Jean coaches worldwide church leaders in Asia, Africa and the U.S.A. on how to conceptualize, plant, cultivate and multiply churches and ministries that are indigenous in nature. She makes sure to do this in ways that are culturally relevant, self-functioning, self-determining, self-supporting, self-propagating and self-giving, and that promote a healthy self-image and a healthy community-image.
A few days after her graduation from North Central Bible College in 1986, Jean began the journey of planting a church among Cambodians in St. Paul, Minnesota. Because of her training in cross-cultural communications, her first strategic action step was to move into a Cambodian community and “do life” with them. For 6 years, Jean lived among the Cambodians. Their family struggles became her family struggles, their weeping became her weeping, their celebrations became her celebrations, and their laughter became her laughter. After those 6 years, she then headed to Cambodia to serve as a missionary, where she spent another 16 years among the beautiful Cambodian people.
Jean was called to be a missionary during her High School years in St. Paul, Minnesota, through her exposure to and friendships with Cambodian, Hmong, and Vietnamese refugees.
Patrick and Kalyna live in Moldova where they currently minister to victims of human trafficking at a Freedom Home (safe house).
After working with college students and young adults for over 10 years, it has become apparent to us that the college campus is the most strategic mission field. The next world leaders and influencers are attending our universities and it is our mission to share the Gospel of Jesus with them!
Cape Town, with a population is 4.5 million people, is known across the continent as the Mother City and is one of the most influential cities on the continent of Africa. With the average age being 29 years old, there is great potential to reaching many university students, young professionals, and families. Nestled behind Table Mountain is the University of Cape Town which is the premier university in all of Africa. Our goal is to launch a thriving Chi Alpha ministry in this influential university of almost 30,000 students. Cape Town is also the Parliamentary capital of South Africa and boasts other major industries like manufacturing, tourism, oil and gas, agriculture, marketing and media in addition to Information Technology an
25,000 Japanese commit suicide every year. Yet in spite of this God is moving among young people. In Vietnam, Cambodia, and Myanmar their is a strong church planting movement evolving. Our time there will be to equip and empower church planters with a means to develop sustainable income.
Joanne Oftedahl teaches and serves as Student Missions Advisor at Immanuel Bible College, Cebu Philippines. She preaches, teaches, and helps provide resources for evangelism and discipleship in local churches of Cebu and neighboring Islands.
Randy and Linda are missionaries to Mexico where they have a ministry for deaf children.
Students of all nations, backgrounds, religions, and more. People from all over the nation and all over the world come to NDSU. They have a high population of nonbelievers, Muslims, and more.
Mark and Anjali are located in Swaziland, a small, landlocked country within South Africa and bordered by Mozambique.
Global Initiative has done trainings in over 91 countries. We work with National Church Leaders, Bible schools, and local pastors. We teach undergrad and graduate level classes as well as do many Lay minister and church seminars and conferences. Recently we have been creating resources and curriculums that we are (and have) been translating into multiple languages and posting for free online. Many of these resources can be found at our “connect link” above. We have a BIG DREAM that we are working on now. It is to create a secure app we’re christian around the world can download and receive training on reaching Muslims for free. **again on another note :-) when we are in Springfield, we help organize and participate In and English conversation club put on for the Saudi families here in town. Through this club we have built friendship with the Saudis that are here in the states for one year. We have them to our house for dinner, go to theirs and go on outings together. Each holiday season we host a large Thanksgiving dinner and facilitate multiple Christmas parties and events. These times give us many opportunities to share the truth of Jesus.
El Salvador is in the aftermath of a 12 year civil war so Gang Violence, Drug Cartel, Immigration and Poverty have pillaged the Salvadoran Family. We are working to Transform El Salvador one family at at time.
Ryan and Andrea Crozier minister in Bucharest, Romania where they work to prevent human trafficking and sexual exploitation.