Staff

Philip Smethurst is the founder and president of Overland Missions. Overland Missions is dedicated to communicate the Gospel to the neglected and isolated people of the world. In 1999, Philip and his wife Sharon founded Overland and under their guidance, it is currently at work in 14 countries…read more

Sharon was born to missionary parents in Portugal then moved to Brazil at the age of 3 where she was raised. Largely influenced by the passion for people apparent in her parents and her deep love for the Lord she dedicated her life to serving people through the ministry, receiving training at Operation Mobilization in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and in the Creative Arts at School of Creative Ministries, London. At 18 years old, Sharon began to travel the world ministering and leading worship in meetings and has since traveled to over 40 countries sharing the gospel of Christ. Sharon and Philip met in East London, South Africa 1997 and quickly realized that they shared the same love for the nations. Philip and Sharon have 2 children who travel with them into the nations.

I was born and raised in the south suburbs of Chicago. I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in International Studies.  The door was opened for me to work with Overland Missions in early 2009.  I went through AMT (do it!) on the base in Livingstone, Zambia and then moved to Burundi in August of 2009. 
There wasn’t a subject in school that didn’t interest me (though not necessarily good at all of them) and I also enjoyed playing tennis, soccer, and rugby.
I am excited to see all that God is going to do in Burundi in the coming years! 

Dan graduated with a Civil Engineering degree in 2003 and went immediately to work with Overland Missions. Since then he has held a variety of positions with Overland. He led short term expedition teams into Africa, South America and Southeast Asia for 4 years while traveling on smaller recon teams to remote places simultaneously. In 2005, when Overland Missions began constructing of the Rapid 14 Base in Zambia, Dan began to help with the construction of the base.

In 2007, Advanced Mission Training was launched and Dan took its directorship. He has worked to direct and develop AMT since then. He met Rachel, his wife, in 2003, but they did not begin dating until 2008. They were married on April 2009 and left to lead the AMT schools.

Rachel is a Registered Nurse, by profession, and is currently applying for Physicians Assistant schools. Together they want to preach the gospel, direct AMT and bring medical aid around the world.

My life’s story is a journey from one adventerous challange to another! I was raised in a big family and entered the mission field for the first time at 14 with my pastor. Since then I’ve trained in and worked in the medical field to prepare me for wherever God was taking me! I’ve worked all over the East Coast as a nurse and traveled the USA (and Africa) teaching Wilderness Medicine. I’ve traversed the globe many times by myself and as of April 2009 am now privilaged to be married to the most amazing man I’ve ever known!!! I hope to spend the rest of my life sharing the Gospel with Dan, wherever God has us! In many ways I’m as much at home overseas as I am in America! I love the outdoors and other cultures. I absolutely love learning and working in the medical field; I love teaching & working with missionaries; and I love cooking and baking at the end of the day!

The call to preach the Gospel to the neglected and unreached areas of the world is what brought Jason to Overland Missions in 2004.  Jason has had the opportunity to travel to 26 countries and has preached the gospel in many of them.  He came to Christ during his freshman year of College and later graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a B.S. in Health and Sport Sciences.  After his first mission trip to India he attended Vision Christian Bible College and received a B.A. in Theology.  Jason currently serves in an administrative capacity with Overland Missions and works in the corporate offices in the USA.  In many ways Jason’s life has not yet begun, the best is yet to come.  Many will come to know Christ, many will be set free and delivered and many will glorify God as they become more like Jesus through the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.

Laura grew up in the Chicago area and started working full time with Overland Missions after college. This is her 4th year working in the expedition department and has led teams throughout southern Africa. She currently oversees the Africa expedition department and trains new expedition leaders, in addition to running the teams. Her heart is for the rural villages and for the pastors and church leaders that she works alongside.

Richelle Lopez has been serving Overland Missions as the Finance supervisor for the last two years. She and her husband Martin Lopez have been missionaries with Overland Missions to South America among other responsibilities.

