Chain of Love began in 1993, when a community of people in the city of Novo Hamburgo, Brazil including NAB missionaries Ken & Jerilyn Bayer, was awakened to the plight of street children. A rapidly growing number of children have been hopelessly abandoned to manage for themselves on dangerous city streets. Says founder and director Ken Bayer, ”Everywhere we turned, they were there…very obvious and sometimes stumbled over…yet purposefully avoided and ignored.”

To avoid institutionalization, homes are constructed and staffed with foster parents. Each couple accepts ten children in addition to their own, and agrees to raise them to adulthood and independence. Attention is given to the needs of foster parents as well so that they will have the time and energy to meet the needs of their children. Usually there are eighty to ninety children in Chain of Love in our 9 homes and two youth homes being nurtured in loving and caring homes. The age range is from birth to twenty-one years. The foster parents and the larger Chain of Love community, together meet the physical, social, spiritual, and psychological needs of the children placed in their care.

For more information go to chainoflove.org

John Brouwer ministers in Eastern Europe with Entrust ministries. John spends his time teaching courses in Foudations of Christian Faith and Formation, Christian Character and mentoring students at the Karoli Gasper Christian University in Budapest, Hungary.

As John puts it “My mission is to creatively communicate the reconciling message of Jesus Christ to leaders and potential leaders, so that as their lives are transformed, the surrounding culture is transformed. I do this through teaching, mentoring and publishing.”

Monty & Tanya Buck are serving with Operation Mobilization in Novosibirsk, Siberia, Russia where they spend much of their time in evangelistic work in the region.
Monty is still learning the language and customs of his adopted country. Monty is very active in working with the Discipleship Center.

The Discipleship Centre is a joint project between the mission OM and the Evangelical Baptist Union of the Novosibirsk Oblast. The Centre exists to train, equip and motivate young Christians in Novosibirsk. Our goals are to:

• help Christians discover their gifts;
• train them to use these gifts effectively;
• motivate them to take part in God’s great commission, to see His kingdom grow locally, nationally and internationally.

We achieve these goals by running a six month residential course for up to eight students. This course is designed for both young men and women, is intensive, and, wherever possible, combines theory with practice. OM Russia is currently building a new facility to host the Discipleship Centre and make future expansion possible. More information about this project can be found at www.discpleshipcentre.org

Nathan Bunting serves at Faith Academy in Manila, Philippines through Wycliff Bible Translators.

This is Nate's 8th year at Faith Academy, where he teaches both Bible and Business to our high school students. He is also assistant coach of the Varsity volleyball team, and is the advisor for the student council.

Nate is married to Valerie who also teaches at the school. On December 30, 2009 Katrina Jean was born to Nate and Valerie.

Manny Fernandez is the director of World Link Ministries and the Spanish Seminary for Theological and Evangelistic Training (SEFOVAN). This ministry is dedicated to training and deploying national leaders, promoting discipleship and evangelizing unchurched people in southern and Eastern Europe, North Africa, and Cuba. They have had great success in reaching the lost in many of these countries.

Manny Fernandez Jr. along with his wife Jamie are serving in Spain with World Link Ministries where Manny is teaching and mentoring students in preparation for full time ministry in Spanish speaking countries.

Joan (Henry) Farr serves with Wycliffe Bible Translators in Papua New Guinea. Joan spent 20 years working on translating the Bible into the Kombio language and is now working with her husband, Jim, also a Wycliffe translator, with the Baruga and Korafe languages.

Marcos & Veronica Schultz lead the Olive Tree Ministries out of Porvenir, Mexico. Marcos enjoys a national platform as a conference speaker and contributor to various Christian publications. His main ministry is to motivate and challenge Latin ministers and churches for the nations.

Jonathan & Traci Shoemaker are our partners in Lisbon, Portugal. Jonathan is now able to teach and preach in the Portuguese language! Both he and Traci are involved in teaching and training of young seekers and Christians through the church in Lisbon. They are also working with an international team in planting a new church in the city.

Ron & Joan Stoller serve with NAB Missions in Chita, Japan where they established the Chita Nozimi Church. The Stoller’s have been serving faithfully in Japan for over 25 years as church planters, pastors and leadership trainers.

Dr. Chris Marantika is founder of Evangelical Theological Seminary of Indonesia. In addition to seminary studies each student is expected to plant a new church before graduation. This ministry has been incredibly successful and today has 29 branch campuses in addition to the original campus in Yogyakarta. ETSI students have planted nearly 3,200 churches.

Steve Delph is the regional Director for Partners International. Partners International is a global ministry that works to create and grow communities of Christian witness in partnership with God’s people in the least Christian regions of the world. Steve travels to various parts of the world helping to train and equip Christian leaders to reach their part of the world for Christ.

John Dupree serves through Harvest Gathering, a group dedicated to educating and motivating individuals and churches to fulfill the Great Commission by means of special seminars and courses of study.

Don Blythe serves our community through At the Well Ministries. Don confronts those going into clinics seeking abortions and offers alternative choices and counseling.

Bill Brown is the director of Gospel Center Rescue Mission which has been serving our community since 1948 by providing emergency lodging, food, clothing and programs to help those in need to overcome addictions, complete their education, learn job skills, life skills, parenting, and how to come into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Pray that God will continue to provide the means necessary to continue this essential ministry.

Bob & Lisa Margaron are directors of Peniel Mission in South Stockton. The center is a drop-in center for inner city kids where they can find a safe atmosphere and loving acceptance. The goal of the center is to give faith, hope and love to kids and show them a healthy alternative to gangs and drugs. Through Bible Club, recreation, crafts, snacks, camps and the Learning Center Bob and Lisa seek to introduce kids to Christ.

Christina McBride assists Bob and Lisa Margaron at the Peniel Mission by helping with the administration, loving, teaching and mentoring the South Stockton inner city kids.

Candace Milton is the director of Pregnancy Help Center. This is a non-profit organization offering a wide variety of free, caring and confidential services to girls, women and families facing an unplanned pregnancy.

Audrey Puah serves with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at UOP Stockton where she is involved in leading Bible studies, conferences, leadership training, evangelism and mentoring of UOP students.

Under the leadership of Jim Reid, the Senior Chaplain, there are currently over 30 men and women who serve the Stockton Police Department. The chaplains are on call to perform ministry day and night to the police officers, victims and families in our community.

Joel Wurgler is the Executive Director for Youth For Christ in Stockton. Joel oversees this extensive youth ministry that holds school workshops in anger management, substance abuse counseling and gang prevention/intervention.