The 2023-2024 New Missionary Class 

As Benjamin was nearing the end of his Ph.D., program, he faced the common question, “What next?”  As he wrestled with his decision, the Lord laid on his heart a desire to reach the nations through theological education.  

While his call came later in life, Quaneisha was burdened for the lost from a young age, serving as a faithful witness to her family and neighbors. They are excited to see the Lord work in Zambia through leadership training at Ambassador International University and addiction counseling. 

“If someone asked me what I want to be when I grow up, my answer was always, ‘a pastor’s wife,’” said A. of her early years. Similarly, T.’s desire to serve the Lord in full-time ministry was sparked by a missions trip during his teenage years. The Lord has blessed these desires as they join ABWE to continue serving in South Africa—where they have already ministered for a decade—reaching refugees from a highly unreached people group and serving children from farming communities. 

As a 12-year-old boy, Micah vividly remembers “reading through the book of Romans and seeing Paul’s desire to reach the unreached.” Pressing into that calling, he and his wife, Debbie, served four years in Ghana planting a church in a Muslim village before returning to the US and starting a church in their house that grew to 60 people. God used their experiences and training to confirm their desire to serve in missions and led them on a new journey to partner with Ambassador International University in Zambia to equip African leaders to plant and pastor healthy churches. 

Liza’s perseverance through medical school was driven by one passion: “to use medicine for opening up areas for church planting.” From the rural fields of a Pennsylvania dairy farm, Liza has traveled throughout the world, using her training as a family medicine physician to serve the church. Her particular affection is for the French-speaking world, leading her to settle in Togo, West Africa. After already serving at Hôpital Baptiste Biblique for more than two years, she is joining the ABWE family to continue those labors. 

Mallorie’s calling was more a question of “When?” and “Where?” than whether she would serve overseas. Having grown up taking yearly missions trips to Guatemala, cross-cultural missions was in her blood. Knowing that the Lord was also directing her to become a nurse, she earned a nursing degree and waited on the Lord’s timing and direction. After practicing as a pediatric oncology nurse in Clarkston, Ga., she is transitioning to Togo, where she will use her training at Hospital of Hope to make disciples. 

On a missions trip with their church to Hospital of Hope in Togo, Chris and Lydia witnessed how God was working to reach the lost through physical and spiritual care at the hospital. Stepping onto the hospital grounds, they both felt a sense of peace that God was leading them to use their passion and abilities to reach the lost in Togo, Lydia as a nurse and Chris through sharing the gospel and helping to disciple new believers. 

When Brad and Kayla began supporting a pastoral training school in Malawi, they had no idea that God would later use Brad’s military career to send him on repeated trips to Malawi, during which he developed close relationships with local pastors. After his third trip, the Malawian leaders requested that he consider using his experience in administration to serve the pastoral training school as a full-time administrator. Now retired from the military, Brad and Kayla are relocating to Malawi to serve in theological education, church development, and discipleship.

A., a pastor’s daughter, studied secondary education with a goal to serve overseas. She obtained positions teaching science, first in South Asia and then in Kenya, where she met R. 

R. was born in Kenya to a father who worked in the capital and mother who remained in their village. From age nine he lived with his father, playing soccer and raising himself. Disillusioned by the prosperity teachings popular in East Africa, he trusted Christ after seeking out the biblical gospel. R. now serves at-risk youth through sports and Bible studies, while A. teaches at an international school. 

Armand, a Togolese national, was raised by his grandmother who taught him about God, but he did not make his own decision to follow Christ until high school, when he attended a Bible study led by ABWE missionaries. After submitting his life to Christ, he joined an ABWE church plant and began serving in the church through music, teaching at a Christian school, and volunteering in community kids’ clubs. In 2020, he served alongside short-term missionary Rebecca, and, discovering identical passions, they married in 2024. They will continue serving in West Africa through education and children’s ministry. 

