From the Gross to the Great - Summer Interns Learn from Ecuadorian Experiences

September 5, 2013

From the Gross to the Great - Summer Interns Learn from Ecuadorian Experiences

September 5, 2013

Summer interns Riva Macbeth and Anna Moate wrap a patient's foot at Hospital Vozandes-Shell.

(Sept. 5, 2013 - by Ralph Kurtenbach and Ruth Pike) Behind the newly constructed childcare center made of concrete and with shiny tile floors, an abhorrent scene greeted David Edgren. But this too taught him something about work in the developing world as he served as a missionary intern for several weeks in Ecuador.

Instead of piping the kitchen and bathroom waste water to an underground septic tank, followed by a drain field, the waste pipes led to holes that were easily accessed. "Kids had stuffed a bunch of toys down the hole from the bathroom and had clogged the drain," Edgren wrote to his donors and friends. "So now it was overflowing into a field behind the house and likely eventually into the river 50 meters away."

Then sparing his readers no detail, he told that upon examination the hole revealed live parasites, fecal matter and a dead chicken in what he deemed "possibly the most revolting thing I've ever seen in my life."

LAR interns 2013 Surveying Kevin Mark lr

Mark Wagner and Kevin Ng practice surveying in Shell, Ecuador.

But a lesson appeared too, there in the waste hole in a jungle community known as Amazonas. The importance of coupling proper sanitation with a community's clean water system, and "how even small inadequacies can ruin an otherwise perfect system," had never been clearer to Edgren, a Wheaton College engineering student.

Having grown up in Ecuador as the son of evangelical missionaries, Edgren happily returned to his old stomping grounds. Also interning with HCJB Global during the summer were Anna Moate, Riva Macbeth, Kevin Ng, Raquel Velasco, Mark Wagner and Kathryn White.

For several weeks the interns helped the expatriate missionaries and Ecuadorians in their work. For instance, the healthcare interns put into its simplest form a talk on rehydration so that children could understand it. Engineering students, including Edgren, worked with people of the Shuar tribe in Washintza to protect spring water for use in the community.

L-R: Anna Moate, Raquel Velasco and Riva Macbeth singing a song with the children from the Shuar community of Washintsa after teaching a hygiene lesson.

Kathryn White, a marketing student from Omaha, helped out Adela Espin of the Hospital Vozandes human resources department in Shell. "I've seen God help me to speak in Spanish better than I thought I could," she said afterwards. "The people I worked with in the hospital all spoke Spanish so I could practice a lot more vocabulary and ways to say things." Moate, a pre-medical student, found that physicians took time to explain their thinking process on diagnosing helping patients.

Dr. Kim Barton, who coordinated the interns' logistics of housing and many other details, viewed her work as investing in the development of the next generation of missionaries, shaping their ideas about missions, ministry and dependence." Additionally, HCJB Global benefits from "our own exposure to enthusiastic, passionate young people," she said.

Wagner, an engineering student, called learning about development a real eye-opener and that overall, "it's definitely been a great experience being in a different culture."

"This summer I felt like for the first time I was able to contribute to the work of missions in Ecuador, having watched my parents do it for half my life," said Edgren, adding that firsthand experience of integrating engineering with missions was instructive. "This summer confirmed for me that this is one thing that I truly would be interested in doing with my life."

Source: HCJB Global

Director of Church & Donor Partnerships

Position Summary: The Director of Church & Donor Partnerships strengthens Reach Beyond’s ministry by cultivating purposeful, trust-based relationships with churches, pastors, donors, and mission-minded individuals. Serving as a storyteller, encourager, and connector, this role invites the Body of Christ to join in God’s mission to reach those with little or no access to the Gospel.

Working closely with the Mobilization and Development teams, this person helps raise up new workers, strengthen church partnerships, and resource strategic ministry initiatives—always with a posture of discernment, prayer, and long-term stewardship.

Location: Colorado Springs or remote

Employment Type: Full time with employer-paid benefits, including medical coverage, retirement plan, and paid time off.

What This Role Does (Core Responsibilities)

1. Church Partnership Development

This role serves as a relational bridge between Reach Beyond, churches, and missionaries.

The Director:

Maintains strong relationships with existing partner churches and develops 2–4 new church partnerships annually
Shares the vision of Reach Beyond, helping churches understand and engage with the needs of the unreached
Equips churches with resources that support missionaries and foster long-term, healthy partnerships
Collaborates closely with missionaries as they engage their sending and supporting churches

2. Donor Ministry & Stewardship

This role views donor relationships as ministry and discipleship, not transactions.

The Director:

Manages relationships with approximately 12 key donor accounts
Walks alongside donors with discernment—guiding them through education, cultivation, solicitation, and appreciation
Communicates clearly about ministry priorities, impact opportunities, and project funding goals
Maintains accurate, timely records in the donor management system to ensure thoughtful follow-up and accountability

3. Representation & Engagement

This role serves as a public voice and relational presence for Reach Beyond.

The Director:

Represents Reach Beyond at 3–5 regional or national events annually, with intentional follow-up for every connection
Communicates the story of God’s work in Reach Beyond through stage presentations, small groups, and media opportunities
Participates fully in staff meetings, chapels, retreats, and organizational prayer rhythms

4. Reporting, Collaboration & Administration

This role balances relational ministry with faithful stewardship and teamwork.

The Director:

Provides quarterly written reports tracking progress toward mobilization and development goals
Works closely with the Mobilization and Development Directors to align efforts and communicate organizational priorities
Upholds organizational policies and maintains healthy, proactive communication across teams

You must be authorized to work in the United States.

We participate in the federal E-Verify program. See more information at:

https://reachbeyond.org/e-verify-right-to-work.pdf
https://reachbeyond.org/e-verify-participation.pdf

Why Join Reach Beyond? At Reach Beyond, we cultivate a culture rooted in relationship, collaboration, and dependence on God. Our mission is to see unreached people transformed in Christ through media, healthcare, and community development. As the Director of Church & Donor Partnerships, you’ll play a vital role in advancing God's mission and have the opportunity to grow personally and professionally while making a lasting global impact.

All applicants must be able to sign the Reach Beyond Statement of Faith.

Apply Now: Join us in fulfilling God’s calling to bring hope and transformation to the unreached. Complete the application here. Contact [email protected] if you have questions.