Aaron and Nikki Rhoades and their three daughters, Abi,
Clara, and Kamille currently live and serve in rural Taiwan as
church planters and also work with marginalized people. They
currently serve full time at a church plant in Qiatou, Kaohsiung
doing youth and children's minsitry, leading worship, and leading
small groups. Aaron also serves at a drug rehabilitation center
and Nikki is involved with the Pearl Family Garden, a ministry
that serves women in the sex industry. Both of them are on the
board of Taiwan 127, a minsitry that seeks to promote the needs
for foster care and foster families among the churches in Taiwan.
Additionally, Nikki serves on the board at Morrison Academy, a
Christian school that was created to serve the children of
missionaries.
Background:
Aaron was born and raised in Springfield, Illinois. Nikki was
born in Taiwan and raised there and in San Diego,
California. Nikki grew up in a Christian home and Aaron grew
up in a non-religious background. He eventually adopted New Age
beliefs.
Aaron was born again in 2012 while working as a contractor in Afghanistan. His coworkers led him to Christ. His heart was changed instantly after saying the salvation prayer and he knew there was no going back. He has committed his life to serving and following after Christ. Nikki committed her life to Christ at a young age and felt God calling her to missions after her first mission trip at 11. As a teen, she pursued a godly life, but took a detour in her early twenties. She is grateful for God’s grace and redeeming love as He welcomed her back into His loving arms. She now has a deeper and stronger faith than ever before.
Aaron has a Bachelor of Arts in Intercultural Studies from Lincoln Christian University. Nikki has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Point Loma Nazarene University and Master of Science in Nursing Education from Benedictine University.
Nikki had felt God calling her to missions. Once she fell away from God and returned, she believed that her opportunity to be a missionary had passed. However, when Aaron and Nikki were dating, he expressed a calling on his life to pursue mission work and asked her how she felt about joining him in the mission field. She was delighted that she was still able to pursue the desire God had placed in her heart. They have since been growing and preparing for the life God has for them. Over the years, God has placed on their hearts a burden to disciple the working class people of Taiwan and to take care of orphans.
Aaron and Nikki are excited for this next season of life and are delighted to see where God takes them.
Follow them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1345227508947312
