Being the Hands and Feet of Jesus in Pakistan | the Reach November 2025

by | Nov 17, 2025 | Field Story, Mission Story

Dear Friends,

After enduring the oppressive summer heat, the July and August rains in Pakistan are usually welcomed as a respite and blessing. This year, however, the rains that typically bring relief have instead brought widespread and devastating flooding. As a result, people have lost their homes, modes of transportation, and for many, their lives. The extent of the damage is overwhelming.

Asaph, a World Outreach worker in Pakistan, commented on how the monsoon rains that lasted for weeks on end caused a degree of damage not seen in this region for 50 years. Yet even amid the disaster, God is at work.

One way EPC World Outreach seeks to carry out the Great Commission is through word and deed ministry—a lifestyle of love, mercy, and justice for the flourishing of the communities we serve. In bringing the good news of Jesus Christ around the world, we also want to care for the real, tangible needs of the people we encounter. The International Disaster Relief Fund is one vehicle through which we can do this.

World Outreach was able to partner with Asaph by sending $26,000 toward relief efforts in the area. “The need was great and overwhelming, even to figure out where to begin or whom to prioritize,” said Asaph. Through prayer and counsel from other ministry leaders, Asaph and his team decided to provide food rations to 150 families for a month. They were also able to provide support to some whose homes were damaged or who lost their motorcycles, their only mode of transportation, in the flooding.

While the needs in Pakistan stretch far beyond our reach, for these 150 families, the aid was inestimable. It sustained them during a very dark time and gave them hope as they faced the full weight of the devastation.

We praise God for the way he is providing for this region while we also recognize that the work is not done. The need remains great, and Asaph estimates that food prices will rise in the coming year as the flooding caused extensive damage to rice fields in the area.

Would you consider partnering with us first in prayer for this region? May the Lord continue to move mightily in the lives of people there. May he be glorified, and may the precious people of Pakistan come to know the forgiveness of our Savior. If you would like to financially support relief efforts, you can give to the International Disaster Relief Fund here.

Pray for WO Workers

Join the EPC World Outreach Prayer Network to care for our workers through intercession. To join the network, click here.

Pray

Support WO Workers

Click the SUPPORT button for the WO worker support landing page.

Support

Partner with WO

There are many ways you can partner with World Outreach! Learn more here.

Partner

Greg Livingstone | the Reach October 2025

by | Nov 17, 2025 | Biblical/Missional, Engage2025

Dear Friends,

“Greg Livingstone was one of God’s wonders. He always had ideas that no one else ever imagined. He always placed his hands to the plow and encouraged everyone. As Coordinator for Engage 2025, he gave a dimension that I as director didn’t have to give, along with an experienced enthusiasm and joy for a monumental endeavor. Greg was a personal friend and delight.”
George Carey, former EPC World Outreach Director (2009-2014)

On July 19, 2025, Greg Livingstone entered the presence of our Heavenly Father. Above all, Greg was a passionate follower of Jesus with an unwavering heart to share the Good News with those who had never heard. As World Outreach Executive Director, Gabriel de Guia, put it:

For more than six decades, Greg championed the cause of bringing the gospel to unreached peoples, and his influence on global missions—and on the EPC in particular—has been immeasurable. Through his teaching, personal mentoring, and strategic partnership with EPC World Outreach, Greg helped ignite within our denomination a deep burden for the nations and a passion to send workers where the Church is not yet present.

In EPC World Outreach’s infancy, the denomination consulted Ralph D. Winter, the renowned American missiologist, on the direction the new denominational mission agency should take. He advised, “You should go to the Muslim world; all the easy places are taken!” World Outreach followed that counsel and early on committed itself to Muslim peoples.

Greg had long felt an unshakable call to the Muslim world, and he and his wife Sally were drawn to World Outreach for this reason. In the early 1980s—around the time Greg founded Frontiers—they joined EPC World Outreach as global workers. For nearly two decades, they served stateside, building Frontiers, mobilizing churches, and ministering faithfully in the EPC, before moving to pioneer ministry in East Asia in the early 2000s.

