GYFM Staff

Eric & Rebecca Larsen – Director of the Global Youth & Family Ministry

Eric and Rebecca both grew up as children of ministry leaders.  Eric in fact, is an MTW MK who grew up in Africa & Australia.  They were married in 1993 and have been working in Youth ministry since 1990 – Eric as a youth pastor and Rebecca by discipling girls and mentoring women in ministry.   Eric has degrees from Covenant College, Covenant Seminary and a Doctorate in Youth, Family and Culture from Fuller Theological Seminary.  Eric & Rebecca will be involved in all aspects of the GYFM, recruiting, training, sending & sustaining youth ministers around the world.  Eric & Rebecca have 4 beautiful girls, Abigail, Meghan, Natalie & Emma.

Website – Larsenlog.blogspot.com

Click here to Download the Larsen’s Prayer Card

John & Saras Chung – Global Youth & Family Institute

Both John and Saras were born to newly immigrated Korean parents in Virginia and Missouri, respectively. John has his Masters of Divinity degree with a focus in youth ministry from Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis in 2008. Saras has her Masters in Social Work with a concentration in children, youth and families from Washington University in St. Louis.  John & Saras have worked in Youth Ministry in the local church for many years.  John has a passion to see leaders raised up and trained to reach the next generation here in America and around the world.  He will work with the Global Youth and Family Institute training leaders to reach youth all over the world.  John & Saras have 2 GORGEOUS kids Karis & Jaron.

Website – www.hellochungs.com

Click here to download the Chung’s Prayer Card

Ruthanne Burch – Assistant to Global Youth & Family Ministry

Ruthanne Burch grew up in Brisbane, Australia while her parents were MTW missionaries involved in church planting and theological education.  After graduating from Samford University in 2005 with a degree in Human Development and Family Studies, she started working at Briarwood Presbyterian Church in the Children’s & Youth Ministry office.  During college and while at Briarwood the Lord was laying upon her heart a burden for missionary kids and their families.  As an MK, Ruthanne can encourage these youth in a way that others may not be able to as she understands the struggles and pressures that come with growing up on the field.  Ruthanne longs to see these missionary kids and their families be encouraged and strengthened spiritually so they may minister well on the field.   Ruthanne will join the Spiritual Life Department as part of the Global Youth and Family Ministry.

Click here to download Ruthanne’s Prayer Card

Drew & Lindsey Wilkins

Drew – TCK Ministry Director

As a military brat Drew had the privilege of experiencing many exciting places and adventures as he grew up with his four brothers.  Drew studied psychology at the University of Maryland and is currently pursuing his Master of Divinity Degree as well as a Master of Arts and Counseling at Covenant Theological Seminary and has been involved in youth ministry for almost a decade.  During that time Drew has worked and trained at churches in Maryland, North Carolina, Colorado, and Missouri, and has done ministry in Mexico, Romania, and Spain, enjoying the various cultural nuances of each location.  Drew has a passion for helping students to see how their lives fit into the greater story of Christianity, and to live out their role within it.  Drew is looking forward to working with TCKs because he is excited to see the ways that God has been moving through their lives and locations and all the challenges and adventures that go with them.   Drew has been married to his bride, Lindsey, since August of 2005 and has loved every minute of it!  Drew loves everything from parachuting to scuba diving (especially if it has anything to do with snow), and is extremely excited about exploring the cultures, locations, and people that working with MTW will afford.  Drew and Lindsey are in the process of raising their support to join the team.

Lindsey – Girls Ministry Director

Lindsey Wilkins grew up in St. Louis, Missouri and in 2001 moved to Lookout Mountain, Georgia to attend Covenant College.  While she was there she began volunteering at Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church and fell in love with youth ministry.  For two summers she served at Peace Presbyterian Church in Cary, North Carolina as the female intern.  Lindsey grew in her love and knowledge of youth ministry through these experiences.  During her second summer there she met Drew Wilkins who was also working at Peace that summer.  They began dating at the end of the summer and continued a long distance relationship through their senior years of college.  After graduation from Covenant in May of 2005 Lindsey and Drew were married on August 13th.  After two years of living in Colorado Springs doing youth ministry they moved to St. Louis Missouri to attend Covenant Seminary.  Lindsey is currently working on a Master of Arts in Theological Studies as well as a Master of Arts in Counseling.  She plans to graduate in May of 2011.  Youth ministry continues to be the desire of Lindsey’s heart and she is excited to join the Global Youth and Family Ministry.  Lindsey loves being outside, traveling, snowboarding, being with friends, cooking, welcoming people into her home, and discovering beauty in everyday things.  She is looking forward to partnering with her husband Drew as they work to build a ministry focusing on supporting TCK’s and their families.  One thing that Lindsey is excited about is discipling girls as they navigate through the challenges of growing up as a TCK and understanding their identity as a woman.  Drew and Lindsey are in the process of raising their support to join the team.

Marta Douglass – Europe

Marta grew up in St. Louis as a child of a church planter and seminary professor. God began to call her heart to youth ministry in 2003 as she volunteered with the middle school youth ministry at Chesterfield Presbyterian Church. In college she majored in Cultural Studies at the University of Missouri-Columbia, which encouraged her love and understanding of different cultures to grow.

Marta ministered to missionary kids the MTW Asia-Pacific and Europe-Africa Area Retreats in 2007 and 2009.  It was there that she discovered a longing to reach out to children of ministry families.  After graduating from college in 2008 she returned to Chesterfield Presbyterian in St. Louis to intern with the youth ministry. She also started at Covenant Seminary with a Masters in Theological Studies with an emphasis in Global Youth and Family Ministry and graduated in 2010.

Marta will be working with the International Presbyterian Church in Ealing, West London, England.  Her ministry will include outreach to local and Muslim immigrant teenagers in London as well as maintaining discipleship relationships with MTW missionary kids in Europe and around the world.  She will also help to train national youth pastors to minister to the next generation in Europe and internationally.

Website – martadouglass.wordpress.org