Evangelical Presbyterian Church

 JOSEPH & MANDI

Joseph and Mandi, from Downtown Presbyterian Church in Memphis, Tennessee, were appointed as World Outreach missionaries in January 2012.  They are going to join another World Outreach couple heading a team of church planters in one of the poorest regions in the world, where Christ has not been named; most are either Hindu or Muslim with no Christian witness. The team’s vision is to see every village/neighborhood have a culturally relevant, disciple making church, which actively loves its community.  One strategy they will be directly involved with is implementing a microfinance lending platform to communicate the gospel holistically.

Joseph, who grew up in East Tennessee, received Christ as a sophomore in high school.  Through reading several articles about the need for missionaries and hearing several compelling messages in college, he sensed the Lord directing his path overseas.  Mandi became a believer as a junior in high school.  Mandi’s heart was opened towards missions when, during a retreat in college she felt that God may be leading her to live somewhere besides home in East Tennessee.

Joseph holds a B.S. in Finance and Economics from Tennessee Technological University and has taken classes through Reformed Theological Seminary and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.  Mandi holds a Pharm D. from the University Of Tennessee College Of Pharmacy and has also taken classes through Gordon-Conwell.

Joseph and Mandi cannot do this work alone.  They need your prayers and financial support to enable them to minister.  Please pray for swift support development and a smooth transition into life, culture and ministry with the poor of South Asia.

GEORGE & CYNTHIA P  

 George and Cynthia P from Trinity Presbyterian Church in Florence, SC were appointed as World Outreach career missionaries September 2010. They will focus on evangelism and church planting in SE Asia. Their expected departure date is late 2010 or early 2011.

George came to faith as a young teenager while attending Saint Mark’s Methodist Church in Raleigh, NC. He was discipled by his youth pastor John Weigle and other young men involved in the youth ministry of this church. His first missionary experience was serving at Red Bird Mission in KY as a middle school headmaster. His first overseas mission trip was in 2008 to SE Asia. George has been actively involved in church life since his salvation and served our Lord and Savior through numerous teaching and volunteer positions.

Cynthia accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior when she was twenty-six years old. Red Bird Mission was her first missions experience where she served with George as art director. Cynthia graduated in 1978 from Atlanta College of Art and is hoping to use her talent and training as an artist to reach out to people in SE Asia with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

George and Cynthia have three grown children and two grandchildren who all currently live in South Carolina. While leaving family behind will be very difficult they are very much looking forward to honoring God with obedience to His calling to serve in the part of the world that He is calling them to.

They can not do this work alone.  Your prayers and financial support will enable them to minister in SE Asia.  Please pray for continued financial support, that God would raise up a team to work with them, and increased favor and divine appointments with people they are working among.

SHAWN AND LISA STEWART

Shawn and Lisa Stewart from Montreat Presbyterian Church, Montreat, NC, were appointed as World Outreach career missionaries at the 32nd General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in June 2012. Shawn will take on a vital role for World Outreach coordinating the recruitment of new missionaries for Engage 2025, the International Theological Education Network, Medical Missions, and candidates that will become co-opted World Outreach missionaries going with other sending organizations. His task will be to promote these opportunities in EPC churches, assist with short-term field exposure trips, and connect World Outreach with EPC student and college ministries. Their start date (dependent on support raising) is December 27, 2012.

Shawn came to faith as a young teen while attending Petersen Presbyterian Church in Columbia, SC. His first missionary experience was to Haiti. In his 30 years of youth ministry, Shawn has been heavily involved in cross-cultural missions in 10 countries. He also served with SIM for 4 years in Bolivia, South America and began a national ministry to train and equip youth workers of local churches throughout the country. This ministry continues today under Bolivian leadership.  Lisa accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior when she was a child at Orchard Street Baptist Church in Mayo, SC. Her faith deepened as she studied at Montreat College and Wheaton College. Lisa majored in communications and worked in that field until her children were born. While in Bolivia, she worked with a Bolivian doctor and taught mother and baby classes. When she returned from Bolivia, she went back for her second degree, being graduated with a BSN and now works as a registered nurse in neonatal intensive care in Asheville, NC. Shawn and Lisa are members at Montreat Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Montreat, NC where Shawn has been serving since 1991.

Shawn and Lisa met at Montreat College, transferred to Wheaton College and were married in June 1987. They have three children: Thaddeus (22), Jillian (19) and Micah (17).

The Stewarts cannot do this work alone! George Carey and the World Outreach team have shared: “filling this position is vital to the mission work of the EPC.”  Your prayers and financial support will enable them to assist EPC churches in sending more missionaries to international fields around the world.  Please pray for continued financial support, that God would raise up a team to work with them, and increased favor and divine appointments with churches and individuals.