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Kent
accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior on Nov. 1, 1980.
Within a few months he realized that there could be nothing more
fulfilling in life than to serve the Lord in some capacity. Over
the years he has determined that God’s Word commands every
one of His children to be a living testimony to the lost world.
For him, it was a matter of obedience and sensitivity to the Holy Spirit
that lead him to go into the ministry as a missionary.
Kent
began preparing himself for the ministry by getting involved in
the Navigator’s Bible study while in the Navy. This allowed him
to be discipled in God’s Word and to actively share the salvation
message clearly and effectively. After his term in the military, he
went to Word of Life Bible Institute and then attended Piedmont Baptist
(Bible) College. After graduation, in 1993, he worked with
Missions to Military in
Virginia Beach,
VA, and later in
Jacksonville,
NC, for a total of three years as a single missionary.
In
1996 he was introduced to Janet, the daughter of one of Missions to
Military’s veteran Missionaries, Willard Zimmer. On Oct. 26, 1996 they
were married in Janet’s home church,
Bible
Baptist
Church
, in Kissimmee,
FL, where they have been faithfully serving and tithing members.
Janet
accepted the Lord as her Savior when she was 5 years old during
Vacation
Bible
School. Janet says “I remember the invitation where the speaker asked
if you died, where would you go. I wanted to go to heaven and
raised my hand. But when he asked us to come forward I did not go.
I thought to myself, I know what to do and asked Christ into my heart
right there in my seat. I have never doubted my salvation. I
was baptized at 12. Even as a young child I remember being
challenged by missionaries in our church and felt God calling me to be
missionary nurse. That calling was first fulfilled as I served
with HCJB World Radio as a nurse at the hospital in Shell,
Ecuador, for six years.”
In
1999, Don Sturtz of Couriers for Christ challenged them to be a
part of Russia Inland Mission’s 2001 Campaign. They organized a
group of 13 from our church that went to Belarus in Aug. 2001. It was their desire to see their church send out
some full time missionaries from that group. It was Janet and Kent
that surrendered to the Lord’s call.
They have
been serving in the country of
Belarus
since June 2003 with the objective of learning the Russian language and
culture. They have been actively involved in the ministries of
Bible Baptist Church of Ratumka in the areas of visitation, bus
ministry, church construction and maintenance, and a young adult Bible
study. Apart from the Church, yet in agreement with,
Kent
conducted a one year home Bible study in the nearby village, Stareo Celo.
After graduation from language school they worked in a young church as it
transitioned from having a full time missionary, who moved onto a
different ministry, to becoming totally independent.
Kent
has also gone through some practical aspects of discipleship with
two of the leaders of that church.
They are
currently serving with Global Fundamental Baptist Missions. They are
planning to return to
Belarus
early 2007 to begin a new work in the city of
Vitebsk
using English as a Second Language (ESL) as an evangelistic tool to
begin discipling and developing a church.
They
have been blessed with three children. Daniel (Danny) Mark, was
born on April 29, 1998, and is being home schooled;
Christy Marie was born Oct. 10, 2002, and Anastasia (Annie) Michele was born
July 3, 2004. She is their Belarusian born baby.
Kent
graduated from:
Word
of Life Bible Institute
08/85 - 08/86 One year Bible Certificate
Piedmont Bible (Baptist) College
08/87 - 05/93 Th.B.
Janet
graduated from:
Forsyth
Tech.
09/80 – 05/82 Associate of Science,
Nursing (RN)
Tenn. Temple Univ.
09/86 – 05/88 BS in Missionary Health
Home/Sending Church:
Bible
Baptist
Church
1500 E. Vine St.
Kissimmee
,
FL
34744
Pastor:
Jimmy McNeil
(407) 847-4087
|
Birthdays
|
|
Kent |
Mar 28 |
| Janet |
Mar
24 |
| Daniel |
Apr
29, 1998 |
| Christy |
Oct
10, 2002 |
| Anastasia |
Jul
3, 2004 |
|
Anniversary - Oct
26, 1996
|
|
