The 2024-2025 New Missionary Class

As a missionary kid in Kenya, Abbey met a pregnant woman who lost her baby due to ignorance about maternal care, and she committed to pursuing pro-life pregnancy ministry. After their marriage, Joe, an audiovisual professional who once traveled with a Christian rock band, sensed God leading them overseas. An online search revealed needs in South Africa that fit their skills exactly. Joe will develop media to help churches disseminate biblical teaching, while Abbey will develop pro-life centers.

Growing up watching his father pastor a church with limited resources in a predominantly Muslim region of Ghana, J. developed a passion to equip pastors for ministry. After gaining experience with a local missions organization and completing theological training in seminary, J. and his wife, J., have joined Live Global to serve through pastoral development. Their unique combination of Ghanaian and American roots and international ministry experience enables them to bridge cultures for gospel impact.

For Serena, missions evidences the generational faithfulness of God. Her grandparents and parents both invested their lives as ABWE missionaries in Brazil, a heritage which now continues through Marc and Serena and their children. Marc, raised in a non-Christian home, was drawn to missions to share the grace he had experienced with others. As Christian school teachers, they will educate missionary kids in Togo to raise up the next generation for Christ.

Gabriele and Delia, Italian believers shaped by small churches with bivocational leaders, have been appointed as missionaries to East Africa. With a passion for equipping local churches, they plan to train pastors and leaders through grassroots programs and higher education. Gabriele will teach theology, while Delia will invest in women’s discipleship, children’s ministry, and gospel-driven hospitality. Their vision is to multiply faithful leaders and strengthen the African church.

Luke and Stephanie both felt God’s calling to missions during their teenage years. Luke grew up as a missionary kid in Durban, South Africa, and married Stephanie, who was born and raised in South Africa. Luke has served stateside in pastoral ministries for the past 12 years. Stephanie has worked with at-risk families. They are both committed to returning to South Africa to serve in church planting, theological education, and community outreach.

As a pastor who saw the theological famine faced by fellow ministers around the world, 85 percent of whom have no formal theological training, Seth recognized that God was giving him an opportunity to use his experience as part of the solution. Seth is committed to stewarding his education, teaching skills, and passion for curriculum development through training national pastors in Nicaragua and at an institute in Zambia to better shepherd their flocks, to the glory of God. 

While leading a mission team to Brazil in 2016, Ron visited believers in a favela and was moved by how their shared faith in Christ bridged vast cultural and economic divides. In 2021, Ron and Julie responded to God’s call to serve in Costa Rica, where they evangelized impoverished families and developed language and sports ministries. The Youdes hope to transition to The Gambia to support church leaders and ongoing youth ministry.

As Derek walked into a missions healthcare conference during his second year of medical school, God opened his eyes to see that he exists, he saves people across the world, and he wanted Derek to be part of it. After coming to Christ and growing in his faith, Derek served 18 months at the Hospital of Hope in Togo. He is excited to return and use healthcare to build the church, especially among the unreached Fulani people group.

Alan and Joan had successful careers in American suburbia when they sensed God’s leading to unreached Muslim peoples. They explained, “God showed us that he gave us resources and health, not so we would have a good life in America, but so we would have a better life following him.” They moved to North Africa 15 years ago and continue to see God transform lives as they build relationships through business and education as a means of planting churches.

Y. discerned God’s direction to become a missionary at a conference in 2019 but quickly rejected the idea. That night, she dreamed that God called her to serve him, but she told him no—she didn’t like public speaking. She had the same dream the following three nights and each time gave a different excuse. After the fourth night, she told God she was willing. She moved to North Africa, where she teaches at a school and ministers to refugees. 

As a professional musician, C. desired to make a name for himself. When he felt the Lord asking, “Would you be willing to give all that up for me?” his course was radically redirected to Southeast Asia, where he will use his gifts in ministry. A., a preschool teacher, became burdened to serve Southeast Asian women after her own experience with childhood abuse. She will use her skills to build redemptive relationships with families in their community.

As a refugee in Vietnam, K. spent her early childhood on a boat, enduring pirates and gunfire, until a church sponsored her family’s immigration to the US. The church’s love drew her to Christ. She later returned to Vietnam, and, while sitting in her cousins’ hut, wondered why God had given her a different life. She sensed God asking her in response, “What are you going to do about it?” Today she serves communities through oral Bible training, farming, and business development. 

