Missions
Our Missionaries
Historically Church of the Open Door has been on the forefront of sending missionaries around the world. We still actively support a number of missionaries and are currently training others to serve. Listed below are a number of those currently on the field.
Tabora, Tanzania (Africa)
Andy & Margaret Andersen
Their primary focus is theological education, equipping students at Tabora Bible College to reach out to Muslims and plant churches. They are particularly focused on villages among the indigenous, largely Islamic, Nyamwezi people. The Tabora Bible College teaches essential Christian doctrine with emphasis on the theology of missions, discipleship of new believers, and training and equipping of church planters and leaders. Additional skills such as conservation agriculture, first aid, and youth and sports ministry is included in the curriculum. Graduates are sent out by the AICT church to be salt and light as they reside in villages, sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ among the unreached.
Besides teaching at the college, Andy manages AIM's Tabora Bible School Development Project, overseeing the capital development of the eight acre campus. When school is not in session, the Andersens visit and encourage students and graduates where they serve. Margaret supports the ministry at home and is involved in Bible study at the Bible college, in the local church, and is a Community Bible Study (CBS) trainer for adults, children & youth, and for CBS Spoken.
United States
Jose & Janeen Gutierrez
Janeen leads a ministry that provides support for MKs (missionary kids) as well.
The Gutierrezs have two children, Tali and Alex.
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Angela Shih
Angela loves students, and gets excited about having chances to invest in them and share the love of Jesus with them in personal ways.
When not teaching or coaching, you are likely to find her running, cycling, making pottery, cooking for friends, or a myriad of other activities!
United States
Ed & Judy Underwood
In 2016, we founded Recentered Group to address this crisis. Our vision is to equip Christian leaders to build high-trust cultures where discipleship thrives. We do this by drawing them back to what matters most to Jesus–loving one another and making disciples. We believe that grace changes everything, and leaders do not have to live lonely and weary lives. We aim to demonstrate in practical ways how trusting God with their ministry by living counter-culturally to the pressures that distract from Jesus' priorities will bring sustainable spiritual growth.
We work directly with church pastors and leaders, providing mentorship and training. We publish books, ebooks, online courses, and a podcast all aimed at helping churches develop healthy environments of grace.
You can find out more at www.recenteredgroup.com
Osceola, IN
Doug & Ruth Weber
Doug’s role is to lead the Connections Team, which focuses on connecting people to the ministry through communication pieces. These pieces highlight what the Lord is doing through the ministries we assist and offer funding opportunities for people to participate with us in the advancement of the gospel.
Ruth is developing a member care department for SonSet Solutions that helps our staff feel loved and cared for.
The Webers served in Ecuador for 21 years before relocating to Elkhart, Indiana in 2014.
Our Prayer
This is a Breakthrough Prayer that Church of the Open Door has committed to pray for the next ten years. As we prayed this through 2020, God has led us to focus on the Nyamwezi people of Tanzania. We are excited to continue to pray and watch what the Lord will do!
Missionary Care
Women's Missionary Fellowship
We currently have two WMF groups that meet: one gathers on the third Wednesday morning of each month, and the other on the third Thursday evening. Both groups meet here on campus, and exist to encourage and celebrate our missionaries in many ways. The meeting typically includes a devotional focused on missions, a time of prayer for our missionaries, and the chance to hear from a missionary speaker.
Come be part of this fun and faithful group!