Building a Kingdom of Diversity

Brianna Langley • Aug 22, 2017

As she listened to African-American missionaries from her home church tell their stories in front of the congregation, 14-year-old Marjory heard a voice — small at first, but distinct.

She was completely enthralled with these brave men and women who put their lives on the line for the sake of the Gospel. Could she ever be like them? Then, she heard the voice again. Louder this time, and clearer: “You are looking at your future.”

Several years later, a visiting pastor offered David Patrick a pamphlet called “Hearing the Call of God.” David flipped through it as the author, David Hill, talked with him. Suddenly, he knew.

Immediately, he found his wife and told her the news: God was calling them to serve in South Africa ! As her husband spoke to her, Marjory Patrick instantly remembered herself at 14 and began to cry tears of joy.

Creating Unity in Post-Apartheid South Africa

The Patricks went on to faithfully serve the Lord in South Africa for 22 years. Shortly after arriving on the mission field, they were publically commended by President Nelson Mandela for being some of the few African-American missionaries serving in South Africa. Little did they know that years later, they would also be commended with the highest-ranking civilian award back in their homeland.

African-American missionaries

David and Marjory shaking hands with Nelson Mandela in 1993 as Mandela recognized their service as full-time African-American missionaries ministering in South Africa. | Photo courtesy of David Patrick


The Patricks firmly believe in the power of diversity when it comes to working together for the kingdom. As TEAM ’s first African-American missionaries, they say serving in post-Apartheid South Africa was a powerful way to thwart the Enemy’s tactic of division within the Body of Christ.

David and Marjory’s overseas ministry was especially impactful because of their natural rapport with the native Africans.

“It helps to validate the Scriptures when they see other people of color on the field as well,” said David.

African-American missionaries

David (center) with an orphan ministry in South Africa which later became a church plant. | Photo courtesy of David Patrick


One of David and Marjory’s ultimate goals is to encourage more of the African-American community to develop a healthy mindset regarding missions.

“It looks one-sided unfortunately, but that’s just the way things have been. We’re here to make changes in the world, and we’re here to make changes in people’s views or understanding of missions and who is called,” said David. “The thing is, all are called.”

While serving in South Africa, the Patricks taught a variety of courses at Union Bible Institute. David also served as choir director and Marjory served on the school’s management team. They also spearheaded many traveling and open-air evangelism efforts.

New Adventures in Ministry

David and Marjory will be the first to testify that the Lord always prepares you for what He knows you’ll do in the future. Looking back now, they say serving at a Bible institute in South Africa is what equipped them for the work they started doing in the States over a year ago: David serves as Dean of Students, while Marjory serves as Director of Admissions for Carver College in Atlanta, Georgia.

While much of their days involve handling logistics for the college, David and Marjory always find time to minister to coworkers and students.

African-American missionaries

Although they are now serving in the States, David and Marjory’s passion for empowering students to follow the Lord has not changed — if anything, that passion has grown stronger. | Photo courtesy of David Patrick


They particularly have a heart for marginalized and minority groups, such as students who come from low-income, single-parent homes and international students who now find themselves far from what’s familiar. Just as they loyally served the South African community for 22 years, they now serve the community of Carver College in the name of Jesus.

The One who Honors

The Patricks’ years of service have not gone unnoticed — even by the President of the United States.

In 2016, they were honored with the President’s Lifetime Achievement Volunteer Service Award , which is awarded to individuals who have completed 4,000 or more hours of volunteer service in their lifetime.

African-American missionaries

Marjory and David received the President’s Lifetime Achievement Volunteer Service Award in 2016, but Marjory said, “God is the One who honors.” | Photo courtesy of David Patrick


“You know, we first want to say God is the One who honors, and He chooses to honor vessels in a variety of ways. We were first commended for being full-time African-American missionaries by President Nelson Mandela, who was the first democratically elected black president,” said Marjory. “Only God would have known that in coming off of the foreign field, we would also be honored by President Barack Obama.”

The Patricks were nominated for this award by both the U.S. Ambassador to South Africa and by a mentoring couple who had encouraged the Patricks when they were first preparing to go into full-time missions.

On November 21, 2016, over 50 recipients, family members, members of the press, military and government officials packed into the church where the receiving ceremony for the President’s Volunteer Service Award was being held.

“The atmosphere of the event was charged,” said David. This would be the final acknowledgment ceremony from the first African-American president of the United States.

It was a fitting scene, as David and Marjory’s life of ministry has always centered on being trailblazers in global missions for the African-American community. They continue to set an example of fearlessness and confidence in the power of the Gospel.

“That’s why we’re glad we’re part of TEAM and glad to use this opportunity to pull other people into ministry,” David said. “The Great Commission did not say for people of a certain color or culture to be a part of missions. It’s something for everyone.”

