Willing and Ready to Exchange

the Comfort Zone for The Growth Zone

WHO WE ARE

We are Joel, Amy, Sydney, Brooklyn, Jackson, and Jasper, collectively known as the Slater Six.

After nineteen years in pastoral ministry, we felt God's direction to serve pastors and churches in Malawi, Africa, pushing us from our comfort zone to a space of growth.

During our 14 months in Malawi, we studied Chichewa, taught at MAGIT/MAGU, and initiated a water filter project. It was then we learned of our youngest son's Autism diagnosis. Faced with a decision, we chose to relocate for his care and were reassigned to Durban, South Africa, as part of the Urban Tribes project team. In 2022, we embraced a new role at the national level, joining the "Healthy Pastor/Healthy Church” initiative. This dedicated team travels across all South African provinces, helping pastors foster spiritual, emotional, relational, and vocational health. From this foundation, churches thrive and flourish.

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.

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 Malawi

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.

Our Mission

We are leveraging our 19 years of pastoral ministry to detect, develop, and deploy new pastors who will model Christ-centered community for our generation and the ones that follow us.

What We Do...

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