Mission Partners

Our team acts a bridge between the congregation and our mission partners by developing and implementing creative ways for the Open Door to financially, physically, emotionally, and prayerfully unite with our mission partners.

We’re always looking for others to join us! Please email the mission team to get connected.
Local Partners Global Partners
Garfield Community Farm Jess & Eman @ ASELSI
Open Hand Ministries Liz & Andrew @ Teach Beyond
Lamppost Farm Arturo Velasco @ Lion of Judah Church
Casa San Jose* Tutapona*

*Developing Partnership

Nick has been serving on the mission team in various capacities since 2012.  While maintaining a profession in mechanical engineering, he spends his time connecting with friends and family while working on serving his church and staying "young at heart".  His wife, Heather, is currently on the Board of Directors for Open Hand Ministries. Nick has maintained deep connections with ASELSI (through Jess and Eman) and has enjoyed seeing growth in Lee Scott, Garfield Community Farm, and Lamppost Farm.

  • Strongest Local Connection: Open Hand Ministry

  • Strongest Global Connection: ASELSI (Jess & Eman)

Niquelle has been serving on the mission team, in various capacities, since 2022. When she’s not hiking with her spouse and pup, she can be found volunteering at Garfield Community Farm or caring for a few amazing goats through Allegheny Goatscape. She is grateful to keep the history of being a “missional church” alive and well through the work of this small but mighty (and compassionate, creative, and caring!) team. 

  • Strongest Local Connection: Garfield Community Farm

  • Strongest Global Connection: Tutapona

Dave has been serving on the mission team since 2025. During the day you can find him hunched over his computer working from home and in his spare time he’s often playing music (guitar & piano) or playing games (chess & video games). Dave enjoys volunteering/sharing his musical abilities during worship throughout the year. He is looking forward to deepening relationships between our church and our local mission partners.

Global Mission Partners

Lion of Judah - Arturo Velasco

  • Description (from podcast): Arturo Velasco serves as pastor of Leon de Juda (Lion of Judah Church) in Atizapan, Mexico, a suburb of Mexico City. Arturo's passion is to work with the poor, with homeless street children and with indigenous peoples throughout Mexico. He and his wife Elizabeth have helped leaders throughout the country be better equipped with the Good News of Jesus and see it's holistic effect on our lives. Arturo is a mission partner of The Open Door and has led many of us in experiencing the work of Jesus outside of our American setting. Our relationship with Arturo and Elizabeth has been one of mutual encouragement.

  • OD contact: John Creasy

  • 2021 podcast w/ Arturo: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-46vnv-fe5587 

ASELSI (Association Equipping the Saints International Ministries) 

Jessica Gormley de Perez and Emanual Perez de la Roca

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Volunteer to serve on a team (https://www.aselsi.org/teams.html)

Teach Beyond--Beyond Borders: Andrew & Liz Steggall-Lewis

  • Beyond Borders Description (from website): 

    • Reaching. We send Christian educators, administrators and staff—with a heart for relationship and a call to live out and proclaim the Good News—to provide educational solutions to the displaced and marginalized. 

    • Teaching. We work in partnership with like-minded organizations and local community groups, training and empowering local staff and volunteers to impact their own communities. 

    • Transforming. While we believe that education is an effective catalyst bringing hope to individuals and positive transformation to societies, we believe lives are ultimately transformed when people encounter the truth, grace, and love of Christ.

  • OD contact: Teresa Yoder (tayodz@gmail.com) 

  • Website: https://teachbeyond.org/beyondborders/

  • Ways to get involved--Visit their website to join their support team or send an inquiry about serving with them https://teachbeyond.org/beyondborders/#support 

Local Mission Partners

Open Hand Ministries

Executive Director: Wayne F. Younger

  • Description: Open Hand Ministries (OHM) responds to Economic injustice and the wealth gap inequality common to inner city neighborhoods through its assets based Family Development Program. This program is open to low/moderate income families in Pittsburgh's East End. OHM Construction Services rehabs vacant homes in the area to provide an affordable home-ownership option to members of our OHM Family Development Community Members who qualify. OHM works to provide an alternative to home ownership inequities often created by gentrification Mail for OHM can be sent to 616 N. Highland Ave., Rm 108, Pittsburgh, PA 15206.

  • OD contact:

  • Website: http://openhandpgh.org/

  • Ways to get involved

    • Apply to be supported on the journey to financial wellness (which may or may not include homeownership)

    • Volunteer to help rehab a property

    • Support our OHM Community by becoming a Team Member

    • Donate online

    Contact: Cheryl A. Lowitzer, Administrative Coordinator

Lampost Farm

Lamppost Farm (Columbiana, OH)