K. was born and raised in the Middle East. He grew up saying he was a Muslim, but it wasn’t until he was in college and friends questioned him about his beliefs that he read the Qur’an for himself and quickly realized that he did not believe it. Through the divinely appointed timing of a friend’s invitation to church, K. began reading the New Testament and saw how much more holy Jesus was than he could ever imagine. He, along with his wife, now seeks to plant and serve in local churches to teach others about Jesus. 

K.’s path to missions has taught her that the Lord’s timing is always best. After her salvation as a child, she became passionate about caring for other people and later studied nursing to gain opportunities to enter unreached, creative-access countries. When doors for ministry closed, God impressed on her to wait faithfully by serving in her local church. Nearly two decades later, she connected with an ABWE missionary team and now eagerly moves forward through the doors God opened to serve in North Africa through healthcare. 

As Mike drove down the road, leaving his dream house in the rear-view mirror, he found assurance in seeing the Lord answer his prayer from years before: “God, strip away anything that would keep me from you.” Through financial struggle, injury, and the loss of his daughter and first wife, Mike learned to trust the Lord. He followed God’s leading to seminary and met Emily, whose own health struggles led her to disciple young women. They committed to ministry overseas and now plan to serve through theological education in Central and Eastern Europe. 

At her grandmother’s funeral, H. was comforted by knowing that her grandmother was in the glorious presence of Christ but dismayed to consider others that didn’t have that same hope. Knowing she couldn’t keep the gospel to herself, she committed to missions and attended Bible school in preparation. In his timing, God brought her together with L., a Live Global missionary appointed in 2023. Burdened to reach a secular Roman Catholic population, L. and H. will serve in Spain and “leave behind what is familiar in favor of what is eternal—people’s souls.” 

L. observed missionaries in her Balkan nation from a young age, noting, “Without missionaries, it would be hard to bring the gospel to unreached places like my village.” After her salvation, she committed herself to evangelism, and, in 2023, married an ABWE missionary she met through mutual believing friends. She and her husband currently seek to support local churches, develop women’s ministries, and educate future leaders through a local school. 

“Mama, this country feels like home,” is a statement M. and J. will never forget. During their son’s birthday trip to Italy, they realized that the Lord was increasing their evangelistic zeal for Europe and preparing their children for the next step in his plan. Although they were living comfortably in the US, J. had previously served in Europe as a young adult. Meanwhile, M. retained unfulfilled dreams of reaching Europe through professional soccer, and more than 15 years in the corporate world had left him spiritually drained and hungering for more. With their burden reignited, they joined Live Global to provide resources for those facing spiritual drought in Western Europe. 

Callie’s burden for the lost developed in middle school, and witnessing the spiritual needs of Spain in high school confirmed her calling. After college, she served short-term with ABWE missionaries in Spain until COVID-19 lockdowns prompted her return to camp ministry in the US— where she met Jonathan. 

Jonathan, after trusting Christ in college, served several years in camp ministry with international employees. God used his adaptable and compassionate spirit to draw others to Christ, and he committed to using his skills in missions. Jonathan and Callie will teach and disciple youth at Evangelical Christian Academy and pursue the Spanish people through relational evangelism. 

“In the path to missions, not a thing in life was a mistake; God used everything to prepare me,” shared Bekka. 

God’s sovereign plan combined her love for math and science, her personal journey to develop her faith in high school, and her experience visiting an international school in Brazil to lead her to teach at the International Christian School of Budapest from 2014 to 2022. She now plans to return as the school’s academic counselor to equip the next generation of missionary kids and international students. 

J.’s desire for missions came through unexpected means. During a two-year period of difficulties renovating a home and undergoing multiple surgeries, J. noted, “This whole thing, while I didn’t see it or understand it, was God helping bring me to a place where I really recognized the priority of my life.” J. and his wife, H., now long to see those in France entrenched in secular philosophy and enlightenment thinking find freedom in Christ, who alone can satisfy their desires. 

