Richard and Amanda Coleman
Ethiopia

The Coleman family has been involved in cross-cultural missions for many years. Richard’s first short-term opportunity was a 7-week trip to Uganda back in 1998. On this trip he was surprised at how God used him and had a deep sense of peace that living in Africa might be somewhere in his future. After several more trips over the next 5 years, he finished his B.A. (New Testament) and Masters of Divinity from Oral Roberts University (ORU). Prior to his last year at ORU, friends introduced Richard to Amanda, a woman with a creative bent and a heart for the nations. Amanda transferred to ORU, where she later graduated with a degree in missions. After graduation Richard served for three years as the missions director of a mega church in metro-Atlanta. There he taught classes, led short-term trips, created missions awareness, and managed relationships with the 40 or so missionaries/organizations supported by the church. From there Richard and Amanda joined the staff of TMS Global. Amanda served as the field ministries assistant for a little over two years. In this role she supported over 150 missionaries serving abroad. Richard worked as the senior director of mobilization and candidacy for more than ten years. In this role, he recruited, advised, and screened missionary candidates. Also, as one of a few African-Americans in his field, he has spent a considerable amount of time encouraging and training African-Americans to get engaged in cross-cultural ministry. In addition to his work with TMS Global, Richard taught Perspectives classes, served as a leader within the Lausanne Movement, and advised churches as it relates to cross-cultural outreach. Avid learners of culture, the Colemans have traveled to a combined 30+ countries and have a wide diversity of friendships. They love to try new foods, make new friends, and travel together. In March 2018, Richard and his family hope to move to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to become a part of what the Church there is already doing to live out its faith. After their initial year of language and cultural preparation, they hope to partner with an Ethiopian ministry and play roles that have been strategically assigned to them. Their heart is to go as learners and co-laborers eager to participate in what God is already doing through the Ethiopian believers. As of now, it looks like these roles will be related to training, mentoring, team building, and mobilization.