As a social worker, Mike Vanek saw firsthand the brokenness of urban environments stuck in cycles of poverty, sin, and hopelessness. Although Mike’s job allowed him to help with people’s physical and emotional needs, he longed for a platform to address what was most critical: spiritual needs. 

Hundreds of miles away in Peru, Sherri Fulks enjoyed MK life and serving alongside her missionary parents, Steve and Judy Fulks. One day, Sherri was deeply moved when she met an impoverished boy with a badly wounded foot. The next week, Sherri brought medical supplies to treat his wound. Seeing needy people without money for medical care led Sherri toward her career as a nurse. 

Mike and Sherri later met through their church, and their mutual heart to help people in need drew them to each other. All the while, the Lord was quietly working in their lives, stirring them into a new direction. Shortly before Mike and Sherri were engaged in 2002, Sherri served with BMM’s Medals for Glory Olympics outreach in Salt Lake City. As she shared the gospel with people from all over the world, she knew God’s new direction was missions. She called Mike that night, and both of them were surprised (and relieved and overjoyed!) when he shared that he also dedicated himself to missions at church that day. 

At the Medals for Glory outreach, a BMM administrator told Sherri, “We’ve been praying for years that God would provide a couple to serve at Faith Baptist Church & Community Center.” Their prayers were specifically for the husband to have social work and administrative skills and for the wife to be a nurse. Faith Baptist Church & Community Center (FBC&CC) in urban Cleveland, Ohio, was very familiar to the Vaneks. Shortly after getting her nursing degree, Sherri began volunteering at Faith Wellness Center (FBC&CC’s medical and pregnancy clinic). In time, she and Mike began volunteering together at the church.

When Mike and Sherri had initially surrendered to missions, they had no idea where God might lead. They never expected it would be at a ministry only 45 minutes from their home, but FBC&CC has been an amazing fit. Equipped with training experience from a previous grocery store job, Mike used it to initiate the center’s Jobs for Life work skills program. He once served on an organization’s board and learned how to manage its budget, an invaluable skill as he handles FBC&CC’s administration. While volunteering at the medical clinic, Sherri was mentored by another nurse, Roxanne Reynolds, enabling Sherri to take over the ministry in 2005.

Before they went into missions, the Vaneks were set for a financially comfortable future. Missions meant letting go of that earthly security and finding a more unshakable provision. Every time the Vaneks have faced financial shortfalls, the Lord meets their needs and even more. Another blessing has been the impact on their children, Emily and Ben. They grew up participating at FBC&CC and are open to considering ministry for their future plans. 

Perhaps the greatest blessing of all has been to bring the light of Christ into an urban area that many have given up on. Mike and Sherri’s ministry has impacted people like Robert, who is now a deacon, and Terry, another church leader. Or Kiara, a shy single mom who found Christ and is blossoming through the ministry of Mike and Sherri and their team members, Jackie Hopkins and John and Laura Niemeyer. The Vaneks say, “Seeing what God is doing to transform peoples’ lives is the most awesome thing in the world.”