We follow our Lord Jesus Christ by engaging with the needs of this world – physical, relational, and spiritual. Our teachers use their skills and contexts to bring Christ’s light and healing to all – children, adults, leaders and mission workers alike.
We go. TeachBeyond recruits and sends Christian educators, administrators, and workers to serve in many different schools and organisations across the globe.
We equip. TeachBeyond equips educators, schools, and organisations to serve our Lord in pursuit of our common vision for transformational education.
TeachBeyond has dozens of consultants and coaches who work with like-minded schools and organisations to provide continuing education to teachers, administrators, boards, and school owners.
We partner. TeachBeyond rarely works alone. We partner with groups, organisations and institutions in pursuit of our mission.
In partnership with local organisations, TeachBeyond co-owns and supports a number of K-12 schools, English language learning programmes, and projects.
David Durance
David Durance has been closely associated with TeachBeyond, formerly called Janz Team Ministries, since he was a child. Born in Calgary, Canada, he grew up in Germany where his parents worked as missionaries for 12 years at the Janz Team school, Black Forest Academy.
After studying General Biblical Studies at Ambrose University, he completed a degree in business at the University of Regina, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts. He worked in telecommunications for more than 10 years, during which he was promoted to a senior leadership role.
Mr. Durance joined TeachBeyond in 2011 when he and his wife, Nancy, moved to Asia, where he worked in a number of capacities including National Director and Regional Director. In 2015, Mr. Durance accepted the appointment as Executive Director for the work in Asia and parts of Africa. On April 1, 2019 he began serving as TeachBeyond’s second President.
Mr. Durance has been married to Nancy for 17 years, and they have four boys. He enjoys reading, singing, listening to music, playing soccer with his kids, and running with his wife.
“My desire is that TeachBeyond continues to be a catalyst for redemptive change by the power of the Holy Spirit, for learners, educators, organizations, and communities around the world.”
TeachBeyond was born on the western Canadian prairies in 1954, when Leo Janz committed himself to bringing the Biblical message of hope to post-war Germany. Several members of his family joined him to create The Janz Brothers Gospel Association, which began broadcasting over Radio Luxembourg in 1955. News of the Association’s radio, church, music, and educational work spread to German-speaking communities in Europe. As opportunities grew, the original Janz Association established various national Janz organizations to serve needs in Europe and South America.
From left: Hildor Janz, Adolf Janz, Leo Janz, Cornelius Enns, and Harding Braaten. Germany, 1971.
Today the founding Janz association is known as TeachBeyond. Its primary emphasis is on educational initiatives, such as English language camps, professional seminars, and schools, including Black Forest Academy, which was founded in 1956. Over 350 workers serve with TeachBeyond in countries from Southeast Asia to northern Africa, Brazil and various countries in Europe. The name TeachBeyond reflects the organization’s commitment to teaching beyond one-dimensional, utilitarian forms of education to a comprehensive, holistic form of education.