The Gustafsons

Mike grew up in Schenectady, New York, in a Christian family. He graduated from Cedarville College. He served outside Moscow Russia for a year and a half in an internship program, before completing his master’s degree at Baptist Bible Seminary. He then taught at a Christian school in Poughkeepsie, NY for six years before leaving for Kiev, Ukraine, to serve full-time.

Rachel grew up in Gig Harbor, the daughter of Mark and Nancy Suko. She graduated from Christian Heritage College in San Diego, CA, and went on to teach at Lighthouse Christian School for five and a half years. Through her father’s trips to the Ukraine, and through the sister-church relationship of Discovery Baptist with a church in the village of Makarovo, Ukraine, Rachel developed a burden for the country. After two short-term trips, she realized that God was calling her to serve full-time in Ukraine.

Mike and Rachel met in Ukraine two days after Rachel arrived. Later that year, their new friendship blossomed into romance, and they were married November 12, 2005. Together they are happily serving in Kiev, Ukraine, training leaders.