Global Missions
Get to Know, Pray for, & Support Our Missionaries
Deb Anat
ABWE International
Church planting in the Philippines
OBF ministry partner since 2000
Deb Anat and ABWE missionary Sophie Jenista began this work in 2000 at the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Manila, Philippines. They trained prisoner leaders called Lightbearers to introduce prisoners to Christ, disciple them, and teach them to pray and serve. Because Christ transformed the prison, the administration offered them land on the compound to build the ABWE Freedom in Christ Baptist Church where prisoners gather each day for Bible study, worship, and prayer. Twenty-five years later, more than one thousand women have met Christ through this ministry. Recently, twenty-four more women were baptized in obedience to Christ and to signify their commitment to follow Him. One inmate shared that she didn’t regret going to prison because she found the Lord and was able to overcome her anger, bitterness, and resentment. Released prisoners go on to actively plant churches or serve as they have learned to do at CIW.
Recently, the administrator of a smaller prison on Panay island requested a similar ministry. The administrator is meeting with Deb and passing on what she learns to the inmates. Deb is planning to train members of a local church to partner with this prison. Although Deb is involved in serving full time in many areas of ministry, funds from OBF specifically support the prison ministries.
Armenia
OBF support goes to Baptist churches in Ashtarak and Sevan, Armenia and to the Seminary of The Union of Evangelical Christian Baptist Churches of Armenia in Yerevan.
OBF ministry partner since 2016
The Sahapetyans attend Ashtarak Baptist Church. Asatur serves as the president of the ECB Theological Seminary of Armenia–one of the only evangelical seminaries in that part of the world. The seminary is very active in training young men for ministry, and then sending them out in 2’s to plant churches in the country of Armenia. Asatur spends much time working/teaching in the seminary and connecting with and helping young pastors as they plant churches and spread the gospel throughout Armenia. He also serves as General Secretary of The Union of Evangelical Christian Baptist Churches of Armenia. The Union participated in a revision of the Ararat Eastern Armenian Bible. OBF contributions aid in printing copies of the Bible for distribution.
Pastor Arman is a graduate of the Theological Seminary of Armenia. After graduating, he took up the challenge of planting a church in Sevan, Armenia. His church has a great ministry to the children in Sevan, including organizing summer camps which serve local and refugee children in the area. Arman was a huge contributor to the efforts of the OBF short-term team that served in Armenia in 2018. He provided much counsel and hands-on contributions to the summer teen conference held in the Sevan region. As a result of that conference, Arman helped other young pastors develop their own youth conferences in different parts of Armenia.
Asatur & Yasmine Sahapetyan
ECB Seminary
Arman & Tatiavik Gevorkyan
Jane Armstrong
Cru - Miami University
Discipleship
OBF ministry partner for over 40 years!
Jane is serving with Cru at Miami University where she has been helping women discover and live out the purposes God has for them for over 40 years.
For 15 years we directed The Navs campus ministry at Miami U. In 2000 we moved to Bergen, Norway to direct our Campus Ministries in the city-main campus, Business School, Medical School, and pioneered a Law School and some High School ministry. In 2006 we were asked to return to Ohio to be Regional Leaders for the Great Lakes Region (Ohio, Michigan, and Kentucky). In 2016 we were asked to become the National Directors for ISM-our ministry to International Students.
I supervise 125 staff serving on 40 campuses. There are normally close to 1.2 Million International Students in the USA, from every country in the world. Of note is a great increase in Hindu background students from India. All ISM staff now work online, including following up with 1,000+ alumni.
Ward & Kari Ballard
Navigators
Mission Directors for ISM (International Student Ministries)
OBF ministry partner since 1985
Douglas & Jennings Boone
Wycliffe Bible Translators
Language Program Management and Bible Translation
OBF ministry partner with Douglas since 1985, Jennings since 2006
Douglas is Team Leader for Strategic Research (among other roles) helping language program managers make informed decisions and monitor program effectiveness. He also serves their team as Field Security Officer. Jennings is a Translation Consultant coaching translation teams to ensure translation quality, and building skills among translators and consultants.
All the project translators are Congolese mother-tongue speakers. Before work begins, we help train the translators, and Douglas helps assure that the translations will be a good fit for the community (in a dialect that people understand and accept, and that the new books and recordings will complement what people are already doing with the languages they know). During the translation project, Jennings sees to it that the translators don’t have to wait too long for confirmation that their drafts are clear and accurate. At this time, Douglas may help them find answers to remaining questions about how to organize the program. We also support the work of Bible translation in many less direct ways by helping where needed.
Our vision is to ignite church planting movements across Europe. Our dream is to see one church planted every day in Europe. Our mission is to serve and equip national and regional leadership teams to collaborate in recruiting, assessing, training and coaching church planters and their teams in planting healthy and reproducing churches that glorify God and impact society. We are currently working with church plants in 18 different European countries.
