Leadership - Glory Project

Our Leadership

At the Glory Project we work with indigenous churches, leaders, and ministries to build the kingdom of God in Asia. True transformation occurs only when the local church identifies their needs and others are mobilized. Therefore, at The Glory Project we seek to make disciples and reproduce the church of God in Asia.

Board of Directors

Dr. Breckenridge L. Merkle

President/CEO

Dr. Breckenridge Merkle served over ten years as a missionary in Asia, alongside his wife and partner in ministry, Candice Merkle. They worked to plant churches among an unreached people group in a restricted country. In 2015 they returned to the states for the health needs of their fourth son where Breck then served as a pastor in Colorado Springs for 6 years. In early 2019 he launched The Glory Project to mobilize the church to empower local leaders and ministries to reach the unreached with the gospel of Jesus Christ for the glory of God in Asia. His heart is to see the church of God come together and finish the task of making disciples among all unreached people groups.

Breck studied missions and ministry in Missouri and North Carolina while serving in Asia. He completed his Doctor of Ministry degree with Gateway Seminary, Rocky Mountain Campus. Breck loves the Lord Jesus and his family passionately. You can find Breck doing outdoor yard work, grilling, biking, and reading when he is not in another part of the world. As a Colorado Native, he is a lifelong Broncos fan rooting on his favorite team to the Super Bowl.

Steve Wilke

Director of Operations

I’m Steve Wilke, the Director of Operations for the Glory Project. I’m a retired Army Officer where I spent much of my adult life overseas, in nearly 50 countries and 5 continents. There is just something special about each one of those places, even in war. God’s beautiful creation on display in each one, yet nothing is more important than his best creation, man. I’m excited to serve with the Glory Project because of the unique opportunity to reach many cultures in many countries. My time in military I served an important mission and the defense of the USA, but the Glory Project serves the most important mission, the furtherance of God’s kingdom within the gospel and salvation through Jesus Christ. One by one, little by little, until there’s a church in every village.

Simon Smeddle

Director of Donor & Member Relations

Carl Stults

Director of Donor Relations

I was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and then adopted at five days old. My adoptive parents were Christian and Southern Baptists; thus, I had the privilege of being raised in a Christian home. I professed faith in Jesus Christ and was baptized when I was five years old. It is a privilege to serve the Lord, and I enjoy doing so in a local Southern Baptist church. I have been privileged to participate in seven short-term overseas mission trips. I look forward to serving the Lord internationally through the Glory Project and its international ministry.

Chris Swiontek

Director of Finance

Chris trusted in Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior at an early age. When he was a teenager, he began supporting a missionary who was smuggling bibles into the Middle East. Ever since then he has had a passion for sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ, especially with those in the 10-40 window. He has served on mission trips both state-side and overseas and currently finds great joy in helping young kids memorize Scripture in the Awana program at their church. Chris joined with the Glory Project because of his desire for those living in restricted, persecuted, and hard to reach areas throughout Asia to hear and have the opportunity to respond to the Good News of Jesus Christ. He is married to his wife Danielle and they have three girls. If they aren’t out enjoying God’s creation rock climbing or hiking they are probably inside memorizing verses for Awana, playing games, or building Lego as a family.

Joslyn Kailey

Secretary/Director of Marketing

I tell people that I left a part of my heart in South East Asia, and it is so very true. Due to some unfortunate circumstances, I have not been able to return….yet. I am hoping to someday bring my husband and daughter with me to see the lands and meet the people I have fallen in love with. I feel very blessed to have been able to have the Holy Spirit speak through me and to me to really see the people and circumstances on the other side of the world. In the meantime. I work full time as a Physical Therapist and Wound Care Specialist for a Skilled Nursing Facility/Rehab facility in Colorado Springs. I enjoy bike riding, yard work, (I know weird right) family fun nights, Cross Fellowship Church events, playing with animals (we have a dog, 2 cats, 2 rats, and a turtle), and I am weird so I also like housework. I hope to bring resources, emotional support and most of all the love of Jesus Christ and see the Church rise up in South East Asia.

Michelle Lashley

Director of Internal Communications

I’m a Southerner by birth, but fell in love with the beautiful mountains of Colorado and we made it our home state nearly 20 years ago. I enjoy working as an Operations Director for a global information technology company and helping my team bring cutting edge products to our clients. My husband and I have been blessed with two beautiful daughters and a life full of sports, travel, and giving back to the Lord.

My passion for supporting missions has grown steadily over the years and the Lord has continued to bring bigger and bigger areas of opportunity for support to me. I’m honored that He lead me to support the Glory Project. I’m excited to serving on the board to assist in a deeper level through thought leadership, focused prayer for all needs, and collaborating with the other Board members to further the cause of Christ as the Lord leads us.

Michelle Byrne

Director of Community Engagement

During and after college, I spent time studying and ministering to people with disabilities in Eastern Europe and North Africa as well as serving families of children with autism and cognitive disabilities here in the States. I am now married to my wonderful husband, Joel, and spend much of my time homeschooling our 4 children. I also love gardening, throwing pottery, and jumping rope. I am passionate about seeing unreached people groups gain access to the gospel. I desire to help our missionaries have holistic support as they take the gospel to their communities and to offer ministry supporters first-hand experiences “on the field” through short-term trips that partner with our full-time missionaries.

A Church In Every Village

Leaders Aboard

International Leaders

We have several church leaders and ministers who serve all across Asia. For security reasons, we will not release photos of the individuals and family.

Our Native Missionaries

Henry

Director for Glory Education Center

Training up a new generation of leaders to lead the church in Asia and plant new churches across the region.

David

Cell Group Leader for Houses of Glory

Cell group leader for Houses of Glory in mid-Burma

Peter

Native Missionary

Cell group leader for Houses of Glory in mid-Burma

Paul

Native Missionary & Director

Planting churches among the Tai Khamti & director for the New Light Children’s Home.

Missionary Success Stories

Spreading the good word, the gospel.

A CHURCH IN EVERY VILLAGE

We seek to share the gospel in all it’s fullness to the glory of God by establishing, growing, and maturing the church in Asia.

Contact

5801 N Union Blvd.
Colorado Springs, CO 80918

support@gloryproject.org

Helpful Links

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We Are Accountable to Our Donors and Those We Serve.
While Glory Project maintains discretion and control over the use of the funds, accountability to our donors is one of our highest priorities. Our goal is to use the funds entrusted to us as wise stewards. To do this requires continued monitoring and annual audits of our fund distribution. Glory Project is a member in good standing with the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).