2025 Global Missions Conference
February 1, 2025 – Tracy Ross
Schedule of Events:
Wednesday, February 19, 5:15 p.m.
Supper in McIntosh Hall
Wednesday, February 19, 6:30 p.m.
Rev. Jermaine Van Buren speaks to youth and adults in Taylor Hall
Saturday, February 22, 5:30 p.m.
~ Supper in McIntosh Hall
~ Missionary Reports by Rev. Ed Thompson & Miss Cheryl Crocker
Saturday, February 22, 6:30 p.m.
~ Worship Service in Sanctuary with Dr. Jeff Lowman preaching on
“Christ’s Passion Unfolded: What is Your Passion?” from Luke 15:1-7
~ Missionary Report by Dr. Mike Rasmussen
~ Dr. Mike Rasmussen with children at 4 Corners Café in Taylor Hall
Sunday, February 23, 9:30 a.m.
~ Dr. Jeff Lowman & Rev. Ed Thompson with children in Taylor Hall
~ Dr. Mike Rasmussen speaks to youth in Youth Center
~ Miss Cheryl Crocker & Mr. Evan Jones speak to adults in Sanctuary
Sunday, February 23, 10:45 a.m.
Worship Service in Sanctuary with Dr. Jeff Lowman preaching on
“Pursuing the Passion of Christ: How Will You Live Out His Passion?” from 2 Timothy 4:6-17
Sunday, February 23, 6:00 p.m.
~ Worship Service in Sanctuary with Dr. Jeff Lowman preaching on
“Christ’s Passion Glorified: What is Your Hope?” from Revelation 5:1-10
~ Missionary Report by Rev. Ed Thompson
~ Mr. Evan Jones with children at 4 Corners Café in Taylor Hall
Dr. Jeff Lowman, Missions Conference Speaker
Dr. Lowman serves as a Faculty Instructor with Equipping Leaders International. E.L.I. is a PCA-oriented international ministry that trains national pastors in Biblical understanding, Reformed theology, church planting and pastoral leadership and ministry. Over the past three years, Jeff has trained pastors and church leaders with E.L.I. in Ghana, Cuba, Honduras, Kenya and Tanzania both through travel and Zoom. His primary focus has become the Los Pinos Nuevos Seminary in Santa Clara, Cuba.
In 2022, Jeff retired from pastoral ministry after 32 years as senior pastor of Evangel Church PCA in Alabaster, Alabama. Before coming to Evangel, he served churches in Macon and Ridgeland, Mississippi. Jeff received his B.A. from Belhaven College, M.Div. from Reformed Theological Seminary, and D.Min. from RTS/Highlands Theological College, Dingwall, Scotland. Jeff has also served for almost thirty years as a professor of Systematic Theology and Homiletics at Birmingham Theological Seminary. During his time at Evangel, he served in missions by traveling to multiple countries to equip pastors through the church’s mission ministry, Mission to the World, and Globeworks International Ministry.
Jeff is the blessed husband of Sallie. They were married while in seminary. Sallie has a degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from RTS and continues in her counseling practice. Jeff and Sallie have three children, Sarah (Asa), Hughes (Cori) and Jeffery, who is with the Lord, and four beautiful granddaughters and one handsome grandson.
Miss Cheryl Crocker with Mission to the World
Miss Crocker is a nurse who ministered over eight years in the Philippines as a medical missionary with an MTW church-planting team. She returned to the U.S. in 2009 and now serves by preparing for and leading medical teams around the world. Cheryl also assists in recruitment of both medical and lay people to take part on these medical teams.
Mr. Evan Jones with Mission to the World
Mr. Evan Jones, along with his wife Bonnie and their children Charlotte, Lucas, Aiden, and twin newborns are living in Mississippi. Evan and his family served for six years in Burkina Faso as church planters. He is now attending Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson and interning under a local church as he pursues ordination within the PCA. Evan is also the director for West Africa of Equipping Farmers International (EFI) under Mission to the World. Evan works with pastors to facilitate the growth of sustainable churches through small-scale farming and agriculture. His ministry seeks to empower local pastors to be able to help the struggling farmers who make up most of the congregations in finding food security through the aid of the church.
Dr. Mike Rasmussen with HopeRussia Seminary
Dr. Rasmussen is Vice President for North American Ministry & Professor of Biblical Studies for HopeRussia (https://www.hoperussia.org), a PCA-allied theological seminary and church planting partnership based in St. Petersburg, Russia. He is also on the faculty (teaching biblical languages and exegesis) of three seminaries in Atlanta, Athens and Augusta, Georgia. Mike’s PhD is in Old Testament from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. He is the author of Conceptualizing Distress in the Psalms (www.degruyter.com) and has planted two PCA churches. Mike and his wife, Renatta, live in Athens, Georgia. They have two adult sons and two granddaughters.
Rev. Ed Thompson with LOGOI
Rev. Thompson is a joyful third-generation missionary and the President of LOGOI Ministries. Founded in 1968 by the late Dr. Les Thompson (Ed’s Dad), LOGOI’s ministry is focused on helping Spanish pastors and teaching leaders “do His work and build up the church, the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12). With LOGOI’s Bible courses and online resources, Ed’s tenure has seen the ministry grow from 6,000 pastors and leaders to over 32,000 participants across 56 countries.
A recording artist and author, Ed’s book, “Monkeys in My Coconut Tree,” — a collection of fun stories with biblical applications — was named Silver Medal Winner by the Readers’ Favorite 2016 International Book Awards. He is married to Lyssa-Jenness, donated two knees to the Wheaton College (IL) football program, and is the very proud father of three amazing grown kids with five even more amazing grandchildren. Ed enjoys sports, a good laugh, a robust cup of coffee, and driving around in his pickup truck.
Rev. Jermaine Van Buren with RUF at Jackson State
Rev. Van Buren is Campus Associate for Reformed University Fellowship at Jackson State University.
A native of Hattiesburg, he graduated from Oak Grove High School in 2016. After earning a Bachelor of Science-Communication Arts (Theatre) from Troy University, Jermaine then received his Master’s of Divinity-Counseling Emphasis from Reformed Theological Seminary. He is married to Laurie Upchurch Van Buren; she is a Licensed Professional Counselor who primarily specializes in play therapy, and they live in the Fondren area of Jackson.
Jermaine’s favorite hobbies include playing card and board games, reading about Mississippi black history, going to the movies, bowling, pickleball, and listening to live music! His life verse is Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
