The Bible translation team at Urbana consisted of 32 people from four organizations. Who did we send? Here’s an intro to some of the people you may have seen at Urbana: 

We range in age from 23 to 56.  We’re single and married, with and without children. We’re teachers, graphic designers, Bible translators, mobilizers, language surveyors, students, IT workers, literacy specialists, administrators, ethnomusicologists, member-employees, volunteers and paid staff. We work with Lutheran Bible Translators, Pioneer Bible Translators, and Wycliffe Bible Translators.

All together, we represent more than 150 years of experience, overseas and stateside, doing various jobs for the task of Bible translation. Some of us have been in Bible translation for 20+ years, and some of us are just starting out!

We are eager to talk to you about anything and everything, including your story, our stories, even our favorite cultural foods!

Bios

Maresea Carlson                                                        Wycliffe 14 years Recruitment ministries project manager, Orlando

Previous roles:  

• Photo services and communications
• Recruitment and support
• Regional representative for stewardship
• Wycliffe Vision tour in Guatemala (1 week)

Studying the Old Testament and hearing about missions in church really turned my heart towards missions. The biggest obstacle to us joining Wycliffe was the financial challenge, but I saw God do tremendous miracles in our lives and the lives of others to get us out of debt and more than meet all our needs. My most inspirational missions experience was seeing how God provided for 300 children at a vacation Bible school in the Philippines when I was told to expect 75 kids at the most. I felt like the woman in 2 Kings, whose jars were continually, miraculously filled with oil and grain! 

My interests include photography, music, and ministry related to substance abuse, pregnancy and post-abortion issues, debt reduction/financial planning, and divorce issues.  

Nate Cheeseman                                                       Wycliffe 3 years Administration work with the Bibleless Peoples Prayer Project

In the late 1980s my home church in Concord, N.H. held its annual  missions conference. My memory of this event is very blurred, but what I do remember is that I went forward when asked if we would ever be willing to go into missions if God called. I went forward because I knew it was the right thing to do. There was never a dramatic event which led me into missions, but through the years God has given me certain passions, desires, skills and spiritual gifts. God has equipped me with a love for geography, maps, history, missions and strategy. God has led me through four years of college at Moody Bible Institute, and given me opportunities to serve in His kingdom. In 2004 I began serving as a missionary with Wycliffe at their USA headquarters in Orlando, Fla.

My interests include missions research, unreached people groups, involvement through prayer, overseas travel and soccer.

Tom and Judy Coombs                                                       Wycliffe 22 years Area Representatives, Michigan

• Literacy, Scripture use, and translation workers
• Wycliffe schoolteacher (Judy)
• Teacher at the Wycliffe jungle center in Yarinacocha, Peru (Tom)

Judy was exposed to missions through her experience in Guatemala. Tom was challenged by a Wycliffe principal to teach at his school after finishing college. Those overseas experiences, in the mid-‘70s, introduced us to the world of missions. We have been involved in missions work for the last 25 years, and have served with Wycliffe since 1984, first in Peru, then in Ecuador. The New Testament for the Cajamarca Quechuas, with whom we worked in northern Peru, was dedicated on January 1, 2005. We are really excited that the Cajamarca Quechuas now have access to the Scriptures in their mother tongue.  

We have studied Shotokan karate (Japanese school) for a number of years and hold advanced belts.

Nathan Davenport                                            Pioneer Bible Translators 1 year Recruiter, Lincoln, IL, moving to Dallas

I grew up in a strong Christian household with a very limited view of missions. I always saw ministry and missions as two separate endeavors. Through God's grace, and the many mission trips I have been on, God has shown me that He has one mission—to see all His children come into a saving relationship with Himself. Now, I can't picture myself doing anything but helping the Bibleless people groups of the world come to know the Word of God in Jesus Christ.

I have a great passion for spiritual formation, preaching, helping people to see where they fit into the kingdom of God, and connecting with people. I am an avid sports fan, love the St. Louis Cardinals and the Fightin’ Illini, and have a great interest in helping local churches catch God’s global heart for the world.

