Northwest Leadership Connexion 2024

Dani Cypert
MissionGuide
Customer Care Manager

Dani came to know Christ as a teenager and took her first mission trip while in college, which radically changed her life and gave her the desire to share Christ. She, along with her family, have served on many mission trips and in full-time ministry to the local church. She enjoyed serving in British Columbia, Montana, Guatemala, Puerto Rico and Kenya. She loves being in ministry and has been serving beside her husband, a pastor, in churches in Arkansas for more than 30 years, including church planting ministry.

Dani has worked as the Customer Care provider with MissionGuide since 2013. She counts it a privilege to both serve MissionGuide’s sending agencies promoting their trips and connecting people to find the mission trip that is the right fit for them. She has a degree in Journalism and Communications and uses those skills in her job as well as in her free time, telling people’s stories and writing women’s Bible Studies.

The Cypert’s enjoy spending time with their family and enjoying the beautiful outdoors of the Ozarks of Arkansas. She enjoys teaching and discipling young women to grow in their love for God’s Word and each other, befriending International college students, traveling and trying all kinds of foods while learning about local culture.

Terry Jackson, Barnabas International

He has spent his professional life in the church, on the mission field and in member care. His primary gift is shepherd where he seeks to build relationships of trust and authenticity in a context of kindness and wisdom.

Lori Jackson, Barnabas International

She has served alongside her husband, Terry, in ministry for almost 35 years. Together they have served in the local church, on the mission field, and currently in member care with Barnabas International. The lessons for thriving have been learned and tested through the fires of experience.

Josh Beck, Barnabas International

He is the Exec Director and CEO at Barnabas International. Barnabas is a member care organization that exists to shepherd global workers and train global shepherds. Josh and his wife, Denise, have four young adult children. Prior to serving at Barnabas, Josh was in local church leadership serving as the missions pastor and the executive pastor. Prior to that he and his family were missionaries living and serving in South Sudan.

Ericka Harris, Oasis Rest International

She has been serving in cross-cultural ministries since 1992. In 2010, she and her husband became full time member care providers and joined Oasis Rest International. With a desire to further the Gospel, they strengthen global workers by helping them process normal yet difficult losses that are common to living cross-culturally. She is author of – Remembering: A creative memory journal about a special person in your life.

Barney M. Davis, Jr., M.D., Barnabas International

Psychiatrist; 35 years of providing member care services; currently serving with Barnabas International.

Denise Beck, Velvet Ashes

She has the immense joy of caring for women living cross-culturally as the Executive Director of Velvet Ashes. After living and serving in S. Sudan with their four kids, she and her husband now both care for global workers from Southern Wisconsin while they enjoy the new season of empty nesting.

Amy Young, MA, LPC, Global Trellis

She served in China for nearly 20 years, holding various leadership roles, including Member Care Director for 10 years. She co-founded Velvet Ashes, an online community for women working cross-culturally. She founded Global Trellis which develops the spiritual life of cross-cultural workers. You can find out more about it at globaltrellis.com.

Matthew Ellison

Matthew was rescued by Jesus when he was twenty-three. Shortly after, he found himself in Ghana, West Africa on the first of what would be many ventures to the mission field. That first trip, he says, “ruined me for anything less than a life lived for God’s global purpose.” In 1993 he began serving at Calvary of Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he attended and graduated from their School of Ministry. He worked as the Missions Pastor at Calvary for nine years, developing and launching a strategic church-wide missions ministry. There he founded an international short-term mission ministry called LifeLine Missions that gave thousands across the country the opportunity to experience the mission field firsthand.

Through these ministry opportunities he became extensively involved in short and long-term mission endeavors around the world. Now, he devotes his time to serving local churches across the country by coaching them in strategically focused missions and helping them to discover and use their unique gifts in partnership with others to make Christ known among all nations. He currently lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico with his wife, Renee.

Randy Remington

Longtime pastor and spiritual leader, Randy Remington serves as president of The Foursquare Church.

Prior to being inaugurated president in 2020, Randy served as lead pastor of Beaverton Foursquare Church, located in Beaverton, Oregon. His leadership was marked by a commitment to prayer, investing in leaders, championing diversity and engaging in local and global missions.

Convinced that a teachable heart is one of the most crucial attributes Jesus imparts to His followers, Randy calls himself a “lifelong learner” and is committed to formal and informal education. His degrees include an Associate of Arts in Practical Theology from Christ for the Nations Institute; a Bachelor of Arts from Life Pacific College, with a major in Biblical Studies and a minor in Cross-Cultural Communication; and a Master of Arts in Strategic Leadership from Life Pacific. Informally, Randy says he is a voracious reader, podcast listener and seminar attender.

Since becoming elected as president, he has modeled the priorities of prayer, discipleship, health, and teamwork with the key target of more and growing lead- ers together on mission. Though he calls himself a pastor, he is truly a pastor of pastors. Randy and his wife, Sandy, have been married for over 30 years. They have three adult sons: Joseph, Sam and Thomas. The Remingtons live in Oregon on a small farm, enjoying its many projects and chores.

Patrice Tsague

PATRICE TSAGUE is the grandson of King Johny Baleng I of Baleng Dschang, Cameroon. He is a pastor, business trainer, entrepreneur, international speaker, best-selling author, and kingdom business coach. Patrice specializes in helping families incorporate their faith and values into their business practice, ensuring that their business is able to exist beyond the third generation. Patrice is the co-founder of several companies, including the Nehemiah Project International Ministries, PG & Associates LLC, Kingdom Business Coaching and iLamp Oregon.

Patrice has trained and coached over 15,000 individuals around the world on how to start or expand their businesses using business training and coaching principles found in the Bible. Through his training and coaching system, his clients have raised millions of dollars in funding capital, generated a combined income of over $100 million dollars, and created thousands of jobs. Patrice is the author of several books and training curricula including Biblical Entrepreneurship, which has an adult and youth version, Nothing but a Jar of Oil, The Passive Income Continuum, The Buck Stops with You, and many more. He also publishes a weekly e-devotional, blog, radio inspirational moment and podcast for entrepreneurs and business executives that is distributed to over 100K individuals globally.

