Our History

Our family began on May 13, 2000 when we were married at University Baptist Church in Clemson, SC. We met each other in August 1997 at University Baptist Church. At that time, Chris was working on a Master’s degree in Math and was ministering with the Spurgeon Foundation, a campus ministry reaching out to Clemson students with the Gospel. Heidi, who was working as a nurse in Greenville, came out to Clemson and began to get involved in the Spurgeon Foundation as well. She particularly became interested in her Bible study teacher who was teaching through the book of James. In January 1998, this Bible study teacher asked Heidi to a concert at Bob Jones University. That first date was memorable in more than one way because, in the middle of the concert, there was a fire drill and everyone had to vacate the building to stand outside in the freezing weather! 

In February 1999, the Lord led Heidi to become a short-term missionary helper in Papua New Guinea. During the summer of 1999, Chris led a mission team with GFA to the Philippines. After his trip, he took an important excursion to Papua New Guinea to visit Heidi. Little did Heidi know that Chris had been carrying something of great value with him across the world! On the evening of June 24, 1999, Chris proposed to Heidi in Goroka, Papua New Guinea. Heidi accepted and after she returned to America in September 1999 they began planning for the big wedding day.

After our wedding in May 2000 we moved to Detroit, Michigan for two years for Chris to finish his seminary training. In July 2002 we returned to Greenville, SC to begin deputation to Cambodia. By God's grace, we arrived in Cambodia in March 2004.

God has blessed us with 5 children: Rachel (2003), Isaac (2005), Susanna (2007), Titus (2009), and Seth (2013). Our family's names are easy to remember using the acrostic "Christ's":  Chris, Heidi, Rachel, Isaac, Susanna, Titus, and Seth.

Our family’s verse is Psalm 34:3 “Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.”
Our family's mission is "To love God and to love the things that God loves."