Among Greg’s many roles in World Outreach was serving as Coordinator of Engage 2025. Launched in 2010, the Engage 2025 initiative called every EPC presbytery to adopt an unreached Muslim people group by the year 2025. By God’s grace, all 16 presbyteries are participants in what is now simply called “Engage.” We have reached 2025, and the work continues in large part because of Greg’s leadership.

One World Outreach field worker, who launched in 2004, observed the dramatic impact Engage 2025 had on him and his team. Before Engage 2025, he felt lonely, isolated, and forgotten by the denomination. However, he said, “When the Engage 2025 initiative was launched, Greg saw an opportunity for a presbytery to adopt us and the people we serve as their Engage 2025 field instead of going through the process of raising up a team on their own. It was a ‘win, win, win’ solution for everyone: us, the presbytery, and more importantly, the denomination.”

World Outreach’s early focus on unreached Muslim people groups was unusual among denominational mission agencies. One worker recalled, “In the early years, this rallied many of the churches coming into the EPC who were not used to a missions focus and involvement. So many churches were inspired, joined in, sent mission workers to Muslim people groups, and supported World Outreach in this unique focus.” Engage 2025 multiplied and intensified that energy.

Greg’s love for Jesus, Muslim people, and the EPC converged in his work with World Outreach. He longed to see the Church fully engaged in Christ’s command to make disciples. EPC World Outreach worker and longtime friend Shawn Stewart commented, “What I hope the whole EPC and World Outreach community will remember is how Greg stuck with the Church and this denomination. . . . He stayed in the arena, calling us higher, praying with us, challenging us with that daredevil, youth-worker like heart of his.”

The EPC community continues to feel the ripple effects of Greg’s ministry. EPC Stated Clerk Dean Weaver shared, “Greg challenged, sharpened, and encouraged me as a leader. He was passionate about the Gospel and laser focused on the largest and most difficult group of people on the planet to reach. We are forever indebted to him for his vision and leadership, and each of us are the grateful inheritors of his legacy.”

Tim Harris, EPC World Outreach worker and author of Loving Your Muslim Neighbor, recalled texting Greg a few weeks before his passing, thanking Greg for how he loved Jesus, his family, and the lost. Greg responded, “It will be worth it all when we see Jesus.” Amen.

Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt. 22:37-39). Greg embodied these words. He ran his race with endurance and now knows the fullness of joy in the presence of our Savior. May we follow in his steps, loving God and neighbor.

Celebration of Life

Greg’s celebration of life will take place at Lake Avenue Church in Pasadena, CA, on November 15 at 11 am. You are invited to join in worship and remembrance, and can RSVP here by October 30th, so that planners can prepare for catering. While this is a public event, it will not be livestreamed to protect the identity of some who will contribute during the service.

If you would like to provide your tribute or condolences, please post them here: Kudoboard (password Greg2025). These messages will be collected and printed as a book for the Livingstone family. 
 

Greg Livingstone Award

We are pleased to announce the Greg Livingstone Award! Through his teaching, personal mentoring, and strategic partnership with EPC World Outreach, Greg helped ignite within our denomination a deep burden for the nations and a passion to send workers where the Church is not yet present.

In his honor, at the 46th General Assembly, EPC WO plans to give The Greg Livingstone Award to recognize an EPC church doing exceptional work serving and living out the mission of God and His heart for the nations.  Would you like to nominate a church? Nominations are due by December 31, 2025.

Pray for WO Workers

Join the EPC World Outreach Prayer Network to care for our workers through intercession. To join the network, click here.

Pray

Support WO Workers

Click the SUPPORT button for the WO worker support landing page.

Support

Partner with WO

There are many ways you can partner with World Outreach! Learn more here.

Partner

Meet Our Newly Commissioned Workers | the Reach September 2025

by | Sep 29, 2025 | Church Partnership, Events

Dear Friends,

This year at the 44th General Assembly and Gospel Priorities Summit, World Outreach had the joy and privilege of commissioning 15 Global Workers. The commissioning service at General Assembly is a sacred time for the denomination to come alongside those who have undergone a rigorous assessment process and have been appointed by the World Outreach Committee as new Global Workers. We are thrilled to introduce you to the newest members of the World Outreach family.