Hunter and Priscilla’s call to missions began in Las Vegas. Living in the city as newlyweds and new believers, they joined a church with a strong missional emphasis. Their vision expanded as they saw God’s heart for the nations displayed throughout Scripture and gained experience through short-term trips, mid-term ministry in Cambodia, and seminary. They plan to assist a church in Yokohama, Japan, and partner with Japanese believers to plant a new church where there currently is none.

T. and C.’s story began overseas: they met on a missions trip to East Asia. After another short-term experience revealed a need for ministry training, they attended a specialized program in western Asia, where they were mentored by veteran missionaries. The Lord used a presentation by an ABWE missionary to give them an indescribable yearning to reach the millions in Southeast Asia currently without access to the gospel, and they committed to serve there.

Ashley grew up in the church and was saved at age seven. As a young adult, she read Isaiah’s words, “Here am I; send me,” and sensed the Lord leading her into missions. During a trip to Japan, she watched a woman bow to a statue on display in a museum and felt burdened to bring hope to people lost in an empty cultural religion. She plans to reach women in Japan with the gospel, while building missional relationships and assisting local churches. 

Reading the book Radical challenged Drew to make his life count for God. Hungry to learn more, he pored over missionary biographies, then the Book of Acts—and responded by sharing Christ with Hindus, Buddhists, and Muslims at work. Harlee’s burden for their own children inspired her to begin reaching hundreds of other children and families in their community. They will now use their experience as part of a church planting team in Portugal.

Gemma is a native to Ireland, and Fredrik was born in Sweden. God’s grace brought them to Saylorville Church in the US in their mid-30s, where they came to saving faith in 2015. Five years later, while reading Psalm 96 and John 4, God burdened them to declare his glory in Gemma’s spiritually dark homeland. Amid Ireland’s complex blend of Roman Catholicism and hyper-secularism, they will support church planting, evangelism, counseling, and discipleship ministries.

After 30 years in the IT industry, Rob and his wife, Gayle, an experienced educator, felt called to dedicate their empty-nest years to gospel ministry. Serving in Portugal with ABWE, they partner with the Lisbon Training Center and Greater Lisbon Christian Academy, supporting missionaries, encouraging children and families, and engaging the local community to help them find and follow Jesus.

As an ABWE missionary kid in Ecuador, Lukas grew up sharing the gospel with friends on the soccer field and assisting his family in the church. Julia also began serving at a young age, first through joining several short-term evangelistic teams in the US and abroad, then later through college ministry. After their marriage, they committed to return to Ecuador to serve in a church plant, disciple young adults, and work with the TACTICA police ministry. 

Douglas, a Brazilian, first heard the gospel at a soccer ministry run by ABWE missionaries Randy and Cindy Richner. Their faithful example and discipleship inspired him to pursue evangelism and church ministry, even in his youth. During a pastoral internship in the US, he married Lacey, who had developed a heart for Brazil during a short-term missions trip. They are returning to southern Brazil to serve in church planting, sports, and women’s and children’s ministries. 

Afrooz, born Muslim, was saved while visiting a church near her home in Iran. Upon discovering that her uncle was also a believer but had been afraid to tell anyone, she resolved to share the gospel with her entire family—and was soon arrested, beaten, and sentenced to death. After a church helped her flee overnight, she committed to serving refugees in the US and, through her testimony, now trains churches to effectively reach Muslims for Christ.

For 25 years, the Garcias have served in church planting and multiplication ministries. As missionaries sent from Venezuela, they trained leaders in Mali, Myanmar, Mexico, and the US. Now empty-nesters, they live by the idea that “our lives are not forever but can be a legacy that goes beyond our time here on earth.” They will continue to serve through a local church in Yakima, WA, multiplying the next generation of North American believers and churches.

Jono’s call to ministry was confirmed during a visit to a local prison, where he saw more than 100 inmates praising God. Having seen the life-changing impact of local outreach ministry, he is committed to mobilizing the church to bring the gospel to the edges of society. Debi serves alongside him in training women to study, know, and teach God’s Word. Together, they equip and build the local church through evangelism and discipleship. 

