Leader Biographies - First Year Missionary
Radical discipleship for college students wanting to follow Jesus' model

Michael Shaul's Bio: (Dominican Republic Trip Leader & Base Director)
From the time I was just a kid, a tenacious drive to go beyond the horizon has consumed me. There is so much more to life than most people live. Not that I understand it all, but the abundance that CHRIST rose from the dead to pour into us won’t let me go until freedom is running at full throttle. To live is CHRIST and to die is gain, we know the verse, but to really live it, what does that look like? To pick up my cross and follow the victorious KING, not just a Bible study, not just a quiet time, but to really, really know JESUS...where do I start?

These questions I asked myself while living in my hometown of Omaha, Nebraska. I gave my life to CHRSIT at an early age, but after the heavy blow of my parents divorce in my freshman year of college, reality seemed to lose it’s firm foundation, life as I knew it was forever changed. Only two truths stood out to me, one: CHRIST was my savior, and two: I wanted nothing else but to follow HIM. I did. Following HIM to Peru, on a church planting trip with Adventures In Missions, I met Seth Barnes and Bob Waag. I also was introduced to true discipleship.

A year later I signed on full time with AIM, moved to México and sat under the guidance of the same Bob Waag. One principle to discipleship is to learn it, you have to do it. You can’t just read about it, talk about it, even watch someone else do it. That’s why JESUS sent out the 12. For it to become apart of them, ingrained in them, they had to go, they had to live it out. Under that principle I learned how to plant churches, and how to make disciples. GOD was leading me to be more like HIS SON. I went through a lot of healing and transformation during those years, and GOD used Seth and Bob to walk with me. To speak the truth in love is a hard thing to do, thankfully I had CHRIST through Bob right there with me to say what needed to be said. I have learned from two great men how to be a great instrument.

During the final stages of México, I was about to leave for my next destination, the Dominican Republic, when the LORD slowed me down to receive the biggest blessing of my life. One day I woke up and I knew it, Kristen was to be my wife. Once again as I had learned before, I trusted, followed, and she said yes. Married on a small island off the Mexican coast, we moved directly to the DR and began our life together here in the Caribbean tropics. Six years ago I laid my life down for the LORD’s work in this land. HE told me I would be here one day, and on May 23 2005, HE completed HIS promise.

Kristen Shaul's Bio: (Dominican Republic Trip Leader & Base Director)
I was born in Burbank, California and spent the first nine years of my life living in the golden state. Family life was rough and there was little Christian influence, but today I look back at the early years of my life and am amazed to see just how much the Lord had His hand upon me even though I didn’t know it. At age ten I moved to Georgia and three years later was invited to church by a friend at school. I accepted Christ my freshmen year of high school and that same year went on my first mission trip to Matamoros, Mexico with AIM.

My week in Mexico was wonderful and I spent the next few years trying to get back there. I finally returned the summer of my junior year in high school for a four week trip. It was that summer that I was first introduced to the wonderful world of discipleship by my team leaders Thomi and Kathryn Wilson. It was so valuable to have older Christians praying for me, teaching me, and spurring me on in the faith. They accepted me into their family and ever since that summer have treated me as a daughter. Discipleship continued in my life when I moved to Philadelphia to participate in AIM’s First Year Missionary Program and met weekly with a wonderful older woman. Elizabeth poured into my life in so many ways and from observing her and walking with her I learned so much about my own worth and identity in Christ.

I finished my year in Philly and shortly after felt the Lord calling me back to Matamoros where I had first heard the call to missions. I spent the next two years under the leadership of Bob and Marisa Waag as a First Year Missionary leader in Matamoros. Those two years were an incredible time of growth. I learned much about true fellowship and life on life discipleship, and I saw the Lord move in powerful ways that I will never forget.

Our Heart:
The vision for the Dominican Republic is to take the island for CHRIST. The people of this land have heard much of what it means to follow CHRIST, and heard a lot about HIS love. But really seeing it and being apart of it is something few have experienced. More than short term missions, we want to raise up disciples of CHRIST, who know how to be led by HIM, live in the body of CHRIST, and follow their calling to expand the Kingdom. In turn forming more disciples, and planting more churches. We are not here to grow our vision, to preach our gospel, but to proclaim HIS goodness over the land, and walk with others discipling them in abundant life.

It is our passion to pursue all the riches of the knowing the LORD, and lead others to do the same. GOD is good, and GOD will lead us...the question is, how far are we willing to follow? Can you feel it? Alright, let’s chase after HIM together! .

Michael and Kristen Shaul
FYM Team Leaders and Base Directors
Adventures In Missions – Dominican Republic

Click here for more information on the Dominican Republic First Year Missionary Program.

If you have any questions contact us by email or phone, 1-888-884-2461.