Tom and Sandra Bracken - Missionaries to Taiwan and Mainland China

Brother Tom Bracken is a former US Navy SEAL who served in Vietnam in the late 1960s. While in Coronado, California, with the Navy, he was introduced to Christ and his life has never been the same. He is a career foreign missionary with the United Pentecostal Church International, having served in Taiwan and China since 1980. He and his wife, Sandra, are fluent in the Mandarin Chinese language and travel extensively throughout Asia ministering to Chinese people. Married for thirty-two years, they have four children, two daughters-in-law and four grandchildren. He and his wife reside in Taiwan, Republic of China. Besides his education in Theology, Tom has an Associates degree in Arts and Science in Oceanography Technology and continues his life long love affair with the ocean.

Brother Bracken recently published his autobiography entitled, appropriately, "Tommy, The saving of a U.S. Navy SEAL". It is an excellent read that will inspire a hardcore macho man and encourage him to look to Christ for salvation. It can be purchased directly from Bro. Bracken by going to his website at http://www.tommybracken.com/.

Like many Asian countries, traffic congestion can be horrendous. Traveling by car is fraught with weaving in and out and tight streets to negotiate. By now, having a motorcycle donated by Azusa StreetRiders, Brother Bracken can flow with the bikers which move at a much more rapid pace. This creates more time for the important missionary efforts he and Sister Bracken put forth and even helps lower their traveling expenses due to high gas mileage compared to their automobile.

DONATE:
If you would like to help financially support the Bracken family, use the DONATION link at left and specify "Donation for Brackens" on the PayPal form.

Robert and Sheri Moses - Missionaries to Russia

Brother Robert Moses is a missionary with the United Pentecostal Church International having served in Russia since 2001. He and his wife, Sheri, are currently attending language school full time to become more fluent in the Russian language. They are conducting English language clubs, holding monthly Bible schools, teaching leadership, and overseeing the church home groups in Moscow.

Married for 25 years, they have one son, Anthony. Anthony is in first grade attending an English speaking Christian school for which his parents are very thankful. Robert and his family live is Krasnodar, Russia.

Robert came to the Lord in 1975 in Toledo, Illinois. He was very active in various areas of ministry in his local church, planted a church in Marshall, Illinois, and in 2001 went to Russia to work with Brother William Turner as an AIMer (Associates in Missions). In 2002, he was appointed as an intermediate missionary to Russia.

Moscow is a city of 20, million, unofficially. Everyone seems wants to move to Moscow to make a fast buck. With so many people moving to here, more cars and trucks are everywhere, but no new roads have been constructed recently. Recently, Bro. and Sis. Moses sat in traffic for over three hours just to go ten miles! Of course, this was one of the worst experiences, but it is not uncommon to sit in traffic for one or two hours on any given day. If you have to drive a car to accomplish any business, then you must choose which are the one or two most important things that day. Traffic is not predictable! Bro. Moses states, "A motorcycle would help me get where I need to go without having to sit in traffic. This could possibly save me two to four hours a day, time that could be spent working for the Lord."

Recognizing the need to make better use of time each day, countless hours each year, Bro. Moses contacted Azuza StreetRiders about the possibility of having a motorcycle donated for his use. He had read of the Azuza StreetRiders' Motorcycles for Missionaries program in IBC's Perspectives magazine. His very strict budget in one of the world's most expensive cities simply does not allow the luxury of purchasing two vehicles and their car is a necessity. The Azusa StreetRiders Board of Directors reviewed the request and decided to put forth the call for help to purchase a motorcycle for Bro. Moses. It is our goal to purchase a motorcycle by the end of 2008, but we need your help! Bro. Moses sent the photo of a Russian bike at left that is used by a Trinitarian missionary friend in Moscow. He would like to get a used bike similar to this.

DONATE:
At the bottom left of this page is a place to make a secure online donation using Visa or MasterCard to help Brother Moses get his motorcycle. Or, if you like, simply send a check to Azusa StreetRiders, PO Box 7606, Myrtle Beach, SC 29572 and note on the check that it is for "Motorcycles for Missionaries". Please help!

