Following a career in management and involvement in lay ministry, we retired early and committed ourselves to bringing reprieve (relief) through physical visits to full-time global workers.  We travel to their work location and life together with them to encourage and empower them to continue their work with the ministry of presence.

Both of us grew up as “Third Culture Kids” and have siblings, children and other family members who are global worker.  Missions have been an integral part of our life. Our involvement with global workers has included prayer, marriage enrichment, debriefing, financial, spiritual and emotional support.  This includes opening our home for short and extended stays, providing vehicles during home leave and taking trips ourselves to come alongside the workers with the ministry of presence.

The desire to continue to minister during retirement was clearly revealed through a visit alongside a couple/family in 2017 and has been confirmed many times since then. Following one trip we were told “Having people who understand the struggles we face living in a third world country and in a different culture encouraged us greatly. Being able to share our hearts and to be encouraged by folks who know what we are going through. Truly a blessing.”

We both graduated from Moody Bible Institute (MBI) and Roger received his engineering degree from Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT).   During Roger’s management career, we had many opportunities to minister in the local church and mentor those preparing for ministry.  Jan ministered to women in the areas of spiritual growth, parenting, and marriage. We also each served in our church in various ways such as small group leaders, marriage enrichment, interim pastor, elder, worship leader, preaching, managing building programs and mission trip leader.  Together we developed a marriage enrichment program in our home church.  We are also involved with Thrive Ministries, Jan as a volunteer and in the past Roger on the Board of Directors.

Our ministry focus’ on trips to come alongside those in ministry, primarily in remote areas, with the goal to encourage in every facet of their lives. These could include assisting in their ministry, team building, debriefing, performing menial tasks every day life might overlooks, helping process everyday life and providing mentoring (personal and marriage) as needed. The gifts and skills God has equipped us with include:

• Spiritual, physical and emotional encouragement
• Pre-mobilization processing
• Marriage enrichment
• Praying together
• Debriefing
• Marriage retreats
• Team Building (team or couples)
• Mentoring
• Transition planning and mentoring
• Business plan reviews
• Business training session
• Assist with tasks around home

Each of these  areas often affect ministry and, with encouragement, the workers ministry can continue more effectively.