Adapted from Mobilizers Matter by Charis Women

“Due to the undiagnosed health issues, I began having panic attacks multiple times a day,” April says. That’s why she, her husband, and her two young boys never started a second term in Japan after finishing their first. “God is the only way we made it through,” she says. 

April McKee was in college when God first stirred her heart towards missions. It was actually her soon-to-be-husband, Dan, who introduced her to the idea of serving overseas, and after they married, they didn’t waste any time putting their faith into action. They quickly joined a church plant in a high-needs area of Nebraska, surrounding themselves with refugee families. “It was there that I saw the beauty of the gospel spreading—not from a pulpit—but through loving our neighbors well,” she reflects. “Hosting outreach events for those around us was eye-opening and full of deeply joyful moments.” This hands-on approach to mission work is what showed April how transformative relational ministry can be.

Not long after that, God opened the door for April and Dan to serve in Japan on a short-term trip at Northstar, an outdoor adventure lodge. Japan soon became the focus of their long-term calling, and after years of prayer and diligent support-raising, they returned to Nagano for a two-year ministry commitment. While serving in Japan, they welcomed their second son, Graham, into the world, but his birth led to some serious health complications for April. “I ended up in heart failure, and my liver and kidneys were also affected. The Japanese doctors didn’t know what was causing my issues, but I had a severe undiagnosed case of pre-eclampsia,” she says. 

That’s what led to the panic attacks and brought the McKees back to the States. “It was a terrifying time, but God carried us through,” April says. “God was so gracious to me.” Despite their return, their commitment to missions never wavered, and God opened the door to serve as administrator for Encompass’s Church Planting Network. Though her ministry has shifted in unexpected ways, she now works with church planters around the globe. 

One recent project she worked on was our Japan Summit, which God used to supercharge the ministries of our teams in Japan. She’s currently working on preparing for Encompass’s upcoming Global Staff Conference in Portugal. This will be an invaluable opportunity for the majority of our global team to unite in the same physical place. Whether she’s coordinating logistics for our Church Planting Network or planning major events, April’s role is vital to the success of Encompass’s global ministry efforts.

And her heart for Japan remains a powerful motivator in her work. “Japan is the second-largest unreached people group in the world, and though its people are incredibly kind and spiritually open, there’s a deeply ingrained belief that Christianity is a Western religion,” April shares. Her ongoing passion for unreached people groups like the Japanese is what drives her dedication to her role.

Today, April’s commitment to missions is stronger than ever—but finding time to raise support remains a challenge as she strives to balance her responsibilities as a wife, mother of two boys, and a full-time mission worker. She still needs to raise 40% of her monthly support goal—without which she may not be able to attend the Global Staff Conference in January. Would you consider partnering with April as she tirelessly works to advance the gospel among the least reached?