Theo & Merle Bunescu
M4
Director of Leadership Development
OBF ministry partner since 2024
Dale & Becky Burke
Leverage Leadership
Founder & Director
OBF ministry partner since 2024
Dale has 35+ years of experience pastoring at a wide variety of types and sizes of churches from church-plant (Oxford Bible Fellowship!) to mega-church, from new and innovative to those steeped in tradition, and from those in need of recovery to those that are healthy, but want to really thrive. He formed Leverage Leadership in 2012 to formalize his long-standing leadership ministry and investment in the next generation of Christian leaders and pastors in the USA and around the world.
OBF support goes directly to Leverage Leadership, which exists to equip pastors and ministry leaders to thrive in their personal lives and leadership roles in the US and around the world. We desire to see hundreds of T.O.T.s (trainers of trainers), equipping thousands of global pastors and leaders, to empower millions of disciples to impact their world for Christ.
As directors of the Back2Back Ministries site in the Dominican Republic, Hope and Cheque Garcia lead a passionate team dedicated to serving vulnerable children and families. Their work focuses on addressing educational and social-emotional needs, while investing in community development to help families become Christ-centered, nurturing, and healthy environments where children can grow and thrive.
In addition to their ongoing ministry, Hope and Cheque host short-term mission teams, offering opportunities for individuals and groups to serve, learn, and engage meaningfully with the local community. They also equip and support other ministries through trauma competent care training—broadening the impact of holistic, Christ-like care across the region.
Cheque & Hope Garcia
Back2Back- Dominican Republic
Directors
OBF ministry partner with Hope first then Cheque
Todd & Tami Graham
Navigators
Staff Trainer
OBF ministry partner since 2019
Todd and Tami began ministry as Youth Directors for a church in the Cincinnati area. During their years in youth ministry their hearts began to be pulled to college students. They watched as the students in their youth group went to college and would be overwhelmed by the temptations of campus life and turn away from their relationship with God.
They served with Athletes in Action for 2 years before moving to The Navigators in 2009 and joining the ministry at Miami University. From 2012 to 2018 they established and led the Navigator Ministry at The University of Akron. During the summer of 2018 they moved back to Oxford to become the Navigator’s Staff Trainers at Miami University.
Todd and Tami have a love for individual discipleship and training and are blessed to be able to train new staff with The Navigators and work with college students with the Miami Navigators ministry. They have 4 children, 2 dogs, 2 cats, and a bunny. They enjoy being outside hiking, camping, and boating in their free time.
Jonathan and Maggie serve with Mesa Global (formerly United World Mission). After spending 8 years in Costa Rica serving missionary kids, the Hunters moved to Scotland, and Jonathan started a PhD program (New Testament) at the University of St Andrews, which he will finish in 2026. Jonathan serves in the role as a “Missional Scholar,” and is involved in theological education and missional innovation. The Hunters move back from Scotland in 2025 and are seeking the Lord’s guidance for their next placement. They plan to be involved in classical Christian education, church ministry, and innovations in theological education.
Jonathan & Maggie Hunter
Missional Scholar
Mesa Global
Serve as Mesa Global Missional Scholar (Early Christianity and New Testament)
OBF ministry partner since 2018 (in prayer since 2013)
Ross & Mary Hunter
Pioneers International - Ecuador, Quichua people
Discipleship, Bible Training, Pastor Training
OBF ministry partner since ??
Ross is developing and transforming theological education in indigenous communities in Latin America. Focusing on orality methods is proving to increase comprehension and is spreading through Ross’ connections with the ProMETA seminary and the Center for International Theological Education. Mary has a trauma healing ministry, providing spiritual care and counseling.
Beth serves with Cru on the Global Leadership Development and Resources Team (LDHR). She works with a team of others to provide resources, support, and training to empower and equip National LDHR leaders worldwide and the broader body of Christ, all to accelerate the Great Commission.
Beth Leuchauer & Baron
Cru
Global Leadership Development & Human Resources
Connor McInnes
InterVarsity - Miami University and the University of Northwestern Ohio
Campus Staff Minister
OBF ministry partner since 2023, OBF has partnered with InterVarsity for many years
Connor works to advance the ministry’s mission on campus. They focus on evangelism and discipleship among students and faculty and develop student and local partner teams. Activities include chapter meetings, Bible studies, and an apprenticeship program.
While OBF support goes directly to NETS, Wes and Sue have deep roots at OBF having been members here years ago and for many years.
NETS’ vision is to be used of God to fill the earth with His glorious image through healthy, gospel-proclaiming churches throughout the least churched regions of our nation and world. NETS trains and sends men to plant and revitalize gospel-driven churches in New England and beyond, and equips others to do the same. We recruit, assess, equip, and train future pastors through comprehensive training, hands-on learning, and life-on-life mentoring. We then send and support field pastors in sustained partnership for the life of the church.
