Introducing the Allens: Missionaries to Microsia

Rev. John Mark & Oshiana Allen • Missionaries to Micronesia 🇫🇲
October 26, 2026

11 Minute Read

Missions Update: The Allens in Micronesia | September 2026

We're excited to introduce a new missionary family that is currently on the field. We started supporting John Mark and Oshiana Allen in Q3 of 2026 and we're so excited to continue to see what God is doing through their ministry in the islands of Micronesia.
- Pastor Abram

John Mark and Oshiana Allen are seeing God open doors for evangelism, discipleship, and church planting throughout Micronesia!

From new believers being baptized to growing house churches and new ministry opportunities, we’re excited to share their latest update.

Commission Church is grateful to partner with missionaries like the Allens who are faithfully sharing the Gospel and equipping the local Church to reach their communities.

TLDR
  • 🙏 People Are Coming to Jesus! An entire family in Eirike has decided to be baptized, and a growing house church is beginning Sunday morning services.
  • 🚙 Speed the Light Is Making a Difference! The Allens received their new truck, and on its first evangelism outing, another person gave their life to Jesus!
  • 🌏 Pray for Micronesia! Pray for new believers, developing churches, missionary teams, and continued opportunities to share the Gospel throughout the islands.




🇺🇸 English | September 2026

The following update is from missionaries John Mark and Oshiana Allen.

Ministry News

Our summer has been packed! We arrived back on Pohnpei August 31st after a month and a half of travel. Since July we have participated in two General Councils, one retreat (required) for all Asia Pacific missionaries currently on the field, and our 2nd on-field training for first-term missionaries. We visited Guam and Palau, each for the first time, each also part of our Micronesia field. We are excited to be back on island and diving back into language study.

We received our Speed the Light truck in June shortly before we left, and we put it right to use. The very first Saturday that John Mark and Pastor Jun went out evangelizing in our new truck, they led another person to Christ. Glory to God!

The Allens' new blue Toyota Speed the Light truck! Speed the Light is the Assembly of God's youth missions giving organization that primarily focuses on buying vehicles and equipment for missionaries across the world.

As I (Oshiana) write, John Mark is in the middle of his 1st session with our language helper since returning, and Isaac is beginning his 2nd week back in school. We meet with all the local Assembly of God ministers tomorrow night, then have our 3rd of four this year on-field training for 1st termers later this week.

Answered Prayers

House Church Growth: While we were away, one entire family from the village where outreach has been taking place made the decision to be water baptized. Also, the church that has been meeting at their house on Wednesday nights is now going to begin a Sunday morning service.

Cleared again: John Mark had his 2-year follow-up colonoscopy and once again no cancer was found. Praise the Lord!

Daniel’s visa arrived: Our son got to meet us at Asia Pacific retreat on his way to Japan, where he is now serving one year as a MAPS worker and intern with Chris & Lindsey Carter in Tsukuba.

Field Update

Super Typhoon Bavi hitting Rota and Saipan in July caused Assembly of God General Council in FSM to be delayed by a week, since the main speaker’s flight was cancelled. We saw the people in the church, especially the youth, work diligently the whole month before council doing building maintenance and improvements. Despite power outages happening during services, we went on singing acapella, lighting the room with mobile phone lights.

During council we heard and visited some with General Superintendent Mike Rodgers from Saipan, a US territory in Micronesia. John Mark, Diane and Hannah all preached or taught sessions at council. John Mark hosted the men’s session at our house, and John Mark and I helped Grace put a new Yapese song into writing with chords so it can be shared. Our team also began planning a visit to Yap later this year.

In August John Mark had the privilege of filling the pulpit at Palau Assembly of God for two weeks. We did our best to connect with as many people as possible and to learn more about our Micronesian field. We visited the capital and hiked up a stone path to visit one of Palau’s five remaining bai, the traditional men’s house.

The end of August we had the honor of speaking at General Council in Guam. John Mark addressed the men while Oshiana the women. Then Sunday John Mark, Oshiana and Hannah each preached at different churches. We are praising God for these open doors to begin building relationships with the leaders and congregations of Guam as we dream of how our team can help plant, grow, resource and missionize the local church throughout Micronesia.

Do Not Count Yourself Out

We were in our late 40’s when John Mark and I sensed the Lord directing us to serve in Micronesia. We were prepared to be told you’re too old to be missionaries. Still, we agreed to knock on that door.

Like us, our teammates, Dave & Patti Schatzmann, were older. Close but not quite at retirement, they said yes to God and came as Missionary Associates for two years. This couple serves Micronesia in the area of community development. Having finished their term as Missionary Associates, they left in December intending to return. In June they were officially commissioned as Career Missionaries.

