Our Team.
Cezi & Martin Glendenning
Cezarina (Cezi) is originally from Albania, and is currently serving as the Lead Pastor for Grace Point, while also being the Country Leader (similar to a District Superintendent, but for a pioneer area). She is also serving as the Education Administrator and professor for the Croatia Learning Center and for the Central Europe Field.
In 2001, she moved to Florence, Italy where she studied, worked, and served as an NYI leader, an NMI president, a church board member, and in other local ministries for seven years. In 2008, God called her to move to Germany and prepare herself for ministry at European Nazarene College, where she studied and graduated with a BA in Theology. In May 2016, she received a Master’s Degree from Northwest Nazarene University in Missional Leadership.
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Martin serves as the Croatia NCM, Central Europe Field NCM Coordinator, Field Finance Coordinator of the Central Europe Field, and President of the "Djela Ljubavi" NGO in Croatia. He is originally from the Mid-West, USA, and is a CPA, with a degree in Accounting and Business Administration from Mid-America Nazarene University. In November 2017, he received a Master’s Degree in International Development from Kimmage Development Studies Centre in Dublin, Ireland.
Martin and Cezi have two amazing little boys. Reuben, who was born in Germany in 2014, and Lukas, who was born in Hungary in 2017, are already world citizens. They have an American father, an Albanian mother, and were all four born in different countries. Although raising a young family has drastically changed their daily activities, Martin still tries to find time to mountain bike and Cezi continues to enjoy cooking, traveling, and hosting people in her home.
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Donya & Shayan Spanta
Donya and Shayan are from Iran, and they've been living in Croatia since March 2016. From the beginning of their arrival, they started serving to Middle Eastern refugees and others who were in need, first as volunteers and then as Coordinators of Refugee work, at Djela Ljubavi NGO. They are both enrolled in theological education and in the process of ordination in the Church of the Nazarene . While they continue to provide pastoral care to Persian people at Grace Point, they are also involved in leading Bible Studies and music ministry to the whole community.
Donya has her bachelor’s degree on Business Administration and Shayan has a degree in Visual Art and photography. Shayan's passion is music, and he plays classic guitar, while Donya enjoys singing in several languages.
They have a wonderful son called Patris who was born in Croatia in 2021.
Shayan and Donya love to learn, read, travel and serve!
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Danielle Hardcastle
Danielle is currently serving as Refugee Support for Djela Ljubavi in Zagreb, Croatia. She grew up in a small town in Iowa and moved to Arizona for a year to study at Grand Canyon University before transferring to online college. Currently, she is studying to finish her bachelors degree in Christian Studies with an emphasis in Global Ministry. She has been on two short-term mission trips to Tanzania and Texas. She felt the call to cross-cultural ministry as a kid, but God confirmed this call on the mission trips. She has been involved in teen and young adult ministry as she led Bible studies and led worship for teen worship nights.
Growing up, Danielle saw many of her peers walking away from God and has seen many of the issues that teens and young adults struggle with. She is passionate about ministering to these age groups and wants to see them experience freedom in Christ and learn how to be disciples of God.
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Stan & Aimee Christopherson
Stan is currently serving as a EuNC Professor and Coordinator for the Croatia Learning Center. He obtained both his Masters and Doctorate degrees from Nazarene Theological Seminary, a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of Texas at Arlington, and is a certified High School Science teacher. He pastored a small-town rural congregation for seventeen years, while teaching high school, and volunteering with the local fire department.
Aimee is currently serving as Family and Refugee Support for Djela Ljubavi. She has a double major in Elementary Education and Special Education from Central Washington University, and has been working in education at the Elementary level for twenty years. Her heart is in compassionate ministry, and has run a community non-profit serving the poor and marginalized.
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Stan & Aimee have four adult children in the United States, all of which are currently living in the Pacific Northwest.