The Bible tells us that we will be joined in heaven by a multitude from every nation. What an exciting vision of our future.
In supporting our Mission Partners, we want to invest in gospel ministry, particularly in South East Asia and the Pacific. Ten percent of our giving is allocated to both overseas and domestic Mission Partners.
We also support partners here in Australia who work to further mission, and reach unreached people groups.
After serving with OMF Taiwan for 10 years, Linda McKerrell is now serving with OMF Australia (QLD/NT) as a Mobiliser and Missions Mentor. With the OMF team, she helps young people and churches better understand the need for cross cultural missionaries, the reality of life of the ground and how they might: Learn, Pray, Go, Send, Welcome and Mobilise.
Steve and Saeko Manders have served with OMF Japan since 2006. Steve serves as the Japan Field Ministry Coach in the training of missionaries as well as serving at Hiragishi Izumi Christ Church (Sapporo) in English outreach, men’s ministry and as part of the church’s music team. Although officially retired from ministry, Saeko currently holds the role of Administration Assistant to the Training Sector for OMF Japan.
John Rowse is serving a wide variety of churches in Tanzania and neighbouring countries, seeking to evangelize ‘evangelists’ in East Africa. These days, with the support of Australian believers, he tries to encourage the ministries of nationals, such as Moses Makanta in Zambia, who is currently doing weekly B
ible studies on national radio and the local Isoka community radio. This has proved particularly powerful.
John and Kay live in Geelong, Victoria. Now, their four children all live in Geelong—Rebecca, Philip, and Timothy, and Asha who lives with Mum and Dad.
James and Honoria Brennan serve with AFES working with international students at the the University of Queensland, developing relationships, providing support and introducing them to the Lord Jesus.
Their joy is seeing people, come to faith, grow and mature in their faith and serve God by witnessing to other students.
Danae works with the Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students (AFES), reading and teachinng the Bible to international students at the University of Tasmania.
Living Church partners with a number of school chaplains in our community. They provide a safe, positive influence for young people and help them to find better ways of dealing with a wide range of issues.
Kim and Ashley Hood have been providing training and support to local churches, education departments, community centers, and English ministries in Australia and overseas for the past 23 years. They bring joy and life to their TESOL training, empowering people and churches for English ministry. They are based in both Bangkok and Brisbane and share their time between the two centers encouraging and equipping locals in Asia and Australia to reach out to their communities through teacher training and English lessons focusing on connecting communication, culture and Christ.
Peter and Katharine Yock are currently serving with the Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students (AFES) at Griffith University in Brisbane, but are preparing to move to Armidale to serve with AFES at the University of New England from January 2025.
We are Paul and Deb Howells, servants of our Lord Jesus for 37 years in Mindanao, Philippines, where God has given us the blessing and privilege of serving Him amongst the Higaonon and Talaandig people groups in remote villages. We had the huge joy of planting a church in the village of Cauyunan in 1991, and since then over 72 churches have been planted and there are thousands of believers in our Lord Jesus spread over 7 different regions. We completed the translation, printing and distribution of the Talaandig New Testament in 2020, and the Higaonon New Testament is now in its final stages. The focus God has given us for the past 4 years and ongoing, is producing Bible teaching videos and commentaries of God’s Story – Creation to Salvation, the Book of Acts and the Book of Revelation – in three languages. We love being available to help and encourage our ministry teams, our missionary teams and the church leaders, and as we look back at all that God has done as He has taken us on this journey, we are awe-struck. He has done amazingly, exceedingly beyond anything we could have imagined! For His GLORY!!
Maa’afu works as a bible translation consultant for United Bible Societies, overseeing a number of projects in the pacific including the Tongan Bible Project.
Ma’afu also pastors the Tongan Evangelical Wesleyan Church to reach out to Tongans and Islander people groups with the gospel.
If you would like to hear more about Ryan and Mel’s ministry, please reach out to the Living Church office or the Partnership Committee.
Jonathan and Rebecca together with their three children are serving in East Asia, with a heart to see the unreached hear the Good News. They are currently language students and hope to use their professions to serve in the future.