We are Drew and Lela Mahaney Missionaries to South Korea. We left Fairhaven in 2012 to move to Texas and prepare for our upcoming ministry in foreign missions. We now have three boys Eric (2012), Nathanael(2014), and Reagan (2017). God has blessed our family beyond compare. When I chose, by God’s leading, to attend Fairhaven I knew God wanted me to return to Korea in some capacity. Whether that be a missionary or an English teacher, assisting a missionary was not clear at the time.
After working in our now sending church, First Baptist Church Haltom City, for four years God prepared us for our current ministry. We started Deputation in May of 2015. At that point we were planning to work under a missionary for some time and grow. We would then branch out and start our own work. God had different plans for us. During our first year of Deputation, a veteran Missionary contacted us and asked us to pray about taking over the work in Waegwan. This was on the other side of the country from where we were going to start. After much prayer, we felt it was God’s will for us to go to Waegwan, and pastor Armed Forces Baptist Church.
We fast tracked our deputation as the missionary had to leave Korea quickly. Due to unforeseen circumstances he left six months before we were able to come to the country. By God’s grace, He provided a young man who was willing to keep the church alive until we could arrive. Services dwindled to one service a week before we arrived. Knowing the state of the church we left the States in October of 2017. God has blessed our church in many ways. We are now running a full schedule of services. We have seen 9 souls saved in the past year. Our people are learning and growing. There is an excitement in our church to reach the lost. We held our first ever VBS last summer and had an average of 30 children each night. It is amazing to see what God can do when we let him work.
Our church is reaching two very different cultural types. The majority of our church is made up of Korean Nationals. However, being right outside Camp Carroll (An Army Post) we have an outreach to the United States Military personnel stationed here. Please pray for our family and our church as we seek to do whatever we can to reach the lost and see them grow.
Drew and Lela Mahaney