Jesse and Joy (along with their kids, Emmanuelle and Simeon)* serve God in Germany, but that’s not where they started! Both Jesse and Joy came to Christ when they were young adults. Before they met one another (and before they met Jesus), they each discovered a love for those from different cultures. When their faith in Jesus became the most important thing in their lives, they naturally found themselves wanting to share that Good News of freedom and salvation through Jesus with those who had little opportunity to hear it. Before meeting one another, Jesse and Joy both lived out their newfound faith in a low-income, high-crime neighborhood of Dallas, TX where many refugees are resettled. Jesse felt the Lord call him to move to Afghanistan, a place that seemed both an adventure, but also an incredible opportunity to be surrounded by people who had little chance to hear the Good News of Jesus. A few years later, Jesse and Joy met (back in Dallas, with the work among refugees) and fell in love, and they felt the Lord asking them to return to Afghanistan. They developed a deep love for Afghans and the Afghan culture, and lived and ministered in Afghanistan for more than a decade.

With thirteen years of experience living in Afghanistan, Jesse was asked to become the director of Pamir Ministries, a ministry discipling Afghans around the world. Jesse and Joy felt the Lord gently asking them to leave Afghanistan for this strategic work, working with a multi-national team to reach thousands of Afghans through television, radio, social media, and printed materials, as well as in-person follow-up and discipleship. Shortly after their departure from Afghanistan, the Afghan government collapsed, and a new refugee crisis was created. This has created new opportunities to share the Good News of Jesus to Afghans both inside Afghanistan and all over the world. They moved to Europe in late 2021, where they can be in close contact with large numbers of Afghan refugees and better positioned for the work of Pamir. Jesse and Joy have been in partnership with First Church for several years. For more information on what God is doing worldwide among the Afghan people, sign up for Jesse and Joy’s weekly email update – email office@first.church to be added!

*Because of their years working in an environment that is hostile to Christianity, Jesse, Joy, Emmanuelle and Simeon are pseudonyms to protect our missionaries and their friends who are associated with them.