Meet the Schwartzmans

We always knew we would be missionaries.  We just thought that the first time we took our first foray out into the mission field was when we were old and grey and our child or children had graduated from high school or college.  However, God’s plans are usually different than our own. 

In some form or another both Michelle and I have been in ministry since 1996.  Michelle was the chaplain at Hickory Run State Park that summer and a youth worker at a church in Jersey Shore, PA.  We were married in 1999 and moved to Dalton, PA where we became very active at Dalton United Methodist Church. 

A call to service came on our hearts and we joined Americorps in 2001, working in disaster relief for the American Red Cross.  Our first day on the job was about a month before the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.  Upon returning from Americorps, we both worked with youth (only Michelle got paid for it!).  While Michelle was working at First Presbyterian church of Clarks Summit, we had our daughter, Zaili in 2003.  She is an amazing little girl and has an incredible heart for people and serving. 

In 2006, another call came into our lives and we moved to York, PA so that I (Jason) could become the youth director at Aldersgate UMC.  While there, Michelle became the Director of Community Life at Aldersgate before leaving to become the director of the York City Day Camp. 

When I resigned from Aldersgate in October 2010, we wondered what God had for us in ministry.  We were both passionate about the ministry that we had gotten to see in Tamil Nadu, India and wondered if that was a possibility.  Through a few phone calls and a few emails, we’re ready to head to India!  I’ve never been so in touch with Jesus’ command to “drop everything and follow me”.  It’s been an amazing ride and I can’t wait to see where God takes it. 

Glen Richards was a camper of Jason’s way back in 2006.  From the very beginning it was very obvious that Glen had an incredible joy about him and an overwhelming desire to live out his faith.  Glen and Jason stayed in touch throughout the years and Glen came to live with the Schwartzmans in August of 2010.  With Glen’s heart to serve and his love for Jesus, it only makes sense for him to join us on the trip!  Glen is a professional photographer and has been a camp naturalist at Wesley Forest Church Camp for the past two summers.