Serving People Who Serve Around the World
We are James and Ellie Covey, serving with SIL in the EurAsia region and living in Alhaurín de la Torre, Spain. Our work takes us across Europe and Asia, where we have the privilege of supporting people and families serving in cross-cultural ministry.
We believe that caring well for people is an essential part of sustaining the work they have been called to do. Whether welcoming new staff, walking alongside individuals and families through difficult seasons, equipping leaders, or helping young adults prepare for cross-cultural service, our desire is to help people thrive personally, relationally, and spiritually.
Although our roles are different, they share a common purpose: equipping, encouraging, and caring for those who serve, often in challenging places with limited support and resources. Outside of work, we love hiking, biking, exploring, traveling to new places, and trying new things. Ellie recently did an Ironman triathlon and is looking for her next extreme sport, while James plays for a local roller hockey club, the Fuengriola Lions.
Ellie’s Ministry
Ellie serves as the EurAsia Orientation Coordinator, helping new staff and families prepare for life and service in cross-cultural settings. She works with field units throughout the region to connect and strengthen orientation efforts, develop resources, and streamline training and onboarding.
Moving to a new country involves much more than packing belongings and learning a new language. It means navigating unfamiliar cultures, building relationships, establishing a home, and adjusting to a new way of life. Ellie helps ensure that new staff have the information, connections, and support they need to make those transitions well.
Ellie also helps coordinate the Short-Term Service Team (STST) program, a yearlong experience designed to help young adults explore cross-cultural service, grow personally and spiritually, and develop practical skills for living and working in international settings. She helps plan and develop the curriculum, coordinates logistics, and supports both participants and staff throughout the program.
In addition to her work with SIL, Ellie partners with SentWell, an organization dedicated to caring for cross-cultural workers and their families. Through this partnership, she is involved in spiritual direction, retreats, and providing logistical support for intensive care opportunities.
Across these different roles, Ellie enjoys creating spaces where people feel welcomed, supported, and equipped for the next steps in their journey.
James’s Ministry
James serves as the EurAsia Wellbeing Services Leader, guiding an interdisciplinary team of 18 professionals who provide care and support for approximately 1,200 staff and their families serving across Europe and Asia.
His role includes leading the team, developing strategy, supporting staff wellbeing initiatives, and helping ensure that individuals and families have access to appropriate care throughout their service. This involves working with professionals from different disciplines and collaborating with leaders across the region to address the complex challenges of cross-cultural life and ministry.
As a professional counselor, James provides therapeutic care to individuals, couples, and families. His counseling work addresses a wide range of concerns, including relationships, transitions, stress, grief, trauma, and the particular challenges of living and working cross-culturally.
James also serves on the EurAsia HR Leadership Team, where he provides consultation and contributes to organizational strategies that support healthy staff, families, and teams. He works with leaders to navigate difficult situations, strengthen team dynamics, and foster organizational environments where people can serve sustainably.
Teaching, Training, and Leadership Development
Beyond his counseling and leadership responsibilities, James is actively involved in teaching, training, and leadership development. He develops and facilitates workshops, seminars, and training opportunities focused on wellbeing, relationships, trauma, leadership, and the challenges of cross-cultural service.
He continues to be involved with Healing the Wounds of Trauma trainings for adults and children and contributes to the adolescent trauma-healing curriculum he helped author. This work helps equip people to respond to trauma and support healing in their communities.
James also supports Ellie’s work with the Short-Term Service Team by developing and teaching curriculum for young adults preparing for cross-cultural ministry. He enjoys helping emerging workers understand themselves, develop healthy relationships, and build a strong foundation for life and service overseas.
In addition, James serves on the Board of Directors for Wycliffe Bible Translators USA, contributing to the organization’s governance and mission.
He also participates in writing, podcasting, and other opportunities to share resources and conversations about counseling, leadership, and wellbeing in cross-cultural contexts.
You can learn more about James’s professional work at jamesecovey.org.
Where We Serve: EurAsia
Our region stretches across Europe and Asia, from the Atlantic to the Pacific and from Siberia to Vietnam. It includes a tremendous diversity of languages, cultures, communities, and ministry contexts.
While we are based in southern Spain, the people we serve live and work throughout this vast region. Some are in well-established locations with access to resources and support, while others serve in remote or challenging environments.
Much of our work happens behind the scenes, but we see it as an important part of helping people remain healthy, connected, and equipped for the work they do.
Partner With Us
We are grateful for the friends, family, churches, and partners who make it possible for us to serve in these roles.
We invite you to join us through prayer and financial partnership. Your support helps us welcome and prepare new workers, invest in young adults, strengthen leaders, provide counseling and care, and walk alongside individuals and families serving throughout EurAsia.
Thank you for being part of this ministry and for helping us care for the people who serve around the world.