Lindsay Davenport

Pioneer Bible Translators
2 years
Inquirer Response Coordinator, Lincoln, IL, moving to Dallas

Growing up at a large church in Louisville, KY, I had a lot of opportunities to get involved with missions at a young age. This shaped my heart for the world and helped me see that God's heart is for ALL peoples. After graduating from high school, I attended Lincoln Christian College (LCC). Majoring in intercultural studies, I received excellent preparation for service in my chosen field, including a two-month internship experience in Papua New Guinea. I definitely believe that all Christians are called to participate in God's global mission for the church; we just have to find out what role we are best gifted to play. I met and married Nathan at LCC, and the Lord recently led us into full-time missionary service with Pioneer Bible Translator's stateside team in Dallas, Texas. We are currently raising support and hope to move to Dallas in January 2007.

I love to read, and just recently have been reading Voice in the Wind (by Francine Rivers), an excellent fiction novel about a Christian woman living in Rome during the first century.

Samantha Deck                                            Wycliffe 3 years Pre-field literacy/multilingual education worker, assigned to Southern Asia, currently in San Diego

Previous roles:  

• Student at Oregon SIL and GIAL
• Publicity writer, corporate communications, SIL International in Dallas
• Discovery trip in South America (six weeks)
• Photographer and observer at a writer's workshop in Oaxaca, Mexico (three weeks)

I grew up in a Christian family and have been interested in missions since high school. When I joined Wycliffe to become a literacy worker, my parents were really wary at first because I am a daughter, and their oldest child, and I was single at the time. They felt that my passionate, impulsive nature might mean that I was jumping in where God wasn't really calling. It took time for God to speak to them about it too. I intended to be in Dallas for one year and go overseas, but then met Trevor and stayed for three years. Now we're finally headed to Southern Asia in September 2007.  

I am a second-generation Chinese American. I love food, reading and ultimate frisbee, and am fascinated by wildlife.

Trevor Deck                                           Wycliffe 1 year Pre-field Bible translator, assigned to Southern Asia, currently in San Diego

Previous roles:  

• Student at GIAL in applied linguistics, with an emphasis in Bible translation. 

I was born in Kansas and grew up in Indiana, was involved with my youth group growing up, and continued in youth work throughout college. Reading Through Gates of Splendor in high school was instrumental in my decision to become a missionary. I initially started out pursuing missionary aviation, but felt God leading instead towards working more with the Bible. As I took classes in college, I liked the linguistics and language side of things, and decided to move towards Wycliffe Bible Translators. 

I play guitar and djembe, and love traveling, including road trips across the U.S. and overseas. I am planning to visit all 50 states before I turn 29, and all seven continents before I turn 35.  

Jessica Dempster                                                 Wycliffe Canada 3 months Campus Recruiter in Moncton, New Brunswick

Previous roles:

• CanIL (Summer program)

I grew up in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada as the eldest of six children. I became a Christian in grade three, but by age 12 I was convinced that the Lord desired more than a Christian label on my life. At a missions conference at that tender age, the Lord impressed upon my heart that it is necessary to live completely sold-out for Him.

I became involved with Wycliffe at age 15 by participating in a short term mission trip to Guatemala. I was completely overwhelmed by the disparity between my comfortable North American life and the challenge of survival facing many of the Guatemalans I met. I didn’t (and still don’t!) understand why I was born into a middle-class North American home with the opportunity to read about Christ and others are born into slums with little opportunity to become literate. Although I cannot resolve this great mystery, I learned it places a great responsibility upon me. My life must be spent doing something about this social, economic and spiritual disparity.

I joined the Department of History at Atlantic Baptist University as a lecturer in 2005. I currently teach on Canadian, Women’s and British Imperial history but have recently joined Wycliffe Bible Translators and am absolutely and undisputedly stoked about the ways in which God transforms lives through the ministry of translation and literacy!

I love women’s history and women's studies. I also love to cook, play the piano, sing, run, volunteer at community centres, eat chocolate, read, and listen to music. I am addicted to jazz!

Roy Eyre                                        Wycliffe 9 years Director of recruitment resources, Orlando

Previous roles:

• Project manager for a Wycliffe USA senior vice president
• Graphic design manager

My wife Becky and I concluded after Urbana ‘93 that we would never be part of Wycliffe. We liked Wycliffe, but couldn't join because Becky had lupus—a disease that excluded her from service with Wycliffe at the time, and besides, they “didn't need our skills.” Nevertheless, we went on a weeklong Vision Trip with Wycliffe to Guatemala. We fell in love with Wycliffe again, but still couldn't join. Romans 4:17 says that God calls things that are not as though they were. We changed health plans, and Becky's new doctor told her he didn't believe she ever had lupus. On one momentous day at Urbana ‘96, we found out Wycliffe did need our skills, the walls came down, and we applied with Wycliffe and joined as soon as we got home.   

