Tonweya and Judy Sherman first ministered as part of our urban ministry team in Detroit, MI. There, Tonweya pastored New Beginnings Fellowship while building and managing AWAKE Café. In 2023 the Sherman’s felt let to move to Winner, South Dakota and begin ministering to the Lakota Native Americans. In Winner, they are empowering individuals to rise above life circumstances or current addictions and joining the local church to implement discipleship programs.

Judy was born in Gloversville, NY. Growing up in a preacher’s home, she was very tender towards the Lord and wanted to serve Him. At the age of 12, she gave her life to Christ, trusting Him with her future. “I always wanted to do something for God,” she says, “and started doing child evangelism as a teen. From then on, I felt the burden to reach others for Christ.”

Tonweya was born in Sioux Falls, SD. He grew up in a missionary home, and in the spring of 1999 he prayed and knew that God had forgiven him of his sins. When Tonweya was 21 years old, God asked him to be in full time ministry. He had helped his parents since childhood and at that time was filling in for his dad. “I didn’t want to say ‘yes’ to God’s call, because I knew when I did it was an ‘all in’ commitment,” he says. “It took a few months, but I remember the night I finally told God that it didn’t matter what happened in life, or where He sent me, I would follow all the way.”

Tonweya and Judy are both graduates of Penn View Bible Institute. Tonweya graduated with a degree in both missions and ministerial studies, and Judy with a degree in child evangelism. Together they have three children: Aiden, Krishana, Malia, and Hadassah.