The Limas Are Still Missionaries

In 2006, Jessica and I had been married for two years, with one baby and another on the way. As youth pastors in Elburn, Illinois, we felt God calling us to become intercessory missionaries at the International House of Prayer (IHOP) in Kansas City. It was a risky decision—we left behind steady paychecks to raise support, depending on God's provision through generous partners. What many missionaries dread as "support raising," we've come to experience as a beautiful expression of the body of Christ. It hasn't been easy, and there were many times over the past 18 years when we sought other ways to provide for our family. Yet, there have always been people who believed in God's calling in our lives, sustaining our ministry through their generosity.

Quantifying our work is challenging, but here's a snapshot. Over the last 18 years, we've worked with IHOP-KC, Orphan Justice Center, Exodus Cry, Jump In Northwest, YWAM, KidCity Seven, Minding the Gap, and numerous independent outreaches. During our time in OJC we served as directors of Safe Families for Children in Kansas City, a Christian alternative to foster care. We also served as OJC's international extension in Brazil during the 2016 Olympics, working with children in red light districts and equipping local churches about how to best respond to human trafficking in their city. During the World Cup, we partnered with Exodus Cry on similar initiatives. We spent a year and a half in Oregon establishing Jump In Northwest, a ministry promoting intergenerational worship, and remain on its board to this day. Through Kid City Seven, we helped the Kansas City police chaplaincy reach children in low-income situations with the gospel. With Minding the Gap, we brought an unashamed declaration of Jesus into public elementary schools through after school programs.

We never kept count, but we can estimate having served over 10,000 people throughout the years, most of whom were children and their parents.

All this was made possible by our partners' generosity, which freed us up to dedicate many hours each week to these ministries.

One of the most impactful outcomes of these years was fostering a child in need for a year and a half. Our little buddy was reunited with his mother, and we continue to have a relationship with their family to this day.

Regarding IHOP, we're deeply grateful for 17 rich years. The Lord faithfully meets those who call out to Him sincerely. However, we strongly oppose how IHOP’s leadership handled the serious allegations against Mike Bickle. To say we were deeply saddened and affected by it is an understatement. Without delving into too many details, which we can address in another entry, our sentiment on IHOP is that the leadership neglected its people, that is, the ones in the room praying and dedicating their lives to the mission. IHOP’s primary concern was managing their global image. If the hearts of the leaders would have turned to the people, then the people's hearts would have turned to the leaders (Mal.4:6).

Jessica and I served on staff until December 2023 in the lay counseling department. Despite growing involvement in other ministries, our hearts were still connected to IHOP. However, we could no longer support or endorse IHOP after the scandal. To be clear, we didn't sever our relationship with IHOP because of what Mike Bickle did; we did so because of how the leadership handled it. Any suspicions we had about their spiritual abuses were confirmed in the months following the allegations.

Nothing prepares you for the devastation a church scandal can bring. We moved our family to Kansas City in 2006, believing it was God’s call.

Doubts crept in—Did God really call us? Were the last 17 years a waste? Do we even know how to hear God?

But the Lord is faithful to dispel these doubts. He persistently reminds us of the fruit He has produced in our lives. Many transitioning from IHOP are entering the workplace as God sends them. We asked God if we should do the same. We have only sensed Him leading us with His eye (Ps. 32:8). He is making a way for us to continue the work He started through us.

So, we are going to the nations!

This October, we’re joining YWAM, the world’s largest missions organization with 1,200 sites worldwide and 18,000 missionaries.

After years of working alongside them, we’re officially joining. We will start with a 12-week discipleship training school in October, followed by 12 weeks on the mission field. When I say we, I mean all seven of us Limas! Upon returning from the missions field, we’ll help the Kona base establish a maternity center for mothers in crisis, a model that could be duplicated in up to 1,200 YWAM schools worldwide. The potential for our work to multiply is greater than ever before.

Over the years we have embraced the philosophy that we will remain faithful with the one and let the Lord multiply it to the many

We’ve been missionaries for 18 years, and none of this would have been possible without our partners' generous support. Now, we’re taking our biggest leap of faith yet. We cannot do this without financial support.

Would you prayerfully consider stewarding your Kingdom giving through our missionary work?

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