Overland Staff

In 1997 I graduated from Rhema Bible Training Center and went on my first mission trip. In 1998 I arrived in South Africa and traveled through Namibia.  Eleven years later, I’m still here! having traveled to 20 different countries preaching the gospel. 

For the last 8 years, I’ve been teaching pastors all around Africa and Asia. In 2009 I helped to start Hope for the Nations, a Bible School on Zanzibar Island, which was the first Bible school ever on the island.  For years I’ve been working hand in hand with Overland Missions to help train pastors in the remote villages.  Currently, I’m leading expeditions and helping the rural pastors on the continent of Africa and around the world to develop and grow.

Ariel and Kristen met in the Dominican Republic (Ariels Country of Birth), and have been married for 5 years.
They are passionate to reach the rural and neglected areas of the Dominican Republic as well as the forgotten border towns (Haiti). They are energetic and excited to continue the work of Overland missions in Hispaniola and love taking groups to encounter the vision of reaching the un-reached.

Arthur and his family have been missionaries in Zambia since 1999 and joined Overland Missions in 2008. Their vision is to see a Christian culture established amongst the people of Zambia. Their heart is not only to evangelize, but to disciple and mentor Christians in order to empower them to realize their full potential in Christ.

Arthur serves Overland as the Africa Director of Operations. His responsibilities include managing all ministry-related operations within Overland Missions in Africa by assisting every department in reaching their goal efficiently and corporately (as one tribe). Arthur is also the Sector Manager for the Mukuni Kingdom.

I am originally from Durban, South Africa. During my young adulthood, I spent 14 years working and ministering in Canada. In 2008, I developed a passion for ministering in my home continent.  I currently work as the director of the LIFE project with a vision to educate the uneducated, care for the uncared for, and sustain the projects that we implement in the rural areas. I have a passion for people and love to draw out the potential of those around me.  I believe that we are filled with Holy Spirit potential and that God equips us to live up to it!  I love working alongside the people of Zambia and purposing myself toward raising the standard of kingdom values.

Candi Martin is married to Pastor Jeff Martin and are currently on assignment to the African Continent as Candi and her family minister through the Rural Pastors Network. Candi and her family have been long term missionaries to Brazil among other locations. 

In Brazil they spoke into the lives of hundreds of city leaders and pastors. They also got to see Jesus change the lives of tens of thousands of young people as God marked a new generation of upcoming leaders and worshippers with a great revival anointing.  It was after returning from Brazil that Philip called them and invited them to join Overland Missions on a full time basis.

Casey has graduated with his Agriculture Education degree with intentions of using it on the mission field.  He grew up in the church, but it wasn’t until he went on his first mission trip to Mexico in 2007 that God sparked a fire within him for the Nations.  Now he is in full-time ministry and the small fire that started in 2007 is now a roaring fire for the Nations and unreached people groups of this World.

Casey has been on short-term missions to Zambia, China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Mexico.  After his first trip to Zambia, his heart stayed with the Zambian people and in 2010, began pursuing a career of becoming a full-time missionary. 

Today, Casey is working alongside Overland Missions, who is dedicated to reaching the most remote people on this planet.

My name is Charlie Stevicks and I am married to the wonderful Elizabeth Stevicks. I have been involved with Overland Missions since 2007 and have been on full time staff since 2010. My wife and I love God and desire that all would hear the incomparable message of God’s love and sacrifice for every man, woman and child that has been and will ever be.

Ciaran and Jamie Stirling met in 2008, then married in April of 2009. Ciaran has been full time with Overland Missions since 2005, and Jamie has been full time with Overland Missions since the end of 2008. Ciaran was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa; Jamie was raised in Medford, Oregon. Ciaran currently serves as the full time base manager and Jamie currently serves as the financial supervisor. They lead expedition teams when needed and absolutely love ministering in the rural villages. They are expecting their first child in August of 2010.

Masters In Business Administration

Founder and director of Silvagro Nursery, a forest seedling company growing tree seedlings in two locations in British Columbia . Colin has been involved with a number of successful businesses in B.C.. He and his wife Sandra have operated a silvicultural contracting business for nearly twenty years .

