At a camp meeting in 2008, we felt God calling us to be medical missionaries, but we didn’t follow through at the time. How could I leave my 30-year career as a police officer? Instead, we started a Meals on Wheels branch. God blessed that work abundantly, but He wasn’t done with us yet. We felt His call even more strongly on our hearts, and after five years of struggling with the decision, we finally took a leap of faith.

We were preparing for AFM missionary work among another people group when God impressed us to minister to the Middle Eastern Allaja people of Mesopotamia. We couldn’t help but feel a deep love and understanding for this people group. The Allaja have been caught in waves of conflict for many centuries, and as a result there are many displaced and refugee communities. Where we live now, there is rampant violence and crime, so we understand a bit of the challenge the Allaja face.

We are excited to bring the Gospel of Christ to Mesopotamia, the birthplace of Abraham. Jesus paid the ultimate price of agony and death to redeem the Allaja and draw them to Himself. With Him as our example, we must respond to His call.

The work of God will arouse the fiercest opposition of the enemy. We identify with Jesus’ disciples, to whom He said, “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves” (Matt. 10:16). We know we are going under His almighty protection, and we claim the promise of Jeremiah 1:19: “And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the Lord, to deliver thee.”

Pray for an open door for the Gospel in Mesopotamia, and join us on our exciting journey with God to rescue His Allaja children!

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