attended Teen Mission Bible School in Malawi and in Florida, graduating with a B.A. in Theology. He went on to teach seminary for four years, specializing in Church History and Evangelism. Rutherford is currently the pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Lilongwe.

Tsahai grew up in Lilongwe, and attended Teen Missions Bible School where she received a degree in Bible. Afterwards, she served in Mozambique with Teen missions before returning and teaching at the Bible School. She and Rutherford married in 1999, and she now oversees the women’s ministry and prayer group of Cornerstone Church, as well as the orphan care program of AfricaHope Malawi.

The Bandas live in Area 25 of Lilongwe which provides easy-access to the villages. They have two children; Chris and Chikondi. They also take care of Hilda.

In 1998, Aaron and Angie, along with their then 2-year-old daughter Mackenzie, were called to Santiago, Chile where Aaron served as a youth pastor in a local church for five years.  In 2004, seeing a need for youth leader training throughout the country he launched the Youth Network (which later became Youth Specialties Chile).  These youth ministry networks were focused on training and resourcing youth workers throughout all of Chile.

In 2008, the Arnolds returned to the United States after serving 10 years in Chile, and having added a second daughter Sofia (1999) to the family, and are now based at NMSI’s Center for Global Outreach (CGO) in Fort Myers. Aaron leads a ministry division called YouthHOPE, which is dedicated to transforming the lives of global youth by equipping the church to meet their holistic needs. Resources and training for global youth workers are provided as well as awareness of the need for global youth ministry is built stateside. Angie spent some time working in the Finance division and is now the Office Manager and Communications Coordinator for YouthHOPE.  YouthHOPE’s ministry is demographically focused on youth between the ages of 12 and 25; their main target being developing countries where youth have little or no opportunities.

Aaron and Angie graduated from Cincinnati Christian University in 1995; Aaron with a BA in Theology and Angie a BA in Christian Education.  Aaron went on to earn an MA in Youth Ministry Leadership from Huntington University in 2008.

Aaron also serves NMSI as a member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and is the Vice President of Engagement.

Transforming prayer in Pachuca

Sergio Alvarado was born in Mexico City but has lived most of his life in Pachuca, Mexico. After accepting Christ and being baptized at 16, Sergio became involved in evangelism, worship, youth leadership and leadership training. Holly was born in Bandung, Indonesia, as a child of missionaries, then moved to Mexico at age 2. In her teens, Holly moved to Pachuca with her family to be part of a church planting team. Sergio and Holly met at New Hope Church in Pachuca where they were youth leaders and part of the worship team. They were married in 2003. 

To prepare for further ministry, Sergio and Holly attended Kentucky Christian University, with Sergio getting his degree in Intercultural Studies, Missions and Ministry and Holly hers in Psychology and Family Counseling.  Following their studies, Sergio and Holly returned to Mexico to serve with IMPACTO Latino in Pachuca, alongside Holly’s parents Eric and Dee Duggins. Sergio and Holly have two daughters, Abby and Emmy.

Sergio and Holly affiliated with NMSI in 2010 as part of the IMPACTO Latino ministry team.

Ministering to saints around the world

Reneé‘s heart for missions began in college as she went on various short-term projects within the US and Mexico.  A short-term evangelistic project to Russia deepened this desire.  Three years later, in 2000, the Lord called her to serve in Kherson, Ukraine, which she did for five years at Tavriski Christian Institute.  Renée returned to the States and connected with NMSI in the fall of 2006 and affiliated in spring 2007.

Reneé is now living out her role in the Great Commission by giving of her time and talents at the Center for Global Outreach (CGO) in Fort Myers, Florida, serving there since 2008. She works in the Communications Department where she partners with NMSI’s missionaries, meeting their print and website needs—so that they may devote their time to investing in transforming lives around the world. Reneé’s passion is to communicate clearly the stories of these transformed lives, inspiring the Church to pray, send and support. She also enjoys composing and editing for the website and for missionary and corporate publications.

