On January 5th, 2025, Midway Church in Aubrey-Pilot Point, TX, hosted a special service honoring Mitch and Beth Calmes for their 30 years of ministry in East Africa. Jon Konnerup, BBFI Mission Director, presented the couple with an award recognizing their impact in Tanzania and Kenya. Mitch, who grew up at Midway and surrendered to ministry as a teenager, attended Liberty University, where he met Beth. The couple answered the call to missions as young parents during a mission trip to Mexico.
The Calmes began their ministry in Tanzania in 1994, learning Swahili and planting churches in Moshi and Dar es Salaam, where they also started a feeding center, preschool, and leadership training programs. Beth co-founded the SIFA Collective for marginalized women, and Mitch launched a Bible Training Center for Pastors. These initiatives continue to thrive.
In 2020, when their Tanzanian work permits weren’t renewed, the Calmes transitioned to Kenya. Mitch now directs the Bible Training Center for Pastors, supporting church plants and mentoring leaders, while Beth leads a discipleship program and KUJUA Ministries, a digital platform for Swahili-speaking women.
The service at Midway Church celebrated their faithfulness and enduring impact on East Africa, inspiring others to support missions and pray for their continued work in building churches and training leaders. John Theisen, pastor of Midway Church, shared, “It is quite the honor to be the sending church for such an amazing family.”
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