About Us

Get to know the team behind Refuge 139

Keith Franklin

Refuge 139 Director

Keith has been with Wycliffe since 2012 and now serves as the Director of Refuge 139. He graduated from Bryan College in 1985 with a degree in Bible. He went on to work with Youth for Christ, Ridge Haven Camp and Conference Center, and Providence Presbyterian Church. As the Director of Refuge 139, Keith is responsible to help provide youth retreats for MKs (Missionary Kids) all over the globe. He has more than 30 years of ministry experience which have been a perfect prelude to his current position.

Email: keith.franklin@jaars.org

Elizabeth Franklin

Curriculum Coordinator

Elizabeth is Keith Franklin’s wife, the mother of four sons and their wives, and a grandma to 9 grandchildren. She graduated from Bryan College with a BS in Elementary Education and a certificate in Special Education. She taught in public school for nearly 2 years before their oldest son was born. After “just one year” of homeschooling which turned into 20, the Franklins graduated their youngest and Elizabeth began to look for a second career. She joined the Refuge 139 team in 2016 and became the curriculum coordinator in 2020. Her duties include the oversight and execution of the entire curriculum used on Refuge 139 trips. Elizabeth’s desire is to live her life to the glory of God seeking to reflect His character in all she does. She says that ministering with Refuge 139 to the children and their families who are on the front lines of Bible translation is “the best job ever!”

Email: elizabeth.franklin@jaars.org

Linda Byrd

Curriculum Writer

Linda’s faith journey and career path have been shaped by a passion for mission and children, camping ministry, and God’s creation. Significant milestones have included an Interdisciplinary B.S. in Christian Camping from George Fox University, a year long internship at Camp Forest Springs, a Master’s degree in Leisure and Environmental Resource Administration from George Williams College of Aurora University, directing Oregon Camp Cherith for Pioneer Clubs for fifteen years, teaching as an Outdoor School Field Instructor, and becoming a Wycliffe member in 2016. Linda served with Global Outreach Group for five years ministering with Christian Camping International Jamaica and Latin America. She has led Creation Celebration training in Jamaica, Trinidad, Panama, Mexico, and Croatia. A life-long camper, Linda enjoys using her God-given creativity to develop curriculum designed to engage MK’s in discovering their purpose and potential in Christ.

Email: linda.byrd@jaars.org

Linda Brumbaugh

Curriculum Writer

Linda’s journey of faith and passion to serve Christ began at a young age, as she worked in camp ministry and was trained as a Child Evangelism Teacher. At Grace College in Winona Lake, IN, she pursued a degree in sociology and graduated in 1980. She continued to hone her teaching skills and developing curriculum and programming for elementary age Children’s Church programs in her local church. Her career path led her into teaching remedial reading in public schools for 16 years. Linda and her husband discovered a new passion for working with youth 17 years ago, and continue to be volunteer youth leaders at their local church, teaching and training Junior High and High School students through Bible studies that Linda has written or leading small groups for students. Linda loves seeing her God-given gifts of passion and creativity used in designing curriculum to help TCKs grow toward their full potential in their own faith journeys.

Email: linda.brumbaugh@jaars.org

Terri Herr

Materials Coordinator

Terri was born in Peru to missionary parents who moved to North Carolina when she was ten. After graduating from Bryan College with a degree in English, she taught in South Carolina. In 1978, she joined Wycliffe Bible Translators and taught at its mission center in Lomalinda, Colombia, where she met her husband Rick. For the next eighteen years they ministered in children’s education and radio technology. When the mission center closed in 1998, they relocated to Bogota where Terri managed the mission guest house and worked in a K-12 English-language school. In 2000, they moved to Waxhaw where Terri has served in a variety of roles at JAARS. Currently, she is a facilitator in the Intercultural Communications Course and works with Refuge 139 as Materials Coordinator. Being a part of equipping missionary moms and dads and kids to live well wherever God places them gives Terri great joy.

Email: terri.herr@jaars.org

Sheri Mergenthal

Refuge 139 Trip Leader

Sheri grew up in Ohio, Illinois, Belgium, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Kenya. After obtaining her B.A. in Christian Education at Taylor University in Indiana, she moved to California to marry Wade and prepare for full-time missionary service. God had other plans, however, and Wade and Sheri were given the privilege of raising two sons and being involved in supporting missionaries in a variety of ways from here in the U.S. In 2013, as her season of homeschooling was ending, Sheri joined the Calvary Nexus staff and served in a variety of ministries before joining the Refuge 139 staff in February of 2021. She is passionate about God’s work around the world and is excited about helping others to experience Him personally and participate in His adventure!

Email: sheri.mergenthal@jaars.org

Christy Godwin

Curriculum Writer

Christy grew up on the mission field in Nigeria. She moved back to the US after high school and graduated from Clemson University with a BS in Marketing. She married Jay and has worked in their family business for 27 years. Jay and Christy have two adult children. She joined the Refuge 139 team in 2022 after becoming an empty nester. God has placed a love for missionaries in her heart and she is delighted to be able to offer encouragement to missionary parents as she cares for their little ones through writing Pre K curriculum. “Missionaries are my heroes and I am very thankful to be able to offer them some support in their journeys!”

Email: christy.godwin@jaars.org