About the Lorenz Family

Glenn and Wendy, both ordained elders in the Free Methodist Church, were appointed as career missionaries in April 2015. In January 2017 the Lorenz family moved to Costa Rica to work with Free Methodist World Missions. In October of 2022 Glenn shifted his focus to Africa. Glenn is now the Assistant Area Director of Africa, and his primary responsibility at present is to recruit, onboard, train and coach a team of long-term, residential missionaries for West Africa. Wendy leads an international ministry to Third Culture Kids (TCK). All parents want their children to thrive, and Wendy’s ministry helps missionary parents navigate some of the uniqueness of their kids’ experience as a TCK. Wendy and Glenn have one child in the home (Ellie) two older children who attend Spring Arbor University in Michigan (Isaac & Jakin), and one child living as a missionary in Colombia (Libby).

Wendy graduated from Spring Arbor University with a BA in Christian Ministries and Asbury Theological Seminary with a MA in World Missions and Evangelism. Glenn graduated from San Jose State with a BA in Speech Communication and from Asbury Seminary with a MDiv and a DMin. Glenn and Wendy have served churches in California, Michigan, Arizona, and Kansas as well as taught at Central Christian College of Kansas.

OUR PURPOSE

Participating with God in His Redemptive purposes in Africa by Developing Healthy Leaders, Multiplying Committed Disciples, & Equipping Transformational Churches. We moved to Costa Rica to strategically focus on pastoral training and leadership development in order to help fuel and sustain a biblical movement to reach Latin American for Christ, specifically through Community Church Planting. We are grateful for our time in Latin American and learning under the leadership of Dr. Delia Nüesch-Olver and Dr. Ricardo Gomez. Our purpose has not changed, it has only shifted. Glenn is now strategically focusing on sending a team of missionaries into West Africa in order that they will be able to help fuel and sustain a biblical movement to reach West Africa for Christ. Wendy will begin working for the Africa area in January 2024.

Wendy is the TCK (Third Culture Kids) Care Coordinator for Latin America and Africa. TCK Care exists to provide preventive and responsive care for our TCKs and their families as they navigate each season of cross-cultural life and ministry. We are committed to helping our TCKs and their families thrive. God placed a deep burden for TCKs on Wendy’s heart. Have you ever wondered why TCK care is crucial for FMWM? We believe that kids matter to Jesus to the FMWM. We understand that each family is coming from a unique situation, and want to minister to the particular needs of each TCK and their family. History has shown us that TCK care is critically important for families to stay long term on the field, but that is secondary to the value we place on the TCK and their needs. We long for each TCK to grasp the truth that they are created in the image of God himself, and that they do in fact belong to the body of Christ. If you are interested in learning more about TCKs, or if you are a TCK or an ATCK (Adult who grew up as a TCK) and would like more information, please contact Wendy at wendylorenz@gmail.com.