About The Hanleys

Our Story

Melissa and I were both raised in Christian homes, accepted the Lord at young ages, and were called into a life of Christian service. It was this calling that led us both to a Christian college in Lakeland, Florida.  While earning my degree in Psychology, I met Melissa, who was earning her degree in Secondary Education. Upon graduation from Southeastern we got married and decided to call Lakeland our home.

I began working at a psychiatric treatment center and Melissa began teaching middle school science. Six years later, in 2001, our daughter Kate was born, and Melissa has had the privilege of staying home with her.

In 2003, I began working on masters’ degrees in Social Work and Healthcare Administration while continuing to work full time as director of a Medical Clinic in Tampa, Florida. The grueling schedule of a double major and a full-time job has taught us both a lot about each other and life itself.

In the spring of 2000 we became bonded with Grace Church and have been active in small group ministry, Sunday school leadership, and pastoral counseling since that time. We are excited to see how God has used this time to prepare us to be His servants in a brand new way.

Our Journey

In June of 2005, John, Kate, and I went on our first “family mission trip” to the Dominican Republic working with New Missions.  During this trip we realized that our skills were in need on the mission field, and a seed was planted in our hearts. Once we returned home, God continued to move our hearts toward the people in the Dominican. In November of 2005, God made it very clear that His plan for our family is to move to the Dominican Republic and work as missionaries there.  While on our second short-term trip in 2006, this calling was fully confirmed and we began the process of moving our family in the spring of 2007.

 

On site, John will administrate a community Health Center that will serve the entire north coast region and my teaching skills will be used in the mission school programs. We will serve in a leadership role bringing physical health to those in need while sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with everyone who comes through the doors. This large brand new clinic sits adjacent to the 500-seat tent church and a mission school for the impoverished children of the North coast. Kate is excited too as she is now learning Spanish so she can communicate better with her “Spanish friends”.