“… Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
These words from 1 Corinthians 10:31 give the bottom line: Our greatest endeavor on earth is to bring glory to the God who loved us enough to die for us. Whether we are old or young, rich or poor, weak or strong, all of us have the amazing privilege to magnify God’s glorious character to those around us.
This year’s missionary appointees can’t wait to see God glorified in the lives of those He has called them to. It is our prayer that their stories give you renewed enthusiasm as you glorify the Lord wherever He has sent you.
Please consider inviting any of these missionaries to your church. Click on their names for contact information.
Robert & Rebekah Bass—Peru
Sent by: Olivet Baptist Church—Westwood, Kansas
What first drew Bob to Peru is its jungle areas where people groups have never heard the gospel. One such place is the K’oshñipata district. Alcoholism and abuse of women and children are rampant problems. The Basses learned of this area through Becky’s sister, Peru missionary Barb Whatley, and her husband Tim. The area was evangelized 40 years ago by Tim’s parents, but political restrictions prevented them from establishing a church. During the Basses’ ministry trips to Peru, God gave Bob and Becky a firm resolve to take the gospel to the jungle people and to teach believers how to live victorious Christian lives.
Bob and Becky’s focus is on the city of Pilcopata, a gateway town near many jungle tribes. After a year of mentoring with Tim and Barb, the Basses plan to move to Pilcopata for church planting. Bob earned a master’s degree in counseling that equips him to operate a counseling center. Because the men of the K’oshñipata district are zealous soccer fans, Bob will build a soccer field for outreach and discipleship. Becky’s music experience will likewise enhance their ministry.
Knowing the enormous need for churches, and knowing that missionaries may not always be allowed in the area, Bob is sold on the importance of training national leaders. Experience has shown that training tribal people in their home contexts is the best way to develop committed leaders. A long-range goal is to establish a ministry training institute in Pilcopata.
Carla Bieber—Bibles International
Sent by: Valleyview Baptist Church—Northampton, Pennsylvania
As valuable as Bible translation work is, a newly translated Bible remains a locked treasure to people who cannot read. As a Bibles International (BI) Literacy Consultant, Carla longs to see God glorified when people can tell their friends, “This is what I read in my Bible today!”
Carla starts off full-time service with BI (BMM’s translation division) as a veteran of eight short-term trips helping BI personnel in Asia, Africa, and the Pacific. The most eye-opening was a visit with Myanmar’s Chin Pong people. Carla assisted the BI literacy team as they created an alphabet and began translating Old Testament story books with Scripture portions. The moment was awe-inspiring as Carla realized she was seeing a people read Scripture for the first time in their own language.
Carla’s trips helped her recognize her God-given passion for literacy ministry and for training national literacy workers. For her, the most exciting part is seeing how creatively these workers use their training. Two ladies in Myanmar began leading Bible studies and using their lessons in Bible school curriculum. Whether at home or in church, teachers are finding innovative ways to spread the gospel through their newfound learning.
God has burdened Carla to help unlock the treasure of the Bible for those who cannot read it. It brings joy to those who receive it and glory to the God who wrote it!
Evandro & Erica* da Silva—Brazil
Sent by: Pine Grove Baptist Church—Santa Maria, California
Children: Lana (1)
Evandro is a living testimony of the replicating power of missions. Years ago in Brazil’s Amazon region, the late Stan and Pat Best led a couple to the Lord, Roberto and Francisca. They became church planting missionaries and first won to the Lord Evandro’s grandmother, then Evandro and his parents. Roberto saw leadership potential in Evandro, whom God called into missions at age 19.
At age 21 Evandro became the church’s pastor. In training his young congregation and helping with church construction, Evandro was being prepared for God’s next steps. He began to pray for the companionship of a wife who could serve alongside him.
While teaching at a singles retreat, Evandro met missionary Erica McLain, daughter of Brazil missionaries Eric and Gayle McLain. Evandro and Erica quickly sensed God’s perfect plan in bringing them together, and they were married in 2009.
