News

Help with setup for all church functions, participate in mailbox-stuffing, door-to-door evangelism, participate in evangelism camps, assist with publication of newsletters and bulletins

Andrew Visser

31

France

I helped my parents by teaching SS, working in children’s church, playing the piano for church and by just being involved in any area they needed.  It was great fun!

Jill (Peters) Watkins

30

São Paulo, Brazil

Yes. Inviting friends to children’s club; visiting for VBS; playing music in church.

Michael Reeves

48

Alaska

I have gone overseas a few times with my parents and I have been able to see what goes on in Bible translation workshops.

Rachel Kerr

20

Bibles International

Of course! When you’re 5 year’s old and your parents are Missionary Church Planters you have no option.  I did everything from clean our house before church meetings to spending my Saturday’s delivering Christian literature to thousands of apartment homes (active lifestyle part), to inviting my friends to Sunday School and getting my dad an invitation to speak at my “Religion Class” at school.  I would help my mom bake snacks and treats for after church and I would proof-read my dad’s sermons; I would put labels on out-going correspondence and cut out crafts on Saturday before Sunday’s activities.  I don’t think that the adult parents are the only missionaries; the whole family participates.  I could reach the younger kids and then my parents met their parents.  If my parents had no kids it would have been impossible for them to do as much with the younger kids and even some of the adults.  Just like in America, you meet other adults if you’re kids go to the same school or are involved in the same activities.

Karin Ruhkala Sicoli

32

Finland

   ummm not really…

Rebecca Smith

15

Londrina, Parana-

Brazil

I teach Sunday school, help in the children’s choir, play offertories and sometimes play for the services.

Rachel Smith

16

Londrina, Brazil

Yes! I teach Sunday school and play the piano for church.

Abigail Jewell

16

Sorocaba, Sao Paulo, Brazil

We sang and helped set up and put away the presentation.

Mark Seymour

53

Chad, Africa

I did growing up. I have been in the states for 7 years, so have only occasionally helped out, when I visited.

Joshua Whitman

27

Italy

Not at this time.

Jon Price

31

USA (Indiana) ?

Track and sermon distribution, encouragement, prayer, fostering relationships, sharing my faith.

Daniel Ruhkala

31

Finland

I was involved in children’s ministries, music, evangelistic outreaches and did occasional devotionals for the church.

Clinton Ellis

17

Germany

I helped in Children’s work, both Sunday School and Weekday Bible Clubs.

I helped in Camp.

My folks shared (limited) a number of the challenges they faced, and included me in praying for these matters.

Along the way, I heard a lot of missions and church planting principles being talked about.

David Boyd

49

The Netherlands

As a young child, my brother and I helped by doing little things.  For example, in my parent’s ministry, we often had to travel a long ways on Sundays, partly because Dad was (for most of my childhood) not a pastor, so he did a lot of substitute preaching.  Usually we were away for the whole day, so we had to really pack the car up with tons of stuff.  As young children, we helped carry stuff to the car.

Another ministry that Mum often organized was parties for the neighborhood children.  These were fun outreaches that would often bring in many un-churched kids.  We would have a theme for the party, with games and food, and then we would have a few songs and a Bible lesson time where we would give them the gospel.  My brother and I were a major part of this ministry.  We invited our neighborhood friends, who in turn invited their friends.  We would also help by setting up games, holding song or story visuals, sometimes preparing the visuals and the food.  We also got to participate in the fun with the other kids!

As I got older, I was able to help more with things like Sunday school.  In one church where we ministered, I regularly helped with the Sunday school opening.  Sometimes I taught the lesson as well.

On furloughs we were particularly involved—at least on our second and third furloughs, when we all traveled together as a family (we were only toddlers on the first furlough).  We were home-schooled, so we bought a motor home and did everything together for the whole year, and had school on the road—literally!  One furlough, I set up the display at each church—and I was very particular about it being laid out just right!  We all helped to man the display and answer questions and stuff.  Usually we sang together as a family, and one furlough we played trios on our wooden recorders.  In Sunday Schools and Children’s churches, we helped in a number of ways.  We had these little Australian-animal puppets, and we would have a little dialogue, telling about the animal and drawing from it a spiritual lesson.  Of course, we helped with songs and visuals and stuff too.

