Looking Back on Stories from 2022: God’s Work Continues

Suzanne Pearson • Dec 15, 2022

As 2022 draws to a close, all of us here at TEAM are so grateful for the many things God has done in our midst throughout the world. We wish that we could share EVERY story from TEAM’s 500+ global workers and their ministries! But even though we can’t (think how tired my typing fingers would be!), it is our joy and blessing to feature one story each month in our Ministry Updates .

For December, we thought you might enjoy hearing some Ministry Update….updates! Here are some new reports from the folks you “met” here on the blog throughout the year…


Making Disciples Who Make Disciples – (Discipleship, South Asia) January

…Even in the midst of a global pandemic, says Stuvan, in every Asian nation where he has a disciple, churches are developing and church members are maturing in their faith…

Stuvan shares that the work of discipleship in south Asia and southeast Asia continues to thrive. Work is ongoing in 8 countries with over 320 church plants where discipleship and mobilization of the Naga people is a priority. “We provide [national disciples] with theological education so that they can be deeply rooted in the Word of God. We disciple them so that they can disciple their own people contextually.”

How God Connected Displaced Teenagers, a Missionary Kid and a Stick of Gum – (Children’s hostel, Southeast Asia)February

…Laura and her family had only been in country for a few months when they learned of the remarkable place that she refers to as a “Children’s Hostel,” where roughly 300 displaced children took shelter and began making a life there, with only a few adults helping to care for them…

Since our story on the children’s hostel in February 2022, Laura (name changed) and her family have relocated to a different region in Asia. Before departing, they made one last trip to the hostel to encourage the teachers, students, and clinic volunteers. A partner organization continues to check in at the hostel to make sure they progress in steps of sustainability.

Laura reports, “It has been such an encouraging time to see how His love has helped the hostel become more sustainable.” She also shares that “Lin,” the teenage girl mentioned in our story, now visits other similar hostels deeper in the jungle to care for children that God leads her to. Laura says, “She is armed with the full armor of God and essential medical skills.”

Patience Leads to Promise in Zimbabwe – (Village school, Zimbabwe) March

…The community is a very passionate community. They are willing to give their sweat for the school to start…

2022 is ending with a second surge of activity for the Nyamukaiwa school project. The local church continues to grow and reach out and classes have resumed for preschool-aged children. All the approvals are on track with high hopes that construction can begin before the end of the year. A bore hole site has been pegged for a deep water well and the Evangelical Church of Zimbabwe education committee is setting up the structures for governance of the school once it opens.

The plan for the first year is to build one block of classrooms and a residence to house two teachers. Then each year, if God allows, additional classrooms and teacher residences will be added, until the school offers classes up to Grade 7.

“We are excited to see how God blesses the Evangelical Church of Zimbabwe as they take responsibility for the school, and we look forward to seeing how God will provide the resources needed,” says TEAM worker, Tom Jackson. “The community remains committed to supplying all the bricks which they cast themselves from the ant hills near the school.”


Gospel Work Continues in War-Torn Ukraine (Ukraine war response, Europe) April

…Despite the heavy and difficult reality of war weighing on Samantha’s mind, she sees God at work…

TEAM continues to minister to the those whose lives have been turned upside down by the war in Ukraine. Samantha and Maria, featured in the original story, continue to serve Ukrainian people in undisclosed locations. TEAM as a whole has been ministering in two primary ways:

  1. Refugees who have left Ukraine: With the completion of the housing projects in the Czech Republic, the focus now is on helping refugees find permanent lodging or helping them return to the relatively safer regions of Ukraine.
  2. Displaced or stranded people inside Ukraine: In the conflict areas, TEAM continues to resource three churches, two in the southern part of Ukraine and one in the Donbas region. As the war continues to disrupt the distribution of food, medicine, and fuel, the needs are staggering. The coming winter will be difficult as many lack access to fuel to keep warm, due to lack of funds or supplies or both.

But, God has been at work in powerful ways. TEAM partners with Ukrainian churches by providing funds to meet basic needs for food, medicine, clothing, and fuel. In sharing these necessities, these churches deliver the “kindness of God that leads to repentance.” At the neediest time of their lives, many Ukrainians, touched by the love of Christ through God’s people, are repenting and embracing Christ. God is calling light out of the darkness of this hour.


Refining Gold in Pakistan (Seminary program, Pakistan) May

…What began as an initiative of mostly western missionaries has grown into an amazing institution led by Pakistani leaders who train up other leaders to impact their nation for Christ…

Since Zarephath Bible Seminary celebrated its 40 th anniversary in April 2022, leadership training programs continue to thrive and grow. Leaders from ZBS met to discuss the “Big Picture of ZBS,” focusing specifically on strategic planning for the next ten years.

Those plans include new program initiatives, new campus developments, more teachers trained internationally and locally, and increases in students, staff, and faculty.


Families Transformed by the Gospel in Papua (Family discipleship, Indonesia) June

Over time, the Lord began opening the eyes of Hatam believers to the abundant life they could experience in their families…

Hatam families in Papua are as busy as ever! With the help of Marice, the Women’s Bible School Program met in small groups over the summer and resumed their monthly large gatherings in September. TEAM worker Diane reports that the coastal churches as well as the interior churches are thriving.

