Bob and Grace Shim have been serving as project missionaries in Central Asia since 2003. They will relocate to Thailand to begin work in medical and community development and counseling.
Lisandro and Patricia Restrepo have been serving as project missionaries in Monterrey, Mexico, with the Family Foundation since 2003. They will continue this work with children and families in community development, evangelism, and discipleship.
Financial constraints had prevented the department from commissioning long-term missionaries, says Byron Amundsen, director of mission and finance. He noted that the two couples had been project ministries and already had developed a strong base of financial support.
Delegates also commissioned 16 new missionaries who will serve between one to three years in countries around the globe. As part of the commissioning service, attendees clustered around the missionaries throughout the large ballroom to lay hands on and pray for them.
Following are the short-term missionaries commissioned during tonight’s worship service:
- Japan—Grant and Miho Buchholtz, Highrock Covenant Church, Arlington, Massachusetts
- Sweden—Joe Davis, Christian Vision Covenant, Northbrook, Illinois
- Ecuador—Joel and Kim Delp, Northwestern Covenant Church, Mt. Prospect, Illinois
- Ecuador—Chris and Jenny Hoskins, Flat Irons Community, Lafayette, Colorado; and First Covenant Church, Omaha, Nebraska
- Spain—Steve and Rebecca Hoden, Evangelical Covenant Church, Kent, Washington; and Edgebrook Covenant Church, Chicago, Illinois
- Mexico—Ellen Hernandez, Vida Internacional Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico
- Mexico—Alex Velasco, Iglesia del Pacto la Trinidad, Mission, Texas
- India—John and Rebecca Kim, Highrock Covenant Church, Arlington, Massachusetts
- Colombia—Kjel Larsen, Mercer Island Covenant Church, Mercer Island, Washington
- Colombia—Bud and Karen Locke, River of Life Covenant Church, Sacramento, California