All of the testimonies you see us sharing about evangelism going on in Eirike and house churches started in that community, this couple played an important role in that. They pioneered a clean water project and together with some locals helped open up a community to evangelism and church planting. The local church has continued walking through that open door and the fruit is being harvested from their combined labors. All glory to God!

Would you join us in praying for Dave & Patti?

  • Pray they have divine connections with churches and individuals as they prepare to return to the field.
  • Pray that the Lord will call more people to the harvest field through their ministry.

Could you be one of those people God is calling to join our team? If you are, we invite you to reach out. You can also find more information about serving at Asia Pacific Missions.

Other Prayer Requests

Discipleship: Pray for the ongoing discipleship of new believers in Eirike and that some of these will respond to God’s call to pastor the new churches.

Missions response: FSM Assemblies of God is turning eyes to the mission field both locally and beyond the state of Pohnpei. Pray for divine direction as they move forward with outreaches.

Knee replacement: Pray for quick recovery for Diane, our Field Coordinator, who is having knee replacement in December.






🇪🇸 Español | Septiembre 2026

Actualización de los misioneros John Mark y Oshiana Allen.

Noticias del ministerio

¡Hemos tenido un verano muy intenso! Regresamos a Pohnpei el 31 de agosto tras un mes y medio de viajes. Desde julio, hemos participado en dos Consejos Generales, un retiro (obligatorio) para todos los misioneros de la región de Asia-Pacífico que se encuentran actualmente en el campo de misión, y nuestra segunda capacitación en el terreno para misioneros que cumplen su primer periodo de servicio. Visitamos Guam y Palaos, ambos por primera vez y parte de nuestra zona de misión en Micronesia. Nos entusiasma estar de vuelta en la isla y retomar el estudio del idioma.

Recibimos nuestro camión de Speed the Light en junio, poco antes de partir, y lo pusimos en uso de inmediato. El primer sábado que John Mark y el pastor Jun salieron a evangelizar en nuestro nuevo camión, guiaron a otra persona a Cristo. ¡Gloria a Dios!

Mientras escribo esto (Oshiana), John Mark está en plena primera sesión con nuestro colaborador de idiomas desde que regresamos, e Isaac comienza su segunda semana de vuelta en la escuela. Mañana por la noche nos reuniremos con todos los pastores locales de las Asambleas de Dios y, más adelante esta semana, tendremos nuestra tercera capacitación en el campo.

Oraciones respondidas

Crecimiento de la iglesia en casas: Mientras estábamos fuera, una familia entera de la aldea donde se ha estado realizando la labor de evangelización decidió bautizarse en agua. Además, la iglesia que se ha estado reuniendo en su casa los miércoles por la noche comenzará ahora un culto los domingos por la mañana.

Limpio otra vez: John Mark se sometió a la colonoscopia de control a los dos años y, una vez más, no se encontró cáncer. ¡Alabado sea el Señor!

Llegó la visa de Daniel: Nuestro hijo nos recibió en el retiro de Asia Pacífico de camino a Japón, donde ahora está cumpliendo un año de servicio como trabajador y pasante de MAPS con Chris y Lindsey Carter en Tsukuba.

Actualización de campo

El supertifón Bavi, que azotó Rota y Saipan en julio, provocó que el Consejo General de la Asamblea de Dios en los Estados Federados de Micronesia se retrasara una semana, ya que se canceló el vuelo del orador principal. Vimos a los miembros de la iglesia, especialmente a los jóvenes, trabajar con esmero durante todo el mes previo al consejo en tareas de mantenimiento y mejoras del edificio. A pesar de los cortes de electricidad durante los cultos, continuamos cantando a capela e iluminando el recinto con las luces de los teléfonos móviles.

Durante la conferencia, escuchamos y conversamos con el Superintendente General Mike Rodgers, quien sirve en Saipán (un territorio estadounidense en Micronesia). John Mark, Diane y Hannah predicaron o impartieron sesiones durante el evento. Para la sesión de hombres, John Mark les recibió en nuestra casa. Ayudamos a Grace a transcribir su nueva canción de Yap (incluyendo los acordes) para que pueda compartirse. Nuestro equipo también comenzó a planificar una visita a Yap para más adelante este año.

En agosto, John Mark tuvo el privilegio de predicar en la Iglesia Asamblea de Dios de Palau durante dos semanas. Hicimos todo lo posible por conectar con la mayor cantidad de personas posible y por conocer mejor nuestro campo misionero en Micronesia. Visitamos la capital y subimos por un sendero de piedra para visitar uno de los cinco bai que aún se conservan en Palaos, la casa tradicional de los hombres.