Patrice currently serves as the Chief Servant Officer of the Nehemiah Project International and the Director and Chief Strategist for ILamp Oregon. He also serves on the board of several organizations including the Timothy Plan, Andco, Common Good Capital, and Cornerstone Christian Academy for Learning and Leadership. He and his life partner and wife Gina have two beautiful daughters, Gabrielle and Danielle Tsague. The family resides in Vancouver, Washington.

Michelle Atwell

Michelle has more than 18 years of experience working at ministries and nonprofits, most recently with the Red Cross of Michigan. She has also served on SEND’s US Council and chaired the Financial Development Committee. Her missions experience includes a trip with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship to Samara, Russia (1998) and leading several teams to Chernobyl, Ukraine. Michelle enjoys spending time with her family, running, reading, and learning to speak Russian.

Bill MacLeod
MissionConnexion
Director

Bill MacLeod is the Executive Director of MissionConnexion, which he founded in 2001 during his fifteen years as a missions pastor in Portland, Oregon. Its signature event, Mission Connexion Northwest, has become one of the largest annual, church-missions-mobilizing events in the USA impacting thousands. Mission Connexion sponsors smaller, theme-focused events throughout the year designed to help strengthen local churches in practical ways in their missions mobilizing potential.

While working on Luis Palau’s historic Mission to London in 1983, he met and married his wife, Joan, and they have three married children and eight grandchildren. He holds earned degrees from Cairn University (BSc in Bible), Western Seminary (MDiv), and has been a certified Perspectives presenter since 1996.

Bill has been involved in city-wide mobilization efforts for more than 40 years, from directing regional endeavors with Luis Palau Association in the 1970’s and ‘80s in Scotland, England and Wales, on up to Luis Palau’s Portland CityFest in 2008. He has also helped direct community-development projects in Africa and Central America.

Other organizations Bill has worked with include Promise Keepers, Operation Mobilization, the Billy Graham Association, as well as serving on various boards and councils including People International, MissionNext and Biola University.

Fouad Masri

Author and lecturer, Fouad Masri, was born and raised in the war zone of Beirut, Lebanon. As a third-generation ordained pastor, he has a passion for sharing the love of Christ with Muslims and has been reaching out to Muslims and inspiring others to follow his example since 1979. After coming to the United States to attend seminary, Fouad realized the urgency for teaching American Christians to reach out to the growing population of internationals, particularly Muslims. In 1993, he founded Crescent Project to nurture transformational relationships between Christians and Muslims and to rally the Church to reach out to Muslims to share the Good News of Christ. Since then, he has trained more than 400,000 Christians to share their faith sensitively and purposefully with Muslims through many resources and training events.

Mulenga Chella

Mulenga L. Chella, the founding pastor of Christ Life Church, was born in Zambia, Africa. After completing high school, he was called to serve God in ministry.

Mulenga earned his Theology Diploma from Northrise University Zambia in 2005.

In 2006 Mulenga was wrongly imprisoned in Tanzania and spent two years 3 months awaiting trial for a crime he did not commit, and of which he was subsequently acquitted. This resulted in a spiritually formative time that God used to teach and humble Mulenga for fruitful ministry.

He then returned to Northrise University Zambia and earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Theology. Mulenga continued his education at Baylor University in Waco, Texas earning a Master’s in Divinity and a Doctorate of Ministry (2020).

Mulenga is married to Hellen, and they have a son named Joseph, two daughters named Lisa and Abigail, and an adopted daughter called Esther Chella. They returned back to Zambia from the USA in March 2017 and officially started Christ Life Church in April 2018. Christ Life Church now has 10 campuses and reaches people through education, prison ministry, rescuing girls from the streets, and providing for 600 plus children in the Chainda Slum, a theological training school, and others. Mulenga and his church are passionate about transforming lives through Christ Life Church.

Dan Steffen

Dan has been serving in ministry since 1988 and was ordained in 1995. He joined the staff of Pure Heart in 2000 and has been the Senior Pastor since 2005.

Dan is the co-founder of School Connect which serves over 1000 public schools in 7 cities in 6 different states. He is the co-founder of Resilient Church Conference, equipping the local church to be trauma informed. He also is the chairman of Better Together Family of churches, uniting churches across greater Phoenix area and helping pastors finish strong.

Dan and his wife, Nicole, were married in August of 1998. Together they have five children, Joshua, Luke, Abigail, Olivia and Ava.

Jesse Kroeze
Board Treasurer

Jesse is a New Jersey native and traveled around Central America after graduating from Taylor University seeking adventure, mastery of the Spanish language and God’s leading on his life. It eventually brought him back to the Northeast where he took a position with Touch the World managing a coffee-house ministry.. It was here that his path crossed with the woman who would become his wife and their combined passions eventually carried them across the Atlantic to begin a ministry in Uganda, Africa.

After five years exploring the intricacies of community development as the Country Director of Touch The World – Uganda, Jesse was asked to return to lead the future path of the mission organization Touch The World as Executive Director. Along with his wife and three children, their oldest adopted from Uganda, Jesse seeks to partake in sharing the global perspectives of missions we have been called to as Christ’s ambassadors.

Marti Wade
Board Chair

Marti Wade has been serving with Pioneers-USA since 2007, currently as the Editorial Director for the marketing team. This team seeks to creatively tell the stories of what God is doing around the world to engage more people in reaching the unreached. She is also the editor of the weekly publication Missions Catalyst and has been an instructor for Perspectives on the World Christian Movement classes since the 1990s. Previously, she was part of Caleb Project, where she helped train and send out dozens of short-term teams to do relationship-based research to support church planting in cultures where the people have little opportunity to hear the gospel. That kind of work allowed her to travel to Central, South and Southeast Asia, North Africa, and Europe.

Jim Cross
Board Member

Jim came to Christ as an adult. While working in a shoe store in a mall in Cleveland, he met a man who worked in a Christian bookstore. This man witnessed to Jim and eventually Jim accepted Christ as Lord of his life. He then transferred to Cedarville University in Ohio. While at Cedarville, Jim met his wife, Janice, while working on a Christian ministry team.

