Global Leadership Development
John and Melody were both blessed to grow up in strong Christian homes where serving the Lord was a natural part of life. Their paths crossed in 1981 at Bible College—John was a senior and Melody a freshman. And in July 1982, less than a year after they met, they were married. Melody completed her Associate of Arts in Christian Ministry, and soon after, they moved to Grace Theological Seminary, where John earned a Master of Divinity degree in 1986. He later completed a Doctor of Ministry degree from Dallas Theological Seminary.
In 1989, they followed God’s leading to the island of Dominica in the West Indies, serving with Berean Mission as church planters and in leadership development until 1997. John was subsequently appointed Berean Mission’s director of field ministries, serving in this capacity for a few years. John and Melody were once again directed by the Lord to a local church in Derry, New Hampshire where they served faithfully for 25 years until John’s retirement in June 2025.
God has graciously blessed John and Melody with two children, Tim and Tiffany, both of whom are married and have given them the joy of five grandchildren. Being a spiritual influence in their grandchildren’s lives remains a precious priority.
Looking ahead, John and Melody feel called to invest more intentionally in leadership development around the world, particularly in regions where access to biblical training is limited. They plan to take several trips each year, serving pastors and ministry leaders who are eager for training and encouragement.
The Talleys request prayer for: 1) wisdom as they seek to balance family life and ongoing ministry; 2) that they would steward God’s Word faithfully and remain attentive to ministry opportunities He provides; and 3) for open doors and divine appointments in the countries where they will minister.
Donating to Talley Global Ministry
Here are several ways to donate through GLINTS:
By Zelle (preferred). Add recipient as donations@glints.org. Designate giving to Talley Global Ministry in the add memo or reason section. Recurring monthly donations is available
By check. Write check payable to GLINTS and designate giving to Talley Global Ministry. Send check to GLINTS, PO Box 962, Wheaton IL 60187
By EFT. Designate giving to Talley Global Ministry.
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Repeat Short-Term/Disaster Response
The triple disasters that hit Japan in March 2011 (earthquake, tsunami and nuclear reactor meltdown) affected not only millions of Japanese but also those who answered the call to serve as disaster responders. Dr. Alan Oda who is of Japanese descent and a professor of psychology at Azusa Pacific University in Southern California, answered that call by volunteering with CRASH Japan (a GLINTS global partner) in June 2011. Alan subsequently made several return trips, recruiting disaster response volunteers for mission trips to Japan in the summertime.
These volunteer teams which at times include Alan’s family members provide a wide array of services including: helping to relocate families to and from temporary housing, providing emotional care to survivors, removing debris of residents’ homes, distributing meals in shelters and conducting varied outreach events.
Alan’s deepest desire for the Japanese, however, is to make a difference in people’s disaster recovery and bring hope and healing that can only come from the Wonderful Counselor. The work of disaster response is never-ending, and Alan is committed to bringing Christian volunteers to Japan at least once a year. Might you answer the call?
Alan holds a PhD in Psychology from the University of California Riverside which he completed in 1993 and was a board member and executive director of the Asian American Christian Counseling Center. He and Donna have been married since 1999 and blessed with two adult sons, Peter and Andrew.
For service inquiries, please contact Dr. Alan Oda at ayoda77@gmail.com. You can also follow Alan on his blogsite – ayoda.tumblr.com.
Donating to Alan Oda
Here are several ways to donate through GLINTS:
By Zelle (preferred). Add recipient as donations@glints.org. Designate giving to Oda Global Ministry in the add memo or reason section. Recurring monthly donations is available.
By check. Write check payable to GLINTS and designate giving to Oda Global Ministry. Send check to GLINTS, PO Box 962, Wheaton IL 60187
By credit card or PayPal. Designate giving to Oda Global Ministry.
By Electronic Funds Transfer. Click here.
GLINTS is an Illinois-registered, IRS 501c3 non-profit organization. All donations are tax-deductible.
Donate through PayPal:
By text.
Give to (312) 313-9991 and follow the prompts.
Repeat Short-Term/Administration
Kris’s remarkable journey from a skeptic to a fervent believer highlights her transformative experience and showcases her unique qualifications for serving in intercultural ministry, particularly among the Japanese. Her background combines a profound personal faith journey with a deep understanding and experience of Japanese culture and language through her decades-long engagement with Japanese in the marketplace. Her commitment to sharing the Gospel in Japan, along with her professional, spiritual and ministry experiences, makes her exceptionally suited for intercultural ministry.
Kris handles all ministry activity in North America for Reaching Japan including the raising up and preparation of mission team participants and future church planters to Japan. She also handles communication with ministry partners and all social media campaigns. By having Kris handle much of the administrative work, allows the lead church planter in Nagoya, Japan to focus on ministry activities in-country. Her work is a critical part of God’s plan regarding the salvation of the Japanese.
