Barry and Christy Van Steenburg shared a passion for local ministry for many years--Barry being a pastor at a Wesleyan church and Christy, the daughter of a Wesleyan pastor. Though Barry has been fascinated by missions for several years and has gone on missions trips to Haiti, El Salvador, and Guatemala, it was not until Barry and Christy attended a pastor's congress in Guatemala in March 2013 that they both felt a strong calling to overseas missions in Central America. Barry stated, "God began impressing upon my heart that it was time to accept His new vision for my life and ministry; to give my life away in mission to the world." Christy agreed stating, "The Lord really started to show me that I and my family were being called to fulfill the Great Commission outside of the boundaries of the United States."

Global Partners has appointed Barry and Christy to serve as long-term missionaries in Central America. They are committed to raise up leaders in Central America by training pastors to effectively lead their churches and spread the gospel far beyond their borders. Their hope is to raise up leaders who are "willing, committed, and excited" to live out the Great Commission in their own lives.

Barry and Christy have four children: Barry ('00), Austin ('01), Seth ('04), and Caleb ('06).

The Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion--to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. (Isaiah 61:1-3 NIV).