As CFO of Village Missions for over 29 years, Jim gained a great deal of practical, daily nonprofit experience and made impactful contributions to all the organizations he served. Bootstrapping systems from the ground up, he has the know-how to get things done in a budget sensitive environment. In his current position as CFO of the Wernie Youth & Family Treatment Center, he has gleaned experience in treasury, risk management, pension and investments and benefits administration.

Don Johnson
Board Vice Chair

Don earned his BA and MA in Bible from Columbia International University and an MBA from Liberty University. He has been a missionary with SEND International since 1987 serving first as a host-receiver for STMs in Alaska and Russia before spending 10 years as the Assistant Director and then Director of SEND’s STM department. Currently, he is Assistant to the US Director for Special Projects. His responsibilities include speaking, writing, recruiting, researching mission trends and providing training for both short-term and long-term missionaries.

Jolene Erlacher
Board Secretary

Jolene grew up as the daughter of missionaries. She has worked with short- and mid-term missions teams for over 15 years. Jolene has a doctorate in leadership and is the founder of Leading Tomorrow. She serves as a speaker, instructor and leadership coach specializing in intergenerational leadership and ministry. Jolene has written two books, Millennials in Ministry and Daniel Generation. She is passionate about effectively engaging the next generation in Kingdom service. Jolene and her family currently live in central North Carolina.

Greg Short
MissionLinked
Director

Greg was born and raised in Colorado and actively attended church. It wasn’t until after university that Christianity and a relationship with Christ took on a life changing significance in his life as he was being introduced to Young Life. He went on to work with Young Life, starting clubs in Singapore, Vancouver, Canada and Toronto. While in Toronto, Greg met Janet and they were married in 1985.

While in SE Asia Greg, fell in love with Asian people, cultures, and food. However, their spiritual darkness was a continual challenge and in 1986 Greg and Janet answered the call to return to SE Asia. Their ministry involved church planting, MK care, leadership development and equipping of nationals to form reproducing churches, business development and strategic planning. After returning from Asia, Greg was involved in financial planning, banking and lending.

Greg has degrees from Colorado State University and Regent College. He was blessed to be in one of the first initial classes for what later became Perspectives in 1981.

Greg is very excited to be the first Director of MissionLinked and is totally dependent on God to make this a ministry which will be able to bless the nations.

Greg and Janet live in Vancouver, Washington and have three grown children, one married who gave them a very special gift of a granddaughter in 2020.

The Worldview Behind Transgenderism

We are in the midst of a gender revolution. People are reconsidering gender norms and wrestling with what this means for families, schools, sports, health care, the church, and many other social institutions. In this presentation, Sean compares and contrasts the worldview behind this new revolution with the historic Christian faith. It is only when we understand the worldview behind transgenderism that we can wisely address some of the difficult practical issues capturing the cultural conversation today.

True for You, but not True for Me

Don’t we live in a “post-truth” culture that cares more about feelings than facts? People often say, “That may be your truth, but it’s not mine,” as if truth changes based upon what we believe about it or how we feel. In this session, we will consider why truth is vital, learn how to properly define it, examine objections against its knowability and existence, and grasp the powerful implications of truth for our daily lives.

Georgene Rice

Georgene has been a talk show host with KPDQ for more than 30 years and has traveled internationally as a station correspondent. In 2003 Georgene served as the chief spokesman and debater for the Defense of Marriage Coalition, which successfully amended Oregon’s constitution. She has lectured on university campuses and is a frequent speaker and worship leader at Christian conferences and retreats. Georgene has served on several Boards and regularly volunteers for charitable organizations. A musician Georgene and husband Dan have traveled around the world teaching and performing Gospel music.

Mark Mittelberg

Mark Mittelberg is a bestselling author, international speaker, and the Executive Director of the Lee Strobel Center for Evangelism and Applied Apologetics at Colorado Christian University (StrobelCenter.com), which offers accredited BA and MA degrees, as well as certificate courses — all online. His connections to the Pacific Northwest include: his father was a friend and fellow student with missionary Jim Elliot at Wheaton, and for the past 25 years, Mark has served as the primary evangelism trainer for the Luis Palau Association, equipping thousands of believers in regional training gatherings prior to their CityFest events around the country.

Dr. Sean McDowell

Dr. Sean McDowell is the son of Josh and Dottie McDowell and a gifted communicator with a passion for equipping the church, and in particular young people, to make the case for the Christian faith. He connects with audiences in a tangible way through humor and stories while imparting hard evidence and logical support for viewing all areas of life through a Biblical worldview. Sean is an Associate Professor in the Christian Apologetics program at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University.

Robert E. Levy

Robert Levy is a Christian businessman from Jamaica, and the father of Wendy Palau. He is Chairman of Jamaica Broilers ltd. – one of the largest poultry operations in the Caribbean and with operations in five states in the USA. Robert was a high school dropout yet experienced a dramatic change of life at 30 years of age, after which he has been recognized by both the government and the private sector in Jamaica. In 2008, Luis Palau was invited to help celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the company, giving the entire country an opportunity to hear and respond to the Gospel. He completed the Owner/President Management (OPM) course at Harvard University and has served on many boards including Regent University in Virginia Beach. He has been happily married to Judy for 59 years and has four happily married children and fourteen grandchildren.

Wendy Palau

Wendy Palau is the daughter of Robert and Judy Levy and the wife of Andrew Palau. She is a gifted evangelist, leading outreaches to women around the world as a part of Palau Festivals and media campaigns that reach millions each week through daily Hope with God radio programs and digital strategies. Her book, Stories of Hope, is an anthology of diverse stories from women around the world, highlighting how they found hope in Christ amidst their darkest moments.

Jake Embleton
MissionConnexion
Southwest Coordinator

Jake is married to the best wife in the world and has three lovely boys. He lives in Tempe, AZ with his family where they reach out to international students and help raise up global workers to be a blessing to the nations.

