Jon and Lindsay Birkey

Lindsay: I didn’t grow up going to church regularly. In junior high, I saw my friends getting into trouble and making bad decisions. I was at a crossroads—would I join them or not? I asked God to show me what it meant to have Jesus in my heart. My best friend invited me to youth group. The youth pastor had a BIG impact on my life and showed me what it meant to live as Christ would, both in and out of church. I rededicated my life to Christ and felt the calling to ministry, because I wanted to be that kind of a person to other children and youth.

Jon: In junior high, I accepted an altar call and asked Jesus into my life. My youth pastor had a major impact on my spiritual formation. I was baptized at 16 and began to feel God calling me into youth ministry. I wanted to help other youth come to know Jesus as their Savior. During my senior year of college, I had an opportunity to serve with World Gospel Mission in the Volunteers In Action program. I realized that although mission work is needed all over the world, there is a mission field in our own backyard.

After serving as youth pastors for three years, we felt the call to serve God as missionaries. We direct the camping ministry at Southwest Indian Ministries Center in Arizona on the American Indian Field. We offer year-round camps for grades 1 through 12 and leadership training for ages 12 and up. Through our camps, we share the gospel with Native American children and youth. Our vision is to train up and disciple young leaders who will impact their families, schools, churches, and communities for Christ.