Ministry Experience:
In 2002, Daniel's family returned to the States. Daniel went on to earn a Ministerial Degree through MTI School of Ministry as well as a Bachelors in Architecture from Louisiana State University. Brooke also earned her Ministerial Degree through MTI School of Ministry as well as a Bachelors in Mathematics. 

Daniel and Brooke married in 2014, and currently have four children: Elijah - 7yr., Hadassah - 5yr., Gabriella - 3yr., and Judah - 1yr. Together they have led worship for their local church, Central Church, for the past 14 years, have served on the eldership team, and have served in many other capacities as needed. 

In 2023, Daniel became the President of MTI School of Ministry, the Bible school that his father, Donald(Donnie) Shaffer, faithfully developed, taught, and promoted for most of his life. MTI is based in the US, currently with 6 satellite campuses throughout several states. The MTI Curriculum, in Portuguese, continues to be taught in Brazil for leadership training. There are two MTI International Schools in Zambia, Africa and a new school in Tanzania, Africa opening this year, 2024. Partnered with 10/40 Hope Ministries, MTI has been translated into Arabic and is taught in Lebanon. Partnered with Hope of Persia, MTI has been translated into Farci and used to train leaders throughout the Middle East.

We didn’t make it to Japan that day. The months to follow were incredibly difficult as we navigated through grief and many decisions regarding our church, Central Church, and MTI School of Ministry. We tried to rationalize the events and finally concluded that God just needed us to be on the plane that day.

Thankfully, the story doesn’t end there. After several months, Daniel and I began stewarding the Bible School that his dad spent the majority of his life building and faithfully teaching. We took a trip to Brazil in June of 2023, with the purpose of strengthening relationships with the pastors and leaders connected to the Bible School there. While we were there, God confirmed in our hearts, almost simultaneously, that we needed to take another trip to Japan before the end of 2023.

By faith and God’s provision, we embarked for the second time on a flight to Tokyo, Japan. This time we traveled with our three eldest children, but sadly, without his dad. Knowing that God was drawing us there, yet still with no solid understanding of our purpose in going, our hearts were wide open. 

God quickly began to put the pieces all together for us. God started showing us over and over that we are supposed to move to Japan. Similar to finding the person God has for you to marry, "you just know." That's how this was for us. He spoke to us through other people, songs, dreams, even books, and a fire began to burn in our hearts. 

There is a painful reality of choosing to obey God, because it involves a great deal of sacrifice. And in our case, the sacrifice is not just our own. Moving across the world means leaving behind just about everything we’ve ever known. The material things are of little consequence for us, but to leave behind family and friends is nearly unimaginable. So, we asked ourselves repeatedly, “Is it worth it?” Is it worth the pain we will cause our family, and the struggles that we will walk through in the years to come? Though not an easy decision, the answer is a resounding “Yes” for us. We have no idea what will unfold as a result of our obedience to God, but our utmost desire is to please God.

There are needs across the whole earth, within every nation, but Japan is our mission field!

"Life is too short not to live for eternity." - Mrs. Sue Shaffer

2 Corinthians 2:14 “But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume.”

Matthew 28:19-20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”