The McCourtney Family
(Zane McCourtney) Recognizing my sin and need for a savior, I received Jesus into my life as a child. Christian friends invited my parents and sister to church where they too became believers. Later in life, I left home for a secular university where my world-view, walk with the Lord, and faith would be tested. It was during this season that God in His mercy and grace protected me and led me to a Calvary Chapel where I began to grow in the Word. God started a process by which the Holy Spirit began dispelling ignorance in my life and setting me free by His truth. During my third year at college, a door was opened for me to study abroad in Ghana. Although the trip was not a missionary venture, God gave me a taste of Africa and a burden for its lost people. Having a heart to return, I prayed for a wife with similar desires…
(Summer McCourtney) Born and raised in Roseburg, Oregon, I grew up in a “typical” Christian home, though my parents were not consistent churchgoers. In His faithfulness, the Lord surrounded me with friends and family who made sure that I had the chance to go. I remember asking Christ into my life as a child but it was not until I became a teenager that I made a personal commitment to follow Him. After one of many short-term mission trips, the Lord spoke to me concerning His calling for my life – to be a fulltime missionary. Five years later, despite the tragedy of losing my younger brother, I pursued that call and enrolled in a Bible / mission’s school. The following year, I had opportunity to do a missions work in Zambia. Although my time was challenging, I knew that one day I would go back to Africa. Upon my return, I moved to Ashland Oregon, in order to finish my teaching degree. However, God had other plans – meeting my future husband at Ashland Christian Fellowship.
Neither of us had any idea that we would meet, share the same desires, and fall in love – but God did. Soon after getting married, God made a way for us to co-lead a missions team to Honduras which Hr used to plant a mutual seed for missions in both our hearts. Upon returning, we found out that we were expecting our first child, Eryn Grace. After three years of working at a Christian retreat center we began praying about full-time missions. The Spirit of God, through a series of events, led us to Far Reaching Ministries, an organization focused on reaching Africa through discipleship and church planting. By means of simple obedience to God, we pray that His will will be accomplished in our lives as we serve in Africa.
”The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth. For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. “ Acts 22:14-15