World Outreach

FRANCE: Ben and Jeanne Beckner

Ben Beckner grew up in Bristol, Tennessee and attended Asbury College. Jeanne Aiken grew up a "Pastor's Kid" and an "Military Kid" in Zaire, and attended both Trinity Western College and Trinity College. After short term missions experiences in Mexico and Belgium, respectively, Ben and Jeanne met in Belgium in 1978, and were married in California in 1980. After attending the French Evangelical Free Church seminary in Paris, France, Ben finished his seminary training at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Illinois, and Ben and Jeanne left for Belgium as career missionaries with the Evangelical Free Church International Mission (renamed "ReachGlobal") to do church planting and evangelism in 1984. After planting two churches in Charleroi and Brussels, Belgium, Ben was asked to become the area director for West Europe in 1996. This neccessitated a move to a more central location, and so in August of 1997 they moved to the Lyon, France area.

Since 2000 Ben and Jeanne have been involved in ministry in a small church plant locally, as well as in hospitality ministry, mission strategy planning, and personnel training and overseeing. In 2005 Ben stepped down as area director and became the Europe missions consultant. In addition to this role, he has been instrumental in the founding of FSF, a French non-profit organization which promotes cross-cultural and international missions commitment and mobilization among the evangelical churches of France through strategically involving them in short-term missions to Russia, Ukraine, Croatian, Bosnia, Albania and Macedonia, the Middle East and North Africa. All four of the Beckner children have grown up bi-lingual and bi-cultural, and are now in the US working and/or pursuing further education. In May 2007 Ben was granted his Doctor of Ministry degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Ben and Jeanne look forward to many more years of implementing their years of missions experience and education to the furtherance of the Gospel in and from Europe though the further expansion of FSF as well a new French indigenous missions agency, iTeams-France.

JAPAN: Tim, Susan, Joel, Brenton & Chad Driscoll

Tim and Susan Driscoll with their 3 sons have been missionaries in Northern Japan since 1995 with OMF International. They helped start a new church in an area where there was no Christian witness. They are relocating to Tokyo to lead Saitama International Church, a young church without leadership. Through preaching and discipleship they hope to equip this church to move forward to calling a national pastor. Their long term goal is to work with a Japanese pastor to help facilitate the Japanese church to start churches in Tokyo.

Tim has a heart for evangelism and meets men through sports. Susan enjoys having Japanese in their home to build friendships. They both desire to disciple new Christians and reach out to the many young families in Japan who don't know Christ.

JAPAN: Bob and Joan Verme

KENYA: Henry and Alice Mutua

Henry and Alice Mutua and their two grown children live in Nairobi, Kenya. Henry works at the Nairobi Evangelical Graduate School of Theology where he teaches, pastors, mentors and supervises students in field ministry. Alice and Henry are also currently trying to open their rural home as a feeding center for orphaned children whose parents have died of AIDS.

RUSSIA: Andrei & Irina Azchenkov

Andre is the pastor of New Testament Church in Kursk, Russia. He and his wife Irina have 4 children. Andre graduated from Trinity Bible College in 2000 and Irina in 2002. In 2000 they planted New Testament Church beginning with a core group of believers doing evangelism door-to-door and inviting people to evening concerts and the Sunday service. In the summer of 2001 they had their first baptism. The church rented facilities for 4 years until it moved into the building it now shares with the Bible college. The church has had a partnership with EFCC since 2003. Thanks to Chico's support Andre and Ira are studying journalism with plans to develop Christian articles and programs for mass media. Today the church has 40 regular attenders, a children's Sunday school program, ministers in 3 orphanages, organizes summer youth camps each year, and provides space for a 12 step meeting in the building. Church leadership is working to define a vision statement and to develop a strategy for spiritual growth and evangelism.

RUSSIA: Igor Svetlana, Victor, Andrey, & Cornil Petrov

Igor was born on 1/12/61 in the city of Karaganda, Kazachskaja SSR, SU. In 1982, hegraduated from Moscow Timiriazev Agricultural Academy with a MS in Agriculture. In 1987, he married Svetlana Bobryshova, the active member of Kursk ECB church. Now they have three boys: Victor, Andy, and Cornil. He attended S-Petersburg Theological Academy and graduated from there with Bachelor's Degree in Religion and Mission in 1993. In 1995 he and his family and came to Jacksonville, TX so that I could study in Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary. He received his MDiv. in 1998.

RUSSIA: Vitaliy, Marina, Veronica & Anna Petrov

The Petrov family lives in Kursk, Russia. Their ministry films, edits courses and educational programs and distributes them via DVD to those in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Israel, USA and other countries. In 2009 they created and distributed a total of 16 new video courses, seminars and educational programs. The courses were designed to educate and equip pastors. Every course includes Christian music. In the year to come, they hope and pray for more and more of their DVD's to go out to non-believers.