Zach and Kara did not anticipate becoming missionaries. Kara, a former aspiring chemical engineer who became a single missionary and English teacher after her salvation, met Zach, the lead singer in an evangelistic rock band, at a school in Prague. They quickly found that the Lord was not only leading them to each other but also to pursue long-term missions together. Having already served in the Czech Republic for over a decade, Zach and Kara have now joined ABWE to continue their work of church planting and student ministry. 

Growing up as an avid fan of video games inspired Aaron to pursue a degree in computer science. Many of his college classmates were from Japan, which piqued his interest in their language, country, and culture and launched him on a path towards missions. Following the Lord’s leading, with confirmation from his pastor and family members, he explored opportunities to go to the field and visited Japan. He recounts, “The moment I stepped off the airplane in Japan, I got a sense of relief, as if I had come home for the first time.” 

When a Rastafarian man from Jamaica invited C. into his home and said, “Tell me about sin,” C. knew the Lord was calling him to go to the nations. Meanwhile, M. developed a burden for missions while serving in Mexico every summer with her grandfather. After their marriage, however, they made excuses for staying in the US until their church adopted an unreached people group from Central Asia, and they understood God was propelling them forward. A period of prayer confirmed their calling, and they moved to Central Asia to plant churches and train leaders in evangelism—ministries they will now continue through ABWE. 

C. was first exposed to missions in high school through short-term trips to impoverished communities in the US, but, desiring to do more than paint houses or mow lawns for the lost, pursued an education in theology and engineering to open doors in marketplace ministry. In college, he met S., an international student from Southeast Asia whose initial goal was to live the American dream as a successful CPA. Convicted to surrender her plans to the Lord, she and C. entered ministry and are now following God’s leading to share the gospel with the unreached population of her home nation. 

From the moment of their respective conversions, C. and M. have had a singular passion to share the gospel. Experiencing the vast spiritual needs around the world through multiple missions trips in their youth drew them each to pursue every ministry opportunity that presented itself. After meeting in college, they considered the power of the Word of God in their own lives and determined to serve together through theological education, which they are preparing to do in South Asia. 

Kent and Tanya have served in Southeast Asia for six years. First experiencing the world’s desperate need for the gospel through a missions trip to South Asia, they committed to serving full-time but questioned their ability to learn another language. After God demonstrated his equipping power in their first ministry location, they followed his leading to their current assignment among unreached people groups in the Philippines, where Kent trains national pastors in evangelism and Tanya employs her medical background to direct their birthing center and medical clinic, which they are expanding into a hospital to equip and evangelize local communities. 

Tony’s path to missions began as a child with a fascination for the maps of Paul’s missionary journeys. When his initial plans for missions fell through, he joined the military and later completed medical school. Keira, meanwhile, felt an affinity for Japan from an early age and grew in her love for other cultures while their family was stationed in Korea. God used a car accident to remind Tony of his commitment to missions, and the family determined to serve in Japan: Tony through his medical background and discipling young adults and Keira through counseling and relationships. 

B. was born and raised as a missionary kid in East Asia. He quickly developed his own burden for ministry by witnessing the lost around him. 

“It was overwhelming to stand in a crowd of thousands of people going about their life and know they’ve never heard the gospel,” he explained. 

He sought preparation through MBA and seminary degrees, along with training from his local church, and plans to join a family from his church in planting churches in Southeast Asia. 

Wondering what happens after death, S. discussed his questions with his Hindu uncles in his South Asian city. When they told him that only the righteous go to heaven, he began worshipping idols at the temple. He was introduced to the gospel through the Jesus film, and later trusted Christ when a friend invited him to Sunday school. Burdened for his people, he became a Sunday School superintendent and shared the gospel with relatives and neighbors, later marrying a Live Global missionary. Together, they serve among Hindus and unreached Muslim refugees by planting churches, training pastors, and translating Scripture. 

E. saw God’s leading toward missions woven throughout her life, first as a child listening to missionaries speak in Vacation Bible School and then through missions trips to Latin America, Africa, and Asia, during which she discovered the needs of unreached people groups. She completed a degree in counseling, which she plans to employ in Southeast Asia to reach Muslims and disciple believers in local churches. 

