Dear Friends,

Deputation Update

We are heading back to the states tomorrow. While we are sad to leave Malawi it is necessary for us to continue with deputation. Please be praying for safe travels and adequate rest as we return home. This is important because we hit the ground running and continue with deputation right away. God has been so good, and we have booked many more churches while serving here in Malawi. We plan to continue deputation and be back here in Malawi April/May 2026 for full time service.

Bible Study

While here in Malawi, Miranda was able to attend and teach at one of our churches weekly women’s meetings. These women are very faithful and eager to learn about God’s word. Please keep these women in your prayers. Prayers of strength, encouragement, and protection.

I was raised in church since I was one week old. Growing up nothing took priority over going to church. When I was seven years old, in a church service, I remember understanding for the first time that I was a sinner in need of a savior. That night I couldn’t sleep. I got out of bed and found my mother. I told her I knew I was a sinner and was going to hell, that I believed in Jesus Christ, and I wanted to get saved. My mother grabbed her bible and led me to the Lord on the stairs in our basement. To this day, I still remember the details surrounding my salvation because it was the most important day of my life.

When I turned eighteen, I traded my parent’s home for a United States Marine Corps barracks. Three years into my first enlistment, I married my wife. Over the next four years I was deployed several times to various places around the world. This occurred so much that we only lived together for sixteen months out of those 4 years. However, our marriage persevered while many marriages around us failed. During these years God prepared us for the mission field. He strengthened our marriage and equipped us for the tests and trials that are often endured on the mission field.

After my eight years in the military were complete, we had our first child. We moved from North Carolina back to our home state of Ohio. God further directed us to the First Baptist Church of Jackson. As soon as we started to attend this church, I was discipled one on one by a decan of our church, Brian Croasmun, for a year and a half. It was during this time God made it clear he wanted me to be a missionary. God also made it clear to my wife. The day after I surrendered my life to God my wife, without knowing, turned to me and said, “if you wanted to enter the ministry, I would support you”. Looking back at my life, it is now clear how God had been preparing me for the work in Malawi.

I grew up in a Christian home. During a church service on Sunday morning, at the age of 8 years old, I heard the gospel and felt deep conviction. During the alter call I knew I needed to go to the alter. At the steps of the alter I was met by our Pastor. At this time, he took me through the plan of salvation and ensured I understood I was sinner and in need of a savior. I clearly understood and prayed to God that he would save me. Not long after God saved me, I was baptized.

However, I fell into the world at the age of 14 and was no longer walking closely with God. I reached a state of brokenness. I called out to God for help. He sent me my husband, John-Mark. While broken God still loved me and was calling me home. John-Mark helped me get back into church. After we married, we lived in North Carolina while he was serving in the USMC and found a bible preaching church. There God intersected my heart during a revival meeting. However, my real growth in my walk with God started when we moved back to Ohio.

In Ohio we started attending the First Baptist Church of Jackson. It was here that Pastor Tom asked a question during a sermon. He asked, “If everyone in your life were to walk away from God right now, would you still follow him?” I thought about it and realized I was leaning on my husband too much with my walk. So, I fully surrounded my life to God’s will that day. We joined the church, and I was discipled one on one by Dawn Croasmun for approximately a year and a half. She taught me how to be a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ. During this time my husband was also being discipled and he felt called to become a missionary. At the same time I told my husband I would support him and follow him if he ever felt called to enter the ministry. I know I am called to serve in Malawi because my husband is called to Malawi and we are one.