ON MISSION TOGETHER
Joining our God on the move
pg. 4 EVERYWHERE, EVEN HERE
How neighborhood presence is essential to God’s global mission
pg. 16
THE HEARTS BEHIND THE LENS
How the Alliance Video Team bridges here and there
pg. 26
This is the last Alliance Life editorial that I will write. The pressure of that thought hangs on me as I sit at my cubicle, less than two weeks away from concluding my work at the Alliance National Office. This is one of my final tasks.
What should I write about? I wonder. Holy Spirit, what would You have me say?
One answer keeps returning: What else is there other than Jesus?
We live in a time of conflict and confusion. There are loud voices vying for our attention everywhere we turn—in the news, on social media, even in the communities we are part of. At the end of many days, I have found myself awash in a feeling of being unsettled by all the things I have seen or heard. Yet in the midst of all the chaos stands Jesus.
Like a port in the storm, I find myself returning again and again to the Gospels, reading and rereading His words, lingering on the stories of His life, studying the interactions He had with confused, broken, and wanting people like me. In times of prayer, I find the Holy Spirit with a gentle hand constantly recentering my attention on Jesus and conversation with Him. Over time, it has come to feel like I’m no longer being thrown about in the waves. I am steadied with Jesus in their midst. The storm has not been calmed—yet. But He is faithful to calm the chaos in me.
I have come to believe in the deepest part of my soul that this is what the Body of Christ needs more than ever today—a thorough recentering on Jesus, and not a Christ with a spin. Not the one who is described with an agenda in mind and conveniently reflects all our own opinions. Jesus, fully and only Himself.
The Body of Christ is still on mission—together—whether we like it or not. In a time of division, even in the Church, togetherness may feel like an impossible task. But Jesus Christ is the head of the Body, and in Him all things are held together (see Col. 1:17). He is the center and the cause of our unity.
So, regardless of our various callings—yes, we are all called—opinions, or diverging, nonessential doctrines, we must cling to Christ. May He once again, and forever, be the only rock on which we stand. “Jesus only,
Managing Editor of Alliance Life
Toney
Connon
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JUL/AUG 2026
ON MISSION TOGETHER
Joining our God on the move by Tim Crouch | pg. 4
BUILDING LONGER TABLES
Partnering to build the church in Alaska by Joseph Langub | pg. 8
FREE VERSE
Quotes from the Kingdom | pg. 11
FOUNDATIONS
Called to Serve at Home by A. B. Simpson | pg. 12
TOZER ANTHOLOGY
Compiled by Harry Verploegh | pg. 13
16 Acts 1:8
EVERYWHERE, EVEN HERE
How neighborhood presence is essential to God’s global mission by Lorie Huneycutt | pg. 16
THE HEARTS BEHIND THE LENS
How the Alliance Video Team bridges here and there | by Hannah Packard | pg. 26
YOUR GENEROSITY IN ACTION
From Enemy to Friend | by an Alliance international worker | pg. 36 42 Family
by Tim Crouch
Too often, we can have an image of God as a distant supervisor, sitting somewhere and watching as we go about our work. Or, if we are not working, we may picture Him sitting there, waiting for us to get moving. But the reality is this: God is already moving in our world. And we have the opportunity to join Him, together.
In Ephesians 4:1–6, Paul wrote about living worthy of what God has called us to in unity, in community. When we read this passage, we may not immediately see in it the context of God’s movement in the world. Instead, we often think about unity within our churches. It’s important to consider the broader context of the Ephesus mission and church plant. This was not a quiet, settled church fellowship, but a bustling city where God was at work, and it was shaking things up.
Acts 19 traces the story of Paul’s time in Ephesus preaching the gospel and leading people to Christ. God was doing extraordinary miracles of healing there, and so many people were turning to Jesus that it began to have an impact on the local economy. It also stirred up drama with the cult at the center of the city’s religious life. God was on the move, and His Church was with Him, united around His mission.
That’s the context Paul was writing to when he said: “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” (Eph. 4:1–6).
Like the early Ephesian church, may we let this passage propel us with momentum as one Body, under one Spirit, united on one mission with God. I believe that God wants to stir up this call within us again. Let’s look at four elements from this passage together.
The first thing to pay attention to is in verse one, where Paul says, “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received” (Eph. 4:1). From the moment we meet Jesus, He’s calling us to something. Everyone has a calling. He’s not just saving us from something; He’s calling us to Himself. And when Jesus calls us to Himself, He is in motion. He is already on mission.
Every believer has a part to play in God’s mission. Every gift, every story, every life matters in this work to advance God’s Kingdom. Victor, a friend of mine from when my family and I lived in Russia, was a gifted evangelist. To spend time with him was to hear the good news. International workers demonstrate giftedness in hospitality, creating the spaces and experiences that
serve God’s processes in people’s lives. We all have ways of joining in what God is doing. We each have unique callings, and we discover them when we step into motion. We can’t just sit still and say, “God, tell me what to do. Clarify my calling, and then I’ll see if I can get going with You.” Actually, God says to us, “Would you step out? Would you get involved? Let’s see your calling unfold.” I have a friend who says, “God asks for our yes before He clarifies what the question is.” When we give our yes to God, knowing that He’s in motion in this world, that’s when we really discover how He can use each of us.
And, secondly, we discover how He can use us all together. Each of us can step in and join Him, but we do this with the greatest impact when we live out our callings together. God has called us to do things together that we could not do separately and to do together over time some of the things that cannot happen in one person’s or one generation’s lifetime. Togetherness in our callings builds and sustains momentum in what God does through us.
In The Alliance, we have international workers strategically placed in some dangerous parts of the world. We go there because the momentum of God’s mission— God’s unfolding Kingdom—is in motion toward those places. We want to make sure that people everywhere, in every tribe, tongue, and nation, have the opportunity to
We each have unique callings, and we discover them when we step into motion.
be touched by the gospel of Jesus. It can be hard to live there. It can be dangerous to live there. But God has a way—and He promises that He’s with us.
Some days, I get up very early in the morning because the Middle East is six hours ahead of my time zone. I get news from our workers about decisions they are having to make, and we have had to move some of them to safer zones while we wade through what’s going on in the world; it’s not an easy place. But remember—Jesus told us, “I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). God’s movement is not stopped by current events. He is on the move, on His own timetable, and He promises that there’s a good end to this story.
God promised Abraham that, starting with his family, He would do something that would touch all the nations of the earth. And at the end of the Bible’s story, that’s exactly what we see. There are people from every tribe and tongue and nation standing around Jesus’ throne, singing, “Salvation belongs to our God” (Rev. 7:10). They sing “our God”—not their God, not somebody else’s God, and not a God they never had the chance to get to know. Some of them will get that chance because we choose to live out our callings together.
The third thing to pay attention to in Ephesians 4 is that the Holy Spirit is the One who empowers and unifies us to be on mission with God. It’s easy to picture unity as everyone sitting calmly around a table together, enjoying complete agreement. But that’s not an accurate picture of the church Paul was writing to. Remember, in Ephesus, God was moving, lives were changing, and the people of the city were in a ruckus about it. There was even a riot stirred up because of the impact of the witness of Jesus (see Acts 19:23–41). I believe that what Paul wanted for the church in Ephesus was the unity that comes from Christians moving together, in step with God’s movement.
