Behind the Ministry: Pat & Traci Ragan, Advancing Ministries of the Gospel
How did you first become involved with AMG? We have served with AMG International for almost 12 years now! Our relationship with AMG began in January 2000 as Pat was asked to begin the short-term ministry. While taking teams all over the world for years, we always were asking the Lord if “this was where He would want us to serve full time?”. While in Greece in preparation for the Olympics of 2004, our President, Paul Jenks, asked us to pray about going to Guatemala. Right away, Pat knew that was where we were supposed to serve. We served in Guatemala for 1.5 years. The Lord taught us so many things about ourselves, about the Guatemalan people and, ultimately, about Himself. We have been stateside now for almost seven years! The Lord is still doing amazing things with the ministry of AMG, and we are humbled to be a small part of His work.
What is your role at AMG? Pat serves as the Associate Vice President for Development and Traci works in Donor Services. The Lord rarely asks us to do something that WE can do by ourselves. Over the years, we have built strong ties with our missionaries, national workers, and our partners in the ministry here in the States. We have the privilege of serving all of these folks at the same time in some way, shape, or form.
What makes AMG distinct from other missionary agencies? AMG’s distinctive is that we work primarily with nationals on the field. Our Founder, Spiros Zodhiates, was a Greek National and sought to evangelize and provide humanitarian aid in the name of Christ to his home country of Greece back in the early 40’s during this country’s civil war. We have always believed that nationals are the most effective way to reach their own countries for Christ, as they know their cultures and language and can be supported much more cost effectively than traditional missionaries. Ironically, we are seeing more Western missionaries joining hands with AMG and being sent out in recent years. This is a result of 12 years of short-term teams and the Lord calling out several from these teams to serve longer-term with AMG. The vast majority of our “missionaries” and national leaders are still nationals serving in their own countries, however, and the missionaries who do go out with us always serve in support of the AMG national workers and ministries on the field.
What has been the most rewarding part of serving with AMG? Being able to directly support the ministries of what we consider to be “choice” servants, who God has raised up as leaders with AMG in countries like Greece, Uganda, Peru, the Philippines, and many more. We have come to know these leaders and their families personally, have served on the field together, prayed together, and shared meals together. Our roles here in the Home Office afford us the opportunity and privilege of helping churches and individuals in the U.S., Canada, and even from other countries at times, joining hands to further God’s work through AMG national leaders and staff in 40 countries worldwide. This is such a blessing for us to be a small part of the day- in and day-out.
What have you learned from working with fellow missionaries at AMG? None of us have arrived yet. Missionaries are real people, who walk through the same issues the rest of us do with family and finances, along with the increased burdens of living life cross culturally and facing spiritual opposition in their place of service. They need our consistent prayers, encouragement, and support. They need to know we care and are here for them.
Christmas Around the World
Today, FBA’s Faith Promise Missionaries make known the birth of the Lamb of God. Scattered across the world, our missionaries celebrate Jesus’ arrival in distinct ways. The following is a collection of Christmas stories from our missionaries who are spreading this good news for all people around the world:
In Mexico, missionary Fernando Cruz witnesses “Posadas,” a traditional festivity replicating the pilgrimage of Joseph and Mary, beginning December 16 and ending December 24. “A group of people, representing pilgrims, go from house to house asking for shelter while they chant the rosary,” Cruz explains. In response, the people from the house sing a song of refusal. This continues until the last house “answers positively” and the people go inside to have a “piñata party”. After breaking the star-shaped piñata, participants have a dinner of “Mexican delicacies,” Cruz recalls. With the prevalence of Roman Catholicism, Cruz has had much opportunity to share how Christmas is a time for Christians to rejoice in the birth of Jesus.
In Bolivia, missionary Gary Ferch explains that “there is much less emphasis places on the giving of things. The emphasis is on relationships” Specifically, he continues, “The church typically meets together for a meal and goes out to find hungry people who have no food and bring them in.” While gifts may not be given, attention is focused on “worshipping the Savior of the world, helping those without food, and spending time with everyone and their families. Even non-believers tend to do these things.” For Christians, Gary clarifies that “we use the day to show the love of Christ through helping the helpless.”
One of our missionary families serving in Africa expressed that “one of our joys has been using Christmas as an opportunity for outreach to our neighbors and friends. We have taken an American Christmas tradition –making cookies, and have used that as an outreach opportunity. We make a lot of cookies, take them around, and give them to Muslim friends in the marketplace or to our neighbors, explaining the reason for our celebration. Generally, there is a pocket calendar that has scripture in Arabic that I am able to hand out.” While the Muslim community does not celebrate Christmas, a small church meets for church on Christmas Day and a communal meal. After this, our missionary explained that the church shows The JESUS Film.
