Churches of Christ in Christian Union

Meet Our Missionaires

The CCCU has a great team of committee missionaries, serving in various places around the world. We'd love for you to meet them so you can pray better for them!

American Indian Field: Steve & Debbie Cartwright

Steve & Debbie Cartwright, AIF

Our main ministries focus in the areas of encouragement and training Native Christians.

However, we have also developed the Victory Guitar Outreach program in which we use the guitar as an evangelistic tool. Native Americans love music, and through the program we teach both Christians and non-Christians how to play the song Victory in Jesus. Each guitar lesson is accompanied by a Bible study based on the song, where we choose to emphasize that we can serve Jesus and not be dragged back into the things we have left behind.

American Indian Field: Steve & Lori Baldwin

Steve and Lori come from our Peebles CCCU and said "yes" to the call to minister on the American Indian Field.� They have arrived in Arizona to begin their term as Missionary Disciples.� Steve is a gifted maintenance worker and Lori is a teacher who will work in education. They are the parents of Caylah, who will also have ministry on the field.

American Indian Field: Virginia Detillion

Ginny Detillion, AIF

I sensed the Lord calling me to do something for Him while reading Isaiah 6:8. It seemed as if the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart when I read, Whom shall I send? And who will go for us? And I said, Here am I. Send me!

I can't think of any other place on the face of the earth I would rather be than on the American Indian Field. I have a strong sense of God's presence all around me.� I look at the beauty of God's creation and I marvel at all of it. The sandstone cliffs weathered by time look like castles. The rocks sculpted into different shapes by the hand of God are awesome. Most of all, I love the people! God loves the Navajo people just like He loves us, and He has a plan and purpose for their lives.

Bolivia: Dan & Peggy Zimmerman

Dan & Peggy Zimmerman, Bolvia

We direct and serve as professors at the Cochabamba campus of Berea Bible Seminary. There is a great need for continued Biblical teaching among the people of Bolivia, as many are unable to recognize false or inaccurate preaching. The doctrinal and theological training we offer through the seminary is key to strengthening the area churches.

We also direct children’s Christian education throughout the entire church district while visiting, teaching, and encouraging the people in the churches. God has richly blessed our ministry.

Bolivia: Michael & Donna Brown

Michael & Donna Brown

Michael: I am an ordained minister and teach Bible and theology classes at BEU. Prior to my teaching duties, I had many opportunities to preach and teach Bible classes in Ascensión. I have also written three books in English about our missionary ministry in addition to a number of study aids in Spanish.

Donna: I am a registered nurse and provided healthcare to the underprivileged people of Guarayos in addition to teaching community health classes in the area. I also organized a children’s brass band in the local church and have ministered to the people of Ascensión, witnessing to our neighbors and building friendships with the people.

El Salvador: David and Debbie Hawk

David & Debbie Hawk, El Salvador

David and Debbie are ministering in El Salvador. They have planted a church in Jucuapa with the help of Honduran missionaries, and plan to oversee the construction of a clinic in the area. God is really blessing the ministries of these talented missionaries!

Honduras: Kent & Rhonda Harmless

Kent & Ronda Harmless, Honduras

We both became Christians during the same week; I (Kent) in Tucson, Arizona, and Rhonda in New Lexington, Ohio. We sensed calls to full-time Christian service and enrolled in Circleville Bible College (Ohio), where we met and were later married.

During the 1980s and 1990s, we served for 15 years as missionaries in Laredo, Texas. I did vehicle and building maintenance and new church construction in addition to directing projects for visiting work teams. Rhonda served as a secretary, treasurer, and teacher. We also worked together in evangelism and discipleship ministries.

Currently, we are serving at Escuela El Sembrador in Honduras, Central America.

Honduras: Terry & Colleen Hawk

Terry & Colleen Hawk, Honduras

We were called to Honduras during a spontaneous revival that broke out in our home church in 1981. Since 1982, Colleen and I (Terry) have been privileged to be part of WGM’s great ministry at Escuela El Sembrador Donald Hawk (School of the Sower). We have seen hundreds of boys and young men go through the school’s primary, secondary, vocational, and Bible Institute education programs.

We have seen the changes the Lord has made in many of their lives. Many alumni have also returned and given us the joy of hearing what El Sembrador has meant in their lives and the lives of their families. Sometimes it’s years before the seeds that are planted begin to grow, but the Lord is faithful and sends others to water and nurture the seeds until they are ready for harvest.

Terry is currently serving as the Field Director in Honduras.

Honduras: Tim Spetnagel

Tim Spetnagel, Honduras

I did not grow up in a Christian home, so it was hard for me to live a fruitful life. My parents sent me to church at an early age, and I was saved at the age of 10 at a church camp. The youth leaders at my church were the ones who taught me about the Lord and His love for me. One couple in particular made a tremendous impact on my life. I spent much of my childhood with them, and they showed me how to live a Christian life.

