Paul and Nanci Erkhert
E-Free Supports and Partners with Paul and Nanci who currently serve with Wycliffe Bible Translators In Waxhaw, North Carolina. Paul and Nanci served with Wycliffe Bible Translators in Cameroon, Africa for over 30 years. Paul was a pilot and aircraft mechanic. He now works the International Media department developing Bible story templates for mobile devices and dubbing Scripture films (like The Jesus Film) into indigenous languages. Nanci was a linguist and teacher in Cameroon. She now is a licensed counselor to Wycliffe missionaries around the world. She also supervises counseling interns working with incarcerated women for a nonprofit called Changed Choices." Wycliffe’s missions is to see the bible available in all the different languages that exist in our planet today. There are still around 2000 languages that do not have knowledge of the bible and many other oral languages that also have not heard the message of Scripture. The Erkerts have had the incredible privilege of experiencing the overwhelming delight when a New Testament is dedicated in another language in Cameroon. Jubilant singing and dancing often breaks out as people exult, "God speaks our language!" or "Now we know that God is real!" Paul & Nanci are the parents of 2 grown daughters. They have one grandson, Luca.
Dan & Emily Okall
E-Free supports and partners with Dan & Emily Okall who are currently serving in Kisumu, Kenya. Dan & Emily have been serving in Kenya with Dala Development. This is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to make the best health and education accessible for those who desperately need it. In 2009 Ngwono School was established as nursery to help out the community. Since then the school has provided education for children from preschool to 7th grade. Presently, the school has more than 128 students. The Ngwono School is something that brings pride to the local community and instills a solid education from proven community educators that are fully invested in the children. In addition to education, Dala Development is actively engaged in sharing information on cancer detection as well as assisting with screening and facilitating treatment for the growing cancer patients.
Carl Frost
E-Free supports & partners with Carl Frost who has been serving in campus ministry for over 13 years at Ball State University. Carl’s Job includes mentoring, evangelism, teaching, and helping lead our staff team. Carl also has a national leadership role as he serves as a regional coach for leaders and pastors in other churches. Carl is also a fledgling standup comedian. Carl has been married to Carolyn for 10 years and have 3 awesome little kids (Lincoln, Lily, and Wilson). Carl has been committed to doing campus ministry as he has recognized campus ministry is a strategic time to influence young people. College is the time of life where many people try and figure out why they believe what they believe.
Middle East Partner
This family Is living in a country in the Middle East and serving as church planters—training and equipping native pastors in the region. They minister within the “10-40 Window” where a majority of the world’s people live and where the gospel is often least accessible. This area of the world is also struggling to accommodate the needs of millions of refugees and other displaced people due to long-running wars and oppression.
Due to personal security concerns, this family’s identity is not made public. Please contact the church office if you would like to learn more about the work and needs of this courageous and dedicated partner family.
Bold Hope
Bold Hope, originally called Poverty Resolutions, began in Haiti. With a desire to keep families together and support the local community, our Child Development Program (CDP) was born. The program is based on a child sponsorship model which provides financial sustainability to the program. Since its inception, our CDP has seen remarkable growth thanks to our ever-increasing network of Child Sponsors. We feed nearly 200 people at our site Monday through Friday, providing the only meal that most of them will eat that day. Our on-site school provides education for children in preschool through second grade. Our staff nurse and doctor regularly assess the children in our program, assisting them or sending them for treatment at a nearby hospital as needed.
Haiti has always held a very special place in our hearts, but we want to see the gospel reach everyone. Astonishingly, 42% of the world's population has not heard the good news of salvation.
Our desire is to come alongside the local church in many countries around the world to support the good work already in progress. We share the gospel while tackling each physical and emotional need that presents itself through educational initiatives, trafficking prevention, medical care, vocational training, orphan care, and child and youth development.
Learn more about Bold Hope at https://boldhope.org/
Jenny Lang
Jenny Lang has been on staff with CRU for over 20 years. Jenny is now working with FamilyLife ministry of CRU. FamilyLife exists to help families grow together and impact their corner of the world. They believe family is the greatest untapped resource for bringing good to the world. Part of their ministry is the Weekend to Remember marriage conference. Couples who attend the weekend conference are encouraged to take the Next Step. Jenny is working to help train and equip FamilyLife staff to work with those couples to reach their cities, schools, and neighborhoods with the gospel.
Prayer
Paul and Nanci Erkhert
Paul is working with a Montagnard (Vietnamese) community in Charlotte to dub The Gospel of John video into their language. Please pray for the team's continued stamina, accuracy, and unity. Also, he has been asked to spend three weeks in Cameroon later this year to run some Bible story video workshops for communities in the north of the country. Please pray that God would clarify the details and provide the needed funds.
The Erkerts value your prayers for them as they balance ministry with Wycliffe and Changed Choices with parenting and grandparenting."
Dan & Emily Okall
Many of you know EFC's mission partners Dan and Emily Okall who serve in Kenya at Dala Development. We have some sad news to share. Last week, a bus carrying 39 people collided with a truck. In the accident, Dan’s father died, along with 6 other relatives. The school's head teacher lost her husband, and she is critical condition. In all, the accident resulted in the death of 8 people with many others injured. Dan, Emily and their daughters are still on their sabbatical in the States but will be traveling to Kenya next week. Given the nature of the tragedy there are many logistical concerns. The Okalls are in need of support, covering airline tickets, funeral and medical bills. The church will contribute a financial gift in support of our mission partners, but we encourage individuals who feel led to give to send donations via Paypal or Zelle to the following email:
. Thank you for praying for the Okalls and the Dala community.
Carl Frost
For unity within the Staff team and for God’s wisdom in navigating the diversity of the team
For continued strength in juggling local and national roles
Jenny Lang
- Pray for blended families and for Ron Deal who is heading the effort to help those struggling with merging their existing families.
- Ken is loving his work as a psychiatric PA. Please pray for him as he builds up his patient load.
- For help with medical expenses that need to be covered
Team Leader Adam
- To open doors for the Word in the new English Language coffee center ministry (and words to use in sharing the gospel)
- For effectiveness in leading a team of 19
- For conducting lengthy, weekly team training sessions for the next year
- For more workers for the harvest there
