Sports Friends of SIM utilizes sports ministry as a powerful tool for the Church to build relationships with young people and share the hope of the gospel. After coordinating efforts in West Africa, Southeast Asia, and South America, Kyle now serves as the Ministry Leader, overseeing all regions. In addition to this role, Kyle and Ann advocate for religious freedom in Nigeria and develop initiatives supporting women and girls. Kyle joined Sports Friends in 2006 to help launch the ministry in West Africa.

Erin teaches full-time for the English Department at LCC International University which is a Christian University that focuses on sharing the gospel to its diverse student body. Brian will primarily be caring for the children. He will also work at learning the host language. In addition to these tasks, they look forward to developing relationships with students and welcoming them into our home.

As they seek to live out their conviction of Romans 10:14-15, they hope that they are able to share with students who may not have otherwise heard the Good News.

In 1998, the Martins were sent to begin teaching in Odessa, Ukraine, a city of over a million people on the Black Sea. There was a spiritual harvest after the fall of the Soviet Union, and the current climate of political and economic unrest has brought an openness to the gospel.

David and Jill assist in the church planting work and operate the Odessa Anchor School where they strive to meet the unique educational needs of the children of missionaries. Their daughter, Ruth Anne, now serves alongside them.

Due to the current war, they have moved to Brasov, Romania where they are helping in the local church and teaching online classes.

Margaret worked in missions in different countries for over 20 years and in her work with communities, learned that many people regarded disabled children as either bad omens, curses, bewitchment, or just shameful. This belief, though just a myth, led to many disabled children being hidden and isolated from other people and other children. Some communities even wished such children dead while others sacrificed them to the witchdoctors. With a belief that any living child bears the image of God, regardless of their physical looks, she founded this ministry on the main principal of love. Their goal is to support and model the best practices to care for children with special needs.

Kevin and Sue founded Excelling Leaders after 16 years of cross-cultural mission work and are team leaders. Their work focuses on leadership development and missionary family care. They are currently working on a Radiant Life Program and have been able to purchase a retreat center. This program is offered multiple times per year, and is an intensive 9 day debrief for families, individuals or couples who have worked cross culturally for a year or more. They have aided many missionaries from around the world to process their stories in a safe environment. 

Kelly teaches Kindergarten at Nicaragua Christian Academy International, a school for children of missionaries, native Nicaraguan students, as well as youth of diverse nationalities. She enjoys showing her students the love of Jesus while helping to educate them as they grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord, equipped to serve him.
Jairo regularly travels to Mombachito to connect with and encourage local farmers. Along with sharing the Gospel with them, he mentors them on economically sustainable farming practices.

Young Life began with a few simple ideas about sharing the truth of God’s love with adolescents. Those simple ideas have become time-tested methods for reaching out to middle school, high school and college students in friendship and hope.

Chris is the Regional Director for the Western Great Lakes Region of Young Life. He’s been in Young Life since high school in the 80’s and has been in some sort of leadership role since 1989. He loves Young Life’s focus on Jesus and how it connects with kids through caring Christian adults.

Ken and Chris’s work with Wycliffe Bible Translators and JAARS over the years has taken them to the Philippines and Cameroon as well as the JAARS headquarters in North Carolina. Ken has also worked with Missions at the Airport outreach program. In early 2020, Ken was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s. In 2022, Ken and Chris moved to Michigan where Chris works remotely.

Chris works with Wycliffe doing member care for 20+ families. This involves being a listening ear and providing resources so the members can be healthy emotionally, physically, spiritually, and financially.

Campus Ministry at GVSU was started with one goal: love college students towards Jesus. Now, over 50 years later, Campus Ministries serves over 1000 students each year and involves over 200 students in student leadership positions. With the support of donors and the help of volunteers, we are able to host “The Well” - our weekly worship gathering, organize student-led Life Groups, serve on numerous Spring Break trips and we plan other fun events that truly do change lives.