EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR – David Pierson
Dave grew up as a missionary and pastor’s kid in Brazil, Portugal and Fresno, California. After studying Economics at UC Davis, he earned a Master of Divinity degree at Fuller Theological Seminary. He has served as a Presbyterian pastor and youth pastor in Alaska, North Carolina and San Diego.
Dave now serves as Executive Director of Alongside Ministries International, a ministry which partners with the European Church to advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the mission fields of Europe and North America.
Dave and his wife, Nanette, recently celebrated 20 years of marriage. They live in San Diego, California, where they home school their five children. Dave is an avid cyclist, and squeezes in time to ride between ministry and family commitments.
EUROPEAN DIRECTORS – Ian and Teri Rutter
Ian Rutter and his wife, Teri, have been serving in France for more than 30 years. They began on university campuses in France where they saw a number of students place their trust in Christ. Today, many of these same people are in leadership positions in their church and in society.
Through their partnership with Alongside Ministries International, Ian and Teri are mentoring younger missionaries, encouraging national leaders and reaching out to un-churched people in a variety of ways. They collaborate with churches and other Christian groups.
Locally, they work together with effective programs of outreach such as Trinity Forum International, the Alpha Course, the Alpha Marriage Course, Family Life and Community Bible Study International.
PRESIDENT – Rob Burns
Rob is a Presbyterian pastor currently leading one campus of a two-site congregation in Richmond, Virginia. He has previously served churches in Pennsylvania and Missouri and has business experience as a retail store manager.Though new to Alongside Ministries, Rob has led teams and participated in mission work in Latin America, Africa and Europe. With his wife, Janice, and their daughter, Rachel, he enjoys being part of a congregation with a significant African population and the challenge of mission work on the edge of an urban center.
Donald and his wife, Hannah, live in Fresno, CA. They both have a long history with Alongside Ministries International (AMI). As a student, Donald participated in AD 2009, an Alongside Discovery project, where he served and studied in Roubaix and near Strasbourg, France. Recently, Donald and Hannah joined the Alongside Team in Tallinn, Estonia, for a time of prayer and planning about AMI’s year ahead.
The Normans are active members of 1st Presbyterian Church of Fresno where they serve with the High School Youth Ministry Team. They have been on ministry teams to Albania, Mexico, San Francisco, downtown Fresno, and InterVarsity’s Urbana Missions Conference in 2008. They also give leadership to the church’s Networker Summer Internship Program.
TREASURER – Byron Marshall
Byron Marshall is an Associate Professor in the College of Business at Oregon State University. Prior to completing his PhD at the University of Arizona in 2005, he worked for 13 years as a computer programmer/analyst in the cotton industry.
Byron has served as an elder at First Presbyterian Church, Fresno, Calif. He and his wife, Sarah, are long time supporters of AMI and have many years of experience in youth and college ministries. They have three children.
Kathy grew up in a Christian family and committed her life to the Lordship of Christ when she was 18. She is a mother and grand mother who has taught high school English, started and run a small manufacturing business, and served in fulltime ministry as a Children and Women’s Ministry Pastor and Spiritual Formation Pastor.
After 18 years on the staff of a Christian and Missionary Alliance Church in Spokane, Washington, Kathy is now entering “retirement” and a new phase of ministry focused on her passion for spiritual direction, inner healing prayer ministry, and mentoring young parents. In 2013, she will move to the Seattle, Washington area where she has family and many long-term friends.
Kathy has been a supporter of Alongside Ministries since it’s beginning in the late 1970s. Most recently in March, 2012, she traveled to Albania with a small team to teach a Childrearing Seminar at the invitation of Alongsiders in Ersekë, Albania.
Fred came to Christ as an adult in his company car while working as a salesman for a large concrete company in Seattle. (Praise God for Christian Radio!) Fred has worked in various construction fields for 39 years including two years in the Army Corps of Engineers. Today, Fred owns and operates a general contracting firm in Seattle specializing in home renovations and maintenance.
Fred has been involved with Alongside since 2002. He and son, Andrew, attended Alongside Discovery in Nogent Sur Marne, France that summer, introducing Ali Arhab and Shaf Shafir and their ministries to the assembled group. Fred remains active in ministry in France, Asia, North Africa and particularly Algeria, where he has many friends and contacts.
Fred is married to Ardi. They have two sons, Andrew and Cameron, and a granddaughter, Ashley. Fred and Ardi are members of University Presbyterian Church in Seattle.
Judy is an author, speaker, and former schoolteacher and missionary. In 1979, her family moved to Kenya where she and her physician husband, Sam, served six years in a Quaker Mission Hospital. They founded the Africa Fund, which seeks to foster Christian leadership. She serves on the Worship Committee of her home church, Knox Presbyterian in Spokane, Washington.
Along with her physician husband, they are active with the Christian Medical and Dental Association.
