Over 3000 Chinese international students come to our city each year to study at the University of Minnesota. These students are leaders and influencers and 80% of them will eventually return to China and take their international experience back to the places they live and work. It is estimated that 70% of international students across the U.S. never step foot inside of an American home even though they would love to have the chance. We feel that this is a huge missed opportunity. Our goal is to journey together with Chinese international students in the few years they are here to see lives transformed and subsequently, a nation influenced by the power of God.
Family
Elissa Kuert - Wife
Gili Kuert - Daughter
More Missionaries
Ian Hall
United States
Ian Hall
United States
Ian and Sheila equip Romanian churches in Europe. They teach evangelism, and minister to the needs of Romanian nationals on many levels of care and outreach.
Dan Blair
Slovenia
Dan Blair
Slovenia
Slovenia is a country of 2 million people with a proud heritage and rich traditions, however it is a country that struggles deeply with alcoholism and depression. It has deep roots in Roman Catholicism, however the majority of the population has no personal relationship with Jesus. Currently there are 13 pentecostal churches and with about 1,000 evangelicals in the entire country.
Chris Hales
United Kingdom
Chris Hales
United Kingdom
England is the 4th most secular nation in the world, with close to 70% claiming to be non religious.
Steven Bolton
Steven Bolton
Proclaiming Jesus to the hockey world through chapel programs and hockey camps! Our family is currently serving the Minnesota hockey community at the youth level!
Gethin Amoss
Netherlands
Gethin Amoss
Netherlands
Disability is something that will effect everyone at some stage of their life. Parents of children with any kind of difference often face differing levels of stigma and very often have difficulty in making use of places and facilities that regular families use based on the needs or behavioral expressions of their loved one. In the UK 11% of children are reported to have disabilities and although it is an economically developed nation, the emotional, psychological and financial implications of raising a child with a disability can be profound. Wales, in particular has some of the highest rates of child disability in the UK. Our heart is to love, empower and equip parents through providing and supporting short breaks for families in difficult circumstances.
Jon & Jennifer Dahlager
Costa Rica
Jon & Jennifer Dahlager
Costa Rica
Jon and Jennifer Dahlager serve as missionaries in Costa Rica, Central America. They have served in the country since March 2000.
Jonathan Lowrance
Japan
Jonathan Lowrance
Japan
Japan has a population of 126 million people with roughly 37 million of those living in the Tokyo area. We have close to 600,000 foreigners living in Tokyo with that number expected to rise dramatically in the next few years based on Japan's shrinking labor force. Less than 1% of Japan's population consider themselves an evangelical Christian, with an estimated 95% of the population never having had an adequate presentation of the gospel. It is widely recognized as the 2nd largest unreachable people group in the world. Japan also has one of the highest populations of elderly people in the world and one of the lowest birthrates in the world. Japan's culture is heavily influenced by Buddhism and Shintoism but with many living out an atheistic or agnostic existence. Our church is located directly across the street from Tokyo University, one of the largest universities in Japan. There are around 28,000 students currently enrolled there.
Tyler Wiese
Slovenia
Tyler Wiese
Slovenia
River Valley 500. Evangelism, college evangelism (CRU), friendship evangelism, and discipleship in Ljubljana.
Joanne Oftedahl
Philippines
Joanne Oftedahl
Philippines
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.
Mark Durene
Thailand
Mark Durene
Thailand
Mark and Janie have served as missionaries in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, since 1994, where they have been involved in university campus ministry, leadership development, and church planting. Through their “Churches for Churches” program, the Durenes are helping with new church plants in 5 cities, including Teung, where River Valley Church partnered to launch the church. Currently, they are helping to train several other potential church planters, and also serve as mentors to many other pastors throughout the northern Thailand area. In addition, they are the directors of the Global University Thai’s second Bachelor’s program, where they are training current and future Thai ministers. Mark serves as the AGMF Thailand Country Moderator, as well as on several national boards, including Evangelical Fellowship of Thailand (Northern region); Every Home for Christ, Thailand; Thailand AG Northern Region Board of Presbyters; and others. Janie writes Sunday school curriculum for several churches and directs the children’s program at a church in Chiang Mai.
Troy Darrin
Moldova
Troy Darrin
Moldova
Troy and Heidi Jo Darrin seek to minister to the spiritual and physical needs of the people of Moldova. They team up with national pastors in church planting and construction efforts, partner with Convoy of Hope in community outreaches and minister in churches every week, preaching and encouraging the congregations. In addition, Heidi is involved in working against human trafficking—especially that of young women—through prevention awareness and the discipling of young women.
