About us
We’re dedicated to helping you carry out the mission God has placed in your heart in a biblical, culturally-effective, and reproducible way.
Our story
Before the turn of the 21st century, Glenn Schwartz, a missionary to Africa, became gravely concerned about how mission approaches took on attitudes and behaviors of colonialism and paternalism. As a result, he started to talk and write about this issue for his generation of missionaries, zeroing in on how mission-generated unhealthy dependency chipped away at the dignity and self-development of those on the receiving end of missions.
We wish we could say that this topic is no longer needed but in this globalized world, the West is engaging with the rest of the world like never before. It’s more critical than ever that missionaries and organizations replace dependency-producing models with approaches that promote local dignity, sustainability, and multiplication.
Our team at Five Stones Global stands ready to coach and train you or your team to create a Great Commission environment that makes Acts 2:42-47 a reality for the people groups you come alongside.
The significance of our name
Much like David opted to use his slingshot and five smooth stones over Saul’s bulky armor in his battle against Goliath, we train and coach mission workers to encourage indigenous people (the Davids) around the globe to use their own “five stones”—their God-given capacity and local resources—to thrive and multiply.
“As a missionary, you set out to change lives and make disciples of Jesus.
At the same time, it’s so important to remember that DAY 1 (your beginnings) impacts DAY 100 (the long-term for the local insiders).
I’m so proud of the work we do here at Five Stones Global to partner with both dedicated missionaries and generous donors who fund our work. This combined generosity and work create disciple-making efforts that are repeatable, multiplying, and sustainable.
We’re so glad you’re here. I can’t wait to learn more about how we can work together to make a biblically-rooted, culturally-relevant impact.”
~ Jean Johnson, Executive Director
A must-have for every missionary’s toolkit
“Five Stones Global provides practical, doable principles for sustainable mission work that should be part of every cross-cultural worker’s toolkit.”
~ Mark Zook
What makes us unique
Our focus: We’re dedicated to helping you carry out the mission God has placed in your heart in a biblical, culturally-effective, and reproducible way.
Our approach: We come alongside you for the long-haul. As the Africans say, If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. We love creating community for those we train. We’re active prayer partners who deeply care about your well-being and effectiveness.
Our authenticity: We share our failures and successes so you can truly learn from us.
Our style: Our coach-led trainings are creative and participatory. We help you chase down the practical and remind you to get back to the biblical.
Meet Our Team
We’re here to serve you
(Click on each team member to view their bio)
Jean Johnson
Executive Director and Coach-Trainer
Dan Carl
Coach-Trainer
Maria Gilbertson
Coach-Trainer
Diane Campbell
Curriculum Development and Training
Kim Foss
Administrative Manager
Meet Our Team
Board of directors
(Click on board member to view their bio)
Doris Dagen
Board Chair
Wes Funk
Vice Chair
Taylor Gilbertson
Board Treasurer
Alison Gochnauer
Board Secretary
Charlie Kreider
Member
Sarah Raush
Member
Our commitment
We believe every missional action will either nurture or inhibit long-term sustainable outcomes in your cross-cultural work. We strive to help you foster cultural effectiveness, sustainability, and multiplication.
Hover over images to read more
Our ethos
DAY 1 affects DAY 100: We believe that what missionaries do on DAY 1 (the foundational level) will either accelerate or inhibit the local disciples and churches from sustaining and multiplying their own efforts on DAY 100 (in the long term).
Our mission
Therefore, we come alongside missionaries to help them create a culture of dignity, sustainability, and multiplication in their Great Commission efforts on DAY 1.
Our vision
Helping you sharpen your mission methods
From custom coaching to online training, we’re here to help you design a missionary practice that’s impactful and sustainable without creating an unhealthy culture of dependency.
Solutions that keep reproducibility, culture-effectiveness, and multiplication at the center of your mission work
Work with a trusted partner
Aim for eternal success
Increase your missional effectiveness
Avoid common pitfalls
Our values and beliefs
Our values
Go to all
Baptize and make disciple-makers
Teach the commands of Jesus
Biblical:
Contextual:
Reproducible:
Self-reliance/local-reliance:
Our beliefs
The Bible
God
Jesus
Faith
The Holy Spirit
The Worldwide Church
How it works
1) Get in touch
Meet our team to explore what virtual course or courses are best for you.
2) Receive practical coaching and training
Learn principles and practices from experienced mission workers to multiply disciples using biblical, reproducible, and culturally effective approaches that avoid mission-generated unhealthy dependency.
3) Produce long-term impact
Be inspired by the birth and spread of biblically-faithful and culturally-effective communities of faith that multiply throughout a people group.
Get involved
Volunteering with Five Stones Global is all about impact. Together, we play a significant part in helping local disciples and churches thrive and multiply. Learn more about our opportunities today.