Z. attended a T4G conference with the goal of getting books and left with the goal of serving in missions. Curious about the booth with a “Live Global” banner, he struck up a conversation that led to finding opportunities he had never considered. He and his wife now plan to use their skills in design, business, and administration with Live Global to connect international believers to US churches and coordinate the distribution of training and resources to national partners around the world. 

L. and T., both born in Vietnam, retained a burden for their home country after moving to the US as children. T. was adopted by a Dutch family in Michigan and trusted Christ at camp. L. learned spiritual disciplines from his uncle. Though he had biblical knowledge, he lacked a true heart for God and for the lost. Through godly friends, ministry opportunities, and a providential meeting with T. as she prepared for ministry in Vietnam, he developed a desire to serve God by equipping his countrymen with proper doctrine. Now they both, with their family, desire to serve the greater Vietnamese community. 

God used a Sunday School conference in Zambia to change M. and C.’s lives. While visiting missionary friends in Zambia in 2002, C., a teacher with her Ed.D., witnessed educational needs and opportunities that inspired her to begin training Zambian teachers in rural areas to become more effective. Traveling to Zambia each year, she developed a non-profit to expand her program to community schools throughout the country. M., a military engineer who retired as a Lt. Colonel, uses his training to design and build classrooms. They were introduced to Live Global through Dr. Jack Sorg and desire to increase their gospel impact through equipping and training national partners. 

M. and R.’s road to long-term missions has been a winding one. Although R. served in Nicaragua as a young adult and desired to return, her plans changed when she met and married M. A series of new homes, new jobs, and a growing family redirected their path more than once, yet they faithfully maintained and cultivated a desire for overseas ministry. Having developed a heart for Spain and the surrounding region, M. and R. are excited to join Live Global to strengthen the church in Spain as they engage with and serve national partners. 

Born and raised in Ethiopia, S. and S. had a vision for serving the church from the early days of their marriage but did not know what that would look like. After serving in worship, youth, and orphanage ministries in Ethiopia, they moved to the US in 2011 and worked with a church plant in Charlotte, N.C. The Lord then showed them an opportunity to serve their home country from the US by ministering in an Ethiopian congregation in Indianapolis, which they will now do through Live Global. 

Both from Christian families in the Middle East, Z. and V. have developed a powerful evangelistic ministry throughout the Arabic-speaking world. Z., a well-known Arabic singer and preacher, has been featured not only at church-centered events around the world but has also ministered to Muslims, refugees, and youth for more than 25 years. Part of his ministry is to equip the saints for the work of the ministry. V. has a passion for worship and the presence of God. She writes Arabic worship music and serves in local ministry in Canada to reach the poor, broken-hearted, lost, and unreached with the full gospel of Christ. 

While visiting Thailand in 2010, R. was struck both by the darkness of a nation living without Christ and by the faithfulness of national ministers enduring opposition. Deciding to retire early and serve in ministry, he connected with Live Global missionaries through his church who shared a vision of leading sports teams for evangelistic ministry. He is joining Live Global’s Sports Impact ministry to coordinate these short-term teams. 

As a teenager, E. envisioned his role in the church taking the traditional route of youth and pastoral ministry. However, a missions trip to East Asia increased his desire to see the gospel go to all nations. While working in the corporate world and attending seminary, he became passionate about missions mobilization. He shifted into a full-time mobilization role to connect people, primarily college students, to gospel work around the world. As E. and his wife, K., an occupational therapist, join Live Global, they will continue serving through mobilization, networking for church partnerships, and pursuing overseas ministry. 

Rollin grew up in a family and church devoted to missions—a passion he carried into his own ministry as he assumed pastorates in Pennsylvania and Virginia. Throughout 20 years of ministry, he participated in short-term trips and led his church to send out three families to the mission field. When God redirected Rollin and Carrie, they recalled the help that EveryEthne had given their congregation. They now serve with EveryEthne to coordinate church assessments and help pastors determine strategies for fulfilling the Great Commission in their community and beyond. 