A finales de agosto, tuvimos el honor de participar como oradores en el Consejo General en Guam. John Mark se dirigió a los hombres, mientras que Oshiana lo hizo ante las mujeres. Posteriormente, el domingo, John Mark, Oshiana y Hannah predicaron en tres iglesias diferentes. Alabamos a Dios por estas puertas abiertas para comenzar a establecer relaciones con los líderes y las congregaciones de Guam, mientras soñamos con cómo nuestro equipo puede contribuir a plantar, hacer crecer, equipar y fomentar la labor misionera de la iglesia local en toda Micronesia.

No te descartes

Estábamos cerca de los cincuenta años cuando John Mark y yo sentimos que el Señor nos guiaba a servir en Micronesia. Estábamos preparados para que nos dijeran que éramos demasiado mayores para ser misioneros. Aun así, decidimos llamar a esa puerta.

Al igual que nosotros, nuestros compañeros de equipo, Dave y Patti Schatzmann, eran mayores. Aunque cercanos a la jubilación, respondieron afirmativamente al llamado de Dios y llegaron como misioneros asociados por un periodo de dos años. Esta pareja sirve en Micronesia en el ámbito del desarrollo comunitario. Tras finalizar su período como misioneros asociados, se marcharon en diciembre con la intención de regresar. En junio fueron oficialmente comisionados como misioneros de carrera.

En todos los testimonios que les hemos compartido sobre la evangelización que se lleva a cabo en Eirike y las iglesias en casas que comenzaron en esa comunidad, esta pareja jugó un papel importante en eso. Fueron pioneros en un proyecto de agua potable y, junto con algunos lugareños, ayudaron a abrir una comunidad al evangelismo y la plantación de iglesias. La iglesia local ha seguido aprovechando esa puerta abierta y los frutos de su trabajo conjunto se están cosechando. ¡Toda gloria a Dios!

¿Se unirían a nosotros para orar por Dave y Patti?

  • Oren para que tengan conexiones divinas con iglesias e individuos mientras se preparan para regresar al campo.
  • Oren para que el Señor llame a más personas al campo de la cosecha a través de su ministerio.

¿Podría Dios estar llamándolo a unirse a nuestro equipo? Si es así, les invitamos a ponerse en contacto con nosotros. También puedes encontrar más información sobre cómo servir en Asia Pacific Missions.

Otras peticiones de oración

Discipulado: Oren por el discipulado continuo de los nuevos creyentes en Eirike y para que algunos de ellos respondan al llamado de Dios de pastorear las nuevas iglesias.

Dirección divina: FSM Asambleas de Dios está dirigiendo su mirada hacia el campo misionero, tanto a nivel local como más allá del estado de Pohnpei. Oren para que Dios los guíe mientras avanzan con sus actividades de evangelización.

Reemplazo de rodilla: Oren por la pronta recuperación de Diane, nuestra coordinadora de campo, quien se someterá a una cirugía de reemplazo de rodilla en diciembre.


Source: John Mark & Oshiana Allen, September 2026 newsletter, English and Spanish editions. Assisted with transcription from AI.

