Missionaries

Global Missions - United States and Abroad

When the resurrected Jesus spoke, His disciples listened. Just as He commanded them, He commands us to go and spread the gospel. It’s the Great Commission. Many of us can recite it. But these individuals are living it. The Ridge supports these global missionaries—all former Ridge members who, as young adults, have been called to unique places to serve the Lord. As their supporters, we continue to bless them financially and through prayer. Join them in living out this command Jesus has given by contributing to the livelihood of their work. 

Caleb and Olivia Andrews

Our mission is to help college students have a relationship with Jesus, grow in their relationship with Jesus, and learn how to share the gospel with others. When students graduate from college, we want them to be active church members and ready to be disciple-makers in their workplace and the church. Through your monthly financial support, Olivia and I will be able to invest all our time with students by holding Bible studies, meeting individually with students, and sharing the gospel on UNI’s campus and all around Iowa.

Olivia is a former member of The Ridge and Junkyard.

Location: University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa
Agency: Navigators

Paul & Jackie

Jackie & Paul are joining a church planting team in Central Asia in July of 2023. Paul attended the Junkyard as a high schooler and attended and served in the church as a young adult before going into the mission field. They plan to minister to teens with disabilities and their families as they work to make the gospel known in their city. Before their marriage in June 2022, Jackie served for 6 years in SE Asia and Paul served two years in Central Asia. They are excited to launch to this new field, now together as a family. If you’d like to know more specifics, please contact Mary Kohlsdorf, Director of Outreach.

Location: Central Asia 
Agency: Pioneers Organization

Sage Peterson

Hi, my name is Sage Peterson and I work at F Street Neighborhood Church in Lincoln, Nebraska. F Street is located in the core of downtown Lincoln and serves a neighborhood that struggles heavily with poverty, homelessness, addiction, and family systems. F Street strives to not just be a church in the neighborhood but a church OF the neighborhood and to be a place of acceptance and direction to everyone. I currently lead the youth group at F Street along with heading up the residency program that allows those looking to start in ministry experience, education, and mentorship.

Because F Street is a mission church each staff member is expected to raise 50% of their support for the year. I truly believe that it’s a blessing to do ministry in the neighborhood. For one, it helps create an invested community that helps stand behind me and support me financially and in prayer. Second, it gives F Street a little bit of “street cred” if you want to call it that especially with those new to giving to the church that the money they give is going back into the ministries and the neighborhood! If you have any questions or would like to chat more about the work I am doing at F Street please reach out to me at sage@fstreetchurch.org.

Location: Lincoln, Nebraska 
Agency: F Street

Willow Applegate

Hey friends! My name is Willow Applegate, a former Junkyardigan, and I work as the Art Chapel Director at F Street Neighborhood Church in Lincoln, Nebraska. F Street is a mission church located in a struggling neighborhood characterized by poverty, homelessness, addiction and crime. As ministry staff, I am given the task of raising 50% of my salary every year. The Art Chapel (a ministry of F Street) is a community art studio I am helping to develop, that will create a safe space for people to explore and cultivate their creativity, with low to no cost classes. As we were created by a creative God, we believe that in a place of creativity spiritual conversations will naturally flow, allowing us to spread the light of the gospel in growing relationships with our neighbors.

As I start and continue this journey, both support in prayers and financially are greatly appreciated! If you’d like to stay up to date, feel free to visit my website or feel free to reach out to me anytime at willow@fstreetchurch.org.

Location: Lincoln, Nebraska 
Agency: F Street

Nathan & Nicole


Nathan and Nicole joined a business-as-missions (BAM) organization in SE Asia in 2020. Through the business, they hope to disciple a small group of local believers, have spiritual discovery conversations with young Buddhist coworkers, and grow the business to assist missionaries in restricted-access countries across the region. Nathan grew up in Ankeny, and they have both been engaged in the SE Asia region for the past eight years. They’re excited to join the team in-person in 2023 after three years of waiting from COVID and political instability.

If you’d like to know more specifics or to support them financially, please contact Mary Kohlsdorf, Director of Outreach.

Location: SE Asia