- Approved as a Baptist Bible Fellowship
Missionary in 1982
- Baptist Bible College (Springfield, MO)
B.A. degree 1976
- Perryton (Texas) High School graduate
1972
When I was 9 years old, I accepted the Lord
as my personal Saviour. My Sunday School teacher led me to the Lord after
S.S. class. It was not a Baptist church, but I have been saved ever since.
At the age of 16, I decided to follow the
Lord in baptism in the Fellowship Baptist Church where Bro. Bill Frerking
was pastoring. In the following months I became very faithful to all the
services and felt God dealing with me to prepare for full time service.
After battling His leadership a couple of months I surrendered.
I entered Baptist
Bible College majoring in missions at the age of 17. I chose missions
so that I would not need to return to study no matter what area of the
ministry I felt led to enter. I did not know God's will for my life other
than I needed to prepare to serve. I stayed the fourth year and got my B.A.
only because no one offered me a job after my third year; being only 20
years old I did not know what else to do. Before I graduated with my B.A. I
was asked to return to my home church to do missionary internship for one
year. (My major was missions) I still had no idea to what field (if any) I
was to go even after I had stayed 6 months more than we agreed. I had no
leading to a specific field. I was offered a permanent position at the
Perryton church, but could not get peace about it. I felt if I was to be a
missionary I needed pastoral experience so I began looking for available
churches. Being only 23 years old, I accepted my first church in Illinois.
I pastored there for almost 5 years.
I had planned to serve a year or two and
then surely God would reveal to me what field I should go to. I had no
plans nor desire to stay long with those Yankees who talked so differently!
Finally, I surrendered to stay there the rest of my life if that is what
God wanted, I really meant it. It was then that God allowed me to visit
Peru as a pastor with the sole intent to learn more about missions and
missionaries in order to be a better supporting pastor.
God used that trip to touch my heart for
the field of Peru. I fought the Lord for one year arguing that I would be
more effective as a pastor in the USA. Finally I let the church know of my
internal struggle and resigned. I stayed until a new pastor was called and
then moved back to Perryton. I then worked in the oil field for a couple of
months until I was officially approved as a BBFI missionary in May of 1982.
After an eleven month deputation we were off to language study in Mexico
for one year.
Experience and
Qualifications
- Associate pastor to W. A. Frerking, 1½
years (Perryton, TX)
- Pastor, First Baptist Church, Geneseo,
IL, 4+ years
- Deputation of only 11 months on the road
with very few open dates
- One year of language study in Queretaro,
Mexico; Georgia Webb, director & founder
- Married 26 years (since 1974) &
faithful to the same woman
- Three children: daughter, Dionne, 24;
son, Cade 21; and daughter, Shay 18.
Work in Peru since 1984
(click here for map of
details)
- Started church in Paramonga (3 hours
north of Lima)
- Helped start work in Piura (Castilla)
North Peru
- Started work in "Virgen del
Sol" Lima -- September 1994 Iglesia Biblica Bautista de los Alisos
- Pastored churches in Peralvillo, Pro,
Huaraz (co-pastor), and Ingeneria
- Helped in missions of Yungar (near
Huaraz), Matara, Choque (Near Puente Piedra), Santa Rosa, Tupac Amara
de Villa (Delicias)
- Attended as a missionary member of
churches in San Borja, Pro (both in Lima), Huaraz (Andes), and Centro
Biblico Bautista in Villa Salvador (southern Lima)
- Used the Fellowship revolving fund to:
- Roof the Pro church ($5,000) REPAID
- Buy land in Huaraz ($4,500) REPAID
- Buy land in San Borja ($50,000)
- Build in Paramonga ($20,000)
- Repair in Villa Salvador ($10,000)
- Build in Condor ($40,000)
- We still lack funds for the following 2 Church Project requests:
- Paramonga, north of Lima, lacks $15,000
of the amount requested. (C-7430-4) BBFI reference number
- Condor, near the airport, lacks $30,000 of the original request.
(C-7430-5) BBFI reference number
- Organized works in Santa Velita (near
Pulcalpa) and Cerro de Pasco
- Started and organized a mission in
Gorgor (Cajatambo); closed because of terrorism
- Numerous missions trips and preaching
engagements as well as summer church camps & retreats
- Professor at Seminario Biblico Bautista
(Chillon), Lima, Peru; taught various courses in both day and night
schools.
- Since 1998:
- Helped in rescuing Central Bible Baptist Church in Villa Salvador
from doctrinal problems.
- Founded a spiritual counseling office on John the Baptist
University Campus (2,000+ students) Lima
- Home Bible Studies with businessmen and political officials (for
2 years)
- My wife and I are also board members for an orphanage in Lima
& Bible college professors.
- My wife, Debbie:
- Is a founding board member of a crisis pregnancy center in Lima.
- English teacher at John the Baptist University in Lima, a secular
liberal arts school.
- Professor at Baptist Bible College of Lima (Seminario Biblico
Bautista)
- Always active in Sunday Schools and supplying teaching materials
to other churches.
- Active in translating materials for churches in Peru.
- Always active in founding and directing ladies groups in local
churches.
- Active board member for an orphanage in Lima.
Other Items Helpful in My
Christian Growth
- Sword of the Lord Conferences in the USA
- Jack Hyles Pastors School (one time)
- Seminars by Bill Gothard,
Basic-Advanced-Pastors (very idealistic)
- My wife's books and love for reading
- Contact with so many pastors (82
supporting churches + others)
- BBFI (MOM) missions retreats in Colorado
and Arkansas
- Teaching "Through the Bible in One
Year" by Alan Stringfield
- Contact with other missionaries (BBF and
other groups)
- Baptist Bible Fellowship Missionary Retreats
- Goal of reading the entire Bible each
year (I've read it a number of times, cover to cover, in English and
Spanish.)
Since 1998:
Founded a spiritual counseling office on John the Baptist University Campus
(2,000+ students)
Lima Home Bible Studies with businessmen and political
officials result is new work in La Molina. Click
here for a photo of
our anniversary Sunday with over 100 in attendance.
Our Sending Church is and always has been:
Fellowship Baptist Church
Perryton, Texas
current pastor: Wes Stevens