Jake first went through Perspectives in 2005 where he learned about God’s heart for the nations and was hooked by this love story. Jake went on four trips that year and continued to go on multiple short-tern trips over the next several years. In 2012, Jake and his family moved to North Africa to serve the people there. After returning from living overseas he joined staff at a local church.

Dr. Sammy Wanyonyi

Sammy speaks at gatherings all around the world, from stadiums to university campuses in India and Africa to national gatherings, such as Together 2016 at the National Mall in Washington, DC. Dr. Wanyonyi is an experienced missionary leader with a track record of effective evangelism leadership and movement mobilization. As a former college professor, Dr. Wanyonyi is skilled in adult education, volunteer management, curriculum development, public speaking and diplomatic leadership. Sammy is a strong media and communication professional with degrees in global and contextual leadership, divinity and cross-cultural studies. He is commonly referred to as “the new Billy Graham” of a globalizing world.

Dr. Mary Ho

Dr. Mary Ho is the International Executive Leader of All Nations (http://allnations.international), a global Christian missions organization with workers making disciples and church planting in 45 countries. Dr. Ho is passionate about finishing the Great Commission in this generation by sharing the love of God among every people and in parts of the world where the name of Jesus Christ is little or not known. Dr. Ho received her Doctor of Strategic Leadership from Regent University, VA, U.S.A. in 2016.

Francis Chan
Author / Speaker
Crazy Love Ministries

(Livestream)

Francis Chan is the best-selling author of Crazy Love, Forgotten God and Erasing Hell. He is also the host of the BASIC series (Who is God & We Are Church). Chan is the founder and former pastor of Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, California, which he started with his wife in 1994. Chan started Eternity Bible College in 2004 and is currently working on church planting in California.

Chris Moore
Pastor
Better together

Chris Moore, the dynamic Pastor of Better Together, is a visionary leader fueled by a passion for innovation, the next generation, and his three children. He spearheaded the creation of a groundbreaking network of youth pastors, empowering and equipping over 10,000 pastors to invest and mentor 100,000 students, ultimately reaching and impacting the lives of over a million students with the transformative message of Jesus.

Al Fadi
CIRA International
Speaker/Writer

Al Fadi, former Wahabbi Muslim from Saudi Arabia and the founder of CIRA International: The Center for Islamic Research and Awareness, is on a mission to introduce Muslims to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Adrian Reeves
Executive Director
National African American Missions Council (NAAMC)

Adrian Reeves is a missions mobilizer and Executive Director for the National African American Missions Council, a conglomerate of missionaries, churches, and missions agencies working to increase African American involvement in the Great Commission. Additionally, he serves as the Executive Pastor for Christ Kingdom Church in Prince George’s County, Maryland where he oversees Christian Education, Evangelism, Worship, Administration, and Family Life ministries.

Nathan J’Diim
Teacher / Trainer / Vision Caster
NextGen

Along with pastoring many years in our Valley, Nathan founded TOAG, a 9 month internship to equip future goers. TOAG later morphed into Launch Global which continues to train in our Valley and across the nation. Nathan also serves with a local sending agency as a teacher/trainer and with a foundation passionate to launch Kingdom Movements blessing the children of Ishmael.

Your frequently asked questions:

Where can I stay if I am coming from out of town?

Here are some suggestions as to where you might stay. If you are searching online the church address is: 330 SW Murray Rd., Beaverton, OR. There are several hotels in the area.

DoubleTree by Hilton Portland 15402 NW Cornell Rd Beaverton, OR – 2 adults: $168 + taxes/fees | 4 adults: $193 + taxes/fees | Breakfast optional: $9.95 pp/day

Fairfield Inn & Suites 15583 NW Gateway Ct Beaverton, OR – 2 adults: $163 + taxes/fees | 4 adults: $178 + taxes/fees

Comfort Inn & Suites 13455 SW Tualatin Valley Highway, Beaverton, OR – 2 adults: $148 + taxes/fees | 4 adults: $168 + taxes/fees

Extended Stay America 18665 NW Eider Ct Beaverton, OR – 2 adults: $153 + taxes/fees | 4 adults: $168 + taxes/fees

Airport information:

Your easiest access is through Portland International Airport (PDX).

The church is 20 miles from the airport; the driving time is about 40 minutes from the airport to the church.

Are meals included in my Care Connexion registration?

Saturday lunch is the only meal that is included in your registration. There are many restaurants within easy driving distance from the church or the hotel if you are lodging nearby.

Are you recording the conference? Will the conference be available online?

We are planning on recording the plenary sessions (Friday evening, Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon) and posting those in the future. As of this writing we are uncertain if we will be able to record the workshop sessions. At this point there are no plans to stream the conference.

What will be available at the conference?

The host church (Village Church) has a coffee and snack bar that will be staffed during the Care Connexion event. There will be a book display that will have recommended titles that you can look at and make your own decisions about how to best purchase the book for your own library. Connie Befus (main speaker) and Lauren Wells (special presenter) will have a few of their own books for sale. There may be some booths that have books for sale.

Have a specific question?

Email us at info@missionconnexion.global

Your frequently asked questions:

What housing is available?

We have a room block at The Hampton Inn & Suites Seattle/Northgate. Reservation date for the group rate has expired but we’d love for you to join us at this hotel or at a nearby location.

You can also AirBnb or VRBO

There are other hotel options available near the University of Washington

Do I need to rent a car?

The hotel is immediately off the transit line and goes directly from SeaTac to The Hampton Inn & Suites.

The church is located about 10 minutes by vehicle.

We are still organizing the availability of transport from the hotel to the conference if you don’t have access to a vehicle. (not guaranteed)

Is food provided?

With registration to the conference you will be provided a light snack and dessert Friday evening. A light continental breakfast and lunch is provided Saturday.

The hotel does offer a free continental breakfast if you choose to reserve a room.

Is there parking at the church?

There is limited church parking available.

There is plenty of street parking in the surrounding neighborhood.

We may have access to a nearby school for overflow parking.

I’ve never been to Seattle. Is there anything I should see or experience?

Space Needle

Woodland Park Zoo

Pike’s Place Market

Ferry trips into the San Juan Islands

Have a specific question?

