In September 2021, I felt God pressing on my heart more than ever the idea “what if I am called into missions?” I remember having this conversation with my dad because I was in a relationship at that time. In May 2022, I continued to become more open to the idea becoming a reality. I committed to River Valley as my church home and learned more about the MAP. I signed up for Global Team Thailand, was fully funded, read “Change the Map”, went to team meetings, went on the Global team, came home and processed the experience, and stayed in contact with the Missionaries. Raising funds was a huge challenge for me in many ways. Internally, God led me through lies that I believed and hooks that were on my heart. I was lead out of the boat of hyper independence and softened up to the idea of dependence on others. I experienced a willingness to support without ties. It encouraged me to build more relationships with people at church and share with other what God was doing in my life. Mark Durene’s book “Change The Map”, opened my eyes to the spiritual realm, Buddhism, and the Thai culture. Through reading the book, I was able to relate to the spirit of religion, connect experiences of religion, and learn more about religion, spirituality, and strongholds. I grabbed a hold of relating Catholicism and Buddhism together and the beauty of sharing the hope in having a relationship with Jesus. In Thailand, we were involved in painting, light construction, children’s ministry, prayer walks, street ministry, and more! I enjoyed connecting with the missionaries, Thai pastors, and community. Three things that stuck with me were: 3. The length that relationships take to form due to cultural and linguistic barriers. 2. The reality of family being 22 hours away and the uncertainty life brings, praying is the only response at times. 1. One evening we had a time of games and fun together at the Missionaries home. A group of us were playing Farkle. At home with my family it is common for us to play games as well although I haven’t been one to be very successful. Anyhow, we are playing Farkle and the dice were showing me favor. I won the first round, then the next… jokes were being thrown around about me going back to Thailand for missions, then eventually the group agreed, “hey, if you win this round you are staying” well.. the rest is history. I won the game and lo and behold.. I AM going back to Thailand. Through prayer God has grown my heart for Thailand, the Thai people, and current team over in Thailand. When I got back to the states I dealt with jet leg for 2+ weeks, prayed into and through the weight of my experience, and stepped deeper into the MAP program. God is GOOD.
“Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”” Genesis 28:15 ESV
Rick has 2 main jobs. For his first job, he travels to campuses across the U.S.A. for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, doing training and evangelism with an apologetics emphasis. From 2010-2012, he worked at 40 different campuses. His second job involves serving as the InterVarsity staff member at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, where there has been an active InterVarsity group since 1941.
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.
The Carranos’ ministry is to young adults/students in Spain, as well as church planting & leadership development.
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.
Genoa is approximately 1/2 million people with less than 2% recognizing Jesus as Savior of their lives. Italy is home to an estimated 105 documented people groups, 23 of which are considered unreached people groups. Genoa is a port city and an International hub. AGWM has never had a missionary in this city and we are excited to be the first.
Ryan and Andrea Crozier minister in Bucharest, Romania where they work to prevent human trafficking and sexual exploitation.
Papua New Guinea is a land of almost 9 million people who speak over 800 different languages. For those almost 9 million people, there are only approximately 500 doctors in the country. Every year 1 in 20 children under the age of 5 will die. Many die from common things such as diarrhea from drinking contaminated water. About 40% of the country has no access to a source of clean water. While looking up statistics on PNG you will see that it is considered a Christian nation, it is very much in name only. While much of the coast has been evangelized as well as some of the bigger cities, when you go into the interior of PNG, you will be met with people who still live as they have for thousands of years. They still practice their animistic tribal customs. While some may have heard of Christianity and may even call themselves Christian, most will take one or two aspects of Christianity and merge them with their animistic beliefs. There is not a true separation and a turning away in many cases.
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.
Guinea is approx. 14 million in population 47 people groups and 29 are unreached 86.9% of the population is unreached Largest religion is Islam, there is some mixture of animism 0.68% evangelical Currently, God has opened the door for Guineans to receive the gospel. The surrounding countries are predominantly Islamic states where it is against the law to proselytize. Guinea currently has an evangelical president so the government is favorable to the Gospel being preached. The General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God has a calling to plant churches and is eager to see this work happen in his country. As God has made this opportunity possible. Me and several others including AGWM (who has never sent a missionary to Guinea in its history) and AMI (where I serve full time) has both been led by the Spirit to come into partnership to reach the lost. God is moving and we are excited to minister in this country while the opportunity is here!
The Gruetzmachers work directly with Hispanics here in the United States and within several countries in Latin America. Their main focus is to develop leaders, and their schedule is filled with ministry to Hispanic churches; coaching pastors and leaders; leading mission trips with Hispanic students; holding retreats for men, women, and youth; leadership training; and working with 2 Institutes for Church Planters.
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.