Ulys and Verna Aeschliman
Ulys and Verna began translating the Bible into the Nobonob language of Papua New Guinea (PNG) in 1978. They began with Genesis, and then translated the New Testament. They completed and dedicated the New Testament in 1990. Work continued on the rest of the Old Testament and the first draft was completed in 2007. The consultant checking of the Old Testament was finished 2017. The typesetting has been finished, and as of June 1, the Nobonob Bible has been in Korea for printing. They continue working on the Nobonob Bible with BTA (Bible Translation Association of PNG) and with Wycliffe Bible Translators. They live in the town of Madang while in PNG and in Coolidge, KS, while in the United States.
Mission Board: Wycliffe Bible Translators
Location: Madang, Papua New Guinea
Coolidge, Kansas
E-mail: u-v_aeschliman@sil.org
Cody and Christa Baker
Cody and Christa Baker are with Pioneer Bible Translators. They currently reside in Dallas where Cody is serving with the IT team during a season of waiting. They believe that God is opening the door for them to allocate to Papua New Guinea in May 2023. Their vision is to see people transformed through a relationship with Jesus Christ. Their desire is to bring God’s Word to a Bibleless people group in Papua New Guinea, not just through translation, but through discipleship, Bible studies, and relationship building. Cody will work as a Translation Specialist and Christa will serve in a support role.
Mission Board: Pioneer Bible Translators
Location: Papua New Guinea
E-mail: cody.baker@pbti.org, christa.baker@pbti.org
Russ and Etta Bauck
After 22 years of ministering in the Philippines, Russ and Etta have transitioned to jobs at their mission headquarters in Colorado Springs. Etta is now the Director of Prefield Ministries, coming alongside new missionaries from the time they are accepted with the mission, to the time they leave for the field. This involves directing training events, encouraging new missionaries and solving logistical issues. Etta finds great joy in seeing workers complete all their preparations, and attain clearance to deploy to their fields of service all over the world! Because of health issues, Russ retired last year, but continues to serve as Etta’s right hand man. Russ and Etta have three adult daughters, Bethany, Aubrey, and Whitney.
Mission Board: OC International
Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado
E-mail: ettabauck@oci.org
Travis and Diane Bradburn, Raven & Destiny
Travis is the Camp Administrator for City Union Mission, ministering to the children and youth of the Kansas City and Warsaw areas who live in poverty. City Union Mission seeks to build up believers while providing food, shelter, life skills classes, GED assistance, and other resources to men, women, and children in crisis. Youth ministries at the mission strive to provide stability, educational assistance, and repeated exposure to the Gospel, so it will impact each person’s life, more and more. Camp CUMCITO is located near Warsaw, MO and provides weeklong Bible camps each summer, as well as retreats, etc. through the year. The staff models faith; healthy lifestyles; and genuine, caring relationships as they seek to engage campers in these choices.
Mission Organization: City Union Mission
Location: Kansas City, Missouri; Warsaw, Missouri
E-mail: tdbradburn@gmail.com
Jason & Angela Cathcart; Bethany, Emma, GraceAnn, Hannah, Laura, Rachelle & Samuel
Jason went on his first mission trip in December of 2000 to Mexico. While there, he felt the Lord prompting him to bring other people back with him. The Cathcarts have been leading mission trips to Mexico since then. Currently the Cathcarts work with United in Christ Ministry as resource coordinators and part-time missionaries. Three times a year they travel with teams from Kansas to Texas and Mexico to assist the ministry in outreach events, building projects and various other tasks including a missions camp for youth. Their vision is to help UICM and the local church reach hearts and lives with the love of Jesus through missions.
Mission Board: United in Christ Ministries
Location: Emporia, Kansas
E-mail: jjcathcart@gmail.com
Dan and Diane Hintz
Dan and Diane Hintz work with a team of dedicated Quechua (ketch-you-a) people doing Bible translation and linguistics. The team is currently working with Dan on the gospel of Matthew. The gospel of Luke and Ruth are already in use in the communities. The people are looking forward to having Genesis, which is in the process of being printed. Diane guides the team in developing materials to help people engage with these newly translated Scriptures. In addition to translation work with Andean people, Dan and Diane make strategic use of their PhD degrees, serving as linguistics consultants for Wycliffe colleagues and representing the organization at international academic conferences.
