In 1990, Axel began a successful and lucrative career as a freelance ship representative for oil tankers. The following year, he began his own missionary agency, which recruited and transported engineers, carpenters, dentists and physicians to voluntarily work among tribes living in Latin American countries.

By 1994, hundreds had received medical and dental attention. In addition, several church buildings had been constructed for those living in the Amazon jungle.

That same year, he clearly felt the Lord calling him to go to Bihar, a northeastern state of India. He began learning about the Bihari people, an unreached tribe of 92 million, but resisted going to India because he was uncertain of the purpose behind the calling.

A few months later, he was notified that a seaman on an oil tanker bound for his small hometown in Puerto Rico was ill. He arranged for the man to be transported to a hospital. A few days later, he visited the hospital and was surprised to find that the man was from India. He was even more shocked to learn that the man was a devout Christian whose pastor sent missionaries to share the gospel with the Bihari people.

For the next two weeks, the man shared his testimony with Axel and told him about the native missionaries who were working in Bihar.

Later, after the man returned to India, Axel received a call from the man’s pastor, requesting that he visit Bihar. Axel finally consented and packed his bags.

Upon arriving in Bihar, he was shocked by the human misery surrounding him. He spent most of his time with an Indian ministry, impressed by the work being accomplished by the native missionaries.

After a few weeks, Axel prepared to take his flight back to Puerto Rico, frustrated at the seeming lack of purpose for his journey. Four hours before his plane departed, he arrived at the ministry leader’s office.

As the leader began sharing the details of his ministry, Axel suddenly observed a stack of missionary photos and applications piled on the desk. He asked the leader about the photos.

The leader hurriedly explained that the photos were missionaries that desired to work with the ministry, but had no support. Axel asked how much support each missionary required and the leader replied that they were "very expensive--$50 to $100 each."

Axel assumed that the leader meant $50 to $100 per week…and was astounded to learn that he actually meant $50 to $100 per month. This amount would provide full-time support for each missionary! At that moment, he felt the Lord impress upon his heart: Return home and get help for my servants.

Three hours later, he was on the plane back to Puerto Rico with photos of 40 missionaries and descriptions of their work among unreached people.

Axel’s co-workers, some of whom had been trained in traditional schools of missions and were unfamiliar with indigenous ministries, initially resisted his new approach to missions.

Alone, he began to share in Puerto Rican churches about the native missionaries in India, and people began responding generously. Within one month, he had raised full support for each of the 40 missionaries.

A few months later, his wife handed him a magazine with an advertisement about Christian Aid. Axel immediately contacted Christian Aid and explained his desire to help indigenous ministries. Bob Finley invited Axel to partner with Christian Aid, and after much prayer, he quit his business and agreed.

Since 1995, Axel served as the Latin America field representative for Christian Aid. Fluent in Spanish, English and Portuguese he was responsible for opening and overseeing offices in Brazil, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico. As part of his successful fundraising efforts, he has taken church leaders and executives to visit indigenous evangelistic ministries in China, India, Vietnam, Laos and many other Asian countries, as well as Arab countries, African countries, the former Soviet Union and virtually all of Latin America.

Few men are as well informed regarding indigenous Christian witness in the two-thirds world. Axel has a passion to spread the gospel to unreached people groups by assisting strategic native missionaries who are finishing this task.

Axel is a graduate of the University of Washington and has completed degrees from two seminaries, including a master's degree in Biblical studies.

In 2005, he became the president and CEO of Christian Aid in the United States.