Missionaries
"Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ" (Colossians 4:2-3, ESV).
God does remarkable things through his people in all corners of the world. We are excited to be involved with the missionaries that are now serving as part of the Grace Fellowship of Lakewood family abroad.
Currently our missionary family is serving in four countries around the world seeking to preach the good news, minister to the needs of hurting people, disciple believers, nurture young churches and train leaders who can carry on and multiply the ministry.
This page is provided so that you can learn about our missionaries and pray regularly for the work they are doing. The crosses on the map below show you where Grace Fellowship of Lakewood's missionaries are currently working.
Who: Jerry & Jane Casey
Where: Alaska
What: Using Jerry's background as a seasoned small-craft pilot, they shuttle supplies, passengers, missionaries and train of other pilots for the SEND International groups as well as helping other ministries with flying needs to remote parts of the Alaskan interior; provide support to families and missionaries and sharing of the Gospel. Jerry currently flies a single engine Cessna 182 and has full instument certification. SEND's purpose is to evangelize, build churches. raise leaders for ongoing ministry in Europe, Asia, and North America through its 500 missionaries.
Pray: Pray for safety in travel, spiritual refreshment, and the Lord's provision in their work.
Who: Chris & Faith Creech
Where: Singapore
What: Chris and Faith, Lord willing, starting this fall, will be involved with theological training in order to equip Asian believers for the work of the ministry. Specifically, Chris will be a professor at the East Asia School of Theology in Singapore.
Pray: Pray that God would raise up the last 7% of their funds. Pray God will provide strength and wisdom as they settle in their new home in Colorado. Also pray for Chris' ear. He's recently suffered some hearing loss and needs your prayer.
Video: March 2008 GFL Missionary News
Who: Brad & Toni Guderian
Where: Papua New Guinea
What: Brad and Toni Guderian work with Wycliffe Bible Translators in Papua New Guinea. Their goal is to translate the New Testament and portions of the Old Testament into the Koluwawa language of Fergusson Island. They also help in many of the other 800 plus languages of PNG: Toni is training as a lexicography consultant to assist other translators and linguists to record language data in a way that will be helpful to the PNG government, other language workers both within and outside of Wycliffe, and to the PNG nationals themselves. Brad is a translation consultant who works with other translators to improve the clarity and accuracy of their vernacular Scriptures.
The Guderians' three daughters --Misha, Nikaela, and Jette-- have many close friends at Ukarumpa International High School. All three girls consider the Wycliffe Center at Ukarumpa their real home in the world.
Pray: That Brad and Toni will be spirit-energized, alert, thorough and joyful as translate God's Word.
Video: February 2008 Missionary News
Who: Austin & Laura Krokos
Where: Lakewood, Colorado
What: Austin and Laura Krokos are serving with Campus Crusade for Christ in order to reach college students with the Gospel, build them up in their faith, and to send them out into the world to make Disciples of Christ. They work primarily in the Denver area at local schools such as Red Rocks Community College, and the Auraria campus, but also are involved in spring and summer missions projects around the world. You can learn more about their ministry by clicking HERE.
Pray: Please be praying for our students as they go into summer. Summer is a transitional time where students can grow closer to God or away from God, but no one stays the same. Each of the students we work with fit into one of three catagories:
Staying in Denver and working or taking classes. Pray that these students would continue to meet together over the summer for fellowship, Bible study, and to share their faith. Byanka, Ryan, and Rachel will be setting up the summer CRU schedule of events and meetings. Pray that God will give them success in this.
Going home (not Denver) to work for the summer. These ones need the most encourgement. Many students like Chris and Amanda, have taken strides in their walks with God in college this year, but will be going home to old non Christian friends and will be tempted to fall into old sin patterns.
Going on summer Mission Trips. Students we work with are going to Africa,(Derek) India,(Nathan) Alaska, (Kyle and Ben) Russia, (Carly, Jon, Ali, Hannah and 18 others) and New York (Analisa). Please pray for their courage to stay on track to go, and for their support to come in. Also pray for the big things that need to happen when groups of maturing adults spend a lot of time in uncomfortable places with out all the luxuries of life. We are trusting Christ to build these students into peopole who can more clearly see their calling as Christians called to reach this world, and that God would use them to bear eternal fruit for his Kingdom.
Staying in Denver and working or taking classes. Pray that these students would continue to meet together over the summer for fellowship, Bible study, and to share their faith. Byanka, Ryan, and Rachel will be setting up the summer CRU schedule of events and meetings. Pray that God will give them success in this.
Going home (not Denver) to work for the summer. These ones need the most encourgement. Many students like Chris and Amanda, have taken strides in their walks with God in college this year, but will be going home to old non Christian friends and will be tempted to fall into old sin patterns.