Email us at stm@missionconnexion.global

Helping Beautiful Feet Come Down Off the Mountains Well

It is important that missionaries, and those who guide and help them, know how they can finish well on the field. Today there are more options than ever for missionaries who wish to “slow down,” but also continue to serve—off the field or “at home.” Mission and field leadership, as well as churches and Member Care helpers need to be aware of and think through such options. Also, the realities of Re entry and Retirement for those who have lived on the field for years need to be understood and confronted in proactive and healthy ways by missionaries and those who help them. This plenary session will outline and explain the importance of understanding the above topics in order for the missionary to finish well.

What takes a Toll over Long Mountain Miles?

Understanding the Injuries and Fatigue that Cripple Beautiful Feet, and How to Help

Cumulative fatigue, cumulative stress, and an accumulation of losses, separately or in combination, are often what undermine the health and resilience of missionaries over the long term. This plenary session will explain the unique pressures and challenges that make it difficult for missionaries to rest, and how to help them prevent burnout and develop healthy habits of Sabbath and pacing. This workshop will also describe the unique losses that missionaries accrue over time and may not realize they need to mourn. Mission leadership, supportive churches, counselors and the Member Care Community can help missionaries NOT pile up the losses, stress and fatigue that undermine the stamina needed in the mountain hiking of long term missionary life.

Preparing Beautiful Feet for the Rugged Terrain of First Term:

Helping Them Build Resilience so the First Term is not the Last

The First Term missionary has multiple adjustments to make, losses to mourn, an identity to shed and a new one to learn—all happening amidst high stress. In that process, emotional baggage can surface. Understanding what happens psychologically and spiritually in that First Term can help those of us who prepare missionaries for the field, those who receive them on the field, and those called in when First Termers need help. In this plenary session, learn preventative and ameliorative interventions to help First Termers so they serve effectively—and so their First Term is not their last one.

Tory Ruark
MissionWorks
Chief Operations Officer
MissionExcellence
Director

Tory went on his first STM trip as a freshman in college and it turned his world upside down. God put lots of great people around him to process the experience and disciple him and, thus, he developed a passion to disciple others through the life-changing experience of going on a mission trip.

Tory began working as an STM Coach with DELTA Ministries in 2004 and became COO of Standards of Excellence (SOE) in 2016. He’s served in Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador, Ecuador, Haiti, Zimbabwe and Italy and mobilized teams to many other countries. Tory’s Master of Divinity from Western Seminary mixed with practical experience in the STM world as a team leader, mobilizer, trainer and pastor allows him to bring insight that’s both biblical and practical. Over the years, he has worked with churches from all over the United States, spearheaded organizational partnerships and coordinated DELTA’s response to the earthquake in Haiti that mobilized hundreds of short-term workers over three years.

Tory is married to Judy and they have five children: Lucas, Hannah, Malayna, Tyson and Lucy.

Support Tory

Brian Heerwagen
MissionWorks
Chief Executive Officer

Brian’s first short-term mission (STM) was in 1980. Over the years, he has been to mission fields all around the globe and has led or been on countless mission trips. He has been the CEO of this ministry since 1985.

Brian has a degree in Business and Organizational Leadership. He was lead author of “The Next Mile, Short-Term Missions for the Long Haul” and was part of the national leadership movement that wrote and established the Standards of Excellence. He loves seeing people transformed from the inside out through great training and considers it a privilege to help people serve with excellence “where they live” and on mission trips.

Brian and Lorraine were married in 1986, they have three grown children, all married, with kids of their own.

Support Brian

Melissa White
MissionWorks
Marketing Director

Melissa is a native Pacific Northwesterner. She loves the outdoors, being with family (especially her nephews and nieces) and traveling to new places. Places that are close to her heart include New Zealand, Africa, Italy and Israel. Missional work has always been a joy and seeing lives changed for His glory is indescribable.

Support Melissa

Brittany Busby
MissionWorks
Executive Assistant

Brittany has been a part of the short-term mission world since 2007 when she did a Discipleship Training School (DTS) with Youth With A Mission (YWAM). Her three years with YWAM involved working in the Administration Office, staffing schools, working with local churches and traveling around the West Coast. Her time with YWAM took her to South America, Europe and Asia, serving a variety of ministries.

Brittany’s first mission trip was in 1998 on a DELTA team to Naples, Italy. Twelve years later, in 2010, Brittany started working at DELTA Ministries. In 2013, she took on the role of Administrative Assistant for the Standards of Excellence (SOE). Brittany and her husband have served on youth staff at their church since 2012 and also serve on the worship team.

Brittany is married to Morgan and they welcomed their first child, Payden Ulysses in November 2017 and their second, Juliet Athena in September 2019.

Support Brittany

Lauren Wells, CEO and Founder TCK Training

Lauren Wells is the founder and CEO of TCK Training and author of Raising Up a Generation of Healthy Third Culture Kids, The Grief Tower, and Unstacking Your Grief Tower. She is an Adult TCK/MK who spent her teenage years in Tanzania, East Africa. She sits on the board of the TCK Care Accreditation as Vice Chair and is part of the TCK Training Research Team focusing on preventive care research in the TCK population.

Connie Befus, Ph.D.

Connie Befus is a psychologist with 35 years of experience in providing for the mental and spiritual health needs of international cross-cultural workers. She grew up in Africa, the daughter of career international workers and served with her husband in Latin America for 17 years. She has also worked in private practice, as a psychological consultant for six sending organizations, and as Director of Member Care for sending organizations for 17 years. She has two adult Third Culture Kids. Her doctoral research explored effective helps for people in the midst of cross cultural adjustment. She is the author of Sojourner’s Workbook: A Guide to Thriving Cross-Culturally.

Dr. Forrest Inslee

Dr. Forrest Inslee is the co-editor of the book Re-Imagining Short-Term Missions. He is a professor and the founder of the MA in International Community Development program at Northwest University in the Seattle area. He serves also as the Associate Director of Circlewood, a faith-based environmental advocacy nonprofit for which he hosts the Earthkeepers podcast, and helps to develop creation care education initiatives.

