Our Missionaries

Ann and Wayne Curles began serving in Eastern Europe in 1988 through Church Resource Ministries.  As training for the ministry in organized schools was virtually impossible behind the former “Iron Curtain,” Wayne served as an instructor in BEE’s (Biblical Education by Extension, formerly Eastern European Seminary) seminary on “wheels.”   

With the “cold war” political changes which occurred in the early 1990’s, BEE expanded its ministry from Eastern Europe into those parts of the former Soviet Union where ministerial training had been expressly forbidden for decades and was continuing to be either officially discouraged or not available.  Beginning in 1991, the Curles were assigned to those BEE teams working primarily in the Baltic States, the Ukraine, and western Russia.  From 1994-97, they were assigned to teaching the BEE curriculum of 15 Bible based courses in the Central Asian part of the newly formed C.I.S., especially in the former Soviet Union areas of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and other principally Muslim countries of the region. 

For the last several years, Wayne and Ann have been working on the team that is spearheading BEE’s ministry in Southeast Asia.  Currently, BEE has “theological education for pastors” teaching ministries actively going on in China, Korea, Burma, Nepal, and Vietnam. Wayne is the country coordinator for the entire BEE ministry in Burma (Myanmar). At present, over 400 pastors/students are enrolled in BEE’s curriculum in Burma, with new classes being formed each year. This training of church leadership continues to be crucial if the church in these and other areas of the world is to be strengthened during this continuing period of political change and uncertainty.

Serving in Asia with Church Resource Ministries
PO Box 381442
Birmingham, AL 35238

Johnny was born in Tampa, Florida, USA, after completing his public education, graduated from Belhaven College in Jackson, Mississippi in Biblical Studies and Philosophy (1965). That year, Johnny and Rebecca Ann Morse (“Becky”), a Presbyterian pastor’s daughter from Birmingham, Alabama were married. After earning the Master of Divinity degree at Reformed Theological Seminary, Jackson, Mississippi (1968), the Longs did youth ministry in Virginia and South Florida. Johnny was ordained in 1970 by the Presbytery of the Everglades of the Presbyterian Church in the United States (PCUS). Volunteering for overseas service, the Longs were appointed by the Reformed Presbyterian Church Evangelical Synod (RPCES) to serve the Africa Evangelical Presbyterian Church (AEPC) in Kenya, East Africa. From 1973 to 1977, they were engaged in a ministry of church planting, leadership training, and famine relief. In 1977 the Longs returned to the United States and until 1992, pastored Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) congregations in Mississippi (3½ yrs.) and Alabama (12 yrs.).

After experiencing what Johnny and Becky call “a profound and much-needed spiritual renewal,” they responded to calls from African church leaders and World Harvest Mission to return to Kenya. Johnny, Becky, and Elizabeth (“Libba,” then 11) arrived in Nairobi in January 1994 to begin a decade-long renewal work with church leaders and in theological schools. During this time Johnny earned the Doctor of Ministry degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary with a specialty in Christian Spirituality, “SONSHIP for Africa” being Part II of his three-part doctoral thesis. The book is available in English, Amharic (Ethiopia), Malagasy (the language of the Island of Madagascar), and is currently being translated into French for use in theological schools in Africa, and German for  training German speaking missionaries in Tanzania.

In October 2002, WHM asked the Longs to relocate to London, England to direct the renewal component of a new evangelism & church-planting ministry to reach the post-Christian generation in the UK. The four-family Africa Renewal Team, having done its work of discipling Sonship trainers around Africa, was disbanded in late 2003 whereupon the Longs returned to the US to raise the additional support needed to begin a new ministry in the UK. They arrived in London in mid-August 2005, and have begun the work of developing mentoring relationships with pastors in the application of the Gospel to their personal and family lives, their preaching and teaching, and their leadership of their churches in ministries of nurture, evangelism, and church planting. Links have been established with a number of leaders in the IPC (International Presbyterian Church), the C of E (Church of England), FIEC (Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches), the Free Church of Scotland, and several Reformed Baptist Churches. Three pastors are assisting Johnny in the re-writing of his SONSHIP for Africa course for the UK context (“Grace4Life”). Currently he is training a group of nine English pastors in “Gospel-centered preaching,” a course he is developing for the John Owen Center meeting at the London Theological Seminary.

Johnny also serves as the Renewal Coordinator for WHM in Africa, and he and Becky will be teaching in Kenya and Madagascar in November 2006, and return to Nairobi in 2007 to do the Africa Inland Mission conference.

Serving with World Harvest Mission in London
28 Cranmer Close
Ruislip, Middlesex
HA4 9QF
NW London, England

Greg and Susan met at Andrew College in Cuthbert, GA in 1992.  They both transferred to the Medical College of Georgia, where Greg received his degree in occupational therapy in 1995 and Susan received her degree in 1996.  They were married one week following Susan's graduation and moved to Columbus, GA.  Greg is a native of Columbus and has worked primarily in the public school system.  He also holds a master's in educational leadership.  Susan is originally from Glennville, GA and has worked primarily with children also.  She currently home schools all three of their sons.

 In 2006, following a persistent plea from a missionary friend, Greg and Susan traveled to Sofia, Bulgaria and worked there for a week in the Lomidol Resource Center.  During this time, God called them to come back long term.  Greg and Susan were able to see how their skills as therapists could open doors for sharing the gospel with the Bulgarian therapists, parents, and disabled children.  Their hope is to see the church grow through the relationships they build while serving and living among the Bulgarians.