Argentina
Cristian and Cintia Mikkan – The Mikkan’s serve in Mendoza, Argentina leading a thriving church that has already planted other churches. Through their ministry they have worked tirelessly to reach into the community by starting an outreach project that aims to provide (free of charge) 3D printed prosthetic hands and arms. In addition, they have established three feeding centers to meet the ever-growing needs of impoverished people in their city.
Cuba
Journey is actively involved in Cuba as we support a group of 35 church planters that are planting churches all over the country. For their protection, we cannot share their identities but they are doing a tremendous work and we are humbled to be a small part of the advancement of the gospel in Cuba. In addition, there is another group of about 200 pastors and church planters that we have the opportunity to influence and train through some of the denominational ties we have in the country.
Guatemala
Chad and Jamie Bader – The Bader family serves in the impoverished rural communities of Guatemala. They are co-founders of a ministry called ‘Transformando Vidas’ (Transforming Lives) and their mission is to provide leadership, guidance, and resources in order see San Jose Guachipilin, Escuintla and other future communities redeemed spiritually, socially, and economically for the glory of God.
Helbert and Barbara Castellanos – The Castellanos are native Guatemalans, are the co-founders of ‘Transformando Vidas’ and partner with the Bader’s in meeting both the physical and spiritual needs of the poor in remote rural communities in Guatemala. Their knowledge of the land and the people have proven invaluable as they reach these communities.
Honduras
Roger and Marilyn Reeck – The Reecks have worked as missionaries for Wycliffe Bible Translators for years translating and supervising the translation of the Bible into several languages. Although Roger and Marilyn have settled in Honduras, Roger is currently working with one language group in Brazil, two in Venezuela, and two in Guinea Bissau as he meets with particular ethnic group translation committees going verse by verse to check for accuracy and complete understandability of the translations. Marilyn works with Wylcliffe’s partern organization, the Trauma Healing Institute as facilitator and trainer in Honduras, Venezuela and Guinea Bissau while supervising the production of materials for the Miskito language of Honduras and two Venezuelan Indian languages.
Fernando Sabio – The Sabios serve in making disciples that make other disciples through pastoring a local church, doing leadership development, and church planting among Garifuna people in Honduras.
Luis and Juana Gramwell – The Gramwell’s, natives of the Misquito Indian region of Honduras, live in La Ceiba, Honduras. Luis pastors Bethel Church, teaches in the university, is a facilitator/trainer in the Trauma Healing Institute, and is a member of the denomination’s National Board. His wife Juana works alongside of him and continues to excel in Early Childhood Education.
Stephen and Erica Switzer – The Switzer’s live in San Pedro Sula, Honduras working with Identity Mission. Identity Mission oversees the national foster care movement in Honduras, working between local churches and the Honduran government to see that each kid has the opportunity to grow up in a loving Christian family. Stephen also works with Orphan Helpers, a nonprofit that specializes in work with incarcerated youth, by helping them to set up a mentorship program for teenagers and young adults being released from prison.
Uganda
Ashley Elkins – Ashley and her daughter Hannah (3) live in Jinja, Uganda. Ashley works as a nurse and serves both the Ugandan and missionary community in which they live. She enjoys teaching and mentoring nurses and believes compassionate medical care is an amazing opportunity to share the gospel of Jesus with others. She is also passionate about one on one discipleship and loves teaching and encouraging women to fully embrace who they are in Christ.
Eric and Melissa Olupot – Eric and Melissa and their two children are partnering with a local Deaf church to spread the Gospel with the Ugandan Deaf community. Sadly, only 2% of Deaf people worldwide are practicing Christians and the Olupots hope that their ministry will help to change those statistics. In addition to their work at the Deaf Church, Eric and Melissa are currently in the preparation stages to begin a Christian school for the Deaf.
Venezuela
Juan Elias and Olvis Salas – The Salas’ family have pastored Luz Del Mundo Evangelical Christan Church fo the past 26 years in Maturin- Venezuela. They are actively reaching three tribal ethnicities, have developed many local ministries in the state of Monagas, and are in the advanced stage of launching an aviation ministry to quickly advance their ministry to reach even more unreached people groups in remote areas.
Jonathan and Amelia Salas - The Salas’ are part of an organization called SADI, partnering with Ethnos 360 Aviation, that serves the local church in Venezuela. Both Jonathon and Amelia are currently being trained as both a missionary pilot and mechanic at Moody Aviation, in Spokane WA, with the goal of serving the Venezuelan local church in reaching the indigenous tribes in the forests of Venezuela. As Jonathan and Amelia partner with his parents, they will be able to provide a safer and faster way to bring the Gospel to isolated areas.
International Church Planting in Asia, Africa, & the Americas
Dr. David Nelms – Dr. Nelms is the founder and president of The Timothy Initiative (TTI), an organization that has planted 1000’s of churches through training and multiplying disciples around the world. David believes that TTI’s strategy to make disciples who make disciples is a simple method for spreading the Gospel to the ends of the Earth that echoes the book of Acts. He believes that as the body of Christ works together, we can finish the task Jesus gave us 2,000 years ago—to make disciples of every nation and people group. David is married to his lovely wife Loretta. They have three grown children and five grandchildren.
International Ministry to Students
Dr. Randy Smith – Dr. Smith is the founder and president of Youth Ministry International (YMI), an organization that desires to make disciples of the world’s 2.3 billion unreached youth by training youth workers. YMI partners with Bible colleges and seminaries to “train trainers” and provide formal academic training so they can equip youth leaders in their own context. Within a few years these national youth ministry professors then begin teaching and mentoring others to effectively reach and disciple young people.