I guess I could list more, but I think that is enough to give you an idea of some of the things we did to help our parents in the ministry.

Anna Beth Wivell

25

Australia

Yes I did help my parents. I helped out with the choir when we were at church, and also with children’s church. When Mom and Dad would do camp ministry, I would help around the camp, cleaning, and helping out with games.

Sarah Darling

20

Venezuela

I teach children’s church and accompany the congregational singing with flute or piano. I also participate in the youth group.

Hannah Stilwell

16

Peru

I pick up kids when I’m home from school.

Holly Syroteuk

20

Canada

I helped a little in the ministry but for the most part I was goofing off, playing.

Daniel Darling

26

Venezuela

I helped with teaching children, watching nursery, cleaning the church building, and befriended other children. I participated in special programs and had a small part in my parents furlough presentation.

Lisa (Brammer) Bolton

27

Taiwan/New Zealand

I helped them with the children’s programs, planning parties for the church, and with the children’s Sunday school.

Leah Ronk

20

Brazil

We are constantly praying for them and visit them as often as we can to meet new people or a new church they have started. We have paid for tickets so they can come visit us.

Michelle (Stinedurf) Williams

36

Puerto Rico

I did somewhat but was only with them from one year old to 7 years.  Then I went to boarding school for 1^st through 5^th grades; then furlough 6^th grade.  Then I stayed with friends.

Joy Spieth

62

Brazil

Help in orphanage outreach, help in youth activities, help out in church.

Christopher Armstrong

14

Russia/Siberia

Yes.  I help my parents with preparing things for youth activities and orphanage ministry.

Corey Armstrong

12

Russia/Siberia

I help my parents in the ministry by being in orphanage holiday plays and I pass out gifts and sing in the children’s choir.  I help my parents do your events and summer camp.

Caleb Armstrong

10

Russia/Siberia

Yes.  I help cleaning up things.  I also helped give out gifts at the orphanage.  I helped Mom get ready for teaching her Sunday School class.

Coleton Armstrong

6

Russia/Siberia

Taught Sunday School and helped in children’s ministries, music.

Lisa (Richter) Armstrong

35

Alaska (as MK)

Very much so. By the time I graduated from high school, I had taught just about every age of Sunday School, except the adults, I started several youth groups, I went on visitation and participated in evangelistic outreaches, I led singing, I preached on occasion and was the spur of the moment pulpit supply for our city, and I helped physically build our church buildings.

Mark Swedberg

43

Brazil

Not really like in the Bible School or teaching a kid’s class.  I did once teach a VBS class, but I did help in the ministry by getting involved with the ladies & high school groups.  I was involved in the choir and I went to the village to help with the babies.

Victoria Lynn (Elmer) Meerman

31

C.A.R.

At home, I got involved with every ministry my parents were in.  I taught SS on Sundays, played the accordian or organ in the meetings, got to work at camp (counselor, cook, clean-up, life guard, errands, transportation - whatever needed doing).

At school (I went away to Fortaleza Academy), "Aunt" Elva Barber taught me how to teach Bible lessons, then put me into a class to teach at age 11.  I've been teaching ever since.  I was able to help out with music at one of the local churches there, also.  So, even though we were in a school for American children, we were involved in the local churches.

Darlene (Reiner) Smith

54

Brazil

When I was still with my parents I helped in whatever way I could (setting up chairs, getting things ready, etc.). Especially once I knew that God was calling me into missionary church planting, I wanted full exposure to the ministry.

Daniel Boyd

26

The Netherlands

When young we would sing in churches and give testimonies.

Bill Griffin Jr.

58

Brazil

Yes, financially, and also helping out in the camp and aviation ministry on days off.

Tim Lankford

38

Manaus, Brazil

Yes, play the flute, help prepare food

Karis Giegerich

15

No. America

Yes, he warms up to people; loads the truck for the furniture-give-away.

James Giegerich

13