Ron & Margie Grant
Children: Josh and Kris and Kabe and
Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF)
Field Address:
C/O Alas de Socorro
Casilla 17-11-6228
Quito, Ecuador
E-mail address: Rgrant@maf.org
Ron is head of maintenance & construction of Mission Aviation Fellowship, MAF's compound in Shell, Ecuador. He leads short-term mission teams that come from the states in construction projects. Margie is the principle at the Nate Saint school for missionary kids. |
 |
Melody Wachsmuth
US Center for World Missions
Field Address:
Evangelical Theological Seminary
Cvjetkova 32, Box 370
Osijek, Croatia 31103
Website: balkanvoices.wordpress.com E-mail address: mjwachsmuth@yahoo.com
Many countries in the Balkans experienced a tumultuous past few decades: from the ravages of Communism and war to the difficulties of independence and socio-political and economic stability. The area is fraught with complex historical issues and the people possess an intriguingly layered sense of identity: ethnic, national, and religious. In 2008, as part of my Master’s program in Intercultural Studies at Fuller Seminary, I embarked on a research trip to Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, and Kosovo. Conducting numerous interviews with local pastors and missionaries revealed a common sense of isolation discouragement in their work. And yet, I found their resilience, dedication, and creative vision compelling. This trip only deepened my questions about the area: How did believers from the Balkans survive the horrors of war and how are they currently relating to one another and their society? What are their current challenges and needs? What can we learn from them? From this reflection, the concept of the Balkan Writing Project emerged, birthed from my belief that true and compelling stories have the potential to influence individuals and communities towards God’s purposes. Effective research is an indispensable tool for churches and missionaries in their participation in God’s mission.
On a local level, I hope to be a resource for busy and overworked local churches and missionaries by assisting them with their global communication–helping them tell their stories in a truthful and compelling manner.
On a global level, I hope to raise awareness regarding God’s work in the Balkans so that the global body of Christ can learn appropriate ways to support and encourage local believers and missionaries in the Balkans.
In terms of research, there are many areas in the Balkans that do not have many believers or missionaries. I hope to explore these places, people, and contexts, for such research will greatly assist the local churches and mission agencies in their work.
|
Philip & Elizabeth Prasad
Witnessing Ministries of Christ
U.S. Address
4717 North Barton Ave.
Fresno, CA 93726-1119
WMC@Presbymin.org
Nineteen years ago the Rev. Philip Prasad founded WMC and the Rural Presbyterian Church-India (RPC-I) to bring the Good News of Christ to India's 150 million Dalit (Untouchable) people. Philip himself was born a Dalit, but was redeemed by Presbyterian missionaries. The Dalit people are considered by Indian society to be subhuman. After centuries of being trapped in a cycle of endless filth and degradation, they believed it themselves. The RPC-I tells of a God who made them in his own image and who came as one just like them, humiliated and scorned. The simple news "Jesus loves me" is powerful in this context, adding nearly 10,000 new Christian converts each month to God's kingdom. With the Gospel of Christ as a foundation and God-given self worth as a cornerstone, this ministry is educating, building schools, seminaries and pastoral housing, providing medical help and fostering economic independence among a people much in need of the uplift from oppression that comes with the Good News of new life in Christ. WMC building a self-supporting and mission-capable Rural Presbyterian Church in India. Providing spiritual nurture and education to Untouchable children in residential schools.
1-16-05
Philip & Elizabeth Prasad, servants of Christ through Witnessing Ministries of Christ (WMC) in India, thank SVPC & many Presbyterian churches for the prayer & financial support which continues to bear much fruit in a part of the world where an age old cruel cultural practice condemns a large population group to being branded as untouchable.
WMC has made remarkable progress in bringing spiritual liberation to the Bhangi people through the Good News of the Gospel. In establishing numerous educational facilities (primary to college), WMC brings young people into a realization of self esteem which enables them to enjoy a societal position free of the stigma of untouchability. We praise God for this life changing ministry. We pray for an ever increasing level of vital prayer/financial support by churches of the PCUSA
|
|  |
Bill & Donna Davis
Children: Bethy & Lisa
New Tribes Mission
FieldAddress
P.O. Box 261
5300 Puerto Princesa City
Palawan, Philippines
U.S. Address
6654 Estrella Ave.
San Diego, CA 92120
davis@palawano.com
Bill and Donna have been working with the Palawano tribe sincere 1979, learning and then writing their tribal language. The fruit of their ministry is a nearly finished new testament, a growing body of Christ, leadership training for tribal church leaders and a medical facility ran by both NTM personal and the palawano people. Bill and Donna are currently in the States where they both received their masters at San Diego State and UCSD and are active in MTN training resources worldwide. Visit New Tribes Mission to find out more about NTM or visit Bill and Donna at their blogs:
Bill's Blog: http://billdavisthoughts.wordpress.com/
Donna's Blog: http://farthestoceans.wordpress.com/
|
Mike & Annette Karim
Children: John & Audrey
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship
P.O. Box 7895
Madison, WI 53707-7895
mikeeivcf@aol.com
Mike Karim has served with Intervarsity for more than 16 years. Sierra Vista began supporting him when he was working with the program at CSUFresno, and continued to do so as he has served most recently at both Rice University and the University of Houston. He and his wife, Annette, moved to Los Angeles summer of 2010 so that Mike could pursue a PhD in Missiology through Fuller Seminary. He continues to serve part-time with Intervarsity in Texas while he undertakes his doctoral studies, so his plate is more than full. Annette is also pursuing her PhD, doing so long distance from LA to Houston. As Mike is only part-time with Intervarsity, his salary is now less than his tuition at Fuller, so they continue to need our prayerful and financial support. Mike's heart is to gain deeper understanding of how our nation's university system impacts student's (both national and international) ability to grasp the gospel, and to truly know the love of Jesus Christ. Please pray for him as he seeks to spread the good news of Jesus to students from around the world.
Jack & Keiko Marshall
Deaf Ministries Int'l
c/o Mrs. Kathy Toth
8746 Bluebird Dr.
West Chester, OH 45069
jkmwoi@earthlink.net
Jack & Keiko are working in Japan with "returnees", Japanese people who have been abroad and have now returned as Christians to Japan. |
Vic & Marty Wiens
Children: Bethany, Kristen, & Angela
Mennonite Brethren Missions
Services Field Address:
Rua Dos Leguminosas 99
Sao Paulo, S. P. 04824-150
Brazil
vmwiens@hotmail.com
Vic directs the MB Training Center (CENTRIM), Marty resources regional women's groups, and together with our local church, we are planting a new church in the Rio Bonito area of São Paulo. Vic also resources the national mission board of MB churches. |
| Orfanatorio Emmanuel
Children's orphanage in Mexico
P. O. Box 7343
Chula Vista, CA 91912
(888 ) 526-7551
info@cfci.org
Mission: Christ For The City International
P. O. Box 3827
Omaha, NE 68103-0827 | |
|
