"YOU HAVE FREELY RECEIVED FROM HIM, AND HE CALLS YOU TO FREELY GIVE." - MATTHEW 10:8
We believe that as followers of Jesus we have all been called to live as missionaries (Matthew 28:18-20). For most, we will never be called to pick up and move overseas. However, we are all called to be witnesses of God's love and grace wherever He has planted us. We want you to see yourself as a missionary in your daily life and recognize what God has given you that He wants you to give to others.
Below are the stories of many of our StoneBridge family members who are doing just that. We hope you will be inspired in your own journey. Please reach out to find our how you can support them or to get involved.
Near
Acts 6
Acts 6 is a homeless outreach ministry started by StoneBridge Church member Richard Wannall. The mission of the Acts 6 ministry team has grown to aid the needy in our community through prayer, encouragement, generous giving, unselfish service, and compassionate outreach Mondays through Thursdays from 10 am-12 pm. To learn more about the serving on the Acts 6 team, contact Courtney Schreer at Acts6sb@gmail.com and listen to Richard's story on the Doing Your Deal Podcast here.
The Table on delk
The Table On Delk, led by Tina and Scott WIlliford, provides a safe place for those currently or at risk of being sexually exploited to have a meal and make meaningful connections with volunteers who desire to show them the Father’s love. By showing them His love through genuine interactions, telling them that their lives matter and that He has a plan and purpose for them, some of those served have taken steps toward healing and restoration. To learn more and to sign up to volunteer, visit www.thetableondelk.org and to hear more about Tina's story, listen to this Doing Your Deal Podcast episode.
Mission 1:27
Taking care of widows and orphans (modern day single parent families) in their time of need is a command of the Bible that Mission 1:27 takes seriously. With poverty and trauma at the root of many of the challenges these families face, Mission 1:27 works to provide resources to address those issues through programs like free after-school enrichment programs, teen programs that help youth navigate the difficult challenges they face while preparing them for adult life, single parent and Life Group programs to provide support for adults in their unique circumstances, counseling programs, tutoring, social and enrichment activities for senior adults, food co-op programs to help ease the strain on the family budget and more. If you feel led to help through financial contributions or through volunteering, visit www.mission127.ngo and listen to founder Angie Smith's story on the Doing Your Deal Podcast here.
Business-As-Missions in NC: The DJ family
Harrison and Taylor moved back to the US after spending 12 years in South Asia. They do Business-As-Mission and started and operated a textile business that trains, employs and empowers women in an unreached and impoverished area by providing a safe work environment and fair wages. They handed over all daily operations to local managers and leadership in South Asia and are proud to see their staff take the lead in both the business and ministry. They continue to be involved in the leadership of their business in India, remain active as Co-Serve consultants with TMS Global, coach and work alongside other businesses all over the world, and are active in the Lausanne Movement and other global mission networks.
Far
chosen vessels: bekah baxter
God revealed a revelation to Bekah Baxter about his direction for her life when she was a teenager on a short-term mission trip. Bekah was amazed to see that more than 5,600 miles from home, God was at work in amazing ways through his people. She began interacting with missionaries and asking them how she could help their work. From there, she created Chosen Vessels - a ministry that provides care for missionaries and assists them with special projects. Contact Bekah at chosen.vessels.inc@gmail.com and listen to her story on the Doing Your Deal Podcast here.
Romania: The Winkle Family
Jason, Felicia, and Maggie Li live in Romania and partner with Chosen Vessels to support missionaries and church leaders serving in ministry. After spending nearly 10 years working in a closed country training and mobilizing the underground church and the next 8 years ministering to refugees and childhood cancer families in Memphis, TN, they saw a lot of brokenness among those serving and felt the Lord calling them to provide care and support. By providing care, they want to see thriving workers reach the nations! Connect with the Winkles at jasonandfeliciawinkle@gmail.com and give at https://tnpartners.churchcenter.com/giving/to/romania-jason-felicia
Australia: Geoff and Sherry Maddock
Geoff and Sherry mark 25 years of marriage and service together across the world. Sherry grew up in Marietta, Georgia, while Geoff was born and raised in Victoria, Australia. They met as students at Asbury Theological Seminary. After years of place-based ministry in Lexington, Kentucky, including refugee resettlement and urban farming, they moved to Melbourne, Australia in 2016. Geoff currently works as a missiologist for an intercultural mission agency, serving as one of the state directors. In this role, he teaches, writes, organizes group training, and travels both domestically and internationally. Sherry is a graduate student pursuing a doctorate in professional practice in placemaking. Her experience in Australia involves neighborhood engagement, horticulture, and care for refugees and those seeking asylum. Together, they founded a project of generosity with Common Change - The Dino Project, which aims to build relationships, cross boundaries, and assist with access to education. Contact the Maddocks at placedpeople@gmail.com
Catalyst for the World: Michael Mozley
Catalyst for Africa began in 2013 and Michael and Pam Mozley are now leading Catalyst for the World. For the past 11 years the ministry was focused on raising up and equipping African leaders. Now Michael and Pam believe God is calling them to go Global. CFTW has a three fold vision of ministry- to disciple and mentor leaders, empower leaders to focus on education in their communities to allow them to break the cycle of poverty in their areas of influence. and cast a vision of transforming their communities through wholistic development. We believe God is calling us to obey the great commandment of making disciples of all nations and also creating a holistic model of caring for every need of every person. For more information or to receive Catalyst for the World's newsletter go to catalystforafrica.org or contact mmozley@catalystforafrica.org.
Tanzania: Susan Kelly
Susan serves with e3 Partners in Tanzania as the Strategy Coordinator in the Tanga and Pwani regions, home to over 2.1 million unreached people that don’t know Jesus. Using simple, biblically based methods, she and her team of national partners build relationships in unreached communities that are closed or resistant to the Gospel. By equipping a few local believers how to tangibly love their neighbors, barriers to the Gospel are broken down, allowing for integration of locally led evangelism, obedient based discipleship and actions to improve community well-being and social issues by using readily available community resources. Their goal is to see these unreached people groups reached with the Word of God and healthy bodies of Christ (the Church) established among them and communities transformed. Contact Susan at susan.kelly@e3partners.org for more information. Giving: https://www.purecharity.com/checkout/45301
Germany: Ben and Cristina Hartman
The Hartman Family serve with Greater Europe Mission (GEM) and have been living and serving in Kandern, Germany since July 2018. Kandern is in southwest Germany and their ministry is with both Germans and Muslims. Ben has a passion for sharing Christ in the workplace with like-minded co-workers in Switzerland which historically has been harder to get missionaries into and the cost of living is very high. Cristina works primarily with refugee woman and children through one-on-one visits and in a cafe setting using Biblical storytelling. They also live in community with German friends and neighbors sharing God's truth with them. Connect with the Hartmans at cristina.hartman@gemission.org.
Montenegro: Cory and Jessie German
Cory and Jessie German and their three kids, Josie, Caleb, and Amelia, have been overseas since 2016 serving with Cru and are currently serving in the Eastern European country of Montenegro. For many years now, Cory has known his deal is to help others do their deal. With Cru, one of the biggest ways he has been able to do that is by handling the operations and finances for the ministry. In addition to that, he coaches soccer, runs the local food bank, and meets with university students to engage in spiritual conversations. Jessie's deal is to build and encourage others (especially women). To pursue this, she is leading a women's Bible study with professionals in the area, as well as leading a student Bible study. She also helps teach English to local high schoolers and offers mentoring for them. Most of the Montenegrins have grown up as part of the Orthodox church but, unfortunately, few have actually ever read the Bible or even know who Jesus is. There is a great need here for the Truth to be heard! Contact the Germans at cory.german@cru.org for more information.
Asia Minor: Justin and Elizabeth
Justin and Elizabeth left for the field in 2007 with the idea that a long hard work lay ahead of them. They learned language and culture in a large city and then continued to follow His call to an unreached area further east. For most of their friends and neighbors they are the first foreigners that they’ve ever met, let alone Jesus followers. Justin and Elizabeth seek to remove as many barriers to the Gospel as possible by living and working in a contextual way. They lead a small team that includes one other family. Together, the team runs a coffee roastery and cafe. Running a local business gives the team access to loads of folks at different levels- from the guys at the tax office to employees to customers. They also are very active in community groups, sports clubs, local schools, and basically wherever people are Justin and Elizabeth join them! Hearts are very hard in this region and the team is committed to tilling the hard soil through prayer, love, and lots and lots of time spent sharing seeds of truth over a nice fresh cup of coffee.
Asia Minor: Josh and Mandy
Josh and Mandy have been serving in Asia minor since 2013. After leaving the US as a newly married couple, they are now a family of five. From the beginning, their ministry has been focused on church planting and serving in the local church. What started as a tiny meeting of one or two people has grown over the years into a community of people who love Jesus. They ultimately feel that they have been called to a discipleship ministry in the likes of John the Baptist and their heart has been to see local leaders increase as they decrease. They can be reached at harvharb@gmail.com.
Give at https://tnpartners.churchcenter.com/giving
Peru: Arthur and Mary Alice Ivey
Arthur and Mary Alice have been working in Peru with TMS Global since 2001. Arthur has a strong call to disciple youth and adults in small groups and to train the Peruvians to do the same for others. Mary Alice has a call to minister to children through Kid’s Clubs, to evangelize, and to see people set free through prayer. They also work with teams from the states that do evangelism, discipleship, leadership training, Christian business training, and medical missions in different places in Peru. Their heart’s desire is to see people set free in Christ so that they can do the same for others. Currently the Peruvians are taking responsibility to do most of the ministry activities and take over the administration of the ministry in Peru. Arthur and Mary Alice work closely with them to encourage them in this endeavor. You can contact the Iveys at acivey@iveymission.org.
Peru: Josh and Rocio Ivey
Josh and Rocio Ivey have been working in Peru with Partners since February of 2024. They are focusing on relationships, evangelism, and discipleship. They hope to start Kids Clubs and teach ESL classes.They have the desire to work in Peru with broken families, and show them how Jesus brings healing, love, strength, and unity to both children and parents.They also have a heart for the youth in Peru, which is one of the biggest percentages of the population. To connect with them reach out to ivey0201@gmail.com and look at their website: iveyperuparterns.com for more information.
Arabian peninsula: The M family
The M family have been serving in the Arabian Peninsula since 2017, working to see God's word known among the people there. S is in the medical field and J works at home with their four young children. As there is no church to speak of in this region, most of their time is spent sowing seeds, praying, learning Arabic, and building relationships with locals. Contact them for more information at polarbears@jetemail.net.
southeast asia: The F family
T and LA have been living overseas as missionaries and church planters since 2008. They moved back to the US in 2023 to be closer to family and to launch a new season of ministry in multiple countries of Southeast Asia. They will make extended trips to that part of the world, training and working with local indigenous believers as well as church planting networks with the intent of reaching new peoples who have never heard the good news of Jesus. To learn more about their missions, contact caleb150@proton.me.
Connect Missions: Adam and Michelle
Adam and Michelle serve with their three children in New Orleans, LA where they seek to connect people to Christ, His Church, and His mission. They respond to God’s calling on their lives to connect with unreached peoples by welcoming refugees and international students, conducting training through short courses, and inviting churches to visit New Orleans through short-term trips. Listen NOLA is a short-term ministry experience where participants learn about the city, engage in ministry by listening, and connect with others through stories, food, and faith. This opportunity will empower people to listen to the needs of the world as they are represented in New Orleans.To join Adam and Michelle in ministry, you can reach them at ConnectMissions@gmail.com. Additionally, sign up for their monthly prayer newsletters here or give to their ministry here.They look forward to partnering in ministry with you.
Cole and Abbie: Middle East
Cole and Abbie believe their "deal" is to be committed to the thriving of other Kingdom workers by being people of support, encouragement, and intercession. In this season, that is alongside a team that's doing business as mission in the Middle East. As they join this team, they are committed to learning the language and culture, praying over the city, time with their team and making space for God to reveal opportunities for Kingdom impact for them to walk in. Cole and Abbie are eager to co-labor with Christ and this team in the work of tilling the soil and sowing seeds in this region.