The Rev. Dr. Chris Royer has been the Executive Director of AFM since 2014. Born and raised in Boulder, CO, he graduated from Wheaton College with a double major in Biblical Studies and Philosophy. He went on to earn an M.A. from Wheaton in New Testament Studies (1989) before doing church planting in the Middle East (1990-2006). Chris earned an M.Div. from Denver Seminary (2004) and a Diploma in Anglican Studies from Trinity School for Ministry (2007) in Ambridge, PA. He was ordained to the priesthood (2009) and served in parish ministry (2008-2014), mainly in the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina, until he was called to lead AFM (2014). Chris completed his doctoral studies (2021) at Oklahoma State University. Chris and his wife Grace have two wonderful daughters.
Angie joined AFM in the summer of 2019. Born and raised in the upper Midwest, she graduated with a B.A. in History from Bethel College in St. Paul, Minnesota. While there, she met her husband Steve. After several years of denomination-hopping they were confirmed at The Falls Church in Northern Virginia, later joining Truro Church in Fairfax when Steve joined the staff. Eventually, they moved to Wisconsin so that Steve could attend Nashotah House Theological Seminary. Since then, they have served parishes in Wisconsin, New York, and now Virginia. Angie has worked primarily in churches or parachurch ministries since 1989 doing anything from children’s ministry to graphic design to administration. In addition to being a “rector’s wife,” her favorite job is being mom to five children.
Elise accepted Christ when she was four years old and subsequently felt a call to cross-cultural ministry in high school. She went on a number of short-term missions trips, which deepened her calling with each trip. She completed her degree in Intercultural Communications at Evangel University in Springfield, MO. Here she met her husband, Brett. Soon afterwards, they moved to Northern Africa where they served until the government forcibly removed and blacklisted their family, making it unable for them to return. They transitioned and served in Senegal, West Africa, for the remainder of their 12 years. They planted churches with Senegalese Bible School students, where Elise would implement a children's program with each plant. They felt the Lord calling them back to Richmond, Virginia, and returned to the United States in 2021. They have four children in middle and high school and they reside in Richmond, VA, where her husband pastors a church.
The Rev. Abbot Norman and Beth Beale
Pastors to Cross-Cultural Workers
norman@afm-us.org
beth@afm-us.org
Norman and Beth Beale have rejoined AFM in 2022 as Pastors to Cross-Cultural Workers. They originally served with AFM from 1994-2001, in Nepal. Beth grew up in northern NJ, and studied ballet in New York City. She and Norman met there in 1977. He had grown up in New Orleans. They were married in 1980 in New York and in 1982 had a shared sense of being sent by God into mission work among unreached people groups (UPGs). After study in Pasadena, CA, they followed God’s call to Nepal and later worked among the Tamang people, while also establishing the Anglican church in Nepal. They have two children, whom they adopted in Nepal, now adults. Norman earned a master’s degree in Education, and taught elementary school for ten years. He also earned a master’s in Missions and was ordained a priest in 1996. Beth earned a master’s degree in Applied Linguistics/TESOL and has taught English in a number of universities and colleges in Nepal, Cambodia, and in four states in the US. They were in Nepal from 1986-2001 and in Cambodia from 2008-2010. They have also served in parish settings for ten years and Norman has been an Anglican Chaplain for eleven years.
Soon after Gretchen embraced Christ as her Lord and Savior, she heard about a nation where the opportunity to hear of Jesus was nearly non-existent. She offered her life to the Lord saying she would go wherever He led, and her family ended up living and serving in Asia for 19 years. Gretchen served in many capacities including, but not limited to strategy coordinator, prayer advocate, logistics coordinator, trainer and homeschooling mom. Gretchen and Brad, her husband of 30 years, currently reside in Tennessee. They have two sons and two grandchildren.
Stacy joined AFM in 2018, but her history with missions began at age six when her parents were called to West Africa. After spending most of her childhood overseas, she returned to Pennsylvania where she eventually spent ten years teaching English in the public school system. In June 2018, she married Joshua and moved to Virginia, then gave birth to their son two years later. Stacy is thrilled to have opportunities to serve Christ as a part of the missions work of AFM.
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EJ graduated with a B.A. in International Studies and a minor in Islamic World Studies & Arabic Language/Culture. He served as a marine for four years and is fluent in Spanish and Swedish. EJ is married with four young children.
Pete and Shirleen Wait have served as AFM Pastors to Cross-Cultural Workers since April 2000. They communicate with, pray/fast weekly for, remember the birthdays/anniversaries of, visit, and provide R&R in their home for AFM's cross-cultural workers. Pete, a graduate of The University of FL College of Engineering, has Master of Arts and Doctor of Ministry degrees from The University of the South at Sewanee, TN. He is a registered Professional Engineer and has been in the “Power and Light” business two ways – as CEO of two electric power companies and as an avid Jesus Follower and Priest. Pete served as Canon for Evangelism (local and global) in the Diocese of FL prior to his work with AFM. Shirleen holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Reading Education from Florida State University and has extensive experience as a curriculum specialist, consultant, and professor. She has produced numerous publications and retired as National Curriculum Specialist from Simon and Schuster Publishing Company. Occasionally, Pete serves as a cruise-ship chaplain (with Shirleen as his senior warden, altar guild, etc.). The Waits have two children and five grandchildren and enjoy their life on the Atlantic Ocean through Harley trips with their biker buddies and adventuring on the beach.
Andrew and Janet met through Youth with a Mission (YWAM), and together have led teams from Hong Kong all over the world. Andrew was born in Wellington, New Zealand and has been involved in missions since he was 18. Janet was raised in Virginia and began her call to missions at the ’76 Olympics! She lived and served in Asia and the Pacific region for a decade, ministering to the refugees fleeing from both Cambodia and Vietnam in the late 70’s and early 80’s. In 2007, they founded Emmaus Encounter, a ministry that provides a safe place for Christian men and women from damaged pasts to grow emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. The Kerrs live in Lakeside, Montana with their black lab Diesel and have two daughters.
Stephanie grew up overseas as a Third Culture Kid (TCK) and has maintained a passion for frontier missions into her adult life.
