Joel serves as the Mobilization and Development Director at South America Mission. His journey in missions began with a godly heritage, shaped by his mother’s upbringing as a missionary kid in Liberia and his early commitment to Christ through the AWANA program. A life-altering car accident in high school deepened his surrender to God’s call and led him to serve in Eastern Europe. There, his heart was captured by the Global Church—and by his wife, Amy, whom he met in the Czech Republic.
After marrying, Joel and Amy pioneered two youth ministries in Slovenia for seven years, training leaders and supporting church plants. They later returned to the U.S., where Joel pastored in Oregon for 15 years. For the last six of those years, he revitalized a local church and served as a police chaplain while continuing to nurture his passion for global missions.
Joel and Amy have four children—Abigail, Elijah, Caleb, and Hannah—who share in their family’s calling. At SAM, Joel humbly offers his experience in pastoral leadership, cross-cultural ministry, and community outreach to advance God’s work across South America by partnering with local churches to cultivate Gospel ecosystems for God’s glory!
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