Connections
January 17, 2027 at 10:45 am - 12:30 pm | All Fellowship, Franklin
Starting Point is a 3-week interactive class where you’ll meet others taking their next steps at Fellowship, learn about our mission, opportunities for community, and walk away knowing how your story has a place here.
We will meet January 10, January 17, and January 24.
South Asia
The “Y” Family has been International Ministry Partners with Children’s Relief International (CRI) for the past 12 years, serving the Lord among their own people. Their vision is to strengthen the local church as they care for the widows, the orphans and the lost within their community. R was saved at a young age. She completed a Doctorate degree in Medicine, a Masters degree in Biblical Counseling from Dallas Theological Seminary and most recently a Masters degree in Social Work. J was saved at the age of 19. He completed a Masters degree in Biochemistry, and later a Masters degree in Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary. Prior to their call into full-time ministry, J was working in a Biotech Pharma company and R was working in the ER. They resigned their jobs and moved to the United States in order to pursue seminary education. After finishing seminary, they returned home to serve the Lord. They minister at City Brethren Assembly, where J is the pastor, while also sharing the gospel and providing care to HIV positive widows and orphans through various projects. A few of those projects include:
Project Life: a ministry that currently serves 39 HIV positive widows in the community. They provide support and care to these women and their children through regular house visits, offering free groceries, and caring for their physical, emotional & spiritual needs.
Project Life Launch: a ministry that currently serves 12 young adults and orphans that have been impacted by HIV. They provide skill training, encouragement and support to launch these young adults into their communities.
Miracle Milk Ministry: a ministry that provides nutritional care to various children living in institutions in their community.
Hope Farm: the future home base of their holistic ministries to the HIV+ orphans and widows, their children, and the church. It will be a place for equipping, encouraging, and empowering while also providing a place for rest and restoration.
Plans for 2026:
Our desire is to build the Primary Care and Counseling Center at Hope Farm in 2026! The architectural plans are finished. We are praying for the construction permit to be approved quickly, and for the building to be completed in record time— with all necessary funds provided by God through his people.
Dream:
Our dream is to see God provide for the entire Hope Farm master plan. This would enable us to finish every building and fully equip the ministry. We dream of a day when Hope Farm is filled with HIV-positive widows and young adults eager to learn, grow, and find hope through the opportunities offered there. We look forward to many at Hope Farm coming to know Christ personally, with new leaders rising among them to share his hope with others affected by HIV.
Finally, we are praying for God to provide the funds needed for us to purchase a piece of property for our local congregation—a multi-use space for outreach, transformation, and discipleship, where many would experience God’s love and grow in faith.
Hamburg, Germany
Steffen Weil and his wife Nata live in Hamburg, Germany. Steffen works primarily with AllianzMission, where he is the head of church planting, pastoral care and mentoring in Western Europe and Scandinavia. Steffen also serves as a leader and teaching pastor at Haven Church in Hamburg. In addition, Steffen leads City to City DACH (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), a church planting network.
Plans for 2026:
To host a January conference in Malaga, Spain, bringing together over 100 European Allianz Mission workers and 20 emerging leaders for encouragement, training, and inspiration in church planting, discipleship, and leadership.
Dream:
To see Europe transformed from post-Christian to pre-revivalist—a continent filled with multiplying churches led by healthy leaders who make disciples and invest in others.
Adjumani, Uganda
Rosemary Khamati is uniquely qualified to lead PEACE International’s work in East Africa. She’s a teacher by profession, an administrator by training, and a servant of Christ. Rosemary’s ministry targets South Sudanese refugees living in a settlement called Olua 1 in Northern Uganda, having fled the war in South Sudan. The focus of PEACE is transformation of the individual that ripples through the community. Her approach has been so successful that the Office of the Prime Minister in Uganda has asked her to duplicate PEACE in other settlements.
PEACE has made significant strides in its mission to support education, healing, and community development. The organization now serves 850 primary students from Pre-K to 7th grade through the PEACE School, providing Christian education. Additionally, 100 pastors have graduated from a two-year Trauma Healing/Peace and Reconciliation training program, equipping them with the tools to foster healing and peace in their communities. PEACE also supports 150 women in weekly groups focused on Bible study, prayer, Village Savings and Loan activities, and entrepreneurial training.
