Missions

We are supporting a family that is doing medical ministry work in a location that is not favorable to Christianity. For their safety, we cannot disclose their personal information. They lead a unique clinic in which they not only treat patients but also train other doctors in medicine and disciple them in their faith. Doctors see patients and learn to practice medicine as Christian doctors, praying for their patients and addressing deeper heart issues. This family is also involved in a house church led by local believers. They have a strong desire to be “salt and light,” to meet people in their country, be their friends, and share their lives and faith with them. They have asked for continued prayer for safety, encouragement, strength and discernment as they navigate sharing the light of Jesus in a time of great instability for their nation. If you’d like, you can submit an encouraging note or prayer for them below and we’ll mail it to them. It truly warms their hearts to know that we are keeping them in our prayers.

Indigenous Bible College exists to disciple and educate Indigenous Native Christians for lifetimes of biblical ministry and spiritual leadership to their people and the world. The Bigmans serve as Business Manager and Executive Assistant to the IBC President. Luckie and Lanora are passionate about following Jesus, increasing their knowledge of Him through Bible classes and church gatherings, as well as shepherding other Native peoples to know God more intimately. During their first year at IBC, they became part of a church plant now named SOMA, “the body.” They are very involved with SOMA as part of the leadership and will continue to trust God in His leading and growing of their church body.

Edgars and Anete are Josiah Venture (JV) country leaders. They became followers of Jesus Christ through the efforts of North American churches’ short-term mission teams and have a deep appreciation of teams that serve in Latvia. They met in 2009, became a family in 2013, and now have three daughters and one son. They have a huge passion for the local church. Together with the JV Latvia team, they are praying to double the country team to 50 people in the next five years and to be represented in all five regions in Latvia (Vision 5-50-5).

Indigenous Bible College exists to disciple and educate Indigenous Native Christians for lifetimes of biblical ministry and spiritual leadership to their people and the world. The Esplins serve as Director of Admissions and Dean of Women. Coreen spends most of her time mentoring, counseling, and investing in the lives of the women. Daniel’s primary role is recruitment but he also leads a mentoring group with first-year men and teaches a class called the Native Masculinity Collaborative.

For weekly prayer requests and updates, subscribe to the Esplin’s newsletter, Hope Signals.

Scott is passionate about equipping Christian leaders to lead in a way that is aligned with God’s design for leading and with His unique design for each individual leader. He founded Leading by Design in 2017 because of a series of godly men whom God used mightily in his own leadership journey. Scott provides professional coaching and tailored teambuilding experiences for pastors and Christian non-profit leaders and their teams, resulting in local and worldwide “ripples” for God’s Kingdom. Through the Lausanne Movement, Scott also invests in workplace leaders across the globe, empowering them to have a gospel impact in their workplaces.

Elvis and Rachel Kalvans call Red Mountain Community church home. Rachel grew up attending and has been a member for about 15 years. Elvis attended RMCC for the eight years he spent in America. Elvis and Rachel met in 2012 serving separately at Eagle’s Wings camp center. In 2014 they moved to America and got married. After spending eight years in America, God called them back to serve in Latvia. Elvis was called to manage a 500 acre farm with 600 head of sheep and four farmhands, while also mentoring two orphan young adults and teaching them husbandry of the farm. They have two small children, Elvis II and Elora, and their dog Millie. After over three years back in Latvia, the Lord continues to affirm their growing ministry.

Lelde has been passionate about helping young people grow more and more in their love, knowledge, and understanding of Jesus ever since she became a Christian at a youth camp when she was 14. Christian camps are a big part of Lelde’s faith journey, and she sees it as a great opportunity for young people to get to know Jesus in a safe, loving, and fun environment. She serves on the Josiah Venture Latvia Summer Camp team as the Mission Team Coordinator and is also part of a youth ministry team at her church in Riga.

Raimonds’ main and only focus is to make disciples who will make disciples. He serves as a pastor/deacon in a local church and loves to preach on youth nights. The church just started a sports program for youth as part of the mission to reach young boys and girls for Christ. He also serves on the Josiah Venture Latvia Board. Marta is a real hero… a huge support for her husband and a full-time mom.

VMSS is a residential school that educates and takes care of 275 children, most of whom are orphans. The school was established in 2009. Caleb and Usha’s vision is to trigger generational transformations which will lift current and future students out of utterly hopeless life situations through education and the love of Jesus.

Micah is the founder and lead pastor of a church called University Community Fellowship. Being next door to one of the largest universities in Sub-Sahara Africa (over 30,000 students), the church primarily focuses on preaching the gospel to the demographic of college students and emerging professionals. We have been in partnership with Micah and his wife Grace since 1999. Their daughter, Reba, also works closely with them to minister to young adults.

All are lost apart from Jesus, but not all have equal access to the gospel. Jesse and Kylee are members of Red Mountain Community Church and are being sent to serve in a part of Paris with more than 200,000 people but only one available church.

The Slebodniks are called to share the gospel among Muslims who have little access to a Christian witness. Their mission is to partner with the local church, build meaningful relationships, and disciple new followers of Jesus.

Jesse holds a Master of Divinity from Phoenix Seminary and is passionate about strengthening the church through biblical teaching and discipleship. Kylee has completed counseling coursework at Phoenix Seminary and cares deeply about community outreach, discipleship, and gospel-centered care.

We support and partner with the Latvian churches below. Please pray that God would give them strength, endurance and encouragement as they reach their communities. Pray that God would provide volunteers and creative avenues for spreading the Gospel.

• Paul’s Baptist Church of Liepaja
• Ventspils Baptist Church
• Madona Baptist Church

We support and partner with the Mexican churches below. Please pray that God would give them strength, endurance and encouragement as they spread the Gospel to their communities. Pray that Yahweh would equip them to speak boldly and give them wisdom.

• Lilly of the Valley, Baja California
• Lilly of the Valley 2, Baja California
• Alpha & Omega Christian Baptist Church, Baja California

Hey, my name is Preston Hancock and I’m the leadership and missions pastor, and an elder here at Red Mountain. I oversee and support the staff so we can implement the vision here at Red Mountain. I love seeing our Red Mountain family serve others and share the good news of Jesus both here and around the world. Truly brilliant! My wife Tobi and I have three amazing children that make us laugh a lot: Caitlyn, Maddy and Josiah. I love hanging out with my family and watching British TV shows. I also support the best soccer team in the world, Aston Villa!