Richelle’s business ownership background and years of public service experience as an executive secretary makes her a blessing and a key part of the team. Her heart for the nations began in her early years, and especially after traveling to Italy on her first missionary trip in 2000.

She is in charge of the entire organization’s financial coordination and accountability. Richelle facilitates the development of Human Resources and is also the Liaison to the Board of Directors. We thank her for her hard work as we continue to work on the vision to the nations.

Arthur and Liezl Pienaar, a South African family who have been missionaries in Zambia for more than 10 years, joined Overland Missions in 2008. Their vision is to see a Christian culture established amongst the people of Zambia. Their heart is not only to evangelize, but to disciple and mentor Christians in order to empower them to realize their full potential in Christ.
Arthur serves Overland as the Africa Director of Operations. His responsibilities include managing all ministry-related operations within Overland Missions in Africa by assisting every department in reaching their goal efficiently and corporately (as one tribe). Arthur is also the Director of The LIFE Project as well as sector manager for the Mukuni Kingdom.

Arthur’s wife, Liezl, utilizes her Education degree specializing in Early Childhood Development, by serving as an educational consultant for The LIFE Project. She is responsible for writing a suitable curriculum for the village preschools.

The entire Pienaar family is committed to building God’s Kingdom. Arthur and Liezl involve their children, Hugian (8), Louis (6), and Danielle (18 months), in the ministry as often as they can.

Jessica was born in California and raised in Florida.  Since she was a young girl, the passion for travel was instilled in her by her mom as they traveled all over the US and into many other countries for the adventure and for new experiences.  Jessica began a committed life for Jesus while in college at the University of North Florida where she earned a degree in Communications and Business Administration.

It was during her time at UNF that she and her mother traveled on their first international trip in missions.  Since that first trip, Jessica traveled to a different country for missions every year.  In 2007, her trip was to Zambia with Overland Missions.  Not long after returning home, the Holy Spirit answered Jessica’s desire to become a full-time missionary and she officially joined staff with Overland Missions in April 2008.

Jessica now serves in their international headquarters in Cocoa, Florida.  She plans their annual missions conferences, plans and co-leads the Brazil expeditions and works with current and new staff in the Ministry of Partnership Development.

She has a desire for others to realize the heart of God for their lives, the identity given them in Christ Jesus and the freedom and power found in the Holy Spirit.  She loves the outdoors, spending time with her husband and best friend Josh, traveling and reading.

Masters In Business Administration

Founder and director of Silvagro Nursery, a forest seedling company growing tree seedlings in two locations in British Columbia . Colin has been involved with a number of successful businesses in B.C.. He and his wife Sandra have operated a silvicultural contracting business for nearly twenty years .

Their interest and involvement in tree growing has taken them to New Zealand, Uruguay, Cuba, and now with Overland Missions, Zambia, where they have established and provided expertise on tree plantations.

David Killough is the Director of Recruiting at Overland Missions. His commitment to the communication of the Gospel started at a very young age when his parents, would take his family to Mexico to serve the local churches in Mazatlàn and Puerto Peñasco. This commitment continued throughout high school.

Upon graduation of high school in 99’ he turned down a scholarship to Arizona State University and moved to northern Kenya to work with Africa Inland Mission. His passion for the Kingdom of God was amplified during his year with AIM. He returned to the USA with a clear vision of what God had called him to do, and immediately set a course to accomplish this vision.

The next six years would find David working various jobs from welding/fabricating, to marketing & business development for Ace Asphalt. During this time he faithfully served in Kid’s Church as a teacher, led numerous home groups and attended a 2 year Bible College program through the Vineyard Leadership Institute.

David connected with Overland Missions in August of 2005, spent 5 weeks with them in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Zambia in 2006 and then joined staff in January of 2007.  Since then he has primarily worked within recruiting and expeditions. In January of 2008 he took over as Director of Recruiting, where his responsibilities include speaking in churches, universities and missions conferences worldwide to recruit for the vision of Overland Missions. David also leads the Amazon expeditions and continues the pioneering work in Angola for Overland.

