Over 90% of Dominican Republic pastors have little to no Bible training. Similarly, due to difficult economic situations, many of them must work multiple jobs. Sadly, the country also struggles with spousal abuse, broken homes, and one of the highest rates of teen pregnancies in Latin America.
Aware of these significant needs, we work with fellow global workers Adrian and Sharon Thomas, along with many Dominican leaders, as part of Every Day Ministries Canada. This ministry focuses on three main streams: leadership development, family ministries, and community transformation.
As the family ministries director, I (Heather) oversee and teach programming for our Community and Family Resource Centre, while leading the centre’s staff. I also coordinate our short-term mission teams and produce high-quality materials for our ministries. Our Girls of Destiny program alone has seen 500+ girls, across the country, learn about Jesus.
As the academic dean of our seminary SETCAR, I (Ryan) teach classes and conferences, oversee our METP program, train our staff, lead our translation team, while also overseeing our sustainability farm. Our farm produces coconut, passion fruit, and vegetables to sell to local markets, to help offset some of our ministry costs.
Both of us felt called to missions when embarking on our own short-term mission trips as young people. I (Heather) obtained my Bachelor of Theology (Missions), completing my internship in Senegal. In 2012, God called me to the Dominican Republic to serve in missions. I (Ryan) was always heavily involved in leadership roles in my local church. After studying computer engineering, in 2007, I felt called to full-time missions to the Dominican Republic. In 2012, we married and have ministered together in the city of Nagua ever since. We are parents to our incredible children Liberty and Eddison.
