GLOBAL PARTNERS
Karis is both for the city and for the kingdom, which means we strive to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28), equipping and sending leaders for the future from Columbia to the ends of the earth. Karis Church has always viewed herself as an equipping center, training and sending people to serve in vocational ministry, but also in whatever calling God might give His children. We are about His kingdom. This is seen in our commitment to church planting and international mission, as well as our emphasis on developing and sending leaders. By God’s grace, over the years, we’ve been able to be a part of starting new churches as close as here in Columbia, as well as all across the globe. Read more below about some of the church plants, missionaries, and global networks we support!
If you’re interested in leadership development at Karis Church, visit our Karis Internship and Lead School pages to learn more. If you’re interested in supporting our global partners financially, visit our Give page or the partner’s respective website linked below.
Caleb & Kelly Bales
Karis supports former members Caleb & Kelly who are seeking to spread the good news of the gospel in Scotland, now considered an unreached nation. They are working with local churches to form a team to plant a church in an unreached region of Scotland, and Karis provides financial support for their mission work there.
drew & Megumi glosson
Drew & Megumi have spent years working alongside a church planter in Tokyo, Japan and are are committed to reaching Japan’s most marginalized. After serving in ministry in Japan for several years and then returning to Karis for a season, Karis sent the Glossons back to Tokyo in 2016. Karis continues to provide ongoing financial support for their mission work in Tokyo.
Jeremy & leanna grove
Karis sent out the Grove family to serve on staff at Soma Tokyo in Japan from 2018 to 2025. Now you'll see them in a neighborhood near you! Jeremy is a Missions Coach for their sending agency, Crossworld, seeking to mobilize and equip disciple-makers from all professions to bring God's love to life among the least reached.
The H family
Karis sent out and supports a family on mission in North Africa that is seeking to establish a healthy local church among an unreached Muslim people group. They currently strive to build long-term, trusting relationships among their neighbors as they seek the spread of the gospel in this region. Their identity and location is concealed due to the nature of their work and location.
eric & SUZANA PAPP
Eric & Suzana serve with Restore Brazil in Rio de Jeneiro where Eric works with developing mercy ministry and hosting mission teams. Eric was sent to Brazil in 2014, and Karis continues to financially support their mission efforts there.
kevin & moselle stark
Karis sent out Kevin & Moselle to Kenya in 2020 to serve with Tenwek Hospital where Moselle trains OB/GYN residents who are discipled and sent out as agents of both physical and spiritual healing. The Starks receive financial support from Karis as they serve in medical missions.
barry & kim still
Barry & Kim Still serve with Restore Brazil in Rio de Janeiro in mercy ministry and church planting initiatives. Kim completed the Karis Internship before we sent them out to Brazil in 2018. Karis provides ongoing financial support to the mission work of the Still family.
David & Heidi reece
The Reece family moved to Uganda in 2023 to serve as Family Mentors with His Voice Global, an organization striving to raise leaders from among the most vulnerable. Karis supports their missional efforts through financial contributions.
MISSION CHURCH
Karis sent out Billy & Hannah Glosson in 2018 to plant Coram Deo Church in Morganton, North Carolina. Prior, Billy served as both an intern and elder at Karis. Coram Deo Church has since become Mission Church, a self-sustaining and growing church family.
ROOTED CHURCH
In 2014, Karis Church sent out and commissioned Ryan and Melissa Worley to plant Rooted Church in Northwest Arkansas. Rooted Church has since become a self-sustaining, church-planting church.
Josh & Laura Rice
Former Karis members, the Rices participated in some of the earliest Karis trips to Japan, and in 2022 moved to Yamaguchi, Japan to live on mission there. Karis supports the Rice family through financial contributions.
visio dei
Visio Dei was planted by Karis in 2014, multiplying out to reach more areas of Mid-Missouri. Since then, Visio Dei has become a self-sustaining church on mission in Jefferson City, MO. Karis sent out Tony and Brianna Boes to lead there.
ACTS 29 NETWORK
Acts 29 is a diverse, global community of healthy, multiplying churches characterized by theological clarity, cultural engagement, and missional innovation. Karis is a member of Acts 29 and financially supports their church planting efforts.
RESTORE BRAZIL
Restore Brazil has worked to plant churches, train pastors, and do mercy ministry in Brazil since 2009. Karis provides financial contributions to Restore Brazil in addition to the several partners we have sent to work alongside this organization and its church partners.