MEET OUR MISSIONARY PARTNERS!
Chris & Paula McNutt
Chris and Paula have been full-time missionaries at Hope of Life International since January of 2017, but their hearts have been there since their first visit in February of 2010. They thought it would be a one-time visit but God had so many other plans. They fell in love with the families of Hope of Life Village and focused on their spiritual needs, physical wellbeing, education, prosperity and economic self-reliance. Also, they are both nurses by profession and serve in medical clinics both on campus, in other villages and in their village.
Website: passion4guatemala.com
Josh Steward
In 2014, Josh and Denise Steward went to Mallow Bible Fellowship to primarily work with the youth ministry. Then in 2015, he was appointed Lead Pastor with overall responsibility for the growth and spiritual development of the church. Josh and Denise spent the next four and a half years establishing and planting the church in Mallow. Since then, Josh and Denise felt the call to plant another like-minded church in Tralee, Co. Kerry in 2019. Tralee Bible Fellowship was founded in October, 2019.
Website: traleebiblefellowship.ie
Kevin & Emelie Falde
Kevin and Emelie Falde have been serving the Haitian people through planting churches and hosting mission trips since 2010. After the earthquake in 2010, they felt God leading them to go back to Haiti. They were approved as missionaries to Haiti in May 2018 and they are currently in the process of raising prayer and financial support. Kevin and Emelie plan to be in Haiti full-time starting January 2021.
Steve & Pam Workman
Steve and Pam Workman were approved as Baptist Bible Fellowship missionaries to Kenya in May 1983. They resigned in May 1995 and were reinstated to Jamaica in September 1996. The Workman’s were approved to change fields to Botswana in August 2002. Steve graduated from the pastors course and Pam graduated from the missions course from Baptist Bible College, Springfield, Missouri. They served their internship at Central Baptist Church in Gainesville, Texas.
Ryan & Sarah Johnson
Ryan and Sarah Johnson have been involved in missions since they were young. After they were married, they led two short-term missions trips to Peru and then to London, England. When they returned from their 2005 trip, they felt burdened for the people of London and God confirmed this calling in their hearts when they returned to London in 2008.
Website: https://londoncalling-johnsons.com
Greg & LuAnn Lyons
Greg and LuAnn Lyons have been missionaries for nearly 30 years in Metro Manila, Philippines. Primarily church planters, God has opened doors for multiple ministries, including starting 15 new churches, international Evangelistic Youth camps, a Bible College with 13 campuses, and missionaries sent from the Philippines. Through Global Surge, a church planting urban ministry founded by Greg, they are committed to reaching this generation for Christ and transforming them into reproducing disciples that will reach the world.
Website: https://www.globalsurge.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greg.lyons.319
Eric & Stephanie Chapman
Eric and Stephanie Chapman have been living and working in Moldova for 21 years. During this time they were able to start 11 churches and help scores of men start local churches in their villages. By God’s grace they were also able to start 2 evangelistic youth camps and opened the Bible Institute. Eric and Stephanie have also been serving part time in Malawi for more than 14 years starting new churches, evangelism, and training church planters.
Theodore & Crystal Wilson
Theodore and Crystal Wilson have answered the call God has placed in their hearts to serve Him by serving His children in Africa. Through the Rafiki Foundation, their assignment will be at a Rafiki Village in Kenya where they will have the opportunity to lead weekly Bible study and teacher training, serve as school administrators, and work with local church leaders to distribute Rafiki Bible Study and curriculum material to church schools and surrounding communities. Their main goal is to help people know God through studying the Bible.
Website: https://rafikifoundation.org/
Betty Fey
In June of 2023, Betty Fey began serving as a full-time missionary with Freeway Ministries in Springfield, Missouri. The mission of Freeway Ministries is to reach the hard to reach with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, one broken life at a time. Freeway’s greatest desire is to see people come to know Christ, be discipled, and then become disciples who make disciples. Freeway is committed to using Biblical truths to be an extension of the local church, present the Gospel, and assist people in breaking free from sin and addiction to live a productive life.
Website: https://freeway-ministries.com
Missionaries to Kenya
Our missionaries in Kenya are medical doctors who serve the people of Kenya and surrounding countries. The people often travel great distances seeking help. Many have given up hope and most have suffered abuse and ostracism within their own cultures. Our missionaries feel incredibly privileged to be able to assist the people of Africa and thank God for health and strength to use the skills and opportunities He has given them.
Missionaries to China
Our missionaries in China were first approved by the Baptist Bible Fellowship to Singapore in 1990. While in Singapore, they started a new church and sent out three of their own missionaries to China and Thailand. After ten years they felt God leading them to move to northeast China where they teach English to the people. There are no churches in China. Chinese cannot own property, only the apartment or home sitting on the property. As a result, where they worship is basically called a “house church” - someone’s home where people can meet. They have started multiple house churches.
Love Akron
Love Akron is making a collective impact through unifying the colors, cultures, and congregations of Greater Akron to see it thrive. Motivated by our faith - Coupling our firm foundation, leadership, partners, and messaging; Love Akron is positioned and uniquely designed to lead this movement.
Website: https://www.loveakron.org/
Summit Association of Churches
The purpose of the Summit Association of Churches is to assist the cooperating churches in their divinely appointed task of extending the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ through fellowship, missions, education, and proclamation. It is made up of like-minded congregations from Stark, Summit, Medina, and Portage counties. Their hope is to bring the greatest Kingdom impact by partnering in ministry together.
Website: http://www.summitassociation.net
RAHAB Ministries
RAHAB began addressing human trafficking before human trafficking became a recognized term. An acronym for Reaching Above Hopelessness and Brokenness, Inc., RAHAB was founded by Rebecca Moreland in 2002. After finding hope and healing her own life, Becky put her faith into action by reaching into seemingly hopeless streets of Akron, Ohio.
Website: https://www.rahab-ministries.org/
First Glance
First Glance is a youth center that operates in the Kenmore neighborhood of Akron.
“Kenmore is our home, our family and our community. For over 19 years, we've hosted a wide variety of programming for students of all ages. We over teenagers and young adults a safe place where they are loved, valued and ultimately, through Christ, we provide them with hope.”
Website: https://firstglance.org/
Pregnancy Solutions
Pregnancy Solutions was started in 1996 when their founder Sylvia Slifko was arrested while protesting outside of an abortion clinic. She tells the story that during that time, she thought to herself, “there has to be a better way to help these women.” It was at that moment that she was determined to start a pregnancy center to offer a compassionate alternative to women who were seeking an abortion.
Website: https://pregsolutions.org/
Haven of Rest
Since 1943, Haven of Rest Ministries has responded to the plight of the poor and homeless in our community by presenting the Gospel through Christ-centered programming. They provide Christ-centered care to homeless and hungry men, women and children in Northeast Ohio. Haven of Rest aims to serve and glorify God through Christ-centered, life-changing programs of love and compassion that respond to the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of men, women and children without regard to their race, color, creed or social standing.
Website: https://havenofrest.org
