Barry and Jan Potter

Missionary Training and Development / Home Assignment Care Coordinators

BACKGROUND: Barry and Jan have been serving with OMF International since 1976, and have spent most of this time in Japan. For 28 years they assisted in the planting and establishing of four churches and developing strategies and recruiting workers to start additional churches. Jan worked alongside Barry in doing Bible studies, English classes, neighborhood evangelism—and raising a family of five children. Barry served as OMF’s regional and field director in Japan for 13 years and worked in training, directing and counseling missionaries.

FAMILY: Barry and Jan have five children. The oldest, Doug, is a pilot for SkyWest Airlines and lives with his wife and two daughters in Colorado Springs, CO. Rochelle is presently developing a new ministry to Korea and Asia with YWAM. Ryan is an OMF associate member working with young people through an international church ministry in Tokyo. Cameron and his wife are doing graduate studies in Portland, Oregon, and Brent is presently attending Bible college.

PRESENT MINISTRY: Barry and Jan are focusing on missionary training and development during this present phase of ministry. Barry is a trainer for the pre-home assignment workshops, helping to prepare missionaries for ministry in their home countries. Barry and Jan do workshops and team building in Japan, helping missionaries to be effective in their ministries on the field. They are also working to pastor and assist missionaries in the U.S. on home assignment. The need for this ministry is acute—although many aspiring young people become missionaries and leave for the field every year, the average period of “career” service has dropped to less than ten years. Barry and Jan desire to multiply themselves through working with and encouraging missionary teams in Japan and other fields as the Lord opens doors for this.