As a young adult, Drake wrestled with competing desires to either start a business or pursue missions. He felt a growing burden for Japan, accentuated when the 2011 earthquake and tsunami struck Japan and people perished without Christ. Ashley, meanwhile, felt a draw toward missions in high school and college but resisted until a chapel speaker mentioned that her degree in art education could be used in ministry. After Drake and Ashley married, their pastors affirmed their calling and directed them toward reaching the Japanese population in Hawaii. 

As the son of divorced parents in a dysfunctional, Roman Catholic family, Salvador’s early years were marked by turmoil. After the Lord powerfully saved him out of that situation, he attended seminary, where he met Monse, who had experienced her own difficult road to Christ through a broken family, anger, and attempted suicide. Their experiences revealed to them the incalculable worth of Christ. With the needs of the Hispanic community weighing heavily on their hearts, they began planting and revitalizing churches in Washington state, work they will continue through EveryEthne. 

After two decades of pastoral ministry, a late-night phone call changed Jeff and Criss’ trajectory. A soldier in their son’s unit had committed suicide, and their son and his fellow soldiers turned to Jeff for help dealing with this trauma. Burdened for others in the military, Jeff joined the army as a chaplain at age 46, deploying to Iraq and Kuwait. 

After serving eight years, Jeff saw the mental and emotional burdens carried by military veterans, and, with Criss, founded Warrior 180 Foundation to equip churches and communities to minister to our nation’s warriors. As master trainers in suicide prevention, they serve military and first responder communities through training and outreach. 

“I feel sometimes like a Jonah,” Fabian says of his journey to missions. Although he and Francesca faithfully served their church and community in South America, they initially rejected God’s leading to move to the US, preferring the stability and comfort of their lives. As they continued to pray, however, the Lord convinced them of the opportunity they had among Hispanic communities. As they begin church planting in faith, Fabian says, “Now it’s my turn to 

A dream about Chile first awakened Brandy’s passion for missions. While seeking counsel from their pastors, Kyle and Brandy heard ABWE President Paul Davis speak at their church and were convicted to begin preparing for overseas ministry. Still burdened for Chile, they learned that the ABWE team had been praying for new team members gifted in evangelism and discipleship and discovered a good fit. Kyle will teach evangelism classes to equip Chilean Christians for outreach, while Brandy will reach disadvantaged women with the gospel through the Florece Pregnancy Center. 

Growing up in a multi-ethnic church pastored by his father, Mike’s interest in other cultures and languages was always present. During his tenure on the ABWE mobilization staff, he felt a hunger to not just send and support missionaries but to go to the field himself. With an affinity for Spanish-speaking populations, his travels took him to Ecuador, where he served in church revitalization and met Cristina. Cristina, born and raised in Quito, is burdened for discipling women. Alongside the local church in Ecuador, they seek to confront the theological famine that is present in many parts of South America. 

Daniel, a Chilean national, grew up in Santiago, where he was saved and began serving the Lord at age nine. Emily grew up in small-town Pennsylvania, where she trusted Christ at age five and developed a burden for ministry through missions trips. Their worlds collided in 2013 when Emily taught at Santiago Christian Academy in the same building in which Daniel studied at the ABWE seminary. After completing preparation in their US church, they plan to move to southern Chile to proclaim the gospel and train leaders. 

Rob and Linda’s journeys started in radically different ways. Rob grew up in an unbelieving home and did not hear the gospel until college—and did not overcome his skepticism until studying apologetics 10 years later. Linda, meanwhile, grew up going to church and trusted Christ at a youth retreat in South America, where her father worked in business. After meeting in graduate school and marrying shortly after, they grew in their faith and in their passion for missions. After their retirement, the Lord led them to southern Brazil, where they serve primarily through English language classes and church planting.