Evandro is now studying at BMM’s seminary in Curitiba in southern Brazil while he and Erica gain experience helping Paul and Susan Van Loh’s church plant. After graduation, Evandro and Erica will pioneer a work in Quatro Bocas, an Amazon crossroads town with a mixture of cultures and economic classes. The da Silvas want to build a church modeling Christ’s love by reaching out to all people groups in their new town.
* Erica joined BMM in 2003.
Paul & Laura Fulks—
North America: Mormon Focus Ministry Team
Sent by: First Baptist Church—Elyria, Ohio
Children: First child is due February 2012.
Some try to evangelize Mormons by convincing them of the fallacy of the LDS (Latter-Day Saints) religion. Paul and Laura discovered that when loving relationships are built with Mormons, the gospel itself does the convincing. The Fulkses learned this and a wealth of wisdom from BMM missionaries Lloyd and Martha Larkin during a yearlong internship in Salt Lake City.
The highlight was seeing a former LDS man, Jake, and his wife Teresa find the Lord. Paul and Laura spent many hours in Bible study with them. Visitation, relationship building, and one-on-one discipleship are core tools in this ministry. Mormons live under high stress from their religion’s demands, but peer pressure keeps them locked into it. Leaving the LDS church means losing relationships and sometimes jobs.
Paul first learned of Mormons during his MK childhood in Peru, a country that ranks sixth in nations with LDS communities. Laura grew up a pastor’s daughter in Queens, New York, and was fascinated by the Mormon missionaries there. In adulthood, Paul and Laura became burdened to take the gospel to Mormons. Some Utah communities are 95 percent Mormon, and resident believers need biblical churches too.
After they return to Salt Lake City, Paul and Laura’s goal is to plant a church in one of the rapidly growing suburbs. Their friend Jake was saved by reading the Word of God, and Paul and Laura know that when they return, they will simply be tools God can use for His glory. The power of His Word alone brings salvation to Mormons.
Scott & Juli Fulks—Spain
Sent by: Eden Baptist Church—Savage, Minnesota
Children: Dominic, born September 2011
Three generations of Scott’s family and four generations of Juli’s have served in missions. They each gleaned wisdom and good examples from their families’ ministries. Scott admired his parents’ deep relationships with the Peruvians they worked with. Growing up in Ecuador, Juli loved watching new believers mature into godly leaders. Back in the US, they each absorbed invaluable training at seminary and at their sending church, which taught them hands-on how to conduct church ministries.
God has called Scott and Juli to a similar but distinct culture from those of their childhood and college years, and they are just as eager to create strong churches by building relationships and training up godly leaders.
Once on their field, they want to learn all they can from established missionaries, including how to share the gospel in Spain’s postmodern culture that rejects the authority of God’s Word. Their team will include Kent and Belén Albright and Jonathan and Lorena Templeton (see page 9).
Spain is the least evangelized Spanish-speaking country in the world. Scott and Juli desire to facilitate a church-planting movement in northwest Spain. The thought of having the gospel infuse Spaniards’ lives and create healthy, vibrant churches thrills Scott. One day he and Juli hope to team with those Spaniards in church planting.
Bob & Terri Metze—
Editorial Bautista Independiente
Sent by: Calvary Baptist Church—Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Children: Caleb (16) and three adult children—Jeremy, Heather, and Jorge
During Bob and Terri’s 10 years of church planting in Mexico City, Bob was troubled at seeing national pastors who lacked adequate training. Bible colleges are not easily accessible or affordable for some Mexican pastors. These pastors may unknowingly feed their flocks a distorted interpretation of Scripture.
Prior to the Metzes’ service in Mexico, Bob earned a master of divinity degree and started doctoral studies during his 13 years as an associate pastor in Pennsylvania. This preparation enabled him to teach nearly a dozen courses in a Mexico City seminary and to teach occasional block courses in Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile. These experiences gave the Metzes three things critical for God’s future plans: it made them bilingual and bicultural, and it gave them a growing passion for Latin America.
With such a background, Bob and Terri are ready for God’s calling to Editorial Bautista Independiente (EBI), BMM’s Spanish publications ministry. As Director of Pastoral Training and Theological Curriculum, Bob will develop syllabi for well-rounded theological curricula tailored to Latin American pastors. He’ll regularly teach internationally to test the materials.