Resina has been busy visiting churches and promoting God’s Word. Her husband just died a few months ago, but she said that God is enabling her to press on. Resina’s daughter, Tamarina continues to teach children’s Sunday School.

“I was so thrilled and blessed to see that our brothers and sisters continued faithfully as they served in our absence and prayed us back [from home assignment],” Diane says. “But whether we returned or not, they were going to keep serving. God is still working with this people group in a big, amazing way to His Glory.”


Ministry updates are published here on the blog every month. Be sure you are on the list to receive these stories of how God is moving and working all across the globe.


Nabin’s Story: Healed and Redeemed by Christ – (Personal testimony, Southeast Asia) July

…Nabin called Mike and Cindy with the joyous words, “I feel like I have my life back.”…

Nabin continues to get stronger and exercises regularly to gain more strength. He is considering Bible training programs as well as graphic design programs. Nabin enjoys going to church and is being discipled by a very dedicated young man who is a strong believer.


A People Highly Prized by God – (Holistic community development, Indonesia) August

… Transformational development says the problem isn’t just material lack. There’s a whole slew of interconnecting issues. And at the heart of it is really humanity’s fall into sin that has cascaded down…

The building structure for the Appropriate Technology workshop is complete! The Meyah tribe hosted a “syukuran” Thanksgiving service to celebrate the completion of the facilities and to pray for God’s continued work among holistic community development ministries in Papua.

The tribe continues to plant, grow, harvest, and craft a high-quality essential oil that is exported globally. The Cochrans serve as consultants for the project, connecting the tribe with buyers and mentoring project leaders on the accounting side of the business.

In another great example of God’s provision, the Cochran family moved into a newly constructed, TEAM-owned house next door to the workshop. They rejoice in full provision for the AT workshop and after they have moved, Michael will outfit the workshop with equipment that will enable holistic development ministries to empower and bless others.


A Farmhouse Turned Sanctuary for Ukrainian Refugees – (Refugee relief, Czech Republic) September

… The farmhouse project is a beautiful example of people working together for a common cause to help others in need…

The farmhouse renovations and preparations concluded in September, and by early October, 11 precious Ukrainian refugees had moved in, family groups including grandparents, parents, and children.

Sara shares, “Months of hard physical work, and a month or so of hard work communicating with families, interviewing and getting them here— all worth it! With all the grief and horror these people are witnessing in Ukraine, we pray that this will be a safe place of refuge and healing.”

Japanese Park Ministries Offer a Level Step to the Gospel – (Outreach ministry, Japan) October

And for the past several years, Yoyogi Park has played host to a pair of ministries known as “Sidewalk Chapel” and “Mobile Church”…

Though it’s just been a couple of months since we shared here on the blog about the outreach ministries in Tokyo, TEAM worker David was pleased to share updates. He reports that the first baptism took place shortly after our initial interview. Four believers were baptized in a nearby river, followed by a picnic and celebration. David asks for prayer for these four brothers and sisters as they grow in their faith.

He shares a couple of other matters of prayer as well. “It is getting into the winter season which means a couple things,” says David. “It can get pretty cold out in the park and also [we do] caroling around the park. Please be in prayer for everyone’s protection as well as good opportunities to be a witness to others in the park.”


Building a Bridge of Hope – (Holistic community development, Chad) November

… Scott and Eric began praying about TEAM’s response to this crisis. By the end of that year when another dozen people and over 1,900 cattle drowned, they had their answer. God was calling TEAM Chad to action…

Fundraising continues in earnest for the life-saving bridge in Chad. Scott shares this exciting news: “Giving Tuesday was an exciting day where we were offered a matching grant opportunity (dollar-for-dollar). Funds raised in that effort, including the matching funds, totaled $55,000!”

Scott also shares that fundraising within the country of Chad is also in full swing. “The local association we partnered with is working with a well-connected NGO that intends to hold a fundraiser soon to raise awareness and funding from NGO’s and embassies working in Chad. We have a commitment from the US Ambassador to visit AmTiman and the proposed bridge site in January. The relationship with the ambassador started when he invited our family for lunch. We hope that this relationship and the subsequent visit in January yield much fruit according to God’s will.”

As Sazoulang, Project Manager for the Bridge of Hope says, “The project is big, but our God is bigger!” Hear more from Sazoulang here .