Mission Board: Wycliffe Bible Translators
Gregory & Kim King; Nathanael & Eva
The Kings have served with Greater Europe Mission in Vienna, Austria since April 2012, splitting time between two roles among two people groups. Their vision is to see Austrians and their focus unreached people group following Jesus, being formed, educated, equipped, and sent out for missional living in community, locally and globally. They are involved together in the initial phases of a church planting initiative among an immigrant population from an unreached people group living in Vienna, and Gregory serves as a lecturer in New Testament and administrator in biblical and theological education. The Kings also serve the Austrian Evangelical community in the context of their German-speaking local church, particularly in music and discipleship ministries.
Mission Board: Greater Europe Mission (GEM)
Location: Vienna, Austria
E-mail: gregory.king@gemission.org
Web: gregoryandkim.gemission.org
Tom & Diana Mason
The Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) operates in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Europe using aviation to support the growth and training of God’s Church. This could include training and equipping pastors from closed countries to the traditional flying of pastors from the “end of the road” to the isolated people living in darkness who may have never met a Christ follower in their life. Tom works from Nampa, Idaho in the MAF aircraft maintenance hangar. His experience as an aircraft mechanic is utilized daily to repair the training aircraft, prepare aircraft for field service and maintain aircraft which have been donated to MAF. He also travels internationally helping when programs are short handed with management and aircraft maintenance. Tom and Diana are involved in hospitality and outreach through their church in Caldwell, ID.
Mission Board: Mission Aviation Fellowship
Location: Caldwell, Idaho
E-mail: tmason@maf.org
Demarick & Beth Patton; Caydence, Raquel & Sienna
Demarick and Beth are with Cru (formerly known as Campus Crusade for Christ.) From Spain to KU, from Omaha to Orlando, Demarick and Beth have helped college students, business leaders, neighbors, and children come to know and follow Jesus. Currently, Demarick is with the city ministry of Cru focusing on helping businesses discover how they can make disciples of employees, customers, service providers, and others. Beth is a volunteer seventh and eighth grade teacher at a Christian school investing in the future of children including their own. Caydence (age 16) loves ballet, reading, and snapchatting friends. Raquel (age 15) loves ballet and reading, and Sienna (age 12) loves ballet, riding horses, and doing any kind of art.
Mission Board: Cru (Campus Crusade for Christ)
Location: Orlando, Florida
E-mail: demarick.patton@cru.org, beth.patton@cru.org
John & Lee Ann Sharp; Levi & Josiah
The Sharps are thankful to serve with Alpine Ministries, an extension ministry of Appalachian Bible College, located in Southern West Virginia. John serves as Director of Alpine Adventures where his responsibilities include spiritual enrichment through hiring, training, and discipleship of staff as well as facilitation, program development, and maintenance for Alpine Adventures and Retreats. Alpine exists to serve local church ministries by utilizing experiential activities for edification and evangelism through Adventures, Bible Camps, Retreats, and Outdoor Education. We intentionally link Biblical truths to memorable experiences to promote lasting spiritual impact. John and Lee Ann have two sons: Levi is 12, and Josiah is 10 years old.
Mission Board: Appalachian Bible Fellowship
Location: Mount Hope, West Virginia
E-mail: john.sharp@abc.edu
FOCUS: Friends of Overseas College & University Students
TABC’s local ministry to international students attending Emporia State University is called FOCUS (Friends of Overseas College and University Students).FOCUS is a friendship program designed to meet the needs of international students during their stay in the United States. FOCUS exists for the sole purpose of touching the lives of international students with the love of God.