Martin has a long history of serving, not only in missions, but our community at large. With over 12 years of state law enforcement experience, he has a great mix of experience and leadership to help carry out Overland Mission’s vision to the nations.

Martin works in the U.S. office coordinating our Operation’s department. The systematic approach to the Sector Management infrastructure is one of the main responsibilities of our Operations department. He also leads expedition teams to South America, specifically to Patagonia Argentina and other remote locations.

Candi Martin is married to Pastor Jeff Martin and are currently on assignment to the African Continent as Candi and her family minister through the Rural Pastors Network. Candi and her family have been long term missionaries to Brazil among other locations. 

In Brazil they spoke into the lives of hundreds of city leaders and pastors. They also got to see Jesus change the lives of tens of thousands of young people as God marked a new generation of upcoming leaders and worshippers with a great revival anointing.  It was after returning from Brazil that Philip called them and invited them to join Overland Missions on a full time basis.

Since entering full time ministry 28 years ago, Jeff and Candi have lived in 4 nations of the world preaching the gospel in hundreds of cities, reaching over 30 nations on 6 continents. Jeff holds a masters degree in Ministry and Theology.

Their missionary calling began after over 18 years of helps and pastoral ministry in a local church in Jacksonville Florida.  In 1993 they relocated their family to Belize, Central America, and lived in a village on the Moho River.  They worked there with the Kek’chi Maya and Spanish for several years, and continued working there as the Lord allowed for many years. In 1997 they were when in a church there when revival broke out, and were able to see it transform multitudes of lives. The effect of that revival continues until this day. It was during these years of international ministry where they met Sharon Quinlin. Sharon traveled and ministered with them as an anointed and prophetic worship leader.

In 1998 Jeff and Candi founded the “Gloryhouse Fellowship International” in Jacksonville Florida. It was here that Sharon met and married Philip Smethurst. When they were married, Jeff was part of the team that preformed their marriage. Jeff and Candi pastored the Gloryhouse until 2005 when they turned their church over to a spiritual son, and relocated to Brazil, South America. They worked there in Brazil for two and a half years with the “Call to the Nations” revival team. While there, they ministered revival conferences in 52 cities of Brazil. In Brazil they spoke into the lives of hundreds of city leaders and pastors. They also got to see Jesus change the lives of tens of thousands of young people as God marked a new generation of upcoming leaders and worshippers with a great revival anointing.  It was after returning from Brazil that Philip called them and invited them to join Overland Missions on a full time basis.

Jeff and Candi Martin have been friends and coworkers with Overland Missions since its inception.  Jeff has served on the Board of Overland Missions since 1999.  In 2008 they joined the staff and relocated to Zambia Africa. Their calling is to develop and direct the Rural Pastors Network. The RPN is a leadership mentoring and educational network of Kingdom minded rural leaders from many different denominations.  Jeff is 56 years old, and Candi is 51. They have 4 grown sons and 9 grandchildren

Jeff works in Africa as the Rural Pastors Network director with over 1500 rural pastors under his care, and watches over the base as Base Director.  Jeff also oversees the construction on the base.

Isaac Martin is 29 years old and has grown up on the missions field with his family in Belize, Honduras and Guatemala. His parents are Jeff and Candi Martin, the directors of the Rural Pastors Network. Isaac is currently working from the Rapid 14 base in Zambia 9 months out of the year as the media department’s network technician, as well as assisting with graphic design and audio production. His heart has always been to be used mightily by God for the nations, which has led him to his full time work with Overland Missions.

