Equpping Pastors International (EPI)
Carol is best known to Shannon Forest members as the wife of one of our former pastors, Jack Arnold. As a pastor's wife and homemaker, she with Jack served churches in California, Virginia, South Carolina and Orlando, raising four sons: Mark, Brian, David ("Arny") and Dean. In 1997, Jack began EPI which is a mission organization developed to train and equip pastors and their wives primarily in third world countries. After Jack's death in January 2005, she has continued as a full-time missionary with EPI. Carol has traveled to all six continents, speaking at conferences and seminars. She has published two books: “The Liberation of a Resentful Wife” and “The Devoted Life of a Liberated Widow.” Carol enjoys spending time with her 12 grandchildren (ages 10-22), needlework, reading, cooking, and traveling.

Jerry was born of missionary parents in La Paz, Bolivia and Peggy is from Buffalo, NY. Jerry received a doctorate in Church Planting. The Cross family served in Chile from 1973 until 1986. In 1987, he became the team leader for the missionaries in Mexico, also assisting in training church leaders. They are currently living in Brazil and Jerry serves as the Latin America Director for the Living in Grace Program. The Crosses also help care for street children at an MTW orphanage in Brazil and divide much of their time between the countries of Brazil and Mexico. They have two children, Emily and Sarah, and a granddaughter.

Since 1995 George has served as the director of the Center for Intercultural Training (CIT), a pre-field missionary training program in North Carolina.
Praise:
1. Very good trip to Panama networking with Latin American mission leaders
2. Spiritual transformation taking place among CIT trainees
Prayer:
1. Increased enrollment for CIT as we deal with a budget shortfall
2. Important CIT Online retreat April 11, 12 - pray for unity and good work
3. Continued growth for George in leadership skill
4. More teens for our summer Youth In Training program

Both Bill and Susan hold Master’s degrees in education. After several years of teaching in public and private sectors, the Lord called the Carrs to work with a church-planting team in Canberra, Australia. Upon returning to the U.S. Bill entered Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Bill trains South African ministers for pulpit and church leadership. He teaches Biblical Studies, Missiology, Dogmatics, Church History, Homiletics and other areas of practical theology. As often requested, he also fills the pulpit for South African pastors. Bill is team-leader for the MTW personnel in the Gauteng and Mpumalanga areas, which involves leading MTW missionaries in prayer meetings, conducting counseling sessions, leading Bible studies, performing administrative tasks, and frequently serving as a liaison for team members to their respective local ministries. As a teacher of teachers, Susan instructs seminary students in study skills and English. They have two daughters Vanessa and Rebekah.

Paul and Liz have been with World Presbyterian Missions and MTW for 31 years. They served in Kenya for 23 years and have since been working in England. Paul is the Care Coordinator for MTW missionaries in Europe, a role designed to help missionaries thrive in ministry long-term instead of just surviving or not completing their assignment. Liz teaches classes in English to immigrant women in a ministry of their church in London. Prayer requests: For effective means of encouraging missionaries in Europe through supplying resources for personal growth; supporting field leadership in their care; personal contact with the missionaries. For responsiveness to the gospel among the women who are in the ESL classes which Liz teaches. Pray that the gospel will bear fruit in post-modern Europe, and churches with effective outreach will grow and change the culture around them.

Tom and Ann Austin recently changed fields with MTW from Africa to Global. Tom is now an International Missionary with MTW, and is a part of the MTW Global Training and Development Team, the training arm of MTW. Tom’s primary ministry is to facilitate, train, to coach, to resource, and to empower ministries in MTW theological education and pastoral training. Prayer requests: For health, energy, insight, vision and creativity. For them during this time of transition. To consciously trust Him through all the changes and challenges. During their HMA to be able to see as many supporters as possible.