Jared and Abby are excited to join in the work God is doing with the unreached first through language learning. They plan to move to Jordan to learn Arabic, and afterward, they will shift their focus to church planting among an unreached people group. Abby has a background in nursing, and Jared has a degree in applied linguistics and is pursuing his MDiv online through Covenant Theological Seminary. Please pray for them as they transition to the field and welcome their first baby this December.

If the Lord is leading you this way, Abby and Jared have an urgent need to be 100% support raised by January to be able to purchase tickets and visas. They are currently 65% support raised and need another $3000 in monthly support. If you would like to get involved in their ministry, visit their giving page here.

John and Barbara have long felt the call to missions. They were on the field as part of a church planting team in Southeast Asia from 2003-2011. After their youngest child graduated from college in 2024, God opened a door to an opportunity for them to teach at Grace International School (GIS) in Chiang Mai, Thailand. John and Barb will strive to learn the Thai language and the culture of the many Thai Muslims who will be living near them.

Please pray that God will be glorified in all they say and do and that praises will ring out to Him from the mountains and valleys surrounding Chiang Mai. If you would like to join their support team, you can visit their giving page here.

Stephen’s journey in missions and ministry began early, growing up at North Park Church, near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In his youth, he was blessed with many opportunities to serve locally and nationally. After high school, he was part of various overseas short and long-term missions efforts. He is now serving in Southeast Asia teaching English to people of all ages and building relationships to share the love and truth of Jesus.

Please pray that those he encounters will feel the love of Jesus. If you would like to join his support team, you can visit his giving page here.

Benj and Corrie Giffone are based in Western Pennsylvania, and Benj’s appointment is to the International Theological Education Network (ITEN) of WO. ITEN’s mission is to train pastors and church leaders among those who are least reached with the gospel. Benj and Corrie bring a wealth of cross-cultural and pastoral experience to their role. They previously served overseas, and now Benj serves as a transitional pastor at Redeemer EPC, Erie PA, and Corrie teaches third grade at a local classical Christian school. The Giffones will remain in Western Pennsylvania for the time being as they develop partners for Benj’s ministry with ITEN and requisite travel.

Pray for Benj’s teaching with ITEN, working with seminaries and non-formal theological education partners in South Asia, for Corrie’s ministry as a Christian school elementary teacher, and for their children, Daniel and Elizabeth, to grow in faith and wisdom. If you would like to join their support team, you can visit their giving page here.

Evie Knotternus has served in ministry for 35+ years in both formal and informal roles. Based in Fremont CA, Evie serves alongside her husband Sam, Pastor of Centerville Presbyterian Church. Evie’s role with World Outreach will be discipling and mentoring those looking to serve in stateside and overseas missions, and she is discerning what this will look like longer term.

Pray that she would be able to prioritize ongoing intimacy with Jesus and serve out of the abundance He pours out on her. Pray for awareness of the Spirit and His voice, leading, and guidance. And pray that she would have discernment to know how to best come alongside global workers. If you would like to join her support team, you can visit her giving page here.

David and Melissa serve in Southeast Asia with their three sons, Isaac (14), Asher (12), and Elias (10). They have been in ministry for 14 years and currently work through Business as Mission to reach university students while contributing to local business development. They are passionate about reaching the unreached through education, coaching, experiential ministry, and connecting new believers with the local church.

Pray for transformative kingdom education for those they serve. And pray for their family in this season of life. If you would like to join their support team, you can visit their giving page here.

Mattie felt the call to the mission field at a young age. She recently launched to Central Asia where her team works alongside local believers in running outreach clubs to young adults, youth, and special-needs children across the city. They also disciple and equip local believers and are hoping to establish a church plant this fall.

The Lord is very clearly at work in the hearts of the people in Central Asia. Please pray that the few believers there would continue to be encouraged in the Spirit and each other. Pray also for Mattie’s team, that they may be effective in their work and continue to walk with Christ daily. If you would like to join her support team, you can visit her giving page here.

