MISSIONARIES
RUF Vanderbilt – Chase Dawes – Donate to Chase
Chase and his wife, Holly, are originally from Alabama. They were married in the fall of 2011, and moved to Nashville where Chase served as an RUF Intern at Belmont University. After a stop in Philadelphia for seminary, 2017 took the Daws to Berkeley, California, where he served as RUF campus minister at U.C Berkeley for five years. In June of 2022, they returned to Nashville, where Chase began serving as the campus minister at Vanderbilt University. Over the years, they’ve collected three wonderful boys – Gabe, Bo, and Griffey. They love Warriors basketball, Auburn football, and biscuits.
Navigators – Mark Looyenga – Donate to the Looyengas
Leigh Ann and I have been called to work with The Navigators since 2013. During our previous twelve years in pastoral ministry, God’s Spirit grew our hearts in love for his people, especially for those He had called to be his leaders.
As our society increases in complexity, size, and brokenness, there are growing numbers of leaders who struggle with underlying issues. Our passion is to see these ministry leaders, especially those of the next generation, deeply experience the heart of Christ’s goodness in the dark and broken places of their lives.
We are thus grateful for God’s call to join the People Resources Team (PRT) of The Navigators. He is using this team to bring laborers into the help, hope, and healing of Christ. We are excited about this good work and for the opportunity invite such leaders into Christ’s rhythms of rest so that they may live and labor with hearts alive.
We are also grateful for God’s call to participate in raising up the next generation of leaders by parenting our three wonderful children, Caleb, Evan, and Cariann through life on life discipleship.
CRU University of Alabama Huntsville – Wesley and Monica Skinner – Donate to the Skinners
The vision of Cru is to Win, Build and Send. Win students to faith in Christ. Build them in their faith. Send them out to make a gospel impact in the world. After seeing our lives changed in college and the great need for the gospel to impact students’ lives, God moved us to become missionaries with Cru to college students. We firmly believe in the vision to share the gospel actively on the college campus. To challenge students to grow in their faith through discipleship relationships and bible studies. And mobilize students on mission. We teach students how to share their faith, give them opportunities to do so on campus and summer mission projects and prepare them to leave college with a vision to continue to live lives in their workplace that point others to Jesus.
Intervaristy Fellowship University of Alabama Huntsville – Amanda Koch – Donate to Amanda 
As she’s gotten to know more students, Amanda has heard time and time again how InterVarsity came into their lives right when they were struggling the most. Amanda shared, “It’s a really common story for a lot of students to say, ‘I came to college. I was really alone. I met InterVarsity. And it was amazing. And because of InterVarsity, I am here today.’” Partner with Amanda as she seeks to see students in every corner of the campus of UAH restored in God’s Image.
Presbyterian Frontier Fellowship – Rev. Donald Marsden – Donate to Donald
Donald’s involvement in missions has led him to various ministry roles both in the US and abroad. After graduating from the University of Michigan, Donald spent two years serving in youth ministry in West Berlin, Germany, and meeting with Christians behind the Iron Curtain. Following his graduation from Princeton Theological Seminary, he was a pastor in Pennsylvania and Virginia churches for five and eight years respectively. Then from 1997–2008, Donald, his wife and their family served as missionaries in Russia. It was there he first encountered the world of frontier mission, which later brought him to Frontier Fellowship.
Donald’s ongoing ministry is primarily focused on Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Niger and among churches in the US. He loves encouraging pastors and church leaders, mobilizing congregations and building bridges of friendship with Muslims. In his free time, you can usually find him gardening, reading, playing guitar or hiking. He and his wife, Laurie, live in Richmond and have three grown children and four grandchildren.
Mission to the World – Mike and Eli Sabin – Donate to the Sabins
From Guam, shortwave radio station KTWR broadcasts biblical programs to the Asia/Pacific region. Several “closed” countries lie within its coverage area. Programming includes sharing the gospel with unbelievers, discipleship, pastoral training, church services and Bible Study. The programs are designed for men, women, youth, children, oral communities, the sick and the needy.