Location: Twelfth Avenue Baptist Church Emporia, Kansas
E-mail: jjcathcart@gmail.com, proselyte@gmail.com
Genevieve Lowery
Genevieve Lowery has attended Twelfth Avenue Baptist Church her whole life (23 years) and her involvement in ministry spans almost as long. She gave her life to follow Jesus when she was in the fifth grade and ever since then her love for Him has only increased. With that increase has also come the growing desire to share about the hope that is found in Him. She currently works as an intern with the Emporia State University Christian Challenge ministry. Her roles include sharing the Gospel, discipling students, organizing events, and running social media.
Location: Emporia, Kansas
Email: glowdecristo@gmail.com
Matt and Stephanie Brown; Mezzi
In 1999, Matt and Stephanie Brown started High Gear Cyclery, Inc. in Emporia KS. After surrendering their lives to Christ in 2008, the focus of their business shifted from financial gain to sharing the gospel and love of Christ through bicycles.In 2014, they took their first mission trip to Mexico with United In Christ Ministries where they gave away 6 used bikes. Through that trip, Christ laid the burden on their hearts for the people of Mexico and their non-profit, Handlebars of Hope, was born. They annually take 100’s of bikes into Mexico, do countless free repairs, help grow small businesses, work to create greatly needed jobs, and much more.
Mission Board: Handlebars of Hope/UICM
Location: Emporia, Kansas
E-mail: handlebarsofhope@gmail.com
Ben & Sara Coltrane; Clara, Noah, Elliott & Samantha
In 2016, Ben and Sara helped to start Aninuan Christian Training School (ACTS) on the island of Mindoro in the Philippines. Although they have relocated to Emporia, Ben continues to serve as the director of the 7-12 school, remotely guiding the transition of leadership to the local Filipino educators. The school is an outreach ministry for the local impoverished community through Threads of Hope and Aninuan Christian Church to help students overcome the many obstacles they face in graduating high school. ACTS prepares students to serve the Lord well in any career they choose.
Mission Board: OC International
Location: Emporia, Kansas
E-mail: secoltrane@gmail.com, bencoltrane@oci.org
Jason & Lisa Huebner; Olivia, Annalie & Samuel
The Huebners work to share the gospel and disciple students at Emporia State University. More and more American young people leave the Christian faith behind during their college years. Through Christian Challenge, the Baptist student ministry at ESU, the Huebners are giving students the chance to find truth and grow as leaders as they reach out to their peers. Please pray that the Huebners, Christian Challenge staff and their student leaders will be effective in meeting the needs of the students within the ministry while also pursuing those on campus who are not yet followers of Jesus.
Mission Board: North American Mission Board
Location: Emporia, Kansas
E-mail: jasonhuebner@hotmail.com
Jim and Marlene Koslowsky
Jim and Marlene serve with the Cru Inner City Expansion Team.Cru Inner-City’s mission is to serve and mobilize the church to live out God’s heart for the poor, so all can grow in Christ to build spiritual movements everywhere. The Expansion Team seeks to bring inner-city ministry to Affiliate Cities (cities without full-time supported staff). We are currently in 30 cities and growing rapidly. The Affiliate Cities are a movement of urban leaders seeking to expand the impact of inner-city churches in their communities through gospel engagement and compassionate resources. Jim is the Compassionate Products Coordinator and Administrator. (Boxes of Love, Homeless Care Kits, Easter Bags, PowerPacks).
Mission Board: Cru (Campus Crusade for Christ)
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
E-mail: jim.koslowsky@cru.org
Web: www.cruica.org
Russ & Cathy Mitchell
The Mitchells have served with OC International since 1995. Their first field assignment was in Romania for 15 years, after which Russ became the Assistant Director of the Global Research Team. In May 2020, Russ began serving as OC’s Director of Training. Dynamic, accessible training is essential to the vibrant future OC envisions. Russ sees how God has prepared him for this role and is excited about the opportunities to train God’s people for service. The Mitchells will continue to live in Indiana with Russ traveling regularly for meetings and training events.