John Konkel
United States
John Konkel
United States
John focuses on apostolic work on the University of Minnesota campus (most recently with fraternities) and is an associate pastor at Sojourn Campus Church in Minneapolis. Jolene is currently seeking strategic direction on how to reach the U of M arts community as an independent choreographer.
Ian Hall
United States
Ian Hall
United States
Ian and Sheila equip Romanian churches in Europe. They teach evangelism, and minister to the needs of Romanian nationals on many levels of care and outreach.
Dan Blair
Slovenia
Dan Blair
Slovenia
Slovenia is a country of 2 million people with a proud heritage and rich traditions, however it is a country that struggles deeply with alcoholism and depression. It has deep roots in Roman Catholicism, however the majority of the population has no personal relationship with Jesus. Currently there are 13 pentecostal churches and with about 1,000 evangelicals in the entire country.
Chris Hales
United Kingdom
Chris Hales
United Kingdom
England is the 4th most secular nation in the world, with close to 70% claiming to be non religious.
Steven Bolton
Steven Bolton
Proclaiming Jesus to the hockey world through chapel programs and hockey camps! Our family is currently serving the Minnesota hockey community at the youth level!
Gethin Amoss
Netherlands
Gethin Amoss
Netherlands
Disability is something that will effect everyone at some stage of their life. Parents of children with any kind of difference often face differing levels of stigma and very often have difficulty in making use of places and facilities that regular families use based on the needs or behavioral expressions of their loved one. In the UK 11% of children are reported to have disabilities and although it is an economically developed nation, the emotional, psychological and financial implications of raising a child with a disability can be profound. Wales, in particular has some of the highest rates of child disability in the UK. Our heart is to love, empower and equip parents through providing and supporting short breaks for families in difficult circumstances.
Jon & Jennifer Dahlager
Costa Rica
Jon & Jennifer Dahlager
Costa Rica
Jon and Jennifer Dahlager serve as missionaries in Costa Rica, Central America. They have served in the country since March 2000.
Jonathan Lowrance
Japan
Jonathan Lowrance
Japan
Japan has a population of 126 million people with roughly 37 million of those living in the Tokyo area. We have close to 600,000 foreigners living in Tokyo with that number expected to rise dramatically in the next few years based on Japan's shrinking labor force. Less than 1% of Japan's population consider themselves an evangelical Christian, with an estimated 95% of the population never having had an adequate presentation of the gospel. It is widely recognized as the 2nd largest unreachable people group in the world. Japan also has one of the highest populations of elderly people in the world and one of the lowest birthrates in the world. Japan's culture is heavily influenced by Buddhism and Shintoism but with many living out an atheistic or agnostic existence. Our church is located directly across the street from Tokyo University, one of the largest universities in Japan. There are around 28,000 students currently enrolled there.
Tyler Wiese
Slovenia
Tyler Wiese
Slovenia
River Valley 500. Evangelism, college evangelism (CRU), friendship evangelism, and discipleship in Ljubljana.
Joanne Oftedahl
Philippines
Joanne Oftedahl
Philippines
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.
Mark Durene
Thailand
Mark Durene
Thailand
Mark and Janie have served as missionaries in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, since 1994, where they have been involved in university campus ministry, leadership development, and church planting. Through their “Churches for Churches” program, the Durenes are helping with new church plants in 5 cities, including Teung, where River Valley Church partnered to launch the church. Currently, they are helping to train several other potential church planters, and also serve as mentors to many other pastors throughout the northern Thailand area. In addition, they are the directors of the Global University Thai’s second Bachelor’s program, where they are training current and future Thai ministers. Mark serves as the AGMF Thailand Country Moderator, as well as on several national boards, including Evangelical Fellowship of Thailand (Northern region); Every Home for Christ, Thailand; Thailand AG Northern Region Board of Presbyters; and others. Janie writes Sunday school curriculum for several churches and directs the children’s program at a church in Chiang Mai.
Troy Darrin
Moldova
Troy Darrin
Moldova
Troy and Heidi Jo Darrin seek to minister to the spiritual and physical needs of the people of Moldova. They team up with national pastors in church planting and construction efforts, partner with Convoy of Hope in community outreaches and minister in churches every week, preaching and encouraging the congregations. In addition, Heidi is involved in working against human trafficking—especially that of young women—through prevention awareness and the discipling of young women.
