Our Story

We are Allyson, Justin and Rosita Searway.

I, Allyson, met my husband, Brent, while studying at Westmont College in Santa Barbara. We married and settled in Coalinga, California, as school teachers, and had two precious babies, Justin and Emily.

Then God called us to Mexico in a deliberate way, and we moved to Ensenada, Baja California, to work at Agua Viva Ministries, a Christian campground dedicated to missions and evangelism. We served there for 21 years. A this time, we began attending and serving in ministry at Vino Nuevo under our beloved pastor, Ramón Ruíz.

In 2012 Brent was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor, growing and inoperable. But God did miracles and the tumor grew, moving the brain in such a way that surgery became possible! After radiation and chemotherapy, Brent went into remission, with much hope for many more years of healthy life.

We ate like health food nuts due to Brent’s illness, but we’ve always loved carne asada tacos. We love driving up to Laguna Hansen in the pine trees and having picnics. We love to walk. We love the Lord. We love Mexico. If we know you, we probably love you, too. And if we don’t know you yet, we’d like to!

In the last months of 2014 we left AVM to open our own ministry, EPIC Ministries in Mexico, launched in January 2015. We began working with Mexican national pastors / missionaries for several years through AVM, heroes of the faith whom we love and respect so much. Now we are able to give all of our time and attention to supporting them in their work.  

In late 2016, Brent’s cancer returned, and we began treatment to slow it’s growth and prolong his life as long as possible.

Our son Justin married Rosita, who is the daughter of our Pastor, Ramón Ruíz, in April of 2017. It was a beautiful reception and ceremony, and we were all overjoyed at their union. It was one of the happiest days of Brent’s life.

The following months were difficult, as Brent’s health began to decline rapidly. Early on the morning of Sunday, June 10th, 2018, Brent passed peacefully in our home in Ensenada. He wanted to be buried here, where God called us to serve hime decades ago. In Brent’s memory, we set up the Brent Searway Commemorative Bible Campaign, which delivers Spanish Bibles to one of the most remote parts of rural Mexico. 

In 2018, Justin and Rosita officially joined EPIC Ministries, and began following in their respective fathers’ footsteps, stepping into a life of full-time ministry.

Today, we live to serve God in Ensenada, Baja California as one family. We still enjoy carne asada tacos, driving up to Laguna Hanson—that’s where Justin and Rosita got engaged—and having picnics. We still love to walk. And we still love the Lord, and this beautiful country he has called us to.