Brent and Michelle’s story is one of God’s redeeming love and beauty from ashes. Both grew up among the trees in different states and were raised with a strong value for working hard. Neither grew up in Christian homes but came to Christ in college. Their lives intersected “in the fullness of time” in 2018 when their paths crossed at church. Before then, their backstories unfolded on very different journeys.

In 2008, after a career as a teacher and children’s pastor, Michelle and her late husband Chris (a designer and dressmaker by trade) were appointed as missionaries with Africa Inland Mission. After living in San Diego since college in the early 80’s, they left for Lesotho in July of 2011 with their six children. At the time, they ranged in age from 8 to 18. Chris’s role as a sewing teacher at a vocational skills training center was the open door to live out the Gospel in the tiny, rural village. Michelle’s primary role was homeschooling the four youngest children and learning the Sesotho language and culture. Shortly after reaching Level 2 in their language learning, in January of 2013, Chris began experiencing flu-like symptoms and was later hospitalized and diagnosed with encephalitis. He passed away from a sudden illness in South Africa on February 16, 2013.

By God’s grace and provision, after a short Compassionate Leave – and LOTS of therapy! – Michelle was cleared to work at Rift Valley Academy as the 12th grade English teacher. In 2015, after two years in that role, she was asked to move back to the States to serve as AIM’s Southwest Mission Mobilizer. That role brought her and her kids back to San Diego and allowed her to see God’s hand in each of her seasons of service. As a widowed mom to six, she juggled parenting, ministry, and a busy speaking schedule. Her memoir, Worst Case Scenario, Finding Overwhelming Rescue in the Promises of God, recounts the details of her story and was published in 2023.

Brent didn’t know what he wanted to do when he grew up until the movie Top Gun arrived in theaters. That propelled him into a 23-year career of flying in the Navy, living on an aircraft carrier, and traveling all over the world. He met his first wife in San Diego, CA, while he was finishing flight training. Unfortunately, their marriage was painful for both and was wrought with numerous emotional challenges. Despite their difficulties, they were able to live overseas in the Middle East for four years, travel extensively, and raise two wonderful sons. After many attempts to save their marriage, it ended in a painful divorce. Yet, God had a plan for redemption.

When the Lord brought Brent and Michelle together, Brent’s gifts of helps and administration as well as his desire to “do something for the Kingdom” began to come to the forefront. After they were married on June 15, 2019, they blended their families. When Brent began walking with Michelle and her children more closely, he was able to witness the fall-out of their trauma and grief as it manifested itself in profound ways. It was at a counseling intensive in Colorado, while they were seeking help for Michelle’s burn-out, where Brent received a powerful confirmation from God that he was to join Michelle in her vision to minister to hurting global workers just like her and her family. It has been clear all along that God was compelling them to do that through rest, recreation, and intensive counseling.

Brent says he’s now able to see his own life and ministry through the lens of a different battle, one of spiritual warfare rather than the military strategy he was trained in. He sees that we are all engaged in fierce spiritual conflict, which comes with losses. So many are wounded and need help to continue in their ordained work.

Both Brent and Michelle know they have been comforted so that they may provide that same comfort to others. They joined Paraclete to develop a restorative retreat for global workers and ministry leaders to “come away with Christ” and be restored to wholeness and their full potential for the glory of God. Their prayer is that God will bring beauty from the ashes of their woundedness through the healing of the Body of Christ and the spread of the Gospel.