Peter and Diane serve with MTW as church planters in Japan. They were married in 1986 and served together in Japan since 1990. Peter’s responsibilities include Japanese Bible studies as well as discipleship and other evangelistic events. Peter also heads up the Nagoya teams teaching English ministry, which bridges the community to share the love of Christ. Diane assists in many aspects of the teams ministry as wells as hospitality in the home. They have 4 children: Keagan, Rita, Evan and Wendy. Prayer requests: With the tsunami and earthquake in Japan, the Bakelaars were not directly affected (as it happened in a different geographic area). They are, however, highly involved in helping with relief efforts and helping coordinate supplies to those affected by the tragedy. Continue to pray that they will have maximal impact through the Japanese church.

The Mixons work with the World Harvest Mission Kenya Church Planting team. This team works primarily with the Africa Evangelical Presbyterian Church, mentoring and training church planting pastors in the use of Chronological Biblical Storying. This is a method of teaching focused on reaching oral learners. Martha, though her primary role is being a mother and wife, leads Bible studies for expatriate women in Nairobi. They have five kids: Beth, Carrie, Jim, Nathan, and Laura. Prayer requests: For the recruitment of two or three more people to work with George in Bible storying. For Maasai in the Kawai and Shombole areas who are being trained by George and his colleagues. For wisdom for Martha in her Bible study ministry and for each of their children in their schooling.

They work with LOGOI, Mission to Cuban Pastors Latin America. Founded in 1968 by Les, the ministry of LOGOI is about "equipping God's Spanish people for works of service so that the body of Christ may be built up.” God has used the ministry of LOGOI to touch the lives and ministries of over 300,000 pastors and church leaders throughout 22 countries. “The majority of pastors in Latin America are self-taught, wonderfully capable people in earnest need of practical, on-the-job Bible training and help. That's where we come in.“ Prayer requests: Please pray that they will be more effective in their work among pastors in Latin America. Les had a severe case of double pneumonia over the holidays and had to delay a trip to Cuba. Please pray for a speedy recovery.

Keith is OM USA's Vice President of Church Mobilization, a ministry that seeks to serve local churches and help facilitate partnerships between churches and OM minsitries worldwide. Prayer requests: Pray for the Lord to use us to continue raising up churches to send short-term teams around the world. We are seeing a fruitful year so far and need prayer as we process these teams. Pray for the Lord 3. Pray for the Lord to help us as we prepare the team and curriculum for our trip to Russia in July. We are working with a church that has never been on an overseas short term trip. They are excited and so are we. Pray for open doors for Keith to continue coaching churches with Global Focus. This has proven to be a great way to connect with churches and to help them mobilize their people for missions. Finally, pray for continued health, stamina, and safety in travel.

Since 1969, Lois has worked MTW internationally, with a primary focus in Kenya, Africa where she lived for 15 years. Since 2008, she has lived in the Chicago area and travels extensively to teach about transformational development and evaluate programs—especially those that are looking for ideas on unraveling dependency. This past year she has been to Lesotho, South Africa, Namibia, Angola, Mozambique, Uganda, and Kenya. Prayer requests: For wisdom in adapting materials to a great variety of countries and situations, and putting them in a user friendly format. Also, for those who are struggling and unraveling dependency in various situations.

They work with Greater Europe Mission in Croatia. John and Lynn spent nine months church planting in Croatia in Sisak, then moved to the capital city of Zagreb in April of 2000. In 2005 they began work on a daughter church plant on the east side of Zagreb, where there is no evangelical church for about 180,000 people. . They work with a leadership team with Croatian, German, and English nationalities represented.

In 1999 the couple joined the MTW Phillipines team in Manila where Joe taught Old Testament courses to pastors and church leaders and Bev who trained as a nurse helped occasionally with medical teams in the slums. Upon hearing of needs in Puerto Rico, the homeland of Joe’s mother, the Lord opened the way for relocation in 2006. Joe has completed a doctor of ministry degree in pastoral counseling and is teaching and counseling in various seminaries. They are also involved in an international leadership development program in San Juan which trains missionaries in conjunction with a campus ministry and church-planting work. They have 3 children: Joey, Anna, and Justin. Prayer requests: Joe continues to travel the island teaching in several different contexts. Please pray for opportunities and effectiveness in this ministry.