Any prayer and/or financial support for Kris will certainly have eternal impact in the lives of Japanese worldwide!
Donating to the Kris Wilson
Here are several ways to donate through GLINTS:
By Zelle (preferred). Add recipient as donations@glints.org. Designate giving to Wilson Global Ministry in the add memo or reason section. Recurring monthly donations is available.
By check. Write check payable to GLINTS and designate giving to Wilson Global Ministry. Send check to GLINTS, PO Box 962, Wheaton IL 60187
By credit card or PayPal. Designate giving to Wilson Global Ministry.
By Electronic Funds Transfer. Click here.
GLINTS is an Illinois-registered, IRS 501c3 non-profit organization. All donations are tax-deductible.
By credit card or PayPal.
Donate (Credit Card)
Donate through PayPal:
By text.
Give to (312) 313-9991 and follow the prompts.
Please designate your donation to Wilson Global Ministry. All donations are tax-deductible. GLINTS is registered as a non-profit/tax exempt (501c3) organization.
Pastoral Training
Lynette serves in Uruguay, the least churched country in the Americas, with only 4-5% of the population actively practicing Christianity in general. It is a highly atheistic nation with little organized religion and much need for training of pastors and church leaders.
As the daughter of American missionaries, Lynette was born in Kathmandu, Nepal, grew up in Tucumán, Argentina, and completed her undergraduate education at the University of Oregon (BA Political Science, 1995). Because of her cross-cultural upbringing, she has a good command of both English and Spanish.
Sensing God’s call to missionary service, she moved to Montevideo, Uruguay in 2004, ministering for 15 years alongside pastoral teams to plant churches. This experience gave her the opportunity to grow in the areas of disciple-making, teaching the Bible and witnessing, introducing secular and atheistic Montevideños to Jesus. In 2021, she returned to Uruguay to work with Comunidad Bíblica Universitaria (Intervarsity Christian Fellowship). For four years, she provided training and support to evangelical university students to help them reach nonbelievers. She enjoyed accompanying students as they discovered the Word of God, grew in relationships with nonbelievers, and gained a heart for sharing the Gospel.
Lynette is now working toward her master’s in Biblical Studies through Lancaster Bible College, while partnering with organizations such as Langham Preaching and the Hurtado Foundation to train pastors and church leaders in Uruguay how to effectively teach the Bible. She is excited to help pastors and teachers grow in their skills and to develop safe places for them to be honest about their needs. Lynette also teaches a Bible study in her local church, where she is on the leadership team.
Having been on staff with GLINTS since 2021, Lynette appreciates that GLINTS has helped her become more effective in her ministry by encouraging partnerships with local ministries and organizations, and giving her the flexibility to follow God’s leading to meet local needs.
As Uruguay is a nation with many immediate spiritual needs, please pray for more spiritual laborers to assist Lynette and for God’s guidance as Lynette balances ministry, school and personal life.
Donating to Lynette Young
Here are several ways to donate through GLINTS:
By Zelle (preferred). Add recipient as donations@glints.org. Designate giving to Young Global Ministry in the add memo or reason section. Recurring monthly donations is available.
By check. Write check payable to GLINTS and designate giving to Young Global Ministry. Send check to GLINTS, PO Box 962, Wheaton IL 60187
By credit card or PayPal. Click below. Designate giving to Young Global Ministry.
By Electronic Funds Transfer. Click here.
GLINTS is an Illinois-registered, IRS 501c3 non-profit organization. All donations are tax-deductible.
Donate through PayPal:
Ruben and Simona Crisan both grew up in Christian families in Romania. They separately found their way to the United States with Ruben and his family moving when he was 8 years old and Simona migrating by herself when she was 22 through a visa lottery.
Both of them also grew up with a love for music and travel, and have used their talents to serve God in the local church, as well as by participating in multiple short term missions trips.
Sensing that God is calling them to international, cross-cultural ministry in the future, Ruben and Simona began attending Levi Velasco’s (GLINTS founder) missionary prep program (MPP) class at the Moody Church in 2013. Their desire to serve as a couple in short term missions led them to take the GLINTS Global Ministry Assessment Course (GMAC) in March 2017.
The Crisans have sought opportunities to serve in areas of the world where there are great needs, especially with children and in influencing the younger generation, the world’s future leaders.
You can participate in the Crisans’ ministry by praying for them and giving financially. They will need a back-up team here in the U.S. to be effective servants of the Lord as they respond in obedience to the Lord! Here’s how to give:
Check
Pay to the order of GLINTS, write Crisan Global Ministry in the memo and mail to:
GLINTS
PO Box 962
Wheaton IL 60187
Zelle (Preferred)
GLINTS’ username is donations@glints.org. Recurring monthly donations available.
EFT
Using electronic funds transfer consistently deliver your monthly support. Click here for instructions.
Online
You can give via credit card or PayPal by clicking the DONATE button.
All donations are tax-deductible.
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Repeat Short Term/Church Planting
Mel has been involved in Great Commission work since graduating from Moody Bible Institute in 1987. She spent six years working with the Yao, an animist people group in Malawi. She currently lives in Pennsylvania where she is involved in a variety of missions-focused ministries. Locally, Mel is involved in serving refugees in her community by forming friendships, hosting community events and leading Bible studies.
Mel’s international work includes short term mission outreaches to Batanes, Philippines from where she hails and desires to plant churches among her own people, the Ivatans. She also serves as a board member for Grace Drive Ministries, an organization whose mission is to build a retirement community for under-resourced pastors in the Philippines. Mel gives her time to missionary candidates serving as a coach and mentor of the MissionWorks organization.
Mel has two adult children and has been on staff with GLINTS since 2017. She is grateful that GLINTS provides opportunities for her to continue to be involved in church planting among the Ivatans as well as mentoring missionaries-in-training.
Please pray that Mel will stay close to Jesus and faithfully walk alongside like-minded people to expand the church of Jesus Christ wherever she is.
Donating to Mel Andricks
Here are several ways to donate through GLINTS:
By Zelle (preferred). Add recipient as donations@glints.org. Designate giving to Andricks Global Ministry in the add memo or reason section. Recurring monthly donations is available.
By check. Write check payable to GLINTS and designate giving to Andricks Global Ministry. Send check to GLINTS, PO Box 962, Wheaton IL 60187
By credit card or PayPal. Click below. Designate giving to Andricks Global Ministry.
By Electronic Funds Transfer. Click here.
GLINTS is an Illinois-registered, IRS 501c3 non-profit organization. All donations are tax-deductible.
Donate through PayPal:
Sports Ministry/ Special Events
Charles and Anne Marie Smoker have served in Japan since 1999. They are passionate about making Kingdom connections through daily life and seeking creative ways to be involved in non-Christian communities.
Charles spends his mornings teaching English at local Japanese schools which enables him to form relationships and share the Gospel with students and staff. Charles uses his sports coaching skills in the afternoons to engage and disciple students at an international Christian school.
Anne Marie is committed to serving in the area of ministry administration. She is an event coordinator for church and mission organizations both in Japan and globally, arranging everything from travel for short-term missionaries to missions conferences and outreach events. She also consults with missions-focused businesses, churches and ministries to assist with their logistical and administrative needs. Additionally, she runs an annual film festival and serves as the operations director of the Church Planting Institute in Japan.
Charles and Anne Marie have been on staff with GLINTS since 2017. They have three grown children: Zach, Kyle and Ashley.
In the midst of many opportunities, please pray the Smokers will wisely invest their time in making disciples for the Lord Jesus Christ. Pray also for God to soften the hearts of people in Japan and realize their need for the Savior.
Donating to the Smokers
Here are several ways to donate through GLINTS:
By Zelle (preferred). Add recipient as donations@glints.org. Designate giving to Smoker Global Ministry in the add memo or reason section. Recurring monthly donations is available.
By check. Write check payable to GLINTS and designate giving to Smoker Global Ministry. Send check to GLINTS, PO Box 962, Wheaton IL 60187
By credit card or PayPal. Designate giving to Smoker Global Ministry.
By Electronic Funds Transfer. Click here.
GLINTS is an Illinois-registered, IRS 501c3 non-profit organization. All donations are tax-deductible.
Donate through PayPal:
Global Leadership Development
Dean and Ada Overholt have faithfully served in cross-cultural missions in Southeast Asia for over 30 years. They met in Penn State where they completed undergraduate degrees, and subsequently pursued and earned master’s degrees at Talbot Seminary. Dean and Ada served in the Philippines for 13 years and then ministered in Thailand for 20 years with a focus on church planting and leadership development.
The Overholts have been on staff with GLINTS since 2014. During the pandemic, Dean and Ada left Thailand and have been based in the US. Dean takes several short-term trips a year to various countries in the Caribbean, to South Asia and Southeast Asia. Dean trains national leaders such as house church pastors who are unable to go to seminary, and assists with outreach projects; while Ada serves in a ministry that provides relief for abused women. Proximity to their three adult children and three grandchildren has given them much joy.
Please pray for continued access to the countries where Dean ministers and for guidance and protection for Ada as she cares for abused women.
Donating to the Overholts
Here are several ways to donate through GLINTS:
By Zelle (preferred). Add recipient as donations@glints.org. Designate giving to Overholt Global Ministry in the add memo or reason section. Recurring monthly donations is available.
By check. Write check payable to GLINTS and designate giving to Overholt Global Ministry. Send check to GLINTS, PO Box 962, Wheaton IL 60187
By credit card or PayPal. Click below. Designate giving to Overholt Global Ministry.
By Electronic Funds Transfer. Click here.
GLINTS is an Illinois-registered, IRS 501c3 non-profit organization. All donations are tax-deductible.
Donate through PayPal:
Pioneer Business Planting Strategist
Dr. Vicky Warren and her husband, Danny, have actively served in the local church for over 35 years. Vicky spent 33 years working in innovative and creative environments from multimillion dollar technology deployments to alliances with technical luminaries such as Steve Jobs, Nicholas Negroponte’s MIT media lab, Stanford Research Institute (SRI) and The Walt Disney Studios, as well as to entrepreneurial startup businesses. Her primary focus in these organizations included leadership and business development, strategic planning, research and development, innovation and creativity.
Vicky has been committed full time to using these experiences to serve alongside church planters in Asia and Africa to extend the reach of the Gospel. Vicky founded Pioneer Business Planting (PBP) in 2011 to equip church planters to reach unreached/unengaged people groups through economic, social and spiritual opportunities in the marketplace. PBP provides resources, training, and mentoring to these church planters, who face many challenges. 60% of unreached people groups live in countries closed to missionaries from North America, but PBP’s online training platform is a solution to this predicament.
Additionally, Vicky’s passion for PBP has led her to focus on mobilizing the body of Christ to this endeavor worldwide through speaking, teaching, equipping and advocacy of viable and profitable business for God’s glory. She joined GLINTS in 2015 and appreciates that GLINTS has allowed her to pursue her unique ministry while receiving accountability and care.
Please pray for safety and guidance for the Pioneer Business Planting leaders and that the online platform will continue to provide ministry support to those in countries closed to North American missionaries. Pray that God would work in the hearts of potential donors to give generously to support the ministry’s forward progress.
Donating to Vicky Warren
Here are several ways to donate through GLINTS:
By Zelle (preferred). Add recipient as donations@glints.org. Designate giving to Warren Global Ministry in the add memo or reason section. Recurring monthly donations is available.
By check. Write check payable to GLINTS and designate giving to Warren Global Ministry. Send check to GLINTS, PO Box 962, Wheaton IL 60187
By credit card or PayPal. Click below. Designate giving to Warren Global Ministry.
By Electronic Funds Transfer. Click here.
GLINTS is an Illinois-registered, IRS 501c3 non-profit organization. All donations are tax-deductible.
Donate through PayPal:
Global Leadership Development
Tim and Dawn Patterson have spent the majority of their lives in ministry. Before joining GLINTS in 2011, they served with Campus Crusade for Christ (CRU) for 36 years, living in California, Germany and Moscow. Their ministry involved Bible study initiatives, supporting CRU personnel, and helping establish a Christian international school in Moscow.
The Pattersons are now based in Northfield, Minnesota where they lead local Bible studies. Tim manages a website, https://b-study.expertlearning.net/, which provides resources for studying the Bible individually or as a group, including study guides and quizzes he has written. They have also volunteered at the European Leadership Forum (ELF) since 2016, assisting yearly in Poland and providing long-distance mentoring of European leaders throughout the year. Tim and Dawn are also involved with member care for GLINTS staff and volunteer with practical needs and prayer at Whispers of Hope, a Christian counseling and retreat center for women in Minnesota.
Having the distinction of being GLINTS’s first global staff members, Tim and Dawn see the advantage being on staff at GLINTS, which has given them flexibility and freedom in their ministry. The Pattersons have four adult children and six grandchildren.
Please pray for wisdom for Tim and Dawn in their lives and ministry, including the ability to manage their time well for both ministry and family. Pray that they would continue to bear fruit and be good stewards of God’s Word as well as ministry opportunities He initiates.
Donating to the Pattersons
Here are several ways to donate through GLINTS:
By Zelle (preferred). Add recipient as donations@glints.org. Designate giving to Patterson Global Ministry in the add memo or reason section. Recurring monthly donations is available.
By check. Write check payable to GLINTS and designate giving to Patterson Global Ministry. Send check to GLINTS, PO Box 962, Wheaton IL 60187
By credit card or PayPal. Click below. Designate giving to Patterson Global Ministry.
By Electronic Funds Transfer. Click here.
GLINTS is an Illinois-registered, IRS 501c3 non-profit organization. All donations are tax-deductible.
Donate through PayPal:
