Nazarene Missions International
Candidate Bios
NMI President (2 year term; Yes/No ballot)
Carol Lee Carpenter - I’ve been happily married to Jerry Carpenter for 38 years (got married when I was 8), we have an amazing daughter and son-in-law, one precious grandson and another on the way. While we currently serve in Hebron we’ve been blessed to be the pastoral couple of three different churches over the last 28 years. I began serving in the church through children’s ministry and NYI; served in Women’s Ministries, Camp Meeting Board and Work & Witness. I served as local NMI President for many years and eventually came to serve on the District NMI Council. I served two years as District Vice President before being elected District President where I’ve served for the last eight years. I’m passionate about missions and love to help people understand the needs around the world, how we can be a part of meeting those needs and how that intersects with helping others find purpose and a meaningful relationship with God.
NMI Treasurer (2 year term, Yes/No ballot)
Chris Powell - Chris Powell has been the NMI President at the Hebron Church of the Nazarene for over nine years. He is also the Treasurer for the South Central Ohio District NMI. Chris has been a member of 6 disaster relief trips to Texas, Louisiana, and Florida, as well as a member of a Work and Witness trip to Brazil. He is involved in community outreach through Family Night meals at Lower Lights, and a car show each October at the Hebron church. Chris and Valerie have been married for 30 years and have faithfully served in every church that they have been members of. They have been members at Hebron since 2009. Chris has an MBA from Regent University in Virginia Beach, VA, and a Bachelor's degree from Kent State University.
NMI Council Members (2 year term, Vote for 2)
Andrew Edler - Andrew Edler is a member at the Chillicothe 1st Church of The Nazarene, where he attends with His Wife Kelli and his 11 year old son Franklin. He is active on the praise and worship team, tech team, safety and security team, and compassionate ministries. His favorite Ministry at ChillNaz is the once a month community meal in which he enjoys setting down and conversing with those that attend. He has served his Community for over 20 years as a Volunteer Firefighter and EMT. He has also assisted in starting two local K9 Search and Rescue teams. His heart is in serving others while trying to support and make his Community a better place.
Brittany Byers - Brittany Byers currently serves alongside her husband at South Point First Church of the Nazarene. She has recently served as NMI president while on assignment at Dresden COTN. During her time at Dresden, she taught children and adults what the Nazarene church is doing in the mission field and the impact the local church makes in that mission. Two things near to her heart are child sponsorship and Operation Christmas child. Her desire is to be a part of the mission by making Christlike disciples locally and aboard.
Brittany Ison - Pastor Brittany Ison has had a heart for missions and cross-cultural ministry since childhood. She has been on mission trips to Romania, Brazil, and Ecuador. She served as a Nazarene in Volunteer Service in Ljubljana, Slovenia from 2006-2007. During her graduate school days, Brittany and her husband, Jonathon, served in a Chinese/English congregation that ministered to Chinese speaking students at Ashland University. Currently she serves on the NMI team at her local church, Darby Creek Church of the Nazarene. She also serves as the zone rally coordinator for the Circleville Zone. Pastor Brittany has a heart for outreach both at home and abroad.
Brody Bauers - I have attended the Logan Church of the Nazarene for over 20 years. My wife Cynthia and I have three kids- Bobby (19), Rachel (17), and Daniel (15). I have been involved in small groups and outreach ministries, have taught kids Sunday school classes, and have helped with the teen groups in recent years. I am starting my seventh year as SDMI president at our church, and have been on missions trips to Louisiana and Kentucky in the past. I look forward to more opportunities in the future as God leads.
Chad Garinger - God has allowed Pastor Chad Garinger to participate in over a dozen mission trips, both foreign and domestic. After a troubled childhood, He accepted a call to minister. He has served as a youth pastor and lead pastor for nearly 30 years. For the past thirteen years, he has served God at the Sciotoville Church of the Nazarene. He loves serving the Lord by serving in our community mission field, especially through the ministries of our Compassionate Ministries Center, The Potter's House. He also writes for the Foundry and serves as a substitute teacher.
Chance Cooper - Pastor Chance Cooper serves in full time ministry as the Outreach and Assimilation Pastor at Cornerstone Nazarene in Wheelersburg, Ohio. Chance is passionate about serving his community and tristate area through different ministry efforts. Chance has led both work and witness and disaster relief teams across the country. He also leads small group ministry, outreach efforts, ministry councils, and a recovery ministry at Cornerstone. Being a first-generation Nazarene, reaching people to experience Christ through the local church is something that stays at the center focus for Chance. He and his wife Shelly love to explore God’s creation through hiking, camping, and as many adventures as possible.
Christina Jay - Hello! My Name is Christina Jay. I committed my life to Jesus Christ In February of 2000. Since that initial encounter, God has done amazing things in, and through my life. Through the many seasons of ministry to date, God has called me to minister to, and with, people of all ages and nationalities. I have felt God's leading in my life to participate in short term mission trips since June 2004. God has blessed and allowed me to go on 35+ mission trips around the world. I am the current NMI President at Obetz Nazarene. I also served as a NMI candidate for our district, to the General Assembly in 2023. It is a joy and an honor to serve our King in any capacity He sees fit for me to be in. May His kingdom prosper because of our obedience and love for Him.
Laura West-Baldwin - Hi! My name is Laura. I am a mother to my wonderful son, Ryan, and a full-time nurse for the past 21 years caring for individuals with severe and profound disabilities. I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior when I was 12 years old. I have always had a heart for supporting missions. I am an advocate for child sponsorship and have been a sponsor since 2004. I served as a youth leader from 2009 until 2012. For the past 4 years, I have served as the local NMI President at Hope Community Church and the past 2 years on the District NMI Council. I was also extremely blessed to have been chosen as a delegate to attend the Global Assembly in Indiana this past year and participate in Love Your Neighbor. Thank you for your love and support South Central Ohio District.
Lynn Tramontano - My journey following Christ became alive through missions. I’ve been blessed to be involved in local missions at Lower Lights and the Dream Center serving food and worshipping with those within our community in central Ohio. I’ve also participated and was a site leader in several Many Hearts Many Hands and most recently a mission leader to Appalachia Reach Out in Martin County, Kentucky mission trips. God blessed me with an opportunity to go on a mission trip to Trinidad with my church family. Currently, I am leading my church with amazing help from a team of planners to create a unique local mission focus for our church and community. I am still in the development stage but we are focused to be the hand and feet of Jesus and love on those we are called to care for in Hilliard. More to come on that. My soul overflows with the love of Christ as I have been so very blessed. It is my joy to love others and do for/with others for the purpose of glorifying God.
Megan Coburn - Megan is an active member of LCN and runs the coffee bar/sweet treat ministry along with her husband John. She also participates in multiple small groups that are ongoing within the church. Megan felt called to missions beginning in 2022 and she has been blessed to be able to participate in several district trips to include W&W as well as Jesus Film deployments in Zambia Africa, Paraguay, and upcoming in Ecuador. She has also participated in several multi-denominational mission endeavors to include Alaska, Hawaii, and upcoming Costa Rica.
Megan is married to John Coburn and they have three children, Alec, Achilles, and Olivia. She looks forward to what God has in store for her family, as well as her church in the upcoming year. Megan firmly believes in the idea that as you walk out of your church exit each week you are entering God’s mission field, whether that be your next-door neighbor, your community, or somewhere across the globe. We are each charged with making Christ-like disciples of all nations.
Michael Perkins - Michael Perkins, lifelong member of Jackson Nazarene church where I attend with my wife Rylee. My passion in missions is to help spread the love of Jesus through caring and compassion for others. Providing each person we can minister to and help, an opportunity to know Jesus Christ personally.
