Lew is from South Carolina where he attended Southern Wesleyan University (mainly to play basketball). He ultimately transferred to Tri-County Technical College where he graduated with an industrial electronics degree. He worked in the Carolina’s as an electrician before moving to Zambia. After spending a year in Zambia taking care of construction needs for missionaries, he moved to Fort Worth, TX to attend Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary to prepare for a return to Africa. He graduated with a Diploma of Theology and a Master of Arts in Missiology. He also earned a Doctor of Missiology from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Brandi is from Louisiana and graduated from Mississippi State University. She stayed in Starkville, MS working as an assistant manager of a local restaurant before becoming a manager at Hallmark. She was active in the MSU Baptist Student Union both as a student as after graduation. She graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with a Master of Arts in Christian Education and a Master of Arts in Missiology.
We met in class at seminary and were married in 2003. In 2006 we began serving with the IMB and moved to Western Uganda to work with the Batooro people. Working alongside the local churches, we trained pastors and church members and walked with them in the journey of making disciples. We were able to learn from the churches and church planters and see God work in our lives as well as their lives. During our time in Uganda we were blessed with two daughters, Elisabeth and Abigail.
In 2010 we moved to France to work among North African immigrants. Working among secular French and Muslim immigrants was challenging and very different than the work in Uganda. Evangelism was our primary task. We also encouraged local believers and were greatly encouraged and loved by our French church family. At the end of 2012 we said goodbye to France and entered a period of transition and returned to the United States. We stayed nearly 4 years in the US. It was not our plan, but it was God’s plan. During this time, we shared with churches and individuals about what God was doing in Africa and France. We also were blessed with the birth of our son, Luke. While in the US we joined Africa Inland Mission (AIM). We raised support and joined a team in Madagascar in 2016. Madagascar utilized many of the skills we had learned in both Uganda and France. We focused much of our time on evangelism and Lew did some training with local churches.
In 2019 we moved to Kenya to begin working with AIM’s Southern Region Office to assist in church engagement and mobilization. During this time Lew began teaching at Africa International University and meeting with students and pastors. As we discipled and mentored pastors and students, we were invited to join a theological education team. This team’s goal is to reach the 85% of Kenyan pastors with little or no formal training. It is a great fit for our family, utilizing our skills and gifts in fulfilling the Great Commission. We are excited to be serving in Kenya in Theological Education and pastor training.