I am interested in graphic design, illustration, art, soccer, ultimate frisbee, volleyball, Ireland, postmodernism, leadership development and mentoring.  

Jamie Farr                                                 Wycliffe 8 years National director of children's education recruitment, Orlando

Previous roles: 

• Education support in ChiangMai, Thailand

I grew up in Papua New Guinea (PNG), the son of missionaries speaking five languages. We were adopted by the Korafe people through some miraculous circumstances, and I grew up part of the Korafe and our hybrid western culture. I called the village “home” most of my life, but knew that I would someday say goodbye and that "home" would always be where my most significant relationships are. During high school, God really grabbed my heart to work with kids. I joined a student-initiated outreach team that sang and played before thousands of Papua New Guineans. My wife and I joined Wycliffe intending to return to PNG, but God led us to Thailand, where we helped start Grace International School. We later returned to the U.S. to take on my current role. 

I have had 26 years of Wycliffe experience, at only 36, serving in various capacities within different branches. When I was growing up, I had a wallaby as a pet, went through a coming-of-age feast, and have been to many countries on every continent but Antarctica.  

Lori Floyd                                                                           Wycliffe 2 years Mom

I was born and raised in Phoenix, AZ, became a Christian at an early age, and have always had a love for other cultures. My husband Mike and I have been married for nine years and have three children, ages 6, 3, and 1. I worked as an elementary school teacher before having children, and now I homeschool my own kids. We are preparing to go to India to serve with other IT staff there.

Mike Floyd                                                            Wycliffe 2 years Project manager, Orlando

I grew up in a Christian home where missionaries would frequently stay while on furlough. Although intrigued by their overseas travels, I was quite content to set my sights on a life centered on myself. After a short-term mission trip, during which the overwhelming needs of the world were no longer hidden from my reality, I realized my life goals were quite shallow, and I desired a purpose much greater than myself that I could devote my life to and that would have significance long after my lifetime. I was forced to either return home and forget what I saw, or do something about it. I chose missions as my outlet to deal with this new reality, and specifically the work of Bible translation, since it sets the foundation for the work of all other missions.

I am an IT geek, an avid fisherman, and a hobby gardener.

Clara Kim                                        Wycliffe 2 years Pre-field mobilizer in New York, currently in the D.C. metro area

I’m a native Texan, without the southern twang (with the exception of my “y’alls” of course), but with an appetite for meat…. Texas has the best barbecues! I grew up in church, involved in as many activities as a teenager can manage, attended Texas Women’s University, and served in Denton Bible Church as a women’s leader of “college life.” Upon receiving my B.A. in science, I had the courage to leave the world of Texas behind in 1999 to become an occupational therapist in the D.C. metro area. Now I’m waiting to be released to New York City, for my assignment as a missions mobilizer with Wycliffe.

I’m a volleyball-player, mural-painter, beach-sand-collector, bookworm-wannebe-er, guitar-player, crochet-maker, daniel-and-karis’-babysitter, ski-slope-achiever, drum-playing-wannebe-er, photography-shooter, sweet-tooth-eater, God-follower, cuisine-creator, mission-minded believer, and snowboarder-wannebe-er.

Sandra Lee                                                    Wycliffe 6 years Language surveyor, Southeast Asia, on furlough to U.S.

Previous roles:  

• Student at Oregon SIL and GIAL
• Missions mobilizer, Bay area, California

When I first met Jesus at age 17, I thought the Christian life was all about me, me, me. I begged God not to send me to the mission field. It wasn’t until I started teaching in Brazil that I realized that the glory of God and His incredible purposes are so much greater than me. Overwhelmed by the beauty of Christ, the need of the people, and a vision more compelling than I’d ever dreamed, I started begging God to send me to the mission field! Short-term trips to the Amazon, China and Mexico continued to stir my passion, until God faithfully answered my prayers and sent me to Southeast Asia as a language surveyor. I’m currently on furlough, hoping (if the Lord wills) to finish my Master’s in linguistics and then return to the field.

I’m Korean American, but I’ve been told I can pass for any Asian ethnicity except Korean. God knew what He was doing; I get pretty good prices in these Southeast Asian markets.

