Lance Atchison
Mariupol, Ukraine
Sending the Light to Ukraine Newsletter - December, 2007
Sending the Light to Ukraine Newsletter - November, 2007
Lance and his wife, Debra, currently serve as a house parents for Jeremiah’s Hope, helping orphans transition from the orphanage to life on their own, as well as learn about Jesus.
Lance was raised in Abilene, Texas. In 1998, while attending ACU, Lance participated in a World Wide Youth Camp and spent six weeks in Slavyanagorsk, Ukraine teaching the story of Jesus to children in the state-operated orphanage. This mission trip was led by Andrew Kelly, and the experience of working with the orphans made a lasting impression on Lance. In May of 2000, he graduated with a Degree in advertising/public relations from ACU and worked in the radio, TV, and software industries. In 2004, he returned to Ukraine on a Christmas mission trip with Jeremiah’s Hope. There he was reunited with Andrew Kelly. Lance made the decision to make plans to return to Ukraine and work full time with the orphans, and did so in August 2005. Julia Sherbakova, one of the graduates, is now attending the Ukrainian Bible Institute which is operated in Donetsk by Sunset International.
Debra was raised in Temple, Texas. She attended Temple Jr. College and the University of Arkansas at Monticello receiving her Bachelor’s degree in Education. She also earned her degree in Educational Technology from Pepperdine University. She has taught for 15 years, including teaching the children of Eddie Murphy in Beverly Hills, California.
As early as the fourth grade, Debra has had the desire to serve as an overseas missionary, spreading the Good News to women and children. Debra attended the St. Louis Spiritual Internship lead by Stanley Shipp in preparation for overseas mission work. During this preparation and since, she has been a part of mission trips to several different countries, including Haiti, Romania, Croatia, Israel, Tanzania and Ukraine. Since becoming a member at Prestoncrest, she has had the privilege of leading several Christmas and Summer Camp mission trips to Ukraine.
On the Christmas trip of 2004, Debra felt called to move and work full-time with the students in the Transitional Living Center and orphanages in the area of Donetsk, Ukraine. She was delayed in this endeavor after being diagnosed with cancer in 2005. With the aid of prayers from Christians in eight countries, she is now in remission and plans on returning in the summer of 2007.
In addition to his duties at the Center, Lance has also developed relationships with leaders at the local orphanages. On Saturdays, he holds Bible classes for students in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd grades there. Several of these students now attend worship services with the local church on Sundays.