Mission Board: OC International
Location: Upland, Indiana
E-mail: RussMitchell@oci.org. CathyMitchell@oci.org
Chris and Sharon
Chris publicly committed his life to world missions at the 1986 TABC missions conference. A year later, he joined the full-time staff of a well-known mission agency, where he later met Sharon. They married in 2001. Grayson was born in 2002. After serving in missions recruiting and on campus over 22 years, they served Wycliffe Bible Translators over 2 years mostly in Papua New Guinea. Returning to Orlando with a heart for people everywhere, the mission agency 5-14 Inc. was formed. We partner with established groups: African Leadership Development, Wycliffe and others, for evangelism lift and scholarly Bible teaching for pastors and all. “5-14” comes from II Cor. 5:14 (Christ’s love compels.)
Mission Board: 5-14 Inc. / New Horizons Foundation
Location: Orlando, Florida
Emporia Christian School
Emporia Christian School exists for the purpose of educating children in spirit, mind, and body. The school’s primary goals are to develop academics, moral integrity, and spiritual depth. Christian precepts and teachings are presented as an integral part of the curriculum. We strive to help our students develop a close personal walk and relationship with Jesus Christ, educate and nurture future Christian leaders, and provide instruction emphasizing strong Biblical principles. ECS offers classes for preschool through 8th grade. Along with academics, our middle school program combines online and traditional courses with service projects and interaction with Christian individuals in businesses and other community connections to help students develop the concept of Christian living.
Location: 1325 C of E Drive, Emporia, KS 66801
E-mail: principal@emporiachristianschool.org
Brent & Melissa McCrory; Ellei, Charis, Zeke, & Anastasia
Stress, a promise, and a prayer. These three realities had a part in the LORD leading the McCrorys to start Renewing You Ministries. First, the stress; for those serving in ministry in our culture it continues to be at an all-time high. Next, a promise; Jesus promised to be with His people until the end of the age (Mt28:20). Lastly, a prayer; Jesus prayed for unity among His followers (Jn17:20-21). Through ministry events, the McCrorys are providing space for those serving in ministry to simply be present, without any responsibilities or people demands. The whole focus of these ministry events is for the LORD to refresh them in ways only He can…with His presence. The unity Jesus seeks is expressed when pastors and worship leaders from different church groups gather in these events to receive from the LORD what only He can give; it is worked toward when they pray for their communities together and seek the LORD’s leading.
Location: Emporia, Kansas
E-mail: brent@renewingyou.org, melissa@renewingyou.org
Jesse and Torrie Brinson; Zebadiah, Izabelle & Ayanna
Jesse met Torrie Hoy while students at KU, through a chrisitan ministry where they both surrendered their lives to Jesus. They grew as friends and were married in the summer of 2005. They have a passion to see young people and families discover their creator and created purpose, be led by the spirit of God and live a life that honors God. They are currently located in St. George, KS but are doing ministry with Bluemont Church in the greater Manhattan area. They serve as administration and outreach directors through both organizations, Called to Greatness and Bluemont Church. Connecting with the campus and the community through Bible studies and sports outreaches, they are building relationships and sharing the gospel. Torrie continues to be a part of the administration team for CTG. They have three Children, Zeb (15), Ayanna (13) and Izzy (10), as well as older foster boys who are now on their own.
Mission Board: Called to Greatness
Location: Fort Scott, Kansas
E-mail: torrie@calledtogreatness.com, jesse@calledtogreatness.com
Mary Hendershott
What do Music and the Arts have to do with Bible translation? Mary has had the joy of exploring that question while serving with Wycliffe in Burkina Faso. During her years there, from 1993 to 2019, she worked with local musicians in Burkina Faso and surrounding countries, helping them craft Biblically-based songs, using local music styles, instruments and dance. Before returning to the US, Mary also worked with a group of Burkinabe musicians to create a soundtrack to be used with Scripture projects in West Africa. In April, Mary joined the Arts team in Dallas at CEWA (Center for Excellence in World Arts) where she will use her skills in teaching, media, and the arts to train and equip others.