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October 26, 2026 • 11 Minute Read
Introducing the Allens: Missionaries to Microsia
Missions Update: The Allens in Micronesia | September 2026 We're excited to introduce a new missionary family that is currently on the field. We started supporting John Mark and Oshiana Allen in Q3 of 2026 and we're so excited to continue to see what God is doing through their ministry in the islands of Micronesia. - Pastor Abram John Mark and Oshiana Allen are seeing God open doors for evangelism, discipleship, and church planting throughout Micronesia! From new believers being baptized to growing house churches and new ministry opportunities, we’re excited to share their latest update. Commission Church is grateful to partner with missionaries like the Allens who are faithfully sharing the Gospel and equipping the local Church to reach their communities. TLDR 🙏 People Are Coming to Jesus! An entire family in Eirike has decided to be baptized, and a growing house church is beginning Sunday morning services. 🚙 Speed the Light Is Making a Difference! The Allens received their new truck, and on its first evangelism outing, another person gave their life to Jesus! 🌏 Pray for Micronesia! Pray for new believers, developing churches, missionary teams, and continued opportunities to share the Gospel throughout the islands. 🇺🇸 English | September 2026 The following update is from missionaries John Mark and Oshiana Allen. Ministry News Our summer has been packed! We arrived back on Pohnpei August 31st after a month and a half of travel. Since July we have participated in two General Councils, one retreat (required) for all Asia Pacific missionaries currently on the field, and our 2nd on-field training for first-term missionaries. We visited Guam and Palau, each for the first time, each also part of our Micronesia field. We are excited to be back on island and diving back into language study. We received our Speed the Light truck in June shortly before we left, and we put it right to use. The very first Saturday that John Mark and Pastor Jun went out evangelizing in our new truck, they led another person to Christ. Glory to God! As I (Oshiana) write, John Mark is in the middle of his 1st session with our language helper since returning, and Isaac is beginning his 2nd week back in school. We meet with all the local Assembly of God ministers tomorrow night, then have our 3rd of four this year on-field training for 1st termers later this week. Answered Prayers House Church Growth: While we were away, one entire family from the village where outreach has been taking place made the decision to be water baptized. Also, the church that has been meeting at their house on Wednesday nights is now going to begin a Sunday morning service. Cleared again: John Mark had his 2-year follow-up colonoscopy and once again no cancer was found. Praise the Lord! Daniel’s visa arrived: Our son got to meet us at Asia Pacific retreat on his way to Japan, where he is now serving one year as a MAPS worker and intern with Chris & Lindsey Carter in Tsukuba. Field Update Super Typhoon Bavi hitting Rota and Saipan in July caused Assembly of God General Council in FSM to be delayed by a week, since the main speaker’s flight was cancelled. We saw the people in the church, especially the youth, work diligently the whole month before council doing building maintenance and improvements. Despite power outages happening during services, we went on singing acapella, lighting the room with mobile phone lights. During council we heard and visited some with General Superintendent Mike Rodgers from Saipan, a US territory in Micronesia. John Mark, Diane and Hannah all preached or taught sessions at council. John Mark hosted the men’s session at our house, and John Mark and I helped Grace put a new Yapese song into writing with chords so it can be shared. Our team also began planning a visit to Yap later this year. In August John Mark had the privilege of filling the pulpit at Palau Assembly of God for two weeks. We did our best to connect with as many people as possible and to learn more about our Micronesian field. We visited the capital and hiked up a stone path to visit one of Palau’s five remaining bai, the traditional men’s house. The end of August we had the honor of speaking at General Council in Guam. John Mark addressed the men while Oshiana the women. Then Sunday John Mark, Oshiana and Hannah each preached at different churches. We are praising God for these open doors to begin building relationships with the leaders and congregations of Guam as we dream of how our team can help plant, grow, resource and missionize the local church throughout Micronesia. Do Not Count Yourself Out We were in our late 40’s when John Mark and I sensed the Lord directing us to serve in Micronesia. We were prepared to be told you’re too old to be missionaries. Still, we agreed to knock on that door. Like us, our teammates, Dave & Patti Schatzmann, were older. Close but not quite at retirement, they said yes to God and came as Missionary Associates for two years. This couple serves Micronesia in the area of community development. Having finished their term as Missionary Associates, they left in December intending to return. In June they were officially commissioned as Career Missionaries. All of the testimonies you see us sharing about evangelism going on in Eirike and house churches started in that community, this couple played an important role in that. They pioneered a clean water project and together with some locals helped open up a community to evangelism and church planting. The local church has continued walking through that open door and the fruit is being harvested from their combined