Robert and Traci Gresser

Serving In: Namibia
SAMS Role: Missionaries, Theological Education

Home Church: Dr. Gresser is canonically resident in the Reformed Episcopal Church and licensed in the Diocese of Fort Worth. Traci and the children are members of Christ the Redeemer Anglican Church in Benbrook, TX. The Gresser serve under the REC Board of Foreign Missions through SAMS.

Starting Year with SAMS: They started as Missionary Bridgers in 2018 serving four months in Malawi in 2019. They were accepted as Missionary Candidates in 2021.

Calling to Ministry: Robert has been in ministry since 1990 when he enrolled at Moody Bible Institute. It was here that he felt a “tug” toward academics and theological education. However, God made it plain that Robert should serve first as an Army Chaplain. During this tenure the tug became a call. Robert retired and earned a PhD in Biblical Studies.

For years, Traci has felt a call to missionary service. Living a year in South Africa as an exchange student affirmed that call. The call to serve overseas was temporarily set aside when she married Robert and became an “Army Wife.” However, the desire to serve in global mission remained strong.

As a couple, the Gressers have vetted their call to serve as missionaries on several occasions first in Uganda (1995), then in Ethiopia (2016, 2017, 2022) and Malawi (2019). These mission trips varied from 6 weeks to 4 months. They began full-time service as missionaries to Malawi in 2024-2025. During these trips, Robert served at a local college and seminary. Traci, using her skills as a mother of special needs children and her skills as an RN, was a valuable asset to the local community where she helped encourage families, especially families with special needs children.

Mission in Ministry: The Gressers want to serve where the need is great. Robert has a passion to serve as a theological educator where there is a lack of qualified teachers, not to replace local leaders, but to train national church leaders so they can in turn train other church leaders. He will be teaching at the Namibia Evangelical Theological Seminary in Windhoek. Traci’s desire is to minister socially through hospitality and ministry of presence, encouraging and strengthening families to spread Kingdom change throughout the communities where they serve.