Missions

U.S. MISSIONS

Russell and Allison Epperson both attended Freed-Hardeman University, graduated in 1998, and were married in the same year. Russell worked at FHU from 2000-2011 while Allison taught elementary school for several years, owned and operated an after-school enrichment business for several additional years, and eventually started their family and stayed home to raise their children Caden, Brynlee, and Tessa who are now 16, 15, and 13 respectively. In 2011 the Eppersons answered the call to begin full time mission work and moved to Lewistown, Montana. Russell is actively involved in all aspects of work in the local church as well as several outreach opportunities into the community such as serving on the boards of six different charitable organizations. A recent endeavor has qualified him as a certified law enforcement chaplain which allows him access to numerous officers and citizens in times of crisis. Allison continues to help raise their kids and teaches them their schooling at home as well. In her spare time, she teaches numerous ladies classes, attends personal Bible studies, and teaches kids classes at church. The churches of Christ in Montana are very close knit and work together well to host several youth rallies, men’s and ladies’ retreats, and manage a beautiful Bible camp near Yellowstone. The Eppersons recently completed their 10-year milestone in Montana and have no plans to go anywhere else!
Stateside work/Trip

Dale and Karen Byrum graduated from David Lipscomb College in 1979, then lived and worked in New Zealand during most of the 1980s. Two daughters, both married with children: Deidre(Ben) Buselmeier, 2 & 3-year-old sons, Everett and Emmett, living near Murfreesboro, TN; Emily (Jonathan) Didato, 6.5-year-old daughter, June, living in Nashville, TN. Dale and Karen worked secular jobs from 1989-2014, while Dale preached for many smaller congregations during that time. The Byrums have been involved in the Philippines since 2008 and it is their primary work. Their mission endeavors since 2008 have taken them to New Zealand, Kenya, Guyana, El Salvador, and Guam. The Byrum’s’ focus is church planting, maturing those congregations through several avenues: leadership training and Karen’s individual business set-up, to help families support themselves and the church. Their work also involves medical missions, benevolence, and disaster relief. Dale also teaches one semester per year at Leyte Christian College in Tacloban City, Leyte province, Philippines, training young men and women to become effective leaders in the Lord’s church. The Byrums work with 10 full-time Filipino family units (9 couples, 1 single female) in 6 locations. They work mostly with youth and young adults since they provide energy and are the driving impetus of the church in the Philippines.

To provide a young man entering the work as a Youth Minister an internship for one to two summers. Not given every year.

Provides funding for our members to take short-term mission trips; also gives emergency help to our missionaries