About Us

John Bernard – President

I am one thankful person! I’m thankful for a wonderful family, and for the amazing people I work with all around the world. Melinda and I have been married for 24 years and have three awesome kids, Geoffrey, a Sophomore at Winthrop University, Daniel a Freshman at Furman University, and Emily, a 6th grader in the Fort Mill public schools.

We have lived in Fort Mill (outside Charlotte, NC) for 10 years after stints in Costa Rica, Spain, and western North Carolina. In 2002, I became United World Mission’s Executive Director.

My favorite times include being home with family, and being with the missionaries and national Christian leaders I work with around the world. Looking back I’m also thankful for my time at Gordon-Conwell (Master of Divinity), Columbia International University (Doctor of Ministry), with our home church in Medway, MA and with several other churches and friends that have loved and supported us along the way!

When I’m not home, on a plane, or with my nose in a book, I’m at the gym, on a bike, or, once in a great and special while, on a golf course–maybe the best place on earth, except for Fenway Park in Boston!

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Billy Dempsey – Director for Mobilization

I have been married to my wife Kate for four years. We met, became friends, dated and got married while going to school in Boone, NC at Appalachian State University. Boone will always be our home away from home and if we ever win the lottery we will build a cabin there.

After college Kate and I joined a mobilization effort called The Traveling Team. We traveled for three years laboring to mobilize college students to grow in their involvement of missions. For two years, we had the awesome opportunity to be team leaders and to direct a summer training project in Pasadena, CA at the US Center for World mission. Through these efforts we have seen college students start mission-focused bible studies, coordinate the Perspectives course on their campus and commit to go overseas. The Traveling Team allowed us to travel in a mini-van to roughly 210 colleges in three years so if you need help figuring out the best places to live or go to school in America we can assist you for a small fee. (Just Kidding)

In August 2009 I joined UWM as Director of Mobilization. My main job is to be a resource and guide for people who are seeking out ways that God can use them in missions.

Rodney Duttweiler – Area Director: West Africa

Rodney and Kathy Duttweiler, having married after graduating from Wheaton College arrived in Senegal in June 1989. In their first four 1/2 years they engaged in evangelism and discipleship outside Dakar, the country’s capital, using both French and Wolof, the national language of Senegal. Their children Caleb (19) and Jessica (16) were born and raised in Dakar. Their experiences in front line ministry prepared them for the Rodney’s next role in leadership.

In 1998, Rodney became the Senegal Team leader and Africa Area Director. He serves with 20 years of ministry experience, with over 10 in leadership. He has developed church leaders, advised para church organizations, including The Institute of Evangelical Theology of Senegal. Rod and Kathy have also served on the school board of ASCI accredited Dakar Academy. Kathy serves in hospitality and encouragement and as a translator for ministry partner, Mission Inter Senegal.

Tom Jebo – Director for Pastoral Care

Presently serving United World Mission (UWM) as Director of MemberCare, Tom and Nancy Jebo previously served UWM for 13 years as Pastor to Missionaries to those ministering with UWM and The Alliance for Saturation Church Planting in the Former Soviet Union, Eastern and Western Europe and East Africa.

Before this, they served for 8 years on the staff of Los Gatos Christian Church in Los Gatos, California where Tom was Pastor of Missions and Outreach and Nancy worked to bring missions into Women’s Ministry. During that time they traveled the world ministering to their missionaries. Their prior vocations of engineer and homemaker/mother/volunteer, as well as a season living as a family in Japan, helped prepare them for their present ministry. They have three married children and nine grandchildren.

Rich Jackson – International Ministry Director

My family and I have the privilege of living and working in Asia. It has been an interesting journey for us. My wife, Theresa, and I grew up in Atlanta, GA. Shorty after our graduation from the University of Georgia, we were married and settled into life in suburbia.In this prior life I was a CPA and Theresa taught elementary school. Life was good as our three kids were born in Atlanta and I moved from working for one of the largest international CPA firms to starting my own firm with two of my best friends.