Their interest and involvement in tree growing has taken them to New Zealand, Uruguay, Cuba, and now with Overland Missions, Zambia, where they have established and provided expertise on tree plantations.

Crispin is a Zone Manager over Ndele, Siafwebafweba, Siamasimbi & Sianyemba

Cristy went on her first mission trip to South Africa and Mozambique in 2002.  Falling in love with the people of Africa she knew missions was what she wanted to do the rest of her life.  In 2003 she went on her first trip to Zambia and has gone back every year.  It was in Zambia that the LORD spoke deep revelations to her that would shape her life in missions.  While in Zambia Cristy prayed for the LORD to show her His heart, He spoke to her, “My heart isn’t just for Africa but for the world.”  Since then Cristy has seen glimpses of God’s heart in 5 different contents and more then 20 country’s around the world.  She loves seeing the love of God set people free despite their circumstances, social status, culture, or location.  She delights in seeing people realize for the first time that they are loved and desired by the God who created them.  She also enjoys working with children and helping them to realize their value in the eyes of God.
Cristy joined Overland Missions in May 2010 and is excited to be apart of leading expeditions into new areas.

Dan graduated with a Civil Engineering degree in 2003 and went immediately to work with Overland Missions. Since then he has held a variety of positions with Overland. He led short term expedition teams into Africa, South America and Southeast Asia for 4 years while traveling on smaller recon teams to remote places simultaneously. In 2005, when Overland Missions began constructing of the Rapid 14 Base in Zambia, Dan began to help with the construction of the base.

In 2007, Advanced Mission Training was launched and Dan took its directorship. He has worked to direct and develop AMT since then. He met Rachel, his wife, in 2003, but they did not begin dating until 2008. They were married on April 2009 and left to lead the AMT schools.

Rachel is a Registered Nurse, by profession, and is currently applying for Physicians Assistant schools. Together they want to preach the gospel, direct AMT and bring medical aid around the world.

Dave joined the May 2009 AMT class and moved to Burundi directly after as an Overland staff member.  In Burundi he oversaw humanitarian projects and established relationships for future ministry efforts. 
In October of 2010 Dave relocated back to the base in Livingstone and began work with The SAM Project.  He assisted in establishing a 100 member agricultural cooperative, has ministered in the villages alongside sector managers, and has lent his efforts to business administration tasks.   
Dave loves Africa and the rest of the developing world and is excited to see God’s hand in restoring the nations!

David Killough is the Director of Recruiting at Overland Missions. His commitment to the communication of the Gospel started at a very young age when his parents, would take his family to Mexico to serve the local churches in Mazatlàn and Puerto Peñasco. This commitment continued throughout high school.

Upon graduation of high school in 99’ he turned down a scholarship to Arizona State University and moved to northern Kenya to work with Africa Inland Mission. His passion for the Kingdom of God was amplified during his year with AIM. He returned to the USA with a clear vision of what God had called him to do, and immediately set a course to accomplish this vision.

The next six years would find David working various jobs from welding/fabricating, to marketing & business development for Ace Asphalt. During this time he faithfully served in Kid’s Church as a teacher, led numerous home groups and attended a 2 year Bible College program through the Vineyard Leadership Institute.

David connected with Overland Missions in August of 2005, spent 5 weeks with them in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Zambia in 2006 and then joined staff in January of 2007.  Since then he has primarily worked within recruiting and expeditions. In January of 2008 he took over as Director of Recruiting, where his responsibilities include speaking in churches, universities and missions conferences worldwide to recruit for the vision of Overland Missions. David also leads the Amazon expeditions and continues the pioneering work in Angola for Overland.

Debbie is forever grateful to two strangers who listened to her as she talked with them and mentioned that she had suffered for 10 years with severe attacks of night terrors. They not only listened but boldly talked to her about Jesus, His love and His desire to set her free from pain and suffering. They prayed with her and she accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior. on May 7, 2004. Debbie’s life dramatically changed from that moment on. She was immediately healed from the night terrors and Jesus began a beautiful relationship with her that grows deeper every day.

