Reaching Unreached Nations International (RUN) was established by Neal & Danette Childs in 2013 to facilitate their vision to reach the unreached. They have been serving in Niger Republic since 1998.

Neal grew up as a missionary kid in Nigeria where he saw mass evangelism and mighty miracles on a regular basis.  It was there, as a young boy, that his heart was stirred to take the Gospel where it had not yet been heard.

Danette, raised in a Christian home in Minnesota, had the seed of missions deep in her heart as a child.  From the time they met at Oral Roberts University, they have kept a focused commitment to reaching the unreached.

A Missionary Heritage

Neal’s parents, Ron & Jerry Childs, moved with their children to Nigeria in 1977.  From their beginnings in the remote village of Emu,  where there was no electricity or running water, to their days as the director of All Nations for Christ Bible Institute International, they discipled many believers and trained many pastors.  They worked alongside Archbishop Benson Idahosa for 15 years before launching out to Niger in 1992. With a pioneer vision of raising up an indigenous church, Ron and Jerry founded Vie Abondante.

 Neal’s family in Emu (Ibviadan) in 1977                               Neal & Danette with Archbishops Benson & Margaret Idahosa, 1992

Neal and Danette met at Oral Roberts University where Neal graduated with a degree in Management Information Systems and Danette graduated with a Social Work degree.  They were married in 1989 and began working in their respective fields while at the same time were youth pastors in their church in Michigan.  While in Michigan, they had 2 children – Trae  (1991) and Tanika (1992).

In 1994 they moved to Arkansas to attend Agape School of World Evangelism.  From 1994 – 1998 they were part of Agape Church — Pastor Happy Caldwell,  and continued to work while attending Bible School.

After graduating in 1997, they were appointed as missionaries and immediately went on a 3 week scouting trip to Niger where Neal’s parents had moved from Nigeria to Niger to  start the ministry of Vie Abondante (Abundant Life).  The trip confirmed in their hearts that this was the field they were to serve in and after raising support they moved their family to Niger in July 1998.  Tobi joined the family in March, 2000.

        The Childs Family 2000                                 The Childs Family  2011

Neal & Danette’s son, Trae, graduated from Oral Roberts University in 2013 with a degree in International Community Development.  He married Christi Dunagan on June 16th, 2012.  Christi is from a mission’s minded family and her parents are founders of Harvest Ministry.

Trae’s ‘real job’ is with World Vision but both he and Christi have lots of other jobs and hobbies they are pursuing.  They live in Wenatchee, Washington where they are raising our four beautiful grandchildren,  Judah, Charlie, Desmond & Oliver.

Tanika graduated from Oral Roberts University in 2015 with a degree in Elementary and Special Education. She met Stephen Ezenwosu in Nigeria when she was teaching school there and he was working for the ministry Neal and his family were a part of when Neal was a kid. Tanika and Stephen were married on July 13th 2018. They live and work in Tulsa, OK where Tanika is a teacher and Stephen is a nurse. They keep very busy raising 3 of our precious grandchildren, Levi, Jethro and Ivy.

Tobi graduated from Oral Roberts University in May 2023 with a degree in International Business and Ministry. He is currently living in Boone, NC and works at Samaritan’s Purse in human resources.