Missions
Pools
Due to the limited access that missionaries are granted in
Asian countries, the Pools have found success through God’s work of
training “tent-maker” missionaries who are welcomed into the country
for their knowledge of English and their vocational abilities.
The
The Pools were introduced to Doane Baptist Seminary in the late 1980's, but it wasn’t until 1997 that they first visited. Two months later, the faculty contacted the Pools, telling them they were convinced they had been called there to teach. Though the Pools’ past is filled with roles as youth and senior pastor, college registrar, advisor, and Bible college instructors, they admit, “(this ministry) is by far the most rewarding, fulfilling, and exciting thing we have ever done.”
Blocks
Don Block has wanted to be a missionary “since going to a
camp at the age of nine and hearing a missionary speak.”
He and his wife, Pat, serve in
The manuscript reaches Don’s desk after the translators have completed the New Testament. He formats the text by placing it into columns and adding cross references. After this, a concordance and Bible maps are made and added, followed by a last check for other details.
For Pat, her salvation and call to ministry came through crisis. After being involved in a serious school bus accident when she was ten years old, God brought her to Himself. She then dedicated her life to God’s service.
Don and Pat have one son and two daughters, all grown and living in the states. “I am so thankful God called us together,” Don says. The couple will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on June 3rd, 2010.
Mackiewicz
Jim and Karen Mackiewicz are newer to the
mission field, ministering in
Their call to the mission field began several
years before during their personal devotions and messages in church.
After they prayed and sought counsel, they visited the church
in
Their responsibilities are varied; both are enrolled full time in language school, expecting to graduate late summer of 2010. Jim works with the tract outreach and witnessing, and attends pastor’s meetings and plans sessions for the following semester of seminary. He is also on the rotation for preaching. Karen attends ladies’ programs where she has had the opportunity to speak, and also helps with piano accompaniment during the church services.
Brittons
“Through the years, God has placed a burden on our hearts concerning American missions,” say Mark and Diane Britton, who work with the Northern Michigan Awana Ministry.
Mark and Diane sensed God’s leading into full-time ministry during the early years of their marriage. Mark served as assistant pastor at a few local churches until 1997 when they settled in to serve with Awana Ministries.
They stay busy designing area-wide leadership training conferences and organizing Awanagames, Bible Quizzing, Grand Prix Open and other outreach events. They also train and evaluate individual clubs, and encourage people involved in these ministries.
The Brittons are the first to admit, “We know that Awana is not an end unto itself, but God has chosen to use it as a wonderful tool to bring kids to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and then train them to serve Him.”
Owens
Both Carey and Sharon Owen were raised on the
mission field overseas.
They met in college, and during those years they both sensed God’s
call to the mission field.
Each of them separately thought and prayed about serving in
“We are active in evangelism and church
planting,” they say. In
order to reach their local community, they hold music events, sports
activities, and English classes. They are also busy starting a
Christian school;