Within one week of inviting Jesus into her life she and her husband, Phil, met Phil Smethurst (Founder of Overland Missions) walking on the beach in Cocoa Beach. That divine appointment has lead to a strong friendship with Phil and Sharon Smethurst and a deep love for the vision and work of Overland Missions. She delights in serving on the intercessory prayer team for Overland Missions. Her desires are to share her faith boldly with everyone she meets and for all people to come to know Jesus, His forgiveness, His love, His joy, His peace and His healing so that they may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Pastor Dragan is a great leader and pioneer in our Rural Pasors Network, Sector Management and LIFE Project. He has been serving with Overland Missions for the last 10 years.

I came to know Jesus as my personal Lord and Saviour when I was 20. Prior to that I’d been focussed on travelling and building a career. When I began to understand that God had a purpose for my life I determined within myself not to live for anything less than that. For the first 5 years of my Christian walk this meant serving faithfully in my Church back home in the south of England. In April 2008 I went on an Overland expedition with my Church and spent two weeks sharing the gospel with villagers in Zambia. I’d spent time in Africa as a teenager and I always felt as though I’d left a piece of my heart there whenever I left. Returning with something more valuable than rubies to give the people I met was a tremendous experience.

I had no idea when I met David 18 months later that what started out as a great friendship would lead to the start of the greatest adventure of my life!

Gideon is a Zone Manager over Chunga, Chibala & Zwanga

Heather grew up in Melbourne, Florida. At age 16 she had an encounter with Jesus that changed her life. After realizing God’s intense love for her, she gave her life to follow Him. Later that year God showed her that she would be preaching in other countries, even though she had never been out of the U.S.

Her first mission trip was to Haiti when she was 18. The next year she attended an Overland Mission’s conference and heard about AMT in Zambia and really wanted to go. Little did she know that Africa would capture her heart, just as it had captured her husband’s heart many years prior.

Once Heather and Jesse married in December of 2008, they knew that they would return to Zambia - with no intention of coming back home to stay! After they had a baby and Heather finished college, they finally arrived in Zambia in May of 2011 and are ready to commit 5 years to Sector Management and the rest of their lives to missions.

Growing up I was always a good kid. Was in church nearly every Sunday and never really did anything too crazy. It wasn’t until I was in middle school that I truly realized how ignorant I was of who Jesus really was. I had an amazing encounter with him and never have been the same.

Sometime during high school the Lord sparked a fire in me for missions…I just never acted on it until my second year of college. College had become boring for me and the dream of an amazing college degree and a great job was so far from my heart and desire to serve my Lord. I left for Africa in May of 2011 with Overland Missions. It was then that I found what I was created for; to take this Gospel of Jesus Christ to every corner of this world until all have heard of His wonderous love!

Isaac Martin is 29 years old and has grown up on the missions field with his family in Belize, Honduras and Guatemala. His parents are Jeff and Candi Martin, the directors of the Rural Pastors Network. Isaac is currently working from the Rapid 14 base in Zambia 9 months out of the year as the media department’s network technician, as well as assisting with graphic design and audio production. His heart has always been to be used mightily by God for the nations, which has led him to his full time work with Overland Missions.

I was born on the the twentieth of May 1985 in Western Zambia. I did my primary and junior high from 1991 to 2002 and after graduating high school, i went to my hometown to stay with family, because i did my school in boarding. It was during my stay home in 2003 when i met overland Missions. By that time i was not saved and very young, but my grandfather was working hand in hand with them( OM). A year later i got saved and i met Overland Missions when went back to my hometown and i did work with them, i helped interpret. During this period i discovered that God had called me to full time ministry and that he had a plan for my life, so i started pursuing God. In 2004 i started getting involved in my local Church and become a youth leader. Later in 2005 my family wanted me to work in our family business, so i went ahead and started working . In 2007 i couldn’t hold back the passion of Serving God full time, so i applied for a bible school in South Africa. What was meant to be a year programmed ended up been 3 months because Overland invited me to come work with them. In May 2007 i quit bible and came back to Zambia and started working with Overland Missions in June. I’m now serving with Overland missions as an expedition leader

Jake has ministered in Zambia, Africa for the past 6 years.  With his wife, Jessi, and kids Sunda (5) and Kya (1), the Schwertfeger’s have committed their lives to seeing Jesus Christ receive the reward of His sufferings in neglected areas of Zambia, Africa.  Jake is currently the sector manager of the Nyawa chiefdom.  He is committed to the task of raising up an indigenous group of men and women whose hearts are fully ablaze with love and devotion to Jesus Christ.  The Schwertfeger’s have fallen in love with the Tonga people and consider it an honor to be able to serve with Overland Missions at the Rapid 14 Base.

