Explore the Need

Les Clevenger was born in Okinawa, Japan, while his father served in the United States Marine Corps. He prayed for Japan and Asia from an early age, believing that one day he would be a missionary to Japan. While growing up in Moore, Oklahoma, his calling to Japan was confirmed at age fourteen. Laura grew up in North Carolina and at the age of fourteen felt the call to missions. Les and Laura met while attending Gateway College of Evangelism. They married in 2001 and began to prepare for where God would send them. On May 4, 2006, thirty years to the day since Les and his family had returned to the States from Japan, he and his wife arrived in Okinawa. They served on the Associate In Missions program for seven years. In 2012 Global Missions appointed them as associate missionaries. The Clevengers became fully appointed missionaries in March 2018. Les has pastored, taught and administrated multiple Bible school campuses. Laura started a Christian school. In May 2022, Les was elected to serve as General Superintendent for the UPC of Japan. They have seen exponential growth in leaders and ministers as well as daughter works, preaching points and churches. The Clevengers have a clear vision to see a church established in every community and a Bible school in each of the forty-seven prefectures in Japan.