Missions
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.
Matthew 28
In Matthew 28, Jesus commands His disciples to go to the corners of the earth in order to spread His gospel. Coastal Christian supports full-time missionaries, but we know that only some feel called to this. Therefore, we encourage every believer to seek God's direction toward participating in a short-term mission trip. And because we consider short-term mission opportunities vital to the growth of our church body, we devote time and resources toward reaching beyond our local borders of ministry. We support and encourage those who want to take this step of faith and bring Jesus’ Good News to the greater reaches of our nation and the world, and “go and make disciples.”
Upcoming Missions Trips
Guatemala: Join us this July 11th- 18th, 2020, as we travel to Coyolate, Guatemala. We are partnering with Healthy Communities to improve the quality of life and to connect the heart of Christ to the small village of Coyolate. The approximate trip cost is $1800, which includes transportation, lodging, and meals.
Sign Up Here
Upcoming Missions Trips
Guatemala: Join us this July 11th-18th, 2020, as we travel to Coyolate, Guatemala. We are partnering with Healthy Communities to improve the quality of life and to connect the heart of Christ to the small village of Coyolate. The approximate trip cost is $1,800, which includes transportation, lodging, and meals.
Sign Up Here
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.
Matthew 28
In Matthew 28, Jesus commands His disciples to go to the corners of the earth in order to spread His gospel. Coastal Christian supports full-time missionaries, but we know that only some feel called to this. Therefore, we encourage every believer to seek God's direction toward participating in a short-term mission trip. And because we consider short-term mission opportunities vital to the growth of our church body, we devote time and resources toward reaching beyond our local borders of ministry. We support and encourage those who want to take this step of faith and bring Jesus’ Good News to the greater reaches of our nation and the world, and “go and make disciples.”
Local Supported Missionaries
Laura Matera
Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Cape Atlantic Area Director
Cape Atlantic Area Director
Laura graduated from Bethany College in 1989, earning an undergraduate degree in Social Work. She went on to serve as Director of the Homeless Families Shelter at the Atlantic City Rescue Mission. Laura married Joe Matera in the 1995. Together they raised three daughters while serving in full time ministry, first with Christian Surfers United States (CSUS) and most recently with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). Laura has experienced FCA ministry as a volunteer, a parent of students involved with FCA Campus ministry, and as a Camp Director with FCA Surf. Her husband Joe went home to heaven after a 2- year battle with Melanoma. Laura has answered the call to full time ministry with FCA and has a heart for reaching students, athletes, and coaches for Christ. Laura has been on staff with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes part time since July 2013 and is currently serving full time as both Cape Atlantic Area Director and FCA Surf Mid Atlantic Director.
Joel and Alexandria (Simpson) Aponte
CRU - Rowan and Stockton State College
Why hello! Joel graduated from New Jersey Institute of Technology in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in information systems as well as an associate degree in computer science in 2009. He serves at campuses in the urban region of Jersey. Discipleship is what fuels his passion. His energy is spent seeing students firmly built in faith and transformed to live radical lives in pursuit of God’s kingdom. Joel is also a music lover and comic book nerd who loves hearing how God works in people’s lives. Alexandria graduated from Stockton University with a bachelor’s degrees in psychology and elementary education. She loves building others up in prayer and knowledge of the Holy Spirit. Alexandria enjoys teaching what she has learned and making goodies for her students. When she can, she loves to pluck out some awesome tunes on her ukulele and guitar!
Local Supported Missionaries
Laura Matera
Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Cape Atlantic Area Director
Cape Atlantic Area Director
Laura graduated from Bethany College in 1989, earning an undergraduate degree in Social Work. She went on to serve as Director of the Homeless Families Shelter at the Atlantic City Rescue Mission. Laura married Joe Matera in the 1995. Together they raised 3 daughters while serving in full time ministry, first with
Christian Surfers United States (CSUS) and most recently with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). Laura has experienced FCA ministry as a volunteer, a parent of students involved with FCA Campus ministry, and as a Camp Director with FCA Surf. Her husband Joe went home to heaven after a 2-
year battle with Melanoma. Laura has answered the call to full time ministry with FCA and has a heart for reaching students, athletes, and coaches for Christ. Laura has been on staff with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes part time since July 2013 and is
currently serving full time as both Cape Atlantic Area Director and FCA Surf Mid Atlantic Director.
Christian Surfers United States (CSUS) and most recently with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). Laura has experienced FCA ministry as a volunteer, a parent of students involved with FCA Campus ministry, and as a Camp Director with FCA Surf. Her husband Joe went home to heaven after a 2-
year battle with Melanoma. Laura has answered the call to full time ministry with FCA and has a heart for reaching students, athletes, and coaches for Christ. Laura has been on staff with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes part time since July 2013 and is
currently serving full time as both Cape Atlantic Area Director and FCA Surf Mid Atlantic Director.
