Missions We Support
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
Matthew 28:18-20
Costa Rica
GABBY & JOSH
By Stephen R Lewis, Associate Director of Global Strategy
It is with great pleasure that Global Strategy announces the appointment of Brian and Melissa Richey as missionaries-elect to Costa Rica, where their ministry will focus on walking alongside the Church of God in Costa Rica, encouraging and strengthening local pastors and congregations, while also providing special assistance with projects when invited by local leaders. They will also provide on-the-ground oversight and leadership for mission teams who visit the churches in Costa Rica, as well as throughout Latin America as needed. Their ministry will also focus on supporting children and youth in local churches, including helping local congregations with educational programs. They will also support the needs of missionary children (MKs) throughout the region of Latin America. Jason and Abby Torgeson, Global Strategy’s regional connectors for Latin America, are delighted to welcome them to the missionary team in this region.
Brian and Melissa Richey were deeply involved in their church and their community, committed to loving people and living a life of hope for those around them. Brian had a fulfilling career in transportation and trucking, enjoying the connections he made with people. Melissa, who had initially worked as a receptionist at Cornwall Church in Bellingham, Washington, was now the outreach director. (Cornwall is also the Torgesons’ home church.) While missions had been a passion, being a full-time missionary seemed like something for preachers and teachers, people with seminary degrees. But after multiple mission trips to Peru, Honduras, and Costa Rica, God called their number.
Jason and Abby had been monitoring the Richeys’ involvement, but it wasn’t until early 2022 that they approached Brian and Melissa about joining the missionary team in Latin America, specifically as missionaries walking alongside the church in Costa Rica. Brian and Melissa weren’t sure; after all, Brian had a great job and Melissa was living with an autoimmune disease. Nevertheless, they felt compelled to take a vision trip to Costa Rica. During their visit, they engaged with local churches, met leaders, and earnestly sought God’s guidance. By early 2023, God’s direction was clear. The call was clear.
While Melissa comes from a family of Hispanic origins, with deep roots in Texas, Brian and Melissa crossed paths in middle school when Melissa moved with her father to Washington state. Brian, a Pacific Northwest native, grew up in Ferndale, Washington, near Bellingham. As young adults, the Richeys found themselves at Cornwall Church, in Bellingham, Washington, where they were welcomed and loved, where they were challenged to surrender and to truly follow Jesus and trust him with their lives. Soon after, they recommitted their lives to Christ and pursued a path of discipleship. Over time, they become more and more deeply involved in the ministries of the church, eager to share and show the grace, hope and love they had received.
Melissa writes, “So, here we are today, with a difficult, humbling, and honoring opportunity for us to explore what God may want for us next. Wherever that might
Website: https://chogglobal.org/BMRichey
GLOBAL
CHILDREN OF PROMISE
Children of Promise is an independent non-profit that provides financial assistance to aid children of poverty in ministries operated by the Church of God outside the United States.
In June of 1992, Children of Promise was officially established “…to be an extension of the local congregation in the village or city. It is designed to provide long-term relationship between the church members and the children and their families, rather than between an organization and a child. It is a holistic approach in which we want to impact a child’s life over an extended period of time.”
Four core needs were identified as the focus of partnership: Christian nurture, nutrition, education, and medical care.
Ministry partnerships began in six locations including the Philippines (Grace Family Helper Project), Egypt (Children of Hope), India (The Shelter), Brazil (Helping Hand), Haiti (The House of Blessings), and Lebanon (Cedar Home).
The ministry has expanded to 30 countries.
COLVILLE
N.E.W. Family Life Services
Our crisis pregnancy center is a non-profit, pro-life, Christian ministry dedicated to the service of women, babies, and families who need a little extra support physically, emotionally, and or spiritually.
N.E.W. Family Life Services began in the minds and hearts of women and men who desired to make a difference in the lives of women and families facing an unexpected pregnancy. It is above all a Christian ministry which demonstrates the love of Jesus Christ.
144 W. 5th Avenue, Colville, WA 99114
Website: https://newfamilylifeservices.com/
COLVILLE
HOPE STREET PROJECT
To transform lives of people living without shelter or at risk of homelessness in Northeast Washington by creating shelter in connection with services needed to help them to be successful.
Goals
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To end homelessness in Colville and support others in ending homelessness in the northeast tri-county region of Washington.
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To transform the lives of chronically homeless people by providing wraparound services to them, treating them with dignity and respect, and inviting them to be a vital part of our community.
528 S. Wynne St., Colville, WA 99114
Website: http://www.hopestreetcolville.org
Email: hopestreetcolville@gmail.com
Email: hopestreetreststop@gmail.com