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From Tragedy
to Transformation

Discover how God’s Word changed Marcus Stanley’s life—and how you can help bring Scripture to those who need it most.

Watch My Story

My Story.

I was shot eight times from point-blank range and left on a street to die. I spent five months in a hospital, including three in ICU, and another six months in a rehab facility, where the ability to walk one step became a significant victory. And then the next day, the next victory was not to take two steps but to take one step again.

At times, I fell to the floor and lay there helplessly, too ashamed to cry out for help, until after 30, even 45 minutes, I managed to get back to my feet. I was not a Christian then, but I had grown up hearing my mother emphasize the importance of praying Scripture. On that hospital floor, I found strength by reciting over and over one phrase from a verse she had taught me: “… they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength …” (Isaiah 40:31 KJV).

After regaining my ability to walk, I entered rehab again, this time for my heroin addiction. There, in a small chapel on a remote farm, my life—my eternity—changed when I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I would not be alive today without the living and active Word of God. And now, I am compelled to help those who do not yet have Scripture in their language—so they can experience the same life transformation as I have.
I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.

I would not be alive today without the living and active Word of God.

Imagine.

Nearly 30 million people across approximately 800 languages do not have access to a single verse of Scripture in the language they understand best. That is why I partner with Seed Company, a Bible translation agency with a vision of seeing God’s Word available in every language in this generation.

 

Seed Company tells the stories of countless people who, until they first received translated Scripture, did not know that God spoke their language. Can you imagine believing the creator of the universe and sustainer of all life does not know your language?

 

I cannot. So I am doing something about it with Seed Company.

Of the known language groups on earth, only 771 have a complete Bible.

Essential.

Because of one bullet still in my spine, I struggle with pain every day. But through access to Scripture in my language, I have found deeper healing.


The Bible is the foundation of everything I do in life. I start each day reading from it. I apply its words in my pursuit of following Jesus. The help I need now is much different than when I was in rehab, but God’s Word is still the source of my daily strength.


I want you to have that same relationship with the Bible. And I want that for the millions of people around the world who don’t yet have it in their language.

Partnership.

JOIN ME IN REACHING THE BIBLELESS. I am very selective when it comes to partnering with organizations, and I appreciate not only the need for the crucial work Seed Company is doing through Bible translation but also their urgency in reaching every language with God’s Word.


My friends at Seed Company and I have this in common: The Bible has changed our lives, and we believe that every person needs access to it in the language they understand best.


Together, you and I can be part of making that happen.

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… I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. …

— Revelation 7:9 (NLT)

Stories.

Meet some of the people whose lives have been changed through the generosity of our investors and prayer partners.

The Americas

Africa

Europe & The Middle East

Asia

The Pacific

Stats.

The Americas

TOTAL LANGUAGES: 1,123
COMPLETED BIBLES AVAILABLE:  74
LANGUAGES WITH NO SCRIPTURE: 45
CURRENT SEED COMPANY LANGUAGE ENGAGEMENTS: 108

aFRICA

TOTAL LANGUAGES: 2,177
COMPLETED BIBLES AVAILABLE:  297
LANGUAGES WITH NO SCRIPTURE: 161
CURRENT SEED COMPANY LANGUAGE ENGAGEMENTS: 433

Europe & The Middle East

TOTAL LANGUAGES: 615
COMPLETED BIBLES AVAILABLE:  101
LANGUAGES WITH NO SCRIPTURE: 45
CURRENT SEED COMPANY LANGUAGE ENGAGEMENTS: 85

Asia

TOTAL LANGUAGES: 1,156
COMPLETED BIBLES AVAILABLE:  172
LANGUAGES WITH NO SCRIPTURE: 145
CURRENT SEED COMPANY LANGUAGE ENGAGEMENTS: 260

The Pacific

TOTAL LANGUAGES: 2,324
COMPLETED BIBLES AVAILABLE:  127
LANGUAGES WITH NO SCRIPTURE: 382
CURRENT SEED COMPANY LANGUAGE ENGAGEMENTS: 132

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Trading Witchcraft for the Word

Field Stories: Mexico—the Ngigua language (20,000 speakers) – Region: The Americas

Maria’s father was once the town brujo (“sorcerer”). Many in her community don’t trust in God or modern advancements like medicine. So when Maria got sick, she followed the status quo, consulting shamans and believing they could offer her relief. But she found none.

