missions & outreach

Since November 2020, Mark has been serving in a new role as director of personnel for SIM USA. 
In the continuum of sending missionaries, Mark and his team oversee three related but distinct experiences: launching, traveling alongside and relaunching. From building a solid foundation for years of service, to caring well for our members in the hard places of the world, to receiving them back with welcoming arms, each component is critical to ensuring the long-term health of our most precious resource: our members.

Jeff and Chelsea Lampen have been called to co-pastor RELISH, the Reformed English Language International Service of Hannover, Germany—a community of English-speaking international students and ex-pat individuals and families. In a time of global possibilities, God still works through personal connections and authentic community—which the Lampens will carry into their pastoral roles. Jeff and Chelsea will also partner with the World Communion of Reformed Churches to support the ministry of unity and interdenominational collaboration within the Caribbean and North American Area Council (CANAAC) region.

John serves as a professor and consultant for the Christian-Muslim relations program at the seminary. Originally started by RCA missionary Peter Ford, John is helping revitalize and restructure this critical leadership development program to equip pastors, evangelists, and church planters for a sensitive, Christ-centered witness among and dialogue with their non-Christian neighbors.

GCM provides Bible camps, sports, art, and gymnastic camps and programs for local youth in Jackson County, Kentucky. GCM executive director Tommy Miracle uses these opportunities to share Jesus with the people in the greater Jackson County area. GCM’s goal is to be the hands and feet of Jesus in the community. GCM also meets the needs of the residents through two local thrift stores, a home-repair volunteer work program, a short-term homeless shelter, a school, a treatment center for at-risk boys and a treatment center for men with substance addictions.

In partnership with the New Horizons Foundation, Felipe and Janelle work with Roma youth in the Jiu Valley to build trust, character and courage through rock climbing. In a town where poverty forces many parents to move away for work, this ministry provides youth in the neighborhood of Dallas, Romania, an environment where they can experience safety and respect, develop life skills, pursue education and come to know the love of Christ. Felipe and Janelle have also planted Anchor Church in Dallas, Romania.

Blaine Newhouse serves as the senior pastor of the ELC (Evangelism and Church Planting) of the National Evangelical Church of the Kingdom of Bahrain, a church planted by the RCA in 1893. His wife Kathleen teaches at Al Raja School. They have the unique opportunity to be the very presence of Christ in a part of the world where Christianity is often misunderstood.

Students and faculty cluster in conversation after the morning’s energetic chapel service. Their tea comes from the fields surrounding St. Paul’s University in the misty, cool town of Limuru, Kenya, a short drive up into the hills northwest of Nairobi. Soon, students and professors alike will bustle along to class where they strive to be “servants of God and humanity,” as the university’s motto says. Rowland and Jane Van Es spend their days instructing young adults in theology, business and social sciences, seeking to equip their students for lives of service in the world. Some may go into vocational ministry while others may start businesses, pursue higher degrees in counseling, or teach like the Van Eses do. Rowland and Jane’s goal is to mentor them to walk in the steps of Christ, whatever their path.

Barry and Terryl have had many struggles under the weight of crime, domestic violence, addiction, homelessness and poverty. Their mission is to demonstrate the love of Christ through their full-time resource center, mission church and community outreach programs that reach out physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually to the whole person. That is what The Way Out Ministries focuses on. Please continue to pray for this ministry.

Tom Johnson, after serving many years as a missionary in Niger, is now serving as the Director of Equipping Christian Leaders Among French-Speaking People Groups in partnership with the Coram Deo Association of Churches. Tom, while living with his family in Pella, is assisting in training and credentialing Christian leaders and lay pastors to French-speaking people groups in the US and Canada, with a long-term vision for equipping Francophone Christian leaders anywhere.

In partnership with United Bible Societies, Brian serves as the training coordinator for Bible translation work. He trains translators, consultants, and others how to use special software that is designed specifically for Bible translation. With 500+ active projects around the world and over one billion people lacking access to a complete Bible in their heart language, God has called him to a big task.

Relocating from rural to urban areas leaves many young people vulnerable to exploitation, but La Casa del Maestro strives to combat that with discipleship. The organization, led with Albino and Sandy, prepares indigenous youth in Cusco to face the challenges of modern city life by empowering them with vocational training, equipping them with biblical truth and helping them discern their calling in the world.