Free Guide
The Ripple Effect: Unpack the Impacts of Foreign Funds in Global Missions Across 4 Realms
In our efforts to be generous in our cross-cultural mission work, we often gauge success by visible results. Before offering support to a local individual, entity, or initiative using foreign resources, consider evaluating the broader effects of your giving across these four key realms in cross-cultural contexts.
Get the First Chapter of the Book We Are Not The Hero
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Jean Johnson
Executive Director and Coach-Trainer
As Five Stones Global’s executive director and active coach-trainer, I draw on 35 years of cross-cultural mission work—six years among Cambodian refugees in St.Paul/Minneapolis, sixteen years in Cambodia, and thirteen years in the role of coaching and training—to serve missionaries and donors. Listen to more of my story right here.
I reside in St. Paul, where Asian food is around every corner—including my favorite, Tom Kha Gai (Thai Coconut Soup).
Dan Carl
Coach-Trainer
My greatest joy comes from helping missional disciples of Jesus put feet to their God-given responsibility to live out the Great Commission.
I bring to the table of coaching and training 18 years of cross-cultural mission experience in Haiti. This is where I became aware of the critical necessity to avoid leaving a wake of unhealthy dependency in our mission approaches.
My beautiful wife, Liz, was born and raised in Panama where we presently reside. We have the shared opportunity to make disciples among our neighbors.
On a fun note, I used to play in a rock band. I still like jamming out.
Maria Gilbertson
Coach-Trainer
As a coach-trainer for Five Stones Global, I want you to be encouraged, equipped, and ready for your role in the Great Commission while being fully aware of the challenges ahead.
The missionary in me wants you to grow beautiful disciples in your host culture who will organically multiply, live out the New Testament, and display the beauty of their own culture.
I have four children born in three different countries. And despite all of our various interests, we all enjoy the outdoors and playing in the water—preferably floating lazily down a river in my kayak.
Diane Campbell
CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING
Five Stones Global’s (FSG’s) training initiatives are continuously evolving and being customized to meet the needs of our trainees, which is the area I help with.
I was a missionary for 16 years in Cambodia and have been to over 30 countries. I understand the complexities of doing cross-cultural missions well. How I wish I could have had FSG’s worldview-intentional training before going and while I was on the field. At present, I use my experience and skills to help develop engaging, visually stimulating, and practical training tools to better equip the next generation.
Fun fact: I am the one who was riding the runaway elephant in the book We Are Not the Hero.
Kim Foss
Administrative Manager
My administrative skills and attention to detail allow me to provide organizational and business support to the Five Stones Global staff and Board. It is my prayer that those who engage with Five Stones Global will have a better understanding of themselves and others as they process engagement in missions across the world.
Doris Dagen
Board Chair
I have the opportunity to bring my passion for the nations and 18 years of mission administration experience in a local church to my role with Five Stones Global.
For those we serve, I am cheering you on in your efforts to plant and encourage local communities of believers to be sustained by Jesus, grow naturally, and multiply more communities of believers.
Wes Funk
Vice Chair
I’m excited to serve with Five Stones Global as we equip people to minister with other cultures and create sustainable work that will easily multiply without ongoing outside help.
Having a lifetime passion for missions, I utilize my skills as a business owner to give guidance to Five Stones Global. My desire is that those we come alongside will develop mission strategies that will have perpetuity.
Taylor Gilbertson
Board Treasurer
As a sales and business professional, I’m often networking and connecting people, businesses, and solutions. I enjoy bringing my gift of making connections to the Five Stones Global board, with the hope to help share the stories and solutions Five Stones Global has cultivated over the years.
For our clients and friends, I don’t want us to keep making the same mistakes. Let’s learn from those who have gone before us and have their stories and wisdom impact the way we send, give, and go.
Alison Gochnauer
BOARD SECRETARY
I first tasted the crippling consequences of dependency through short-term missions. Back then, I had no idea that my good intentions might inhibit what I set out to do—make disciples. Five Stones Global first came alongside me by “passing the baton” of their lessons learned—coaching me on applying a healthy, dignifying, multiplying, Scripture-based mission strategy. Ever since, it’s been my greatest passion to support them in this calling of “passing the baton” to a new generation of missionaries. Oh, and the cherry on top—Five Stones Global doesn’t just pass the baton; they run along next to you!
Charlie Kreider
Member
My wife and I have served on the missions committee at our church for years, and I have served on various boards over the past thirty years. I bring this experience and my passion for sharing the gospel globally to Five Stones Global’s work.
Sarah Raush
Member
In the months that I’ve spent volunteering overseas, I have come to learn that the tiniest movements and the proverbial drops in the bucket are often what have the biggest impact long term. My prayer for you is that you will join us in the bucket.