In reality, it’s when the church sits still that we are likely to start disagreeing. While we’re sitting still, there’s plenty to argue about, isn’t there? Plenty to cast blame about. But when we get moving with God, seeing that He’s at work and there’s an opportunity to join Him, when we are all giving Him our yes—that’s when the Holy Spirit moves and we become unified in momentum. When you’re on mission with God, there is simply less time to trip over disagreements.
This work of unity, and of figuring out our callings and how they fit together, is possible only by the work of the Holy Spirit. Human effort alone cannot achieve it. It comes when we ask for it and when we act in ways that depend on it.
The final thing we want to see is that our calling is hopeful (see Eph. 4:4). It leads somewhere. We will arrive at the end God has promised. Ephesians 4:6 tells us that our One Father is “over all and through all and in all.” What a joyful thing that, no matter what is going on, no matter what storm just hit, or what rocket just fell, or what political party is in power—or whatever it is that disturbs us—God is still on the move toward His promised end of the mission. Are you discerning it? Are you seeing it? Can you live your life in that flow? Because if you can, if we can together, there is great hope. Our mission is anchored in the hope that the mission will be accomplished and that He’s coming again.
There will be a day when all these things will be made new, and we’re going to be there with people from every neighborhood, from every tribe and nation in the world. Will you reflect with me on the fact that our God, who is moving, not sitting, is calling us to be in step with Him? We can see His plans unfolding, as He promised. God brings restoration in the most difficult circumstances, the ones that look impossible. We are part of His unfolding Kingdom, invited to live in dependence on His Spirit, and we are walking forward with the One
who knows how the story is going to end. We have great cause for hope.
Alliance family, God asks us to unite around Him and His mission. How are we going to keep doing this together? He is on the move. Our yes joins Him. His Spirit enables. Our togetherness brings momentum. His promise gives hope.
Let’s be on mission together.
Tim Crouch is the U.S. vice president for Alliance Missions and oversees the ministry of nearly 650 Alliance international workers. Tim’s heart is to see gospel access flow from those who have gained it to those who still await it.
by Erin Lillie
by Joseph Langub
After 27 years in pastoral ministry, I have walked through many seasons—times of growth, challenge, and waiting. But what we have experienced in the last two years is something I can only describe as a deeper and more intentional work of the Holy Spirit. It has not simply been about ministry moving forward; it has been about learning, in a very real way, what it means to depend on God.
This journey began when I joined the PEAK church revitalization program through the Alliance Northwest (ANW) District. At first, I was seeking practical help and guidance on how to better lead and strengthen my church. But over the course of 10 months, as the church leadership team and I met regularly with our ANW mentors—Pastor Ken Rice and his wife, Jalee, and Pastor Eric Byers—and examined different aspects of church life such as our history, culture, strengths, and challenges, I began to realize that the Lord was doing something deeper in us. He was leading us back to dependence on the Holy Spirit.
In April 2025, together with our church elders at the finale of our 10-month PEAK journey, our church embraced a shared vision that reflected what we sensed God was shaping in us: “Building longer tables, not higher walls.” It is a simple phrase, yet it carried a clear direction—a call to create space, to welcome more, and to extend the love of Christ in a way that draws people in.
Looking back, I can see that the Holy Spirit had already been preparing Filipino Christian Church (FCC), my church in SeaTac, Washington. Over the years, we had seen steady growth. Our youth ministry was becoming stronger, our worship ministry and children’s ministry were increasing, and our small groups were becoming more rooted in the Word of God. But beyond these visible developments, there was also a growing hunger among our people for the presence of God.
At the ANW district conference in April 2024, we met Pastor Dan Samuelson, who shared about the Vision Alaska initiative, which aims to help create partnerships between ANW churches in the continental U.S. and Alaska. As he spoke about the Filipino population in Alaska and the need for ministry among them, my heart was stirred. I remember being especially moved by the fact that this burden was coming from someone outside of my Filipino community. It caused me to reflect: If God has placed this desire in his heart, how much more should I respond?
I invited Pastor Dan to visit our church and share more. As he spoke, I sensed interest and conviction. It felt like a significant opportunity, an invitation from the Lord.
Soon after, I reached out to three other Filipino Alliance pastors in the Pacific Northwest—Pastor Sam Badon, Pastor Jonathan Ferrer, and Pastor Doods Sente. We gathered together over a meal with Pastor Dan. As we
shared and prayed, I sensed the Holy Spirit bringing unity among us in thought and purpose. That was where we began to be on mission together—not through our own planning, but through a shared response to God’s leading.
In February 2025, the five of us traveled to Ketchikan, Alaska, to see the need firsthand. During those few days, we met with local Alliance churches, connected with people in the Filipino community, and spent time exploring the area. Even the small details reflected God’s hand. The weather, which is normally rainy that time of year, was unusually clear and sunny. Many locals said it was not typical. To us, it felt as though the Lord was allowing us to see clearly and to observe, discern, and recognize what He was already doing!
On the flight home, Pastor Dan asked me what I thought about the trip. Without hesitation, I said, “I think I need to come back.” I felt this strongly in my heart.
In April, my wife, Norlinda, and I returned to Ketchikan with Pastor Dan. We reconnected with a Filipino couple we had met earlier, and they graciously hosted us. As we spent time together, we learned that they had been faithfully leading Bible studies in the community for over 10 years. They were known and respected leaders among the Filipinos in Ketchikan, yet there was still no Filipino church. It was clear to me that we were not starting something new; we were stepping into something the Lord had already been doing in Ketchikan.
Even the provision of a place to host worship services reflected His hand. We were introduced to a church facility, Good News Fellowship at Downtown, which we did not know was already ready to host us because of coordination prior to our visit. As we spoke with the church leaders, we learned that they had been considering closing their ministry. Yet, for reasons they themselves could not fully explain, they had extended their time in that space. Now we understood why.
With these confirmations, we felt led to begin. In May, our team from Seattle traveled to Ketchikan, bringing what was needed—equipment, food, and willing hearts. Around 60 people attended that first gathering. It was simple, but there was a clear sense that the Lord was present among us.
That gathering became what is now the Ketchikan Filipino Ministry. Each month, one of the pastors in our group—Pastor Sam, Pastor Jonathan, Pastor Doods, or myself—rotates with their church team to travel to Ketchikan and lead a service with worship, the preaching of the Word, fellowship, and encouragement for the Filipino community and beyond. Over time, we have seen how the Lord has sustained this work. What began
primarily as a ministry for Filipinos has grown into a gathering of people from different backgrounds all coming together.
One of the most tangible expressions of our vision, “building longer tables,” has been through our fellowship meals. After the monthly services, we gather around food, often Filipino dishes that are sometimes even brought all the way from Seattle. These moments are more than shared meals. They are spaces for connection, encouragement, and shared life. The “longer tables” we once spoke about have become literal tables, filled with food and people, reflecting the welcoming heart of Christ.
At the same time, the Holy Spirit has also been working deeply within our home church in SeaTac.
