OUR STORY
God's faithfulness over 25 years.
The Cox family served in Nicaragua for 15 years, beginning a movement of church plants, a camp, a farm, and a pastoral training institute that now trains leaders in four regions of the country. When national leaders were ready to take full leadership at the end of 2015, God called the family back to the States.
Petra International Ministries was founded in 2016 to continue mentoring leaders and planting Christ-centered churches throughout the U.S. and Latin America. The stateside mission base is in Bozeman, Montana, home to a bilingual church plant, and the work has now expanded to South America.
2000-2015
Nicaragua
Church plants, a camp, a farm, and a pastoral training institute
2015
Handed to nationals
National leaders take full leadership of the work
2016
Petra International
Founded to mentor leaders across the U.S. and Latin America
2018
Bozeman
Petra Bible Church, a bilingual church plant, begins
2019
Petra Wilderness
Outdoor leadership training launches; work expands to South America
Ministry shaped by the pattern of Scripture.
We believe it is critical to follow the missiological principles found in God's Word to minister effectively for His glory and to have an eternal impact on hearts and lives around the world.
01
Bold proclamation
The Gospel of Jesus Christ proclaimed with boldness. Acts 4, 13, 28; Eph. 6:19
.jpeg)
02
Fervent prayer
Constant prayer for the Gospel's expansion. Acts 1:14, 2:42, 6:4, 12:5
03
Disciples gathered
Baptizing believers and forming local churches in every town and region. Matt. 28:19; Acts 1:8
04
Elders and deacons
Leadership formed in each local body of Christ. Titus 1:5; Acts 6:1–7
05
The Gospel pattern
Proclamation, persecution, perseverance, fruit, and God glorified. Acts 13–14
06
Order and structure
Systems, offices, and church roles for fruitful ministry. Acts 6; 1 Tim. 4:14, 5:17
.jpeg)
07
Equipping the saints
Training for effective, long-term success. Eph. 4:11–14
08
Willing to suffer
The character to suffer for Christ whatever the cost. Col. 1:24; 2 Cor. 1, 4, 6, 12
SERVING CHRIST. SERVING HIS CHURCH.
LEADERSHIP
GOVERNING BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Michael Parrales
BOARD PRESIDENT
During his years living in Nicaragua, Michael served as an elder at Petra Managua for eight years, a season through which God profoundly shaped his life, family, and understanding of ministry. Through fellowship and discipleship, he grew in his understanding of the gospel and came to recognize and confess sins in his own life. It also strengthened his marriage to his wife, Monica, shaped the way they raises their two children, and deepened his commitment to making disciples. He now serves as the General Director of Monterrey Christian School in San Jose, Costa Rica. He holds four master’s degrees and is currently pursuing a PhD in Education. He is also the author of Forging for Eternity, a book that calls families, churches, and Christian schools to raise a generation that loves Christ more than the world. Returning to serve as the President of the Board for Petra International Ministries, is an opportunity to serve a ministry through which God has worked in his own heart and family, while contributing his pastoral and leadership experience to the planting of healthy churches throughout Latin America.
Jacob Vincent
Secretary
Vice President
Milton Whitaker
Board Member
Matt Free
STATESIDE WORKERS
Jared Cox
FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Jared Cox serves as Founder and Executive Director of Petra International, a mission devoted to pioneering new works, forming leaders, and equipping the church for frontier missions. Jared is from Glendale, AZ. He received Jesus as his Lord and Savior at age seven. After losing his dad to a massive heart attack at age ten, the Lord used the tragedy and many trials to call him to be a missionary. After finishing his degree from Moody Bible Institute, he married Tanya. They spent 15 years in Nicaragua beginning a movement of church plants, a camp, a farm, and a pastoral training institute. When national leaders were ready to take full leadership, God called the Cox family back to the states to mentor leaders across the U.S. and Latin America.
Â
Jared founded Petra International Ministries in 2016, planted Petra Bible Church Bozeman (2018), and launched Petra Wilderness International (2019) to integrate outdoor adventure with biblical discipleship. Over 26 years of missionary service, he has helped start and found seven Christ-centered churches. Most recently, he handed over the bilingual congregation in Bozeman (MT) to the elders he raised up and trained, who now shepherd and lead the church. He now gives himself to two callings: writing and overseeing new works. Jared holds a M.Div. from Western Seminary and is passionate about church planting and pastoral training. He and his wife Tanya have four children, Josiah (24), Isaiah (22), Gaby (20), and Jeremiah (18), each desiring to serve the Lord in full-time ministry.
TEAM PROFILES
Amber Lundskog
MISSIONS OPERATIONS DIRECTOR
Tanya Cox
As the Missions Operations Director, Amber builds the systems, coordinates the logistics, and carries the behind-the-scenes load that frees our pastors and planters to do what they're called to do. Amber has served full time with the ministry since January 2021. M.Ed., Vanderbilt University; M.A. Global Studies, Liberty University.
Women's ministry director
Tanya spent a year and a half in Uganda as a missionary before marrying Jared. After spending 15 years church planting in Nicaragua, she now disciples the pastor's wives and other leaders in training both stateside and overseas, along with writing children's books that are focused on sharing the gospel.
Isaiah Cox
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Joaquin Alarcon
Isaiah brings a unique creative vision to Petra International, overseeing the visual storytelling and media expansion of the ministry. His passion is to use media to proclaim the gospel and connect local church plants with a global audience. He graduated from Moody Bible Institute in May 2026 and founded the company, Voro International Media.
SPANISH PASTOR · PETRA BOZEMAN
Joaquin serves as the lead pastor for the Spanish-speaking congregation at Petra Bible Church in Bozeman. He is deeply committed to reaching the local Hispanic community with the gospel and fostering a cross-cultural environment where believers are discipled and sent out for kingdom work. Joaquin is married to Araceli and they have three children.
Nick Creal
PETRA BOZEMAN ELDER ·
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER
Erik Silva
PETRA WILDERNESS international STATESIDE DIRECTOR
Nick spent five years in Nicaragua at the Petra Managua church where he met his wife Meileen. They were sent from Nicaragua to help with the Bozeman church plant in 2018. They have three children. As an Advisory Board member, he helps anchor the stateside operations in faithful biblical practice.
Erik oversees the stateside trips of Petra Wilderness International, integrating outdoor adventure with biblical discipleship. He is passionate about seeing leaders equipped through backcountry experiences that test character and strengthen faith in Christ, preparing them for local and global ministry.
Jack Mearns
TECH DIRECTOR
Jack directs the technological initiatives at Petra International, helping streamline digital systems to expand the ministry's reach. He also assists our Creative Director with video projects that tell the stories of God's work among the nations.Â
NATIONAL LEADERS
Pastor Hamilton
Lead Pastor · Petra Managua, Nicaragua
PASTOR SENDIC
Associate Pastor · Petra Managua,
Nicaragua
Pastor Jimmy
Petra Bolonia · Managua, Nicaragua
Pastor Aaron
Petra Balgue · Ometepe Island, Nicaragua
Pastor Edgar
Petra Matagalpa · Nicaragua
Pastor Jorge
Petra Chinandega · Nicaragua
Pastor Rafael
Petra Leon · Nicaragua
Michael
Costa Rica