Pamela Scianna
Former Head of Development
Roblealto Child Care Association

For nearly 17 years, Pamela led the Development Department in one the largest Christian, non-profit organizations in Costa Rica: The Roblealto Child Care Association. The ministry grew from serving 645 children to 900, in great part thanks to the construction of a child care facility in one of the most empoverished communities in San José.

Pamela hosted more than 200 mission teams who supported Roblealto in a variety of things that go from hands-on projects to evangelism.

Currently, Pamela is working at a multinational company while at the same time,
developing a project to support off-the-radar children in schools who lack the emotional, psychological and social support to thrive.

During her free time, Pamela enjoys spending time with her family and friends, visiting exciting new places, reading a good book and attending the gym.

Rod Powell
East West Ministry Int’l/Central Asia Field Worker

Rod came to Christ as a college student and was captured by God’s vision to reach lost people with the good news of salvation.

Rod and his wife Margi (parents of two adult children and grandparents as well) have spent most of their adult lives serving the Lord on the foriegn mission field. For over 35 years they have called a lot of places home, including the United Kingdom, Russia and Israel. If you want to carry on a conversation with him, he’d be delighted to teach you a few words in Russian or Hebrew. (He speaks both fluently.) Or, ask him about the Israeli Road Bike Championship he won. Go ahead…ask!

Because Rod loves the Scriptures, he has made it his life work to study, understand and teach the Prophet Isaiah’s amazing book. Want a sneak peak of what a conversation with Rod is likely to include? Then check out his favorite verse, Isaiah 61:1, because he’d love to share it with you.

Rod serves with East West Ministry Int’l, whose vision is to glorify God by multiplying followers of Jesus in the spiritually darkest areas of the world. Like to travel? So does Rod, so he currently ministers to Bashkirs, Circassians, Laks and Kalmyks in unreached parts of Russia and Central Asia. If you’re interested in joining Rod on one of his mission trips, just ask. He is now leading teams of students to these areas in response to the calling given by Jesus in Matthew 28:18-20.

Dr. Mary Wilder
WorldVenture and Western Seminary (Retired)/Medical Missionary and Professor

Don’t let the gray hair fool you; our next speaker is as witty as they come. ‘Dr Mary’, as she likes to be called, has years of mission experience and even more years interacting with students. She loves to make you laugh, crack jokes and tell you how to pronounce the word PAKISTAN properly. Back by popular demand here is a quick snapshot of what a life lived on mission with Christ can look like for you:

Born in L.A., Dr. Mary later moved to Portland, OR, where she completed college and medical school as one of only two women enrolled in her class for OHSU. She soon joined WorldVenture as a medical missionary where she served as a missionary doctor for women and children primarily in Pakistan. Upon returning to Portland to care for her aging parents, Dr. Mary joined the staff of Western Seminary. For the next 35 years she had a tremendous impact in the lives of many seminary graduates while teaching intercultural studies and church history. Since, in her view, ‘retirement’ is not a Biblical concept, she now serves God wherever He opens the door, including speaking at mission conferences like Student ConneXion!

Darryl Smith
US Leadership Team, Cru

Darryl, a native of Tennessee, became a Christ follower in 1991. His conversion story is one of the most unique you will ever encounter, and you won’t want to miss the telling of it on Friday night of the conference. He and his wife have been on staff with Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ) since 1996. Along the way he has partnered with students to start gospel centered movements on their campuses throughout the United States and for a number of years directed the high school ministry of Cru. Darryl currently speaks not only to student audiences in high schools and colleges and to those on collegiate teams (even professional football teams!), he also presents to audiences in churches across America.

He and his wife Gwen currently serve as Cru’s National Directors of Oneness and Diversity with full reliance upon Jesus to help create a culturally diverse environment throughout all of Cru.

Will Graham

Will Graham is Vice President and Associate Evangelist of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, and Executive Director of the Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove in Asheville, N.C. The third generation of Grahams to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ under the banner of the BGEA, Will has shared the Gospel with more than one million people across six continents since beginning his evangelistic ministry in 2006. Will and his wife, Kendra, have two daughters, Christine Jane (CJ) and Rachel Austin, and a son, William Franklin Graham V (Quinn), and live in the mountains of North Carolina.

Dr. Eric Anthony Joseph

Dr. Joseph completed his education at Biola University. His degrees include a BA in Communications with an emphasis in radio, television, and film, M.Div. in Bible Exposition, MACEd in Christian Education, EdD in Intercultural Studies, and (exchanged for) a Ph.D. in Intercultural Education. During Dr. Joseph’s stint as an educator, he held several university leadership roles and Perry Publishing and Broadcasting named him Educator of the Year for the State of Oklahoma. He also appeared in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers as one of the most prominent teachers in America. As the 1985 National Christian Colleges Athletic Association (NCCAA) Male Athlete of the Year in track and field, Dr. Joseph understands the demands of a Christian student-athlete. In high school, he was invited to participate in the Junior Olympics.

Steve Richardson

Steve was raised in Indonesia, where his parents took the gospel to a jungle tribe, a story documented in his father’s missionary classic, Peace Child.

Steve and his wife Arlene returned to Southeast Asia in 1986 to plant churches among a major Muslim unreached people group. With their team of 40 coworkers, they developed an innovative approach to church planting called Lampstand. Steve helped start a center for evangelism, various media ministries, English language schools, and a major “business as mission” project. Later they moved to Australia where they helped launch Pioneers in Australia and New Zealand.

Since 1999 Steve Richardson has served as President of Pioneers-USA. Pioneers now has approximately 340 teams that are impacting over 500 unreached people groups. The Richardsons have four grown daughters and 11 grandchildren.

Dr. Mary Ho

Dr. Mary Ho is the International Executive Leader of All Nations (http://allnations.international), a global Christian missions organization with workers making disciples and church planting in 45 countries. Dr. Ho is passionate about finishing the Great Commission in this generation by sharing the love of God among every people and in parts of the world where the name of Jesus Christ is little or not known. Dr. Ho received her Doctor of Strategic Leadership from Regent University, VA, U.S.A. in 2016.