Nathan and Kareen Moser have been passionate about ministry and missions all their adult lives. After 13 years serving the local church, they are excited to join the International Theological Education Network (ITEN) team. Based in Washington State, they will travel between the states and Nepal to minister to local church leaders there.

Pray for them as they transition out of full-time pastoral ministry and into this new role as educators in a cross-cultural context. Pray the Lord would bring people to partner with them prayerfully and financially. If you would like to contribute to their ministry, visit their giving page here.

Noeun and Tiffany desire to serve and partner alongside the local indigenous church body in Central Asia to make disciples and build communities leading to church growth and planting. They began working full time with international students at Auburn University in 2011 and spent a two-year stint in Central Asia. They are looking to return to the field in partnership with WO to focus on laboring with the local church body for growth and further church planting.

As they prepare to launch to the field, pray that they will see a movement of local disciples. Pray for healthy growth in the local indigenous church. And pray that their family will land and adjust well. If you would like to join their support team, visit their giving page here.

Norberto “Pachy” Quesada was born and raised in a small town in central Cuba. He became a believer at an early age despite growing up in a society where the Christian faith was neither visible nor always accepted. He has served as a pastor and currently serves as director of CENCAP (Church Planting Training Center in Havana). CENCAP is a network born with the purpose of training, mentoring, and multiplying leaders for integral missions in Cuba. Pachy is excited to join World Outreach as he continues to work in church planting and overseas-missions mobilization in Cuban communities.

Pray for the Lord to guide his steps and lead him to the right partners in the EPC. If you would like to partner with him, visit his giving page here.

After many years of growing up and working overseas, Rianna “Rye” feels directed by God to move to Japan. She desires to support and encourage the local church as well as other missionaries in Japan through her educational background. She is excited to join God’s mission to save the Japanese people. She plans to launch March 2027.

Pray for her as she begins to learn the Japanese language, and that she will be a good witness to her Japanese teachers. Please also pray for financial and prayer support, that through it all God will be glorified. If you would like to join her support team, visit her giving page here.

Upcoming Opportunities for You and Your Congregation

Pray for WO Workers

Join the EPC World Outreach Prayer Network to care for our workers through intercession. To join the network, click here.

Pray

Support WO Workers

Support the GROW Center here. Otherwise click the SUPPORT button for the WO worker support landing page.

Support

Partner with WO

There are many ways you can partner with World Outreach! Learn more here.

Partner

Nepali Time | the Reach August 2025

by | Sep 29, 2025 | Field Story, ITEN

Dear Friends,

 Nathan R. Moser works in Nepal with the International Theological Education Network (ITEN) for EPC World Outreach.

According to the Nepali calendar, the year is 2081. Most countries of the world have accepted the standard counting of years from Anno Domini, Latin for the “year of our Lord,” roughly counted from the birth of Jesus. The Nepali calendar starts in a different place.

If you are type-A person when it comes to time, Nepal will adjust you like a ham-fisted chiropractor. Our classes always started late, but just right for “Nepali Time.” If you can score some “Nepali Tea” while taking your “Nepali Time,” all the better.

Nepal breaks another rule of time. The clocks of the Royal Observatory in London set the world standard according to Greenwich Mean Time, or GMT. Most countries follow time zones that add or subtract whole hours relative to GMT, but not Nepal. If it is 12 a.m. in London (GMT), it is 6:15 a.m. in Nepal.

And there is still something else. Did you know that people age faster at higher altitude? This is not only because of sun exposure, or a thin atmosphere, or the cold. Einstein’s theory of relativity proved that time itself is curved. People of the Himalayas pass time slightly faster than people at sea level.

After our ITEN Bible course, I met what looked to me like an older man. He traveled from a high mountain village to learn with us in the valley of Nepalgunj. His skin was darkened and weathered tight. His home village was still covered with snow in the springtime, as it is much of the year. He smiled at me like a happy churchman. I learned that he was fully one year younger than I am. I took a hard look at the picture we took together. He did not look so old, and I did not look so young. Now I was counting the time wrong.

