Jess & Lori Eastep jfeastep@yahoo.com leastep@hcu.com
When Lori and I got married, one of our primary commitments to each other and God was that, with His blessing, we would one day begin a work on the mission field.That commitment has remained in our hearts for the past three years as we have worked to complete our education and gain valuable experience in ministry.
When we met Nick and Amy Fowler at Evangelism University in January 2006, we quickly realized that this was a special couple who share our vision for mission work. Most exciting for us, they also have a great love for the work in Brazil, a work we also hold close to our hearts. We are excited to be planning for a future sharing God's message in Brazil.
My name is Jess Eastep, and I am 26 years old.I currently serve as Youth and Family Minister for the Atlas church of Christ in Killen, Alabama.I graduated from Heritage Christian University with a B.A. degree in Bible, with a minor in ministry.I have been a part of short-term mission works in various states, Guyana, and South Africa.I enjoy playing several instruments, including the guitar, piano, mandolin, and drums; golfing; woodworking; and spending time with my family.
My wife, Lori serves as the Public Relations Coordinator for Heritage Christian University.She holds a B.S. in Communications from the University of North Alabama, and a B.A. in Bible from HCU.She has been involved in mission works in Brazil, Finland, St. Thomas, Guyana, and South Africa.She enjoys scrapbooking, writing, studying Greek, and organizing events.
We covet your prayers and consideration as we prayerfully prepare for the great task ahead of us.
Maikon Laux Borba
"Hello! My name is Maikon Laux Borba and I am 24 years old. I am Brazilian, born and raised in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. I come from a catholic family in which I am, still, the only "real" Christian. As a child, I used to spend the whole summer at my grandmother's beach house. When I was about 8 years old I met a family of Christians and soon became friends with their kids. Every year, during the summer weeks, I would take part in daily devotionals and learn the Bible with them until I decided to be baptized when I was 12 years old. I am a student of Foreign Languages and plan to pursue a career in Linguistics. I work as a teacher (English and Portuguese) in Brazil. In 2006 I came to the United States as an au pair. I lived in Glendale (AZ) in my first 6 months and then moved to Arlington (VA), where I currently reside. I am returning to Brazil now at the end of 2007 and I am very pleased and excited to be a part of this mission team.
I have always felt a call to work and help in the Lord's Kingdom and throughout the years a desire to do mission work has grown in me. For the past few years I have been able to help with the kids and youth groups at the congregations I've been a part of and that has certainly developed my wish of helping preach the gospel to as many people as possible.
I first met Nick in 2001 when he was part of a Let's Start Talking group in my state capital. We met again in 2005 and it was then that I was introduced to his wife Amy. At the end of 2006, the preacher from my state capital wrote me an e-mail telling me about Nick and Amy and their plan of planting a new church of Christ in southern Brazil. Since then Nick and I have been in contact. I got together with the group in August 2007 (when I then met Jess and Lori) in a Brazil retreat. In September 2007 I was officially invited to become part of the mission team."
Nick & Amy Fowler
nick_wf@yahoo.com ajpick10@aol.com
Hello! We are the Fowlers! Our home is in Winchester, Tennessee. Amy, 27, is a 2nd grade teacher at Broadview Elementary School. She is from Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, where she attended the Mt. Juliet Church of Christ. In 2003, she received her degree in Elementary Education from Freed-HardemanUniversity. She stays busy playing softball, cross-stitching, and actively participating with the youth program at church.
Nick, 28, is the associate minister at the Owl Hollow Church of Christ (his home congregation). He worked in drafting at Arnold Engineering Air Force Base, and ran heavy equipment for a golf construction company before entering Freed-Hardeman for a degree in Bible which he completed in 2005. He is a volunteer firefighter and loves fishing, hiking, and photography. We have been married for 4 years and love it more each day. We have great parents and siblings who love and support us. We love to laugh and act crazy. We are not good at gardening and probably never will be. We love hiking, camping, eating at Red Lobster, and checking the mail together.
We are also committed to God and his heavenly purposes. We believe that lost people deserve to hear the gospel preached and taught in its true form, and that Southern Brazil is a modern day Macedonia.