Rick works as an Reformed University Fellowship campus minister at Clemson University. He seeks to reach out and equip international students/scholars and their families through personal evangelism, Bible study, discipleship, and fellowship in the local PCA church. God has literary bought the mission field and leaders of the World to Clemson as any given year students representing 90 plus countries studying at the University. Prayer Requests: Please pray for Beth and her family in the recent loss of her father. Also pray for a Christian couple from India, Senthil and Ida as their son Samuel Ivan was born premature and passed away to be with the Lord in December. Please pray for the rest of this semester of ministry. Pray for the development of additional financial support in this lean economy. Finally, pray for their children for God's provision and wisdom.

She is living in Santa Cruz, Bolivia and working with SIM (Serving in Mission) on the El Alfarero (The Potter) University Center team. The university center is currently under construction and is scheduled to be completed in September if funds are received to complete the work. Currently she works with several partner ministries and am completing a year long Biblical counseling class. She is a "house mom" in a women's refuge 2 days a week, volunteers at a crisis pregnancy center one day a week, and is working to set up the El Alfarero library with books and other resources. Prayer Requests: Pray that she would have wisdom in how to most effectively share the gospel in times of discipleship with Estrella and Andreina (2 of the girls at the women's refuge). Pray that the Lord will provide the funds for El Alfarero to be completed in His perfect timing. Pray that she will submit her hopes and dreams for this time in her life to the purposes God has for being there.

They are part of a city team in Greenville with Campus Crusade for Christ. Their overall mission is to reach Greenville and the world for Christ. They primarily focus on one on one discipleship (helping people grow in their faith and impact others). Their goals are to reach every denomination, every race and every section of the city. They also partner with churches, ministries and individuals, coming alongside of them with resources to help fulfill the passions God has given them. Prayer Requests: The Bledsoes ask that we pray they would fall more in love with Jesus every day. Also for wisdom: to handle accurately the Word of God, in the raising of our 3 children (Summer, Haley and Cameron), and in our relationships with people. Finally, for strength and stamina for Steve after several health issues this past year.

Brent Sanders is a native of Greenville and owns Carolina Consulting and Holdings, LLC (a Tax and Real Estate consulting firm). In 1985 he started a private charity called KB Charitable Trust (KBCT).! Among other local ministries, KBCT has established a local outreach ministry to the Bel-Aire Community…. one of Greenville largest inner-city areas. This ministry has been active in Greenville’s inner-city neighborhoods for over 15 years. He enlists local churches to help partner with him to reach this special “unreached” people group.

Prayer requests: Please pray for their Summer interns: Andy Griner, Sarah Stalnaker, and Daniel Ross. They will help provide youth ministry opportunities to the surrounding community. They will also have many volunteers this Summer providing a total of about 600 hours of work to the Bel-Aire ministry. Please pray that they are able to obtain construction and building materials for the work. Finally, pray for the annual yard-sale which will happen earlier this year, in July.

Child Evangelism Fellowship is a worldwide organization. Our church partners with the local arm of this ministry and has been highly involved in it for several years. Once a week during the school year, women from Shannon Forest host Bible clubs at Mauldin elementary school as part of the after-school program. It is impressive each year to witness the number of children who hear about Jesus through this venue and make personal decisions to follow Christ. This is also a way that families in our "Jerusalem" can be directly impacted by the Gospel.

This is another organization we support that provides a variety of free services and programs to meet client needs including: free pregnancy tests, confidential counseling, limited obstetric ultrasounds, a 24-hour hopeline, and much more. Some of the women in our church volunteer in this vital ministry that is on the front-lines of one of the most important issues facing women in Greenville on a daily basis.