Meanwhile, a translation team in her area was translating Luke into the local Ngigua language. When they encountered Maria and heard about her illness, they decided to share the story of Jesus healing the bleeding woman from Luke 8.

After hearing Scripture in her language, Maria gave her life to Christ—and soon after, many of her family members became believers as well! They still face spiritual darkness, battling even their own family history. But they are determined to follow the Lord and learn more about His Word.

An Old Man’s Journey to the Word

Field Stories: Zambia—the Shanjo language (3,000 speakers) – Region: Africa

A 94-year-old man in Zambia, nearing the end of his life, spent many days drinking in excess.

A friend told him that the Bible was being translated into his Shanjo language, so the elderly man walked over 18 miles to where copies of Scripture were being kept. After reading one, he was never the same. He abandoned alcohol altogether and committed his life to God.

His community witnessed his radical transformation, and now the people are asking for Scripture booklets to be sent to them. This man’s faith is testifying to the Lord’s goodness and opening doors for more Shanjo speakers to encounter the Word in their language!

Signing with Expression

Field Stories: Spain—Spanish Sign Language (75,000 signers) – Region: Europe & the Middle East

When a team in Spain was filming portions of the book of Revelation in sign language, they discussed the importance of facial expressions.

“I can’t sign with a smile when God is pouring out His wrath on the earth and people are covered with boils and sores!” said Carmen, the signer. The team burst out laughing as she demonstrated the inconsistency of signing intense verses with a grin on her face.

“The Bible is not all ‘love your neighbor.’ There are moments of pain and judgment, sorrow and broken humility,” she shared. “The words in black and white in a hearing person’s Bible don’t show that emotion, but for us, as we sign the text, my face needs to show the emotion of the text.”

That emotion was felt deeply by the team. While they captured the extreme joys and pains included in Revelation, they were stopped occasionally, as Carmen was moved to tears by God’s Word.

The Best Kind of Celebration

Field Stories: Asia—the Acacia* language (5,530 speakers) – Region: Asia

When language communities receive Scripture for the first time, it’s a party. The Acacia people of Asia celebrated the arrival of their fully translated New Testament with songs, drums, dances, and a feast of rice, lentils, and pork. New Testament copies were carried in special bamboo baskets that are traditionally used for carrying gifts to the family of a newlywed bride.

“I will never forget this day,” a translation team member said, “because what I never thought could happen in my life has really come to pass.”

For a community that is less than 2 percent Christian, God’s Word is light in a dark place. One Acacia woman said their “culture and customs are very heavy and full of burdens, but the Lord tells us that if you have a heavy burden, come to Me, give it to Me … and I will carry all your burdens. We must decide to put all our burdens and worries upon the Lord.”

May the translated New Testament bring bright gospel hope to the Acacia people!

*Pseudonym

“God Knows Us!”

Field Stories: Indonesia—the Lembur language (4,000 speakers) – Region: The Pacific

As Scripture is being translated into the Lembur language, local speakers are participating in the process, giving translators feedback on the text. This allows the community to experience the power of God’s Word as soon as possible. Here are a few quotes from people who have been impacted recently:

Tobias: “With this translation of the Bible into Lembur, I felt as if the Lord Jesus was right here calling me. The translation is really easy to understand, and that makes me happy.”

Yusuf: “These days, it seems like the Lembur language is disappearing, but this translation itself is evidence of God’s love for us. I’ve been weeping for several days with the realization that God loves us so much, He’s making this translation happen. We are hidden in the shadows of everyone else, but God knows us!”

Pastor Rince: “We are marginalized. But we are experiencing God’s love. This translation makes us feel that God is close to us. We experience God’s goodness and grace. It inspires us for what is ahead in the translation process.”