labors. All glory to God! Would you join us in praying for Dave & Patti? Pray they have divine connections with churches and individuals as they prepare to return to the field. Pray that the Lord will call more people to the harvest field through their ministry. Could you be one of those people God is calling to join our team? If you are, we invite you to reach out. You can also find more information about serving at Asia Pacific Missions. Other Prayer Requests Discipleship: Pray for the ongoing discipleship of new believers in Eirike and that some of these will respond to God’s call to pastor the new churches. Missions response: FSM Assemblies of God is turning eyes to the mission field both locally and beyond the state of Pohnpei. Pray for divine direction as they move forward with outreaches. Knee replacement: Pray for quick recovery for Diane, our Field Coordinator, who is having knee replacement in December. 🇪🇸 Español | Septiembre 2026 Actualización de los misioneros John Mark y Oshiana Allen. Noticias del ministerio ¡Hemos tenido un verano muy intenso! Regresamos a Pohnpei el 31 de agosto tras un mes y medio de viajes. Desde julio, hemos participado en dos Consejos Generales, un retiro (obligatorio) para todos los misioneros de la región de Asia-Pacífico que se encuentran actualmente en el campo de misión, y nuestra segunda capacitación en el terreno para misioneros que cumplen su primer periodo de servicio. Visitamos Guam y Palaos, ambos por primera vez y parte de nuestra zona de misión en Micronesia. Nos entusiasma estar de vuelta en la isla y retomar el estudio del idioma. Recibimos nuestro camión de Speed the Light en junio, poco antes de partir, y lo pusimos en uso de inmediato. El primer sábado que John Mark y el pastor Jun salieron a evangelizar en nuestro nuevo camión, guiaron a otra persona a Cristo. ¡Gloria a Dios! Mientras escribo esto (Oshiana), John Mark está en plena primera sesión con nuestro colaborador de idiomas desde que regresamos, e Isaac comienza su segunda semana de vuelta en la escuela. Mañana por la noche nos reuniremos con todos los pastores locales de las Asambleas de Dios y, más adelante esta semana, tendremos nuestra tercera capacitación en el campo. Oraciones respondidas Crecimiento de la iglesia en casas: Mientras estábamos fuera, una familia entera de la aldea donde se ha estado realizando la labor de evangelización decidió bautizarse en agua. Además, la iglesia que se ha estado reuniendo en su casa los miércoles por la noche comenzará ahora un culto los domingos por la mañana. Limpio otra vez: John Mark se sometió a la colonoscopia de control a los dos años y, una vez más, no se encontró cáncer. ¡Alabado sea el Señor! Llegó la visa de Daniel: Nuestro hijo nos recibió en el retiro de Asia Pacífico de camino a Japón, donde ahora está cumpliendo un año de servicio como trabajador y pasante de MAPS con Chris y Lindsey Carter en Tsukuba. Actualización de campo El supertifón Bavi, que azotó Rota y Saipan en julio, provocó que el Consejo General de la Asamblea de Dios en los Estados Federados de Micronesia se retrasara una semana, ya que se canceló el vuelo del orador principal. Vimos a los miembros de la iglesia, especialmente a los jóvenes, trabajar con esmero durante todo el mes previo al consejo en tareas de mantenimiento y mejoras del edificio. A pesar de los cortes de electricidad durante los cultos, continuamos cantando a capela e iluminando el recinto con las luces de los teléfonos móviles. Durante la conferencia, escuchamos y conversamos con el Superintendente General Mike Rodgers, quien sirve en Saipán (un territorio estadounidense en Micronesia). John Mark, Diane y Hannah predicaron o impartieron sesiones durante el evento. Para la sesión de hombres, John Mark les recibió en nuestra casa. Ayudamos a Grace a transcribir su nueva canción de Yap (incluyendo los acordes) para que pueda compartirse. Nuestro equipo también comenzó a planificar una visita a Yap para más adelante este año. En agosto, John Mark tuvo el privilegio de predicar en la Iglesia Asamblea de Dios de Palau durante dos semanas. Hicimos todo lo posible por conectar con la mayor cantidad de personas posible y por conocer mejor nuestro campo misionero en Micronesia. Visitamos la capital y subimos por un sendero de piedra para visitar uno de los cinco bai que aún se conservan en Palaos, la casa tradicional de los hombres. A finales de agosto, tuvimos el honor de participar como oradores en el Consejo General en Guam. John Mark se dirigió a los hombres, mientras que Oshiana lo hizo ante las mujeres. Posteriormente, el domingo, John Mark, Oshiana y Hannah predicaron en tres iglesias diferentes. Alabamos a Dios por estas puertas abiertas para comenzar a establecer relaciones con los líderes y las congregaciones de Guam, mientras soñamos con cómo nuestro equipo puede contribuir a plantar, hacer crecer, equipar y fomentar la labor misionera de la iglesia local en toda Micronesia. No te descartes Estábamos cerca de los cincuenta años cuando John Mark y yo sentimos que el Señor nos guiaba a servir en Micronesia. Estábamos preparados para que nos dijeran que éramos demasiado mayores para ser misioneros. Aun así, decidimos llamar a esa puerta. Al igual que nosotros, nuestros compañeros de equipo, Dave y Patti Schatzmann, eran mayores. Aunque cercanos a la jubilación, respondieron afirmativamente al llamado de Dios y llegaron como misioneros asociados por un periodo de dos años. Esta pareja sirve en Micronesia en el ámbito del desarrollo comunitario. Tras finalizar su período como misioneros asociados, se marcharon en diciembre con la intención de regresar. En junio fueron oficialmente comisionados como misioneros de carrera. En todos los testimonios que les hemos compartido