Joe Risinger never anticipated stepping into the mission field. A former business administration and accounting major at Grace College, Risinger recalls how God used his time in the business administration and accounting degree program at Grace to prepare him for his career as a missionary in Uganda.
Risinger grew up in South Bend, Indiana. As a child, he was fascinated with business and the intricacies of investing, and he owned a couple of small businesses.
“The idea of learning accounting as ‘the language of business’ was really interesting,” said Risinger.
He first heard about Grace through members of his church and applied. As a commuter student, Risinger appreciated the “healthy spiritual environment” Grace provided. In his classes, he learned to study hard for tests in the rigorous accounting degree program. He developed organizational skills, technological aptitude, and collaboration abilities that would eventually serve him well in the mission field.
Professor of Accounting Dr. Roger Stichter had a lasting influence on Risinger in the accounting degree program.
“Dr. Stichter would speak a lot about doing our work unto the Lord,” said Risinger. “I could see this desire for excellence in him. He wanted us to excel in accounting to have a good testimony and give Christ a good name.”
Finding Missions
After graduating from the accounting degree program in 2014 and finishing the CPA exam, Risinger took a mission trip to South Africa with his wife. He had no idea this would change his career path.
“I didn’t anticipate any long-term foreign missions direction,” Risinger said. “But the Lord used that to burden me. The needs you see in the world around you affect your heart.”
Following a couple of years in public accounting in Elkhart, Indiana, Risinger’s burden for the foreign mission field continued to grow, and he started pursuing church planting in Africa. Not long after, Risinger, his wife, and their two young children relocated to Eastern Africa to work with the Lugbara people, a group of about 2 million.
This transition led to a very different culture for Risinger and his family. The Lugbara people are a remote group living in north-west Uganda. Further, while Christianity is spreading among the Lugbara people, an ancestral underpinning of animism persists as a part of the culture.
The couple continues to learn about the culture and language of the Lugbara people. This opportunity has been a way for Risinger to steward and serve Christ. He and his wife have enjoyed the chance to interact, live with the Lugbara people, and share the Gospel with them. His favorite aspect of missionary work is seeing people’s lives transformed by the Gospel.
“Sharing the Gospel and walking with others in life is about relationships with people,” said Risinger. “God has given each of us a personality and some ability to interact with people.”
For the Risingers, this involves many different activities.
“We love planting churches, discipling believers, and training pastors,” said Risinger. “We are also working on establishing a radio station.”
Risinger has worked with others to raise substantial support for the station. Their hard work will result in a new avenue for sharing the Gospel to a neighboring Muslim group. Risinger is thankful for the financial resources and support he has received to fulfill his mission as a missionary.
“I can’t believe people support us to do something we love and care about so much,”
said Risinger. “It is a tremendous privilege and joy for my wife and me.”