Matt Krol

Chief Field Operations Officer

Matt became Chief Field Operations Officer in August 2024 after serving as Vice President of Field Operations. He joined Seed Company in 2010 and most recently provided leadership to nearly 1,200 Bible translation projects across diverse cultural contexts. With over 31 years in full-time Christian ministry, Matt is known for fostering international team-focused environments and driving strategic initiatives that enhance operational efficiency. In addition to being fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, he has traveled to all 50 states and more than 100 countries. He also is a private pilot. Matt and his wife Aimee live in Hideaway, Texas. They have two children and two grandchildren.

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Tom De Vries

Board Member

Tom is President and Chief Executive Officer of Citygate Network, North America’s oldest and largest gospel movement of rescue missions and life-transformation ministries. More than 320 organizations and ministries are connected to provide hope and healing to the lost and lonely through emergency shelter and housing, addiction recovery, and mental health support. Tom has been a church planter, multisite church lead pastor, and church multiplication movement leader. Before Citygate Network, Tom served as President and CEO of the Global Leadership Network, an international ministry producing training and equipping through the Global Leadership Summit. The Summit is an annual event experienced by over 300,000 people in 110 countries and translated into 56 languages. Additionally, Tom was General Secretary of the Reformed Church in America. He holds a bachelor of arts from Wheaton College, a master of divinity from Fuller Seminary, and a doctorate in ministry from Western Seminary. Tom has a track record of innovation, strategic planning, and leading high-performance teams for increasing ministry impact. Tom is married to Laura, and they have three adult children.

Steven Ganss

Board Member

A seasoned business executive, board member, and serial entrepreneur with both operational and financial expertise, Steven has held senior leadership roles from founder to managing partner to chief financial officer across multiple industries. Steven is Managing Partner and Co-founder of ReignRock Capital Partners, a growth- and operations-focused private equity firm. Previously, he co-founded Athas Health, an organization dedicated to helping people with chronic spine and migraine pain find meaningful relief. Steven was Chief Financial Officer for Athas Health from its founding until its sale in 2014. Steven also served as an investment banker for Frost Securities and Wasserstein Perella & Co. In addition, he worked for KPMG Peat Marwick’s corporate finance consulting unit. Steven earned his bachelor of business administration in finance from Baylor University. He is also a graduate of the Stagen Integral Leadership Program and the National Outdoor Leadership School. Steven and his wife have two children. They live in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

Nate Foreman

Board Member

Nate is a proven entrepreneur who founded Foreman Therapy Services (FTS) in 2011 as a very naive 27-year-old. Over the next nine years, FTS bootstrapped its way to become an industry-leading healthcare staffing company with more than 400 employees. FTS was sold to The Delta Companies (TDC), one of the largest healthcare staffing companies in the United States and a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Mitsui & Co., which is one of the world’s largest holding companies. FTS’ growth was achieved both organically and through acquisitions. Organic growth was attained by being mission-focused and culture-obsessed and building a strong leadership team. FTS also completed seven “bolt-on” acquisitions over the years to gain market share and expand nationally. Nate currently serves as President of Fore Advisory and lives in East Dallas with his wife Alyssa and their four kids and two dogs. He enjoys golf and spending time with his family.

Melissa Roberts

Board Member

Beyond the huge investment Melissa has made into her family as a full-time wife and mother, she has a passion for seeing an end to sexual exploitation in the country of Malawi. For the past 13 years, through prayer and finances, Melissa has served When the Saints, a nonprofit whose mission is to bring healing to both the oppressed and oppressors in Malawi. She joined the board of When the Saints in 2018, taking on responsibility for their fundraising events, elevating their social media, and hosting weekly prayer meetings. In November 2019, she also partnered with DonorSee as a founding investor after seeing how this charity platform was helping missions like When the Saints engage and retain new kingdom-minded donors from around the globe. Melissa and her husband live in St. Louis, Missouri.