Because changing political climates in Latin America may not remain favorable to expatriate missionaries, Bob’s role is needed more than ever. The materials will be available, even if missionaries aren’t. That will help Latin churches grow strong and stay strong into the future.
Hye Ree Park—Bibles International
Sent by: Westside Baptist Church—Jenison, Michigan
From her parents, Hye Ree learned diligence, perseverance, and the rewards that come with both. She worked from sunrise to sunset on her family’s farm in Korea. And she served busily at church, where her father was an elder. Still, as she entered her teen years, doubts gnawed at her: “Am I really a child of God?”
Pursuing what seemed her destiny—to become a farmer—Hye Ree studied agriculture. Part of her studies placed her in an Israeli kibbutz. At that time, God spoke to her through John 1:29 and 14:6. She finally understood the gospel and received assurance of salvation. Also during this time, Hye Ree elected to study Hebrew, a God-prompted choice that molded her future.
Returning home to Korea and the family farm, Hye Ree felt her heart pulled toward Bible school. Was she not meant to be a farmer? Hye Ree prayed, and God made Bible school possible. She earned a master’s degree from a US Bible college. Seeing her language gifts, a professor encouraged her to continue her studies, and it wasn’t hard to convince Hye Ree. She obtained another master’s degree and a Ph.D in the field of Bible translation.
With her training, Hye Ree will serve as a translation consultant at the home office of Bibles International, BMM’s Bible translation division. She will not only create tools to help national translators and BI translation consultants but will also work with ongoing translation projects. Hye Ree says: “By taking the Good News of Jesus—through deeds and words—to both unbelievers and believers, I can please and glorify God.”
Adam & Jodi Pittman—Brazil
Sent by: Maranatha Baptist Church—Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Just a walk down the streets of Curitiba, Brazil, shows the influence of Roman Catholicism and black magic. Adam and Jodi understand the darkness there and have seen it in people living to fulfill fleshly desires.
Adam grew up as an MK in Curitiba, and as a high schooler he felt called to missions. He assumed missions meant going somewhere foreign to him, but the Lord showed him that Brazil needed His light and that He was preparing Adam to take it there. Jodi, as a pastor’s daughter, understood the challenges of ministry. God’s steady working in her heart during college led her to surrender to anything God wanted. It was missions, and He gave her a partner in Adam.
At their sending church (pastored by Adam’s father), the Pittmans served in a variety of ministries with three couples now with BMM: Darrell and Laura Peavy, Brandon and Emily Carmichael, and Brandon and Regina Bell. These couples (shown in lower photo) plan to form a church-planting team in Brazil once they’ve gained experience under veteran missionaries.
The Pittmans have a heart to glorify the Lord by seeing lost people saved and helping believers refine their walk with the Lord. Adam and Jodi bring to their team strengths in leadership, teaching, discipleship, and music. They will teach and train Brazilians in their church and also in the local seminary, should the Lord open that possibility.
Jonathan & Hannah Romaine—Spain
Sent by: Salem Baptist Church—Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Children: First child is due in December 2011.
As a young Air Force staff sergeant, Jonathan strived for excellence, a trait that earned him assignments most would envy. This trait flowed into his spiritual life as well. Jonathan’s careful Scripture study revealed that the religious teachings he’d grown up with were unbiblical. The gravity of this discovery created in him a hunger to know the truth and share it with others. The closer he got to Christ, the less Jonathan desired the promising military career ahead of him. The joy of seeing people born again eclipsed that form of success.
Stationed in Washington D.C., Jonathan found a solidly biblical church. There, he also found Hannah, a college student whose family modeled relationship building and discipleship. Hannah grew in this passion as she led dorm Bible studies. With hearts united to serve their Lord, she and Jonathan married in 2007.
On a Spain survey trip, their hearts went out to Spaniards who are disillusioned with religion and who are seeking truth. Jonathan and Hannah fit well with BMM’s Spain missionary team. The Romaines believe strongly in teamwork and anticipate mentorship from veteran couples as they raise up strong churches and teach national pastors to do the same. Jonathan looks forward to teaching in church and Bible institute/seminary settings. As Spanish churches grow, the Romaines welcome the day they can team church plant with national pastors.