Mike and Eli have been serving on Guam under an agreement between MTW and TWR (Trans World Radio) since February 2002. Mike is serving as chief engineer and is responsible for operations and maintenance of the transmitter equipment. He also performs some facilities maintenance tasks. Eli works in the finance department and in other areas as needed.
World Team – James and Lynette Cottle – Donate to the Cottles
James Cottle has served with World Team since April 1999 and stepped into the Asia Area Director role in 2012. He is based in Cambodia. He was born and raised in North Carolina. He has a degree from Carolina Bible College but prior to his service as a cross-cultural missionary he was a supervisor for a metal manufacturing company for several years. He has a construction background and loves working with his hands. James is married to Lynette who is a middle school teacher. They have four children (Moriah, Kailyn, Rachel and Caleb). He and Lynette both love seeing people equiped to do what God has called them to do.
IPU (Igreja Presbiteriana Unida do Brasil) – Gordon and Dorthy Gartrell – Contact the Gartrells
First appointed to mission service with the PC(USA) in 1990, the Gartrells have served in five different regions of Brazil. Originally invited by the Independent Presbyterian Church of Brazil, Gordon and Dorothy are now serving at the invitation of the United Presbyterian Church of Brazil and have been assigned to a congregation in Mangabeira in the state of Bahia. The United Presbyterian Church has asked the PC(USA) to help expand their witness, and the Gartrells are part of the American church’s response. The Gartrells are a natural fit in Brazil. Gordon grew up in Brazil where his parents served as Presbyterian missionaries for 31 years. He understands the people and culture and has a passion to see Brazilians follow Christ as his disciples and extend the body of Christ in their communities. Dorothy was not born in Brazil but went there after college and served for two years as a volunteer teacher for missionary children. The Gartrells have been a ministry team in both the U.S. and Brazil since their marriage. They are the parents of three adult children: John, Elizabeth, and Daniel.
Operation Mobilization (OM) Belgium – Joel and Lara Knights – Donate to the Knights
“We have been working in Brussels, Belgium for 5 years. Our hearts are to see the next generation of Belgian Christians be supported and encouraged by the local church and to see the Belgian church reengage in society and culture. We want to see vibrant communities of Jesus followers among the least reached.” Joel and Lara live in Belgium with their two children.
Teach Beyond – Jeff and Veronique Kim – Donate to the Kims
Jeff is the Project Director for the Life School Project in the Drome region of France. Teach Beyond strives to equip Christian educators and families through the purchase and establishment of old French school buildings that they convert into Christian schools with a Montessori approach to learning. Today there are fewer than 20 Christian schools in France, reflective of the overwhelmingly secular culture prevalent in the country. The Kims are working alongside Teach Beyond to change that trajectory in the coming years.
MISSIONS TRIPS:
Mission: Hope – https://www.missionhope.org/ – Dominican Republic Missions Trip –
LOCAL MINISTRY PARTNERS
Kairos Prison Ministry: http://www.kairosprisonministry.org/
Lincoln Village Ministry: https://lincolnvillageministry.com/
Inner City Learning Center: https://www.hiclc.org/
2nd Mile Development Inc.: https://secondmile.net/
Northeast Alabama FCA: http://www.northalabamafca.org/
Choose Life/Huntsville Pregnancy Resource Center: http://www.huntsvilleprc.org/
Downtown Rescue Mission: https://www.downtownrescuemission.org/
Young Business Leaders Huntsville: https://ybl.org/huntsville/
Young Life North Alabama: https://northalabama.younglife.org/Pages/default.aspx
CHURCH PLANTS
Chelsea Presbyterian Church – Chelsea, AL – http://www.chelseapres.org James Daniels. James has been the head of a school, studied classical piano, crafted wood tables with his own two hands, and cooked some of the best BBQ in Alabama. He launched Chelsea Presbyterian Church on January 7th, 2018. James describes his work this way, “We are a church for broken people. We want to serve without expectation. We want a come as you are mentality. We want to abolish the idea that you have to clean up your act before you come to God, because that’s not what the gospel is all about.” “I always had in the back of my mind that God may use me to pastor a church. I never dreamed it would be planting a church. It’s been the scariest thing I’ve ever been through.”
