Mike & Ranada Hassemer
Arctic Barnabas welcomes Mike and Ranada Hassemer as career staff appointees. They became acquainted with bush ministry on a vacation trip in 1999, which impassioned them for mission ministry in Alaska.
Since that first trip, Mike and Ranada returned every year but one. They organized or led many work teams to Alaska as well. Some trips involved work projects, some provided VBS programs, and all encouraged the Arctic Barnabas team. A number of people on these trips now serve full-time in mission ministries.
Mike and Ranada watched Arctic Barnabas grow to the current staff of ten families, helped with home projects and worked along side them in ministry. When God called Hassemers to join Arctic Barnabas as official career staff appointees, they began the arduous process of raising support, a test of faith more difficult than serving. The Lord provided a teaching job for Ranada in Soldotna and house sitting opportunities to carry them through this transitional time.
Although their official work with ABM cannot begin until 100% of their monthly support becomes a reality, they continue to bless our team in many ways: help with staff home projects, child care, organizing connecting events with our staff and other local missions, and helping out with our annual Ministry Family Retreat.
Once they reach career status, they can focus entirely on the ministry of encouragement and support of pastors and missionaries on the front lines. Mike’s experience and gifting will involve him primarily with the many and varied MinuteMen projects so desperately needed for pastors and missionaries to live and work more effectively in the villages. Ranada will assist with a focus on the wives.
Both Mike and Ranada were born and raised in Wisconsin. Mike graduated from UW Milwaukee with a degree in Medical Technology. He managed a clinical laboratory and then started a cabinetmaking business. Ranada graduated from Silver Lake College with a special education degree and taught learning disabled students for many years, with time off to raise their children. Their son Aaron and his wife Kristin now live in Boise, Idaho and soon expect the birth of their first child. Their daughter Carolyn and her husband, Nathan Punt, also live in Boise, Idaho.
Please pray for the Hassemers to reach 100% of their support soon!