Through the deeper life portion of the PEAK program, our church was challenged to move beyond understanding into true reliance on the Spirit. We brought this before our church leadership team and then to the congregation. Since then, we have seen growth in hunger for God, openness in worship, and commitment to prayer.
We have also witnessed moments that are difficult to explain yet clearly marked by the presence of God. During last year’s baptism at our church camp, seven youth publicly declared their faith. As they entered the water, surrounded by around 80 members of the congregation gathered by the pool, it felt like heaven touching Earth. It was a holy moment filled with awe, joy, and humility as we witnessed God transform lives like only He can.
More recently, during our April 2026 visit to Ketchikan, we experienced a full Sunday of ministry. Our worship team—mostly youth and young adults from our church in Seattle—began by leading worship at a morning service at South Tongass Alliance Church, where we had been invited to serve. Later that afternoon, we gathered for the Ketchikan Filipino Ministry service, which was the main purpose of our trip. There, I had the privilege of preaching the Word while the team led worship once again.
By the time we returned to South Tongass Alliance Church for a final community worship service that night, our praise and worship team was tired. Some were not feeling well, and I wondered if I had pushed them too far.
Before the service began, we gathered to pray. We asked the Holy Spirit to strengthen us and take over where we could no longer continue in our own abilities. When the worship began, I immediately sensed that something had shifted. There was a tangible sense of the Holy Spirit’s presence in the room.
Despite the long day, with three services and many songs already offered, the band worshiped with a boldness and freedom that went beyond their natural
strength. They stepped beyond their comfort zones, and it was evident that the Holy Spirit was empowering them. There was a stillness during the exhortation, which was shared by my daughter that evening, as though hearts were being drawn in. Then, as worship continued after, I saw joy, freedom, and people responding to the presence of God.
That worship night was a simple idea to encourage the youth and make the most of our time together, but it became a beautiful picture of churches coming together, bridging people from Seattle to Ketchikan, to glorify God and encourage one another.
That same evening, I also became aware of something that reminded me how personal the work of the Holy Spirit is. One of our youth noticed that another young person had stepped out of the room and felt prompted to quietly follow. What he found was someone in deep distress. In that moment, he stayed with him, listened, and simply offered presence and care until help could come. I will not go into details, but it was clear to me that the timing was not accidental. The Holy Spirit had prompted someone to notice, to respond, and to be there at exactly the right moment.
As I reflect on all that God has done, I am continually reminded of what it means to depend on Him. When He calls, His plans often go further than we expect, and He orchestrates what we could never arrange ourselves.
When there is a need, the Lord is already at work, providing people, places, and resources according to His purpose. We are simply responding. And as we continue to walk in unity, depend on the Holy Spirit, and follow where He leads, we are learning what it means to be on mission together. And truly—not by our efforts, but His!
Pastor Joseph Langub has served as the pastor of Filipino Christian Church (FCC) in SeaTac, Washington, since 2004 after migrating to the U.S. from the Philippines. With nearly 28 years of experience in ministry, Pastor Joseph leads with humility, vision, and an unwavering heart to glorify God and reach people with the gospel. He and his wife, Norlinda, have three children: Abbey, Aaron, and Arianna.
FREE VERSE
“His authority on earth allows us to dare to go to all the nations. His authority in heaven gives us our only hope of success. And His presence with us leaves us no other choice.”
—JOHN R. W. STOTT
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
“I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”
—JOHN 17:22–23
“The Great Commission is not an option to be considered; it is a command to be obeyed.”
by
A. B. Simpson, originally published in a pamphlet of the same name by Christian Publications in 1998. Excerpted and edited by Alliance Life staff.
As we have listened during these recent days to the story of the need of foreign lands, many of us have been prompted to go. God has been pleased with the response, and doubtless has said of us, as He did of David of old, “It is well that it was in thy heart” (see 1 Kings 8:18). But at the same time, He may call some of
us to remain at home and serve the same great cause by our influence here.
David longed to build the Temple, but God accepted his will and gave the work to another man, allowing David, however, to contribute the means and cooperate in the work, and David gave as liberally and worked as
loyally as though he alone were to have the whole honor of the undertaking.
So, God has not called some of us to go to the field but has given us a work to do at home by which we have been able to advance the cause of missions much more than if we had gone.
It is one thing to be a home missionary; it is quite another thing to be a missionary at home. God wants many of us for the latter calling; to stay in this land for the express purpose of getting others to go abroad; to “stay by the stuff” for the purpose of being a soldier just as truly as those who go to the front.
The greatest need of missionary work today is not the foreign, but the home end. If the people of America were one-quarter as true to the great work of evangelizing the world as the workers on the field, the work would be accomplished in a single generation. It is one thing to stay at home because we do not go; it is another thing to stay because we are called to remain as workers for the foreign field. No minister of the gospel can do the highest work at home until they have become consecrated to the evangelization of the whole world. No Christian can do their best in this land until they have in spirit obeyed the commission: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15, KJV).
What is the specific idea of this work? It is not merely the conversion of many souls, or even of whole nations; but it is the publication of the gospel equally, fairly, and speedily to all the people and nations on the face of the earth during the present generation; so that everyone may have the opportunity of salvation and the Bride of Christ may be gathered in from all nations, tribes, and tongues, the fullness of the Gentiles brought in, and the way fully prepared for the Lord’s return.
A
Compiled by Harry Verploegh
Edited by Alliance Life staff
Although the human mind stubbornly resists and resents the suggestion that it is a sick, fallen planet upon which we ride, everything within our consciousness, our innermost spirit, confirms that the voice of God is sounding in this world—the voice of God calling, seeking, beckoning to lost men and women!
We are out of the way, lost and alienated from God. Even the very world we inhabit is a lost world.
The Spirit of God came to lift it out of the history books and write it on the tablets of the human heart.
Humanity is lost but not abandoned. God’s seeking voice has never died out. The echo of that voice is sounding throughout the widening years. It has never ceased to echo and reecho from peak to peak, from generation to generation, from race to race, and continent to continent, and off to islands and back to the continent again.
People may hear the voice of God’s love or the voice of Jesus’ blood or the voice of conscience; it may be the voice of the dead or the voice of the living or the voice of the lost or the voice of the saved. Whatever the voice, it is only another inflection of the voice of the One who calls.
It is the voice of God entreating us, searching us out and always calling us to return home!
—from Echoes from Eden. Originally published in Alliance Life on February 14, 1996.
In the middle of city life in the Philippines, an urban garden features colorful repurposed bottles. The vivid colors stand out against the soft greenery, turning everyday waste into something joyful and alive. This scene captures a creative kind of resourcefulness, where discarded materials become part of a thriving environment, where everything has a unique purpose.
How neighborhood presence is essential to God’s global mission
by Lorie Huneycutt
“Wherever you are, be all there!” I always found this quote by missionary Jim Elliot inspirational—that is, until our dreams were derailed when the C&MA redirected my husband and me by deciding to not send us to West Africa as international workers 20 years ago. Our daughter had recently been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, and the C&MA International Placement Office concluded her needs would be better addressed here in the United States. After being redirected all those years ago, we have now spent the last 15 years in Ohio instead. It has taken me a while to appreciate that quote again. Ending up in Ohio initially felt devastating, because—Ohio? Well, I certainly did not want to be all there.