We were minding our own business when God introduced us to the rest of the world through short-term trips with our church. One thing led to another and our family found ourselves living and working in Guatemala. From there we moved to Colorado Springs to work with a partnership working in the former Soviet countries of Eastern Europe and Central Asia.That led to us moving to Northern Thailand almost seven years ago. I am currently the Asia Area Director for a non-profit organization.

I have the best job in the world as I work closely with all of our teams spread throughout this part of the world.While I am zipping around the continent, Theresa is volunteering full-time as the Elementary Librarian at Grace International School. She will tell you that she has the best job in the world as she mixes her love for kids with her love for books.R.J. and Joshua are students at G.I.S. and Frannie is a freshman at Wake Forest University.

I love to learn about cultures, leadership and the church and hope to share my thoughts on these topics and more here. The idea of Culture Trekking is our journey through life as we live and work in many cultures.

Email Rich | Facebook | Twitter | blog: www.culturetrekking.org

Keith Keller – Director for Expedition 237

Rachel and Keith both had a strong desire to be involved in missions, yet neither of them had ever been out of the country. They decided after they were married in October ’92 that the best way to find out more about missions was to go on a two-year trip.

In May of ’94 they moved to Kiev, Ukraine with United World Mission and Youth Ministry International. While in Ukraine they worked with local, national churches to provide training and recourses for youth ministries. They returned to the U.S. and served at a local church in Texas for over 9 years where they constantly challenged the students to consider a two year cross-cultural experience.

Expedition 237 is the natural next step in their ministry. They have come full circle, helping the next generation connect with what God is doing through a 2 year experience, just as they did nearly 20 years ago.

Joe Milioni – Area Director: Latin America

My wife and I both felt called to missions at an early age. We weren’t sure what that meant or what it would look like but we knew it was where God was leading us. We got connected with United World Mission and that has resulted in a greater adventure than we ever expected.

After seminary and missionary training, in 1998, we moved to Uruguay. At that time Uruguay was considered one of the most secular countries and was a difficult place to work. While there, we helped start a seminary that now has over 1000 students. We also helped develop a church planter training that is now being used throughout Latin America.

Since then we have had the opportunity to see churches planted in Colombia and Cuba, among other countries. I am currently living in Costa Rica and serving as the co-area director for Latin America.

Gabe Smith – Director for Communication

Gabe is originally from Charlotte, North Carolina. He and his wife Janet have a 2 year old daughter Madeline. Gabe has been with UWM for 1 year. He is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and served for 7 years as an Infantry Officer in the Army including a 1 year combat tour in Iraq. His ministry experience includes 2 years on staff at Forest Hill Church as the Pastor of Mobilization and 1 year as the Director of Mobilization at United World Mission. He is currently enrolled at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary in the Masters of Divinity Program.

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Rilla Springstead – Director for Administration

Although Rilla was introduced to lots of missionaries as she grew up in a pastor’s home, it wasn’t until she spent a summer in Italy that she felt God calling her to mission work herself. After Bible college, Rilla spent 3 years in Alaska, which only furthered her desire to serve the Lord in missions. She later spent 13 years in Europe, serving in Austia, Serbia, Hungary, and Germany. In 2004 she moved back to the US to work in the headquarters of United World Mission in Charlotte, North Carolina and currently helps as an interface between the field missionaries, US staff, and supporters in the area of administration.

Mark Szymanski – Director for Expansion

Mark has been actively involved in various aspects of ministry since 1974. Throughout the years he has assisted churches and para-church ministries in developing their staff and volunteers in strategic outreach leading to transformational impact and churches planted. He served as a Mission/Administrative Pastor from 1994 to 1998 in Pennsylvania as well as the Executive Director of The Doorway Inc.

Mark has developed and guided cross-cultural church planting and other ministry in several countries, traveled in more than 75 countries, and led more than 35 short-term trips. In 1998 he joined United World Mission as Assistant to the President where he was excited to become involved in a movement, which was planting churches across the world. Today Mark’s role at United World Mission has expanded to include mobilization, field development, church partnerships, and leadership development.

Mark and his wife, Cathy, have been married for 32 years. They have three adult children, five grandchildren, and reside in Matthews NC

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