Missions

The Gallaghers – Papua New Guinea

Carol Jean Gallagher grew up at EBBC. (She is the daughter of David & Joan Michaelson.) Steve and Carol Jean have been working in the ministry of Bible translation in Papua New Guinea since 1992. After working among the Bariai people for twenty years, they and their Bariai teammates reached the goal of completing the Bariai New Testament with Genesis and Exodus, which is available in both written and audio form. For the next five years the Gallaghers continued to train and encourage people to engage with and apply the Scriptures to their lives. Since 2017, Steve has been serving as a full-time translation consultant for on-going translation projects in PNG. Carol Jean taught second grade at the mission center’s international school.

After much thought and prayer, the Gallaghers are relocating their base of ministry from Papua New Guinea to Florida. Steve will continue to work as a translation consultant, serving translation teams in PNG and other Pacific countries. He will work remotely on consultant preparation and will travel to the Pacific for face-to-face consultations a couple of times a year. Carol Jean is planning to join the Wycliffe recruitment team as an administrative assistant. She looks forward to helping recruit the next generation of missionaries who will serve in the work of Bible translation.

The Beathams – Mitla, Mexico

Bruce and Candice are missionaries with Wycliffe Bible Translators/SIL working in Oaxaca, Mexico in a Mixtec (MEES-tek) village in the mountains near the Guerrero border called Coicoyán de las Flores. They also are working simultaneously in neighboring Mixtec in a village called San Martín Peras.

Besides translating the New Testament and parts of the Old Testament, they are also writing down the language and doing literacy work to teach the people how to read and write their own language.

Bruce does most of the translation while Candice does most of the literacy and home schooling of Abigal.  Their three boys—Jeremiah, Nathaniel, Benjamin have graduated from High School.  Jeremiah has completed college and is married, Nathaniel is in the Marines, Benjamin is attending LeTourneau University in Texas.

John and Lori De Cleene – Philippines

John and Lori served in the Philippines for over 30 years.  Their first 15 years were in church planting and evangelism. More recently they were involved in getting a radio station started.  The New “J” is the only Christian radio in Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao, a city of several million people.  It is an upbeat Christian station targeting youth as 50% of the people in the Philippines are 15 and under!  In 2016 The New “J” was at full power, full staff, and full local support.  Because the station was being run by local people, John and Lori returned to the U.S. 

The Lord led them into a new role for Converge.  They are providing personalized monthly guidance to new missionaries as they complete crucial requirements before they go to their fields.  John and Lori started their position in 2017 with seven appointees.  In 2019 there were 60!  They absolutely love coaching those who are headed to serve the least reached people with the Gospel of Christ.