Ciaran and Jamie Stirling met in 2008, then married in April of 2009. Ciaran has been full time with Overland Missions since 2005, and Jamie has been full time with Overland Missions since the end of 2008. Ciaran was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa; Jamie was raised in Medford, Oregon. Ciaran currently serves as the full time base manager and Jamie currently serves as the financial supervisor. They lead expedition teams when needed and absolutely love ministering in the rural villages. They are expecting their first child in August of 2010.

The call to preach the Gospel to the neglected and unreached areas of the world is what brought Jason to Overland Missions in 2004.  Jason has had the opportunity to travel to 26 countries and has preached the gospel in many of them.  He came to Christ during his freshman year of College and later graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a B.S. in Health and Sport Sciences.  After his first mission trip to India he attended Vision Christian Bible College and received a B.A. in Theology.  Jason currently serves in an administrative capacity with Overland Missions and works in the corporate offices in the USA.

J.D. became a christian in January 2000 and soon after attended bible college. June 2001 J.D. went on his first overseas missions trip to South Africa only to find out this is what the rest of his life would resemble! In the past nine years, ministry has taken him to some 28 countries, many of which he has ministered in. His heart is for the unreached people of the world to come to the knowledge of salvation in Christ Jesus and be discipled in the ways of the Word of God. He is currently the Director of Expeditions worldwide. In 2011, he will be serving in Zambia, Africa at the Rapid 14 base, Brazil and India.

Since entering full time ministry 28 years ago, Jeff and Candi have lived in 4 nations of the world preaching the gospel in hundreds of cities, reaching over 30 nations on 6 continents. Jeff holds a masters degree in Ministry and Theology.

Their missionary calling began after over 18 years of helps and pastoral ministry in a local church in Jacksonville Florida.  In 1993 they relocated their family to Belize, Central America, and lived in a village on the Moho River.  They worked there with the Kek’chi Maya and Spanish for several years, and continued working there as the Lord allowed for many years. In 1997 they were when in a church there when revival broke out, and were able to see it transform multitudes of lives. The effect of that revival continues until this day. It was during these years of international ministry where they met Sharon Quinlin. Sharon traveled and ministered with them as an anointed and prophetic worship leader.

In 1998 Jeff and Candi founded the “Gloryhouse Fellowship International” in Jacksonville Florida. It was here that Sharon met and married Philip Smethurst. When they were married, Jeff was part of the team that preformed their marriage. Jeff and Candi pastored the Gloryhouse until 2005 when they turned their church over to a spiritual son, and relocated to Brazil, South America. They worked there in Brazil for two and a half years with the “Call to the Nations” revival team. While there, they ministered revival conferences in 52 cities of Brazil. In Brazil they spoke into the lives of hundreds of city leaders and pastors. They also got to see Jesus change the lives of tens of thousands of young people as God marked a new generation of upcoming leaders and worshippers with a great revival anointing.  It was after returning from Brazil that Philip called them and invited them to join Overland Missions on a full time basis.

Jeff and Candi Martin have been friends and coworkers with Overland Missions since its inception.  Jeff has served on the Board of Overland Missions since 1999.  In 2008 they joined the staff and relocated to Zambia Africa. Their calling is to develop and direct the Rural Pastors Network. The RPN is a leadership mentoring and educational network of Kingdom minded rural leaders from many different denominations.  Jeff is 56 years old, and Candi is 51. They have 4 grown sons and 9 grandchildren

Jeff works in Africa as the Rural Pastors Network director with over 1500 rural pastors under his care, and watches over the base as Base Director.  Jeff also oversees the construction on the base.