Mark and Anahí Self—Argentina
Sent by: Emmanuel Baptist Church—Toledo, Ohio
Children: Sophia, born May 2011
Buenos Aires, Argentina—its honking buses, bustling streets, and multicultural flavor make Mark feel perfectly at home. In fact, it is his home, because he grew up there as an MK. The same holds true for Anahí, the daughter of Argentine church planters.
Although Anahí was raised in a Christian family, she hadn’t truly understood or received Christ until her family joined Mark’s parents’ church—the first doctrinally sound church her family found. On a missions trip, she and Mark found a shared goal: to plant churches with the same biblical emphasis of their parents’ churches.
As a teen, Mark discovered his passion for discipling future leaders, something he hopes to do at his parents’ Bible institute. He earned a master’s degree this spring and is working on a DMin degree to further equip him. Anahí’s education degree helped her lead children’s ministries and train their teachers in her parents’ church—a congregation started from Mark’s parents’ church.
Because of Buenos Aires’ population (15 million) and because most people do not own cars, neighborhood churches are essential. After raising support, the Selfs will join Mark’s parents and his brother and sister-in-law Andrew and Romina, also BMM missionaries. Mark and Anahí plan to establish a church plant in a neighboring community.
Mark and Anahí know that their job is to plant the seeds and water them, but the glory goes to God for the increase.
Jonathan & Lorena Templeton—Spain
Sent by: Living Stone Baptist Church—Quakertown, Pennsylvania
After traveling to five Spanish-speaking countries in search of a mission field, Jonathan visited Spain. Those nine days changed his life. On that 2008 missions trip, Jonathan didn’t know if God would lead him to Spain or back to Peru, where two generations of his family have served as missionaries. He easily related to Spain’s Latin American immigrant population. But what struck him most was the stark reality around him: Spain is the least-evangelized Spanish-speaking country. As he prayed and sought the affirmation of his church, he realized God had tailored his life to serve in Spain.
Another life-changing aspect of the trip was meeting Lorena, whose parents serve in Spain. As a teenager, Lorena’s personal struggles from a hearing disability and from the isolation of being in Spain’s Christian minority gave her a compassion to minister to others. God had likewise prepared her for Spain.
Now married, Jonathan and Lorena are eager to advance God’s church-planting movement in Spain. They will be mentored by Lorena’s parents, Kent and Belén Albright. Joining them as a team will be Jonathan’s cousin, Scott Fulks, and his wife Juli (see page 6). The couples’ initial goal is to start a work in a key provincial city in Spain’s northwest region. Training nationals will play a vital role in their ministry as well.
God is glorified when people come to know and worship Him—the very thing the Templetons will pray for as they build up indigenous Spanish churches.
Barry & Janell Yingling—Argentina
Sent by: Faith Baptist Church—Altoona, Pennsylvania
Children: Emelia (9), Annanya (5)
Barry and Janell had already been accepted at Bible college when a letter came from their home church: “Will you consider being our associate pastor now while training at our local Bible institute?” Barry wrestled with the choice until God gave him Acts 4:13. Jesus’ model for training and mentoring the Apostles mirrored what his church would give him.
A tremendously rich three years followed. Active and retired pastors taught his institute classes and imparted hard-earned wisdom from their ministry years. Barry applied it immediately as he worked with youth, preached pulpit supply, and ministered in a myriad of ways. Their pastor and others at church mentored Barry and Janell in ways that went far beyond what they may have received in Bible college, preparing them well for God’s call to Argentina.
Barry’s experience burdens him to replicate this discipleship model in Córdoba, Argentina, where he and Janell will team up with Ernie and Carol Mason. Argentina’s 40 million people have roughly 40 fundamental Baptist missionaries. Churches have been planted, but few are ready to send their own missionaries. Barry hopes to build up strong Christians and leaders, just as he was built up. Janell brings musical talents, and she and Barry can offer a wealth of youth ministry experience to the Masons’ large children’s ministry.
Acts 4:13 became Barry’s life verse. Their joy is to glorify God by helping others grow strong through being with Jesus.