Facilitators
Beginnings
In 2016, Jorge, Dave, and Don (all serving at that time as missionaries in Bucharest, Romania) attended a Battle for Your Heart event hosted by EFCA ReachGlobal and facilitated by Deep Community Experience. The powerful teaching and testimonies in this event spurred the three of them on to desire more for their spiritual lives. Their monthly meetings in the years that followed became sacred places to share their stories of harm, face up to the ugliest things within themselves, and experience God’s loving embrace through their deep acceptance of one another in Christ.
They began experiencing a depth in their life with God and in their fellowship with each other that they had not previously known. They eventually came to realize that in God’s immense grace, He had set them on a life-changing journey of deepening trust, authentic community, and personal spiritual transformation.
During a sabbatical in 2021, the Lord called Don from a long-time organizational leadership role to focus full-time on helping teams on mission together in their journeys of transformation. Although Jorge and Dave continue to have significant roles in their mission agencies, both felt a deep desire to participate in this ministry and contribute significantly to it.
The image of the Father’s embrace of the prodigal son in Luke 15 quickly became a powerful metaphor for their ministry of wooing people back into God’s loving arms – the only place we can experience abundant life, ministry fruit, and real change. Embrace Ministry was born.
Teachers & Facilitators
Don Reynard
Don earned a B.S. in Computer Engineering from Drexel University and his M.Div. from Biblical Theological Seminary. He worked as a computer engineer, manager, and director with Unisys Corporation. Don has served as a missionary with EFCA ReachGlobal since 2003 and is currently participating in the Soul Care Institute. He is married to his wife Rhonda and has three children and four grandchildren.
Jorge Carvalho
Jorge has his B.A. in Theology from Seminário Teológico Batista do Norte do Brasil, and in History from Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco. He worked as a pastor in Brazil. Since 2010, he has been serving with SEPAL as a missionary in Romania and is now serving as Associate Director for Cross-cultural Ministry for SEPAL Brazil. Jorge earned a certificate from the Spiritual Direction School with Sustainable Faith. He is married to his wife Virginia and has two children.
Dave Cox
Dave earned his B.S. in Biology from Furman University and worked as a Peace Corps volunteer and high school teacher. Since 1996, Dave has been serving with EFCA ReachGlobal as a church planter, missions mobilizer and now as a pastor to missionaries. He earned a certificate from the spiritual direction school with Sustainable Faith. Dave is married to his wife Jennifer and they have three children and one grandchild.
Cindy Golden
Cindy earned her Associates in Business Administration from Dekalb College while pursuing a degree in music. She was the principal teacher for her children’s home school education. Since 2014, Cindy has been serving with EFCA ReachGlobal as a women’s ministry advocate, mentor and discipler as well as an English teacher to Hungarians. She served in Budapest, Hungary for 8 ½ years as a missionary. Cindy earned a certificate from the spiritual direction school with Sustainable Faith. Cindy is married to Harold and has three adult children, seven grandchildren and one great grandson.
Rosalyn Otto
Rosalyn earned her B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies, with emphases in Biology and Cultural Anthropology, as well as a Certificate in Human Needs and Global Resources, from Wheaton College in Illinois. Living and serving as an adult in Uganda and Taiwan added to her love of other cultures, and to an appreciation for the challenges & joys of cross-cultural life, developed during her first eighteen years as a Third Culture Kid in the Philippines. Rosalyn has earned a certificate from the Soul Care Institute and serves with Paraclete, focusing her ministry on her twin passions of missionary debriefing and soul care/spiritual direction. Having lost her husband unexpectedly, Rosalyn is all the more grateful for the friendships she enjoys with her three adult children and their spouses, and especially relishes getting to be “Nana Rose” to her grandkids.
