Craig Hamer - Estonia
The Hamers have been serving in Tartu, Estonia since 2002. They have been involved in youth work, church renewal, camp ministry, music ministry and church planting. Currently, they are helping to equip church planters throughout Europe with M4, a European-based church planting platform that helps different nations ignite a church planting movement in their respective countries. Craig is also coaching and administering M4 in Estonia by training church planters and their teams as well as doing leadership development. Craig is now the pastor of Tartu International Fellowship, an English language local church, reaching Estonians as well as the growing international community.
The Hamers have been serving in Tartu, Estonia since 2002. They have been involved in youth work, church renewal, camp ministry, music ministry and church planting. Currently, they are helping to equip church planters throughout Europe with M4, a European-based church planting platform that helps different nations ignite a church planting movement in their respective countries. Craig is also coaching and administering M4 in Estonia by training church planters and their teams as well as doing leadership development. Craig is now the pastor of Tartu International Fellowship, an English language local church, reaching Estonians as well as the growing international community.
John & Amy Drage - Columbia, Missouri
In June of 1990, John and Amy Drage began Staff Training at Great Commission Ministries with little idea of how God would use them. They moved to Columbia, Missouri to help a dying campus ministry at MU Campus and have been reaching college students at Mizzou for 25 years! The majority of the students they influence would not come to church unless a special kind of church existed to reach them.
John was ordained as a Pastor in April of 1998. The Rock Church was officially planted in January 2001 with a staff of 5. 120 students are now attending. As of today, there have been 3 church plants along with 12 missionaries sent and supported.
Their first overseas mission trip was to Honduras in the spring of 2001. They are partnered with Choluteca church and assist in serving the poor and sharing the gospel.
In addition to speaking, pastoring, mentoring students, planting churches and visiting missionaries, John is busy training the next generation of leaders.
John and Amy have raised 4 children: Joshua, Jessie, Caleb and Thane.
In June of 1990, John and Amy Drage began Staff Training at Great Commission Ministries with little idea of how God would use them. They moved to Columbia, Missouri to help a dying campus ministry at MU Campus and have been reaching college students at Mizzou for 25 years! The majority of the students they influence would not come to church unless a special kind of church existed to reach them.
John was ordained as a Pastor in April of 1998. The Rock Church was officially planted in January 2001 with a staff of 5. 120 students are now attending. As of today, there have been 3 church plants along with 12 missionaries sent and supported.
Their first overseas mission trip was to Honduras in the spring of 2001. They are partnered with Choluteca church and assist in serving the poor and sharing the gospel.
In addition to speaking, pastoring, mentoring students, planting churches and visiting missionaries, John is busy training the next generation of leaders.
John and Amy have raised 4 children: Joshua, Jessie, Caleb and Thane.
Darl & Jill Powell - Senegal, West Africa
Darl and Jill were both raised in southern Ohio and attended vocational schools. Darl schooling was for construction and Jill became a certified architectural draftsperson. They met in high school and the rest is history. Both of them accepted Christ in their late 20s. They have three children, Ericka, Ashlie and Travis.
Challenged by a missionary speak, Darl and Jill made plans to be involved in mission work. It took them two years of praying and preparing before the Lord graciously allowed them to utilize their skills while experiencing a wonderful short term ministry in Cote d’Ivoire in 1993. Over the past 22 years, they have been designing, constructing, maintaining and remodeling 20 churches, a dorm, security wall and a school building.
They still minister in West Africa but now in a country called Senegal where 95% are Muslim, 3% hold to the indigenous beliefs and 2% Christians.
They are excited to begin a partnership with EMA, an organization started by Christian engineers. They will still be serving in Senegal. This opportunity will allow them to focus more on their gifts of evangelism, discipleship and construction as they help to design a world of hope for the physically and spiritually poor.
Darl and Jill were both raised in southern Ohio and attended vocational schools. Darl schooling was for construction and Jill became a certified architectural draftsperson. They met in high school and the rest is history. Both of them accepted Christ in their late 20s. They have three children, Ericka, Ashlie and Travis.
Challenged by a missionary speak, Darl and Jill made plans to be involved in mission work. It took them two years of praying and preparing before the Lord graciously allowed them to utilize their skills while experiencing a wonderful short term ministry in Cote d’Ivoire in 1993. Over the past 22 years, they have been designing, constructing, maintaining and remodeling 20 churches, a dorm, security wall and a school building.
