Our Story

CiM Founder 2/10/31 – 11/1/22

Churches in Missions was founded in 2001 by Dr. Paul Hatmacher as a missions organization exclusively dedicated to short term missions trips.

CiM began challenging pastors/churches to expand their ministries at home and abroad by taking their church on a 7–10 day mission trip. CiM’s first mission trip was to northeast Brazil in the summer of 2003.

Since then, CiM has facilitated over 300 mission trips, witnessed over 20,000 people trust Christ as their Savior, helped establish 14 churches, and conducted over 150 Pastor Care Seminars (Fermatas). Churches in Missions is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that is wholly supported by friends of the ministry and not underwritten by any church or organization.

CiM Founder 2/10/31 - 11/1/21

CiM joins with pastors and churches, sharing opportunities to extend their leadership and ministry by exposing their members to mission fields worldwide.

Mission + Vision

The local church is the key resource to fulfill the Great Commission; thus, we enlist pastors and churches to take their people on a mission trip to experience “missions.” 85 percent of all current full-time missionaries surrendered to missions after going on their first mission trip. Church members who take a mission trip return to their church with a deeper commitment to serve in ministries in their church. CiM joins with pastors/churches, sharing opportunities to extend their leadership and ministry by exposing their members to mission fields worldwide.

Our Beliefs/Values

  • We believe the Bible is the divinely and verbally inspired, inerrant Word of God.
  • We believe in the Triune Godhead in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
  • We believe that man is in his fallen and lost state and that his total depravity makes necessary the new birth.
  • We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, death, bodily resurrection, personal return, and present exaltation at God’s right hand.
  • We believe in salvation by grace through faith alone in the substitutionary death and shed blood of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
  • We believe in the resurrection of the saved unto everlasting life and joy in heaven and the resurrection of the unsaved unto everlasting punishment.
  • We believe that the church, the body, and bride of Christ, consists only of those who are born again, for whom Christ now makes intercession in heaven and for whom He shall come again.
  • We believe that God’s great commission to the church is to go into all the world and preach the gospel to all people, baptizing and discipling those who believe.

Leadership

Larry & Bea Henderson

President & Co-Founder

Larry & Bea Henderson Bio

Larry and Bea have continued to celebrate their marriage since June 20, 1970. They have been blessed with three grown children – all married and four wonderful grandchildren. Larry was saved at 15 and immediately sensed the Lord had a purpose and calling for his life.  He received his education from the Thomas Road Bible Institute, Liberty University, Clarksville School of Theology, Andersonville Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Doctorate of Divinity from Amherst Theological Seminary and working on a Doctorate of Sacred Theology.

Larry has pastored three churches, two in the state of Virginia and one in the state of North Carolina for a total of 21 years.  In 1998 the Lord led Larry and Bea into career missionary service.  They served with Mainland China Missions International for three years as U.S. Director and Director of Church Relations. In June 2001 the Lord broadened their mission’s emphasis to the entire world, becoming Co-founder of Churches in Missions with Dr. Paul Hatmacher.

Larry has served on twelve different missions, evangelist and Para-church ministries board of directors.  He has traveled to 26 plus countries witnessing first-hand the great need for church planting, evangelism, discipleship, equipping national pastors, and an outreach to the homeless and abandoned children.

 

Sean & Kathy Coffey

Vice President & Missionaries

Sean & Kathy Bio

Sean & Kathy have been married since 1988, they were high school sweethearts! In God’s timing, He blessed them with five beautiful children. Sean & Kathy’s oldest daughter and husband have blessed them with two beautiful grandchildren to love and spoil. Sean came to Christ at the age of 15 when God rescued him from the clutches of the enemy. While serving in the United States Air Force, they surrendered to full-time ministry at a missions conference in Germany. Sean & Kathy have been involved in ministry for more than 20 years. Sean pastored for 16 of those years and then God called them to full-time missions and led them to join CiM in January 2015! Sean has had the privilege of serving God on short-term mission trips in many countries. He has a passion to help take the local church to a hurting and confused world and be the hands and feet of Christ. Kathy has a passion to mentor women one on one, helping them to be restored to their full identity in Christ. Together, they love to lead mission teams, reach out to pastors and their wives, fill the pulpit, and encourage believers through Churches in Missions.

Barbara Hatmacher

Founder

Barbara Hatmacher Bio

Barbara Hatmacher and her late husband, Dr. Paul Hatmacher, are the founders of Churches in Missions. As a team answering God’s call, they also pastored four churches, served with Trans World Radio and Mainland China Mission as well as countless additional opportunities to share the good news of Jesus around the world. Barbara continues to serve Churches in Missions through prayer and as an ambassador for its life-changing ministry. Barbara lives in Lancaster County, PA.