After decades of faithfully serving in the local church and teaching around the world, the Reeds will step into a new role to encourage and equip church leaders to engage in effective evangelism in the diverse and growing city of Toronto, Ontario.  They will use their expertise in Bible translation, teaching English as a Second Language, and preaching to support pastors and reach the international community living and working in the city.

M.’s ministry at a federal penitentiary introduced him to Muslim inmates who worshiped daily without hope or knowledge of the true God—and his heart broke for them. As he and his wife approached retirement, they desired to invest their senior years in ministering to Muslims. They joined EveryEthne to serve a large community of Afghan refugees in the US, partnering with local churches in evangelism, discipleship, and resettlement ministries.

Todd had always wondered how to integrate gospel ministry with his 30-year career in banking and financial planning. A church presentation about ABWE introduced him to opportunities to lead financial literacy seminars for church planters internationally, and Carolyn also found needs for her expertise in special education. In addition to their part-time international work, Todd will assume the role of director of advancement for ABWE Canada.

Doug, an entrepreneur and pilot of over 30 years, uses airplanes in business and understands their utility. He and Deanna recently launched a three-year training program on their ranch in Wyoming to prepare missionary pilots and mechanics—both professionally and spiritually—to take the gospel to hard-to-reach places. As the new director of ABWE Aviation, Doug will also work with current missionary pilots and open new bases to expand ABWE’s outreach.

C. cultivated a passion for exploring God’s creation and its potential through his career in engineering and product development. He now plans to use his expertise for eternal impact by helping national partners around the world use business to spread the gospel in creative ways and to provide for their families and churches. T., a perioperative nurse, will assist in evangelistic community development through healthcare education.

During a moment of despair, E. sensed God opening his eyes to the grace of the cross, and he openhandedly gave his life to Christ. Soon after, he began serving on frequent short-term missions trips. He met C., a nurse, as they traveled together to the Dominican Republic. They joined Live Global to connect Canadian churches with national partners around the world, particularly in the Caribbean, and to equip church leaders.

Twenty years of full-time church ministry ended abruptly when K. experienced burnout. As he and his wife, R., sought healing, they prayed for new opportunities. The more they learned about healthy ministry practices, the greater their burden grew for missionaries in high-stress environments. As biblical counselors, they will help these workers recover from difficult personal, family, and ministry situations and proactively develop strategies for effective, thriving ministries.

J. was working with a human trafficking rescue organization when he heard a young lady request prayer for “a different life.” He could think of no greater life purpose than to share Christ with the hopeless and decided to become a pastor. His life trajectory changed again when he and his wife, M., joined Live Global. They now develop partnerships between North American churches and indigenous churches in poverty-stricken regions of the Caribbean.

When S.’s faith began to conflict with her professional responsibilities as a pediatrician, she considered how to use her training to make an eternal impact instead.  She discovered an opportunity to reach people who may never attend church through medical missions. Serving with ABWE Healthcare, she will provide pediatric care to missionary families, lead short-term medical trips, and offer administrative support for evangelistic medical initiatives.

Brent thought he was born to be a farmer and never seriously considered missions because he knew he was not a preacher. During a relief trip in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, however, he saw other ways of serving in missions. God continued to work in Brent’s heart to give him a desire to serve Jesus, beyond farming, through his experience in construction.  The Neers will join ABWE Construction to help plan and build ministry facilities worldwide. 

E. was planting a church in the Cape Verde Islands when he noticed that the biblically illiterate people of the rural mountain village struggled to understand concepts like the Lamb of God. He began searching for resources to teach the grand narrative of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation. While later serving in Thailand, he encountered ABWE’s Good Soil materials, which he will now use to train believers worldwide in chronological Bible teaching.

Hannah’s missionary grandparents instilled in her a heart for missions, leading to her own calling during college. Adam first heard the gospel in college and immediately wanted to share it with others. After meeting on a missions trip to Zimbabwe, they married and served six years in Japan. Their burden for pro-life ministry led to an invitation for Hannah to serve as assistant director of ABWE Beautiful Feet, providing support and training for pregnancy centers worldwide.

Growing up in the most diverse ZIP code in the United States instilled a love for the nations in B. When she saw that the work of missions was broader than just long-term overseas ministry, however, it opened her eyes to her place in the Great Commission. Driven by a passion to mobilize and equip national churches, B. will advance the gospel by cultivating relationships between North American churches and ministries across the globe.