Our Mission

Anthem sees mission as a way in which we live our life. Stated in the most simple of terms, mission is each believer’s invitation and mandate to be sent, to join God in His operation to redeem humankind. God has literally sent each and every follower of Christ on a mission of reconciliation and redemption. All Jesus-followers are missionaries, even if just a fraction of the Church is sent geographically or culturally. Most of us don’t need to go anywhere, as there is plenty of renewal to be done right where we are. We must love, empathize, and care for the broken, lost, hurting, and oppressed.

As God’s people, we’ve been purposefully sent here, every one of us, as entrusted ambassadors of His Kingdom. Some may view mission as working cross-culturally in a particular geographic location, while others see mission as a service project or event. However, Anthem sees mission as a way in which we live our life and a part of our lens by which we see the world.

Local Missions

We partner with and support the following local Missions organizations.  See their website for more information.

Global Mission Points

Cross-Cultural Points we support around the globe.

As a family, we live and function in three distinct language/cultural worlds. This is very challenging, but it makes us rely on the strength and grace of Jesus, and we feel privileged to have this opportunity to live submersed in these different cultures.

We moved overseas in early 2017, and our roles and vision have been slowly taking shape ever since.

Our number one priority is to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. For my wife and I, on a weekly/daily basis this looks like:

-Discipling, equipping, and serving native leaders in order for them to reach and disciple their own people.

-Providing theologically sound books in the Persian language to pastors, seminary students, lay believers, and seekers.

-Co-leading musical worship in a local Persian fellowship.

-Facility manager of a multi-purpose community center for refugees and locals.

-Substitute teacher and project management at an international school, art tutorials for refugees.

-Striving to raise our five children in the grace and knowledge of Jesus.

Please pray that we will walk in the Spirit, live worthy of the calling we’ve received, and glorify Jesus among people that have never heard the good news. We praise God for you, your partnership, love, and encouragement!

Jordan and Kristin, along with their three kids, Moses, Zuri, and Mateo have been living and serving on the African continent since 2017 (first in Kenya, now in South Africa), using their skills in photography (which is Jordan’s expertise), videography, and writing actual stories (which is Kristin’s forte) to lead the AIM Stories team with Africa Inland Mission.

Jesus was a storyteller. God’s written revelation to the world is a book full of stories. Why did our Creator choose to communicate this way? There’s something powerful about information presented in the form of a story to capture minds and hearts. People remember stories. They pass them on and are inspired to action because of them. The stories of the Bible give us a picture of God we would otherwise never know. He is known, partly, by the stories we tell about Him – what he did, who he touched, how he loved. And as God continues to work today, there are still stories to tell.

Intending to tell more of these stories is the core of the Andres mission as they lead the AIM Stories team of gifted storytellers is to produce compelling visual and written media that connects those who ‘go’ with those who send them, encourages the hearts of those who pray and give, and motivates the global church to missions. Their heart is to share stories of God’s redemptive work in the hopes of seeing reproducing, indigenous, Christ-centered churches formed among all African Peoples.

We are the “S” Family, and we live in S.E. Asia where God is using us to help mobilize both national and international missionaries to go to Unreached/Unengaged People Groups, places with little to no Believers, and where the Gospel is traditionally not welcomed.

We train these missionaries in business, provide small business loans when possible, and help them start up their own entrepreneurial endeavors, which can provide financially for their families while also giving them access through business to people and places that are otherwise closed to Christianity.

We are also active in outreach, discipleship, mentoring, emergency relief, and intentional prayer initiatives. God is moving in new and exciting ways here in S.E. Asia, and we are honored to be part of the story.

Using her skills in graphic design and communication, Emily supports missionaries all over Italy with projects like producing printed and digital resources in Italian to help people learn how to have a personal relationship with God and grow in their faith. She also uses her love for art as a means for building relationships and sharing the gospel through an outreach to artists.

After serving for two years in Florence, Italy on a short-term assignment with Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ), Emily has now joined the long-term missionary team in the ministry’s national office in Florence. The Italian branch of Cru’s ministry is called Agape Italia.

Emily is part of a broader team of missionaries in Italy offering discipleship, training, and resources to equip Italians and their local churches so that they can dynamically impact those around them. In partnership with the body of Christ across Italy, these Italians are the seeds for gospel movements everywhere. The four major focus areas of the ministry as a whole are: university students, families, compassionate service, and creating digital and printed resources in Italian.

Colin and Madalyn believe in a big God who wants to restore, heal, and set free those who are captive. Madalyn is passionate about loving and serving God and his people. It is her desire to walk faithfully into the places of the world God is taking her to and to be in his will. She is serving amongst an unreached people group in SE Asia to bring freedom and the gospel of grace to precious women who are trafficked in the sex trade.

The Lord has given Colin a passion for serving and discipling children and youth. Currently, he is stepping into a role serving as a missionary teacher in Indonesia. He will be coming alongside and supporting missionary friends as they seek to raise up local leaders to go out and share the gospel to unreached villages. Colin also intends to serve alongside Madalyn and her ministry.

We have become his poetry, a re-created people that will fulfill the destiny he has given each of us, for we are joined to Jesus, the Anointed One. Even before we were born, God planned in advance our destiny and the good works we would do to fulfill it.

Italy / Emily Johnson

International Women’s Day Photography Project in Florence and Rome

February and March 2023

WHAT IS IT?

A yearly creative initiative centered on the prompt: What message would you share with other women? Our goal is to give a voice to women and to show them that they are important and valued, not just by us, but by their Creator. This event is to attract women across a broad spectrum of beliefs and experiences. It allows us to form new relationships and deepen friendships, bring people into Christian community (many for the first time), and practically demonstrate the love of God.

The project takes place over the course of several weeks as we invite women to attend photo sessions, where they can choose their own message to share. We then write that message somewhere on their bodies (for example on their shoulder or on their hands), and take their photo. All the photos are then put on display in a gallery on International Women’s Day, celebrating the women and their messages

At the exhibit, we typically host around 200 people. During the evening we have the chance to present Agape Italia (the ministry of Cru in Italy) as a resource to explore Christianity. We continue to build from the momentum of this event, deepening relationships with new contacts, and exploring Christianity with those that respond to the challenge.

WHY WE DO IT

-To give Christian students and church communities something to involve their non-christian friends in that exposes them to Christian community, and encourages them to be bold in sharing their own faith.

-To provide an opportunity for believing students and women to share a part of their testimony through their message.
It is also a great way to meet and connect with new people, in person and through social media campaigns.

-To provide a safe space for many meaningful conversations with women about faith and life experiences

-To partner with different churches and build unity within the evangelical church.

-To help people know about our ministry and see us as a resource for processing the Gospel.

INVESTMENT — $3325 per city
What are the funds used for:

Photoshoot supplies and lighting, exhibition space fee, exhibition supplies, photo prints, food and drinks for guests at the exhibition, and thank you gifts for volunteers who put in long hours.

HOW TO GIVE

Give online at:  Follow the link below

On the online giving form please click on “Send a note to Emily Johnson” to add a note that your gift is for the “Women’s Day Photography Project”

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