Zack Guthrie is a gifted speaker, trainer, mentor, and facilitator, and motivates leaders wherever he goes. Whether coaching executives, leading teams of 12 – 18 in problem-solving, or in professional training environments, he continually challenges others to implement good change. “Don’t plateau” – is often his advice for leaders at all points in their professional careers. His experience, versatility, and insight provide value to our clients at various stages in their lean journey. From strategic policy deployment, developing training plans for leaders & belts, conducting assessments, Zack is experienced in manufacturing, equipment reliability, and transactional environments. Zack has worked in a multitude of industries across the U.S. and abroad over the past twenty years. Aerospace, banking, chemicals, construction, consumer apparel, oil and gas, printing, plastics, pulp and paper, and railroad to mention a brief subset. He has received his Industrial Engineering and Master’s degrees from NC State. Zack is also a certified professional engineer (P.E.) in North Carolina. On an international trip to India Zack said “I returned from India with renewed purpose.” The purpose of GOW is to vigorously fulfill the role of kinsman-redeemer by defending, rescuing, and restoring orphans and widows in their distress, and equipping others to do the same.
In his spare time, Zack enjoys flying, water skiing, fishing, and anything that involves his children. He is a devoted practitioner of Leader Standard Work and is a member of C12 and F3. He has a “bema jar” that sits on his desk as a constant reminder of living with purpose with every passing week.
Global Ministry is part of Pastor Lynn Everswick’s DNA. His parents were Pioneer Missionaries to Zimbabwe, Africa where he was born and raised. Lynn has ministered in church planting and served as a pastor for 14 years in Zimbabwe. He was then asked to be an administrator in the International Headquarters of TEAM where he was given oversight of the ministry in Africa, South West Asia, and the Middle East for the next 14 years.
In 1998, Lynn joined the Westover Church staff in Greensboro, NC. There he began developing a 10-year vision in Global Ministries focusing on the least reached people of the world. Many short-term mission teams and full-time workers have gone out as a result of this initiative. A subsequent 10-year vision, based on Isaiah 61:1-3 was initiated in 2011.
Lynn retired in 2017 and moved to Austin TX where he is living near family. Lynn now serves on the Global Team at The Lakeway Church in TX. His heart and strong conviction is that the healthy local church needs to continue to share the gospel and have a heart for local and global outreach.
Bob graduated with a BA in Religion and a Masters of Divinity degree. He spent five years as an associate pastor in Pennsylvania and two years as senior pastor in New Jersey.
For eleven years Bob served on the board of directors for Child Care Ministry, a foster care agency in Greensboro. While on the board he and his wife Lou were foster parents of several children. Bob also served on the short term missionary leadership team at Westover Church. During this time he traveled on numerous mission trips, including Cuba, China, and Vancouver Island, Canada.
His passion is to see National missionaries being trained and equipped to take the gospel to people in their own country. Bob enjoys working, skiing, biking, and traveling with his wife.
Alexander Swem serves as a Director of the Chinese Education Freedom Fund, a 501(c)3 founded in 2014 to serve persecuted Christians in mainland China by developing Christ-centered, Classical K-12 curriculum and teacher training resources. Originally from Greensboro, Alex and his wife Jenny served as missionaries in China for over 20 years. Alex graduated from Hillsdale College in 1999 and holds a Master's Degree from Reformed Theological Seminary. The Swems and their six children currently reside in Browns Summit, North Carolina.
In 2020, my family and I had lived in Oregon for 30 years when my husband was suddenly called home to be with the Lord, whom he loved and served so faithfully. A little over a year later God brought another man into my life with 6 grown children, who had lost his wife to cancer. During our engagement, Bryan got a call from the aviation department at Samaritan’s Purse, asking if he’d like to join their team. After praying about it we quickly sold our homes, packed everything into a pod, got married, said tearful goodbyes to our combined 10 adult children and 7 grandchildren (all in the NW), and spent our honeymoon moving across the country to North Carolina!
We quickly became involved in our new church where I gravitated to areas of prayer and outreach, also opening our home for Bible study with other women. God has placed us in a mission field here at home, but we also have a passion to support those He's called into the field abroad. We were introduced to and became impressed with GOW ministries, where I soon became a volunteer.
Bryan and I recently returned from visiting several national workers supported by GOW in India and Pakistan. We came home with an increased passion to support, pray for, and help raise funds for their ministries. We treasure our new friendships with these godly servants who have given their lives to serve the poor and share the love of Jesus with many who don’t know Him. They’re bold in their faith, knowing that they could be called to suffer for sharing the Good News in places not friendly toward the gospel.