Most are already on the field as Missions Assistants, but as soon as their support is raised they will be become fully-appointed Missionaries.
June 2008
Paul - Laos
Paul has a passion for the great commission and unreached peoples. He has already been working in Laos for the last two years, and was instrumental in setting up a small branch school near the National University, which continues to provide a base for evangelical witness to students. He has housed home groups and has worked in programs reaching local and homeless children. On his return to Laos he will continue working with an Anglican relief agency, with part of his strategy to open a school in the south of Laos.
Support Needed $640 per month
John and Jenny – AAO Carnarvon
John and Jenny have been part of the ministry teams in Shepparton AOG for over 20 years. God has now put a desire in their hearts to see the gospel go out to the Indigenous people of Australia in a culturally-relevant way. They have spent a year on the ministry team of the Aboriginal church in Shepparton, and 14 months in Halls Creek doing training with AAO (Australian Aboriginal Outreach, a section of AOG World Missions). They intend to plant a culturally relevant Indigenous church in Carnarvon, WA. They want to see lost souls saved and Indigenous people having a lasting relationship with Jesus. They also want to raise up indigenous leaders. They have 2 boys, Daniel (12) and Matthew (11).
Support Needed $1,671 per month
Warren and Sheena – AAO Fitzroy Crossing
Both Warren and Sheena grew up in Christian homes and have been involved in many areas of church life, including administration, preaching, ministry, song leading and practical work. Warren first felt called to aboriginal people at the age of 19 when he spent a year in Burketown. Shortly after their marriage the Luscombes went to Borroloola for two years to assist Ps Rod Westbrook and for the next eight years were actively involved in churches in Ayr and Caboolture. Since the end of 1999 Warren and Sheena and their three children have been actively involved in the AAO movement throughout the Kimberley region and are presently pastoring the Fitzroy Crossing church.
Support Needed $498 per month
Phil and Nikki – Thailand
Phil and Nikki have spent 1 year in Thailand as Missions Assistants with ACC World Missions, together with their 3 children. They are planning to return there as long-term missionaries in August 2008, to continue working with Doug and Fiona. Phil helped 2 villages develop plans to grow crops to generate income and was involved in training men in the church. On his return, he will continue in agricultural work and expand it to help neighbouring countries. Nikki identified areas to develop in health education, worked with 2 different women’s groups and taught English at Kids Club. On her return, Nikki would like to use her nursing skills in AIDS orphanages. The children have also been involved in ministry and Phil and Nikki are committed to serving God and the people of Thailand as a family.
Support Needed $4,500 per month
John and Robyn – Lake Tyers, VIC
John and Robyn promote the Christ experience and lifestyle at Lake Tyers Trust, which is a large indigenous residential community in East Gippsland. They have been doing this for the past 3 years, and before that were ministering to Indigenous Australians in the Dandenong area. They are also helping Indigenous believers see the need for sharing their faith with other Indigenous Australians. They are currently Missions Assistants and are seeking to raise support to become long-term Missionaries.
Phil - Philippines
Phil has felt a call to missions for more than a decade and has prepared himself spiritually and academically toward that end. He joined a team from his home church for nine months, during which time they planted a church in Samar, Philippines, and felt God calling him to the Philippines long-term. Phil is now preparing to join a church planting team in Samar, with the initial goal of assisting in the planting of 10 vibrant churches. He will also be involved in developing ministry and humanitarian programs for target groups of people and initiate active evangelism programs.
Support Needed $1,921 per month
Rudy and Lara - Thailand
Rudy and Lara have made a lifetime commitment to serve the Lord in Thailand. They went to Thailand in March 2003 with Mercy International, having been sent by Northside Christian Church Brisbane, and initially linked up with AOG World Missions as associate missionaries. Towards the end of 2004 they joined the team of Erik and Mariaana Klar, our missionaries, and now share their vision for the work in Hang Dong, Chiang Mai. They work amongst adults with AIDS who are socially discriminated, and with the orphaned children whose parents have died due to AIDS. The majority of these children also have AIDS and are now living in much poverty with feeble grandparents. Rudy and Lara’s overall vision is to birth Spirit-led churches that are self-governing and self-funding through holistic and sustainable community empowerment strategies, and all their community work is based on Isaiah 58:6. They have two daughters, Esther and Zinah.
Support Needed $3,627 per month
Brett and Justine – AAO, Halls Creek
Brett and Justine are in their 6th year of ministry with the Australian Aboriginal Outreach in Halls Creek, Australia. Their vision is to see Halls Creek won for Jesus and to see those people grow in God to fulfil the Great Commission. They are training and equipping Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people for the ministry that God has called them to do, whether it be church planting, administration, support ministries, assistant pastoring, or leadership roles in Aboriginal churches throughout the towns and communities of Australia. Brett and Justine have three children: Brett Jnr, Kayla and Brittany.
Support Needed $3,956 per month