Going on summer Mission Trips. Students we work with are going to Africa,(Derek) India,(Nathan) Alaska, (Kyle and Ben) Russia, (Carly, Jon, Ali, Hannah and 18 others) and New York (Analisa). Please pray for their courage to stay on track to go, and for their support to come in. Also pray for the big things that need to happen when groups of maturing adults spend a lot of time in uncomfortable places with out all the luxuries of life. We are trusting Christ to build these students into peopole who can more clearly see their calling as Christians called to reach this world, and that God would use them to bear eternal fruit for his Kingdom.
Also, we are preparng for Russia and have many things to do before we get there The dates are June 5th to July 22nd. Please pray that all the details (housing, visas, finances) would come together. We are sending out a special newsletter tomorrow asking our support team to be praying for us, and to consider helping with financail gifts to get there. We need to raise $10,080 for this 6 week trip, and are confident that God can do it! Scary! If you don't get a letter but want to help meet this need, let us know. Be sure to send us your prayer requests too.
Who: Mickey & Marialos McKinney
Where: Costa Rica
What: Mickey and Marielos form part of Christ for the City International (CFCI), beginning their missionary service with CFCI in 1989 when it was still a ministry under the umbrella of ministries of Latin America Mission. They began their service as missionaries to Medellín, Colombia where they made the very first efforts with the Caleb Mission and seeing its first fruits. There they also held several youth camps where they taught on the subject of inner healing to a very needy youth of drug war lain territory of Medellín, Colombia.
The current ministries given to Mickey & Marielos in Costa Rica are:
1. Prison Ministry - Marielos and Mickey have a discipleship group in the San Sabastian Prison with an average of 30 disciples at a time. The McKinneys witness and evangelize then provide discipleship; teaching the men to follow Jesus Christ, using the Holy Scriptures. They also provide the disciples with Bibles and other Christian literature. An average of 120 - 150 men a year receive Christ as Lord and Savior and are discipled through this ministry.
2. Church Support Ministry - Marielos and Mickey form part of a team made up of CFCI/CR missionaries offering informal education to pastoral associations through out the country, giving one seminar per month with the Church Support Ministry group, plus Marielos and Mickey are often invited back to some churches to repeat or refresh the course, usually resulting in one or two more week-end seminars each month. The ministry course given here is inner healing and/or cross cultural missions and/or how to minister to the neglected people of society. This training depends upon the requests of the churches.
3. Nursing Home - Marielos is part of the "Works of Mercy" ministry and is in charge of the Nursing Home ministry. She gives monthly teachings to the folk in the retirement home and carries them little gifts such as personal items and booklets. Many people even in this late age of life receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of their lives.
4. English as a Second Language - These classes are mostly for discipleship and counseling, more than for teaching English. The students Mickey has are mostly business professionals wanting to improve their English in order to do business internationally. However, after a few months most of these students speak well enough but continue with the classes just to receive advice and have someone to listen to them. In fact, one student has asked Mickey to give his son counseling and now both father and son receive family counseling together. Mickey has an average of 20 students per year.
5. Pastors of Missions - As a couple, Mickey and Marielos were asked to serve as pastors of missions in their church, Comunidad Cristiana El Bosque, ministry they accepted in the fall of 2006. This requires of them to do visitations of church members, recruit and maintain contact and support information for church supported missionaries. Also, we are in charge of local outreach and evangelization. This is done without pay from the church as a service to the congregation.
6. Community Kitchen - With the help of our local congregation, we are serving around 90 children per week a lunch while at the same time evangelizing and discipling them encouraging them to be part of the local church we are partnering with in an extremely poor and needy area on the outskirts of San José. This activity leads to evangelisms and discipleship of the entire family of many of those children who participate for lunch.
Pray: Praise the Lord for the work Mickey and Marialos are undertaking in Costa Rica. Pray for the Lord's Spirit to move in those they serve. Pray also for the inmates that Mickey and Marialos minister to, that God would rebuild their lives.
Who: Kami Obrecht
Where: Tyrone, Georgia
What: Kami has been a missionary for six years, serving primarily in Nepal. Recently she has taken on a new position with Operation Mobilization (OM) working as a member care coordinator, based out of Tyrone, Georgia. This involves serving as the point of contact for other missionaries in up to 110 countries to provide the following: a listening ear; help finding answers for practical, emotional and spiritual needs; resources; assistance with fiances, insurance, taxes, retirement, etc.; debriefing; help in conflict resolution; reentry assistance; and more!
Following the example of our Lord, through her role with OM, Kami encourages and strengthens those who are on the front lines in the mission field.
Pray: Please pray that God would expand His kingdom through Kami’s efforts. Pray for sensitivity to the needs of those she serves, and pray that she would be a source of encouragement to missionaries in the field.
Who: Doyle & Penny Tallman
Where: Papua New Guinea
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