I had my first experience on the mission field when I was 13 years old with my youth group in El Salvador.  At 18 I started getting involved with construction mission trips which my dad has been a part of for 30 years.  God began to develop a heart for the mission field in me from that time and it just continued to grow.  I spent a month in Tanzania with Overland in 2003.  The next year I went to Zambia and Malawi for 3 months with Overland.  It wasn’t until 7 years later that I was back in Zambia with my wife and daughter Rebecca.  Heather and I had been married for two years and had spoken much of working with Overland Missions one day.  That is now a reality and we both love our job more than we could have ever had imagined.

I became a Christian at the age of 13 and have always had a heart for ministering to people who seemed lost in the mix of life.  By the time I was 16 I was convinced that God was calling me to a third world country to spread the Gospel of Hope.  I graduated from high school in 2002 and moved onto a large university to major in Music Education.  After college, my husband and I got married and made plans to leave for Africa 6 weeks later! 

Our first year in Zambia was spent running an orphanage and falling in love with our daughter, Sunda.  In the following year, we began spending weeks at a time living in the villages and learning how to serve and empower the Tonga people with the message of the Gospel. We joined Overland Missions after catching the vision for ministry to the neglected peoples.

During the last 4 years, I have worked with LIFE Project to develop sustainable preschools in the rural areas of the Mukuni Chiefdom.  In the meantime, we have added our daughter, Kya to the mix! I love being involved in every facet of ministry and feel so blessed to be a part of Overland Missions, the LIFE Project, and the wonderful team of people who work together to bring love, hope, and education to those who desperately need it.

Jessica began a committed life for Jesus while in college at the University of North Florida where she earned a degree in Communications and Business Administration.  It was during her time at UNF that she and her mother traveled on their first missions trip. Since that first trip, Jessica knew God sparked a passion to someday serve as a full-time missionary.  She began traveling every year on short-term trips.  In 2007, her trip was to Zambia with Overland Missions.  Not long after returning home, the Holy Spirit answered Jessica’s desire and she officially joined staff with Overland Missions in April 2008.

Jessica now serves in their international headquarters in Merritt Island, Florida.  She plans their missions conferences and events and supervises new staff in the Ministry of Partnership Development.

I first found out about Overland Missions 3 years ago today(Jan. 25, 2010). At the time I did not even have a passport and had never flown anywhere. 3 months later I boarded a plane, heading to Overland Mission’s Rapid 14 Base in Zambia where I spent 3 months in the Advanced Mission Training program. The experience changed my life, as I was introduced to a society I barely new existed, and given the skills to effectively minister to a group of people who have not heard the true message of the Gospel.

    Since that time I have spent more time overseas than in the US. I filled my passport within one year of the issue date, after going though driver training on the “Truck Trip” as it has been dubbed. The trip was set up so that we could transport 4 trucks that Overland Missions had purchased in The Netherlands. We drove 2 of those trucks all the way across Europe and into the Middle East via Turkey, where we then traveled through Syria and Jordan, crossing the Red Sea on a ferry into Egypt where we began our trek down through Africa via Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, and finally ending up at our destination of Zambia. From there I flew to one of the Southern most tips of Africa, where we picked up the 2 trucks which had been shipped to Port Elizabeth. We then drove to Johannesburg, South Africa, up along the coast of Mozambique, then into Zimbabwe during one of the most depressed economic times in the nation’s history.

    After that point, I stayed in Zambia for 9 months, working around the base maintaining vehicles, repairing and building the structures, getting trained in leading teams, ministering in villages, and helping wherever necessary.  I am now full time with OM. I currently work primarily with the Expeditions department, taking teams to minister in remote villages for weeks at a time. My goal is to spend more time in Africa than I do in the US. While I am in the States however, I focus on recruiting and spreading the word about missions to those I come in contact with.

Joseph is the pastor of a church near Nsongwe village.  He has a lovely wife and 5 children.  Joseph is a Zone manager over Chilizya, Chibule, Sichilobe, Ngandu & Machenje.

Laura grew up in the Chicago area and started working full time with Overland Missions after college. In the past, she has worked as an expedition operator for 5 years in Africa with Overland Missions. Currently, Laura is working within one of the active sectors as a full time missionary, assisting the sector managers. Her heart is for the rural villages and for the local leaders that she works alongside.