In 2014, after over a decade in youth ministry, my husband, Paul, and I were offered the opportunity to begin an Envision site in Cleveland, Ohio. We accepted the position with more excitement than anyone has probably ever had about moving to Cleveland. We moved with our two children a mere 30 minutes north—only crossing the Cuyahoga River instead of the vast Atlantic Ocean.
What we were able to do at Envision Cleveland was everything we wanted to do overseas, but still close to all the necessary therapies and medical facilities needed for our daughter to have quality care. And with over 120 different ethnic groups living there, instead of needing to cross the ocean, we quickly realized the world was coming to us! As we were establishing the site in Cleveland, we were finding unique relationships with other families who had children with disabilities and began to recognize that our mission field was also this overlooked population of people. We were even learning a new language, so to speak, because of all the new medical terminology and disability-related acronyms. Missions, we began to understand, was not always about the location, but about presence with people—anywhere.
As we continued to accept that Ohio was our “wherever,” our circumstances with our daughter became more centered around her medical needs and hospital stays, and we found ourselves increasingly isolated from others as our circle of community began to shrink. But it was in that deficit that we learned one of the most valuable lessons—the importance of presence and how presence looks a lot like love. Because—love is patient (see 1 Cor. 13). Just as Romans 8:39 says that nothing “will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord,” so also can we be a conduit of His love wherever we are.
During our time with Envision Cleveland, we had the opportunity to be involved with a new program being piloted in Cleveland by the Central District called Refugee Impact Collaborative (RIC). It was developed as a new option for C&MA international worker (IW) candidates to complete home service requirements before going overseas. The program involved living in an urban context, working with refugees, and partnering with urban churches and Envision Cleveland. As mentors for these IW candidates, we had many meals with them around our table. Yet in my role specifically, I often felt like I was not accomplishing much in the way of ministry. Hosting was often the most I could do because of my responsibilities as a mom and full-time caregiver. But as I sat down with some of these IWs in preparation for this article, each of them mentioned how having them over regularly and investing in those relationships with them was impactful. It helped me realize that what I considered to be “just hosting” was actually providing a safe space for them to grow and to feel loved and known.
Years later, two of these couples who were a part of RIC in Cleveland ended up in the same remote province in Southeast Asia, working together but under different specialized structures in Alliance Missions. One couple, Matt* and Taylor,* went with aXcess and the other couple, Chris* and Eva,* with CAMA Services. aXcess has a focus on establishing and empowering the church while CAMA has a focus on relief and development work.
As I sit down for a virtual interview with Matt and Taylor, it is nine in the morning and a crisp 35 degrees—a stark contrast to the sweltering heat at nine at night from where they log onto our call. You can instantly feel the distance between us—the time zones and the degrees of temperature so vastly differ. But I also instantly feel something else—familiarity among dear friends whom I have not seen in years.
As I begin asking them questions about their time in Cleveland, they talk about how much they gleaned from their time with RIC and Envision. Matt shares, “You realize how important it is to have people around of the same faith on your team who are your support system and your encouragement.” Working with the RIC team in Cleveland helped him realize how important it is to
have community on the field with people who have the same heart for ministry. It made him and Taylor especially grateful when the second couple eventually came to join their team.
Matt also shares how Cleveland helped prepare them culturally. “In Cleveland, we had already worked with so many refugees and immigrants, and we knew that we
would like to work among an unreached people group. Most of our experience [in Cleveland] was with people of the same majority faith here, and so that was where we felt most comfortable.”
When asked what else helped prepare them, Taylor states, “Probably learning how to have real relationships with people of different belief systems.” And Matt adds,
“They are people who need friends. And we are people who need friends. And so, how do you, in that friendship, then talk about faith and challenge one another? So, that was a big thing that we learned.”
It was so encouraging for me to listen to them talk about how these relational aspects of their ministry became a foundation for them. Not just ministry to
people, but being with people in authentic friendships. Their demeanor during the interview felt like a posture of being “all there,” as Jim Elliot would say. I could sense their love for the people they serve, and their respect for the culture, even with its challenges.
In an area of the world where it is illegal to live as religious workers and overtly share the gospel, they, along with their CAMA teammates, work for a nonprofit that hires local workers to produce moringa products. The moringa tree is a tropical tree native to Asia, known also as the “miracle tree” because of its nutrient-dense properties. The nonprofit helps to provide jobs while developing nutritious supplements that are accessible to the marginalized population in their context. “We have to have a meaningful, impactful presence that gives us credibility to be here but also allows us to do what God has called us to do, which is to tell people about Him,” Taylor says.
I had the privilege of interviewing Chris and Eva in person since they are in the U.S. on home assignment. As I walk into their home, there is an instant feeling of belonging. Although it is a bit challenging to find a quiet moment to conduct the interview, with their four small children to oversee, I relish the opportunity to interview them in their authentic, day-to-day environment. In writing about presence, it somehow just feels right on theme.
They, too, reminisce about their time in Cleveland, and Eva shares how they were encouraged early on to not treat their time there—or anywhere, for that matter— as a stepping stone. When they bought and renovated their home in Cleveland, their goal was to intentionally set down roots in the neighborhood. Chris says, “And then we get to be the gospel bearers, so then how are we present in those places? The last couple months before leaving [Cleveland], John 17 just came alive to me.” He continues, “The unity between us and Jesus, between believers and believers, and then how that unifies us with the Father. And Jesus says, ‘May they have the same unity that I have with You.’ And then the amazing thing, too, is that it says when we have that unity, ‘Then the world will know that You sent Me.’” This Scripture is such a beautiful way to describe their current ministry as their team works together, each with different focuses, but all in unity with the same heart for the Kingdom.
Chris and Eva mention that their time with Envision helped set them up well for working in the context of the majority religion in their province. Eva says that it also helped them appreciate the importance of empowering local believers and young people, saying, “It’s important to raise up other young people and get others to catch the vision because that’s how you multiply.”
She also shares how, growing up as a third culture kid, she sometimes saw her parents doing seemingly insig-
Asia
nificant things in ministry, like bringing potato salad to a potluck. “Maybe I had some judgmental thoughts of even my own parents, where what they were doing was maybe not enough or as epic [of a ministry] as certain people who were around us,” she says. “Sometimes it’s a lot more [about] the daily faithfulness . . . like your own sanctification and walk with Jesus.”
This resonated with me. During my time back in Cleveland, sometimes I felt like all I was doing was making the potato salad. But in listening to these couples talk about how one of the things they were most encouraged by was the time spent around our table (when I frequently did actually make potato salad), I can see now that it was so much more than just food. Our day-to-day lives can look different for every person following Jesus, but if we keep showing up with our proverbial potato salad, the impact of that kind of presence is immeasurable—to believers and unbelievers.
