The Kaufmann family reside in Lomé, Togo, in West Africa. Jordan serves as the VISA coordinator, helping support short-term mission teams and projects that connect U.S. churches with West African congregations. Audrey provides administrative support for the FMWM West Africa missionary team and helps with financial recordkeeping for West African leaders.
Tim and Connie Kratzer served in the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire) in the 1980’s. Tim was the medical director of Nundu Deaconess Hospital and Connie homeschooled their sons while also serving as the mission treasurer and provider of support services. After 1996 war prevented them from returning to Nundu. After years away, they returned in 2012 to see the hospital providing medical care under the leadership of the national church.
Larry provides pastoral care for FM missionaries in Africa. This role includes encouragement and spiritual nurture via emails, phone calls and field...
Glenn Lorenz has served as Africa Area associate director since October 2022, strengthening partnerships between FMCUSA churches and Free Methodist (FM) ministries in Africa. He provides direct oversight of the FM work in Liberia and is developing a pastoral-training curriculum to equip African church leaders. Wendy serves with the FMWM missionary team in Africa and globally, leading the TCK (Third Culture Kid) Global team.
Rachel and Emmanuel Nzungize serve as associate missionaries at Kibogora Hospital in Rwanda, where they are both nurses. They also assist with responsibilities at the mission guest house and teaching at the local nursing school.
Mike Reynen collaborates with African leaders toward the expansion of the church and the formation of local churches. Church planting and ministerial education are high priorities. Mike and Vickie both encourage the missionary team in its work of strengthening and developing leaders. These days, Vickie works primarily for the FMWM office, assisting with onboarding new missionaries, but continues to be actively involved with Tumaini Women Kenya.
Hink and Kaylene Smidderks are serving across Africa, with a primary focus on West Africa, and are based in Lomé, Togo. Hink serves as director of leadership development, overseeing the training and equipping of new leaders for ordination and church leadership. Kaylene leads communication efforts for the Africa Area through social media and print publications.
Sent by the Free Methodist Church in Portugal, Moisés and Jacione Souza serve as international missionaries to the islands of São Tomé and Príncipe off the west coast of Africa. They launched the first Free Methodist church in São Tomé in January 2019 and now work consistently through various discipleship ministries for children, youth and adults. Many believers are growing in their faith. The couple’s next goal is to identify and train leaders for pastoral ministry. Both Moisés and Jacione were ordained as elders at the 2020 annual meeting of the Free Methodist Church of Portugal. Because the church in Portugal is the sending church, this mission district is under the European area.
Children: Filipa, Giovanna
Dosseh Takpale is superintendent of the Togo Provisional Annual Conference and pastor of the FMC in Lomé, Togo. As an international missionary, he also supervises FM work in several other countries: Guinea, Ivory Coast, Guinea Bissau and Creative Access-BA. He serves as director of the Wesley Missionary Institute.
