My Mission Statement

Support missionary families by strengthening their children to live in Christ through
1. academic education,
2. spiritual mentoring, and
3. preparation for cultural transitions.

Colossians 2:6-7

Ministry in Focus

A lot of people want to know what it is I'm gearing up to do with WorldVenture. So glad you asked. 

In a year or two, I will be moving to Kandern, Germany, which is in the Black Forest region. I'll be teaching Social Studies at Black Forest Academy which is a school specifically geared for missionary kids. They come from all over Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and even Central Asia to attend a quality school that will prepare them for college back in America.

So why do these kids need a school like BFA, you ask? Why can't they just find one closer to home or be home schooled? Great question. 

That's also a bit harder to answer because there are a variety of reasons missionary kids come to BFA. Some cannot attend the national schools in their country because of language barriers or other issues. Some live in countries where home schooling is illegal. Some have learning disabilities or other needs that smaller local schools cannot address. In most cases, a missionary kid school like BFA can serve to fill a huge need and help keep more missionaries in their ministries longer.

What exactly will you be doing at BFA? You do ask great stuff!

My primary job will be to educate these kids. Their parents are sending them to us for schooling, and of course I want to be a part of challenging them to academic excellence. As a Social Studies teacher, there are a variety of subjects I could end up teaching; much will depend on the need at the time I'm ready to go. Secondarily, and just as important if not more, I want to be available to these kids as a spiritual mentor. I remember what it's like to be a missionary kid, and these kids can often feel caught between their parents' faith and their own.

Why can't their parents pay for their kids schooling like everybody else? Why do you have to be a missionary, too? Excellent question.

A lot of it comes down to money, of course. BFA has to be a private school, or no country in Europe would allow them to operate. Most missionaries are in absolutely no position to afford private schooling since they live off support themselves. They already have to come up with room and board if their kids go to BFA, plus travel expenses and some other extra costs. By requiring teachers, administrators, dorm parents, and all staff to be missionaries themselves, BFA can cut down on a lot of the expenses to missionaries, plus they're all in a position to identify with their "clients" better. 

Well, that's enough for one day. Thanks for your interest, and feel free to shoot me any more of your questions.

Appointed as a Missionary!

Check here for updates on my new, exciting ministry.

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