Michael and Yvonne Walmer -- Missionaries to Uruguay

As a young teenager, Michael D. Walmer accompanied his missionary parents to Brazil. He began his ministry in Brazil in 1979 as a youth leader in the district headquarters church. In 1980, he met a beautiful Uruguayan girl, Ivonne González, and they married in 1984. In that same year they founded the church in Rio Grande, in extreme southern Brazil. He also served as the district youth president and treasurer. In 1986, he took the pastorate of a church in Novo Hamburgo, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, where he pastored four years. During this tenure, he placed four young men in the ministry. After eight years as an Associate In Missions, Bro. Walmer, his wife and their firstborn, Jonathan Michael, returned to the States in 1990 to attend Bible school. He and his wife received their missionary appointment in October 1992 to northeastern Brazil. He graduated from Christian Life College the following June.

In 1996, after completing deputation, the Walmers returned to Brazil and pioneered a new work in Recife on Brazil's northeastern tropical coast. In October 1997, their second child, Christian Lucas, was born. The Lord gave them great revival throughout northeastern Brazil and in just ten short years they have seen the work develop to twelve active churches and pastors along with a Bible school which has completed its seventh year of training.

Following God's leading, Bro. & Sis. Walmer applied for a change of field to Uruguay, South America and completed seven months of service there from January through July 2007. During this time they taught in the local Bible school, held pastoral seminars and traveled extensively among the churches, preaching and mentoring the leadership.

How motorcycles will help Bro. Walmer:
The Lord planted in Bro. Walmer's mind the idea to reach the poor rural areas of Uruguay with the assistance of Bible School Students venturing out as "circuit-riding evangelists" to reach the many countryside villages with the Gospel.

Uruguay is vastly rural with an untold number of small farming communities and villages spread over the countryside. It has been a challenge to plant churches in these areas due to the impoverished conditions of the people and community. Building a church or supporting a local pastor is unviable in these areas.

The circuit-riding evangelists make reaching these communities with the Gospel a reality. With the use of a cost-effective 125 or 200 cc two-seater trail bike, the evangelists venture into these country settings weekly and minister the Word of God. Through personal contacts, home Bible Studies and public services in community centers and one-room school houses, these young evangelists preach and teach the Word, baptize the believers in the Name of Jesus and mentor them in spiritual development. Azuza StreetRiders will provide Spanish language "backpatches" for these evangelists.

Azusa StreetRiders, "The Apostolic Motorcycle Ministry of Jesus Christ", has supplied the missionary fellowship in Uruguay funds to purchase three motorcycles for these circuit-riding evangelists, but more are needed! The motorcycles will be presented to the local pastors and churches established in the urban complex in Uruguay. Once receiving the motorcycle, these local assemblies will be responsible for the operational expenses, maintenance and preservation of each motorcycle. Through a simple record-keeping system the churches will report on the results of ministry as well as on the maintenance on the bike. In order to promote high-quality maintenance on the motorcycles, the missionary fellowship will sign an agreement with each church that states the responsibilities of the local church with each bike and the missionary commitment to transfer title on the bike through a five-year depreciation program. In other words, at the end of five years, if the church maintains the motorcycle and keeps up-to-datemaintenance records, the motorcycle becomes the property of the local church. The main purpose is, of course, to reach the lost. We must do ALL that we can do to take the Gospel to "whosoever will" believe on Him and receive everlasting life.

Thank you for giving to this worthy cause and spreading even further the precious seed of the Gospel in Uruguay, South America!

DONATE:
Ot the left side of this page is a place to make a secure online donation using PayPal with Visa or MasterCard to help Brother Walmer get his motorcycles. Simply denote "Donation for Walmen" on the PalPal form, or, if you like, simply send a check to Azusa StreetRiders, PO Box 7606, Myrtle Beach, SC 29572 and note on the check that it is for "Motorcycles for Missionaries; Michael Walmer". Please help!