While there were many needs that our daughter had that required me to stay home more often with her, I see now how the Lord used those limitations to help us recognize the power of simple presence and how it overflowed as a gift to others we had contact with. It forced us to slow down as a family and in various aspects of ministry, which allowed us to see more clearly how important presence was to and for all people. It was our daughter’s disability that redirected us all those years ago, but more so—it is what helped to shape our hearts
in profound ways. And it’s also what allowed us the amazing opportunity to live and learn alongside others in our Cleveland ministry, such as the RIC team.
When the word “missions” comes up, it is often in the context of leaving one’s country and culture to spread the gospel. In Acts 1:4, Jesus commands the disciples to not leave Jerusalem while waiting for the Holy Spirit. Later in verse eight, He says, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Note the context from verse four—they are told to stay in Jerusalem, in familiar territory, and then in verse eight, Jerusalem is the first place in which they are told to be witnesses. Jesus has called us to the ends of the earth, but first He calls us to be His witnesses in Jerusalem.
“Jerusalem” is different for everyone. But Jerusalem is the place we begin loving our neighbors and practicing presence. Wherever we are, let us be all there with whomever we encounter. “Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” (John 17:23).
Our time in Cleveland ended up allowing us a unique opportunity to experience God’s heart for all people and what it meant to “go,” even if the going meant staying. And the collaboration with different ministries and
missions structures there was a beautiful picture of 1 Corinthians 12—how a body needs all its parts to work effectively. Everyone with their different gifts and specific passions for certain areas of ministry is essential, wherever they are. Because it takes all of us to share all of Jesus with all the world.
*Names changed
Lorie Huneycutt is the assistant editor for Alliance Life magazine. A Toccoa Falls College graduate, she has served in church ministries and with Envision Cleveland. Lorie is passionate about amplifying the voices of overlooked populations and conveying the hope of Jesus through storytelling.
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
—John 13:34–35
by Hannah Packard
In a remote village in Indonesia, a helicopter touches down, delivering a Bible decades in the making. In Cambodia, a woman turns to Jesus after years of being bound by fear. In West Africa, believers worship together despite persecution. These are just a few of the moments that the Alliance Video Team steps into and the stories they share on film.
“We want to tell stories with curiosity and empathy,” says Josh, director for Video at the Alliance National Office. “Through the stories that we capture, we hope to transport viewers and engage their imaginations and their hearts— and be the bridge between here and there.”
Over the course of an afternoon, I sit down individually with Josh and his team—Rosie, Andy, and Olivia. We discuss the technical aspects of filming, photography, and editing. But I quickly realize that the heart of what they do isn’t really about cameras, drones, or teleprompters. It’s about hospitality, storytelling, and using their gifts to serve our God, who is on mission.
These are some of the stories they shared.
What has been one of your favorite moments you’ve experienced as part of your job?
Rosie: Recently, I went to a market in Indonesia to take photos of local life. Everyone was so friendly, and it felt like I was part of their community. One of the guys at a stall shared some of his food with me; it was a steamed rice cake. I Googled, “Am I going to get sick from this?” because it was right out of a grocery bag, no wrapping around it. But I took it, and I ate the whole thing. And it was good! Even though we didn’t speak the same language, we were laughing, and with whatever English he knew, we were able to talk a little bit.
Andy: I think my favorite memory was in Papua, Indonesia, getting to take a Bible—that took 65 years and two generations of workers, Ed and Shirley Maxey and their son, Buzz, and his wife, Myrna, to translate— from village to village by helicopter. And witnessing Buzz give the Bible to someone who helped and knew his parents, someone who Buzz hasn’t seen in 20 years. So, it was this reunion moment, and when he gave the Bible to him, everybody started crying. To be able to capture that and to be there was really special.
Olivia: In a country in Central Asia, we were able to stay with a local family overnight. It was eye-opening. The workers we were with regu-
larly drive a whole day to get to this valley. They face so many spiritual barriers in connecting with families there. It was such an interesting feeling to know that we were the only believers in the entire valley. We could feel that darkness and that weight. It connected our hearts to people in a deeper way and gave us a lot of respect for the international workers and what they do. That trip also stands out to me because of the beautiful hospitality of this family to open their homes and share what they had.
These really remote places give a picture of the lengths that God will go to reach people. As if He’s saying, “There’s no distance too far or a place that’s too hard to get to that I’m not going to be pursuing My kids.”
Josh: On a trip to West Africa, I was at a low point. I attended a chapel at Dakar Academy where students were sharing about a recent outreach
weekend they’d had in a nearby village where they served through construction projects and giving practical support. At the end of the chapel, I was unexpectedly asked to stand as the chaplain recognized me for making a video about that outreach a few years prior. That film had inspired someone to move abroad and join the staff—and they helped lead that year’s outreach. I realized I was sitting in the same room as someone deeply impacted by something I made. That was incredibly moving. I was in a difficult season, and it was a powerful reminder that what I offer can have a ripple effect far beyond what I see—it mattered more than I knew at the time.
What is something beautiful that you’ve experienced from another culture?
Rosie: I love the hospitality. I think of Indonesian people, or Rohingya refugees, or people living in the slums of Senegal—even though these people may have nothing, they still open their homes to us. They want you to feel welcome.
Andy: One thing I observed in a country in Central Asia is the way that a value can manifest itself dif-
ferently. In one part of the country, when a host serves you tea, they fill it all the way to the top because they want to be generous and for you to feel like your cup is very full. And in the other part of the country, they only give you a little bit of tea so they can continue to serve you cup after cup. Both are beautiful expressions of a generous culture that loves to host people.
Olivia: There have been things that felt surreal—like getting to see Mount Fuji with my own eyes, visiting a yurt in Mongolia, or getting to do the tinikling dance in the Philippines. It feels like a childhood dream.
Going to church in different countries is also so beautiful. On my first trip with The Alliance, we went to a church in a floating village in Cambodia. Being in that environment, in a house on stilts over the water, in this church service that’s packed full with Cambodian believers, and we’re all worshiping together—that was amazing.
Josh: The idea of hospitality is understood across cultures. Everybody receives it, and it’s totally disarming. It speaks value to people. That, for our team, has become a value— leaving people in places better than we found them. Hospitality is not something that we just practice in our homes, but something that we can take with us wherever we are.
What is a standout moment when you have seen God at work?
Rosie: On my first trip to Africa with The Alliance, I remember being at the church there and hearing them sing in a different language. And I think that was such a God moment for me to realize—this is what heaven is going to be like. I remember tearing up as I was taking photos of this space and thinking that God wants all languages, all people, with Him there.
Andy: It was early in the morning in a tiny desert village. Watching the stars fade to early dawn, I resumed listening to Scripture where I had left off a few days before. We had spent two days traveling out into the desert until we arrived at our destination: this cluster of mud and grass huts.
Our hosts were a family of horse herders with a son in need of physical therapy. They had shown openness to hearing the good news and eagerly listened to an explanation of God’s goodness from Adam all the way to the birth of Jesus. The next morning, as I pressed play on Scripture, I found myself listening to a story about a woman who lost a small coin. The woman didn’t just forget about it. She cleaned her whole house in order to find it. And when she found it, she even invited the neighbors over to celebrate with her.
It hit me that this is what I was getting to witness firsthand. This small family, so precious to God—He didn’t allow them to stay lost. I laid there thinking about the amount of effort, money, and people that God is willing to spend just to tell this one family in the middle of nowhere how much He loves them.
Olivia: There was a really sweet moment in West Africa where we were worshiping with Fulani believers. At the end of the service, this guy grabbed my hands and said, “We will pray for you when we think of you; will you pray for us when you think of us?” It felt like a moment in the Early Church. Encounters like that have expanded our faith. Because all of a sudden, we’re not just aware of the Church around the world. We’re actually getting to step into it and experience it.
Josh: On my first trip to Cambodia with The Alliance, we had just arrived and were having dinner when the phone rang. It was a woman from the community whose husband had become a Christ follower several years earlier. She also felt drawn to Jesus but held back out of fear of the ancestors and what it might mean for her family. She called and said, “Come now. I’m ready to do it now.” We drove to her house and found her ready to pray. Soeuth and Syna, the international workers we were with, prayed with her and then helped her collect idols from around the house and place them in an empty rice bag.
Outside, neighbors gathered, watching. In front of her home was an ancestral shrine. After she spoke with Soeuth in Khmer, he chained it to his truck and pulled it out of the ground. The crowd was shocked— some taking pictures, because this kind of thing just doesn’t happen. We took everything back and burned it. It was powerful to see someone overcome deep fear and break generations of bondage.
How have you changed in the course of your work?
Rosie: I grew up very sheltered in the bubble of my community. Being able to go overseas and experience all these different types of people and cultures, it’s shown me the beauty of how God has created all of us and the power of what God is doing as well. Sometimes, especially in my Asian American culture growing up, I felt like miracles and wonders are not as profound or possible as they are if you’re overseas. You hear all these amazing stories of healing, of deliverance, of having to deny your family, your culture in a sense— believers have to deny that and run for their lives. Getting to travel has really pushed me personally to grow even more, to also believe in the wonders and the miracles and the beauty of what God is doing around the world—and here too. He can do it, and He still is doing it.
Andy: My theology hasn’t changed much, but my heart certainly has. There truly are so many people who don’t have any opportunity to hear the good news. My compassion for them has been enlarged by seeing firsthand that so many people are living without hope, desperate for the gospel. There is still an enormous amount of work to do to complete the Great Commission and far too few people doing it. The gospel is not only
hope for the next life but strength, joy, and meaning for this one.
Olivia: I think the work itself has challenged me to be more courageous in going to places or situations that are intimidating or hard. Over time, in some ways it gets easier, and in other ways it doesn’t. When you go into really hard places—like slums in West Africa—that doesn’t really get easier, and I don’t think it should. I’ve been learning to face things that are painful and not let my heart grow hard in the process.
I also know that the more I visit these places, the wider my view of the Kingdom of God is able to grow. I get to see how expansive and beautiful it is, as well as Jesus’ pursuit of people all around the world, and I know that’s a privilege. I’m constantly learning how it looks to walk through that and tell the story well.
Josh: I love experiencing the different ways the Church is expressed around the world. It’s made me more aware of the lenses I bring to everything I see and more curious about what’s actually essential versus what’s just preference.
I’ve realized that, at its core, our faith—the good news—is so much simpler than we make it, and, at the same time, so much more profound.
by Beverly, an Alliance worker serving in Central Africa
For the past 10 years, through your generosity and prayers, we have been privileged to participate in God’s plan to break through years of darkness and fear to make Himself known to the Vili people of Central Africa. Many efforts to evangelize and plant churches among them were slowed or extinguished by spiritual opposition and prejudice rooted in Vili culture and history. Because the only available Bible was in French and most couldn’t understand it, the few surviving churches became highly syncretistic, combining elements of Christianity with local religious traditions. Local prophets primed the Vili to reject “foreign mis-
sionaries,” especially those who came speaking other languages and preached about Jesus, the “God of the whites.” Zephirin was a Vili prophet considered to be endowed with divine power. Though he died in 1974, he is venerated by his followers as the mediator between the ancestors and the people.
But the Vili love a good story, and there was no built-in resistance to an African who came to sit down and share one, especially in the Vili language. In 2016, working together with a team from the Congolese Alliance, we
set out to present the story of God—from Creation on— in Vili. There was an explosive response. In 11 villages, many Vili turned to Christ.
To make disciples of these new believers, we needed to establish long-term presence among the Vili. Thanks to your generosity and prayers, we established a base in the central village of Youbi. Members of our team go out from there, and believers come to learn.
In Youbi, one of our Congolese coworkers, Firmin, and his teammates encountered a man named JohnPaul. Now 98 years old, John-Paul became a follower of Zephirin when he was only 12. Although he doesn’t read or write and never studied the Bible, he eventually became the pastor of the Youbi Zephirin Church. For many years, he held sway over Youbi.
“As soon as we arrived in Youbi, hostilities began,” Firmin told us. “John-Paul didn’t want us to come and set up a new church in Youbi, so there was a little war between him and us. He tried to forbid his followers from coming to hear stories. He didn’t want our children to be able to play with his grandsons, and they were not permitted to come to our place.”
God would not allow the spread of the gospel to be thwarted so easily, though. Through the generosity and prayers of the Alliance family, a well was installed with a solar pump. Many in the village came there to get water. But John-Paul forbade his wife from coming, insisting she walk the two miles to the village well.
“He was volatile,” Firmin said. “And our relationship was tense, especially as more of his followers began to desert him and come to hear Bible stories. Eventually, he and his family found themselves the only attendees at the Zephirin Church.”
One day, Firmin and his teammates spotted JohnPaul coming to their property. “Is he coming to make a problem here?” they wondered. However, he came in like a typical visitor and greeted them. They got a chair for him, and after talking for a while, he came to his point. While working in his field the day before, he dropped his machete in the brush. Although he looked, he couldn’t find it. He wanted to know if Firmin and his teammates could loan him a machete so that he could resume his work.
With great pleasure, they offered him a new machete. John-Paul thanked them, took the machete, and left. The next day, he returned to sit down and talk. As Firmin sensed a friendship beginning to form, he asked, “Aren’t you a Zephirin pastor?”
“Yes,” John-Paul said. “But I don’t have a congregation anymore. All my people are coming here to learn stories from the Bible. They tell me some of these sto-
ries. I’ve been Zephirin many years, but I haven’t been to school. I can’t read the Bible. But as a pastor, I can’t come to your group with my former church members. It would be too awkward.”
Through your giving to Vili Outreach and Leadership Development, you will establish a central training school where workers like Firmin will equip Vili leaders and send them on mission to their own people. By advancing outreach, discipleship, and church planting among the Vili, you will mold disciples from this isolated and under-resourced people group into strong teachers, pastors, missionaries, and church planters. To provide resources and training for the Vili to grow as disciples and plant churches, visit cmalliance.org/vili-outreach Learn more about Alliance strategic projects throughout the world in need of your prayers and financial support by accessing the 2025–2026 Strategic Giving Opportunities Gift Catalog at cmalliance. org/25-strategic-gift-catalog or by calling toll-free (866) 443-8262.
“Let’s make a deal,” Firmin said. “You don’t know about Jesus, and I don’t know about Zephirin. Why don’t I teach you the Bible? I will tell you about Jesus, and you tell me about Zephirin.”