Jason Hubbard

Jason Hubbard is the Executive Coordinator of International Prayer Connect (www.ipcprayer.org). IPC consists of 27 leaders of significant regional and international prayer networks and ministries throughout the world. The Council seeks to provide relational, prophetic leadership and connection for International Prayer Connect, a global network of hundreds of prayer networks and ministries with many thousands of ministry leaders and intercessors. Our vision is to “Catalyze united prayer across nations, denominations, movements, and generations for the fulfillment of the great commission”. His desire is be an extravagant worshipper of Jesus, an anointed deliverer of men and a godly husband and father. Jason has been married for 30 years to Kristie and they have 3 beautiful kids and 4 grandkids.

Joaquin A. Vargas

Joaquin is the founder of Global One80 where he serves as Chief Operations Officer and member of the Board of Directors. His wife Oneida and him have been involved in ministry for over four decades. They have ministered in Dominican Republic, Mexico, United States, and many countries of the world. In December 2018, he moved to Arizona where he is working as a church planter and mobilizer with Send Network, and is now the Senior Pastor of Iglesia Experimenta Vida, a Spanish-speaking church in Mesa, AZ.

Dr. Jannah Scott

Minister of the Gospel, Strategist, Planner, Advisor, Author, Public Policy Expert—Dr. Jannah Scott has served in many capacities with faith, government, business, and the nonprofit community.

She is a woman who deeply believes in Jesus, the operations of the Holy Spirit, five-fold ministry offices and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Jannah is a preacher, a spiritual ambassador, and a teacher of the Gospel of Jesus. Her most recent publication is entitled: “Standing on the Wall – Prayers to Preserve the Integrity of a Nation” (Fiesta publishing, 2020), a prayer book for statesmen.

Jannah is the mother of five young men and women of God, and grandmother to 6 grandsons and 4 granddaughters. Her passion is to see the church come to unity as Jesus prayed and to see people everywhere achieve their God-given potential through salvation in Jesus and activation by the power of Holy Spirit, that we may live in an atmosphere where love, dignity, righteousness, and justice prevail.

Dr. Darryl DelHousaye

Dr. Darryl DelHousaye truly embodies–Scholarship with a Shepherd’s Heart. He has served as Senior Pastor of Scottsdale Bible Church and as President and Professor of Practical Theology at Phoenix Seminary. He now serves as both Pastor-emeritus of the Church and Chancellor of the school as well as the Teaching and Training Pastor at Redeemer Bible Church in Gilbert. He speaks at Bible Conferences within and out of state. Dr. DelHousaye has over 50 years of broad local church experience. Married since 1970, Darryl and Holly have two married sons and have six wonderful grandkids.

Jeannie Marie

Jeannie Marie is the author of Across the Street and Around the World: Following Jesus to the Nations in Your Neighborhood . . . and Beyond and The Neighbors & Nations Course. She is also a strategist for Frontiers, a sending agency that sends people to serve in over fifty Muslim countries. She grew up in the Philippines, welcomed refugees and international students in Arizona, and then moved with her husband and four children to India. Now back in Arizona, she speaks for the three billion people in the world without access to the Kingdom of God—trying to inspire people like you to reach the nations. Connect with her at www.jeannie-marie.com and on Instagram at @jeanniemmarie.

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Randy Schmor
Board Member

Randy is Gateway Director for the North American Baptist Conference. He has led and trained short-term mission teams for over two decades. He uses the guidelines within the Standards of Excellence to empower others with the knowledge and skills of how to build appropriate and thriving global partnerships. Randy has a heart to help churches partner with each other worldwide and to advance the Kingdom of God.

Isabel Lee
Board Member

Isabel came to Christ at an early age through the faithful teaching and life testimonies of her parents. She graduated from Washington Bible College and Columbia Graduate School in Bible/Missions. After her sophomore year in college, Isabel served with SEND as a summer missionary to Taiwan and then joined SEND after graduation where she served more than 22 years in Taiwan and East Asia. She was involved in church planting: evangelism, discipleship, mentoring, seminary teaching and leadership training. In 2000, Isabel was relocated to Hong Kong to assist SEND in starting up the Fountainhead Office. She served in various leadership roles with SEND: Taiwan Field Council, Language and Orientation Coordinator, Short-term Missions Coordinator, Advisor to the Area Director on National Church Relations and Asia Regional Council. Isabel initiated the Asia Regional Equipment Seminar for SEND women.

Since returning to the U.S. in 2001, Isabel continues her involvement in missions, traveling to Ulan Ude, Korea, Egypt, India and Uganda to equip believers and leaders for ministries and to mentor those desiring to go into full-time service. She’s involved in refugee work in Lebanon, Macedonia, Clarkston, GA, and Riverdale, MD. She also taught “A Taste of Perspectives” in Egypt. In recent years, Isabel has traveled to the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Turkey and Qatar to learn about God’s work among the Muslims in those countries.

Isabel is an instructor of Perspectives on the World Christian Movement and Minister of Global Outreach and Women’s Ministries at Chinese Bible Church of Maryland.

Charlotte Kassis
Board Member

Charlotte is passionate about participating in the Great Commission through youth and worship. She has a heart for diversity and racial reconciliation. As a youth, she began serving cross-culturally and has been privileged to serve on over 40 short-term trips in over 20 countries. She has served in various roles in church ministry for 18 years. She is excitedly married to her husband Jusef and they are enjoying each day they are given with their son, Nicodemus.

John Jordan
Board Member

Raised by church planting parents in southern California, John is a graduate of Talbot Seminary with additional studies at Fuller Seminary and William Carey International University. Since 1993, John has engaged Villagers in multi-cultural outreach overseeing both long-term international workers as well as short-term international and local humanitarian work.

Under John’s leadership, Village provides humanitarian services to both local and international communities in partnership with nonprofit organizations, other churches and government agencies as the Health and Human Services department of Washington County. Through these partnerships, thousands of families receive Village-driven medical and dental care, legal services, food provision, basic supplies, education and most of all hope.
Prioritizing vulnerable and underserved communities, John’s passion is to see people’s lives transformed by Villagers devoted to loving others with the extravagant love of Jesus.