With my Himalayan friend I look to the Ancient of Days and the Eternal Son. We stand together, brothers, in time and out of time, saved for the great renewal of all things. By the Divine word we labor together, back to our villages and out into fields, for the harvest of all peoples.

By Nathan R. Moser

Nathan R. Moser teaching a group of Nepali ITEN students

Nepal is one of the many ITEN sites that serves national Christian leaders in places where the gospel is largely unknown and education is limited. Through ITEN, these leaders are equipped to minister to their own people and send their own missionaries to unreached people groups. Click here to support the work of ITEN.

Pray for WO Workers

Join the EPC World Outreach Prayer Network to care for our workers through intercession. To join the network, click here.

Pray

Support WO Workers

Click the SUPPORT button for the WO worker support landing page.

Support

Partner with WO

There are many ways you can partner with World Outreach! Learn more here.

Partner

A Lifeline | the Reach June 2025

by | Sep 29, 2025 | Biblical/Missional, Mission Story

Dear Friends,

In the dusty outskirts of a conflict-torn city, Anna sat alone on the rooftop of her small apartment. Below her, life bustled in a language she still struggled to understand after two years. She had come full of passion to serve, to love, to bring the hope of the Gospel. But that night, with rockets echoing in the distance and the weight of culture shock pressing down on her, she felt more alone than ever.

Anna is not unique. She represents thousands of missionaries who serve in cross-cultural, high-risk environments—where trauma, spiritual warfare, and isolation are often daily realities. The call to follow Christ to reach the unreached is difficult. These people groups and places are unreached for a reason, because they are difficult, often dangerous places—even just to reach, let alone to live and work in. Without intentional and ongoing Care, that calling can quickly become a crushing burden.

Member Care refers to the provision of spiritual, emotional, relational, and physical support for missionaries. It’s not a luxury; it’s a lifeline.  And it matters—for their health, their effectiveness, and their longevity on the field.

Emotional Health is often the first casualty in the mission field. Culture shock, homesickness, exposure to suffering, and sometimes hostility take a toll. In Anna’s case, the lack of a safe space to process trauma led to chronic anxiety. Had it not been for a visiting Member Care worker who recognized the signs and walked with her through healing, Anna might have returned home prematurely, convinced she had failed.

Spiritual Health also needs tending. Missionaries pour themselves out in service, often with little opportunity for being spiritually refilled. Without intentional care—retreats, mentorship, coaching, debriefing, and accountability—it’s easy for their wells to run dry. Anna admitted that her passion for prayer had withered under the demands of survival. But through a Member Care provider that offered guided spiritual retreats and regular pastoral check-ins, she began to rediscover the joy of abiding in Jesus—not just in the work of ministry.

Physical Health is another area where support makes a difference. Many missionaries endure harsh climates, lack of access to medical care, and the physical exhaustion that comes with constant adaptation. A well-functioning Member Care system includes not only mental, emotional, and spiritual care but providing access and consultations for physical health, crisis plans, and even furlough planning to ensure missionaries are not only surviving but thriving.

But perhaps the most overlooked benefit of Member Care is longevity. Research and experience show that missionaries who have someone to turn to during struggles are significantly more likely to stay long-term. They are not immune to hardship, but they are equipped to endure it. Anna, once on the brink of burnout, is now mentoring younger workers in the same region—because someone made it their mission to care for her.

If we in the EPC are to take the Great Commission seriously, we must also take seriously the care of those who go. Sending is only part of the equation. Sustaining is the other. Member Care isn’t just about keeping missionaries on the field—it’s about keeping them whole.

Let us be the ones who hold the ropes, who provide the anchor in the storm, so that those on the frontlines can stand strong—for the long haul.

By Chris Gibson, Director of Member Care

Pray for WO Workers

Join the EPC World Outreach Prayer Network to care for our workers through intercession. To join the network, click here.

Pray

Support WO Workers

Click the SUPPORT button for the WO worker support landing page.

Support

Partner with WO

There are many ways you can partner with World Outreach! Learn more here.

Partner