John Elam is married to Donna and they have three children.  John is the DOM of Northwestern Baptist Association in Woodward, OK.  The Church and her Mission drives much of what John does in ministry as a DOM.  Finding ways to locate the and relocate the ministry of the Gospel in the hands of God’s People is central to his expression of faithfulness toward Christ.  Theology, Literature, Music, Art, and Leadership are primary interests that always make for a good topics of conversation.  John loves the partnership that he participates in with the churches and pastors of NWBA and finds great joy in Life.  God is Good.

Russ Rankin and his wife, Angela, live begrudgingly in the United States but understand it is for a purpose that they are not overseas in this season. Russ has a background in journalism and served for five years as the Asia Overseas Correspondent for the International Mission Board, based in Thailand. After four years serving as editor in chief of LifeWay’s corporate communications department in Nashville, Russ returned to an international focus in February 2009, joining the team at e3 Partners. e3 Partners facilitates church planting in about 40 countries through short term missions and strategic training of national leaders, and also has a growing domestic presence through I Am Second. Russ and his wife live in Thompson’s Station, Tenn. (just south of Franklin), with their three children: Zachary, 14; Joseph, 10; and Anna Grace, 7, and receive extreme joy from helping people understand what true community can look like both locally and globally. Russ does not blog, but has enjoys lurking on, learning from and occasionally offering advice, when asked.