Dennis Fuqua
Board Member

Originally from Gig Harbor, Washington, Dennis received his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Divinity degrees from Multnomah University.

He served as a pastor of Peninsula Christian Fellowship in Gig Harbor for 25 years. Dennis began working as the director of International Renewal Ministries [IRM] in February 2000. His leadership activities include facilitating summits, equipping others and developing and maintaining relationship connections with the network of people in IRM.

He has written multiple articles and three books. Dennis and his wife, Marilyn, have 4 grown children and 10 grandkids.

Jenny Collins
Board Member

Jenny Collins has been involved in short-term missions since 1992. She is an Associate Professor of Missions and Christian Ministries at Taylor University. She directed Taylor’s Lighthouse International Service-Learning Program from 1999 – 2013 through which she coordinated 88 three-week trips to 24 countries. She has chaired two church mission leadership teams. She earned her BS at Taylor University and her MAR from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School; she is currently a PhD student in missiology at Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne, IN.

Kathy Mort
MissionExcellence
Training and Curriculum Director

Kathy has been involved in short-term missions since the late eighties. Before joining the Standards of Excellence staff, she spent over thirty years in public education. During that time, she primarily taught middle and high school students.

After earning her doctorate in educational leadership, she continued working in various district and school-based administrative roles from K-12. She has also served as an educational consultant domestically and internationally.

Kathy loves working with churches and organizations to develop and implement their own training programs to equip their short-term teams. She is an adjunct professor at Gordon College in Wenham, MA, and is an active member of the missions committee in her home church.

Shirley Radford
MissionConnexion
Executive Assistant/Event Coordinator

Shirley participated in her first short term mission trip with a very small group of people. The team traveled around the northwest doing construction at churches and camps during the day and children’s programs at night. Twelve years later she had the amazing opportunity to be part of a short-term team that held festivals in Italy where lives were changed for the Lord. She had the privilege of returning to Italy four years later with her son to do another festival.

Shirley received a degree in communications with a minor in broadcasting. She used this schooling in various roles of employment from advertising, radio personality, accounting, event planning and administrative assistance positions. Her administrative skills have allowed her to be part of various ministries in the Portland area.

Shirley is currently the Executive Assistant at MissionConnexion where she assists in the details of running various events that challenge and equip individuals to fulfill the Great Commission. Shirley is married to her husband, Steve, of 30+ years, and they live in Troutdale.

Liz Schober
MissionWorks
Bookkeeper

Jesus entered my life as a young, lost, wayward adult and I have never been the same since. I went from studying business and accounting to having babies, taking care of critically ill family members, volunteering at church and building houses in Mexico and New Orleans. Then in 2001, I opened up a homeschool curriculum and Christian bookstore/coffeehouse/school. Once the kids were through early college we closed the bookstore in 2010 and donated the business structure to a nonprofit. I thought life would slow down – but I am busier than ever.

I am happily married to my childhood sweetheart. We have two amazing biological children and a few others that let us claim them as our own.

I am happy to go wherever God takes me and I love to see Him working in my life and those around me.

June Cobean
MissionWorks
Administrative Assistant

Throughout my life, Jesus Christ has been important in my family life and activities. I was raised in a Christian home with loving parents, attended a nurturing church and was involved with U.S. outreach/missions as a young adult. However, it was not until becoming a born again believer during the third decade of my life that I realized that works were not the way to salvation. This heart and mind reaction to God’s calling proved vital to my walking through and surviving many life challenges. My family, work environments and finishing my BS degree became mission fields with a different perspective.

Because of family illness and challenges, my first priority is any call of need I might receive. However, upon leaving full-time employment status, I volunteered at several locations. When a Czech Republic STM team member trained by SOE staff, and a personal friend of mine recommended that I contact SOE, I did so. Since February, 2013, my focus has included organizing historical data, processing merger filings/documents and a plethora of administrative support activities.

Ken Johnson
MissionWorks
Chief Financial Officer

Ken was appointed to the role of Business Manager of DELTA Ministries International in the fall of 2015. Ken serves to develop future and current financial plans for ministry and oversee their daily execution. He works in partnership with the CEO to provide tools and reports that assist in stewardship and resource discovery for ministry.

Ken graduated with a degree in Business Administration from Warner Pacific College in 2009. Prior to attending Warner Pacific, he obtained a degree in Youth Ministry from Columbia Bible College in British Columbia, Canada. His passion is to combine his knowledge and experience in the business world and his love for Christ and growing the Kingdom.

Ken began his missions experience through YWAM, where his time was focused on ministering to the people of Nepal. In addition to YWAM, he has served on several short-term missions, both overseas and within urban centers in both Canada and the US.

Brian Heerwagen
MissionWorks
Chief Executive Officer

Brian’s first short-term mission (STM) was in 1980. Over the years, he has been to mission fields all around the globe and has led or been on countless mission trips. He has been the CEO of this ministry since 1985.

Brian has a degree in Business and Organizational Leadership. He was lead author of “The Next Mile, Short-Term Missions for the Long Haul” and was part of the national leadership movement that wrote and established the Standards of Excellence. He loves seeing people transformed from the inside out through great training and considers it a privilege to help people serve with excellence “where they live” and on mission trips.

Brian and Lorraine were married in 1986, they have three grown children, all married, with kids of their own.

Leadership Connexion

Friday, January 17, 2025
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Early Bird Rate
Ends December 15

Special Offer

Register ahead to receive 2 books by Sean McDowell and Mark Mittelberg

Following Christ by leading missions

Schedule & Program

Matthew Ellison

Sean McDowell

Matthew Mittelberg

Our Host Church

Spread the Word

Your frequently asked questions:

Your frequently asked questions:

Leadership Connexion

Friday, January 17, 2025 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Early Bird Rate Ends December 15

*Special Offer*

Register ahead to receive 2 books by Sean McDowell and Mark Mittelberg

Following Christ by leading missions

Schedule & Program

Matthew Ellison

Sean McDowell

Matthew Mittelberg

Our Host Church

Spread the Word

Friday, January 17, 2025
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Early Bird Rate
Ends December 15

Special Offer