When Leah was first born again at the age of 13, God immediately followed it with the call to go overseas. The following summer at 14 years old she went on her first mission trip. After that point she continued to take one step of faith after the other as the LORD led her and opened doors for her.

In the midst of her wholehearted pursuit of God, He continued to speak to her and reveal more of what He was calling her to. The burden for unreached people groups continued to increase in her spirit. God repeatedly confirmed her calling to overseas missions to minister to unreached peoples worldwide.

Through watching an episode of Travel the Road, Leah was introduced to Overland Missions. Two years after first hearing about Overland Missions, Leah had finished their Advanced Mission Training and had become full-time staff with Overland Missions as an Expedition Leader! She feels it is an amazing privilege and honor to be apart of an entire family devoted to reaching the unreached!

We have been serving as missionaries in Zambia for more than 10 years and joined Overland Missions in 2008. Our vision is to see a Christian culture established amongst the people of Zambia.

I utilize my Education degree specializing in Early Childhood Development, by serving as an educational consultant for The LIFE Project. Together with the LIFE team, I am responsible for writing a suitable curriculum for the village preschools.

I am a homeschool mom and teaches about 10 children from the community in Livingstone.

Mariel has been serving Overland Missions in Zambia at the Rapid 14 Logistical Base. Her love and passion is to serve the kingdom of God and be around children.

Mariel ministers in several villages and is currently in charge of logistical management for Rapid 14.

Any volunteer, missionary or guest arriving at the base will get the privilege to meet Mariel face to face as you arrive.

Martin has a long history of serving, not only in missions, but our community at large. With over 14 years of state law enforcement experience, he has a great mix of experience and leadership to help carry out Overland Mission’s vision to the nations.

Martin works in the U.S. office coordinating our worldwide operations. The systematic approach to the Sector Management infrastructure is one of the main responsibilities of our Operations department. He also leads expedition teams to South America, specifically to Argentina, Chile and other remote locations.

Meghan Berney has been in ministry with her family for several years. Locally, she’s led your groups, Bible studies and outreach projects in the central Florida area.

Her heart for the nations is evident in anything Meghan tackles. She is an AMT graduate and currently lives in Florida.

    I was born in upstate New York, going on short term mission trips with my father since I was 10. I went through the time every pastor’s kid should go through, where I had to decide if I was going to serve God for me, or do my own thing. Thank God, I picked Him. I ended up going to England where He told me to go to Brazil. Since Overland was the only organization that I knew that went to Brazil, I decided to go through AMT, and see what would happen. By the time the three months was up, I had fallen in love with Overland, and decided to work in their expedition department.
    Now I get to take teams all over the world, and help them experience the expansion of their worldview that I was so blessed to be able to experience at a young age. I also get to help spread the gospel to people that most of the world doesn’t even know exist. My job is to bless people. Honestly, who wouldn’t want to be me?!

Graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison as a mechanical engineer. Graduated AMT and currently is an AMT instructor as well as Rapid 14 Logistical base warehouse manager.

Pete is a great speaker and teacher. He “makes things happen” and ministers with expedition teams in the surrounding villages.

—I picked up a lot of general fabrication skill and vehicle engineering knowledge from my time in college, working for UW-Madison, wrenching on my own vehicles, and watching my Dad work when I was a kid. I’ve also been a part of several different Christian communities throughout various seasons of my life and I love sharing what I’ve learned and learning from those around me. When I’m not assisting with AMT, fixing stuff or building stuff at the Livingstone base, I take my dirtbike out to the bush to meet up with expedition teams.—

Philip Smethurst is the founder and president of Overland Missions. Overland Missions is dedicated to communicate the Gospel to the neglected and isolated people of the world. In 1999, Philip and his wife Sharon founded Overland and under their guidance, it is currently at work in 14 countries…read more

My life’s story is a journey from one adventerous challange to another! I was raised in a big family and entered the mission field for the first time at 14 with my pastor. Since then I’ve trained in and worked in the medical field to prepare me for wherever God was taking me! I’ve worked all over the East Coast as a nurse and traveled the USA (and Africa) teaching Wilderness Medicine. I’ve traversed the globe many times by myself and as of April 2009 am now privilaged to be married to the most amazing man I’ve ever known!!! I hope to spend the rest of my life sharing the Gospel with Dan, wherever God has us! In many ways I’m as much at home overseas as I am in America! I love the outdoors and other cultures. I absolutely love learning and working in the medical field; I love teaching & working with missionaries; and I love cooking and baking at the end of the day!