Quest Church – New Braunfels, TX – http://www.questchurchnb.com/ Brett Becker. At Quest Church we don’t judge, we help people win. So no matter who you are, where you’ve been, or where you’re at in your spiritual journey, you are welcome at Quest Church. Come as you are and hear the good news of God’s love and grace in Christ. At Quest Church you’ll find: Modern worship music that draws your heart to God Practical messages from the Bible that champion God’s grace Friendly people eager to help you feel at home Children’s and youth ministries your kids will love! Brett was raised in Texas and pastored three churches prior planting Quest Church.
St. Patrick Presbyterian Church – Cedar Park,TX – http://www.stpatrickchurch.net/ Brian Henson. Brian is originally from the Boot Heel of Missouri and did his undergraduate degree in agriculture at Murray State University. After college, he convinced his long-time sweetheart, Erika, to marry him. After working for the University of Missouri for a time in irrigation research, Brian was accepted into graduate school at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi. After graduating with his M.Div. in 2004, the Hensons relocated to Collierville, Tennessee, where Brian served as Associate Minister at St. Patrick Presbyterian Church (EPC) for the next decade. They moved to Cedar Park in August of 2014 to plant St. Patrick Church.
The Table Little Rock – Little Rock, Arkansas — https://www.thetablelittlerock.org Michael Gallup. Michael is a graduate of Denver Seminary and is a Teaching Elder in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. In addition to being a husband to Michala, and a father to Mary Grace and Nehemiah, he enjoys smoked meat, craft beer, Gamecock football, and bluegrass music. Michael is in the early stages of planting an Evangelical Presbyterian church in the heart of Little Rock.
All Souls Church – Nashville, TN – All Souls Church in North Nashville desires is to be a community that invites all to come and explore the claims of Jesus and to encounter the truth of his life and message. Worship to God is foundational to who we are and as we come together each Sunday we remind each other who is worthy of worship and confess our tendency to elevate created things above the creator. We will not be an exclusive club, but a group of people who welcome anyone to join us on this journey of faith, exploring who Jesus is and how he changes everything. Experiencing the mercy of God moves us to show mercy to others. Nashville, like most cities, is in desperate need of merciful Christians caring well for their neighbors and working for the flourishing of all people. We take this especially seriously in regard to the oppressed, under-resourced, and forgotten. We will be a community that is sensitive to the spiritual and physical needs of our neighbors, constantly seeking to show kindness and generosity.
The Table Project – Denver, CO – Give to The Table Project / Mark Grapengater. It has been said that Denver is a place that people are either running to something, or running from something; a place to reinvent themselves. At The Table Project, we believe that Jesus is the One who makes all things new. The Table Project exists to provide a seat at the table of God’s grace. Our mission is to invite people into a relationship with Christ and form a community that worships and serves together. Mark is originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma, attended Kansas State University and received his M. Div. from North Park Theological Seminary. Mark and Stacey met in St. Louis in 2010. After spending 5 years as an Assistant Pastor in Decatur, GA, they, along with their two children, Michael and Evelyn, moved to Denver in August 2018. Mark enjoys all things gastronomic, but especially BBQ, bourbon, pork, and sourdough bread.
To see more about some of the church plants we support and our Presbytery Church Planting Network , please watch the video below.
Presbytery Network from Megan Pappalardo Films on Vimeo.
DENOMINATIONAL COMMITMENTS
EPC National – We support our natonal denomination through our “Per Member Askings.” These dollars fund the small national staff in the Orlando, FL headquarters and enable committee members to travel.
EPC Central South – Central South Presbytery is the geographic region we are located in. Our dollars go to support the two part-time staff, the committee structure and local work to aid the churches in ministry. EPC Central South Women’s Ministry – These dollars support training for and ministry to the women within our presbytery.
Central supports many other ministries and missionaries in closed countries who can’t be named publicly due to safety concerns. For more information, please contact the church office.