Testimonials

I thoroughly and warmly commend the work of Oikonomos International. We have been privileged to have a number of Stewards serving our congregation in London over the years. Not only have they helped the Missionaries on Home Ministry Assignment to keep their housing here, but they have served actively in our church. They have been a tremendous help to us using their time and gifts to fill places in a variety of ministries, including music ministry, teaching English as a second language, evangelistic book tables, bible studies and welcoming worshippers on a  Sunday. Moreover, they have played an active part in our church family life, from prayer meetings and Bible Studies to babysitting, giving art lessons, encouraging the weary and welcoming outsiders. They have, like Philemon, “Refreshed the hearts of the saints”. I am incredibly grateful to God for them.

Stuart  Cashman, Pastor, Immanuel Church, Brentford

I still think there's a place for long term missionaries in the UK. Our congregation has benefitted and is still benefiting hugely from partnership with MTW and Presbyterian Churches in America. Oikonomos exists to help Missionaries which helps our churches. Our church has loved having people come and serve alongside us. It's been a particular joy to have mature Christians come and be part of the fellowship for the time they are staying, filling in gaps, serving in ministries, working alongside us. I commend Oikonomos to you and hope that it will be as much of a blessing to other churches as it's been to ours.

Paul Levy, Pastor, International Presbyterian Church, Ealing

We came to know Tom & Catherine a number of years ago, when they visited their friends in Ealing, London. . . .. Earlier this year, a devoted Missionary Couple had to make an urgent and lengthy trip back to the States, thus leaving a gap in their valuable ministry. I was able to see at firsthand, both Tom and Catherine's help in the Church that the missionaries had been supporting.  If you know Tom and Catherine, you will already be acquainted with their kindhearted, generous & humorous ways. If you do not know them, then let me tell you that you will warm to them as you get to know them, as a trustworthy couple who wish to do no more or less than to be involved in seeing God’s kingdom extended. 

Peter Lofthouse. Elder at the International Presbyterian Church, Ealing

We certainly have appreciated Tom and Catherine’s, and Adrianne’s ministry and time amongst us very much. Their involvement and enthusiastic participation have been a wonderful encouragement to us across the church, and the wider group of churches where they have been, and we are very grateful indeed for all they have done and for the warmth of their fellowship, which we have valued very much indeed. We are looking forward very much to seeing them all again before too long. 

Richard L.  Ruling Elder, Immanuel Church, Brentford

Their ministry in London consists of house-sitting for missionaries who have to be away for periods of time for various reasons, often for six-month periods. Whilst with us, they fill in wherever possible with regard to duties and obligations that the missionaries who are temporarily absent were handling for the church or the wider UK Presbytery of IPC in the UK or Europe more generally.  The missionaries that they have stood in for over two extended periods were F. and B.B., who are with MTW, and have been on a longer-term placement at Immanuel Church Brentford, and prior to that of R. and J.I., also with MTW, who were placed at IPC Ealing, then at Immanuel Brentford, and now at Grace Church Hammersmith.  

Richard L.  Ruling Elder, Immanuel Church, Brentford

Tom and Catherine, and Adrianne, served very faithfully whilst here with us, and became valuable and much loved ‘members’ of the church for the time they were with us.  The work and actions that they undertook with us were various . . . , but their encouragement to many in the church across the age range was outstanding and very much appreciated by all with whom they were involved. 

Richard L.  Ruling Elder, Immanuel Church, Brentford

Tom worked on a book table in Greenford with men from IPC Ealing. Catherine also served in teaching English as a second language, when the missionary couples they sat for were involved in that.  On this most recent trip, they were both closely involved last year in the preparation, including the setting up (and setting down) of the school hall where we meet at Immanuel, for the Winter Fair and Christmas Carol Service which was our main outreach event to the local community in the second half of 2022. This included being fully involved in the leaflet drop and promotion of the events and invitation of local people in the community to the events. 

Richard L.  Ruling Elder, Immanuel Church, Brentford

Catherine was involved in a previous trip with the sewing club that B. (together with my wife Sheila) when Tom and she were house sitting for R. and J.I. when they were with us in Brentford as part of the ministry team here.  She was also involved in outreach to Muslim women, with the English as a Second Language (ESL) classes that Catherine ran with M. and B. She also sang in a choir with my wife Sheila, called the London Gallery Quire, that rehearses in the City of London and sings in existing churches of various denominations round Greater London. 

Richard L.  Ruling Elder, Immanuel Church, Brentford

The opportunity to tangibly support missionaries, to see how they live and work, and to participate in a local church overseas has been a real blessing to us.  We’ve built long-lasting friendships and have come back with a greater interest and understanding of missions, and we’ve been able to pass that on to others in our home church.  We want to go again and again!

David Hills,  Pastor, Faith Reformed Church, Erie PA

I never thought that I would go onto Mission Field, but through Oikonomos International, my wife and I  have seen how missionaries live and work and have been privileged to contribute directly to their ministries and to their churches.   There is a huge difference between visiting a city for a week and living somewhere for months.  We have made life-long friends through Oikonomos.  We have a far better understanding of Missions and we are able to share that at home with our own church.  It is a fantastic experience, one that I look forward to again, and one that I highly recommend!

David, Erie PA

I am writing to commend the services of Adrianne as a house sitter for missionaries on home assignment. We served for over 15 years in London, UK and are now retired to the States. In 2017 Adrianne came for 3 months and stayed in our flat for us. During her stay she took the initiative to locate a part that had broken on an appliance door and repair it. She proved to be reliable and trustworthy in every way. We would highly recommend her services to any missionaries in need of house sitting.

Chuck P., MTW, Atlanta

Having house sitters from Oikonomos has been such a help to us while we have been serving on the field. Our house sitters have come in and given us great value by stepping into life in our local church. They’ve added value to us as missionaries by taking care of our home, paying something toward the rent so we don’t have to let our home go, and find another place after coming back from home assignment.

Franklin & Beth Beaver, MTW

It’s just been such a joy and a relief not to worry about what will happen to your home when you go back for a home assignment when you leave for two months to eight months to a year. I highly recommend Oikonomos and their house sitters. They are conscientious, they want to take care of your home the way you take care of it, and they end up making friends with your friends. It just brings the body of Christ closer, enabling the home church and the churches and supporters in the US to see a different side of missionary life.

Franklin & Beth Beaver, MTW

It’s a great marriage of sorts that works out to benefit everyone. I’m sure the house sitters grow from living in a culture that’s not their home culture, and we grow because we learn to trust and have faith that things will be taken care of under their watch, so we’re just very very thankful and grateful for this service and highly recommend it to any missionary who’s considering a house sitter.  They should consider using Oikonomos.

Franklin & Beth Beaver, MTW