Currently Serving

Since August 2016 James Cloyd has served as the Minister of the Cronenbourg Cité Lutheran Parish. This multi-cultural congregation worships God, shares the Gospel and creatively serves the needs of a diverse, low-income neighborhood, where 50 languages are spoken.

Cheryl’s ministry sees her taking part in God’s promise to disciple the nations through part-time work with Les Disciples, an association which uses the church building for an after-school program which blesses hundreds of children and their families with tutoring and assistance, as well as several other ministries. You can find their website HERE. Cheryl is also currently engaged in doctoral studies in systematic theology at the University of Strasbourg, writing a thesis on Colin Gunton's trinitarian doctrine of Creation.

The Cloyd’s have two children, Eric and Sara.

Matt and Lea Edminster have been serving together in Estonia since 1998 when Matt was sent by Alongside to serve the youth ministry in Lea's church. Matt and Lea were married in 2002 and now have three children. Since ordination in 2007, Matt and Lea have served in a variety of church leadership roles. Matt is currently the regional elder for Baptist Union churches in Central Estonia, Researcher at the Estonian Baptist Seminary in Tallinn and a doctoral candidate in theology at Amsterdam Vrije University. In addition to her day job teaching K-12 English, Lea coordinates the Baptist Union's Bible School. Matt and Lea have been actively involved in welcoming Ukrainian refugees as they navigate the complexities of life abroad during wartime. The Edminsters blog about their life and ministry on their website: www.edminsters.com.

Since 2013 Andrew and Amy have been serving in the Czech Republic. Andrew serves alongside the Czech Evangelical Alliance, assisting their national leadership with networking, conferences, and special projects (www.ea.cz). Amy serves alongside a team developing a new Christian school (www.celymsrdcem.cz/en/). Together they are involved in their local Czech church in Prague (cbsmichov.cz). You can find Andrew and Amy on Facebook HERE.

Arjan Larashi has been a Supported Partner and dear friend of Alongside Ministries for many years. For 23 fruitful years he served the Bilisht church as its first pastor, with a strong track record in evangelism, youth ministries and leadership development. Under Arjan’s leadership the Bilisht church undertook church planting efforts in neighboring villages and across the border in Macedonia and Greece. Arjan is a published author whose books have been widely appreciated in Albania. His book, Arrest Me, I Killed Someone! tells the story of a man who got away with murder and subsequently came to faith in Christ, then turned himself into the authorities. In 2017 Arjan responded to a call from God to change his ministry focus, left the Bilisht church and moved to the city of Korca. He now works across Albania to offer in-depth training and discipleship to pastors and Christian Leaders in partnership with Freedom In Christ Ministries, International. Arjan’s wife Mimosa teaches school and the pair continue to make a dynamic ministry team. The Larashis have two daughters.

Micah has lived and worked in the Czech Republic since May 2011.  He met his wife Kačka at a sports camp and got married in February of 2021.  Together they live in Prague with their dog, Siri, and cat, Hobbes.  In addition to her work as a programmer, Kačka mentors and disciples young women in her church context.  Micah serves as part of a Czech language church plant called TaCesta, which means, “The Way,” or “The Journey.” Micah also serves as offensive line coach for the Prague Lions, an American-style football club and is passionate about living and being amongst people to share his relationship with Jesus and see how God changes lives. Micah blogs irregularly HERE.

Doni and Gail serve alongside the Bilisht Evangelical Church in both leadership and solidarity. In 2018 Doni was called by the church out of a lifetime of ministry in nearby Erseka to serve as the Bilisht pastor. The only evangelical presence in a town of 12, 000 and surrounding agricultural area of 44 villages, the church has a heartbeat for authentic worship, holistic evangelism, and relational discipleship. Doni offers equipping and visionary leadership to the church, grounding her in Scripture and challenging believers to live zealously for Jesus. Gail contributes in the areas of worship arts, women’s and children’s discipleship, co-journeying with moms, and ministry with the marginalized. They serve with a talented and committed team of both foreigners and Albanians. Doni and Gail have 5 fantastic kids: Koreta, Arbër, Tereza, Elira, and Ksenia.

The Rileys serve alongside The French Reformed Church at the invitation of l’Eglise Protestante Unie de France. In September, 2016 they moved to Pontivy, France, to initiate a church-planting project which endeavors to make disciples and establish churches across Brittany. They reach out to the estimated 92% of the French population who do not follow Jesus, desiring to see God raise up leaders “from the harvest for the harvest!” Check out their website, HERE. 

Maimona is living in a multi cultural city in France. She is part of a ministry that aims to live out the Gospel through community based living among North Africans and migrants. She serves on the leadership team and invests in friendship evangelism, hospitality, and accompanying migrants into stability and new life. Maimona also holds an administrative role in the ministry. She serves alongside a team, and met her husband there and served alongside him several years before marrying in 2020 and welcoming their first child in 2023. 

Mark has faithfully served the Lord in Erseka, a town of about 3,000 people in the southeast of Albania for the past 30 years. Over the years many ministries have developed and flourished, all of them with significant Albanian leadership including the Evangelical Church of Erseka, Crossroads - a Torchbearers Bible School, and a vibrant summer camp ministry. The church cares for people in the community including meals for the elderly and a program for at-risk children and teenagers which provides nurture, support and opportunities. This program includes after-school tutoring and placing orphaned children into family based care.  

Mark’s wife Ruthie served side by side with Mark in ministry in Erseka until she went home to be with the Lord in November 2022.  Ruthie’s life of faith, hope and love touched many people across Albania and the globe, influencing them to trust and follow Jesus Christ.

Mark continues leading the ministries in Erseka and knows God's faithfulness in his life and in the lives of his and Ruthie's 16 children.

Sarah is passionate about walking with people in their faith journey, especially youth. She has a Master’s degree in Counseling Ministries from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Sarah is currently serving in a growing church plant in Saint-Nazaire, as part of a team led by French Reformed Church Pastor Eric Perrier. Her role includes working with youth and children, assisting with the website and administrative tasks, volunteering at the Fraternité (a local Protestant non-profit serving people in difficult situations), and serving on the local leadership team. 

Sarah enjoys playing soccer, learning to paint, and traveling with others. She’s pictured here with Ian and Teri Rutter when they visited Saint-Nazaire.

Since 2020, Zach and Besa Oaks have teamed up with Doni and Gail Lilo to serve alongside the Bilisht Evangelical Church. Zach is involved with worship and Jr. High programs while Besa serves the children of Bilisht through kids programs, camps, and other activities. They have two daughters; Ayla Belle and Bria Joy. Together, they share a passion for seeing God’s power at work through the Albanian church and helping build a Christ-based foundation for the next generation.