sobre la evangelización que se lleva a cabo en Eirike y las iglesias en casas que comenzaron en esa comunidad, esta pareja jugó un papel importante en eso. Fueron pioneros en un proyecto de agua potable y, junto con algunos lugareños, ayudaron a abrir una comunidad al evangelismo y la plantación de iglesias. La iglesia local ha seguido aprovechando esa puerta abierta y los frutos de su trabajo conjunto se están cosechando. ¡Toda gloria a Dios! ¿Se unirían a nosotros para orar por Dave y Patti? Oren para que tengan conexiones divinas con iglesias e individuos mientras se preparan para regresar al campo. Oren para que el Señor llame a más personas al campo de la cosecha a través de su ministerio. ¿Podría Dios estar llamándolo a unirse a nuestro equipo? Si es así, les invitamos a ponerse en contacto con nosotros. También puedes encontrar más información sobre cómo servir en Asia Pacific Missions. Otras peticiones de oración Discipulado: Oren por el discipulado continuo de los nuevos creyentes en Eirike y para que algunos de ellos respondan al llamado de Dios de pastorear las nuevas iglesias. Dirección divina: FSM Asambleas de Dios está dirigiendo su mirada hacia el campo misionero, tanto a nivel local como más allá del estado de Pohnpei. Oren para que Dios los guíe mientras avanzan con sus actividades de evangelización. Reemplazo de rodilla: Oren por la pronta recuperación de Diane, nuestra coordinadora de campo, quien se someterá a una cirugía de reemplazo de rodilla en diciembre. Source: John Mark & Oshiana Allen, September 2026 newsletter, English and Spanish editions. Assisted with transcription from AI.
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October 6, 2026 • 3 Minute Read
Amanda Berger October Update
Breaking Cycles. Making Disciples. - Update from Missionary Amanda Berger serving in Armenia, Colombia 🌍 October 2026 September was a busy month with a lot of travel. I started the month in Peru for an Andean Area women’s retreat (pictured below) It was such a rich week getting to know my colleagues, many of whom I had never met before! I needed the reminder that I am not alone in this work and that there are many who have gone before me and are surrounding me with wisdom to share. I spent a week on the coast of Colombia with fellow Ms teaching Sexual Abuse Awareness in schools with my friend from the ProtectME project. I went to help and learn so I could bring it back to the pastors in Armenia. The week was interrupted by local paramilitary activity. But everyone was safe, and the Lord continued to open doors in the community! In between trips out of Armenia, I had the privilege to travel to surrounding towns providing earthquake relief. At each location, we shared the Gospel and gave away Bibles. It was so wonderful watching Pastor Hector (pictured below) share the Gospel in 1 minute. What a challenge to be able to share the Gospel in such a simple and tangible manner. What a blessing Speed The Light has been to allow me the privilege of bringing food for the soul and body in the hour of people’s greatest need! I’m so excited to share that I am starting to gain momentum with discipleship opportunities in a few local rehabs! Moving forward, I will be leading weekly bible studies at 2 different rehabs in the area. Pastor Hector Perrilla is a Colombian Pastor who has worked to build relationships with local rehab directors and has truly paved the way for recovery ministry in Colombia. The Lord has called him & his wife, Sonia, to serve in another country, and they will soon leave. He has said time & time again what an answer to prayer it is for me to be in Armenia ready to serve this vulnerable population. He has been the only one serving this population for almost a decade & he feared what would happen when he left. BUT GOD! I am so grateful for his friendship and wisdom. Would you pray for them as they work to reach 100% FUNDED and leave by January? PRAYER REQUESTS: • Pray that hearts would change and they would find HOPE and FREEDOM in Jesus as we study his word together. • Would you pray with me that doors would open to connect with their families? • Pray for continued wisdom and open doors for equipping the local church to participate in recovery ministry.
August 27, 2026 • 2 Minute Read
Bradfords August Update
We hope you have had a great summer! As students are heading back to school and families are getting back to their typical rhythms, we are continuing to itinerate. We have BIG news regarding our itineration: We have raised 50% of the monthly commitments we need!!! And we are close to reaching 60% of that same number. We are SO grateful for and happy with this progress. We are pushing to be fully funded by the end of November, just 3 months away! With that being said, NOW is a great time to financially partner with us! Click this link or the button below to give. We need YOUR monthly giving commitment to get us to Belgium. Click to Give Once 100% of our monthly budget is fulfilled through giving commitments and 100% of our cash/one-time costs budget is raised, we will be cleared to apply for our visa. We want to have finished the visa application process by the end of the year. With this timeline, we would, hopefully, be able to head to Belgium in early 2027! Please be faithfully praying with us that this will happen. We are eager to get to Belgium! We are currently itinerating in Kansas City. We will head back to Indiana next week. We will be taking a long itineration roadtrip down to Lakeland, Florida for a Wednesday night service in early October. We plan to schedule many services and meetings on the way there and back. We can't wait to meet and share God's call on our lives with many pastors and churches. Belgian wildfires Belgium is currently experiencing the largest wildfire in their history. It has burned over half of their oldest and largest nature reserve. Thousands of people across Belgium and Europe overall have been forced to evacuate because of the growth of the fires. Pray with us for the people of Belgium and all those affected by the wildfires across Europe. Prayer requests: Continued safety while traveling and no issues with our car Individuals would be led to partner with us through monthly giving commitments Churches would be led to partner with us through monthly giving commitments Europe's wildfires to be controlled and extinguished Xander and Taylor Bradford (765) 637-8377 xander.bradford@eu.agwm.org
