Current Work: Randy has worked for World Vision in various capacities for over 30 years, half of which were spent as part of the global emergency response team, and the other half supporting long term development in Africa. In his current role, he is responsible for coordinating fundraising for disaster responses worldwide, including in the US. In between disasters, he supervises World Vision’s 5-year, $250 million WASH Campaign (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene).   

As the son of a missionary bush pilot, Randy is no stranger to hardship and danger. He is known for resourcefulness, effective networking and “connecting the dots” instead of thinking in silos. He also sees and thinks multi-culturally, having had the rare experience of growing up in 6 countries on three continents (Mexico, France, Mali, Congo DRC, Haiti and the US). Over the years he has also traveled on work-related business to some three dozen countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, Central America and the Caribbean.  

Desired Ministry: Though Randy received a clear call to World Vision (which explains why he has remained there for such a long time), he senses God is now leading him to use his gifts and ministry skills in a church-based ministry. He is particularly interested in the Simple Church, the Externally-Focused Church, and the Samaritan Strategy movements. If he can’t find a posting with a church that has (or is interested in having) such a focus, he will consider planting a church that will, since new wine typically requires new wineskins.

Education & Ministry Experience: Randy holds a Certificate in Biblical Studies, a BA in Comparative Religions, and an MPA with dual emphasis in City Management and International Economic Relations. He has also completed 30 semester units towards the MDiv from Talbot Theological Seminary, including courses in both Greek and Hebrew.  

Randy is a gifted teacher and administrator as well as strategic thinker. He has taught several graduate level courses at the University of Washington and Seattle University. He has also taught classes for church youth, college-career, young marrieds and men’s ministries over the years, including on apologetics, cults and false religions, missions and evangelism methods, holistic ministry, inductive Bible study methods, prayer, sexual discipleship for men, and various books of the Bible (including an in-depth study of the book of Romans). He is a past executive committee member of AERDO (the Association of Evangelical Relief and Development Organizations), and concurrently sat on the board of Churches Together (an association of mega-churches responding to the AIDS crisis in Africa). A joint AERDO/Churches Together ministry to South African youth called South Africa HIV-AIDS Coalition (SAHAC) was birthed out of his vision and leadership. He continues to serve Churches Together as part of a ministry think tank.

Marriage & Family: Randy is married to Janet (a former World Vision staffer) and together they have two children, Ryan (26), a systems engineer, and Janine (23) an ICU nurse. Both Ryan and Janine were gainfully employed by World Vision at one point in their young careers, so truly this is a World Vision family!

The Strash family claims Northwest Foursquare of Federal Way, Washington as their church home, and every family member is engaged in ministry at the church – whether on the Worship Team, Men’s Ministry, Women’s Ministry, Youth Ministry, Marriage Ministry, Stephen Ministry or one of the many mission teams at this wonderful church, pastored by the well-known and well-loved Dr. Steve Schell.

 

Marriage Status: I have been married almost 20 years. We have three children.

Life Experience: I have been waiting tables for almost 25 years. That has been my profession since 1985. Within that time, I have held other positions within the restaurant industry; restaurant manager, banquet server, etc. I am currently employed at Tulio Ristorante in Seattle, where I have worked as a waiter since 1999. I am now the certified server trainer at Tulio and have been performing that task since 2000. In addition to that, I have performed other jobs, such as painter (interior & exterior), driver, etc.

Christian Experience: I was saved in a Starbucks coffee shop in Seattle, on June 18, 1999. I was at the lowest point of my life, when the Lord Jesus Christ in a miraculous way, reached down and rescued me, literally from physical and spiritual death. He showed me in a flashback of my life, that I have always looked for him, not knowing it, until that day, when I turned my life and my will over to Him.

Ever since I have been walking with the Lord I find that I am being transformed day by day into His likeness. He restored my marriage, healed me from my disease (alcohol and drugs), restored my family, and healed the wounds in my heart. With these transformations my family and I have been walking with the Lord full of gratitude.

Ministry Experience: Ever since we were saved, my wife and I have been serving the Lord together. We both have been involved with various forms of evangelism, working as ushers, greeters, bookkeeping, teaching & preaching the Word and counseling. In addition we have gone on several mission trips to Mexico and Peru. We have also been involved with helping to restore the buildings of the Foursquare churches in Pocatello, Idaho and Port Townsend, Washington. My wife and I are currently leading the simultaneous translation ministry at Northwest Church (NWC) for the 6:30pm service. We also lead the Hispanic Fellowship Bible Study, which is held twice a month at NWC.

Desired Ministry: I feel that God is calling me to pastoral ministry; counseling people, praying for them, sharing God’s Word and His wonderful promises with them, teaching them the Word, preaching the Word, guiding people in their walk with Christ and bringing hope to them. Now that I have finished Life Ministry Institute I will continue to serve Him in the Hispanic ministry.

I feel the Lord wants me to continue to pastor His flock; through the power of the Holy Spirit, allow Him to heal the broken hearted, preach to the poor, feed the Word to His people, intercede for them, and guide them through the narrow path into His presence and on to eternal life.

I have been married to Peggy Hanson Paul since March 25th, 2005.

Experience & Training: I am a licensed union journeyman electrician with eleven years of trade experience. I am currently employed by the State of Washington as a Lead Electrical Inspector with twenty-one years service. I have an associate degree in Biblical Studies from Life Ministry Institute at Northwest Church.

Christian Experience: I was born again by the grace of God on March 1st, 1998. I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit evidenced by speaking with other tongues at that time. I was baptized at Northwest Church on March 21st, 1999.

Ministry Experience: I taught 5th grade Christian education class for two years. I served as a boys’ counselor for Royal Family Kids' Camp for nine years. I served on a drama team in a Christmas musical production for two years. I taught a New Testament Greek language course at Northwest Church for two years. I have served on Summer Family Mission teams as lead electrician for nine years. I have served as a small group leader for the Northwest Church Men’s Retreat for four years. I have served with my wife as a small group leaders’ coach for four years.

Desired Ministry: I seek to follow Jesus Christ and to serve His cause and His kingdom by rightly dividing the Word of God, teaching, encouraging, and discipling the flock of Christ. I believe I am called to hold up the arms of the weary, encouraging and assisting those taxed by the weight of ministry. I desire to pour out the life that has been poured into me. My heart for my wife and I is that our lives would be spent for the sake of the kingdom of God and for His glory.