Plans for 2026:
Our ministry is dedicated to providing advanced training for selected church leaders who have already participated in our programs, elevating them to a Diploma level. This will enable them to work effectively with mentors like Pastor Simon and to support teachers and parents through counseling and guidance. These leaders will attend weekly classes for the next two years, and we are committed to assisting with their college fees, transportation, and meals, understanding that many lack a steady income.
Dream:
We envision a transformative journey for students in our secondary schools, grounding them in the Word of God as they prepare for their futures as committed Christians. By mentoring them, we intend to create role models who inspire their peers and promote the community's spiritual growth. To support this, we may hire a part-time coordinator during school holidays to guide these students and encourage hands-on work experience. A stipend will be provided to teach them the value of earning through labor, reinforcing the link between work and faith.
Athens, Greece
Johnathan Macris is president of Hellenic Ministries and the oldest child of well-known Greek evangelical missionaries Costas and Alky Macris. Johnathan graduated from Moody Bible Institute in 1985 and returned to Greece to serve his mandatory year in the Greek Army. He and his wife, Miriam, married in 1987 and have five children: Justin, Natassa, Kyle, Karsten, and Jorryn. He eventually went on to complete ministerial studies and was ordained as a minister of the Gospel in 1994 through the Wheaton Bible Church. Since the beginning of Hellenic Ministries in 1980, Johnathan has been vitally involved in the mission’s emphasis on evangelism, church planting, discipleship, and missions.
Under Jonathan's leadership, over the past 25 years, Hellenic Ministries has expanded its efforts to reach both Greeks and refugees with the hope of the gospel. After distributing 1.5 million New Testaments to rural homes throughout the country, the focus is now on relational evangelism for the purpose of church-planting. With this in mind, HM has a goal of planting 50 new churches over the next decade. Johnathan continues to believe that Greece"s best days are ahead, as God continues to do amazing things in this ancient land.
Plans for 2026:
We long to see the Oikos Network fully developed—launching 50 new church plants across Greece in the next 10 years, raising up 50 additional national evangelists, church planters, and ministry leaders, and equipping them through a world-class international training program. We envision a dedicated training facility at Porto Astro, complete with the infrastructure needed to develop leaders, and a social enterprise that will sustainably fund national workers—both in Greece and beyond.
Dream:
If every rural household across Greece’s 8,000 villages has now received the Scriptures, how many churches are needed to ensure that anyone, anywhere, can be part of a vibrant community of faith? We estimate 1,000 churches—meaning our goal of 50 is only phase one of a much greater movement of God.
Juba, South Sudan
James Baak, one of the 20,000 “Lost Boys,” founded Transform South Sudan (formerly Solidarity Ministries Africa for Reconciliation and Development) in 2013 to empower the people of South Sudan with good health, knowledge, and skills to achieve sustainable peace and gospel-driven transformation. Over the past 20 years, TSS has made significant strides, and new projects are underway. A key development was the opening of the Achiek Clinic in November 2022, the first medical facility in the region. Before the clinic's opening, residents of Lietnhom had to travel over 100 miles to access healthcare. In the past 18 months, the clinic has treated over 5,000 patients, averaging 500 visits per month. To further improve public health, three deep-water wells were drilled in 2024 to provide clean water and reduce waterborne illnesses like Typhoid and Enteric Fever.
Moscow, Russia
Dr. Peter Mitzkevich began his spiritual pilgrimage at age 14 when he put his faith in Christ, fully aware of the dangers of making such a decision under Soviet rule. Years later, he became a medical doctor, but his professional life changed when he assisted the Gideon International Bible distribution ministry. People who received the Bible would ask Peter to help them understand Scripture, but he was not equipped to do so. This motivated Peter to receive his Master of Theology degree. Peter says his dream for Russia is “that each town will have its own evangelical church, that each pastor will be theologically educated, that each church will have its own place of worship, and that each citizen of Russia will receive the Good News.” Peter is the president of the Moscow Theological Seminary and president of the Russia Baptist Union.
