Antioch, Tennessee—Darren and Dana Portell joined IM in 2002 when they were appointed to work with North Africans in France. They faithfully served the people around them and their team until the Lord moved them to Morocco to teach students at George Washington Academy. When God closed that door, He opened another one where Morrison Academy in Taiwan was waiting for their leadership and experience. Darren developed the sports program through his role as the Athletic Director and together they mentored students. Through all these years, God has continued to allow them to serve alongside Free Will Baptists as partners in sharing the Gospel with a lost world.

The Portells are now making a move and will continue working with IM as they join Tyler and Kellie Penn in Champaign, Illinois, ministering to international students. Darren says, “It is exciting that God has created an opportunity for us to possibly serve four of our Morrison Academy alumni that now attend the University of Illinois. Five hundred of the 12,500 international students at the University of Illinois are from Taiwan, where we have served for the past ten years. We are excited to see how God uses our love and understanding of their country and culture in order to draw them to Himself.”

Tyler Penn, who will be working closely with the Portells, says, “Kellie and I are super excited that the Portell family will be joining us in reaching out to international students at the University of Illinois. Their years of mission work in Taiwan will be a great asset to the ministry to our students. We know that the Portells’ experience of serving with IM on three different continents combined with their heart for the nations will be an enormous benefit to the ministry here.”

Join us in praying for Darren and Dana as they make this transition from their ministry in Taiwan to the University of Illinois.

IM labors with the Body of Christ to fulfill the Great Commission.

January 12, 2024