When I was 16, I was sanctified, and the Lord started something in me that I have never gotten over. At another church camp, God began to deal with me about full-time ministry, and I said yes. During a trip with my church to inner-city Los Angeles, California, God spoke to me and gave me a love for missions. After my second mission trip to Honduras, God confirmed to me that this was His plan for my life. The Holy Spirit spoke to me in many ways, and I am excited to serve the Lord through missionary work.

Kenya: Mary Hermiz

Mary Hermiz, Kenya

I wanted to be a missionary nurse since the age of four. My father was a pastor and had Myra Martin, a former WGM missionary nurse in India, come to speak in his church. Myra wore her white nurse’s uniform, and that did it for me. I wanted to be a missionary nurse so I could wear a white uniform like that. Wearing a white uniform may not be a very saintly reason for wanting to become a missionary, but from that point on, if anyone asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I always said, “A missionary nurse.”

This desire continued to grow in my heart, but God had not confirmed His will to me. As a teenager, I worked and saved money for nurses’ training, but just before my senior year in high school, God clearly showed me I was to attend Circleville Bible College (now Ohio Christian University). One evening while at church during my freshman year at Circleville, I sensed God’s confirmation of my childhood dream. Then I knew He wanted me to be a missionary nurse. I graduated and went on to nurses’ training followed by midwifery training.

Kenya: Steve and Donna Henry

Steve and Donna Henry, Kenya

Our mission call came in early 1985 at our local church and was confirmed in our denominational camp meeting when a mission speaker expressed the various needs for missionaries in Kenya. We were appointed with WGM in October 1986 and arrived in Kenya in August 1989. The Lord has been faithful and has continued to help us grow in Him as we serve Him in Kenya. We are thankful for the confidence we have that God will continue to work in us so He can work through us to help others.

Papua New Guinea: Benji and Erica Jenkins

Benji and Erica are missionary disciples and are in their first term of service as MDs in PNG. Benji's ministry is teaching at the Bible School in Mt. Hagan and preparing church leaders for ministry in the Highlands of PNG.

Erica has her hands full as mom to the kids, and is the field treasurer.� Since this picture was taken Chloe has joined the family.

Papua New Guinea: Jim & Becka Johnson

Jim & Becka Johnson, PNG

Jim: I thank God every day for His saving grace and love and for the ways He has provided for and protected our family. I often wonder why God chose me to do His work in Papua New Guinea. I may never know the answer to that question, but one thing I do know is that God has a plan and job for everyone. I have been privileged to work as a missionary in the country where I grew up as a missionary kid. I want to do my best for the Lord, Who gave His best for me. I enjoy my ministries in Papua New Guinea, and sharing the Lord with the people is a privilege, part of our responsibility and an endless adventure.

Becka: I praise the Lord for Who He is! He is my Savior, Heavenly Father, Shield, Comforter, and best Friend. The Lord works in me as I witness to others and spread His Word in Papua New Guinea. It is great to be part of the Lord’s work.

Papua New Guinea: Ruth Tiption

Ruth Tiption, Papua New Guinea

God has faithfully led me throughout my life. He placed me in a Christian home, where I first came to Christ as a child, and He guided me as a teenager in spite of the rebellion, anger, and resentment I tried to hide in my heart.

God led me to Circleville Bible College (now Ohio Christian University), where as a freshman I allowed Christ to become Lord of my life and where He awakened my interest in missions. He then led me to Malone College (Ohio), where I became certified to teach high school English and social studies. The Lord then guided me to a teaching position and led me to study linguistics at the University of North Dakota. In 1970, He opened the door for me to serve as a missionary in Papua New Guinea.

Papua New Guinea: Tim & Diane Bennett

Tim & Diane Bennett: PNG

We help train national church leaders in Papua New Guinea. Our heart’s desire is to equip these national leaders with the Word of God, challenge them to examine and realign their lives to fit its teachings, and train them to make disciples and encourage spiritual growth in the church in Papua New Guinea.

As a means to this end, we are involved in the construction of Christian Union Bible College in Mt. Hagen in the Western Highlands Province of PNG. The school, which opened in February 2005, provides urgently needed Bible and vocational training for men and women being called into full-time ministry.

Paraguay: Weadette Burge

Weadette Burge: Paraguay

Weadette ministers through friendship evangelism to the people of Paraguay. She is also a gifted artist, and has opportunities to use this talent.

I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. John 17:6 (NIV)

St. Croix: Ned & Marie Prince

Ned, Carina, & Marie Prince, St. Croix

We became missionaries and are ministering on the island of St. Croix because God has called us there. We did not choose this path for ourselves; He chose us. We are involved in the construction of the St. Croix church and also help host work teams to accomplish this task.

Uganda: Keith and Donna Bourne

Keith and Donna are Missionary Disciples planning to leave in January, 2008 to minister in Uganda, Africa. They are the parents of two daughters, Haley and Rachel.