Meet the Founders
Russ and Wendy Tatro have served the Lord through foreign missions since 1985, first as missionaries and now as International Directors of Living Word Missions.
Russ, raised in rural Minnesota, holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Cleveland State University. Wendy, raised in inner city Cleveland, Ohio, holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and is a Certified Behavior Science Consultant. The Tatros were married in 1978 and are blessed with two daughters, Rebekah and Elisabeth.
The Tatros served as missionaries in the nations of Guatemala, Liberia and Sierra Leone pioneering Bible training centers during their years in West Africa. Well over 100,000 students have graduated from LWM-affiliated Bible training centers and many of these graduates now serve as missionaries leading ministries throughout Africa and other parts of the world.
A mandate from the Lord to "be missionaries to missionaries" led the Tatros back to the U.S. and resulted in the establishment of Living Word Missions in 1993.
Russ currently oversees the missions outreaches of Living Word Missions, traveling to the regions of the world where LWM-affiliated missionaries are serving. Russ teaches in conferences, which provide training, resources and strategies for missionaries and National workers.
Russ also serves as the Executive Director of The Lazarus Project, an evangelistic and church planting project in the Middle East, and as Director of the Jesus Film Project, an evangelistic and church planting project in rural Africa, while Wendy serves in administrative functions of the ministry.
The Tatros are available for ministry in stateside churches and, additionally, offer D.I.S.C. Personality Profile consultation and leadership training seminars.