NETS-Wes & Sue Pastor
NETS (New England Training and Sending Center for Church Planting and Revitalization)
President/Training & Sending Director; Lead Women’s Mentor/Hospitality Director
OBF ministry partner since 2024
Sharon Porterfield
Shepherd's Staff
Discipleship & Encouragement
OBF ministry partner since 1996
Sharon Porterfield began work among the Karen people in December 1985. Sharon ministers mostly to Karen tribal people from Burma, along the Thailand/Burma border, from Songklaburi to Ban Sapan Noi, Thailand. Because of an ongoing civil war, they are now scattered and living in villages and refugee camps in Thailand, with thousands still living in the jungle. The ministry the Lord has called Sharon to includes sharing the Gospel and discipling through many aspects, which now includes the Rohyinga refugees who fled from Burma to a refugee camp in Bangladesh of over one million refugees. She acquires and distributes relief supplies including food, medicine, clothing and agricultural supplies to displaced individuals. She recently retired from teaching at the Pa La U Discipleship Center because of health, but moved to a city only one hour away, so continues to minister spiritual encouragement and provide medical help for many, including the handicapped when their needs are known . She’s also involved in the church she is now going to in the city where she moved.
Every year the Scotts seek to help students “Know Christ, make Him known, and help others do the same.” This takes the form of Life-to-Life discipleship as we meet students where they are spiritually and physically on campus. Our staff and students host small group Bible studies, lead outreach events, and gather weekly for our on-campus NavNight meeting. These events all serve to build relationships, foster community, and deepen a relationship with Jesus. In addition to our direct ministry to student and our staff team at Miami, Taylor and Christy have additional contributions: Taylor serves part time with The Navigators national Leader Development program – increasing the capacity and effectiveness of staff across the nation. Christy also works part time with the Center for Business Leadership at Miami – engaging and impacting students through unique relational pathways.
Taylor & Christy Scott
The Navigators
Campus Directors
OBF ministry partner since 2014
Voice of the Martyrs
OBF ministry partner for many years
OBF has partnered for many years with The Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) through prayer and financial support to aid the persecuted church, and letter writing campaigns to plead for the release of those imprisoned in the name of Christ.
The Voice of the Martyrs is a nonprofit, interdenominational missions organization, that offers practical and spiritual help to persecuted Christians around the world. VOM was founded in 1967 by Pastor Richard Wurmbrand, who was imprisoned 14 years in Communist Romania for his faith in Christ. His wife, Sabina, was imprisoned for three years. In the 1960s, Richard, Sabina, and their son, Mihai, were ransomed out of Romania and came to the United States. Through their travels, the Wurmbrands spread the message of the atrocities that Christians face in restricted nations, while establishing a network of offices dedicated to assisting the persecuted church. The Voice of the Martyrs continues in this mission around the world today through the following main purposes:
The ministry is based on Hebrews 13:3:
Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.
VOM’s Mission Statement
Serving persecuted Christians through practical and spiritual assistance and leading other members of the Body of Christ into fellowship with them.
VOM’s Five Main Purposes
- To encourage and empower Christians to fulfill the Great Commission in areas of the world where they are persecuted for sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.
- To provide practical relief and spiritual support to the families of Christian martyrs.
- To equip persecuted Christians to love and win to Christ those who are opposed to the gospel in their part of the world.
- To undertake projects of encouragement, helping believers rebuild their lives and Christian witness in countries where they have formerly suffered oppression.
- To promote the fellowship of all believers by informing the world of the faith and courage of persecuted Christians, thereby inspiring believers to a deeper level of commitment to Christ and involvement in His Great Commission.
Charley and Cheryl live in Irpin, Ukraine, a Kyiv suburb that has suffered heavy losses in the war and is home to thousands of displaced people. They teach missions and spiritual life classes at seminaries in Ukraine and Armenia and mentor a team that provides care for Ukrainian missionaries. Charley coordinates the publication of missions and member care books in Ukrainian and serves on a nationwide missions committee, and Cheryl provides spiritual support for missionary women around the world. As Ukrainians experience ongoing war-related grief and loss, spiritual conversations go deep in the home Bible studies that Charley and Cheryl lead as members of Irpin Bible Church.
Charlie & Cheryl Warner
Barnabas International
Caring for Ukrainian missionaries and other global workers
OBF ministry partner since 1987
Short Term Missions Support Application
We have the great opportunity to support short-term missions trips and projects. We've partnered with individuals to support spring break missions trips, summer missions trips, special one-to-two-year-long trips, and other missions activities in this country and around the world. Are you raising support for a short-term missions trip? Complete and submit the application below to tell us more about what you're doing and how you would like Oxford Bible Fellowship to partner in your ministry!
Application Criteria
Submit the application at least 30 days prior to your trip. If there are extenuating circumstances that prevent that, please indicate that in the application. Submit a reference letter. (upload in the application) Submit your prayer/support letter. (upload in the application) Submit ministry updates during your mission trip to [email protected]. (Weekly if your trip is less than a month or monthly if your trip is longer than a month.) Submit a written follow-up report within 30 days of your return to [email protected].
