Missions
We believe that God calls every Christian to be involved in His great enterprise of bringing the gospel to “the end of the earth” (Matthew 28:19; Acts 1:8). We can pray, give, or go. We believe the most urgent need in missions is to bring the gospel to those who have yet to have the opportunity to hear about Jesus. We also believe that the best way for people in any given place to come to know Christ is through the ministry of local churches, and thus we are committed to church-planting in various “hard” places around the world. Our desire as a church body is to partner in meaningful, encouraging ways with the missionaries we support around the world.
Missionaries We Support
Indigenous Turkana, Kenya Missionary-Pastors
Turkana County, NW Kenya
Share International was birthed in 1988 when Sammy Murimi, a Kenyan, felt a distinct call from God to devote his life to bring the gospel to the unreached, semi-nomadic tribe within his home country: the Turkana. After receiving a formal theological education, Share was officially started in 1997, with Sammy’s first actual trip to the desert of northwest Kenya. Since then, by God’s grace and power, over 500 churches have been planted, and now the pastors of this once unreached tribe of a million people are active in crossing borders bringing the gospel and planting churches among the Toposa people of South Sudan, and the Nyang’ atom of Ethiopia. The Turkana have declared themselves a “Missionary Tribe”, and we’re excited to come alongside them. Over the years our church has sent many short-term teams to minister with them in reaching remote villages (see picture).
India Rural Evangelical Fellowship
India
IREF is an evangelical development organization, headquartered in Chicago, working in the rural villages of South India. IREF operates orphanages and schools housing over 2,000 children. IREF also sponsors over 200 evangelists in rural areas, three of which Galena Bible Church supports directly.
Sam & Alejandra Killins
Colombia
Sam and Alejandra Killins are church-planters with Christian Missions in Many Lands (CMML), serving in the country of Columbia and currently focused in the border city of Cucuta. They work primarily with Venezuelan immigrants and Columbia youth, introducing them to the Gospel, discipling them as individuals and as a local body meeting together to grow in Christ, and also providing practical support as they seek to successfully make a living. Sam and Ale welcomed a son, Jackson, into their family in 2025.
Paul & Carrie Russell
For security reasons we aren’t able to post detailed information about the Russells’ ministry among an unreached people group in Eastern Africa. But they are working with a Bible translating and church-planting team there. Paul and Carrie have three young children: Lydia, Abel, and Beni. Carrie grew up at GBC and we are honored to be their sending church.
Micah and Melissa Ward
Similar to the security concern with the Russells (above), the Wards work in church-planting among unreached people groups in the far East. They have three small children: Joanna, Lydia, and Ezekiel.
Scott and Jessica Grote
Missionary Aviation Group (MAG)
Burlington, NC, United States
GBC sent out these members back in 2000! After being deeply moved by the story and writings of Jim Eliot and other missionary pilots who martyred in 1956 in Ecuador, Scott felt a call to missionary aviation. Though he does occasionally fly into remote areas carrying Bibles, etc, his main job is an aircraft mechanic and instructor in aircraft mechanics for Missionary Air Group (MAG), headquartered in North Carolina. MAG has an extensive ministry in the remote jungle of Honduras. His wife, Jessica, serves as the financial manager for MAG. They have four children.
Memduh & Suna Uysal
Cologne, Germany
Memduh and Suna work in radio and chat room ministries working to reach out to the Turkish-speaking Muslims around the world. They help direct seekers to churches and give answers to those who are searching. The radio and chat room ministry is a great way to reach those who have never heard the Gospel. The chat room is a safe place for Muslims to voice their questions. Also, Memduh has produced many discipleship video’s which are aired on satellite television and accessible online. Their heart is to see Jesus be exalted in the hearts of Turkish-speaking peoples around the world.
Mark & Audrey Kreiss
La Paz, Bolivia
Mark and Audrey serve at Highlands International School. Highlands is a Christian school which encourages discipleship, mentoring and Gospel truth through their Biblically integrated education. Mark teaches history and Audrey serves as their guidance counselor. Through the connections at the school they are able to share the Gospel and disciple students in Christ. Mark grew up at GBC. They recently welcomed little Adeline into their family!
Grace Tindell
Madrid, Spain
Grace grew up at GBC and we are blessed to be her sending church. Grace serves in Spain with SIM, reaching out to Muslim immigrants and refugees to share the gospel and meet practical needs (like teaching Spanish and English), through the Oasis Center there in Madrid.
Don and Kristen Mackay
Philippines
First Love International Ministries
GBC was blessed to be Don & Kristen’s sending home church as they returned to the Philippines in 2019, after having lived in Galena for the preceding three years. Don shepherds and oversees the ministries of numerous missionaries serving in the Philippines and southeast Asia with First Love, and Kristen serves as the principal of the junior high school at Faith Academy in Manila. They may be followed on Facebook.