August 12, 2026 • 4 Minute Read
Missions Update: Amanda Berger Aug 2026
Missions Update | Colombia This month, we received an encouraging update from one of our missionaries serving in Colombia. While there are reasons to celebrate, there are also urgent prayer needs we want to share with our church family. Read Amanda’s update below: Thursday Evangelism Every Thursday morning I join my local church to minister to ladies working in prostitution. We pray with them, provide a snack with Scripture, and work to train them in other crafts to help them generate income in a different way when they are ready. Some are also struggling with substance abuse, so I have been intentionally focused on connecting with those individuals. Rehab Ministry This month I was able to connect with a few rehabilitation centers in the area and share a devotional! My hope is to build strong relationships and begin ministering weekly at several different rehabilitation centers in order to disciple individuals during their time in rehab and connect them and their families with local churches after they leave the program. Please pray that God continues to open these doors and establish lasting relationships. A Speed the Light Miracle In July, I received my Speed the Light vehicle! I am so grateful to receive this miracle. Thank you for your generosity that enables missionaries to have reliable vehicles. Having this vehicle allows me to minister in places that would otherwise be unreachable or unsafe for me to travel by bus or taxi alone as a single female. [Note from Ps. Abram: For over 15 years, I have personally been giving money to Speed the Light, supplying cars like this across the world! Each time I see a STL VEHICLE, I am overwhelmed that our money can be used for God’s Kingdom across the world!] Earthquake Update On Monday, August 10, Colombia experienced a 7.4 magnitude earthquake that lasted four minutes, an unusually long amount of time. The epicenter was about an hour away from me and was felt over a wide radius. Thankfully, all AGWM [Assemblies of God World Missions] personnel serving in Colombia are safe. I was asleep in my apartment on the 13th floor when it happened. I grabbed my puppy and ran down the stairs. It felt like being on a boat that was hit by strong waves while trying to walk down stairs at the same time. Thankfully, my building is structurally sound, and I am back in my apartment, which miraculously doesn't even have a single crack in the wall! Other apartments in the building experienced superficial damage, and I am so grateful for God's protection over my home. Armenia experienced a devastating earthquake in 1999 that changed building engineering standards, which I believe helped reduce the devastation this time. However, the trauma from that event, along with the recent earthquake in Venezuela, has left many people feeling anxious. Towns near Pereira, Cali, and Manizales are still searching for missing people beneath the rubble. The national church is gathering food, water, hygiene supplies, and volunteers to distribute aid throughout the affected areas. I will be joining these efforts to meet physical needs while also sharing the hope of Jesus. How You Can Pray For those who are still missing to be found. For God's provision for families who have experienced devastating loss. For supernatural comfort and peace from the Holy Spirit for those living in fear and anxiety. For wisdom, strength, and open doors as I continue ministering through Thursday outreach and rehabilitation centers. Strength, wisdom, and protection for our missionary as she serves the people of Colombia. Your Next Step Take a few moments this week to intentionally pray for our missionary and the people of Colombia. Your prayers and faithful giving are helping bring the hope of Jesus to people who need it most.
August 10, 2026 • 1 Minute Read
Earthquake in Colombia
This morning at 7:30 local time, a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck Colombia. Colombia is the mission field of one of our missionaries, Amanda Berger, who is working to break the chains of addiction in many Colombians' lives and to preach the good news of Jesus Christ. Amanda posted this update this afternoon, and we are so grateful for her safety.Follow Amanda's ministry on Facebook. Would you join me for 60 seconds right now, wherever you're at, to lift up a prayer for Amanda, the people of Colombia, and those who are suffering at the hands of this terrible natural disaster? Praise God that we have missionaries across the world who are able to minister in times like this, and praise God for keeping His workers in the mission field safe One of our favorite partners, Convoy of Hope, is already responding to this crisis. You can learn more about their response teams and Convoy of Hope updates below.Convoy of Hope Response UpdatesReuters report on Colombian earthquake
July 8, 2026 • 3 Minute Read
Story from Colombia: Forced to take Drugs
