Josh and Alli Ayers
Contact Info
Internet Office Phone: (719) 571-9503This is a US phone number
Costa Rica Office Phone: (506) 2446-8140
If calling from the US first dial (011)
Our Background
Josh grew up in the small town of Carrollton, Georgia. He has three siblings: Paige, Greg and Tommy, all of which are more than 15 years older than him. In essence, Josh grew up as an only child with his mother, Judy.Josh attended church from a young age and was greatly influenced by the faith of his grandmother. He remembers knowing about Christ as a young child, but accepted Christ as his Savior in middle school at a youth revival.
Throughout his high school years, he participated in most athletics offered in his hometown and thrived on the discipline and competition that it offered. It was not until college that he realized his purpose, apart from the identity given him by everyone around him. During his time at the Baptist Student Union at Georgia Tech, he realized that God was calling him to a deeper faith
In 2004, Josh interned in Guatemala with EMI. This was a pivotal point in his life, through which, God challenged him in his faith, gave him a heart and passion for the Latin American people and a call to use his skills to serve the Lord.
Allison grew up as the daughter of a Baptist pastor in Georgia; the second of four children. Her siblings include Christi, Jenn and David. She learned about the Lord from her family and the examples of her parents.
At the young age of five, she realized she was a sinner and that she needed the Lord to be her Savior. Although she would learn more through the following years, she accepted Christ as her Savior and Lord at that time. She grew exponentially in her faith throughout her high school and college years. She had many opportunities to serve the Lord through international and local missions. God began burdening her heart to see people come to know and glorify the Lord.
Josh and Alli met in 2004 and started dating soon after Josh had completed his internship in Guatemala. Through many conversations of his experiences in Latin America, Alli fell in love with his passion for the Lord and desire to serve him. They were married in August of 2005.
Professional Training and Experience
Josh graduated from Georgia Tech with a B.A. in Building Construction in 2005 and is also a certified Firefighter and First Responder. He has worked in both the commercial and residential construction arenas as a Project Manager and Project Engineer. He worked for Centex Commercial Construction in Miami and worked for Nehemiah Reconstruction in Atlanta the past two years before moving to Costa Rica.
Allison graduated from the University of Georgia in 2002 with a B.S. in Biology and went on to receive her Masters of Physical Therapy from Georgia State University in 2006. She has worked with patients of all ages in an outpatient setting. She looks forward to using her skills to help the people of Latin America.
Ministry Experience
Josh and Alli were also involved in campus ministries during college. Josh gained experience as a youth intern during college as well as volunteering as a discipleship and bible study leader. During his junior year of college, Josh also was an intern with EMI in the Latin American office in Guatemala. Josh also went to the Dominican Republic to serve the local church there by assisting with construction projects.
Alli served with local ministries during college, working with the poor and underprivileged. During her Masters studies she worked with migrant Hispanic farmers in south Georgia in the areas of occupational therapy and physical rehabilitation. She also had the opportunity to interact with different cultures and experience Christ through multiple international mission trips to Spain, France and Honduras and helping migrant farmers in southern Georgia.
Within five months of their wedding, Josh and Alli moved to Miami to help start a church. This was a very challenging time, both for them and the ministry. It helped to unite them in their vision of ministry as well as grow their marriage. Josh and Alli have recently relocated to Costa Rica and will be joining the EMI America Latina office in January of 2010, upon completion of six months of language training.
Verses to Remember
Philipians 1:18-29
Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, […] I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue […] Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. […] stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him […]
Philemon 6
"I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ."