While working in Seattle, Ian began pursuing God's call on his life toward global missions. This led him to graduate school at Wheaton College in Illinois. After graduating from the Intercultural Studies program Ian joined Converge and in 2014 launched out to Japan on his first term as a career missionary. Ian's first term in Japan consistent mainly of language studies and building the foundational relationships and cultural understanding for future ministry opportunities. He also worked closely with a local church in Chiba as well as with a ministry to Japanese college students at Tokyo University. 

After returning to Japan in 2019, Ian continued to work with his partner church in the Japanese Baptist Church association and pursue language studies. Around the same time he began to court Maki Okada, and in February of 2022 they were married. Ian is currently working on several projects for the Japan Initiative and exploring future ministry opportunities.