The Hannas have served with BMM since 1987. They were both raised in godly, Christian homes. Marla was saved as a child, and Matt was saved during his first year of Bible college. Through their mutual interest in missions, God brought them together in marriage. The Lord blessed them with three children who grew up on the mission field.
From 1990 to 2023 they served in Taiwan, planting Cornerstone Baptist Church as a Mandarin-speaking congregation in the southern city of Kaohsiung. Today Cornerstone is a stable, mature, and self-supporting congregation that is reaching out to its community with the gospel.
In 2022 the Hannas sensed God leading them in a new direction. He ultimately led them back to the US and directed them toward a revitalization work in Katy, Texas: Good News Baptist Church.
They will be partnering with missionaries Gerald and Julie Hawk to guide Good News Baptist Church toward fully self-supporting status. Katy is a densely populated, multiethnic community in the Houston area. The Hannas plan to use their skills and experience to engage in cross-cultural evangelism, discipleship ministries, public preaching and teaching, and the development of lay and pastoral leadership.
The Hannas are currently raising additional support needed for this new field of ministry.