By Suzanne Pearson 19 Mar, 2024
Previously on the TEAM blog, we sat down with Justin Burkholder (pictured above at left, with TEAM's Executive Director of Communications, Aaron Catlin). Justin will become TEAM’s next International Director on July 1, 2024. Justin shared about his background, family, and the journey that led him to TEAM. Check out that interview here . Today, we pick up the conversation as Justin shares how God called him to the role of International Director, and what he sees for the next chapter in TEAM’s work in the global Church. Q: How and when did you first consider applying for the position of International Director? How did the Lord reveal Himself to you as this opportunity presented itself? A: For some time, I have been evaluating how God wants me to use the gifts He has given me. Jenny and I have had a fruitful ministry in church planting in Guatemala and would happily continue doing so as God leads. However, as God blessed my efforts in TEAM leadership, there were friends and family who expressed that I should consider using my gifts in the International Director role. I don’t believe that everything necessarily rises and falls on leadership, but I do believe that it is a core component in the body of Christ. Using the gifts God has given me is a way that I want to bless the body of Christ in TEAM, making my contribution to the global purposes of God’s mission. Jenny and I spent a lot of time praying about this and decided that I should put my name in for consideration, trusting God’s guidance. We had a tremendous amount of peace throughout the entire process and were blessed by the prayer-filled process that the board undertook. Q: This is a key role in a large and complex organization, and I’m sure this was a big decision for you and your family. What were your fears or concerns? Why did you ultimately decide to accept the position? A: You say “were” like the fears have passed! I still am quite aware of my youth and inexperience - of the responsibility and weight of this role. Mostly, I’m afraid of leading an organization like TEAM in the flesh. Many of the fears that I have faced have been fears rooted in fleshly desires and concerns. I have no desire to succeed in the world’s eyes and fail in the Kingdom of Jesus. Why did I ultimately decide to accept the position? I’m convinced that the Good News about Jesus is true. The tomb is empty, Jesus is King, and the world needs to know, because Jesus is coming back. He will put things in order. He will establish righteousness, peace, and justice for all mankind, and He has commissioned His Church to proclaim and demonstrate His rule and reign. I want to use my gifts to do whatever I can to amplify the proclamation of this message and the multiplication of His Church around the world. Q: What are your goals and vision for the future of TEAM? A: This is something that I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about. I’m certainly not ready to present a fully-shaped vision and goals for TEAM’s future without the input of other people in different contexts in TEAM. But, I will share a few things that I think are important: First, we need to model God-Dependence . I am hopeful that as leaders in TEAM, we can continue to model God-Dependence. As Hudson Taylor said years ago “…God’s work, done in God’s way, will never lack God’s supplies.” I am hopeful that we can increase our sense of faith in God, prayer, and seeking direction from the Spirit. Secondly, we must strengthen our relational fabric . Due to the changes that we have experienced by decentralizing our home office functions, and the challenges from the pandemic, we have experienced a loss of relationships. It is imperative that we intentionally prioritize the building of relationships with one another. I plan to visit our workers and staff, and I am expectant that other key leaders and staff will be doing the same. Third, we must pursue the greater presence of the global Church. The Kingdom of Jesus Christ doesn’t look like any single geopolitical, ethnic, or racial culture. If we want to truly see the Kingdom of Jesus come on earth as it is in heaven, then we as citizens of this Kingdom must learn from one another, submit to one another, and grow with one another. The missional potential of the global Church has been unleashed by God’s Spirit since Acts 1, and we have an opportunity to learn from many brothers and sisters in Christ who can help us to better model and proclaim the Kingdom of Jesus to those who have yet to believe. Lastly, we must increase our Gospel boldness . There are still many places of great spiritual blindness and spiritual brokenness around the world. The apostolic impulse of cross-cultural organizations should call us to the to the edges of where the Kingdom of Jesus is not penetrating. Whether spiritual blindness and brokenness exists because of lack of access, idolatry, injustice, or any other myriad of reasons, I prayerfully hope to see more and more TEAM workers continue to move into spaces of great Gospel need.
By Suzanne Pearson 08 Mar, 2024
Through God-ordained partnerships and creative connections, TEAM worker Keith Moore sees the global Church advancing in amazing ways. In the global missions landscape, a phrase that comes up often is “from everywhere, to everywhere.” God is calling His global Church in literal new directions, as He raises up cross-cultural workers to be sent from places that were once on the receiving end of missions work. We call this movement “polycentric sending.” TEAM workers Dawn and Keith Moore have seen first-hand this transition taking place. Their story involves the unlikely but beautiful intersection of Charlotte, North Carolina; Tegucigalpa, Honduras; and Memphis, Tennessee...and beyond. The Path to Honduras Keith and Dawn joined TEAM in 1991 and served as church planters for nine years in Bogota, Colombia. After safety concerns precipitated their return to the States in 1999, they knew they wanted to continue serving in Latin America. The Moores felt called to Honduras but wanted to connect with a strong missional church to help send them. The Lord orchestrated a collaboration with Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee. “Some people asked, ‘Why Honduras? Missionaries have been there for 100 years. It’s already reached,’” Keith says. “But there’s a whole section of Latin America that had not been reached - the upper crust.” Keith goes on to explain that he and Dawn felt called to reach college-educated professionals in Honduras – a ministry vision that resonated with the missional goals of Bellevue Baptist. Impact and Growth With the support of this new church partnership as well as another sending church in Birmingham, Alabama, the Moores embarked on their next adventure. Keith and Dawn started Impacto Honduras Church from scratch, and in less than 20 years, the church grew into four locations with 1600 total members. The Moores and other TEAM workers also created a “Bible school” type training program to help professionals who feel a call to ministry to make that transition. Throughout this period of explosive growth, church partnerships played an integral role. “It’s such a different vision when you have a church that says, ‘OK, this is our deal, we want to make this happen,’” Keith explains. “They helped us with everything. They took away every single obstacle to growth. Every time we needed something, they were there.” In 2017, the Moores once again found themselves on the verge of another decision. Was it time to leave Honduras? “I had no desire to leave,” Keith recalls. “People were coming to Christ every week! It was just so amazing.” However, back in the U.S., Keith and Dawn’s parents were in their 80s and would soon be in need of more care. “We realized that either we would leave in a crisis, or we would leave strategically,” says Keith. The couple began to implement a careful succession plan. By the time they left, the four churches were established with strong, Honduran leadership ready to carry on the work of the Gospel.
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