Julie grew up as a missionary kid in northern Canada, but didn’t think seriously about being a missionary herself until she was in Bible School. It was then she heard about people groups who had no access to God’s Word but were asking for missionaries to come and tell them. “If I ever became a missionary,” she thought, “I would want to go somewhere like that, where people have no other way to hear the gospel, but have a desire to hear it.”
After Bible School, Julie took Ethnos Canada’s missionary training program, then moved to Asia-Pacific in 2012.
In 2016 she joined an existing church-planting team serving in the middle of the jungle. She began by learning the local language, then became involved in Sunday School lesson preparation, literacy teaching, and Bible translation.
In 2024 Julie married Prayogo, who had graduated from a very similar missionary training program and was serving with an in-country partner organization. Prayogo had previously served as a mechanic’s helper in the aviation department then served on staff at the missionary training school, where he focused on teaching practical skills such as electrical work, mechanical repairs, farming techniques, and animal husbandry.
After they married, Prayogo moved to the jungle and joined the church-planting team with which Julie served. He is now learning the local language and culture, and has great plans to introduce improvements to farming techniques and teach chicken-raising, fish-farming, and electrical and mechanical skills.
All aspects of the team’s ministry, including Bible teaching, Bible translation, and these practical ministries, are part of a larger goal to disciple the local believers and help the local church grow in faith and maturity. It’s a long-term investment, but definitely worth it!