Melanie Brunell | Tokyo, Japan
Melanie grew up at Fellowship Church, participating in elementary, middle school, high school, and adult ministries. While getting her B.A. in English literature and Film Studies at the University of Tennessee, she was actively involved in CollegeLife and went on their inaugural week-long Tijuana mission trip in 2006. God used this time to continue to grow her heart for missions she had experienced from a young age.
Soon after this trip, through a discipleship class at Fellowship Church, Melanie learned about the great spiritual darkness in Japan (where less than 2% of the 127 million Japanese people are Christian). In 2013, the Lord led Melanie to pursue full-time overseas ministry in Japan with EFCA ReachGlobal. She served in Northern Japan (Sapporo) from 2014-2019 at an English cafe ministry, and she currently serves in Tokyo, Japan as a member of the ReachGlobal Tokyo City Team. She and her team focus on house church planting and college outreach, with the heart and prayer to see the Japanese people come to treasure Jesus above all else.
Soon after this trip, through a discipleship class at Fellowship Church, Melanie learned about the great spiritual darkness in Japan (where less than 2% of the 127 million Japanese people are Christian). In 2013, the Lord led Melanie to pursue full-time overseas ministry in Japan with EFCA ReachGlobal. She served in Northern Japan (Sapporo) from 2014-2019 at an English cafe ministry, and she currently serves in Tokyo, Japan as a member of the ReachGlobal Tokyo City Team. She and her team focus on house church planting and college outreach, with the heart and prayer to see the Japanese people come to treasure Jesus above all else.
Delaney DriscolL | Monterrey, Mexico
Delaney grew up at Fellowship Church, participating in the middle and high school ministries, where she was introduced to the short-term mission trips to Tijuana, Mexico. After going on several of these trips and eventually serving as an intern over several summers during her high school years, Delaney moved to Tijuana in 2019 after graduating college to work full-time at Tijuana Christian Mission and also helped lead a discipleship training program in her local church. Four years later, Delaney sensed God calling her to a new ministry in Monterrey, Mexico.
In her new role, she will be working with Back2Back ministries in their Transition Program. She will help young adults transition from institutionalized living situations, such as orphanages and government shelters, to living independently as healthy young adults within their community. In Mexico, many orphaned children age out of these homes and end up returning to abusive families or living on the streets. Delaney’s role will be to help these young adults establish goals to live independently, help them acquire necessary skills and resources, and offer ongoing support as they transition into adult life. The ultimate goal is that these children who grew up dependent on institutional living environments will flourish to be “adults living dependently on Christ and interdependently in their community.”
In her new role, she will be working with Back2Back ministries in their Transition Program. She will help young adults transition from institutionalized living situations, such as orphanages and government shelters, to living independently as healthy young adults within their community. In Mexico, many orphaned children age out of these homes and end up returning to abusive families or living on the streets. Delaney’s role will be to help these young adults establish goals to live independently, help them acquire necessary skills and resources, and offer ongoing support as they transition into adult life. The ultimate goal is that these children who grew up dependent on institutional living environments will flourish to be “adults living dependently on Christ and interdependently in their community.”
The Johnsons | Pan American Roasters | Latin America
Stan and Tamera Johnson have dedicated their lives to serving families in Latin America. They have a unique heart and passion to help strengthen and mend marriages, as well as to develop young adults into healthy lifestyles.
Since 2016, the Johnsons have traveled regularly to Latin America. They invest deeply in marriages by developing and executing marriage workshops for couples. Along with these workshops, the couple regularly meets with families and young adults to encourage and support them.
In 2023, they opened their own coffee shop where they invite locals into learning the process of coffee roasting, business, customer service, and other unique ways of serving.
Their heart is to be a positive business owner and friend to their neighbors and others in the area. Supporting and building relationships with other businesses in their location is an important part of being in the community.
Since 2016, the Johnsons have traveled regularly to Latin America. They invest deeply in marriages by developing and executing marriage workshops for couples. Along with these workshops, the couple regularly meets with families and young adults to encourage and support them.
In 2023, they opened their own coffee shop where they invite locals into learning the process of coffee roasting, business, customer service, and other unique ways of serving.
Their heart is to be a positive business owner and friend to their neighbors and others in the area. Supporting and building relationships with other businesses in their location is an important part of being in the community.
the chesneys | homes of love | zimbabwe, cambodia, southeast asia
Gary and Debbie Chesney founded Homes of Love in 2000. However, the story begins many years before then. As a teenager, God began to build the call of adoption and the country of Vietnam in Debbie’s heart. Several years later, Debbie and Gary were married but still didn’t have a clear sense of God’s desire for how they would impact Vietnamese orphans. Twenty years later, Homes of Love was born from a heart for children to have forever homes. Homes of Love families are places of restoration where parents care for hurting children, offering them protection, guidance, spiritual hope, and love. These children receive nutritious food, clean water, clothing, education, healthcare, and lots of love – freeing them to dream and pursue vibrant futures.
Mark Granger | Wycliffe Bible Translators
Mark is a former elder of Fellowship Church who has recently resigned from this role to go into full-time ministry. Mark has stepped into a position with Wycliffe Bible Translators as an Organizational Strengthening Consultant assisting Bible translation organizations and their partner churches.
Wycliffe serves the global body of Christ to advance Bible translation so people can encounter God through His word in a language they understand.
Wycliffe serves the global body of Christ to advance Bible translation so people can encounter God through His word in a language they understand.
sue dee | ebenezer ministries | zimbabwe
Sue Dee was born and raised in Zimbabwe. Sue and her late husband John formed Ebenezer Ministry. In 2007, they started taking teams to Zimbabwe to minister to several groups of people. Sue has been a member of Fellowship church for several decades. She has a huge heart for orphans and now works with aged-out orphans to help equip them with life skills - especially through agriculture training in partnership with Foundations of Farming. Sue also a heart for widows and has started teaching and helping widows receive agricultural training to help provide for themselves.
The alburys | Camp Bahamas | the bahamas
Richard and Andrea Albury began their journey began over 20 years ago with a call from the Lord to serve the teens of The Bahamas. Their ministry, Camp Bahamas, offers a variety of sports activities to students on these islands. Each year they serve over 600 campers using gospel infused sports and games that reach those who are far from Jesus. Along with the activities of the camp, each participant has a chance to learn more about Jesus through the teaching and discipling time.
Camp Bahamas recruits and trains staff to participate in the discipleship of these young students. Most of the current staff are former students who have decided to take their next step in faith by investing in the next generation. The camp currently has several building projects going on, which will eventually help enhance the ministry to the guests.
Richard shared that, “God is good and our prayer for our Staff and Campers this summer is that they would be able to 'Taste and See the Goodness of God' in their lives this year. We are excited about the future of CB and the direction that God is taking us.”
Camp Bahamas recruits and trains staff to participate in the discipleship of these young students. Most of the current staff are former students who have decided to take their next step in faith by investing in the next generation. The camp currently has several building projects going on, which will eventually help enhance the ministry to the guests.
Richard shared that, “God is good and our prayer for our Staff and Campers this summer is that they would be able to 'Taste and See the Goodness of God' in their lives this year. We are excited about the future of CB and the direction that God is taking us.”
