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But the Lord said to Samuel, “For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” I Samuel 16:7
After a period of failing health, Greg’s mom, Ellen Yoder, passed away on March 11, 2026. Our family spent time going through family pictures and reminiscing. We saw many pictures of both of Greg’s dad and mom at various stages of their lives. Seeing pictures of them as children, young adults and ministry leaders made us ask, “Who would have thought that a farm boy from Ohio and a farm girl from Indiana would someday travel to foreign countries and impact the lives of so many people?”
Greg’s parents, Dean and Ellen were part of the founding members of Christian World Outreach (CWO) in June 1977. God has provided many CWO ministry leaders who God chose but some may not have chosen, if only looking at where they came from. Dean and Ellen saw potential leaders who most importantly had a desire to share the Gospel and not their background and we continue to do the same with new leaders.
Alassane Compoare grew up in a predominately Muslim family in Burkina Faso. His mother became a Christian and prayed that her family would come to know the Lord. She tried to get Alassane to read the Bible but he said, “That is a big book.” His mom continued to pray and finally convinced Alassane to read the book of John to get started. Alassane has told us that he would sit under his blanket with a flashlight reading and one night God opened his eyes to what Jesus had done for him. He ran into his parent’s bedroom telling his mom that her prayers had been answered. Alassane is now a leader of the CWO ministry in Burkina, telling others about the Gospel. He is also the pastor of a church. God is using Alassane a former Muslim to reach the lost for Jesus.
God was working in the life of Joel St Amour who at a young age grew up in LaJeune, Haiti. He was the youngest of 12 children from a farming and uneducated Christian family. His parents did all they could to give him an education. Joel tells that he would hear his mother pray that he would pass his school exams and that one day he would be a pastor. God answered this prayer by opening the door for Joel to attend seminary in Jamacia. He returned to Haiti and joined CWO in September 1980. He is a respected pastor how has touched many lives through the CWO ministries, his church and radio broadcasts.
Thembi Meyni was a successful entrepreneur selling products for a large international company and a single mom raising two boys in South Africa. She struggled with the issues many single moms do raising boys by herself. After becoming a Christian, she felt God calling her to minister to other single moms raising sons. Thembi got her MBA and also a counseling degree helping her reach other single mothers for the Lord and pointing their sons to a Heavenly Father who would never abandon them.
Living in Sri Lanka was difficult during the civil war that lasted from 1983 to 2009. Rajeeve Sathianathan grew up during these times being raised mainly by his mother and grandmother. Both of these ladies were Christians who had a huge impact on Rajeeve as he grew up. Because God had plans for Rajeeve to someday be a part of sharing the Gospel in Sri Lanka, He protected him many times from being killed or pulled into the fighting. Rajeeve was sent to the US by his parents to go to college and protect him. He married and started a family here in the US, but he never lost the desire to share the Gospel in his home country. Today, Rajeeve leads the CWO Sri Lanka ministry remotely discipling several men who are sharing the Gospel in Sri Lanka and guiding those running the After School Program.
Onias Tapera grew up in Zimbabwe in a non-Christian home. When he was seven years old, he met some American missionaries who impacted his life. He learned to read the Bible and attended church but did not become a Christian until he was 20. With the help of some other American missionaries, he was able to go to Denver Seminary where he received his Master in Divinity. His desire was to go back to Zimbabwe to train church leaders and today he is doing just that through Leadership Development Seminars.
We are blessed to be a part of God’s work with these leaders. Although they come from various backgrounds, they all have the same desire to reach people in their home countries and God had guided their steps to being able to share the Gospel.
Thank you for being part of our journey as we serve with CWO. We greatly appreciate your prayers and financial support as we do God’s work.
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