From that day, the two became good friends. When Firmin is in Youbi, John-Paul comes to learn Bible stories almost every day. Some days, Firmin returns the visits, stopping in JohnPaul’s courtyard to chat.
According to Firmin, the most compelling story to the Vili is the Creation story. When they realize Jesus was there from the beginning—that He was with God and is God—their worldview changes. As John-Paul once told Firmin, “I always believed that the Jesus you’re talking about was the God of whites, but now I realize that He is the God of everyone who is created.”
Over the past year, John-Paul has changed. Recently, he had a huge disagreement with his next-door neighbor. They exchanged words, and it even came to blows. But two days later, he knocked on his neighbor’s door and asked to talk. The friend was afraid, believing he had come to assault him.
“I came to you to ask you for forgiveness,” John-Paul said, “because our argument the other day hurts my heart a lot, and now I would like to see peace.”
Stories like that remind us God is working on him. As God has done in the lives of so many other Vili, He has softened John-Paul’s heart to the gospel, transforming him from an enemy into a friend.
“Repentance is really there,” Firmin said. “I believe he’s going to become a full disciple of Jesus.”
Results like this happen only because people like you have prayed and given to our work. As the friendship between Firmin and John-Paul continues to blossom, please continue to journey with us in faith, eagerly looking ahead to the day when John-Paul—and many others like him—join the family of Vili believers in Youbi.
My name is Abu,* and I am from Guinea, West Africa. After high school, I moved to Liberia to earn money for my aging parents. Last year, I was in a motorcycle accident there, and as I fell, the pavement removed all the skin from my hand. I went to the best hospital in Monrovia, Liberia, because as my hand began to heal, my fingers were pulled into a permanent claw. After an X-ray, the doctor told me I had nerve damage. When I went to an even bigger hospital, their advice was to amputate my arm below the elbow.
I told my wife we should go back home to Guinea, and that is when we came to Hope Medical Center in N’Zao, a clinic co-founded by Alliance workers with CAMA Services. A doctor and his team there performed surgery and removed the scarring on my hand and placed pins in my fingers so they would stay straight. Then they sewed my hand to my stomach for three weeks so it would have enough blood supply to heal. After they removed my hand from my stomach, I began rehab and have been doing really well! My fingers are straight and moving, and I even have skin on my palm!
I am so grateful for Hope Medical Center and the care and attention that the doctors give to people there. They are more than just healers; they are invested in helping improve the quality of life for their patients. True to its name, this clinic provides real hope!
*Name changed
“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
—Ephesians 4:4–6
From around the block to the ends of the earth
ASIA-PACIFIC
CAMBODIA
Haley J. Mills, in March. Haley serves with aXcess.
JAPAN
Frank and Irene Williamson, in March. The Williamsons serve with Envision.
TAIWAN
Whitney R. Beorn, in March. Whitney serves with Envision.
Kenneth M. and Susan L. Hall, in February. The Halls serve with Envision.
BALKANS
Kayden Bird, in February. Kayden serves with Envision.
Meredith A. Hoffman, in February. Meredith serves with CAMA.
Juraj Stasko, in February. Juraj serves with Envision.
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
David A. and Carley I. Ingram and family, in March. The Ingrams serve with CAMA.
GERMANY
Amara Greenberg, in February. Amara serves with Envision.
URUGUAY
Oscar J. and Charlotte M. Garcia and family, in March. The Garcias serve with aXcess.
Daniel A. and Victoria M. Greenfield and family, in February. The Greenfields serve with aXcess.
Abby Krabill, in February. Abby serves with Envision.
Michael J. Baggett, military chaplain candidate - Army 1LT, C&MA National Office, Reynoldsburg, Ohio
Jordan A. Chapple, pastor, Cornerstone Alliance Church, Roanoke, Ind.
Doyle N. DeGraw, pastor emeritus, Trinity Christian Chapel, Sewell, N.J.
Victor J. De Jesus, youth pastor, Iglesia ACyM Kissimmee (Fla.)
Alan R. Eggleton, connections pastor, Fulton (N.Y.) Alliance Church
Erik J. Ferguson, pastor, Emporium (Pa.) C&MA Church
Robert S. Guidry, youth pastor, Perrysburg (Ohio) Alliance Church
Matt J. Hamilton, associate pastor, New Life Alliance Church, Waterville, Ohio
Justin R. Hanneken, other ministry, Alliance Southeast
Kevin A. Hercula, interim pastor, Alliance Northwest District
Jeremiah T. Herr, senior pastor, Sacramento Hmong Alliance Church, Elk Grove, Calif.
Tachung Hu, pastor, Glendale (Ariz.) Taiwanese Plant
Andy T. Kue, pastor, Outreach Hmong Alliance Church, Kent, Wash.
Samuel D. Lee, youth pastor, Queens Herald Church C&MA, Fresh Meadows, N.Y.
Lynn M. Martin, community life pastor, East Park Church, Vancouver, Wash.
Jessica Ng-Lam, associate English ministry pastor, Queens Herald Church C&MA, Fresh Meadows, N.Y.
Duy D. Nguyen, pastor, Vietnamese Alliance Church, Sacramento, Calif.
Van Nguyen, assistant pastor, Vietnamese Alliance Church, Sacramento, Calif.
Joseph W. Oliver, HUB pastor, Allegheny Center C&MA Church, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Miguel A. Palomino, special assignment, Alliance Southeast
Vien Q. Phan, assistant pastor, Vietnamese Alliance Church of Poway (Calif.)
Spencer T. Rekedal, site associate, Envision Twin Cities, North Central District
James Rhodes, non-Alliance assignment, Central District
Jeremiah Shawver, special assignment, Great Lakes District
Mark Sina, interim pastor, River Valley Alliance Church, Watertown, Wis.
Clayton W. Taylor, Buffalo kids pastor, Riverside Church – Buffalo (Minn.)
Jason D. Taylor, college personnel, Crown College, St. Bonifacius, Minn.
Tseeb J. Vang, pastor, Act 2 Project, Hmong District
Jamie S. Zacharias, children’s ministry pastor, Jubilee Intercultural Alliance Church, Columbus, Ohio
La Puente, Calif., Christ Fellowship Church, 1539 N. Orange Ave., 91744 Riverview, Fla., Acts 2 Project, 8002 US 30 N., 33578
Armando Alvarez, assistant pastor/Spanish ministries, The Awakening Church, Murrieta, Calif.
Samuel Bametz, pastor, Scio Community Alliance Church, Ann Arbor, Mich.
Joseph Chan, Cantonese pastor, Wheaton (Ill.) Chinese Alliance
Lili Chen, assistant pastor, Chinese Alliance Church of Pittsburgh, Turtle Creek, Pa.
Eric C. Coley, mobilizing/ outreach pastor, Concord Alliance Church, Painsville, Ohio
Solanel Dabel, church planter, Haitian Evangelical Church of Columbus (Ohio)
Justin T. Deiter, pastor, Clymer (Pa.) C&MA Church
Juan Carlos Garcia Diaz, elder, ACYM Culebra (P.R.)
