Matthew was rescued by Jesus when he was twenty-three. Shortly after, he found himself in Ghana, West Africa on the first of what would be many ventures to the mission field. That first trip, he says, “ruined me for anything less than a life lived for God’s global purpose.” In 1993 he began serving at Calvary of Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he attended and graduated from their School of Ministry. He worked as the Missions Pastor at Calvary for nine years, developing and launching a strategic church-wide missions ministry. There he founded an international short-term mission ministry called LifeLine Missions that gave thousands across the country the opportunity to experience the mission field firsthand.

Through these ministry opportunities he became extensively involved in short and long-term mission endeavors around the world. Now, he devotes his time to serving local churches across the country by coaching them in strategically focused missions and helping them to discover and use their unique gifts in partnership with others to make Christ known among all nations. He currently lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico with his wife, Renee.

After spending 10 years as a professional Firefighter/EMT / Fire Inspector in Fort Worth, TX, David left the fire service for full-time vocational ministry. He served for the past 9 years with the Perspectives Study Program as the Texas Regional Director. During his time there he worked with more than 300 churches to help mobilize them to strategic engagement in God’s global mission.

David has led more than a dozen trips to Central America doing evangelism, medical and orphan care, firefighter training, and church planting. He has helped his church and others develop missionary training and equipping programs and he has spoken to thousands of students and adults across the US and Central America about God’s global mission with a great passion to mobilize the body of Christ to strategic engagement in God’s global purpose.

Growing up in church, Tom was saved at young age. He has been blessed to have a wonderful Christian heritage, with many in his family involved in ministry. Tom has served in ministry in many different ways. He was a pastoral assistant and youth pastor with his wife Melissa at Western Heights Church (aka Remedy Church), in Albuquerque for many years. Currently, Tom and his wife serve as Pastor of Western Heights Church. They have three wonderful sons: Chory, Taylor and Tommy. He has a heart for the lost and the fulfillment of the Great Commission. He is honored that God has allowed him to be a part of Sixteen:Fifteen, even though he is not on the “frontline” of ministry, He says, “It’s awesome to watch history unfold before my eyes — seeing churches unleashed to reach people groups all over the world!” (Revelation 7:9-10)

Rachel was saved at a young age and grew up in a mission-minded church where she was encouraged to participate in multiple aspects of ministry. She spent much of her childhood and teenage years participating in both domestic and international missions initiatives, cultivating in her a heart for the unreached.

Randi is a stay-at-home mom who has felt a clear calling to the nations on her life from a young age. While pursuit of that call looked like short term mission through middle school, high school and college, in adulthood, she has found purpose and joy in serving with mobilization ministries at home to see the gospel go out to the ends of the earth.

Randi is the quintessential extrovert and treasures the opportunity to turn off the ‘mom brain’ and love and serve others as part of the 16:15 team. Her desire is to make sure everyone has the information and supplies they need to be comfortable and ready to learn when attending the workshop. Whether she’s at home with her husband and 3 boys or at the laptop working on details for the next Mobilized Church Workshop, the job requirements really remain the same: someone needs a reminder about where they’re supposed to be and everyone needs a snack.

Growing up as an army brat, Natashia spent many of her growing up years in the Asian and Pacific Islander melting pot known as Hawai’i. This environment along with a love of fictional reading grew a love of travel and other cultures, especially their food! After graduating college with an BS in Biology, she spent time exploring what it meant in everyday life to be a Christian while also mourning the loss of a possible veterinary career. During that time God opened her heart to true relationship with Him as well her eyes to the fact that every person within the church can and are to be a part of testifying of the Gospel of Jesus Christ where ever they are.

For two years Natashia worked as a Coordinator for Perspectives on the World Christian Movement in Texas. Her inherent administrative skills grew as well as a love of assisting others in exploring and learning their part to play in the Great Commission. She has spent significant time in her church at that time helping to learn and build structure for those within the church to engage the nations in a more deliberate way.

In the fall of 2020 she became a student at Truett Seminary at Baylor University, where she also is a full time employee, and is working on her Master’s in Divinity. She hopes to be able to accomplish a dual degree with the Business School and also get her MBA. She believes that these two degrees will be helpful tools in opening opportunities to helping the Church as a whole to see its place in engaging whole heartedly in Christ’s command to make disciples.

Lauren grew up in a missions-minded family, attending dozens of missions trainings and participating in short-term trips to Russia, Israel, and Mongolia before age 12. As a teenager, she had opportunities to merge her heart for the nations with video editing skills, volunteering with several missions organizations. By the end of her senior year, Lauren felt a clear calling to be involved in missions mobilization. 

Prior to joining 16:15, Lauren’s work in mobilization was primarily through the local church. She has coordinated Perspectives classes and served on multiple coordinating teams. For ten years, Lauren was on staff at First Methodist Carrollton, Texas, serving as the Communications Director and Missions Pastor. Lauren holds an MA in Theological Studies (Dallas Baptist University) and an MA in Mission (University of Manchester), and she loves helping Christians find their places in the Great Commission. 

Denny currently has served in many church staff roles as worship, missions, and small group pastor and understands the significance of missions in the local church. During his vocational ministry, Denny served on the staff of two mega-churches, directed a para-church ministry, and helped plant several churches. He previously served as VP of Church Partnerships at Pioneers for the past 12 years.

Denny has co-authored the book “When Everything is Missions”  and “Conversations on When Everything Is Missions” with Matthew and now serves with Sixteen:Fifteen through a partnership with Pioneers as a Church & Agency Coach.