MINISTRY FOCUS
We have served as house director at The Harbor in Okinawa,
Japan since April 2014. Every Friday night we enjoy gathering with about forty
or so service members, spouses, and children for a potluck dinner, coffee,
worship, and a Bible message. Rebecca leads the women’s ministry; specifically,
the weekly women’s Bible study, and Deric also hosts men’s fellowship
events and provides occasional marriage counseling. We love the relational
aspect of Cadence and aim to share our lives authentically and intentionally
with those around us. A significant aspect of our roles here is equipping other
believers for ministry, and we love giving servant-leaders opportunities to
grow and flourish.
FAITH
Each of us was blessed to grow up in a healthy Christian
family, with parents who led us to salvation in the Lord at an early age. As we
grew, our faith journeys benefited from youth groups, mission trips, and
discipleship from mentors.
Deric went to a Christian college and
graduated with a BA in ministry and Bible. While attending college, Deric felt
led to Army chaplaincy and pursued that goal for the next several years.
Rebecca went to a public college but developed a love for ministry while
serving on the leadership team with Intervarsity Christian Fellowship. Both developed
a love for missions, Deric serving with Youthworks within the U.S.
and Rebecca serving on various short-term trips around the world before
teaching at a Christian elementary school in Ghana, Africa.
We met while attending Denver Seminary in 2007
and were married in June 2008. Shortly after graduation, we moved to Alamosa,
CO, to serve on staff at a church, while Deric served as a chaplain
in the Army Reserves. He deployed to Afghanistan for a year, so we understand
some of the hardships that military families experience! Since we’ve been
married, God has confirmed our calling to military ministry.
FAMILY
Deric grew up the oldest of two sons and surrounded by
extended family in a small town outside of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Rebecca
grew up with two younger brothers as an Army kid, traveling all over the U.S.
and living abroad in Germany. Interestingly, Rebecca’s grandparents, Al and
Marliyn Romaneski, were Cadence house directors in Germany while Rebecca’s
family was living there. So, Rebecca has fond memories of attending their
weekly ministry nights and various events.
We were married in June 2008 in Littleton,
Colorado. After graduating from Denver Seminary, we moved to Alamosa, a small
rural city in south-central Colorado, where we both served on church staff. Our
sons, Tobin and Evan, were both born there in 2010 and 2013. Our daughter, Kara
Jane, came to our family via international adoption. She was born in China in
2015 and adopted in 2017.
Deric and Rebecca Sneller