A Peek into Who We Are and Where We're Going

Pope was radically saved from a life of Buddhism, alcohol, & drug use. After receiving new life & true hope that he found in Jesus, he wanted only to give his life so that others, too, could experience the hope, love, and salvation he found in Jesus. After committing his life to follow Christ, he felt strongly a calling from the Lord to “go and make disciples”. (Click "Pope's Testimony" under the "About US" menu to learn more.)

Stephanie grew up in a Christian family, becoming a believer at a young age. Her dream and desire was always to be a mom and to minister to kids coming from hard places. 

One thing she never dreamed of was becoming a missionary. However, during her years at Bible School, she had the opportunity to spend 24 hours a week in prayer & worship. During that time the Lord began to give her a desire to see His name lifted up and exalted in the dark places of the earth where He is not known. It was this desire that led her, in 2010, to accept her first invitation to serve in Thailand with Ezekiel Rain, an anti-trafficking organization. (Click on "Steph's Story" under the "About Us" dropdown menu to read more.)

Pope and Stephanie met in Chiang Mai, Thailand not long after Stephanie moved there. It was at this time that Pope and his family were walking through an intense season of persecution from their village who was opposing their conversion to christianity. 

After getting to know each other, (and Stephanie learning the Thai language), we eventually began dating. Pope was hired on staff with Ezekiel Rain after completing a year of Bible School, and in 2014 we married. Together, we served with Ezekiel Rain for 4 years, providing support to house parents of teen boys who were rescued out of human trafficking as well as leading regular prayer & worship times for our team and the local church community.

We now have 4 daughters, Motanaa-Grace (10), Abigail (7), Selah (7), and Jasmine (3). For the last 8 years we have lived in East Berlin, PA allowing Pope time to experience American culture and get to know Stephanie’s family. 

Pope has worked as a butcher’s assistant and is now employed by R.H. Sheppard. Stephanie worked as the church administrator for 4 years at New Life Assembly in East Berlin, where we attend church. She is now a full time stay-at-home mom, homeschooling their girls. At church, Pope has been a member of the evangelism team and Stephanie serves in the AV Booth and children’s ministry. We are also involved at the York House of Prayer in Shrewsbury, PA leading worship and Stephanie serves on the leadership team.

Our years working with Ezekiel Rain was an incredible growing experience for both. We were blessed with an amazing team to serve with, and learned so much, but both of us began to realize that our passions were more in line with evangelistic work. We found that, as a couple, we loved the opportunities of ministry that surrounded us in our local neighborhood and Pope’s home village. Our home became the after school hang-out where Stephanie provided snacks, books, and coloring activities for the neighborhood kids until their parents returned home from work. On the weekends, Pope would teach the kids Bible stories and kids’ worship songs. Our trips back to Pope’s village involved daily Bible lessons and activities for the kids and visits to the neighbors where Pope would share of Jesus and pray for those who were sick or going through a difficult time. 

We are excited for these types of opportunities as we return to Chiang Mai, Thailand. We are anticipating outreach opportunities to villages outside the city as well as locally through teaching English and providing after-school care for children. We also look forward to being a part of Change the Map, a prayer initiative for the Buddhist world. Change the Map seeks to raise up intercessors for Buddhist nations by providing weekly prayer points & resources of how to pray for the Buddhist world.