Mark Farr

Chief Field Growth Officer

Prior to joining the Bible translation movement in 2008, Mark enjoyed a 20-year career as an information technology director at an investment banking firm, an oil company, and a state community college. After serving as regional center manager in Papua New Guinea, Mark joined Seed Company in 2012 as a field coordinator in South Asia. Then he led the Growth Partners team for four years before being named Chief Field Officer in 2020. His role changed to Chief Field Growth Officer in August 2024. Mark has a degree in business information systems from Indiana Wesleyan University. He and his wife Kim have been married for 34 years. They have four children and live in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

Maria Pisa

Board Member

Maria has worked as a financial advisor with Edward Jones since 1994. She became a limited partner in 1998 and continues to serve as a subordinated limited partner and financial advisor in her Agoura Hills, California, branch office. Maria has ranked among Forbes’ Best-in-State Wealth Advisors since 2023 and holds Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS) and Certified Kingdom Advisor designations. A Los Angeles native, Maria earned a business degree in marketing and organizational systems management from California State University Northridge. She and her husband of 26 years, Jay DiMaggio, are active members of Atmosphere Church in Westlake Village, California. They have an adult daughter.

Logan Brown

Board Chair

Logan is Co-founder and Managing Partner of Davenforth Investments, an investment partnership that he and business partner Bradley Roofner founded in 2014. In 2017, their partnership acquired an operating company that focused on providing a range of outdoor services to commercial customers in Central Texas. After Logan scaled the company for almost four years as its Co-owner and Managing Partner, it was acquired in late 2020. Logan graduated from the University of Texas with degrees in rhetoric and computer science. He, his wife, and their daughter live in Austin, Texas.

Lester Jackson III

Chief Information Technology Officer

Before joining the Bible translation movement in 2018, Lester had a 20-year career in the Marine Corps, where he served as an information technology chief and as a cybersecurity instructor for the Department of Defense. During his six years at Seed Company, Lester has held various roles, including Information Security Analyst, Director of IT, and Vice President of IT. He began serving in his current role in April 2024. Lester holds a master of science in information technology management. Lester and Kristen, New Orleans high school sweethearts, have been married for 22 years and live in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. They have two daughters.

John Chesnut

Board Member

John has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Wycliffe Bible Translators USA since 2019. He is passionate about partnership, believing that collaborative unity within the body of Christ provides greater opportunities for the advancement of Bible translation. John served in the pastorate for 13 years in the United States before moving to the Philippines, where he served in various leadership roles with SIL Philippines and SIL International. In 2011, he and his wife returned to the United States, where John served as Chief Development and Partnerships Officer for Wycliffe USA. John earned his master of divinity and doctor of ministry from Denver Seminary. The Chesnuts have seven adult children through birth and adoption and an ever-growing quiverful of grandkids. They love the tapestry of nations God has woven together in their family. In his spare time, John enjoys the outdoors—whether hiking, teaching their grandkids how to fish, or taking an early morning walk.

Jim Vinton

Chief Translation Quality Officer

Jim served in Bible translation for more than three decades before being selected as Chief Translation Quality Officer in August 2024. He joined Seed Company in 2011 as a translation consultant and has also served as Director of Translation Consulting and Vice President of Bible Translation. Before Jim came to Seed Company, he and his late wife Virginia spent 12 years in Mozambique working on two translation projects with Seed Company partner SIL. Jim enjoys exercising, playing the bass, and taking road trips with his family. He lives in Waxhaw, North Carolina, and has two college-aged daughters.

Jeremy Moser

Chief Financial Officer

Jeremy joined Seed Company as Chief Financial Officer in August 2024. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Treasury Professional (CTP) with a BA in accounting and finance and an MA in business organizational leadership from Vanguard University. Jeremy most recently served as Vice President of Finance and CFO at Vanguard from 2014 until coming to Seed Company. He previously was CFO at Mariners Church. Jeremy also serves on a number of boards and committees, most recently on an audit and finance committee within the Wycliffe Global Alliance. Jeremy and his wife Donna live in Costa Mesa, California. They have a son and a daughter.

