DEPUTIZING MISSIONARIES
Meet the Metro Missionary Families
Currently on Deputation
Metro Missionaries are dedicated to spreading the gospel and planting churches across various regions. These deputizing families are actively raising funds for their crucial church planting efforts.
Join us in the endeavor to bring the hope of the gospel to communities in need. Your support enables us to extend our reach and make a meaningful impact in people's lives. Together, we can sow seeds of faith and build a brighter future in North America for generations to come.
Blackburn, Mark & Crystal - Kansas City Metro
Mark and Crystal Blackburn have been in full-time ministry for over 27 years. They served for 14 years at Gateway College, first as Campus Pastor and then as Vice President, before spending six years as administrator of Pentecostal Publishing House. For the past seven years, they have served as church planters and Metro Missionaries to Kansas City. At the 2016 General Conference, God called the Blackburns back to the city they love, the city where Crystal was raised and where they were married and began their life together.
In 2018, they left St. Louis and moved to the Kansas City metro area as Metro Missionaries. They launched Cross Church the following year. At the 2023 General Conference, God solidified a plan that had been germinating for several years—a plan to begin a church planting residency in the Kansas City Metro area. The purpose of this residency program is to equip and empower leaders to plant healthy, multiplying Apostolic churches in Kansas City and beyond! For more information, please visit www.focuskc.org. They have now been appointed as Career Church Planters to see this project come to fruition and to see dozens of new churches planted in Kansas City.
Jimenez, Santy & Stephanie - Miami, FL
In 2012, they felt a call to plant a church in a needed city. They were approved and planted one in Miami, FL where they began their Pastoral journey at Iglesia Virtud (Virtue Church) 12 years ago. As pastors, their burden for the city of Miami and passion to reach the lost only grew, leading them to plant their first daughter work in Cutlerbay, FL. Two years ago they opened a second daughter work. Miami didn’t just become their home, but their God-appointed mission. Santy’s innate love for people and undeniable burden for church planting has led him to serve in various areas in ministry. Santy & Stephanie have dedicated their lives to serving God and sharing the revelation of Jesus Christ together with their two miracle boys, Sian & Sianel.
Oddo, James Oddo -
New Orleans Metro
Join North American Missions in supporting the life-changing ministry of James Oddo in New Orleans! With 38 years of passionate service, James is a proven soul winner, veteran church planter, and dynamic preacher whose calling has taken him across the United States and around the globe. Now, his heart is set on the diverse communities of the New Orleans Metro area, where he is planting churches and raising up new leaders through the Church of the Apostles.
Over the past 18 months, more than 150 individuals have been baptized and filled with the Holy Ghost, a testament to the power and impact of this ministry. James’ vision extends beyond the pulpit. Through Eighth Day Ministry (EDM), he offers hope and a fresh start to those overcoming addiction, providing housing and discipleship in a Christ-centered environment. In May 2025, EDM purchased a new house to accommodate 10 more souls, providing them with a place to heal and grow in Jesus’ name.
Thompson, Galen & Ann - Rocky Mountain District
Galen Thompson and his wife, Ann, are church planters, teachers, trainers, and leaders. They are passionate about training church planters. In 2018, Galen was asked to serve as Director of Training for North American Missions, UPCI. Since then, he has created extensive church planters’ curriculum for NAM. In 2024, they were appointed as Forward Missionaries to the Rocky Mountain District, where they will take their 40+ years of experience and training into the field as circuit riders, with a goal to start multiple churches within the unreached areas of Montana.
Willis, Donny & Ashley - New York City, NY
Within New York City's fascinating makeup lies the remarkable fact that approximately 8 million souls speaking 700 different languages call it home. In order to make an impact in this grand city the UPCI is excited to commission church planters Donny and Ashley Willis as Metro Missionaries to reach #ForNewYork. Donny and Ashley have served as pastor in New York since 2017 to two churches, one in the suburbs and the other which they started in the heart of Times Square. With your financial support they are ready to start the next church in the New York Metro. Together let’s reach NYC for Jesus! Learn more at fornewyork.faith