YIDA
We first attempted to enter the Nuba Mountains in 2014, but were shopped short of Sudan’s border at a place called Yida. At the time, Yida was populated by approximately 10,000 Nuban refugees.
We built relationships with the refugees there, and returned to facilitate mobile clinics and offer training for pastors in the camp. We were overjoyed at the ministry we had found in Yida, but we yearned to reach those trapped beyond the Sudanese border, so we prayed for an opportunity to reach the un-reached.
MEET THE TEAM
David Fuller
FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
David is the embodiment of Answering the Call. David regards barriers, borders and obstacles as opportunities for God's power to be made known worldwide. He preaches the Gospel in underground churches in Asia, prays over rape survivors in Congo, and facilitates relief materials into the Nuba Mountains of Sudan and the front lines of the War in Ukraine. With David Fuller, there is no line, no point at which to stop and turn back, when God calls you to reach the ones He loves.
Joy Fuller
FOUNDER & ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
In addition to the full-time job of keeping David in line, Joy oversees the communication and design decisions of ATC. She also co-pastors a church in Roanoke, VA with David, all while finishing her Masters of Religion in Middle Eastern Studies. Further proving she can do it all, Joy is the director of Generation of Promise, ATC's two-week discipleship program in Costa Rica. When she's not on the go, Joy is hanging out with her grandbabies or playing fetch with the only dog that could turn her into an animal-lover: Saint Basil, the sheepadoodle.
Jake Fuller
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND FIELD COORDINATOR
Jake never thought he would follow in his father's footsteps, but after stepping in to lead an emergency relief trip to the Nuba Mountains in the fall of 2017, he knew God was leading him into mission work. After graduating from Virginia Tech with a degree in Agricultural Science and a minor in Social Change and Leadership in 2018, Jake accepted a full-time position at ATC. Jake not only manages the financial operations at ATC, but also leads multiple trips into the fields throughout the year. When he's not managing spreadsheets, leading trips or coordinating projects, you can find Jake hanging out with his wife AC, their son Theo, their dog Whit, and the awesome community of friends and family in Roanoke and Dwelling Place Church.
Liz Brand
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Missions was ingrained in Liz from the beginning, living in Guatemala and Belize while her parents completed a discipleship training school. Studying business in college, missions remained a focal point in her life and continued to foster a deep desire to see business implemented on the mission field. After graduating college and getting married, she and her husband lived in Costa Rica for two months and then moved to Germany for 2 ½ years where they worked and traveled to over 40 countries. She has her Master’s Degree in Strategic Communication and is passionate about ATC and the work of reaching marginalized people around the world.
Esther Casey
COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR
Esther’s journey in missions began in her early twenties, serving in Scotland and discovering a lifelong passion for coming alongside people in the thick of life and ministry. Years later, she and her husband completed a Discipleship Training School (DTS) with YWAM—bringing six of their twelve children along for the adventure. Now living in New Jersey, where her husband leads a Christian school, Esther continues to invest in missions work both locally and abroad. Whether she’s encouraging those on the front lines, supporting her family, or serving in her community, Esther brings warmth, wisdom, and a heart for seeing people flourish in their calling.
Jason & Sarah Smith
FIELD COORDINATORS
Based out of Uvita, Costa Rica. Jason is originally from Louisiana, and Sarah is a daughter of missionaries to Honduras and grew up in Latin America. They met at college in Louisiana, and moved to Costa Rica shortly after getting married to oversee the construction of Refugio Solté. What began as a one year assignment, turned into 15+ years as the directors of the retreat center, with people from over 30 different countries experiencing the Lord’s presence, freedom, growth and healing. Over 15 years later, Costa Rica has become home to them and their two boys, Luka and Niko, and they are entering into a new and exciting season of ministry and missions, partnering as Field Coordinators for ATC through their non-profit foundation, The Nikao Foundation.
Vic Leiviska
FIELD COORDINATOR
Based out of Wilmington, NC, Vic spent many years as a missions pastor at a local church, traveling the world and investing in the local community. He and his wife, Bridget, have two incredible kids, Sam and Abby, and an amazing community through their mission minded coffee shop called Sundial Coffee and Tea. Their business has allowed them to pursue their passions together, full-time, while also giving Vic the opportunity to travel internationally and invest in missions as a field coordinator for ATC. When not investing in their local community and difficult to reach places around the world, you can find them spending time with their family, taking walks with their dogs, Rio and Tica, on the beach, and getting away for a camping trip in their teardrop trailer.