Plans for 2026: Our heartfelt aspiration is that every town and village in Russia will have a vibrant church, a beacon of hope and community. Within each of these churches, we envision having a theologically educated pastor, equipped with the knowledge, wisdom, and passion to guide their congregation. These pastors will not only provide spiritual leadership but also serve as pillars of their communities, fostering a deeper understanding of faith and creating a nurturing environment for growth and service.
Dream: We dare to dream that every citizen of Russia will be touched by the transformative message of the Good News. Our vision is that, through dedicated outreach and love-driven initiatives, the Gospel will reach every corner of our nation—entering homes, schools, and hearts. We believe that as each person encounters this message, the Lord will inspire deep change, renewing hearts and sparking a collective movement toward faith, hope, and unconditional love. Together, we can build a society where the teachings of Christ lead to tangible acts of kindness, compassion, and unity, ultimately strengthening the spiritual and moral fabric of our nation.
Amman, Jordan
Dr. Imad Shehadeh, a Jordan-born Palestinian Christian, founded the Jordan Evangelical Theological Seminary (JETS) in 1991. JETS is one of the earliest-accredited evangelical training institutions in the Middle East. Since 1991, JETS has trained hundreds of leaders from all over the Middle East, the Arab Peninsula, and North Africa and offers Bachelor, Master, and Doctorate graduate programs. While the Middle East is very unstable in today’s political climate, Jordan is relatively stable, and the government has shown JETS favor to exist and train up future leaders. JETS plays a strategic role in God’s plan to build his Church. JETS vision for the near future is to increase enrollment by offering a variety of programs including non-formal training, online courses, and provide training in English for non-Arabic speaking Muslim countries. JETS also envisions publishing several key works within the next three to four years on a variety of important subjects.
Plans for 2026:
We desire to engage our graduates in Jordan and the seven surrounding countries by forming leading groups of 10 pastors who have not received theological training. We would provide them with sufficient education in biblical, theological, ministerial, and personal skills over the course of one year. If we can train 10 pastors in each of these eight countries, that equals 80 pastors who can then train others. We hope this approach will expand to additional Middle Eastern countries. This would create a new branch of JETS, offering both formal and informal theological education.
Dream:
Our dream is to create a new translation of the most commonly used Arabic Bible in the Middle East, known as the Van Dyke translation. It hasn't been updated since it was first produced in 1865. The new translation will also include extensive footnotes from start to finish, estimated at 100,000 notes. A team of scholars has already been working with me for the past three years on this project. We hope to finish the New Testament by 2027 and the Old Testament by 2030.
Karachaevsk, Russia
Dinislam is a dedicated Christian leader primarily focused on the Karachi people, an ethnic group in which only about 26 out of 130,000 are Christians. Despite the small Christian population, the church he leads is open to all, offering a welcoming environment to people from diverse backgrounds. One of his key initiatives is the establishment of "safe houses." These are designated spaces for individuals, particularly those who accept Jesus Christ, who are often ostracized by their families for their faith. This includes children who are displaced after their families reject them. The ongoing war has made basic supplies expensive and hard to obtain, adding additional pressure to Dinislam’s ministry. He is also raising seven children, two sets of orphaned siblings he adopted, which has made his financial situation even more challenging. Despite these difficulties, Dinislam remains committed to his mission and continues to trust in God’s provision for his family and ministry. Dinislam’s evangelistic efforts in the Caucasus Mountain region reflect his deep passion for seeing many people groups in southern Russia come to faith in Christ.
Plans for 2026:
We long to see the House of Refuge restored—a safe and welcoming place with a solid roof, warm rooms, and dignity for those who have lost everything for following Jesus.
Dream:
We dream of the day when mothers and children, cast out of their homes for leaving Mohammad to follow Christ, will no longer wander in fear or search for shelter. Instead, they will find refuge, belonging, and the tender love of Jesus beneath one roof—a house not just rebuilt, but redeemed.
Slavonski Brod, Croatia
Darko was raised in a Christian home and was saved at an early age. In high school, the Lord called Darko to full-time ministry, so he went on to attend International Evangelical Theological Seminary in Osijek, Croatia. The Lord has blessed Darko and Gorana with four children: two girls and two boys. In addition, Darko and Gorana are fostering four children.
