Supported missions
At Grace, we regularly support mission, in both prayer and monetary commitments. Come back to this page often and follow the links through to read the latest from our supported missionaries.
Andrew and Sandra Freeman have been involved in assisting and serving in various contexts in the country of Botswana since 2001 and became affiliated with LogosLife International in 2012.
From the beginning, when they managed a Christian Bookstore, they have had opportunities to help local business to implement sound business strategy with high ethical standards consistent with God’s word. Botswana was the first country on the African continent to have the Bible translated into their own language and over 70% of the population declare themselves as ‘Christian’ on a census, so through Workplace Chaplaincy, Life Skills and Soft Skills training from a Christian perspective and through personal mentoring, they have continued to help businesses do business better, while connecting personally with individuals, helping them to understand what true success is in God’s eyes.
Although Botswana has had the Scriptures in their own language for over 150 years, it also has the world’s second highest HIV prevalence rate. There exists a significant disconnect between access to the Scriptures and daily life impact.
Sent as volunteer missionaries under the banner of LogosLife International from Australia, their role in Botswana is currently in Workplace Mentoring and Discipleship:
– To empower men and women in the workplace to conduct business with strong ethical values based on Christian Discipleship principles, incorporating an emphasis in Life Skills which in turn affects life in the workplace, and
– To continue to research and develop ‘Botswana appropriate, best practice, cross-cultural relationship and communication methods’.
God is using their many experiences and research into the dynamics of honour/shame in African culture to help them understand and develop better ways of both sharing the gospel and the truth of the Scriptures with those they meet, and helping business function inter-culturally, so that there is greater heart change and thus more solid behaviour transformation. Their prayer is that as hearts change, individuals will impact their families and communities for God’s glory and the good of their country.
They are also involved in providing Bible teaching through literature and audio, personally writing relevant materials, assisting locals to write, and facilitating translation of materials into local languages.
In 1993 we met on an OMF study tour to Indonesia, though we didn’t become a couple until 1996. Not long after we married we went to International Outlook (Queensland annual mission event) and were challenged as to whether we had any compelling reasons to stay in Australia – especially given the need overseas.
We came to Japan with OMF in December 2000. Our first four years included training in Japanese language and culture, and time spent in a church planting team. Since 2005 David has served at the Christian Academy in Japan, Tokyo, a school for missionary children. He teaches maths and science to high schoolers and since 2017 has served in the leadership position of Director of Teaching and Learning.
Wendy juggles a number of roles, but her main roles are:
- Managing Editor of a magazine by and for missionaries in Japan called Japan Harvest ›
- Manager and editor of the OMF Japan blog › and OMF Japan’s social media pages.
- Providing a stable home base for our family.
She also writes articles, edits other publications, and writes almost daily on her blog On the edge of ordinary ›
About Japan
Despite all the beauty and efficiency there are wide barriers between the Japanese people and the Living God. This is a land that needs to know the Creator God and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Today churches in Japan remain extremely small, with an average attendance of 20 to 30 people on Sunday and most of those are women. Christians are a tiny minority in a society where consensus is important and because few families come to faith, individuals feel exposed.
Cultural pressures to conform can come in the form of an obligation to participate in religious festivals and rituals, ancestral worship and in helping to take care of the local shrine.
The small percentage of Christians is not able to make a real impact on the centres of power (industrial, commercial and political). These, and Japan’s intense work ethos squeezes out Christianity.
A breakthrough, constantly anticipated and prayed for, is yet to come. The prayer for Japan is to see 10% of the population following Christ and so that society itself will be transformed by the Gospel.
Sent as volunteer missionaries under the banner of LogosLife International from Australia, their role in Botswana is currently in Workplace Mentoring and Discipleship:
– To empower men and women in the workplace to conduct business with strong ethical values based on Christian Discipleship principles, incorporating an emphasis in Life Skills which in turn affects life in the workplace, and
– To continue to research and develop ‘Botswana appropriate, best practice, cross-cultural relationship and communication methods’.
God is using their many experiences and research into the dynamics of honour/shame in African culture to help them understand and develop better ways of both sharing the gospel and the truth of the Scriptures with those they meet, and helping business function inter-culturally, so that there is greater heart change and thus more solid behaviour transformation. Their prayer is that as hearts change, individuals will impact their families and communities for God’s glory and the good of their country.
They are also involved in providing Bible teaching through literature and audio, personally writing relevant materials, assisting locals to write, and facilitating translation of materials into local languages.
The Richards Family is based at Talua Theological Institute in Vanuatu* where Tom lectures in Systematic Theology and is serving as Curriculum Developer while the college goes through major changes in its academic program in order to comply with national and international standards. This curriculum needs to be created in a way that addresses the cultural and ministry context of Vanuatu. Here is a video explaining this aspect of our work:
Tom is also working on a digital media ministry called Trutok Media (trutok means truth), which aims to bring solid Bible teaching into Vanuatu’s fast-growing digital environment. One effect of globalism has been a recent growth in the use of smartphones and access to social media platforms. Tom is working to create videos, audio material, and other digital resources in Vanuatu’s languages to reach the next generation of seekers and Christians.
Margaret teaches Sam, Lucy, Tim, and Annie, works to build relationships within the college community, and mentors wives of students.
*We previously lived on Tanna island (hence the name of the website) but have now moved to Santo where Tulua is located.
Less than 2% of Deaf people around the world are Christian because they cannot access Scripture in a language they understand – sign language.
Wycliffe Bible Translators is working to bring God’s Word to the Deaf through video translations. This will enable the gospel to reach the hundreds of sign languages of Deaf communities globally. The key to getting the Scriptures into the hands of the Deaf within our generation is using technological advances in animation and smartphones. This can take decades off the translation of sign languages and provide a solution for projects operating in sensitive areas.
Saul and Rebecca are working on an innovative software development project aimed at solving these issues. Saul’s experience in research and software programming in vision systems, and Rebecca’s experience in sign language and Deaf culture, makes them uniquely positioned for this type of work. Ultimately it is their hope and prayer that you would join them in enabling sign language translations to be completed, and see the empowerment of Deaf translators and Deaf leaders to reach and disciple their own communities.
Orphaned Children
The Mustard Seed Youth Development Centre in Myanmar provides a safe and caring environment; providing food, housing, access to education, medical care, and spiritual nourishment for hundreds of orphans. Run by a board of volunteers, Mustard Seed Orphanage is a ministry of love and dedication to help those who have been been left destitute in life. Children who come into the orphanage with serious illnesses such as tuberculosis are placed into a separate facility while they are being treated and are moved into the main orphanage once medically fit.
Support for Widows
Widows in Myanmar do not have many of the same opportunities that men do and there is very little aid or support for them to make a living. Through Mustard Seed, these women are provided a safe and clean place to live, as well as food and medical care. A ray of hope in a desperate situation is provided to these women who could not otherwise support themselves.
The Handasyde family are based in Ukarumpa, Papua New Guinea. Robert, a helicopter pilot, transports Bible translators, as well as equipment, supplies, and medical aid, to remote locations. Loralie works as an optometrist in the Clinic, alongside her primary role of caring for Emily and Michael.
Aviation is essential for the work of Bible translation in Papua New Guinea, a country with over 800 spoken languages. More than a quarter of these language groups still have no Scripture translations. Rugged terrain makes transportation and movement between people groups slow and difficult without air travel. Together Robert and Loralie are passionate about the task of bringing the message of Jesus to all people in a way they can understand.
