Church Planters
Derrick and Rae Sekamalira
Derrick and Rae Sekamalira planted Cross Fellowship Church in the heart of Uganda, in the city of Kampala. They are laboring to evangelize in their nearby communities and to preach the gospel, specifically in an effort to refute the harmful and rampant prosperity gospel that is being embraced by so many churches in their area. In addition to their work for Cross Fellowship, they also serve in other local ministries. Derrick helps lead in a ministry called Together for the City, which serves other local pastors and ministry leaders and seeks to collaborate for the sake of the gospel in Kampala, and Rae serves for Tutapona, a ministry that provides mental healthcare for refugees in refugee camps.
BJ and Jill Sanders
BJ and Jill Sanders planted Pinji Bible Church in Pinji, Papua New Guinea. They minister to the Wantakia people, a previously unreached people group. They created a written language and have begun the process of translating the Bible in the Wantakia “heart language.” They are currently raising up indiginous elders to lead the church as they continue their mission to unreached tribes. The Sanders have three children: Olivia (13), Sophie (11), and Graham (10).
Henty and Sophia Van Der Merwe
Henty and Sophia Van Der Merwe are an international couple who moved to the Netherlands in June of 2025 with their two young boys to plant a gospel-centered church. Prior to being sent, they were members of Risen North where Henty had been serving in a pastoral and preaching role. They plan on planting an English Speaking church in the Netherlands with Redeemer International Church in the early part of 2027. They have a heart for church planting, multiplying leaders and reaching internationals.
Mike and Debbie Valleskey
For over two years, we have been praying that the Lord would identify a lead church planter for another Risen church in the greater Houston area. We are pleased to announce that The Risen Collective board unanimously identified Mike Valleskey as the one who will be leading the charge for this new work. We are beyond excited to see what God does through this church plant, and we believe that God has uniquely raised up and equipped Mike for this task. Please join us in praying for Mike and his wife Debbie, and that the Lord would gather the right people to join a core team and lead us to the right location for the church plant. O Lord, would you raise up laborers and send them into your harvest (Matthew 9:38)!