"Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ." (Colossians 1:28)

The Lord led us to Cleveland Park Bible Church shortly after we were married in 2003. By the Lord’s grace, we have had many opportunities to serve the church and its surrounding community. Michael has served as an elder, taught Sunday school classes, and headed up the church’s VBS. Liz has taught Sunday school classes and served as chaplain and president of the Ladies Missionary Circle. We’ve also had many opportunities to share the gospel with people in the church’s neighborhood. We are grateful for the opportunity to extend Cleveland Park’s mission outreach to France.

Michael: God placed me into a Christian home where I was taught about the Lord Jesus from my youth. The Lord used Isaiah 53:6 to awaken me to my need for salvation, and he saved me around the age of 5. I was baptized by immersion shortly after that. Throughout my adolescence I experienced periods of doubt concerning my salvation, but God has used Hebrews 7:23-25 to instill within me a confidence in his work of mercy through Christ. I am confident that I am saved from punishment by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone.

My first sense of a call to missions that I remember came when I was about 12 years old. I publicly surrendered to serve God, but hesitated to commit to foreign missions because I was not sure that was what God wanted me to do. I vividly remember the service where God made it clear to me that he wanted me to be a missionary. From that time, God has directed me toward that end. My parents and pastors have supported and guided me in this call. I have gone on mission trips to Mexico (4x) and Australia (1x), and taken a survey trip to France. Each of these trips has strengthened my sense that God wants me to proclaim the gospel outside of the USA. I have received my formal education at Bob Jones University. There I received a B.A. in Christian Missions (1999), an M.A. in Theology (2001), and a Ph.D. in Theology (2009).

Liz: God graciously gave me Christian parents and allowed me to hear the Gospel when I was very young. I made a profession of faith at the age of 5, but I struggled with doubts as to whether I truly knew the Lord until I was 19 years old. The summer after my sophomore year of college, I worked at a Christian camp. During staff training week at the camp, God brought me to the realization that I had been trusting things “in addition to” Christ, and He worked in my heart true saving faith in Christ alone. I was baptized by immersion in December, 2007.

My burden and desire for missions deepened during my years of graduate school at Bob Jones University. Although God had never burdened me with a specific country, He gave me a desire and willingness to serve Him on the mission field if He were to lead me to a husband who was headed into missions. One reason Michael and I were drawn to each other was our common interest in mission work, and I am thankful for the opportunity we have to serve together in France.