Our Story
Pope - Pope was radically saved from a life of Buddhism, alcohol, and drug use by the Grace of God. After committing his life to follow Christ, he felt a strong calling from the Lord to “go and make disciples” - to give his entire life to others so that they too could experience the hope, love, and salvation he found in Jesus.
Stephanie - 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.
Meeting in Chiang Mai 2010
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), they eventually began dating. Pope was hired on staff with Ezekiel Rain after completing a year of Bible School, and in 2014 they were married.
For 4 years, they served together at Ezekiel Rain providing support to house parents of teen boys who were rescued out of human trafficking as well as leading regular prayer & worship times for the team and local church community.
Today
Pope and Stephanie now have 4 daughters, Motanaa-Grace (11), Abigail (8), Selah (8), and Jasmine (4). For the past 8 years they have been living 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 they 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. They are also involved at the York House of Prayer in Shrewsbury, PA leading worship while Stephanie serves on the leadership team.
While their years with Ezekiel Rain were an incredible growing experience for both, they feel God has now been calling them to return to Thailand to focus more on evangelism and outreach activities.
They look forward to returning to the opportunities of ministry that God gave them in their local neighborhood and Pope’s home village in Thailand. Their house was the after school hang-out where Stephanie provided snacks, books, and coloring activities for the neighborhood kids until their parents returned home from work.
Their trips back to Pope’s village involved daily Bible lessons and activities. Pope would teach the kids Bible stories and worship songs while also visiting neighbors to share the love of Jesus and pray for those who were sick or going through a difficult times.
Returning to Chiang Mai
Pope and Stephanie are excited to return to this world of opportunities in Chiang Mai, Thailand. They are looking forward to growing their outreach opportunities to villages outside the city as well as locally through teaching English and providing after-school care for children.
They also look forward to returning to Change the Map, the 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.