cross-cultural outreach

As a church we support a number of missionary partners both regionally and across the globe:

  • brian & julie kolling

    CRU nations

    After joining the staff of Cru in 1996, they worked on campuses stretching from South Dakota to the former Soviet Republic of Latvia. From 2000-09, Brian served as the South Dakota Area Director, giving leadership to the launching and resourcing of Cru campus ministry on multiple area campuses.


    Then, in 2009, Brian took on a role giving local and regional leadership to our just-beginning NATIONS ministry, part of Cru’s effort to more effectively come alongside Native students as they wrestle through the unique intersection of faith, identity and culture. They desire to be advocates for Native students - and to help them explore how they can follow Jesus in a culturally authentic way.

    They have three children and call Sioux Falls, SD their home.


  • aaron & consuelo m.

    Crescent project

    Aaron serves as the South Dakota Area Coordinator for Crescent Project training believers on sharing the Gospel with Muslims.


    After working in Central Asia for four years, Aaron and his family moved back to the States. He now wants to see the Church equip and encourage Christians to share the Good News with their neighbors. Aaron helps remind us that God has a heart for our Muslim neighbors and that He wants us to have that same heart.


    Aaron and his wife Consuelo have two children.

  • safi & dawn bagherpour

    crossover GLOBAL

    Safi was born into a Muslim family. In 1976, he came to the US for his college studies. In the fall 1982, he became a Christian and the following year married Dawn. After more than a decade of scientific work, God called them to the mission field. Safi pastored a church of Iranian refugees for 10 years in Turkey. The Bagherpour family returned to the US to support their children’s education and to seek the Lord.


    Safi was recruited by Crossover to be director of Farsi World Outreach, which is responsible for teaching and empowering national church leaders among 160 million Farsi speakers in the 10/40 window.

  • Marijana is a National Missionary of NAB, which means she is Serbian and that NAB churches are investing in her support so that she can devote her life to serving Christ.
    She has a background in Hospice care and in Social services, both of which have helped shape her love for those in great need. Marijana is leading the development of CHE ministries on behalf of NAB in Serbia.


    CHE (Community Health Evangelism) is a strategy that presents the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the midst of tangible needs. Community leaders are trained and empowered to pursue solutions to community challenges, all within the context of scripture. This blending of scripture with practical needs demonstrates a tangible expression of the love of God.


    Marijana is married to Emil and has two children.


  • paul & melissa ewing

    NAB

    Paul and Melissa were married in 1993 and have three sons. Both Paul and Melissa know that it was God who brought them together and that He is their strength. They were appointed as NAB missionaries in June of 1999 and arrived in Japan in 2001. They arrived just in time to participate in the 50th anniversary celebration of NAB work in Japan. The Ewings began their ministry adventure in a small mountain village called, Karuizawa, where they spent two years learning the Japanese language.

    Paul wears many hats as he leads the mission, plants a church, coordinates with the Japan Baptist Conference and sits on various boards and committees. He has been the Field Director since 2010. Melissa is still working on learning Japanese on the heart level but is thankful that she understands enough to be able to shop and participate in daily life events. Her days are spent managing the household and teaching English classes.