Our story

Two missionaries, two countries

We both stepped onto the mission field in October 2011, in different countries, years before we met. Anna served in Thailand for many years, became fluent in Thai, and shared Jesus with Muslim friends. Justin served in the Philippines as an evangelist, partnering with churches and hospitals to bring the hope of the gospel through power evangelism.

We've both come close to death. Justin's leg was shattered in a motorcycle accident, and Anna survived a broken back and a serious head injury. We both experienced the healing power of Jesus, and we love teaching others to step out in faith.

Married, then a pandemic

We met in 2014 at the Georgia Assemblies of God District Council, stayed close friends for five years, and married in 2019. We were about to leave for our third term when COVID-19 shut the borders. We finally arrived in the Philippines in May 2022, when they reopened, with our one-year-old daughter. Our second daughter was born in Manila a year later, and soon after that we moved to Davao.

A church in Davao

In 2024, God made it clear to us that we were to start a church in Davao. In 2025 we were both ordained with the Assemblies of God and spent the year visiting churches and partners in the States. In February 2026 we boarded the plane back to the Philippines.

Today we're building toward the launch of Rise Church Davao, an English-speaking, Holy Spirit-filled church in Davao City. Sunday services haven't started yet. For now we're focused on Bible studies, training and gathering leaders, and more than 40 people are gathering now, counting the kids.

See what we're doing now