Supported Missionaries
Ryan & Jody Faber
Vision
God is calling His children from every tribe, tongue, and nation, that they may know His saving love and grace, and praise Him, as Psalm 86:9 describes: "All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name." Living in Zambia provides our family with tangible experiences of this global nature of the church as we participate in local churches and international communities within Lusaka. Here we have opportunities to both encourage fellow believers and serve our neighbors.
The growing church in Africa is a big part of the fulfillment of the verse above! Some predict that within a generation, Africa will have the largest Christian population of any of the world’s continents. The church in Africa is growing, but it is also struggling. Estimates are that 80-90% of African pastors lack biblical and theological training. The church is also threatened by the growth and spread of Islam, and by a resurgence of African traditional religion.
Mission Work
Ryan serves as a theological education developer with Theological Education by Extension Zambia (TEEZ), an ecumenical partnership of Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Reformed churches. His role includes assisting with programs for pastoral training and theological education, coordinating their online Bachelor of Theology program, offered in partnership with the Oxford Center for Religion and Public Life, and teaching at several theological colleges in Zambia. In this work, he seeks to obey Paul’s instruction to Timothy: “The things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses, entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” (2 Tim. 2:2)
Larry and Ruth Spalink
Vision for Japan
We envision the continual growth of a vital church of Jesus Christ in the very resistant and largely unreached nation of Japan that will extend God’s gracious kingdom of justice and peace.
Mission in Japan
We serve along with the brothers and sisters of the Reformed Church in Japan, to build congregations whose activities are all colored by and focused on the Good News of forgiveness and new life by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Ministry in Japan
We proclaim the Good News of forgiveness and life through faith in Jesus Christ, calling people to reject vain things and false gods and to put their faith in him. We help gather new believers into new churches, and inspire and assist existing churches to do the same with increasing effectiveness so that our efforts are multiplied.
Through a teaching and preaching ministry as well as through relationship development, Larry helps form in children and young people, and even those in mid-career, a vision for joining in God’s work, challenging them to devote themselves as new workers for God’s harvest. Besides his preaching ministry, Larry consults with our main mission partner, the Reformed Church in Japan, and especially with several “target group” clusters of this church.
Larry manages the business, legal and financial affairs of the Christian Reformed Japan Mission (CRJM), our incorporated organization in Japan. Larry is a member of the Japan Lausanne Committee and represents CRJM at the Japan Evangelical Missionary Association, both ecumenical groups who, like us, promote the extension of God’s kingdom and the mobilization of Christians in paths of service to it.
Ruth has worked for 28 years at “CAJ” - the Christian Academy in Japan, first as health center coordinator and later as Student Support Team Coordinator and Middle School Resource Teacher. She also was CAJ’s first Child Safety Coordinator. CAJ is a K-12 school of about 450 students operated by Resonate and 5 other missions offering Christian day-school education to the children of evangelical missionaries and other Christians.