"Your prayers for us, our family, and for everyone involved in this ministry is appreciated! Pray for new areas and countries to open up to hear about God and for individuals and groups of people to grow deeper in their faith in Jesus Christ! Pray for Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan as the government's in these countries are making it increasingly difficult for Christians to share about Jesus. As a result, Christians are leaving these countries because of the persecution or are having to go underground. In addition, we thank the Lord for all our dear friends and for all the gifts and support we receive! We pray that God will continue to bless your families in all you do for Him!"

Contact information: vital.petrov@gmail.com or tvs.offering@gmail.com

SECURITY SENSITIVE COUNTRY: Jason and Sara Taylor

Sara and Jason have been serving with Athletes in Action for 15 years. The past 3.5 years they have been in the Middle East. They are a part of a country wide strategy to establish a sports ministry movement in their country. They pro-actively use sports tours, camps, and a consultancy business to make lasting inroads into the lives and culture of the society in which we live.

Jason is a Chico State Grad ('87-'92) who later went on to Seminary in Los Angeles before taking his current overseas assignment. Sara is a Michigan State grad and also spent 3 years in seminary. Sara and Jason have 3 children.

CHICO: Josh, Kelley & Violet Otto

The past semester has been a busy one for the Otto family. In the fall they began their 6th year of ministry at CSU Chico. They have enjoyed their time here and it has been amazing to see God do so much in the lives of college students during that time. They recently found out that as of next fall, Josh will take over the Ministry Team Leader position for Campus Crusade for Christ here in Chico. Both Josh & Kelley are excited to continue to trust the Lord in this next year.

One more bit of exciting news, baby Otto #2 is due to come into the world in July. They are excited and thankful for another addition to their family and are thankful for all the ways God has blessed them!

CHICO: John & Joy Merrill

SonWorks Ministry began in 2000 after 32 years working with campus Crusade for Christ. John started wthe ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ on the Chico campus in the early 70's. After attending EFCC as a college student John went on to graduate from Trinity Seminary, marry Joy and join Campus Crusade. After a very long career on the campus, John and Joy needed a change. John and a retired professor from Chico State began to put together the concept of a new ministry campatible with John & Joy's gifts, experience and heart. And "SonWorks" was born. Theme verse: "If the Son shall make you free, you shall be free, indeed." John 8:36

John helps to facilitate football outreach chapel at Butte College football games, participates in one-on-one discipleship with other men, helps to facilitate a men's half way house, meets with men in prison in California, writes letter, sends packages and make phone calls to the inmates and works with people in need.

Joy continues her ministry with women from all walks of life. Her urban missionary approach takes place in coffee houses all over Chico. How a relationship with Jesus transforms lives is the message. Her contact comes from word of mouth or just by being out and about in the community.

Every week is full of surprises. SonWorks ministry values the message of Jesus and desires to keep sharing that message with "grace and truth."

CHICO: Jamie Brezinski

RETIRED TO CHICO: Bill & Shirley Pittenger

Bill was born, raised, and educated in Chico and graduated from Chico State with a BA in Sec.Ed. in 1959 (later he earned an MA in 1974. He is a Korean War vet. He graduated from New Tribes Bible Institute in 1961. It was at NTBI that he met and married his wife Shirley. Shirley was a daughter of NTM missionaries to Paraguay where she participated in tribal ministries with her parents and siblings. Bill and Shirley completed NTM's comprehensive missionary training and language institutes in 1963 and were assigned to Bolivia the same year. Bill was formally ordained as minister/missionary and Shirley as missionary. Their ministries in Bolivia were primarily at the school for missionaries'; children—Jr. and Sr. high teachers, dorm parents, and administrators; and Shirley was also the school nurse. Bill was active in evangelism and teaching at the local Bolivian church. Bill has taught Jr. and Sr. high school in Wisconsin, Nebraska, and California, pastored two churches, and operated a professional sign painting business.

In 1987 Bill and Shirley were assigned as NTM's West Coast representatives to Jr. and Sr. high schools, colleges, universities (secular and Christian) and churches. They were also leaders of NTM's "Destination SUMMIT" the mission's short-term branch that does work projects on isolated tribal stations in a variety of countries. In 1994 the Pittengers accepted the responsibility of establishing the office of NTM ( Asia) in Singapore. In 1997 Bill's parents'; asked Bill and Shirley to return to Chico because of his mother's declining health. That year Bill discovered he had colon cancer that required surgery and chemotherapy as well as atrial fibrillation and high blood pressure; therefore, the mission leadership suggested the Pittengers accept retirement status. From 1998 to Feb. 2006, Bill and Shirley cared for Bill's parents but remained active in ministry locally, via telephone, e-mail, teaching, and personal evangelism. Much of the ministry now is "follow-up."