In 1999 Darko and Gorana were part of a church planting team in Slavonski Brod. With a population of 70,000, Brod was the largest Croatian town at that time without any evangelical church. For over two decades of faithful service, they are thankful for a small but dedicated growing body of believers who love the Lord and are being transformed into Christlikeness. Recently, with the help of many Fellowship members who have been a part of the summer and winter programs that their church runs, they have seen some strong and encouraging growth in the youth of their community.
Both Darko and Gorana were refugees during the Yugoslav Wars in the early 90’s and from that they became very aware of the needs for those without a safe and stable home environment. That is one of the reasons that they have worked so hard to see their vision for the House of Hope come to fruition. The House of Hope will be a community resource for foster families, single parents, and children in need. As foster parents themselves, they have firsthand experiences of how challenging it can be to care for vulnerable children and they desire that this house will be more than just a structure but a beacon of light for those in challenging home situations to find hope, help and healing.
Plans for 2026:
That the House of Hope would be fully completed—floors, tiles, bathrooms, doors, heating, and furnishings—ready to be used for Kingdom purposes.
Dream:
That the House of Hope will be filled with young people who were once fatherless and lost, now finding new life, purpose, and belonging in the love of their Heavenly Father. We long to see true disciples of Jesus growing in faith, guided by mentors who equip and serve them with Christ’s love. Our dream is for the House of Hope to be a place of redemption, restoration, and discipleship—a light to the community of Slavonski Brod. We pray that our church will grow strong in love, faith, and number, becoming a lighthouse for the region and inspiring new Bible-believing churches to be planted so that every person might hear the good news of the Gospel.
Comas, Peru
Pastor Mario Perez is the current senior pastor of the Christian Missionary Alliance (CMA) Church in Comas. He has been married to Rosa for almost 40 years. They have three adult children, two grandchildren, and a dog. Fellowship's partnership in Comas, Peru, began with Pastor Mario Perez back in the CMA Church in 2003. He left Comas in 2007 to serve in the denomination's corporate leadership in various capacities, and until March of this year, he was the President of the CMA. Pastor Mario has since returned to the CMA Church in Comas. He chose to come back because God continues to give him a huge burden and concern for the people who do not know Christ, both in the Comas district and throughout the northern area of Lima. "I am convinced that God has called me back to Comas to experience the manifestation of His power and His glory once again in the midst of a united work between you (FBC) and us."
Plans for 2026:
We envision a future where our church experiences its most transformative era yet, led by a generation of well-equipped young leaders. By investing in their discipleship, we aim to foster comprehensive and healthy growth that reaches local, national, and international communities.
Dream:
We anticipate a remarkable revival in our church's history, driven by empowered young leaders who inspire and activate those around them. Together, we will create a thriving community that reflects Christ's love and makes a lasting impact on the world.
Maribor, Slovenia
Andrej and Nina shepherd a vibrant community in Maribor, Slovenia, where their passion is to be disciples who make disciples. They lead a church of about 30 people, composed primarily of young students and families. For Andrej and Nina, this mission stems from Jesus’ call in Matthew 28—a call they believe has the power to transform Slovenia as people come to understand that life with the Lord is always a mission.
Andrej also serves as the national leader of Josiah Venture, a dynamic youth ministry organization committed to equipping young people to live and share the gospel.
Plans for 2026:
As our farm continues to grow and serve more people, we are excited about expanding our vision. We have the opportunity to acquire land for a youth ranch focused on disciple-making through service and outdoor therapeutic experiences. This ranch will be a safe haven for young people, promoting healing, growth, and a deeper connection with God.
Dream:
As a family of God, we are dedicated to loving and serving our neighbors, especially given the increasing mental health challenges faced by youth, similar to those seen in America. We want to stand with individuals as they navigate life, using the farm and our horses to help children and young people in meaningful ways. Additionally, we aim to build a network of Christian mental health professionals in the community to establish a center focused on youth support and wellness.
As devoted disciples of Christ, we also desire to deepen our church's understanding of His life and the call to make disciples. We are eager to guide our congregation through various training programs focused on disciple-making, empowering our members to carry out this vital mission and strengthen our community in faith.