Joel and Alexandria (Simpson) Aponte
CRU - Rowan and Stockton State College
Joel graduated from New Jersey Institute of Technology in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in information systems as well as an associate degree in computer science in 2009. He serves at campuses in the urban region of Jersey. Discipleship is what fuels his passion. His energy is spent seeing students firmly built in faith and transformed to live radical lives in pursuit of God’s kingdom. Joel is also a music lover and comic book nerd who loves hearing how God works in people’s lives. Alexandria graduated from Stockton University with a bachelor’s degrees in psychology and
elementary education. She loves building others up in prayer and knowledge of the Holy Spirit. Alexandria enjoys teaching what she has learned and making goodies for her students. When she can, she loves to pluck out some awesome tunes on her ukulele and guitar!
elementary education. She loves building others up in prayer and knowledge of the Holy Spirit. Alexandria enjoys teaching what she has learned and making goodies for her students. When she can, she loves to pluck out some awesome tunes on her ukulele and guitar!
International Supported Missionaries
Pete & Lisa Davis
Rio Missions
Panama
Panama
Both graduates of Messiah College, Pete and Lisa Davis lived in southern New Jersey with their two daughters, Chloe and Kassia. Serving in their local school districts, Pete taught Industrial Technology Education while Lisa was a school psychologist. With their summers off, the Davis family served with Rio Missions by leading short-term mission teams to Panama since 2005. Pete and Lisa answered the call to serve with Rio Missions full-time in July 2019 and relocated to Panama. Utilizing their abilities and skill sets, God has led Pete to serve as the Director of Operations and Lisa as the Administrative Assistant. They have a heart for equipping and empowering local Panamanian churches, serving the underprivileged, and expanding the global spread of the Gospel. Lisa also plans to expand the connection of Rio Missions with Heart’s Cry Children’s Ministry and Casa Providencia, Panama’s first special needs orphanage.
Dr. William “Rick” and Leslie Renninger
Equipping Leaders International
Africa
Africa
Both Rick and Leslie grew up and were married in the western suburbs of Philadelphia. Rick earned his M.Div. and Th.M. degrees at Western Seminary in Portland, OR. They moved to Belgium where Rick taught at the Bible Institute. While there they were blessed with three children, Laura, Daniel and Marcus. After 13 and a half years, they returned to Pennsylvania. Leslie returned to her teaching career, and Rick taught theology and philosophy at Alvernia University in Reading, PA for the next 12 years. Rick learned about Equipping Leaders International (ELI) through Joel McCall, who is a former pastor of Community Evangelical Free Church. In March 2010 and March 2012 Joel and Rick paired up to teach at the Antioch Graduate College of Theology in Akure, Nigeria. Rick considers the opportunity to be part of what the Lord of the harvest is doing in places like Nigeria and Sierra Leone not only strategic, but a joyous privilege.
Gerber & Michelle Perez
Mission Impact/Healthy Communities
When Gerber was 16, he went on a short-term mission trip with his father, and while there, he heard a message from a local pastor, asking, “If we died today, where would we go?’ Gerber wasn’t sure of his answer, and so as they were traveling back in the car, he prayed along with his father and accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior. After various trips accompanying his father to Ixcan, Guatemala, he could see that God was placing a call on his life to work beside the people in this area. For five years, he taught in Mission Impact’s partner schools and traveled to Ixcan whenever he could. God was opening many doors for Gerber to return time after time, and during this time, a love was growing in his heart for the people there. In 2007, he began to dedicate his time to full-time ministry in Ixcan and other communities in the western part of Guatemala. Gerber married Michelle Acker in November 2011. They have a daughter Elena, a son Mateo, and twins expected in October. Gerber and Michelle are reaching into the hearts of communities, helping them to identify their problems and deciding on how to solve them while modeling Christ’s love through what they do.
Caitlin Terry
Hydromissions
Caitlin is a licensed civil engineer from Vineland, New Jersey. Her passion is to travel to remote impoverished villages worldwide, showing God's love as she helps people gain access to safe drinking water. Her desire is for those people to see Christ’s love in her actions. Caitlin has been blessed with the opportunity to serve others through these water projects and to meet some of the most beautiful people in the world–both in character and in spirit. After 10 years of service, Caitlin has been in 11 different countries, within four different continents. She has worked repeatedly in Haiti, El Salvador, Uganda, Guatemala and Panama, so actual projects abroad, in total, are around 34 (ranging from 9 days to 3 months in various locations). The project count is a lot higher if you include the projects she’s managed remotely. Check out her blog at howmanycows.com.
