Our Story
EARLY YEARS
Joel was raised in the western suburbs of Portland, Oregon. Amy, born in North Carolina, spent her elementary years in South Bend, Indiana. Later, her parents, Mark and Judy Hayburn, became missionaries in Kenya, Africa. Consequently, Amy lived in Nairobi from fifth grade through high school, where her parents worked with Assemblies of God World Missions-Africa. Before meeting Joel, Amy served as a Missionary Associate in Marseille, France, participating in a ministry focused on reaching Muslims in North Africa.
“Without courage, we will simply accumulate a collection of good ideas and regrets. ”
OUR MINISTRY JOURNEY: FROM OAKVILLE TO ARLINGTON
Ministry and missions for us began in Oakville, Washington. Joel was the Associate/Youth Pastor when he met and married Amy in 2001. After nearly two years in Oakville, a missionary who spoke at one service recommended us to her former pastor in Arlington, Washington. We were then invited to become the Youth Pastor and Master’s Commission Director at Arlington Assembly of God.
In Arlington, the church's fervor and commitment to missions profoundly influenced us. Joel was particularly drawn to their "Hall of Faith," a corridor adorned with portraits of supported missionaries. Over almost four years, we encountered numerous missionaries and embarked on several mission trips.
JOURNEY OF FAITH: FROM PERSONAL CHALLENGES TO AFRICA’S CALL
In 2004, Joel and Amy felt a pull towards new ministry ventures and explored a two-year Missionary Associate role with Assemblies of God World Missions, with Malawi, Africa as their potential destination. However, during their fundraising year, their eldest daughter, Sydney, experienced a seizure. This medical concern, shared by family and doctors alike, put their missionary plans on hold.
Subsequently, Pastor Bill Wilson of the Portland Christian Center, Joel's home church, invited them to join the staff as Early Childhood pastors. This was apt since they were deeply immersed in that phase of family life. For thirteen years, they held various roles including children's ministry, adult education, pastoral care, and senior leadership. During this period, their family grew with the additions of Brooklyn, Jackson, and Jasper, leading to the moniker "the Slater Six."
Joel received a remarkable chance when Ray Noah became the head pastor of PCC and initiated the Petros Network, a church-planting organization that has witnessed impressive growth in eastern Africa. Pastor Ray sponsored Joel's initial journey to Africa, which eventually totaled four visits. Before his first trip, Amy prophetically told Joel, "Africa will change you." And indeed, it did.
EMBRACING MALAWAI
The Slaters landed in Lilongwe, Malawi on August 20, 2019. As part of a newly formed team, they moved into a house within the missionary compound, embarked on Chichewa language lessons, navigated intense culture shock, and began instructing both at the certificate level of Malawi Assemblies of God Institute of Theology and within Malawi Assemblies of God University's bachelor's degree program. In December 2019, a partnership opportunity with Sawyer International emerged, leading to the distribution of 500 water filters in rural villages. Joel, along with his two daughters, played pivotal roles in training local church leaders, setting the foundation for future training and distribution initiatives.
A NEW OPPORTUNITY
In early 2020, Joel and Amy observed that Jasper, their youngest, wasn't meeting certain developmental milestones. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing international lockdowns, a clear diagnosis was not obtained until late September 2020: Level 2 Autism. They faced a decision: return to the USA or pursue reassignment in Africa. They opted for reassignment, which led to a relocation to Durban, South Africa.
Once there, they worked with Urban Tribes, contributing to the strengthening and relocation of Northplace Church. They successfully raised $260,000 USD to renovate its newly acquired building. During this period, the Slaters also crafted a Discipleship Pathway, designed to guide individuals in cultivating the habits characteristic of genuine, healthy disciples.
By 2022, they became part of the Healthy Pastor/Healthy Church Initiative team. Founded by Dr. Gordon Lebelo and the Executive Team of International Assemblies of God, this initiative emphasizes assisting pastors in achieving spiritual, emotional, relational, and vocational wellness. A robust, healthy foundation is essential for guiding flourishing churches.