Meet The Staff

Shane, Tara & Asher Jette (Base Directors)

Shane was born and raised in Jamestown, Ohio. He became a Christian  at the age of 19 while attending Wright State University. He graduated from The Moody Bible Institute. He joined YWAM in 2000, when he did his Discipleship Training School in Australia. He has staffed and led many DTS’s since then in both Australia and New Zealand. He has also done the Biblical Counseling School and two Leadership Training Schools. He has a heart for discipleship and helping others know God intimately. He loves sports, the outdoors, and his beautiful wife. In 2005, he married Tara and they have since been working on pioneering the first YWAM base in Ohio.

Tara was born in Maui, Hawaii and grew up on the West Coast of the United States. She fully committed her life to Christ at the age of 18, while attending the University of Hawaii. She soon left to do her DTS in New Zealand in 2003, where she met Shane. In YWAM, she has also completed a School of Biblical Studies, the Basic Leadership School in which she staffed 2 DTS’s, and a Leadership Training School. She has a huge heart for women justice ministries and discipleship. She loves volleyball, ice cream, and her handsome husband. She is now committed to establishing YWAM Dayton along with Shane.

Jeremy, Shari, Kaleigh & Emma McMullen

Jeremy was born and raised in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania. He became a Christian when he was 21 years old, while traveling through Scotland. He did his DTS in 2002 in Glasgow, Scotland. He returned shortly after it to marry the beautiful Shari who was waiting patiently for his return. He married Shari in 2003, and now they have a beautiful daughter, Kaleigh. Jeremy’s vision is to develop an aviation ministry through YWAM in the future. Right now, he’s having fun being a new dad and helping to pioneer this new YWAM base in Dayton.

Shari was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, and she became a Christian during childhood. She graduated from The Ohio State University with a degree in Fashion Marketing. She did her DTS in Denver, Colorado in 2000. She has a heart for discipleship and building into young women’s lives. Her hobbies include traveling, hiking, and skiing. She enjoys caring for her daughter Kaleigh and sharing life with Jeremy. She looks forward to all that God will do through YWAM Dayton, and can’t wait to help in leading future DTS’s.

Ruth & Larry Sapp

Ruth was born and raised in Peoria, IL. In 1993, she moved to Dayton, OH with her husband, Larry, and children, Jen and Jason. It was here that Ruth accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. That was April 2002 and ever since, she’s been very involved in her local church serving in missions, education, and student ministries. She completed DTS and joined YWAM Dayton staff  in July.  She has a heart for people to know God, know who they are in Christ, and follow the Holy Spirit’s leading daily.

Ron Wende & Family

Ron is from La Paz, Bolivia, comes from a Catholic background and made a personal profession of faith in Jesus Christ in 1984.  He has a Master's degree in Industrial Engineering and Management and additional studies and experience in finance, business, banking supervision, international trade, cooperation and development.

Ron and Esther have three children, Ian, Mikael and Dasha.  They co-founded and directed a Christian bookstore in 1995 and an international Christian school in 2001.  From 2005 to 2007 Ron was the leader of a micro-loan and micro-business development program for Honduras.  In 2008 Ron completed the YWAM Dayton DTS, became a staff member, and is now the leader of the Business Resource Center.

Phillip McCutcheon

Phillip was born in Springfield Ohio. He was raised in a Christian home and was saved at the age of 10. He is skilled in the areas of computers, mechanics and carpentry. At 20 He totally committed his life to the Lord. He graduated from Lincoln Technical Institute in Indianapolis receiving an associate’s degree in AutoCAD design engineering.  In 2007 working at his designing job in Columbus is when he got called out to missions. He did his DTS in Jan 2008 in Dayton Ohio. He is excited for the future. You can find updates at his blog. He has a heart to see and set free the bound in Jesus name.

Nathan & Aubrey Das

Nathan and Aubrey Das have a combined total of over 20 years in missions and have collectively been to 27 nations of the world. Aubrey grew up on the missions field in Germany and Albania during and just after the era of strict communist rule. Her family worked as missionaries there at an opportune time in History, helping bring God's freedom and hope to people who for years had been maimed by communism. Aubrey and her family returned to the United States after having to flee during a time of civil unrest in Albania. It was there that Nathan and Aubrey met through Aubrey's father who was a teacher in one of Nathan's missions training schools. She has 8 years experience in dance and theatre production and enjoys using it as a creative way to reach this generation with Gods Truth.

Nathan first served with Youth with a Mission in 2002 and has been working in missions since. He grew up in north east Ohio and is now excited to be back in Ohio mobilizing people to greater involvement in what Gods doing globally and locally. He loves to champion God's children to help see them reach their full potential in Christ. His service in missions has taken him to 20 nations of the world.

Rebecca Heller

Rebecca Heller grew up in Louisville, OH. She grew up as a middle child with an older brother and a younger sister. Her parents are both Christians and raised their three children in the church, being actively involved. Rebecca felt the Lord put YWAM on her heart during her senior year of high school and with a lot of persuasion, convinced her parents that God wanted her to do a DTS. She completed her DTS in February 2010 after her outreach to India with her team. Her passion for worship and music developed in high school and grew stronger during her DTS. With her gifts and abilities given to her by God, Rebecca feels she can use them and grow in them while being on staff with YWAM Dayton.