  I was born and raised in Indiana. I come from a split family. My dad lives in northwestern Indiana and I was raised and well taken care of by my mom and step-dad in a small town called Centerville, in east central Indiana. I asked Jesus to be a part of my life in my freshman year of high school (2004). Then I found out what a relationship with Christ was like in my junior year of high school (2006). By the grace of God I didn’t get caught up in the American Christian life of sitting in the chair on Sunday. I engaged in an everyday relationship with the one and only Savior of the world. That is where my adventure really began.
  In 2007 I planned to go on a mission trip to the Amazon jungle in Brazil. Before embarking on this mission trip God gave me a vision. In this vision God told me directly that I was going to be a missionary. This same week I met an amazing guy called Dr. Leon Van Rooyen. Dr. Leon is a life long missionary from South Africa and is President of Global Ministries and Relief. This man helped me build a vision for my own life. He allowed me to realize what God was actually calling me too. Since then Dr. Leon has been mentoring me and helping me build up the vision that God put in my heart, the vision of one day reaching an unreached tribe in the amazon jungle.
  So I did go on this 3 month trip to Brazil and it was life changing. God used me in many ways and also blessed me in many ways. When I got back to the states that fall, I met with Dr. Leon again. He got me started on an education plan and got me set up with the right people to put my plans into action. Now I am currently working with Overland Missions as a Sector Missionary and soon to be Expedition Leader. Dr. Leon set me up with this organization and is fully supportive of them. Since I have been working with them I have been amazed at how well everything I have dreamed of doing has already been set up and put into action.
  I plan to continue to work with Overland Missions and Global Ministries and Relief for quite a while. I envision myself ending up in Brazil in the next couple of years, but nothing is guaranteed. The only guarantee is that I will get up and move to wherever God wants me to be.

My name is Charlie Stevicks. I am 23 years old and have been involved with missions since I was 18 years old. My first time I went out of the states I went to India, Bangladesh and Nepal for 9 weeks. Since then I have been to 8 other countries including Zambia, which is where my heart now resides. I took my first trip with Overland Missions in 2007 and while I was standing in the back of one of the expedition trucks on our way to find a village we had never been to, with the sun beating down on my face and the yellow landscape of the tall grasses and bright blue of the sky passing by, God spoke to my heart and I knew I was home. I have returned every year since, completing the Advanced Missions Training school in 2008 and assisting Pastor Jeff with the Rural Pastors Network in 2009. In 2010 I will be returning to Zambia in a full time position as a Rural Pastors Network Assistant.

Ariel and Kristen met in the Dominican Republic (Ariels Country of Birth), and have been married for 5 years.
They are passionate to reach the rural and neglected areas of the Dominican Republic as well as the forgotten border towns (Haiti). They are energetic and excited to continue the work of Overland missions in Hispaniola and love taking groups to encounter the vision of reaching the un-reached.

Pastor Dragan is a great leader and pioneer in our Rural Pasors Network, Sector Management and LIFE Project. He has been serving with Overland Missions for the last 10 years.

Ciaran and Jamie Stirling met in 2008, then married in April of 2009. Ciaran has been full time with Overland Missions since 2005, and Jamie has been full time with Overland Missions since the end of 2008. Ciaran was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa; Jamie was raised in Medford, Oregon. Ciaran currently serves as the full time base manager and Jamie currently serves as the financial supervisor. They lead expedition teams when needed and absolutely love ministering in the rural villages. They are expecting their first child in August of 2010.

Ciaran and Jamie Stirling met in 2008, then married in April of 2009. Ciaran has been full time with Overland Missions since 2005, and Jamie has been full time with Overland Missions since the end of 2008. Ciaran was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa; Jamie was raised in Medford, Oregon. Ciaran currently serves as the full time base manager and Jamie currently serves as the financial supervisor. They lead expedition teams when needed and absolutely love ministering in the rural villages. They are expecting their first child in August of 2010.

I’m a 3rd generation missionary kid raised in the Outback of Australia. My early life was spent in Aboriginal communities where I learned important skills such as living in a cross-cultural environment and finding traditional foods.

