OUR MISSIONARIES

John & Rachel graduated from Moody Bible Institute and married in 1988. For 10 years in Charlotte, NC they were deeply involved in inner city ministry and the planting of a cross cultural church, Steele Creek Church of Charlotte.

During those years they lovingly cared for Johnathan, their first born son, who had a terminal condition with multiple medical problems. They also provided foster care for five amazing children. In 2000, along with their sons Daniel and Joshua, they answered God’s call to become missionaries in Mexico.

Founders & Directors

John & RAchel Reaser

JAVIER & JEANETTE LEYVA

Javier & Jeanette were married in 2004 while living in Mexicali, Mexico. They both had committed their lives to serving the Lord through the local church in Mexico. In 2009 they moved to Mazatlán with their three boys, Daniel, James, and Jonathan.

Their intention was to live closer to Jeanette’s family, and they were excited about what God would do through their lives. Their first years in Mazatlán were complicated, full of challenges and trials, starting with the diagnosis and treatment of cancer for Jeanette.

Operational Directors

God used these things to increase their faith and to mold their character. In 2012 they began working full time on the pastoral staff at Amor y Libertad church.

Their passion has been to motivate the church to discipleship, evangelism and mercy. During those years they met and began working with John and Rachel Reaser. Today they work full time forming a part of the team of Shoulder to Shoulder Mexico

DANIEL & HANNAH PEREZ

Generous Hands Program, Safe Zone Directors, Audio and Media Support

Daniel, originally from Mazatlán, and Hannah, from Pittsburgh, PA, joined their lives in marriage in 2015. Now, Daniel and Hannah are the proud parents of their niece, America, and their son, Nathaniel. Hannah has studies in Human Development and Family Studies, and she's currently in the final stages of completing her master's degree in Pastoral Biblical Counseling. Daniel's passions and studies are in graphic design, music, and audio. Before coming to STS both worked for several years with an orphan ministry.

In 2021, Daniel and Hannah felt God's call to the mission and vision of Shoulder to Shoulder. Growing up as pastor's children, they intimately understand the intricate blend of joys and challenges that come with being part of a ministerial household. As members of the STS team, they are passionate and dedicated to serving and uplifting local pastors through the programs entrusted to them.

Director of Teams/Church Partnerships and Communications Coordinator

BEN & TONYA FALKENBERG

Ben and Tonya Falkenberg married in 2008 and graduated from Mount Vernon Nazarene University in 2009. They settled in Wadsworth, Ohio where they began to raise their three daughters, Nola, Lena and Shay.

Ben practiced anesthesia at Mercy Medical Center while Tonya worked as a hair stylist. As a family, they attended Grace Church in Bath, Ohio, where Ben met John Reaser. Not long after, God began to call the Falkenberg’s to make the move to Mazatlán and join the STS team.

In December 2022, they completed a year of language learning at the Spanish Language Institute in Costa Rica before officially joining the STS staff in January 2023. As the directors of teams, they are responsible for everything that goes into our mission trips. They coordinate the finances, budgets, plans, preparations, and meetings between the U.S. and Mexican church.

Edgar and Carmen Meraz

Since their youth, Edgar and Carmen have served in different areas of short-term missions, both with local churches in Mexico and churches from the USA. In 2003, they were married and they now have 2 children, Michell and Edgar Jr. The Meraz del Angel family has helped to plant 2 local churches in Tampico, most recently Iglesia Qadosh in which they have served for 14 years in different ministries: children, youth, worship, and women's ministry.

Pastoral Center Directors

For the past 8 years, Edgar has served as senior pastor and Carmen as part of the women's and youth ministry board. Edgar graduated with a degree in Audio Engineering in 2003 and is currently finishing a master's degree in Theological Studies with an emphasis on missions.

Carmen earned her medical degree, specializing in Family Medicine. She has been practicing Family Medicine for 19 years. As a family, they have obeyed God's call to serve in missions with Shoulder to Shoulder

Bryan and Erin Joseph have been married since 2012 and have raised their four kids (Elia, Sophia, Ezra and Summer) in NE Ohio until they felt the call to missions in 2022. Through connections and partnerships with local churches, they heard about the ministry of STS and knew right away that God was calling them to this ministry.

Bryan previously worked as a mechanical engineer and Erin has devoted her days to homeschooling the kids.

Bryan & Erin Joseph

The Joseph family desires to make God known to the nations and to support His church. They are currently studying Spanish at Rio Grande Seminary in Texas, with plans to join the STS team in Mazatlán in early 2026.