CBF Field Personnel
Jeff & Alicia Lee
North Macedonia
Jeff & Alicia Lee and their son serve with CBF in North Macedonia where they seek to be the presence of Christ by engaging in holistic, relational and healing ministries among the ethnic groups of Skopje.
Macedonia is a small land-locked country in the Balkan region of Europe and is a unique blend of religious and ethnic diversity. Many days, this diversity is lived out beautifully, but at times can be a tense and often exploited balance. Approximately 60 percent of the population is ethnic Macedonians that are generally Orthodox Christians or agnostic; 30 percent are ethnic Albanians and are Muslim; and 10 percent are varied minority groups like Roma, Serbs and Turks. Skopje is the capital city of Macedonia, and home to 800,000 people.
In Skopje, the Lees work alongside local, grassroots organizations to address the needs of families living in extreme poverty, people neglected by society and children rescued from or at-risk for human trafficking. They participate in and organize weekly activities at a group home for adult with developmental disabilities. The Lees are also partnering in the development of a faith-based children’s home.
On Sunday, July 30, 2023, Woodland entered into an Encourager Church Covenant between Jeff & Alicia Lee, CBF Global Missions, and Woodland. Watch the video to the right.
Jana Lee
Cyprus
Jana serves in Larnaca, Cyprus amongst refugees and asylum seekers. She was commissioned as field personnel in 2023. Jana is Jeff Lee’s sister.
Jana has always felt a pull to work internationally for those who are most vulnerable, specifically with public health issues. After working with other global organizations such as the Peace Corps and UNICEF, her goals and passion for international public health aid continued. With her experiences in health education, HIV prevention, sexual reproductive health, and water and sanitation (WASH), she was drawn to CBF Global missions and a field placement in Cyprus
In Larnaca, she partners with All4Aid, a non-profit, faith-based, international organization to work with refugees and asylum seekers coming to and through Cyprus. Their mission is to work with the displaced peoples to enhance their quality of life by facilitating humanitarian assistance, cultivating social inclusion, and fostering educational development.
Cyprus is currently the European country with the largest per capita population of asylum seekers, with the number of refugees increasing significantly over the past five years. Cyprus is a preferred destination on the migratory route because of its proximity to Northern Africa and the Middle East.
All4Aid works with refugees and asylees by way of food distribution programs, clothing distribution, water and sanitation (WASH) programs, and mother and child programs. Jana works to develop health education programs to improve the health outcomes of the refugees, asylum seekers, and local Cypriot people. As the asylum seekers are coming into the country, they are given a small stipend to live. It is not enough to support their families. With the support of CBF donors and All4Aid, the organization can provide resources that the camps and government cannot.
Elket Rodriguez
Rio Grande Valley
Read on the CBF website an article featuring Elket and his work in the valley.
Elket Rodriguez is a CBF Field Personnel serving in the Rio Grande Valley. He is an immigration lawyer from Puerto Rico. Elket encourages churches along and across the U.S. and Mexico border to engage with migrants, asylum seekers, and the vulnerable in their communities. He is also working so that churches in Mexico can be trained in providing pastoral, grief, and trauma care to asylum seekers.
Elket hosts workshops in the U.S and in Mexico to educate migrants, asylum seekers, pastors, and churches on the biblical foundations of welcoming the stranger and loving our neighbor. From that perspective, Elket also addresses the misinformation that shapes unproductive border policies and contributes to increased migration at the border.
Likewise, Elket provides legal aid to asylum seekers and advises pastors and churches on how to assist migrants in their communities. He also shares stories from immigration issues to raise awareness around the plight of immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.
Elket coordinates CBF’s immigration advocacy efforts and leads CBF’s Advocacy Action Team for Immigrants and Refugees. The group cultivates a network of active advocates by providing resources, being informed about current legislation and trends, and encouraging direct policy advocacy at critical moments alongside and on behalf of immigrants and refugees.
Greg and Sue Smith
Fredricksburg, Virginia
Greg & Sue Smith serve with CBF in Fredricksburg, Virginia. Greg and Sue serve the first-generation Latino immigrant community through LUCHA Ministries, Inc., located in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
LUCHA Ministries provides a Christian response to the immigration issue and the needs of the immigrant community. LUCHA advocates for the rights of immigrants and their families, offers a legal services clinic, and helps them obtain services in Spanish. Greg and Sue equip others to work with the immigrant population by offering training and serving as consultants to individuals, churches, and other organizations. The goal is holistic ministry that address the physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of immigrants.
Greg and Sue also serve as members of CBF’s Advocacy Action Team for Immigrants and Refugees. The group cultivates a network of active advocates by providing resources, being informed about current legislation and trends, and encouraging direct policy advocacy at critical moments alongside and on behalf of immigrants and refugees.
The Smiths’ ministry goals center on helping Latino immigrant families to live better, healthier, more productive lives in the United States, with opportunities to integrate fully into their communities.