John Oh

Wycliffe, 8 years
Mobilizer, Southern California

Previous roles:  

• Translation student at GIAL
• Bible translator in Southeast Asia

After learning in the Perspectives course about the biblical basis of missions, I decided that missions was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. A significant friendship with a missionary also helped show me that missionaries are ordinary people like me, and that I could be one as well. After working as an engineer, and completing my seminary education, I worked as a mobilizer at the Korean American Center for World Missions for seven years. Then I joined Wycliffe in 1998 and served as a Bible translator in Southeast Asia before returning to do mobilization in the U.S.  

I am Korean American, have been married for ten years, and have one adorable four-year-old daughter.

Jayne Shackelford                                                    Wycliffe volunteer, Dallas

As an only child, I was raised in Los Angeles and Dallas by loving parents, both of whom were vice presidents of unrelated financial institutions. In third grade, I knew the Lord wanted to use my life in full-time Christian work. My parent's burden for Wycliffe missions led me to begin financially supporting Wycliffe 36 years ago. I teach middle school and work with youth and pastoral ministries. My most inspirational "missions" experience was sneaking into a "by invitation only" reception, and meeting the Chinese and Russian ambassadors. As I stood amongst these men to take pictures, I put my arms around their backs (laid hands on them) and prayed for their leadership, their countries and their salvation.  

When I'm not teaching, hanging out with church friends, or running down to my daughter's apartment to help her get caught up on laundry (and to provide free dinners out!),  I enjoy baseball, boating, the ocean and snow skiing. 

Peter Slayton                                                    Lutheran Bible Translators 5 years Missionary recruiter, Aurora, Illinois

I grew up as a missionary kid. My parents first served with Wycliffe from ‘85-‘94.  We lived in Portugal, Kenya and Mozambique, serving primarily in Mozambique. My experiences there gave me a burden to get more people involved in missions work, whether it be through prayer and financial support, or going overseas and serving. I graduated from Wheaton College in May 2001, and shortly after that married my wife, Emily. We have two daughters, Anika and Britta, and live on a farm near Newark, Illinois. I’m continuing my education through the master of arts in Christian outreach program at Concordia University in St. Paul, Minnesota, focusing on missionary mobilization issues. 

I’m a music person, an MK (missionary kid), and computer geek. I’ve been to school in just about every system available:  homeschool, U.S. public school, U.S. private Christian school, British school, overseas international school, Portuguese public school, and boarding school.

Karen Snyder                                               Wycliffe 3 years Ethnic / post-modern recruiter, Seattle, Washington

Previous roles:  

• Volunteer mobilizer
• Student at Oregon SIL

Growing up in Portland, Oregon, I was blessed to have family who were not only believers but surrounded me with missionaries who told stories of how God was working around the world. My church taught us the importance of the Word of God to transform lives, and therefore my passion has always been for people to have God's Word in a form they can understand. But I was torn between linguistics and music until someone told me about ethnomusicology (encouraging the use of people's heart music to worship God), so this is what I studied in college. Then God took me on a detour to inner-city Seattle to work in youth ministry among immigrant families and mentor college students in urban missiology. This set me up to work in missions recruitment. I have been excited about Wycliffe since I was 16, and joined full time in 2003. And the journey continues....

I am interested in ethnomusicology, I enjoy recruiting bi-culturals (anything-American), and I just got back from mainland southeast Asia and would love to talk about what's going on over there.

Daniel Whang                                                                   Wycliffe 3 months Prefield

I grew up as the oldest son of a Korean family. I went to school in Atlanta wanting to make money by becoming a doctor or businessman. After business school, I worked for several years until being convicted to dedicate my life to Bible translation.

I had to overcome the burden of being the oldest son and also the death of my father, leaving a widowed mother. This brought on a lot of debt from taking care of the family. Thankfully, God has released me to go with much prayer and waiting.

I love sports and am a jock. I also enjoy church involvement, leadership and business.

Our Favorite Cultural Foods

Some of us are the exploratory types—or perhaps just easily dared. This is a list of the foods we’ve tried outside our own cultures. Perhaps this list stirs your imagination. Perhaps it includes some of your own comfort foods! 

Praise God for the fun, diverse and colorful cultures all over the world, and for the warmth of our international hosts who shared their very best with us. Most of these foods are delicacies in their own cultures.

Click on the food item to see who was the exploratory taster.