International Supported Missionaries
Pete & Lisa Davis
Rio Missions
Panama
Panama
Both graduates of Messiah College, Pete and Lisa Davis lived in Southern New Jersey with their 2 daughters, Chloe and Kassia. Serving in their local school districts, Pete taught Industrial Technology Education while Lisa was a school psychologist. With their summers off, the Davis family served with Rio Missions by leading short-term mission teams to Panama since 2005. Pete and Lisa answered the call to serve with Rio Missions fulltime in July 2019 and relocated to Panama. Utilizing their abilities and skill sets, God has led Pete to serve as the Director of Operations and Lisa as the Administrative Assistant. They have a heart for equipping and empowering local Panamanian churches, serving the underprivileged, and expanding the global spread of the Gospel. Lisa also plans to expand the connection of Rio Missions with Heart’s Cry Children’s Ministry and Casa Providencia, Panama’s first special needs orphanage.
Rick Renninger
Equipping Leaders International
Africa
Africa
Both Rick and Leslie grew up and were married in the
western suburbs of Philadelphia. Rick earned his M.Div. and Th.M. degrees at Western Seminary in Portland, OR. They moved to Belgium where Rick taught at the Bible Institute. While there they were blessed with 3 children, Laura, Daniel and Marcus. After 13 ½ years they returned to Pennsylvania. Leslie returned to her teaching career, and Rick taught
theology and philosophy at Alvernia University in Reading, PA for the next 12 years. Rick learned about Equipping Leaders International (ELI) through Joel McCall, who is a former pastor of Community Evangelical Free Church. In March 2010 and March 2012 Joel and Rick paired up to teach at the Antioch Graduate College of Theology in Akure, Nigeria. Rick considers the opportunity to be part of what the Lord of the harvest is doing in places like Nigeria and Sierra Leone not only strategic but a joyous privilege.
western suburbs of Philadelphia. Rick earned his M.Div. and Th.M. degrees at Western Seminary in Portland, OR. They moved to Belgium where Rick taught at the Bible Institute. While there they were blessed with 3 children, Laura, Daniel and Marcus. After 13 ½ years they returned to Pennsylvania. Leslie returned to her teaching career, and Rick taught
theology and philosophy at Alvernia University in Reading, PA for the next 12 years. Rick learned about Equipping Leaders International (ELI) through Joel McCall, who is a former pastor of Community Evangelical Free Church. In March 2010 and March 2012 Joel and Rick paired up to teach at the Antioch Graduate College of Theology in Akure, Nigeria. Rick considers the opportunity to be part of what the Lord of the harvest is doing in places like Nigeria and Sierra Leone not only strategic but a joyous privilege.
Gerber & Michelle Perez
Mission Impact/Healthy Communities
When Gerber was 16, he went on a short-term mission
trip with his father and while there he heard a message
from a local pastor asking, “If we died today, where would we go?’ Gerber wasn’t sure of his answer and so
as they were traveling back in the car he prayed along with his father and accepted Jesus Christ as his savior. After various trips accompanying his father to Ixcan, Guatemala, he could see that God was placing a call on his life to work beside the people in this area. For five years, he taught in Mission Impact’s partner schools and traveled to Ixcan whenever he could. God was opening many doors for Gerber to return time after time and during this time, a love was growing in his heart for the people there. In 2007 he began to dedicate his time to full time ministry in Ixcan and other communities in the western part of Guatemala, as well. Gerber married Michelle Acker in November 2011. They have a daughter, Elena, a son Mateo and twins expected in October. Gerber and Michelle are reaching into the hearts of communities, helping them to identify their problems and deciding on how to solve them while modeling Christ’s love through what they do.
trip with his father and while there he heard a message
from a local pastor asking, “If we died today, where would we go?’ Gerber wasn’t sure of his answer and so
as they were traveling back in the car he prayed along with his father and accepted Jesus Christ as his savior. After various trips accompanying his father to Ixcan, Guatemala, he could see that God was placing a call on his life to work beside the people in this area. For five years, he taught in Mission Impact’s partner schools and traveled to Ixcan whenever he could. God was opening many doors for Gerber to return time after time and during this time, a love was growing in his heart for the people there. In 2007 he began to dedicate his time to full time ministry in Ixcan and other communities in the western part of Guatemala, as well. Gerber married Michelle Acker in November 2011. They have a daughter, Elena, a son Mateo and twins expected in October. Gerber and Michelle are reaching into the hearts of communities, helping them to identify their problems and deciding on how to solve them while modeling Christ’s love through what they do.