Richelle Lopez has been serving Overland Missions as the Finance supervisor for the last two years. She and her husband Martin Lopez have been missionaries with Overland Missions to South America among other responsibilities.

Richelle’s business ownership background and years of public service experience as an executive secretary makes her a blessing and a key part of the team. Her heart for the nations began in her early years, and especially after traveling to Italy on her first missionary trip in 2000.

She is in charge of the entire organization’s financial coordination and accountability. Richelle facilitates the development of Human Resources and is also the Liaison to the Board of Directors. We thank her for her hard work as we continue to work on the vision to the nations.

Rod was born to missionary parents in Papua New Guinea and grew up in the village environment, learning the local dialect and state language before English. He lived on the mission field until a teenager then moved to Australia and over the next five years completed a trade in Refrigeration and Air conditioning. At this time he met Christine who would later become his wife.
After studying at Commonwelth Bible College the newly marrieds Rod and Christine, immediately went into full time ministry as youth pastors. This was followed by pioneering two churches at the same time in Central Queensland’s coal mining towns. Missions was still on their hearts, so in 1983 they moved to the Outback to work and live amongst the Australian Aborigines. This was serious frontier type missions with primative living conditions, remote locations, and extreme climate just the beginning of the challenges. It was also an extremely rewarding time as their children Renee, Jessica and Dwain grew up in an atmosphere that forged faith and tenacity in the next generation.
In 2003 Rod and Christine began to minister in other countries while still living in the Outback and also ministering to the Australian Aboriginals. The countries included England, USA, Mexico, Nicuagua, Nigeria, Malawi, Zambia,and Papua New Guinea.
In December 2009 they joined Overland Missions to become part of the team in Zambia.

Sharon was born to missionary parents in Portugal then moved to Brazil at the age of 3 where she was raised. Largely influenced by the passion for people apparent in her parents and her deep love for the Lord she dedicated her life to serving people through the ministry, receiving training at Operation Mobilization in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and in the Creative Arts at School of Creative Ministries, London.

At 18 years old, Sharon began to travel the world ministering and leading worship in meetings and has since traveled to over 40 countries sharing the gospel of Christ. Sharon and Philip met in East London, South Africa 1997 and quickly realized that they shared the same love for the nations. Philip and Sharon have 2 children who travel with them into the nations.

“Very Truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.”

This verse means a lot to me because I come from a ten year addiction to cocaine.  I never understood the power of Christ that is with in us or the possibility of becoming a new creation in Christ.  Most of my life I told God, “if you show me a miracle then I will pick up my Cross and follow you.”  Through different circumstances in my life I finally surrendered my will.  I found when I did this that’s when the miracles started taking place.  It’s not about God proving Himself to us but us believing, obeying and allowing Him to love us and live through us.  Once I learn life’s not about me, it’s about others that’s when God showed me His heart for the nations, and every second I wasted another person was dying without knowing Him.  I found many missions organizations but none aligned with the heart of God like Overland Missions.  After being in Zambia for one month with Overland Missions I experienced even more of God’s miracle working power and I knew this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.  I continued on in Zambia for another 5 months using my past work experience with heavy equipment and received training on the well drilling rig.  I have now joined staff and I will be working in the Well Drilling Department.  This has been a huge blessing for me because we are meeting the physical need of water in the villages while ministering the spiritual need of living water to the lives around us. 

Short Bio using 600 characters or no more than 700 characters.

Wezi a local Zambian, that grew up in the Mukuni Chiefdom.  He started working with OM in 2007.  He has completed the Advanced Mission Training course and works primarily with the LIFE project assisting in school evaluations, leading worship during our weekly trainings.  He often participates in village evangelism and often functions as an interpreter for our expedition teams.  Wezi is currently an Interim Zone Manager for Siazibola, Chibalani, Jafuta, Mandandi & Kafekwa.