Mission Board: Wycliffe Bible Translators
Location: Dallas, Texas
E-mail: mary_hendershott@sil.org
Krisanne Karr
Krisanne Karr grew up on a family farm near Emporia and studied business administration in college before God called her to work with the Jesus Film Project. During a two year internship, Krisanne co-led multiple short-term mission trips to unreached people groups in Africa and Asia. She is now full-time Cru staff, serving as part of the Jesus Film Project Global Expansion team. She works with Jesus Film partners and outside ministries to develop collaboration strategy and use Jesus Film materials to reach the unreached. Krisanne’s role is to connect with and mobilize global partners and leaders toward the goal of one church for every one thousand people.
Mission Board: Cru, Jesus Film Project
Location: Orlando, Florida
E-mail: krisanne.karr@jesusfilm.org
Ryan & Terra Lindsey; Cora & Titus
The Lindseys moved to Leeds, England in September 2012 as University Ministers/Church Planting Catalysts in England’s third largest city. Since then, they have been involved in various new initiatives. They have hosted evangelical Passover Seders; been invited to be part of chaplaincy teams at both the kids’ high school (Terra) and Leeds University Chaplaincy to five universities (Ryan); we mentor several young families and singles on how to live for Christ past university; and are in discussions with two churches about helping them plant a new site/church using Discovery Bible Studies and DMM principles. Through their schools and online, Cora and Titus are both active parts of our ministry and their kindness and boldness reminds us that we all can be bold when it is done with pure love for those God has put around us.
Mission Board: International Mission Board
Location: Leeds, England
E-mail: rlindsey@imb.org
Park Family
The Park family has been doing God’s work among an unreached people group in APAC since 2018. Initially, Mr. Park took the “Business As Mission” approach by working at a local, secular company as a market research professional in order to impact the local workers in the marketplace. The family also worked on a local church revitalization task force during their first term. Anticipating the second term, they will work to plant churches among the unreached peoples and have been blessed with a creative business platform to give solid identity and provide access to the local community. Please pray for unity, wisdom, safety and favor!
E-mail: parklovekl@gmail.com
Mark & Mary Esther Penner
After working in the Deaf community in Japan for 36 years, we relocated to California in 2019. Mary Esther continues to work as a missionary in non-linguistic support for Sign Language projects. Mark now works for United Bible Societies as a project support consultant for Sign Language Bible translations. He is still the translation consultant for the Japan project, but also serves other Bible Society projects, trains resource people, and helps local Bible Societies engage effectively with the Bible access needs of their Deaf communities.
Mission Board: WorldVenture
Location: San Jose, California
E-mail: penner@worldventure.net
Emporia Rescue Mission
Started in 1998, Emporia Rescue Mission provides free housing for men, a community food kitchen, and a free clothing boutique. These services provide places and programs for the preaching of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, and to win the lost to Christ. They also seek to minister to those in need through Christian teaching, outreach, and job training in order that they may return to society as productive citizens. ERM also helps to educate and inform the public of the unique needs of the poor and needy in our society.
Location: P.O. Box 901, 1236 E. 12th Ave, Emporia, KS 66801
E-mail: emporiarescuemission@gmail.com
United in Christ
God has given Marc Loyer and Venancio (Chacho) Jauregui the vision to take the message of Jesus Christ to the nations by preaching the good news of salvation in Jesus; by establishing churches where needed; and by providing for the needs of the homeless, poor, and disabled. The ministry began in the year 2000 in Zacatecas, Mexico, and in 2003 the base of operations moved to Los Fresnos, Texas. Currently UICM has over 60 projects throughout Mexico, Texas, Israel, Brazil and India. These include churches, soup kitchens, drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers, and mission schools. TABC has been involved with UICM since 2007, sending people on short-term mission trips and participating in Navidad Con Jesus by making gift bags for children for Christmas.
Mission Board: United in Christ Ministry
Location: Los Fresnos, Texas
E-mail: uicmw7@gmail.com