I knew from an early age that I was called to the ministry. After completing an Associate Degree in Theology at the River Bible Institute in Tampa, Florida I went on to preach in Australia and Papua New Guinea. I also spent some time traveling with a ministry in the USA working as a full time street evangelist.

In December 2008 I attended the One Tribe Conference at Overland Missions headquarters in Cocoa Beach, Florida. I didn’t know it at the time but that night would change the direction of my life. Three months later doors miraculously opened for me to attend the Overland Missions Advanced Mission Training course in Zambia. It was a dream come true for me. While completing the AMT course God put it in my heart to join Overland Missions as an Expedition Operator.

Jacob and Jessi Schwertfeger have been missionaries in Zambia, Africa for 4 years.  Both natives of West Virginia, they served their first 2 years with Sons of Thunder ministry where Jessi directed an orphanage and Jacob directed a farming program and Bible College.  Their second year with Sons of Thunder is when the family set out to learn how to best serve and empower Zambians with the gospel of Jesus Christ.  After spending several week long trips out in different villages they knew God was calling them to full-time work in the most unreached areas.  The Schwertfegers have two children, Sunda (4) and Kya (newborn).  After identifying their heart for the neglected areas of Zambia, the Schwertfgers joined the OM team as Sector Managers of the Nyawa chiefdom.  It is their desire to share not only the gospel, but their very lives with the Tonga people.

Debbie is forever grateful to two strangers who listened to her as she talked with them and mentioned that she had suffered for 10 years with severe attacks of night terrors. They not only listened but boldly talked to her about Jesus, His love and His desire to set her free from pain and suffering. They prayed with her and she accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior. on May 7, 2004. Debbie’s life dramatically changed from that moment on. She was immediately healed from the night terrors and Jesus began a beautiful relationship with her that grows deeper every day.

Within one week of inviting Jesus into her life she and her husband, Phil, met Phil Smethurst (Founder of Overland Missions) walking on the beach in Cocoa Beach. That divine appointment has lead to a strong friendship with Phil and Sharon Smethurst and a deep love for the vision and work of Overland Missions. She delights in serving on the intercessory prayer team for Overland Missions. Her desires are to share her faith boldly with everyone she meets and for all people to come to know Jesus, His forgiveness, His love, His joy, His peace and His healing so that they may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

I was born on the the twentieth of May 1985 in Western Zambia. I did my primary and junior high from 1991 to 2002 and after graduating high school, i went to my hometown to stay with family, because i did my school in boarding. It was during my stay home in 2003 when i met overland Missions. By that time i was not saved and very young, but my grandfather was working hand in hand with them( OM). A year later i got saved and i met Overland Missions when went back to my hometown and i did work with them, i helped interpret. During this period i discovered that God had called me to full time ministry and that he had a plan for my life, so i started pursuing God. In 2004 i started getting involved in my local Church and become a youth leader. Later in 2005 my family wanted me to work in our family business, so i went ahead and started working . In 2007 i couldn’t hold back the passion of Serving God full time, so i applied for a bible school in South Africa. What was meant to be a year programmed ended up been 3 months because Overland invited me to come work with them. In May 2007 i quit bible and came back to Zambia and started working with Overland Missions in June. I’m now serving with Overland missions as an expedition leader

I first found out about Overland Missions 3 years ago today(Jan. 25, 2010). At the time I did not even have a passport and had never flown anywhere. 3 months later I boarded a plane, heading to Overland Mission’s Rapid 14 Base in Zambia where I spent 3 months in the Advanced Mission Training program. The experience changed my life, as I was introduced to a society I barely new existed, and given the skills to effectively minister to a group of people who have not heard the true message of the Gospel.

