Emily Flunker's Background

I grew up in Ohio in a wonderful family! I have one brother who is now married and he and his wife have a son, Noah, and they also have a daughter, Maggie! Growing up, we went to Norton Grace Brethren Church. I always loved it, and I was always very involved with everything going on.

My parents were great role models! In junior high and high school I was on several ministry teams in youth group. I did drama, quizzing, singing, puppets, nursing home ministry, discipleship, and more. I also went on my first missions trip in high school to Brazil. That was the start of the Lord laying on me a huge burden for overseas missions. I loved serving there! I also went to Argentina and Uruguay, and I spent a summer on Operation Barnabas touring the US doing mission work. It was on those trips that I learned about what it means to be a true servant. I knew that God had special plans for me, and I still have that heart that beats for missions.

In college I met Ryan. It's funny that the first time he met me he told me to "marry a missionary." Little did he know that I would actually marry one, and it would be him! My sophomore year at Cedarville University we went on our first missions trip to Eleuthera, Bahamas. It was incredible, and I fell in love with the island. I loved talking to the people, holding the kids, and sharing Christ with those people.

I went back several times after that trip, two full summers, and some other trips in between. I led a team from the States there last March. God just keeps bringing me back. My heart is there with those people. I have a passion for the people of the Bahamas. I want them to know Christ better. That pretty much leads us to where we are today.