ABOUT US
The Shell Family
Jon, Laura, Lucas, Caleb, Ella and Micah
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The Lord called both of us to international/foreign missions separately as teenagers on short-term trips to Mexico. Our hearts were burdened by what we experienced and uplifted by the call to serve the Lord in ministry internationally. This led us to Europe where we met in 2000 in the Czech Republic attending a Missionary Training School.
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We have served domestically in Maryland, West Virginia and Texas and in over 6 nations internationally over the past 20 years. We lived in the RGV region of Texas for 13 years. During the COVID crisis, we began to pray, and God opened our eyes to Europe and specifically Germany. Our hearts desire is to make disciples and mobilize others to serve in the harvest field of Europe. We live in Kandern, Germany. We work with missionary kids, third culture kids (TCK's), Refugees and the local church.
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Our Ministry
Teaching and Discipling Students
Missionary Kids and Third Culture Kids (TCK'S)
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Black Forest Academy is a private coeducational boarding school serving grades 5 through 12. BFA’s mission is to provide a quality, international Christian education that equips students to influence their world. The school campus is located in Kandern, Germany.
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Our mission is to provide our students with a quality, international Christian education that equips students to influence their world through biblical thought, character and action. We partner with families living in 40+ countries around the world.
We serve as missionaries at Black Forest Academy and the community of Kandern, Germany. Black Forest Academy (BFA), a middle and high school located in Southwest Germany that provides a college-preparatory education grounded in Biblical principles.
Many of the school’s 350 students are the children of missionaries who represent over 125 families that are serving in countries were this sort of education is not available. BFA currently serves students from 52 Nations, having an enormous global impact! We will serve in Germany so their parents can stay and serve where God has called them.
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Jon currently is teaching in the High School and Laura is making connections in the community as well as partnering with others to minister to a group of 120+ refugees that have moved into Kandern by facilitating tea time, support and outreach.
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This is just the beginning. In the meantime, please pray. We cannot ask for this enough. As a reminder, BFA staff are responsible for raising their full financial support. So if you feel led we would love your support in this journey as well.
Refugee Ministry
Being the Hands and Feet of Jesus
Relationships and making connections in the community are a big focus, but so is partnering with others to minister to a group of 120+ refugees that have moved into Kandern by facilitating tea time, support and outreach.
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With the war in Ukraine, we have see many women and children flooding into Germany and large groups moving into our area looking for safety and security.
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There are at least 2 local camps that house refugees from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Turkey and other countries across Africa and the Middle East.
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We are here to minister and meet the needs of those moving here for safety.
German and Europe
God expanding His Kingdom through all peoples of Europe to the world
With less than 2% of Europeans having a personal relationship with Christ, we will be working to engage them with the Gospel of Christ. We do this through evangelism and discipleship. Our vision is to work with the diaspora of refugees and immigrants in Europe. We serve under the umbrella of Greater Europe Mission as our sending agency.