Reneé has a Bachelor’s degree in Human Services with an emphasis in para-professional counseling and an Associate’s degree in Art.  Both fields—art and ministering to the needs of people—guide her involvement in missions.  Her gifts of hospitality and ‘encouraging the saints’, in particular, for pastors’ wives and ministry leaders, are expressed in different ways, whether on the field in Eastern Europe and Central Asia or within the walls of the CGO as missionaries return from their overseas assignments.

Teaching in Southeast Asia

Abigail Alter graduated from Johnson University in 2005, where she studied Bible and Teacher Education, with a focus on Missions.  Abigail is from Indiana with a heart for preschoolers.  Her love for drama, photography, and other arts is incorporated into her teaching.  While in college, she was involved in a preschool ministry for four years and taught in a Mother’s Day Out program.  God led Abigail to NMSI in early 2006, and she did an internship with them during the following summer.  That time confirmed to her that God wanted her with NMSI.  Her heart’s desire is to serve God wherever and whenever He wants her.

Abigail has developed a program for NMSI’s missionary children as our Director of Children and Family Development.  While parents go through NMSI’s Orientation program, the children are also preparing for the missionary field.  Missionary children are given the opportunity to work through the transitions they are going through, process the changes with their families, and take ownership of the ministry that they will be doing as a family.

Abigail also serves in Pipeline, keeping our support-raising affiliates connected, encouraged, and prayed for until they are fully funded and leave for the field.

Celebrating the Foster family’s commissioning

Jeannette and Marty Steiner serve at the Center for Global Outreach (CGO) in Fort Myers, Florida.  They have been married since 1978 and raised three sons.  Jeannette and Marty have served in several churches as volunteers and as full-time staff.  Both of them have served in Worship ministry, and Jeannette has started and directed Women’s ministries.

Jeannette serves in the Finance Division as Accounts Receivable Manager and is responsible for all incoming donations.  Marty serves in the Information Technology (IT) Division, providing computing and communication services for NMSI globally.  He provides technical support, repair and maintenance in the areas of networking, as well as desktop and mobile computing. Jeannette and Marty are also involved in mentoring, and love to serve our missionaries overseas.

Growing the church in Macedonia

David and Brenda Aderholdt have been missionaries to Russia and the Balkans for the last 17 years.  They have planted churches in both of these two countries and are now primarily involved in Leadership Development.  David leads the International Church of Skopje, Macedonia; teaches in regional seminaries; and leads a leadership think-tank called The Leadership Development Group.  David has a Masters degree in Missiology from Canadian Theological Seminary and a doctorate in Leadership from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.  He is also the European Regional Director for NMSI.

Brenda works across the entire country of Macedonia, mentoring and coaching the top women leaders in the Evangelical churches.  This ministry, suitably named ENTRUST, imparts to these national leaders that the teaching entrusted to them is theirs so that it can be passed on—they have been taught in order to teach others.  These 25 women are changing the churches from the inside out!

Tim and Elizabeth met at Lincoln Christian College (LCC) while preparing for the missions field, and married in 2004. After finishing at LCC, both went to nursing school in southern Illinois.  During this time Tim worked in youth ministry and Elizabeth in healthcare. Tim and Elizabeth joined NMSI in December 2009.

Both Tim and Elizabeth had long felt God’s general call to missions in their lives. God led Tim to preaching and discipleship and Elizabeth discovered a passion for caring for others as well as health education. Until 2009 neither knew where God would use these gifts and passions. During their time of training at NMSI, Tim and Elizabeth sought God’s direction through prayer and counsel with NMSI staff as to where they might best use their gifts. They were led to serve with AfricaHope, Kenya and joined that ministry in January 2011 after building their partnership team.

Tim is working in AfricaHope’s church ministry program. His focus is on encouraging and discipling rural Maasai pastors. Elizabeth is working with AfricaHope’s health development. She and another team member are implementing a community health development program in rural Maasai areas focusing on nutrition, maternal health, childhood diseases, and environmental health.

