Missionaries...
Global Missions

Global Missions: Missionaries and Missions Activity
We are blessed at Grace Covenant Church to be partnered with such a diverse and gifted group of people, who are on the Mission field full-time reaching the world for Christ. Our goal is to be united with them-- heart, mind, soul and body--underpinning their ministries, attempting to "Hold the Ropes" of support. See below for more information.

As a missions-minded church we have touched the globe with various short-term trips around the world. We have had missions activity in Guatemala, Nicaragua, Mexico, Germany, Israel, Nigeria, South Africa, Thailand, Philippines, as well as various places in the USA and on the open sea (Mercy Ships).

Hawthorne - South East Asia
Born and raised in Montgomery, Alabama, McLean Hawthorne graduated from Auburn University with a degree in Mathematics and returned to Montgomery to teach mathematics at the High School level. After receiving Christ as his Savior and the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, Mclean moved to Pensacola, FA. in 1975 to attend Liberty Bible College. During that time he spent a tour on the Indian subcontinent where he received confirmation of his call to ministry in that part of the world. Today the Hawthorne's are veteran missionaries to South East Asia. McLean travels extensively throughout South East Asia as a teacher, ministering in Bible Schools, Churches and Church Camps. The Hawthorne's are motivated to fight the powers of darkness over the people and have met the challenge of ministering among a multi-racial population made up of those from Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu backgrounds. Visit their organizations website at www.gme.org.

Minton - Disaster Relief

Jack and Cherie Minton founded Hope Force International in 2003 based on nearly 25 years of executive leadership experience with international aid. This included work in more than 50 nations with officials at all levels of government, numerous partner agencies, churches and companies. Hope Force is dedicated to providing a clear pathway for Christians to become leading responders to the plight of global suffering. While it may seem impossible to account for the “why” of global disasters, we can define our response by looking at Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10: “But a Samaritan…took pity on him…bandaged his wounds…and took him to an inn and cared for him.”  As followers of Christ we have a mandate to respond to those who are suffering. That is why Hope Force exists –to be a catalyst for mobilizing the global Christian community to compassionately and effectively respond in times of crisis.  Visit their website at: www.hopeforce.org.

Thurston - Europe
Brad Thurston, the son of missionary parents, raised in Beirut, Lebanon, studied theology in the U.S. at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary. Following 2 years of pastoring in North Central, Pennsylvania, Brad moved to England as an evangelist where he met and married Janet Bell of Fife, Scotland in 1979. Since 1981, Brad and Jan have been working in Germany planting new churches and discipling leaders. Jan's ministry, especially among young women, is widely appreciated. In 1990 Brad founded Globe Europe Missions Agency in which he serves as president. Their responsibilities include: recruiting, sending and caring for European missionaries abroad, building relationships to sending churches, training church leaders in missions, helping develop missions programs and policies, planning and conducting missions conferences, and assisting in church planting and evangelistic crusades in various countries around the world. Brad and Jan are life-long missionaries who have helped send out multitudes of missionary families from Globe Europe to such places as eastern Europe, Africa and Central America to name a few. Visit their website at www.globeeurope.org.

Wood - South East Asia and South Africa
Dirk Wood founded Arise & Shine Evangelistic Association in February 1987 with the help of many Filipino nationals. It has grown to include evangelism; crusades; training and nationals in evangelism, Schools of Bibliology; a Christian school for K-12; radio programs; feeding programs; medical care for the poor, a fellowship of ministers; a Theological Seminary and an accreditation center for Bible School. Several missionaries now work with the ASEA team. God called Dirk to carry and ASEA vision to London, England, and moved there in 1993. Dirk has preached the Gospel message to thousands who have gathered to hear in some of the most popular tourist spots. In 1996 a 100yr old pub was purchased in central London and converted into The London Outreach Center. Recently, they began an evangelistic outreach in South Africa in one of the most dangerous spots on earth. Over the years, Dirk and those he has raised up have won thousands of souls to Christ. Arise, shine, for the light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you . Visit their website at www.arise-shine.org.

Bencomo - Mexico
Pastor Tomas Bencomo’s heart was stirred with compassion as he watched a news cast describing the plight of the Tarahumara Indians of the Copper Canyon in north central Mexico and he felt called by God to do what he could to alleviate the suffering of these people he never before knew existed. Since then, he has been hiking into the remote canyons seeking them out and bringing with him gifts of food, clothing and the good news of the gospel. He is also building a school where he hopes children from across the canyon will gather to be educated and to learn of God’s great love for them. Visit their website at www.tarahumaramountains.com