To financially support the work of our team with ISMNZ through ISM NZ North America go to our DONATE page to find out how to give. Thank you in advance for helping us reach the nations at our doorstep. 
ALLEN & SWEE LEE TIE
        Allen joined ISMNZ as National Director in April 2017. His appointment follows a lengthy and rigorous recruitment process, with applications received from around the world. 
        A Malaysian, Allen gave his life to Christ at 15. While at university in the 1980s, Allen received help from the Christchurch Asian Navigators for four years that developed his personal walk with Christ and provided a deep grounding for his 30 years of serving God in the market place. He is married to Goh Swee Lee and they have two adult children. Allen is fluent in both written and spoken English and Chinese. 
        Of his appointment, Allen says, "The harvest is not the problem. The call is to pray for the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers. But I cannot pray for God's solution and not willing to be His solution! I recognized that the work is plenty and the rebuilding of the walls needs foundational leaders - the kind that dares to dream big and think generational, but yet have the security to start small with individuals, and having the discernment to know where to focus and build deep."
BEN & STEPH POULTON
        In late 2017, Ben joined ISMNZ as a Campus Worker. He is part of a Chaplaincy team at IPU in Palmerston North, ministering to students from Japan, West Papua and East Asia. He also helps with the International Post Grad club at Massey University.
        Ben and Stephanie met, married and had three kids while serving with Youth With A Mission (YWAM) for 15 years. Steph is from the USA and has an Associates degree in General Education. Both Ben and Steph had a long Bible teaching ministry in YWAM, travelling to a range of fascinating countries, including living in Nepal for five years. God led them home to New Zealand in 2015 and connected them with ISMNZ- a way to reach the world while staying in one place. 
​        Serving alongside Terry and Jenny McGrath at Massey among postgraduate students, Ben and Steph love to connect with international students and their families. ​
CARRIE RAMBO-TOEHEMOTU
      By faith, Carrie was sent to New Zealand through Impact Ministries USA as a 'pioneer' missionary in 2004. God led her on a path to work amongst international students, and she began immediately working with Chinese and Japanese students. Over these years she has been involved in pastoral care, evangelism, prayer and discipleship with students. She has been a part of the chaplaincy team at Massey Albany for several years.
        In 2010 Carrie began seeking to become a part of a New Zealand-based mission organisation that would allow her to continue her work amongst international students at Albany. God led her to ISMNZ and we are blessed to have her as a part of our worker family. If you were to ask Carrie about the ministry, she would sum it up as, “Plain and Simple: We love international students!” ​
 JANEEN MILLS
       In late 2003, the USA Navigators sent Janeen to serve in the National Office of ISMNZ, working as Personal Assistant to the National Director as well as being involved in project coordinating. Over the years she has been 'homestay mum' to students from many nations. As her role developed, Janeen was a part of the team that developed and published curriculum for our current Ministry Internship Diploma. She acted as a supervisor and adjunct lecturer for students.
        In 2016 Janeen was appointed by the Board of ISMNZ to step into the role as Acting National Director for one year. Following her time as Acting ND, she was assigned the role of National Support Team Leader in 2017 to assist during Allen's transition as National Director.
        Janeen left for sabbatical leave in Japan in September 2018. That time included Japanese language and cultural training, undertaking a Japanese returnee research project, engaging in ministry amongst ISMNZ’s returnees in Japan as well utilizing her gifts and developing language skills in a local church, pastored by one of ISMNZ’s Ministry Internship graduates.
      In 2020, during Covid-19 restrictions, God led Janeen on a new path to gain a Master's Degree from Denver Seminary. Following her graduation in May of 2023, she began a role as Study Abroad as well as Internatioanl Student Immigration Advisor in the Department of International Programs at East Texas A&M University. She serves both international and domestic students every day.
       Even so, Janeen continues to serve ISMNZ NA in an administrative capacity, as well as mentoring ISMNZ alumni and returnees around the world. 
GRAHAM & KARLENE McFARLANE
      After many years of overseas mission service, mostly in teaching the children of missionaries and working with second language students, Karlene and Graham have settled in Palmerston North.
       Both are working in ISMNZ and Graham in Chaplaincy as well. They are both involved with international students at Massey Campus, introducing them to the Bible as they teach English lessons using the Bible as the text. Graham regularly interacts with students who arrive at the Chaplaincy Centre for a chat, for encouragement, for a listening ear, for counsel and for discussions about faith.
​      Family bring them great enjoyment. They have two married daughters and four grandchildren living in Palmerston North and in Clive.
MITCH & BETH GINGRICH
Pray for us that God may open to us a door for the Word.  Colossians 4:3a
        The LORD led Mitch & Beth to New Zealand more than a decade ago and His calling upon their lives remains unchanged. Despite many challenges and sacrifices, they remain dedicated to building relationships with internationals for the advancement of the Kingdom.  If you have journeyed with them over these many years, then you know well how the LORD has led us to advance the Kingdom among international students at the University of Canterbury and Lincoln University in Canterbury, New Zealand. 
       Mitch and Beth share with you, "In August 2018 we returned to live and minister in New Zealand, but this time we are doing it in a new way – through partnering with ISM NZ North America as a support organization in the USA. ISM NZ North America is a registered 501(c)(3) organization, so your donations receive full deductibility according to IRS regulations. If you require a copy of the IRS determination letter, please contact me directly at [email protected] for a copy.
        God has uniquely called, equipped and gifted us for this opportunity to build relationships with international students for eternity.  Pray with us and for us that the LORD will continue to pour Himself into us so that He may pour out of our lives into the lives of the international students at our doorstep."
AMANDA WANG
       Amanda comes from Singapore with a BFA in Digital Animation and a Diploma in Mass Communication. There, she was involved with Cru and Singapore Youth for Christ as a student, and often volunteers ad hoc as a graphic designer at her local church. She joined the ISMNZ National Support Team in Auckland as Multimedia and Communication Manager in June 2019. 
       She came to New Zealand on a Working Holiday Visa in late 2017 but was blessed to find full-time work shortly after arriving and stayed on. Her background is in Graphic Design, Communication, Illustration and Video Editing. Her main responsibilities are to support ISMNZ staff workers by managing internal and external communications, the Website, Prayer Calendar and Quarterly eNewsletter.
      When considering her calling to serve as the Multimedia and Communications Manager in ISMNZ, God spoke to her from Esther 4:14, "For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?", convicting her that He had called her to New Zealand at this time, with the skills He had given her for this purpose to serve Him here.
MAY (NAYOUNG) LEE
     The spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,” Isaiah 61:1
     May loves meeting people from different cultures, and seeing how God is bringing all nations to our neighborhood. As she learnt more about the history of New Zealand, she began to understand how God was using this unique period in time, with the increase of International students and immigrants to fulfill His call to all nations to missions. She feels privileged to be part of God's project.
     May graduated in Bachelor of Contemporary Ministry in Alphacrucis College in 2014 and worked as a campus staff worker the previous years. She enjoys Bible studies, singing with students, and interacting with people from different cultures and learning languages. As she was an international student herself from South Korea, she is passionate about helping International students find a place of belonging through the love of Christ, to grow in their faith and become a life-long disciple of Jesus.