Reposted from a message from Amanda Berger: Story: The need is so great the government doesn't even know where to start... WINS: It's been a few days since our Chi Alpha team left - it was an amazing week of ministry with several highs including 6 salvations, but I'm stuck thinking about an interaction I had Saturday night... We were ministering at a youth small group, the team came ready with a sermon but God changed their heart to share on persecution, not really sure why but in obedience changed the sermon. At the end of the night one of the youth leaders shared with me that her nephew who attends the group was asked to do drugs a while back, and said no. He was beaten for saying no and has since been forced to do drugs. My heart shattered at this reality many kids and youth face here. The accessibility & affordability of drugs...and society's indifference, or avoidance, of all those struggling with addiction. I've met with many pastors and been told multiple times, "Amanda, the need is so great the government doesn't even know where to start; we are overwhelmed with need." In the face of overwhelming need, I'm reminded that we serve a God bigger than any need, system, or plan. A God who sees each individual as His child and has a plan for redemption for all of them. Would you pray for: Open doors & wisdom on where to start Pastors & individuals willing to serve Thank you for being a part of breaking cycles and making disciples in Colombia! A day in the life: familiar, yet different. You asked for more a day in the life of a missionary so here we are. First, let me break any illusion that missionary life doesn't have mundane parts, because boy does it. In fact, I just had a month full of mundane adult chores with all the obstacles that come with them: Apartment hunting Attending 80 hr of drivers licensing class Buying a car (pic to come) Oh, and train a puppy These things are familiar things we do in the USA, but in a different language & a different country with their own rules & regulations - some of which you don't know until you break them. It's taxing on the mind and body. While the achiever in me wants to say, geez, Amanda, that's all you did? I can proudly say I DID ALL OF THAT! So whatever you're doing today that feels mundane, or like it's not moving the needle, remember God is in the mundane & necessary parts of life as much as he's in the mountain top moments.
May 25, 2026 • 2 Minute Read
First Priority: end-of-school update and celebration
First Priority is a student-led campus ministry focused on bringing the gospel into middle schools and high schools across the Kansas City area. Through weekly clubs hosted on school campuses, students are sharing testimonies, preaching the gospel, praying for their peers, and inviting friends to encounter Jesus. One of the most powerful aspects of First Priority is simple: students are reaching students. Middle school and high school students are standing up in their schools and boldly sharing their faith with their classmates. Instead of waiting for someone else to reach their generation, they are becoming missionaries in the hallways, cafeterias, classrooms, and campuses they walk through every day. Four years ago, Ps. Abram helped launch some of the first First Priority clubs in Kansas City alongside Rylee Reece, Delaney Summers, and Louise Eskina. That first school year, there were only six clubs in the entire Kansas City area. Now, by the grace of God, there are more than 40 active clubs across the city. Impact This school year alone, God has used First Priority KC in incredible ways: 40 Active Clubs 451 Active Student Leaders 1,672 Weekly Attendees across the City 543 Decisions for Christ Behind every number is a story. A student inviting a friend to club for the first time. A teenager praying publicly at school. A Bible opened during lunch. A teenager making the decision to follow Jesus. We believe schools are one of the greatest mission fields in our city, and First Priority is helping equip students to live on mission where they already are every day. At Commission Church, we are grateful to support and celebrate ministries that are reaching the next generation with the gospel. Your Next Step Pray for students across Kansas City. Pray for boldness for student leaders. Pray for open hearts in schools. Pray for continued opportunities for the gospel to spread throughout our city. Give... Make a donation to our church and write “First Priority” in the memo.Give “And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” — Romans 10:14
May 11, 2026 • 1 Minute Read
Irvin Rutherford passing his missionary mantle on to the next generation.
Pastor Irvin Rutherford, a missionary for over 60 years, is passing on his mantle to the next generation. While visiting this past March, Pastor Irvin, our missionary board member, shared that after 60 years of ministering throughout the world, he's passing on the leadership of global ministry teams—GMT—to Pastor Aaron McManus over the next few years. You can watch the service where he shares this update with our congregation by clicking the button below.Watch here Brother Irvin has ministered primarily in Southeast Asia, including Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines, for decades. He and his wife, Linda, traveled throughout Asia and the world, raising their kids and ministering. Now that both Irvin and Linda are growing older and are more restricted in their travel, Pastor Irvin has been training a new leader to take over his ministry. Pastor Irvin has trained and impacted the lives of 500 leaders in 83 countries worldwide. Ps. Aaron will be working with Ps. Irvin, as they prepare him to lead the continued effort around the world to preach the gospel and build up the next generation of church leaders, pastors, evangelists, and church workers across the world.