This one-year cross-cultural missional training and development program, with eight months spent in Southeast Asia gives opportunity to be better equipped for cross-cultural ministry in the U.S.
Heartbeat
The monthly newsletter of Free Methodist World Missions
Kevin Austin
Kevin Austin is an FM missionary working domestically and globally through the Set Free Movement to end human trafficking. With roots in the 19th-century abolitionist movement, the Free Methodist Church is again championing the cause of holistic freedom. Now, as then, Free Methodists have a special passion for the poor and those vulnerable to injustice.
Children: Elijah, Matthias
Art and Sylvia Brown
For nearly 10 years, the Browns served as pastors to the missionary team in Africa. In 2022, they passed this role on to Scott and Natasha Edinger. Art and Sylvia have now assumed a support role for our team of missionary care couples – Scott and Natasha Edinger (Africa), Mark and Judi Morrison (Asia), Mitch and Lynn Sue Pierce (Europe), and Guy and Betsy Crawford (Latin America). The Browns will help coach, equip and strengthen FMWM’s missionary care team.
Debra Gilmore
Beginning April 1, 2022, Debra Gilmore began a new role as a missionary trainer and coach for FMWM, using the Support Raising Solutions principles and contextualizing them for FMWM missionaries, international missionaries and national leaders. She will do training in each world area at the request of the area directors and will coach new missionaries in the raising of support. She serves as a part-time U.S.-based partner. Her husband, Phil, though retired, will provide tech support and coaching. Phil and Debra reside in South Carolina.
Children: Elijah, Matthias
Dale & Dawn
Dr. Dale is area director for the Middle East region. In this capacity, he is also executive director of Impact Middle East, through which the FMC serves in this region of the world. Dr. Dale and his wife, Dawn, have served with the FMC for 37 years as members of the East Michigan Conference.
Hany & Joanne
Hany and Joanne work in church planting and leadership development with Impact Middle East. Hany founded a training center, the Noor Center (Noor in Arabic meaning “light”), to work with refugees. The Noor Center’s mission is “Bringing Healing, Light and Hope to Refugees and the Hurting.” In the region where the center is located, there are approximately 2 million refugees, most under 18. All these children and their mothers are at high risk of being exploited into slave labor, sex trafficking, or recruited into regional militias or even ISIS. Joanne works with abused women, bringing the hope of wholeness into broken lives. She also leads the Whole Woman Initiative.
Alan & Ammabellee Bacus
Alan and Ammabellee Bacus are FMWM Asia’s first international missionaries to share the vision to “Influence a Million in Asia for Christ.” They envision mobilizing Free Methodist churches by intentionally planting community churches through campus ministry and forming disciple-making communities in gateway cities in Asia.
Becca
Becca trains leaders for church ministry, church planting and evangelism. Becca conducts workshops, mentors, leads Bible studies and small groups, and preaches regularly. Asia FMC has a goal of reaching a million for Jesus. Becca looks forward to training Asian leaders to meet this goal.
Bryan & Tammy
After working on university campuses in Creative Access-CA for a decade, Bryan and Tammy now serve with the Asia area leadership development team. They work with the Gethsemane Leadership Training pathway to equip and encourage pastors and church planters in Asia, serving those receiving training for ordination. Bryan and Tammy also serve as missionaries in residence for the East Michigan Conference, connecting with refugees in their city and investing in leadership development.
Thom & Sherry Cahill
Thom and Sherry Cahill serve across Asia and focus on leadership development. Thom’s roles involve strategic planning, discipleship, coaching, mentoring, teaching through Gethsemane Leadership Training (GLT) modules and assisting the team in additional supportive roles. Sherry serves as coordinator of Leadership Lift, GLT teacher and video scriptwriter, video editor (as needed), mentor, coach, and administrative support to the Asia Area director.
