MINISTRY TEAM - White Fields

Pastors serving in rural villages should not be alone. That’s why our ministry team works diligently to connect our North American prayer and financial partners and the national pastor starting new churches in their country. We are following the pattern of the churches in Acts, as described by the Apostle Paul.

Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.
Philippians 4:14-17

Stephen Wheeler, President

Steve’s first foreign trip to visit church planters with White Fields was in October 2000. His comment about that trip: “Twenty years ago, in October 2000, I made my first international trip to visit White Fields pastors in Japan and the Philippines. The trip was life-changing. I love the church, the bride of Jesus Christ. It is my joy to spread the gospel and bring more local churches into the world that will proclaim the gospel in hard-to-reach places.”

He brings 40 years of ministry leadership to our team.

Steve’s family heritage of seven generations of missionaries forged his deep commitment to foreign missions. His great, great grandfather was the guardian of Mary Dyer, Hudson Taylor’s wife; they were missionaries in China together. Steve’s parents invited every missionary speaker at their church to dinner in their home, so Steve grew up sitting at the table hearing missionaries declare both the struggles and deliverance of God in their missionary ventures.

This upbringing tremendously impacted the formulation in Steve’s mind that the gospel is to be proclaimed in the farthest places on the earth.

Steve’s parents supported White Fields Ministry while growing up, so he is a second-generation partner to the national pastors. Steve was immediately drawn into youth ministry when he began college in the late ’70s. Later he served as an associate pastor in his home church and at Grace Community Church and then served as a senior preaching pastor for ten years. Being in the crucible of full-time pastoral ministry gives Steve the ability to come alongside our national pastors with empathy and understanding for the task before them starting a new church.

Nearly four decades of ministry experience has increased the intensity that Steve has for spreading churches into the hardest-to-reach places. When he walks with our pastors into their communities plagued by poverty, darkness, and evil, he is more deeply moved to establish a network of pastors supporting and proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ. Through the gospel, these local churches transform new believers’ lives, and their witness and testimony wholly transform the entire community.

Steve’s wife, Coral, occasionally travels to the fields with Steve. The women of the churches, and especially the pastor’s wives, are excited to meet her.

When Coral is not traveling, she is holding down the home base. While raising four children and now as a Grandmother, she has always provided strong support for Steve’s busy travel schedule. She also has time to listen to ideas and share how to help the ministry advance the Great Commission.

Together, Steve and Coral have raised four children, all adults now, and they are actively involved in the ministry of their local churches.

An excellent wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.
The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.
Proverbs 31:10,11

Cristina, In-Office Bookeeper/Editor

Cristina grew up in Southern California. She met her husband in college. He invited her to attend church and led her to place her faith in Jesus Christ. They are actively involved in their local church. Cristina is a homeschool mom of two incredible young boys. She has served in the past as an executive assistant for a city council member of her hometown.
She coordinates our donation receipting and in-office bookkeeping. You can contact Cristina at our office if you have any questions about your donation receipts or setting up online recurring donations.

Sarah, Communications

Sarah is a Senior Pastor’s wife and mom to two children. She is involved in different ministries of her local church, such as teaching youth, young adults, and women’s discipleship. She has also served on the board of PWF (Pastor’s Wife’s Fellowship), a ministry of the SBC of San Diego, encouraging and ministering to senior pastor wives. Sarah earned a degree in Graphic Design with a minor in Film, which grew from a background in fine arts. She has a heart for reaching the lost through art.

Our team of translators and editors around the world prepares the prayer reports published on our site. You can partner with us in prayer when you intercede for these pastors and their churches.