You may have heard by now that we will be hosting our first ever Forum on Fatherlessness at Grace Baptist Church in Billings, MT on March 24th. At this all day event, we will be discussing the biblical need and basis for ministry to the fatherless, the cultural effects of neglecting such ministry, outreach to single moms and a host of over things. Here is a little about those who will be speaking that day:
Pastor John McKinney — As a young man, born and raised in East Tennessee, I had the precious opportunity to hear the Word of God; which led me one night to the realization that I was a sinner and that without salvation my eternal destination would be hell. I realized that the payment had already been paid in full by the shed blood of Jesus Christ. It was then that I believed and acknowledged that precious sacrifice. I also acknowledged my sinful state, asked for forgiveness as well as repented of my sins. In that instantaneous moment my sins were forgiven and I was birthed into the family of God.
In 1996, God blessed me with a wonderful wife, Jennifer, and has blessed us with four precious children. In the year 2000, I surrendered to the call of God to preach the Word of God. It is such a privilege to serve the KING of kings and LORD of lords, and we are excited to serve here in Billings, Montana at Grace Baptist Church.
Bob Thompson was raised in a Christian family and accepted Christ as His Savior at age 7. He made a decision at summer camp at age 12 to give his life to serve as a missionary. His plans developed, and he entered Bob Jones University to prepare as a medical doctor to serve on a foreign field. While at BJU, God changed Bob’s direction to prepare for “traditional” missions service. He completed his studies in 1981. He then married his high school sweetheart, Deb.
Upon completing his studies, Bob served as associate pastor at Southside Baptist Church of Rock Hill, SC, for nearly five years. He and his wife prepared and left for Brazil in 1988 where they served for fifteen years. Their ministries included church planting, theological education, literature ministry, deaf ministry, and encouraging the development of missions among Brazilian churches. The culmination of their missions work was to join a colleague in assisting a Brazilian family settle into Mozambique for full-time ministry.
In 2003 God changed their direction of ministry. Bob and Deb joined with Bibles International and began a ministry of assisting the ministry of Bible translation for the millions who wait for the light of God’s Word. Bob served as Projects Manager.
Baptist Home Missions invited Bob to be their General Director in 2012. He serves in this capacity giving leadership to the mission, promoting missions in churches and Bible colleges, and encouraging the missionaries under the care of the mission.
The Thompsons have four daughters. Jennifer is married to Grayson Cartwright and they serve the Lord in Winston-Salem, NC. Julie is married to James Kieser, and they are on deputation to serve as missionaries in Ghana, West Africa. Joy lives in Greenville, SC, and is active in her local church and continuing her studies for future ministry. Jessica is married to Michael Dunlop, and they are preparing for a missions career.
Pastor Ken Spilger graduated from Tennessee Temple University and Temple Baptist Seminary and completed further education under Pioneer Institute of Biblical Ministries. He has been the Pastor of Grace Baptist Church in St. Louis, MO since 1977. In 1980, Pastor Spilger was the sole survivor of small plane crash, sustaining 3rd degree burns over 30% of his body. God has used this to strengthen his ministry in many ways. He and his wife Beth have co-authored the book Plucked from the Burning to share their testimony of God’s working in their lives in the days following the crash. Through their ministry in St. Louis, God has laid a great burden for the fatherless upon their hearts.
Miss Yvonne Brown was born in St. Louis, Missouri. After graduating from high school, she attended the University of Cincinnati from 1966-1969 majoring in chemistry and minoring in education, but did not complete a degree. In her junior year, Miss Brown became interested in the field of medicine and went on to work in a medical research laboratory. She became a licensed medical technologist, working in hospital laboratories until 1990. Having a desire to be in full-time Christian service, she went on to work in two children’s homes. In 1992, she began ministering with Rock of Ages Prison Ministry. Miss Brown is now the Director of their Women’s Department and ministers to women in prisons all over the western United States.
Miss Rachel Miller trusted the Lord as Savior at the age of 5. While on deputation with her parents, God burdened her heart for orphans at the age of 12. Shortly after high school, God opened up an amazing opportunity, and she spent 10 years serving in various capacities at an orphanage in Moscow, Russia. There she worked directly with orphans and guardians, assisted and trained caregivers and teachers, and was part of the material development team, preparing materials for family and church leaders’ seminars, which were held in five countries in the region.
After returning to the States, she attended Mountain States Baptist College in Great Falls, MT where she earned a degree in Biblical Studies with special emphasis on languages and the relationship of the church to the fatherless. Since that time, she has worked with missionaries and their orphan ministries in various countries. She has overseen the day-to-day operations and development of Forbid Them Not since its inception in 2008. She is a happy auntie to ten nieces and nephews and the author of four books.
Don’t miss a thing!
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[…] February 22, 2017 – Click here to Meet the Speakers for the Forum on Fatherlessness […]