    Since that time I have spent more time overseas than in the US. I filled my passport within one year of the issue date, after going though driver training on the “Truck Trip” as it has been dubbed. The trip was set up so that we could transport 4 trucks that Overland Missions had purchased in The Netherlands. We drove 2 of those trucks all the way across Europe and into the Middle East via Turkey, where we then traveled through Syria and Jordan, crossing the Red Sea on a ferry into Egypt where we began our trek down through Africa via Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, and finally ending up at our destination of Zambia. From there I flew to one of the Southern most tips of Africa, where we picked up the 2 trucks which had been shipped to Port Elizabeth. We then drove to Johannesburg, South Africa, up along the coast of Mozambique, then into Zimbabwe during one of the most depressed economic times in the nation’s history.

    After that point, I stayed in Zambia for 9 months, working around the base maintaining vehicles, repairing and building the structures, getting trained in leading teams, ministering in villages, and helping wherever necessary.  I am now full time with OM. I currently work primarily with the Expeditions department, taking teams to minister in remote villages for weeks at a time. My goal is to spend more time in Africa than I do in the US. While I am in the States however, I focus on recruiting and spreading the word about missions to those I come in contact with.

At the age of 17 I relocated to Canada from South Africa.  After many years of working in Canada I felt I needed to go back to Africa and invest a few years into my home continent.  I currently work to co-ordinate the education, medical and vulnerable arm of the LIFE project in Zambia in accordance to the vision.  I have a passion for people and love to draw out the potential of those around me.  I believe that once we are ready to use our potential our purpose is found then God gives us grace for that purpose. I enjoy working with the people of Zambia and using the ability in me to raise the standard of kingdom values while keeping it culturally relevant.

Rod was born to missionary parents in Papua New Guinea and grew up in the village environment, learning the local dialect and state language before English. He lived on the mission field until a teenager then moved to Australia and over the next five years completed a trade in Refrigeration and Air conditioning. At this time he met Christine who would later become his wife.
After studying at Commonwelth Bible College the newly marrieds Rod and Christine, immediately went into full time ministry as youth pastors. This was followed by pioneering two churches at the same time in Central Queensland’s coal mining towns. Missions was still on their hearts, so in 1983 they moved to the Outback to work and live amongst the Australian Aborigines. This was serious frontier type missions with primative living conditions, remote locations, and extreme climate just the beginning of the challenges. It was also an extremely rewarding time as their children Renee, Jessica and Dwain grew up in an atmosphere that forged faith and tenacity in the next generation.
In 2003 Rod and Christine began to minister in other countries while still living in the Outback and also ministering to the Australian Aboriginals. The countries included England, USA, Mexico, Nicuagua, Nigeria, Malawi, Zambia,and Papua New Guinea.
In December 2009 they joined Overland Missions to become part of the team in Zambia.

I was born and raised in Wichita, Kansas.  Growing up, I went to church with my family so I was always surrounded by a Christian environment. I accepted Christ into my life at the age of 6 with my dad at a 4 way stop while driving in a small Toyota pickup truck. As a kid it is easy to have faith when all you’re exposed to is good. As I got older, though, I was more and more exposed to the real world.

I became a teenager and started following the ways of the world and hung out with worldly people. I ignored who I was so I would fit in with my new friends. Until I turned 17, I never took too seriously my faith. Yea, I was on the worship team at my church, but was not the best person to be following. I finally realized, though, what faith was really about. It took me having all my friends leave me to finally find out who I was.

I went on my first mission trip when I was 18 to New Orleans where my heart broke for missions. Shortly after, I graduated high school with the hopes of moving to Australia to attend Hillsong’s leadership college for worship arts. That was my dream for two years. Well, long story short, my plans were changed.

A man from my church had gone to Argentina in 2007 with Overland and came up to me every Sunday after he got back telling me all about missions. He gave me a tape that had 3 episodes of Travel the Road. As I watched the first few minutes of the tape, I began to cry as my heart kept breaking over and over and over again. I knew at that very moment that my life was about to change. After about 9 months of wrestling with God and being engaged in a lifestyle of partying, I finally made the decision to give up control to God and go to AMT after Phil Smethurst and David Killough came and spoke at my church.