Caitlin Terry
Hydromissions
Caitlin is a licensed civil engineer from Vineland, New
Jersey. Her passion is to travel to remote impoverished
villages worldwide, showing God's love as she helps
people gain access to safe drinking water. Her desire is for those people to see Christ’s love in her actions. Caitlin has been blessed with the opportunity to serve others through these water projects and to meet some of the most beautiful people in the world–both in character and in spirit. After 10 years of service Caitlin has been in 11 different countries, within 4 different continents. She has worked repeatedly in Haiti, El Salvador, Uganda, Guatemala and Panama, so actual projects abroad, in total, come in around 34 (ranging from 9 days to 3 months in various locations). The project count is a lot higher if you include the projects he’s managed remotely. Check out her blog at howmanycows.com.
Jersey. Her passion is to travel to remote impoverished
villages worldwide, showing God's love as she helps
people gain access to safe drinking water. Her desire is for those people to see Christ’s love in her actions. Caitlin has been blessed with the opportunity to serve others through these water projects and to meet some of the most beautiful people in the world–both in character and in spirit. After 10 years of service Caitlin has been in 11 different countries, within 4 different continents. She has worked repeatedly in Haiti, El Salvador, Uganda, Guatemala and Panama, so actual projects abroad, in total, come in around 34 (ranging from 9 days to 3 months in various locations). The project count is a lot higher if you include the projects he’s managed remotely. Check out her blog at howmanycows.com.
Alejandro and Lauren (Pupchik) Tipaz
Commission To Every Nation (CTEN)
Guatemala
Guatemala
Alejandro and Lauren have a heart to share the Father’s love through word and deed. They minister with Servant’s Hearts Ministries where Alejandro and his team focus on building homes and fuel-efficient stoves for families who were displaced by the 2018 volcano tragedy. Lauren served on the translation team at their church, Calvary Chapel Antigua. She is certified with Restoring the Foundations to share heart healing and restoration to those who desire freedom from past hurts. Together they desire to see their Guatemalan brothers and sisters find their true identity and worth in Jesus Christ and see the Lord exchange beauty for ashes. They are expecting their first baby!
Emily Allegretto
Founder & Director of Keeps Boutique
Emily was born into a missionary family and grew up volunteering alongside her parents, John and Elaine Allegretto and her three siblings. She’s participated in volunteer work in Mexico, El Salvador, England, China, Korea, Amsterdam and many projects in the United States. Emily’s passion is to affirm the value of life and encourage others to know God and follow His design. This passion to make a difference led her at age 15 to pioneer a nonprofit by the name of Keeps Boutique. Keeps is a nonprofit fashion boutique benefiting teen girls in foster care. Keeps Boutique offers brand new clothing completely free to girls in Child Protective Services who have often never received something of its value. Keeps is the first of its kind in Texas. Emily coordinators fundraisers, annual Girls’ Night Out events and Keeps Kamp, hosting 40-50 girls each summer. These events provide encouraging messages of value and self worth as well as opportunities for girls to learn more about who God is and His father’s heart for His daughters.
Emily Allegretto
Founder & Director of KEEPS Boutique
Emily was born into a missionary family and grew up volunteering alongside her parents, John and Elaine Allegretto and her three siblings. She’s participated in volunteer work in Mexico, El Salvador, England, China, Korea, Amsterdam and many projects in the United States. Emily’s passion is to affirm the value of life and encourage others to know God and follow His design. This passion to make a difference led her at age 15 to pioneer a nonprofit by the name of KEEPS Boutique. KEEPS is a nonprofit fashion boutique benefiting teen girls in foster care. KEEPS Boutique offers brand new clothing completely free to girls in Child Protective Services who have often never received something of its value. KEEPS is the first of its kind in Texas. Emily coordinators fundraisers, annual Girls’ Night Out events and KEEPS Kamp, hosting 40-50 girls each summer. These events provide encouraging messages of value and self worth as well as opportunities for girls to learn more about who God is and His father’s heart for His daughters.
Alejandro and Lauren (Pupchik) Tipaz
Commission To Every Nation (CTEN)
Guatemala
Guatemala
Alejandro and Lauren have a heart to share the Father’s love through word and deed. They minister with Servant’s Hearts Ministries where Alejandro and his team focus on building homes and fuel- efficient stoves for families who were displaced by the 2018 volcano tragedy. Lauren served on the translation team at their church, Calvary Chapel Antigua. She is certified with Restoring the Foundations to share heart healing and restoration to those who desire freedom from past hurts. Together they desire to see their Guatemalan brothers and sisters find their true identity and worth in Jesus Christ and see the Lord exchange beauty for ashes. They are expecting their first baby!