our leaders
The Cirones
Since 2008, John and Michelle have made many close friendships with pastors and evangelists throughout Australia. They have a real love for the Australian people and treat Australia as their second home.
They have served at Pensacola Christian College for over 30 years. Although recently retired, John taught in the undergraduate and graduate business programs, and Michelle works in the Reservation Office. They have four adult children—Jared, Micah, Zachary, and Annaliese —two grandchildren, and a grand-puppy.
Their Ministry in Australia
YOM Missions Teams to Australia
Since 2008, John and Michelle Cirone have led ten YOM missions teams to Australia. Their teams have served several local churches, including the ministries of missionaries Steven and Christy Maldoff (Mildura), Joe and Melissa Marshall (Brisbane), Jim and Becky Heberle (Outback/Aboriginal communities), Kyle and Jamie Sutton (Melbourne) and Joshua Zacharias, as he partners with Pastor Manny Mallari and Calvary Baptist Church (Melbourne).
In addition to their entire family’s work in Australia in 2013, the Cirones’ children have also joined them on missions trips. Jared went to Australia in 2010; Zachary, in 2011 and 2014; and Annaliese, in 2015, 2017, and 2019.
Service in Australia
When Steven and Christy Maldoff were called to a leadership position with BIMI (Chattanooga), the Lord laid on the Cirones’ hearts to serve in Australia for the summer. John became the interim pastor of Murray River Baptist and ministered with Michelle and their son Zachary until Pastor Keith Foley assumed full-time pastoral duties in August 2014.
Their Mission
The Cirones’ mission is three-fold: to serve the Lord by furthering His Kingdom and Great Commission in reaching Australians for Christ, to serve and encourage Australian missionaries and pastors and their local churches in reaching their communities for Christ, and to serve and encourage our missions team members to develop a desire to pursue a life of full-time missions.