John Konkel
United States
John Konkel
United States
John focuses on apostolic work on the University of Minnesota campus (most recently with fraternities) and is an associate pastor at Sojourn Campus Church in Minneapolis. Jolene is currently seeking strategic direction on how to reach the U of M arts community as an independent choreographer.
Ian Hall
United States
Ian Hall
United States
Ian and Sheila equip Romanian churches in Europe. They teach evangelism, and minister to the needs of Romanian nationals on many levels of care and outreach.
Dan Blair
Slovenia
Dan Blair
Slovenia
Slovenia is a country of 2 million people with a proud heritage and rich traditions, however it is a country that struggles deeply with alcoholism and depression. It has deep roots in Roman Catholicism, however the majority of the population has no personal relationship with Jesus. Currently there are 13 pentecostal churches and with about 1,000 evangelicals in the entire country.
Chris Hales
United Kingdom
Chris Hales
United Kingdom
England is the 4th most secular nation in the world, with close to 70% claiming to be non religious.
Steven Bolton
Steven Bolton
Proclaiming Jesus to the hockey world through chapel programs and hockey camps! Our family is currently serving the Minnesota hockey community at the youth level!
Gethin Amoss
Netherlands
Gethin Amoss
Netherlands
Disability is something that will effect everyone at some stage of their life. Parents of children with any kind of difference often face differing levels of stigma and very often have difficulty in making use of places and facilities that regular families use based on the needs or behavioral expressions of their loved one. In the UK 11% of children are reported to have disabilities and although it is an economically developed nation, the emotional, psychological and financial implications of raising a child with a disability can be profound. Wales, in particular has some of the highest rates of child disability in the UK. Our heart is to love, empower and equip parents through providing and supporting short breaks for families in difficult circumstances.
Jon & Jennifer Dahlager
Costa Rica
Jon & Jennifer Dahlager
Costa Rica
Jon and Jennifer Dahlager serve as missionaries in Costa Rica, Central America. They have served in the country since March 2000.
Jonathan Lowrance
Japan
Jonathan Lowrance
Japan
Japan has a population of 126 million people with roughly 37 million of those living in the Tokyo area. We have close to 600,000 foreigners living in Tokyo with that number expected to rise dramatically in the next few years based on Japan's shrinking labor force. Less than 1% of Japan's population consider themselves an evangelical Christian, with an estimated 95% of the population never having had an adequate presentation of the gospel. It is widely recognized as the 2nd largest unreachable people group in the world. Japan also has one of the highest populations of elderly people in the world and one of the lowest birthrates in the world. Japan's culture is heavily influenced by Buddhism and Shintoism but with many living out an atheistic or agnostic existence. Our church is located directly across the street from Tokyo University, one of the largest universities in Japan. There are around 28,000 students currently enrolled there.
Tyler Wiese
Slovenia
Tyler Wiese
Slovenia
River Valley 500. Evangelism, college evangelism (CRU), friendship evangelism, and discipleship in Ljubljana.
Joanne Oftedahl
Philippines
Joanne Oftedahl
Philippines
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.
Mark Durene
Thailand
Mark Durene
Thailand
Mark and Janie have served as missionaries in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, since 1994, where they have been involved in university campus ministry, leadership development, and church planting. Through their “Churches for Churches” program, the Durenes are helping with new church plants in 5 cities, including Teung, where River Valley Church partnered to launch the church. Currently, they are helping to train several other potential church planters, and also serve as mentors to many other pastors throughout the northern Thailand area. In addition, they are the directors of the Global University Thai’s second Bachelor’s program, where they are training current and future Thai ministers. Mark serves as the AGMF Thailand Country Moderator, as well as on several national boards, including Evangelical Fellowship of Thailand (Northern region); Every Home for Christ, Thailand; Thailand AG Northern Region Board of Presbyters; and others. Janie writes Sunday school curriculum for several churches and directs the children’s program at a church in Chiang Mai.
Troy Darrin
Moldova
Troy Darrin
Moldova
Troy and Heidi Jo Darrin seek to minister to the spiritual and physical needs of the people of Moldova. They team up with national pastors in church planting and construction efforts, partner with Convoy of Hope in community outreaches and minister in churches every week, preaching and encouraging the congregations. In addition, Heidi is involved in working against human trafficking—especially that of young women—through prevention awareness and the discipling of young women.
John Konkel
United States
John Konkel
United States
John focuses on apostolic work on the University of Minnesota campus (most recently with fraternities) and is an associate pastor at Sojourn Campus Church in Minneapolis. Jolene is currently seeking strategic direction on how to reach the U of M arts community as an independent choreographer.