They still minister in West Africa but now in a country called Senegal where 95% are Muslim, 3% hold to the indigenous beliefs and 2% Christians.
They are excited to begin a partnership with EMA, an organization started by Christian engineers. They will still be serving in Senegal. This opportunity will allow them to focus more on their gifts of evangelism, discipleship and construction as they help to design a world of hope for the physically and spiritually poor.
Erick & Yoamy Sanchez - Central Honduras
Erick graduated from seminary with the degree of Professor of Theology and received the call to work among the Lenca Indians, a largely unreached group in Central Honduras. He was appointed by Mission Door in April 2004. He now serves as the Mission’s coordinator of the work among the Lenca, focusing on evangelism, discipleship and church planting.
Erick directs and teaches in the leadership training program, which prepares local leaders for church planting in Lenca villages. He also oversees the new association of churches.
He and Yoamy are burdened to reach mountain villages that have been untouched by the Gospel.
Erick met Yoamy in La Esperanza while she was serving as the director of a Christian elementary school. Erick and Yoamy were married in August 2006 and in 2006 Yoamy left the school to give herself full time to ministry with Erick. They have two children, Ruth Yoamy and Erick David.
Erick graduated from seminary with the degree of Professor of Theology and received the call to work among the Lenca Indians, a largely unreached group in Central Honduras. He was appointed by Mission Door in April 2004. He now serves as the Mission’s coordinator of the work among the Lenca, focusing on evangelism, discipleship and church planting.
Erick directs and teaches in the leadership training program, which prepares local leaders for church planting in Lenca villages. He also oversees the new association of churches.
He and Yoamy are burdened to reach mountain villages that have been untouched by the Gospel.
Erick met Yoamy in La Esperanza while she was serving as the director of a Christian elementary school. Erick and Yoamy were married in August 2006 and in 2006 Yoamy left the school to give herself full time to ministry with Erick. They have two children, Ruth Yoamy and Erick David.
Samuel Johnson - India
How did we come to support Samuel Johnson from India? It started with his aunt, Susan Mathew. Crossroads Church had a long standing relationship with this very dear Christian lady—at one time it was 40 years. She was educated at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, but faithfully served in Southeast, India. She was called the Mother Teresa of India because she was known so widely for her immense help to so many.
Susan was an evangelical bible-believing Christian who served the Lord her whole life without marrying. She was totally devoted to the Lord. She died a few years ago. Her nephew, Samuel, had long been active serving Christ alongside her. He was the natural recipient of our missionary dollars upon her death.
Pastor Mike personally visited with Susan, Samuel, and his family in 1999. His visit in India was unforgettable. He was greatly encouraged, even a bit convicted, of how faithful and hard-pressed Samuel is. Samuel pastors four churches, conducts crusades, teaches, and oversees numerous baptized converts to Christ. He is one of the hardest working Christian servants Pastor Mike has had the privilege of knowing.
Our church supports his family and ministry. Our church has given several thousand dollars extra because of the run-down condition of his house. His roof was caving in and desperately needed repair.
Samuel is still faithful sending letters and keeping us updated about his ministry. You will never meet him this side of heaven, but you share in his eternal reward because of your faithful generosity.
How did we come to support Samuel Johnson from India? It started with his aunt, Susan Mathew. Crossroads Church had a long standing relationship with this very dear Christian lady—at one time it was 40 years. She was educated at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, but faithfully served in Southeast, India. She was called the Mother Teresa of India because she was known so widely for her immense help to so many.
Susan was an evangelical bible-believing Christian who served the Lord her whole life without marrying. She was totally devoted to the Lord. She died a few years ago. Her nephew, Samuel, had long been active serving Christ alongside her. He was the natural recipient of our missionary dollars upon her death.
Pastor Mike personally visited with Susan, Samuel, and his family in 1999. His visit in India was unforgettable. He was greatly encouraged, even a bit convicted, of how faithful and hard-pressed Samuel is. Samuel pastors four churches, conducts crusades, teaches, and oversees numerous baptized converts to Christ. He is one of the hardest working Christian servants Pastor Mike has had the privilege of knowing.
Our church supports his family and ministry. Our church has given several thousand dollars extra because of the run-down condition of his house. His roof was caving in and desperately needed repair.
Samuel is still faithful sending letters and keeping us updated about his ministry. You will never meet him this side of heaven, but you share in his eternal reward because of your faithful generosity.