 

David & Janet Keener

Missionaries

David & Janet Bio

Dave and Janet Keener served in pastoral ministry for 43 yrs. They enjoy meeting with pastor couples to encourage and share in Jesus’ powerful Word. Janet and Dave love serving others the gospel through short-term mission trips and making new friends through visiting churches. Dave received his BA in Biblical Education at Washington Bible College and his Master of Ministry from Moody Bible Institute. Janet received her diploma in nursing from Reading Hospital School of Nursing and is a current Registered Nurse. They are grateful parents of three married children and nine grandchildren. They are very thankful to have grown children pursuing The Lord in full-time ministry and or serving faithfully in their local church. Their children and grandchildren are their delights! Dave and Janet’s life verse as a couple in Philippians 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

Edmund & Marli Spieker

Missionaries

Edmund & Marli Bio

Edmund Spieker, was born in Germany and lived most of his life, based in Brazil and North America. At the tender age of 7, Edmund asked Jesus to be His Savior. The Lord gave him a complete understanding of salvation and at the age of 11, Edmund knew that Christ was calling him to be a missionary. Edmund became active in Evangelism at an early age and invested 34 years of his life in international ministry with Trans World Radio, before joining Churches in Missions in 2003. Edmund has been an ambassador for CiM by leading Pastor Care Clinics called Fermatas in Brazil and five other countries; advising and assisting his wife Marli, (founder and global ministry director of TWR-Project Hannah) and spearheading a radio ministry for men.

Edmund’s theological studies started in the Seminary of the EFC in Germany. After getting a BA in Brazil he finished with an MA in Missions from CIU in the US. Edmund and Marli have their home base in Cary, North Carolina. They have been blessed with three children and eight grandchildren.

Steven and Alicia Cook

Missionaries

Steven and Alicia Bio

Steven and Alicia have been married since 2010, and the Lord has blessed them with 5 beautiful children.

Both Steven and Alicia accepted Christ as their Savior at a young age, and in 2013 they fully surrendered their lives in service to Jesus. In that same year, they attended Appalachian Bible College. Steven graduated with honors in May of 2017, receiving his BA with a double major in Youth and Family Ministry (with a focus on counseling), and in Bible and Theology. Alicia is also a licensed cosmetologist in Maryland, and enjoys using this skill both as a career and a ministry.

In September of 2017, the Lord called them to become the pastoral family at Chestnut Grove Bible Church, where they served for six years.

In August of 2022, the Lord made His will known to Steven and Alicia, that He wanted them to surrender to full time missions with CIM. They both, along with their children, have a burden on their hearts for missions and outreach. They have a passion for reaching the lost by sharing the Gospel and being the hands and feet of Christ.

Marcos & Monica Souza Jr.

Missionaries Brazil

Marcos & Monica Bio

My name is Marcos A Jackling C Souza, born in the city of Sao Paulo Brazil in 1976, married to Monica Souza also born in Sao Paulo City in 1982. We have two boys together, Mateus (12) and Evan (3).

Testimony of Salvation – Marcos – In Nov. of 1983 my mother asked me if I would go to heaven when I died, I answered that I didn’t know. That day I prayed to Jesus to come into my heart. I base the assurance of my salvation upon I John 4:13-16; II Tim. 1:12; I Peter 1:3-5; Rom. 8:16-17. The major influences on my spiritual growth are my parents, trials, and ministry life. God has set into my heart that He is with me while I am with Him. He has opened many doors and has guided me in His path. I was Baptized in Atibaia at First Baptist Church of Atibaia on July of 1991.

Testimony of Salvation – Mônica – In September of 1992 a missionary came to my church. He was a missionary to the Indians at that time. He started to show us about the trials that he had gone through while in the mission field but how God’s hand moved greatly toward every need. At the end of the presentation, he asked everyone “who would like to be a missionary?” many people raised their hands but I did not raise my hands. But when he prayed the sinner’s prayer I repeated his words and accepted Christ as my personal savior and best friend. I was baptized on the 21st of June of 1999 in Jandira – SP. On September 29th of 2002, I dedicated my life to missions.

We have been fully active as full-time missionaries since 2003. But we have been in the city of Jandira since 2010.

At the beginning of our ministry, we spent about 10 years working with the North Valley Bible Camp. Our responsibility was to organize youth events all year round – North Valley English Camp.

In 2010, we began Local Church Ministry. From 2010-2015 we helped a small Brazilian church be established in the city of Barueri city. Our task was to Pastor the youth. We left the church in 2015 leaving behind 150 teens and 10 trained leaders.  Since 2016, we have engaged in Local Church Planting. We began the ministry along with another couple. The church began in their backyard and we met there for about 3 ½ years.  We plan to move to another location closer to downtown

· INDIAN MINISTRY – AMAI AGENCY

In 2015, I founded a Brazilian Mission Agency called AMAI, which is fully active today. The mission has the goal to reach out to the Brazilian Native Indians (my late father was a full-blood Brazilian Indian).

o The ministry has 2 goals: Short-term missions trip to the Indians.  Since 2015 we have had 10 trips.  Our second goal is a Native Indian Bible Institute.  We have and offer a 2-year free online Bible Training. We have 45 students and 8 pastors that are linked with our mission.