I went to AMT in 2009 from May-July. Not only was I trained and empowered to be an ambassador in other nations, but I found out my identity in Christ. God revealed that He has given me “everything for life and godliness”.  After AMT, I came back to Kansas and am now on staff with Overland as a recruiter. If I was asked a year ago to recruit or preach in public to people I would have said no. I was such a nervous person and would shake intensely and always forget what I needed to say because I was fearful and insecure. Today, I can truly say that when I speak a message to people that impacts their lives that it’s not me that is doing it, but God working through my weaknesses. I love it! I love knowing that through my weaknesses, God’s glory is revealed.

That is the whole point of my story and I hope for your story as well, that it’s not by your efforts but by God working through you that great things happen. Keep your sights on Kingdom things and know that you are an ambassador of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Arthur and Liezl Pienaar, a South African family who have been missionaries in Zambia for more than 10 years, joined Overland Missions in 2008. Their vision is to see a Christian culture established amongst the people of Zambia. Their heart is not only to evangelize, but to disciple and mentor Christians in order to empower them to realize their full potential in Christ.
Arthur serves Overland as the Africa Director of Operations. His responsibilities include managing all ministry‐related operations within Overland Missions in Africa by assisting every department in reaching their goal efficiently and corporately (as one tribe). Arthur is also the Director of The LIFE Project as well as sector manager for the Mukuni Kingdom.

Arthur’s wife, Liezl, utilizes her Education degree specializing in Early Childhood Development, by serving as an educational consultant for The LIFE Project. She is responsible for writing a suitable curriculum for the village preschools.

The entire Pienaar family is committed to building God’s Kingdom. Arthur and Liezl involve their children, Hugian (8), Louis (6), and Danielle (18 months), in the ministry as often as they can.

I became a Christian at the age of 13 and have always had a heart for ministering to people who seemed lost in the mix of life.  By the time I was 16 I was convinced that God was calling me to a third world country to spread the Gospel of Hope.  I graduated from high school in 2002 and moved onto a large university to major in Music Education.  After college, my husband and I got married and made plans to leave for Africa 6 weeks later!  Our first year in Zambia was spent running an orphanage and falling in love with our daughter, Sunda.  In the following year, we began spending weeks at a time living in the villages and learning how to serve and empower the Tonga people with the message of the Gospel.  In the last year and a half, I have worked with Overland’s LIFE Project to develop sustainable preschools in the very rural areas of the Mukuni Chiefdom.  This year, my husband, Sunda, and I have been blessed to add a fourth member to our clan:  baby Kya.  I feel so blessed to be a part of Overland Missions, the LIFE Project, and the wonderful team of people who work together to bring love, hope, and education to those who desperately need it.

J.D. became a christian in January 2000 and soon after attended bible college. June 2001 J.D. went on his first overseas missions trip to South Africa only to find out this is what the rest of his life would resemble! In the past nine years, ministry has taken him to some 28 countries, many of which he has ministered in. His heart is for the unreached people of the world to come to the knowledge of salvation in Christ Jesus and be discipled in the ways of the Word of God. He is currently ministering in Zambia and assisting in training with the Advanced Mission Training program on our Rapid 14 base.

I came to know Jesus as my personal Lord and Saviour when I was 20. Prior to that I’d been focussed on travelling and building a career. When I began to understand that God had a purpose for my life I determined within myself not to live for anything less than that. For the first 5 years of my Christian walk this meant serving faithfully in my Church back home in the south of England. In April 2008 I went on an Overland expedition with my Church and spent two weeks sharing the gospel with villagers in Zambia. I’d spent time in Africa as a teenager and I always felt as though I’d left a piece of my heart there whenever I left. Returning with something more valuable than rubies to give the people I met was a tremendous experience.

I had no idea when I met David 18 months later that what started out as a great friendship would lead to the start of the greatest adventure of my life!