In Spain, missionary Eugenio Berruezo notes, “Christmas is one of the most celebrated holidays.” The celebration begins on January 6th, “when the children and the rest of the family receive gifts.” Instead of being visited by Santa, the Three Wisemen, traveling from the Middle-East, are believed to reenact their trip to Bethlehem and act as the gift givers. For Eugenio’s family, “the central figure of the celebration is Jesus, for our society, it is simply a traditional holiday, and, although it is true that the name of Jesus is used, the truth is they do not believe in him.” Knowing this, Eugenio recognizes Christmas as a “good opportunity to talk about the true faith in Jesus Christ, especially among children.”
In France, Christmas is celebrated as it is in the United States. “The focus is on gift giving and Santa Claus, with little mention of Christ’s birth,” explains Amanda Owens. Amanda and her husband, Benjamin, “make sure that we teach the true meaning of Christmas at home. Our boys know that it is ‘Jesus’ birthday’.” Paul and Karan Davis, another missionary family in France, note that “they have very few Christmas songs, religious or secular.” While most families attend the Catholic Church for Christmas-eve mass, the Paul and Karen have introduced Christmas-eve services in French churches they began and attended. Having experienced the different cultures, Kathy and David “enjoy both the French and American ways of celebrating Christmas!”
Nearby, in Germany, the observation of Advent begins four Sundays before Christmas Day. Missionaries Don and Susie Newby have experienced how this time transforms the center of town into a Christmas market, especially in the famous market in Nurnberg, selling “everything from baked goods to straw and wooden items.” Different than in the States, the Christmas Tree is not decorated until Christmas Eve. Don and Susie, who model and teach evangelism and worship through music, use Christmas as an “opportunity to rejoice in the birth of Jesus as the main theme of our concerts.”
In Papua New Guinea, missionaries Gary and Donna Ferch share that Christmas’ meaning is “the whole reason we are here.” Before 2008, Gary explains, “the tribal people’s Christmas was full of only empty tradition and animistic beliefs. It was an important time to perform certain rituals to appease other gods.” Gary knows that, since they have learned “evangelistic teaching from creation to Christ,” the tribal people have “celebrated the birth of their Savior in deep, meaningful ways. They do dramas to reenact the story . . . they celebrate His birth.” Despite different cultures, Faith Promise Missionaries around the world share in rejoicing the birth of the coming of Immanuel. Through their unique opportunities during this special season, these missionaries truly share this good news for all people.
FBA Members Mark and Cathy Wilson: newest FBA Faith Promise Missionaries
Mark and Cathy Wilson have been members of FBA for many years, actively participating in choir, Sunday school, and special events as a family with their six children (Rachel [25], David [23], Hannah [21], Sarah [19], Leah [14] and Deborah [12]). Following God’s command to “Go and make disciples of all nations” and waiting upon the Lord for His timing and opportunities, Cathy now serves with the North American Mission Board (NAMB) as a Missionary Service Corps Missionary. She works in the refugee and immigrant international communities in Atlanta, serving in community development, medical missions, music and evangelism. Cathy is an R.N. with experience in neonatal ICU and newborn nursery, and she has been to Spain, Morocco, Ukraine and Honduras on short-term mission trips. She sat down with us and answered a few questions about her call to missions, her current responsibilities, and how we can pray for their strategic ministry.
MK JOURNAL: Snapshots from the world of a Missionary Kid - by Annelise Arnold
I started college this past fall as a freshman at Columbia University. My first semester was filled with many challenges, and I was grateful for the opportunity to go back to Africa and spend time in Dakar over Christmas break. As soon as I landed and got my luggage, I got to see my family. Hugs were passed around, repetitively. We got to go and eat breakfast at my favorite pastry cafe. I sat next to the window and got to see my Dakar that I have been so long without. This was a huge breath of fresh air for my heart.
Mark and Cathy Wilson have been members of FBA for many years, actively participating in choir, Sunday school, and special events as a family with their six children (Rachel [25], David [23], Hannah [21], Sarah [19], Leah [14] and Deborah [12]). Following God’s command to “Go and make disciples of all nations” and waiting upon the Lord for His timing and opportunities, Cathy now serves with the North American Mission Board (NAMB) as a Missionary Service Corps Missionary. She works in the refugee and immigrant international communities in Atlanta, serving in community development, medical missions, music and evangelism. Cathy is an R.N. with experience in neonatal ICU and newborn nursery, and she has been to Spain, Morocco, Ukraine and Honduras on short-term mission trips. She sat down with us and answered a few questions about her call to missions, her current responsibilities, and how we can pray for their strategic ministry. 
I started college this past fall as a freshman at Columbia University. My first semester was filled with many challenges, and I was grateful for the opportunity to go back to Africa and spend time in Dakar over Christmas break. As soon as I landed and got my luggage, I got to see my family. Hugs were passed around, repetitively. We got to go and eat breakfast at my favorite pastry cafe. I sat next to the window and got to see my Dakar that I have been so long without. This was a huge breath of fresh air for my heart.