In all, we give all the glory and honor to our Lord and God

In Christ Jesus

Souza Family – Brazil

Humberto & Izanete de Lima

Missionaries Brazil

Humberto & Izanete Bio

Humberto and Izanete de Lima arrived in the village of Fagundes, Paraibe, Brazil in February of 2001, together with their three children: Max, Petrus, and Elisa. It was in their living room that they had the first services and there they saw the first new brothers and sisters making a decision for Christ. Almost twelve years later, Fagundes Baptist Church is a blessed, lively, and growing Christian community. FBC has planted another church in the nearby town of Galante. Their desire is to plant more churches throughout the State of Paraiba in NE Brazil. Their church has a sensitive heart to reach out with the Good News of Jesus Christ to these areas. Fagundes Baptist Church has its arms and doors wide open to welcome short-term missionary teams from the United States to assist them in accomplishing this task of planting churches and spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ! Pastor Humberto says “Together, We do more, we do better!”

Ramon & Laura Rodriques

Missionaries Brazil

Ramon & Laura Bio

Pastor Ramon and Laura are CiM’s newest addition to our mission family. Roman came to faith in 1984 during a Sunday evening service. During that service, he made his personal decision to accept Christ as his Savior. The zeal of his grandmother and mother in serving God faithfully was a big influence on his coming to Christ. He was ordained to Pastoral Ministry in 2014 (Igreja Batista Peniel). He is a member of the Lagoinha São Miguel Baptist Church and serves as assistant pastor. Pastor Ramon is part of the mission team, Behind the Bars. This ministry ministers to those behind the prison walls. He also is a member of the Baptist Convention of the State of São Paulo. and serves as Vice-President of AMAI – Missionary Agency for Indigenous Support. Pastor Ramon has a passion for bringing the gospel to the unreached people groups in Brazil. Both he and Lara, serve as teachers in the local school system and love spending time with their precious children.

Suzete Souza

Missionary Brazil

Suzete Souza Bio

First and foremost, I want to express my gratitude to our Lord God and His Son Jesus Christ for giving us the privilege of serving Him. My story goes back many years ago and I would like to begin by briefly telling the story of my mother-in-law – Doris Jackling – who was the adopted mother of my late husband – Marcos Souza. She left the US in the 50´s to serve as a missionary to the Native Brazilians where by which she stayed in Brazil for over 40 years. At that time she adopted three Native Brazilians and raised them as her own teaching them Portuguese and the ways of the Lord. One of them was my late husband, Marcos. At the age of nine Marcos accepted Jesus as his own personal Savior. Marcos grew up, went to school, went to Bible Seminary, and become a missionary with Word of Life for 17 years. He was involved in the ministry of music, Bible Camps, evangelistic campaigns, using the gift of music God gave him. While working at the Word of Life Bible Camp in Brazil, he met a young Brazilian girl (Suzete Souza), fell in love, got married and they began a life of ministry together in Brazil. We had four children and as a couple we worked full-time in ministry for over 50 years. God has given us a great privilege to serve Him here in Brazil in a full-time ministry. Our ministry is to show the love of Jesus through music by singing and playing instruments at hospitals, churches, prisons, streets, schools, colleges, or anywhere opportunity calls. My family is my team ministry.
We don´t know God’s plan for our lives but we do know that His will is best. In 2016, my husband – Marcos – was diagnosed with a kidney disease which led to his departure to eternity. Since then, we have faced many trials and adjusting was not easy. My children are all grown and have families of their own. They too are involved in ministry. Currently I have been taking care of the North Valley Bible Camp. The location has faced many problems due to the distance and also the after effect of covid, but I remain faithful to the call that was given to me.

Michael & Sandy Giglio

Michael & Sandy Giglio

Auxiliary Missionaries

Michael & Sandy Bio

Michael and Sandy Giglio served twenty-seven years as missionaries to Latin America. They lived seven years in Colombia and eight years in the Dominican Republic. They have done itinerant ministry in Paraguay, Peru, Honduras, Guatemala, Ecuador, Haiti, Cuba, Chad, and Spain. Michael graduated from Rutgers University, Biblical Theological Seminary, and Columbia International University. Michael works with the development of pastors and the training of Christian teachers. Sandy is an educational therapist helping students overcome poor reading, difficulties with visual and auditory memory, and dyslexia. They have three children and six grandchildren.

Gary & Debbie Buchman

Auxiliary Missionaries

Gary & Debbie Bio

Gary and Debbie Buchman have been serving the Lord for over 35 years in full-time ministry. They have served 5 churches as either an associate or senior pastor and Gary served for 4 years as a jail chaplain in North Central Maryland. Gary served for 3 years in the U.S. Army and then studied at the Washington Bible College, Capital Bible Seminary, and Bethany Theological Seminary. Debbie earned her degree in parenting 5 children and 14 grandchildren while overseeing children’s church ministry, VBS ministry, and Senior Adult ministry in each of the churches they served. Missions and short-term mission trips have been an important part of Gary and Debbie’s ministries as has pastor care. In the fall of 2016, after listening to the founder of Churches in Missions, Gary and Debbie felt that God was leading them to join CIM as auxiliary missionaries.

Careers

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