Jamie Hanson

Chief Development Officer

Jamie became Chief Development Officer in June 2024. Before joining Seed Company, he served on staff with Young Life for 27 years, most recently as Vice President of International Development and Strategic Initiatives. While at Young Life, Jamie led the $402 million Forward campaign, led and established “The Table”—a major donor weekend gathering—and led the effort to begin raising local funding outside of the United States with staff and volunteers. Jamie holds a degree in entrepreneurship and business administration from the University of Oregon, where he played golf. Jamie and Jenny, his wife of 27 years, live in Dallas, Texas. They have four adult children. Jamie’s life passions are his family, golf, fly fishing, and walking alongside gospel patrons, witnessing incredible biblical generosity.

Emily Kithinji

Chief People Officer

As Chief People Officer, Emily oversees human resources and office functions. Emily, who has been with Seed Company for 13 years, assumed her current role in June 2024 after a short stint as Interim Chief People Officer. She had most recently served as Vice President of HR operations. She started her career with ExxonMobil in Kenya in various HR roles. She has over 20 years of experience in human resources, is certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources, is a SHRM-SCP holder, and holds a master’s degree in organizational management from Dallas Baptist University. Emily is passionate about human resources and desires to see people thriving with their God-given talent. She and her husband David have been married for 20 years, have one son, and live in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

Dustin Willis

Chief Marketing and Communications Officer

Dustin joined Seed Company in May 2024. His experience includes serving as an organizational executive as well as a coach, leader, and consultant with startups, networks, churches, and high-capacity nonprofits. With adeptness in galvanizing teams and an acute ability to drive strategy, Dustin is passionately focused on building teams that impact the world with the gospel. He holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Clemson University and a master of arts in evangelism and church planting from Liberty University’s Rawlings School of Divinity. Dustin is author of Life in Community and co-author of Life on Mission and The Simplest Way to Change the World. Dustin and his wife Renie have been married for 20 years and live in upstate South Carolina, with their son and daughter.

Davis Powell

Chief Executive Officer and President

Davis became Chief Executive Officer in March 2024. He began working at Seed Company in 2015 and has served in a myriad of roles, including Associate Director of Executive Relations and the President’s Office Chief of Staff. In December 2020, Davis accepted the role of Chief Advancement Officer, which later became referred to as Chief eXperience Officer, to oversee Seed Company’s investor experience and global brand efforts. He holds a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from Clemson University with a minor in business administration, as well as a master of arts in Christian leadership from Dallas Theological Seminary. Davis and his wife Kate live in Dallas, Texas, with their three children.

Chris Ordway

Board Member

Chris is Executive Vice President of Global Leadership Network’s international division. He is a firm believer in the transformative power of great leadership. Chris has worked for three Fortune 500 firms and launched two non-profit initiatives in sustainable agriculture and energy, respectively. His experience working and living in many parts of the world—including the United States, Asia, Europe, and Africa—gives him a unique understanding of the complexities associated with operating in diverse environments. Most notably, Chris led Motorola’s Consumer Products Business Unit and grew its revenue from $5 million to over $100 million in three years. Then he relocated to London to manage operations throughout Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and India. Chris welcomed the opportunity to join the Global Leadership Network in his current capacity in 2021, apart from also serving on several boards. Chris and his wife have three daughters.

Amanda George

Board Secretary

Amanda brings over 20 years of experience as a real estate broker, where she focused on meeting her clients’ needs and overseeing daily operations at LP Properties, a family business in Missouri. After earning a bachelor’s degree in biology education from Bob Jones University and a master’s degree in secondary science education from Lincoln University, Amanda initially pursued a teaching career before transitioning into real estate. She recently founded Vita Medella, a company specializing in group health analysis and insurance. Amanda and her husband live in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with their two daughters.

Aimee Reynolds

Executive Chief of Staff

Aimee has served with Seed Company for five years and became Executive Chief of Staff in April 2024. She possesses over two decades of business expertise as a leader and entrepreneur. Her experience includes managing her own Muay Thai Studio and fulfilling the role of creative director at Grace Brethren Church in southern Maryland. She strives to be a servant leader in all her roles, including as a wife and a mom of three boys. Aimee holds a bachelor of science degree in molecular cell biology from California State University, San Marcos, and a Project Management Professional (PMP) Training Certification. She also is a certified Level 4 Muay Thai Instructor. Aimee and her husband Joe live in Arlington, Texas.

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