Executive Director
Brig Gen (Ret) David Phillips – David has served in various roles within Cru Military since 2010. His remarkable 31-year Air Force career has prepared him perfectly for his recent role as Fund Development Director. His deep passion for seeing military families experience the hope of knowing Jesus Christ motivates him to develop relationships and the financial resources necessary to spread the gospel throughout the global military community. David is also developing a plan to integrate local and corporate fund development training to help local teams generate the revenue needed to support ministry expansion in fulfilling the Great Commission.
Global Directors
Col (Ret) Daryl & Lt Col (Ret) Martha Jones – We are honored to welcome Daryl and Martha Jones as the new Co-Interim Executive Directors of Cru Military. After both graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1982, they completed 20+ year flying careers with the Air Force before retiring. In 2003, they joined Cru as Associate Staff while serving as local pastors and missionaries in Asia.
Today, as the Global Directors of Cru Military, they have helped establish ministries among military communities in 35 nations. In all this, God has used them as shepherds, servants, and strategists. While these are only brief snapshots of their lives, it’s a little insight into how God has shaped their gifting and motivation on behalf of His glory and prepared them for today.
National Directors
Dave and Laurie Eatman – Dave and Laurie joined our staff in 2014. They have served in our ministry at every level, including volunteer Ministry Team Members on the Parris Island Gateway team, Ministry Team Leaders for the Parris Island Gateway Ministry, Local Directors for the Beaufort/Savannah area, Southeast Area of Operations Director, and now National Directors. Dave served a 4-year enlistment in the United States Marine Corps and 17 years in Corporate America before joining staff and currently serves as a Chaplain Candidate (LTJG) in the Navy Reserve. Before joining staff, Laurie spent 22 years as a hairstylist and proprietor of her salon. In their early adult years, Dave and Laurie experienced the negative impact military life can have on the home. As a result, they are passionate about seeing service members and their families come to know Christ. The Gospel of Jesus Christ transformed their military service and family life. As National Directors, Dave and Laurie are responsible for leading a team of staff and volunteer missionaries in the U.S. with the mission of building movements of multiplying disciples to the global military community.
Chief of Staff:
Nick Bair – Nick has been reaching the U.S. military for Jesus since 2002 and has seen many come to faith and grow in their ministry. Growing up in a military home has given him a good understanding of the particular spiritual needs of the military population. That understanding fuels his passion for reaching the global military community for Christ. As Chief of Staff, his education and operational ministry experience have given him unique talents and skills that serve him and the ministry well. Nick and the MSC team focus on developing valuable tools and resources to effectively equip and support staff and volunteers.
Chief Financial Officer:
Mike Silva – Mike has been with Cru since 2014. He spent 10 years as a Mustang officer (first as enlisted, prior to being commissioned) in the US Marine Corps (USMC) as a financial Management Officer. Mike was deployed to Iraq in 2004 as a part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He left the USMC as a Captain in 2005 to plant a church in Japan in the town of Iwakuni, where Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni is located. He and his family served that Marine community for eight years. While serving Cru, Mike also serves as a bi-vocational pastor leading a local church in Orlando. He and his wife Sonya, who also serves with Cru Military as the West AOA, have been married for over 27 years, have four kids (all of whom have experienced the military lifestyle growing up) and one granddaughter. Mike is “Once a Marine Always a Marine” with a passion for seeing the military community reached for Christ.
Human Resources (HR) Director:
Karenanne Abbate Payton – Karenanne has served with the Military Ministry of Cru since 2018. As the wife of a retired Army Chaplain, she has a deep love and respect for the unique challenges of military life and the beauty and wholeness only Jesus Christ can bring. She is passionate about equipping teams and developing leaders to reach their full God-given potential. This has been lived out in her decades of ministry experience in various contexts. As the LDHR and Staff Care Director, Karenanne diligently leads her team in stewarding, strengthening, shepherding, and shaping culture for Cru Military’s greatest asset: our people.
Prayer Director:
Karen Trimble – Karen has served in various assignments within Cru Military for over two decades. In 2008 when the Executive Director asked her to lead and mobilize prayer in the ministry, she knew God was calling her for this purpose. Understanding that the key to successful ministry is aligning our hearts with His, and this is best done through prayer, Karen began to develop what was an internal small group prayer gathering at the former Cru Military headquarters into a vibrant prayer ministry that continues to grow with a global reach. Karen is passionate about encouraging our team members around the world through prayer and helping to guide and encourage them in the growth of their prayer teams. Partnering with dedicated prayer ministries and prayer partners worldwide on behalf of Cru Military and the military families we serve has invited others to join us as we reach the militaries of the world for Christ.