Providing aid relief by distributing blankets

Jordan was raised in Florissant, Missouri; he studied Intercultural Studies at Lincoln Christian University from 2000 to 2002. Lee Anne grew up in Lee’s Summit, Missouri and studied biology at Truman State University. They met on an NMSI internship to Kenya in 2003 and were married in 2004. They returned to Kenya to serve long-term with AfricaHope.

Jordan and Lee Anne have been serving with New Mission Systems International (NMSI) in various roles since 2003. Both have a passion for serving the spiritually and materially poor through holistic ministry; thus they’ve been involved in discipleship, administrative, and training roles in Kenya as well as in NMSI’s headquarters in Fort Myers, Florida. In September 2010, they returned to Narok, Kenya, to continue serving the Maasai people of that region with AfricaHope.

Jordan serves as the Assistant Director for AfricaHope Kenya, mentoring missionaries and national staff. He manages AfricaHope’s international public relations and coordinates their numerous ministry projects, including church leadership training, food and water security, educational and health development, and ministry to orphans and their caregivers.

Lee Anne oversees AfricaHope’s financial accounts and is developing a ministry to women as a doula and childbirth educator with the goal of enhancing birthing practices and discipling women.

Kevin grew up in NW Colorado and attended John Brown University, earning his degree in youth ministry in 2001. Danielle grew up near St. Louis, attended Truman State University, graduating in 2004 with a degree in health science. They were married in 2004.

Kevin and Danielle joined NMSI in 2005 after participating in a summer internship to Kenya. Over the next four years, they worked at the Center for Global Outreach (CGO), gaining knowledge and experience in human resources, finance, short-term projects and community leadership. After leading a short-term project to Kenya in May 2009, the Fosters felt God’s leading to work long term with the AfricaHope team in Kenya where they will work amongst the Maasai people. Kevin and Danielle’s desire is to use the knowledge gained at the CGO to serve the staff and further the ministry in Kenya.

For their first year in Kenya, their ministry will be primarily focused on learning the local language and culture. After this period of preparation, Kevin will be serving in the church ministry program, discipling young church leaders in rural Maasai communities, while Danielle will serve part-time with AfricaHope’s health development program as she also cares for their children.

New wells with fresh water for the Maasai

Tim and Lorna serve in the Maasai community of Narok district where Tim coordinates church leadership training, education development, food and water security, health development, ministry to orphans and vulnerable children and income generating projects.  The goal is to expand AfricaHope’s ministry and philosophy to other parts of Africa.  Tim is currently pursuing a Masters degree in disaster management and sustainable development from a Kenyan University.

Early in Tim’s life, 1 John 5:12 convicted him to desire LIFE.  Soon after, he met a missionary named Phil Hudson who led him to Christ and discipled him.  After training as a school teacher, Tim pursued a community development and Christian ministry degree at Daystar University.  While in college, he was convicted of the need for discipleship in Kenyan churches and began serving as the Kenyan director for Harvest Discipling Ministry.  Through distributing relief to 240,000 people, and sharing the gospel, 18 churches were planted.  The challenges of disease, poverty and a lack of relationship with Jesus prompted them to start AfricaHope in 2003, where Tim continues to serve as the director.

Tim and Lorna joined NMSI in 1998.  They have been married since 1988 and are blessed with five girls.

Using her skills in caring for the Maasai

Katie is a 2004 nursing graduate of the University of Southern Indiana, and worked as a nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for 6 years. She attended graduate school at Vanderbilt University and graduated in August 2008 as a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner. She worked for one year as a nurse practitioner before leaving for Kenya.

Katie began to feel an ever-growing calling towards missions around 2002, with a heart for infants and children in Africa, especially orphans and those suffering from the HIV/AIDS epidemic. She was introduced to NMSI in September 2005 during a short-term trip to Kenya, and fell in love with the people there, especially the Maasai. She affiliated with NMSI after attending COAT (NMSI training program) in Fall 2008.

God has led Katie to Kenya to share Christ’s love with the Maasai through community health development, with a special interest on prenatal and infant healthcare needs and education. She joined the AfricaHope team in 2010 and through this ministry hopes to spread the word of God through Christ-centered teaching on basic healthcare and prevention.