Missionaries

At Covenant Church of Pittsburgh we are blessed to support many wonderful missions both in the United States and around the world. You can get involved by providing support and/or prayer for their missions, the people whom they serve and their families.

Here are a few of the long-term missionaries who are serving abroad:

Philip & Maryna DeVries

In January, 2001, Philip and Maryna DeVries and their family moved to George, South Africa from the USA to spearhead LIFE Community Services. Theirs is an outreach ministry to children and families, especially the unreached, rejected and unloved. Located in ten areas, LIFE Community Services offers hope and discipleship through training, food programs, creative activities and ministry for children.

Mary Cay Burt

Mary Cay Burt is a member of Covenant Church of Pittsburgh and the Director of China Passage, Inc. Prior to this she served ten years on staff in the local church along with her late husband, Nick Burt. Since 1993, she has ministered overseas in Asia and in 2000, she and Nick established China Passage, Inc. She is committed to reach the minority peoples of China through equipping the underground church by training and providing literature resources and hands-on experience.

Bernard & Jeannette Persichetti

For eleven years, Bernard and Jeannette Persichetti and their daughter Hannah have been serving in Indonesia, the largest Muslim nation in the world. Currently, Bernard is the pastor of an international English-speaking church in South Jakarta, and Jeannette is teaching full-time in an international Christian school.

Luis Castillo

Luis Castillo became a missionary to his own nation of Guatemala at the age of 17. The mission's purpose is to connect youth with God. His ministry, Nueva Generacion teaches biblical principles through curriculum, which has now been received by eight schools, both public and private, in the area of Antigua, Guatemala. Currently, about 1,500 students are receiving Nueva Generacion's curriculum within the schools.

Sherry Ifft

For twenty-five years, the Reverend Dr. Sherry Ifft, founder of Children's Ministry International, has equipped the church in 85 countries to train up spiritually strong children and minister to children who are severely at risk due to abandonment, abuse, AIDS and trafficking.

Celeste Allen

After eleven years with Frontiers, Celeste Allen now works with Life Impact. Life Impact's mission is to provide hospitality facilities for pastors and missionaries. Celeste hosts The Oaks Oasis in Italy, a place where people in ministry can be refreshed in the Lord through rest, nature, art, spiritual enrichment, inner healing, prayer and more.

Joan Marasco

Joan Marasco is a missionary to orphaned and vulnerable children in Harare, Zimbabwe. Many children in Zimbabwe suffer the loss of their parents and their childhood, due to AIDS and poverty, which is prevalent. Joan serves as a foster parent and caretaker to such children.