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.
By Suzanne Pearson 23 Feb, 2024
Justin Burkholder, pictured here with his wife Jenny and their daughters Isabella, Olivia, and Zoey, has recently been named as TEAM’s next International Director. On February 19, 2024, with much excitement and gratitude to the Lord, TEAM announced that Justin Burkholder will become our organization’s new International Director, effective July 1, 2024. Justin, who is currently TEAM’s Executive Director of Global Ministry, will assume his new role upon the retirement of the current International Director, Dave Hall. ( Read the full press release here. ) We sat down recently with Justin to learn a little more about his background, his family, and the journey that has led him to TEAM. Q: Tell us a little bit about your “origin story” - Where did you grow up? What was your family like? A: I grew up in Mexico City as a missionary kid. My parents were focused on church planting. We were very close as a family. Both of my parents are still alive, and my dad serves as a pastor in southern Florida. I have one brother who is a pastor in Wisconsin, and the most special individual in my family is my sister, Amber. She was born with a very severe case of cerebral palsy and is entirely dependent on my mother...who is extraordinary! The three most impactful forces that have shaped who I am (outside of God’s grace) are growing up in Mexico, having parents who loved and planted churches, and sharing life with someone with a severe disability. My parents belonged at the time to a church and denomination that came with quite a bit of legalism and performance-oriented Christianity. Grace was a challenging concept to grasp. While I had an awareness of my sin and need for redemption, it wasn’t until I attended Moody Bible Institute that I began to grasp the fullness of God’s grace and His delight in His children. I have continued learning and trusting in the Gospel through formal education, like completing my M.Div., and through spiritual practices in community. Learning the Gospel and believing the Gospel has been a daily exercise. The Gospel is as beautiful and multi-faceted as a diamond! At an individual level, it is simple enough for us to live convinced that “Jesus loves me, this I know.” At a corporate level, it becomes the foundation that forms and informs our life as a spiritual family. At a cosmic level, it is redemption that reaches as far as the curse is found. It is hard to even grasp the multiplicity of goodness found in the Good News. Q: Share a little bit about your family life now. What does a typical day look like in the Burkholder household? A: My wife Jenny is my high-school sweetheart! She brings joy and kindness wherever she goes. She’s the best listener I’ve ever met, and we love spending time together. We have three daughters. Isabella is ten, Olivia is seven, and Zoey is four. Each of the girls is unique and has taught us a lot in our process of following Jesus together. We like to go out on walks and go to the park together. Once a month I try to get some alone time with each of my daughters which usually includes bowling or trampolines. A typical day in the Burkholder house starts around 5:00am. Because of traffic here in Guatemala City, we have to leave early for school. After school, the girls come home to different activities - sometimes swimming class, sometimes piano lessons. Four or five nights a week we have dinner together where we usually talk about our high and low moments of the day. On weekends, we enjoy time together, playing outside, or watching sports together. Go Cubs and Go Buckeyes! Q: What are your interests and hobbies? If you have the day off, what are you likely to be up to? A: I enjoy physical activity, running, strength-training and following sports. I also love music and, truth be told, am a bit snobby about my taste in music! I also am a very curious person and love reading just about anything that passes through my hands. A day off is usually an opportunity for time with family. Jenny and I like to cook something interesting together on our days off. Often there is time for some reading and watching some type of athletic event. Q: How did God lead you to TEAM? A: My wife and I were working in the Chicago suburbs. I was a youth pastor and she was a Spanish teacher. When we got married, we had already sensed God’s direction to serve cross-culturally, but it was a matter of discerning when and where. There was a driving desire in me to see a church deeply love the Scriptures and at the same time, be deeply engaged in loving and serving their city and the most vulnerable among them. As God directed our paths, we visited a variety of places and made some friends in Guatemala who opened up the path for us to serve here. While we were exploring, we knew that the International Director of an organization called TEAM happened to go to our church, so I decided I should probably invite him out for breakfast - his name was Charlie Davis. Charlie was extremely thoughtful, passionate about disciple-making, and very gracious in creating space for us as we stepped into this endeavor. Charlie connected me with Steve Dresselhaus, a fellow TEAM global worker who was at that time serving as the Senior Director for the Americas. I cannot express the debt that I owe Steve. He walked closely with me in the transition, encouraged courageous thinking about the church and her role in society, and blasted open the doors for us to serve in Guatemala. After meeting Steve, we spent some days praying about joining TEAM. One thing I will never forget – one night during the process, I found myself wide awake in the middle of the night. A peace like I have seldom experienced passed over me confirming that we should join TEAM. There is no doubt in my mind that God tied all of these pieces together to bring us into the TEAM family and community. Q: What roles have you held in TEAM? What have been the milestones in those roles? A: The most important role I have held in TEAM is that of a global worker. God in His grace has allowed us to help plant two churches here in Guatemala, serve in leadership development, counseling, and discipleship. Our greatest joy has been found walking with those who are learning to follow Christ more deeply. I served as the Ministry Area Leader in Guatemala from 2016 to 2019. We helped to establish and lead this ministry area as it grew from just four global workers to over 15. I then served as Senior Director for Mexico and Central America from 2019 to 2021, Regional Executive Director for the Americas in 2021 and 2022, and then transitioned to the role of Executive Director of Global Ministry which I’ll continue in until the end of June. Q: What do you love most about being a part of TEAM? Why TEAM rather than other organizations or job opportunities? A: The TEAM community is full of people who have faithfully served God’s mission and have given up a lot to do so. It is a privilege to know many of our global workers and be counted among them. I am also fascinated by the fact that TEAM has existed now for more than 130 years! There is something to be said about the resilience and faithfulness of an organization that has continued to impact the world for so long. The rest of our conversation with Justin will be coming soon on blog! We’ll hear more about how God called Justin to the role of International Director, and what Justin sees for the next chapter in TEAM’s work in the global Church.
Share by: