R & T

Serving in North Africa

R&T have served in Africa for the past 26 years – first in the Horn of Africa (20 yrs.) and then in N. Africa (6 yrs.). They have 6 kids who now are either in university or working. They have served in a variety of capacities – as teachers, team leaders, business managers, etc… all with the ultimate aim of seeing churches planted among the unreached in “creative access” nations. They have a passion to see Jesus known and worshipped in these places. They strive to both make Him known and equip others (the next generation of global workers) to do the same.

J & G

Serving in South Asia

J & G and their two daughters lived in South Asia for over eleven years on a team church-planting amongst a large unreached people group.  Currently they serve in a support role for team leaders and their teams in South Asia; J as a media ministry facilitator; and G as a prayer facilitator for a large unreached people group.

Bruce & Cindy Maurer

Serving with The Jesus Film, a sister ministry of Family Life (Cru)

Bruce and Cindy have served in various roles with FamilyLife headquarters for 24 years since being sent from East White Oak in 2002.  Bruce recently transitioned from one of FamilyLife’s event teams to a Data Analyst role with The Jesus Film, a sister ministry of FamilyLife that is also under the larger umbrella of Cru. Cindy, who most recently served as a transcriptionist for FamilyLife Today radio broadcasts, is heavily involved as a volunteer with a local Community Bible Study leadership team and a crisis pregnancy center, while in a season of determining where she will serve vocationally within Cru. They have five children ranging in age from 19 to 29.

John & Pat Sharp

Serving with Ethnos 360

John and Pat Sharp have dedicated the majority of their lives to missionary service with Ethnos360, in Northern Brazil, working primarily in vital support roles. Their ministry has spanned jungle survey work to locate unreached tribal groups for new missionaries, teaching and working at the missionary school, and recruiting new workers to the field. Today, John and Pat reside at a missionary retirement community, where they continue to actively serve by filling urgent needs. Their current ministry includes working as receptionists, maintaining lawns, visiting shut-ins, and evangelizing the local community while also investing in the lives of their adult children and grandchildren.

Jim & Susan Simmons

Serving with AIM

Jim & Susan serve as missionaries with Africa Inland Missions in Tanzania.  They lived in Towanda, IL and attended East White Oak for many years before leaving for language school in the summer of 2021. Jim is on the teaching staff at Nassa Theological College in Tanzania where he teaches classes including the Pentateuch, New Testament Survey, and Anthropology & Hamartiology.

Josh & Katie Yates

Serving with Josiah Venture

Josh and Katie serve with the Josiah Venture USA team, equipping young leaders to fulfill Christ’s commission through the local church. Through the Leadership Lab, they invest deeply in training, coaching, and mentoring ministry leaders across North America. For 15 years, Josh and Katie have equipped youth workers in disciple-making rooted in the life of Christ, drawing from 30 years of experience serving as youth workers themselves.

Katie also serves as the Admin and Operations Director for Concentric Global, Josiah Venture’s global alliance. Josh and Katie live in Portland, Oregon, with their two children, Foster (19) and Jorie (16). They are passionate about investing their lives in the next generation and helping leaders thrive as they follow Jesus and lead others.

Rylie

Attending Moody Bible Institute

Rylie has attended East White Oak her whole life where she learned the importance of missions and the need for the gospel among all peoples. She has participated in several short-term trips at East White Oak, including Cedine Bible Camp and Tanzania. Most recently, she went to Mongolia and North Africa with Pioneers, where she experienced ministry among an unreached people group. Her desire is long-term, cross-cultural missions. She is currently studying TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) at Moody Bible Institute. She is excited to share the passion that the Lord has given her for missions and her love for the unreached!