Danielle E. Grabianowski, non-Alliance assignment, Central District
Tracy Grondziowski, associate pastor of discipleship and family ministries, Bakerstown C&MA Church, Gibsonia, Pa.
Samien Hang, assistant pastor, Family Alliance Church, Fresno, Calif.
Rebecca E. Hedman, Greenhouse resident, First Alliance Church, Lexington, Ky.
Sam Her, interim pastor, Gospel Alliance Church, Portland, Ore.
At Shell Point® , you’ll enjoy a fulfilling lifestyle where you can explore, worship, learn, grow and even continue to serve. And with new additions to our campus, like Tribby Arts Center, a sparkling centerpiece for the arts, and the state-of-the-art Larsen Health Center, you can rest on a firm foundation, knowing that your needs will be taken care of – both now and in the future.
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Erick O. Hernandez, lead pastor, Nueva Creacion Church, Bakersfield, Calif.
Jay Manguba, senior pastor, Bloomingdale (Ill.) Alliance Church
Garett Mansfield, spiritual life coordinator of Defiance College, Ohio Valley District
Thomas J. McMurray, director of operations, Ohio Valley District
Joseph M. O’Neill, associate pastor, Harvest Alliance Church, Centreville, Md.
Kunal J. Onkar, pastor of worship and administration, Shadowland Community Church, Nicholasville, Ky.
David Park, worship pastor, Christ Centered Church, Township of Washington, N.J.
Samreen Y. Parvaiz, director of family ministry, Hidden Creek Community Church, Olympia, Wash.
Ross M. Perrine, pastor, Kittanning (Pa.) C&MA Church
Jaycel Roy Tagki Pin, pastor, New Day Church, Pacifica, Calif.
Travis J. Ratzlaff, pastor of adult and family ministries, Salem (Ore.) Alliance Church
Venice Robinson, pastor of justice and mercy, Anchor Church of the C&MA, Tacoma, Wash.
Abigail R. Stevens, hospice chaplain, Ohio Valley District
Paul J. Thorlakson, minister of worship and music, Village Church Shell Point, Fort Myers, Fla.
John M. Venhaus, worship pastor, ACF Church, Eagle River, Alaska
Wen-Hsin Yin, senior chaplain, The James OSU Med. Center, Ohio Valley District
Yunlan Zha, pastor, Space Coast Chinese Alliance Church, Cocoa, Fla.
Paul R. Campbell, Western PA District
Kirk L. Lithander, Ohio Valley District
Paul R. Martin, Midwest District
Thomas O. Myers, Alliance Southeast
Jose M. Rivera, Puerto Rico District
Jesse W. Sharpe, Alliance Southeast
David A. Zimmermann, Western Great Lakes District
Janice Sue Aunspaugh Heffer Wright
April 4, 1937–September 10, 2025
Janice was born in Omaha, Neb., and raised in Houston, Tex. She came to know Jesus as her Savior at a C&MA church there. Faith remained the foundation of her life— guiding her steps in family, career, worship, and service to others.
Janice graduated from San Jacinto High School in Houston before pursuing her calling in education at Nyack Bible College (Nyack, New York), where she earned her degree in Christian education and English. She later completed her master’s degree and doctor of education in teacher education at the University of Houston. Janice’s passion for children and education shaped a lifelong career. She taught in several elementary schools in Houston and served in numerous administrative roles before serving as director of early childhood education until her retirement. Janice also shared her knowledge, mentorship, and inspiration as instructor, and later as visiting assistant professor, at the University of Houston, UH Clear Lake, and St. Thomas University. Throughout her distinguished career, Janice was active in numerous professional and educational organizations. She was a member of the Nyack Honors Society and Phi Delta Kappa, served on the board of directors for the Literacy Advancement of Houston, and was a proud member of the Texas Association of Teacher Education. Janice faithfully served on the board of trustees of St. Paul Bible College (now Crown College in St. Bonifacius, Minn.) representing the Southwestern District from 1989–1998. Janice’s greatest joy was her family.
She is survived by her children Robert, Tami, Timothy, and Jonathan; grandchildren; and great-grandchildren.
Edgar L. Manns
March 12, 1945–March 28, 2026
Edgar was born in Scranton, Pa. He attended Toccoa Falls College in Georgia and met his first wife in 1971 at a church where he served as the music director. He also served as the college plumber for several years. Edgar pastored several churches in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and New York with the C&MA over a span of 49 years. Known by many children as “Uncle Edgar,” he would introduce them to the gospel through magic and storytelling at camps and vacation Bible schools.
Edgar is survived by his second wife Susan; daughter Erin; 4 grandchildren; and 2 great-grandchildren.
Allan Richard Vance
October 9, 1959– February 7, 2026
Allan was born in Baltimore, Md., and graduated from Parkville High School. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Washington Bible College and attained his master of divinity and PhD at Columbia International University. He spent three decades working as a pastor at various churches, including
North Plainfield Baptist Church in N.J., Calvary Tabernacle in Baltimore, Md., and Cassels Christian and Missionary Alliance Church in Manchester, Pa. After retiring, Allan worked variously as adjunct faculty and as a doctoral advisor at Capital Bible Seminary, Lancaster Bible College, and Columbia International University.
Allan is survived by his wife Kerry; children Daniel and Sarah; and 6 grandchildren.
As we prepare to launch an ESL program through our home church, we’ve been taking time to connect with people in the immigrant community by asking questions, hearing stories, and learning what is needed. We do not want to assume needs, and we want to serve them well.
We have been asking people questions about what kind of English skills they want to learn, what barriers may exist, and where they would feel most comfortable meeting. We want to make sure the program is truly helpful and meets their specific needs in their contexts. These conversations have been incredibly valuable. They’re shaping not just what we do, but how we do it—with humility, respect, and a desire to build real relationships.
At the same time, we’ve had the opportunity to meet with a few pastors to share about Envision Twin Cities and the calling God has placed on our lives to serve immigrants and refugees here in our own communities. Those conversations have been encouraging, and we’re grateful for each open door!
Please pray that we will continue to listen well and build trust within these communities and for wisdom as we shape the ESL program to meet real needs in meaningful ways. Pray that God would guide us with the right partnerships from churches and that He would provide the financial partners needed to sustain this ministry.
Sometimes ministry looks like movement. Other times, it looks like sitting at a table asking questions and learning names. Right now, it’s a lot of the latter. And we believe this matters deeply!
—Jeremy and Ruth, serving with Envision
In the spring, we helped to host a three-day youth camp for international and Thai students. One of our Thai students had been wrestling with wanting to become a Christian for about a year. We had been telling her and her boyfriend about God’s love for them every chance we got, and near the end of camp, God spoke to her, and she took a leap of faith. She and her boyfriend both made the decision to follow Jesus. Praise God!
Please pray for Tikki, a Thai believer who led a few people in her village to Jesus. She has asked us to help her disciple them. Our hope is to provide more resources so that more people will come to know Him.
Many of our students started their internships in the city and have not been available to come hang out with us. Please pray that they will continue to be curious about Jesus even when they are not able to join us. Please pray for more workers on the field in Thailand who have a heart for serving God and the people there. —Tub and Gao-Jai, serving with aXcess
