Kenya Highlands Evangelical University
Kenya Highlands Evangelical University, originally Kenya Highlands Bible College, was started in 1953 by WGM missionaries Gerald and Bunny Fish. It was chartered through the Commission for Higher Education and became Kenya Highlands Evangelical University on March 23, 2011. The school, which began holding classes in 1955, seeks to advance the kingdom of God and serve society by providing a holistic education that is guided by Christian values. KHEU is located in Kericho, Kenya and administers to approximately 180 students each year.
KHEU offers five bachelor programs: theology, Christian education, business management, counseling, and education. They also offer an advanced diploma in Christian ministries, a diploma in computer science, a diploma in business management, and a certificate in computer applications.
The environment at KHEU is designed to enable student learning through up-to-date teaching and learning resources, a well-equipped library, qualified and committed lecturers, and diverse cultural and vocational opportunities to engage the knowledge and skills students have acquired in order to serve the church and society.
KHEU is focused on giving students a holistic experience through outreach ministries, athletics, clubs, student government, and events. Student spiritual life is nurtured through chapel, worship services, evening prayers, small groups, and spiritual emphasis week.
Following graduation, many students enter into Christian ministry. Missionary graduates of KHEU are currently ministering in Kenya to remote people groups such as the Maasai, Pokot, and Turkana.
Facilities
KHEU has three main campuses: the main campus, Kericho town campus, and Kipkelion campus. The main campus consists of four residence halls; three married student houses; the Tuition Block, a two-story complex that houses administrative offices, faculty offices, a textbook room, lecture rooms, typing and computer labs, the 15,000-volume library, the chapel, the prayer tower, a reception room, and four lecture rooms; the dining hall; the music hall; and a few student support buildings. In addition, KHEU is in the planning stages for the construction of more housing for women, married students, and faculty.
Affiliation and Management
Teachers at KHEU include WGM missionaries and Kenyan nationals. College staff and faculty work together under the management of a university council consisting of sixteen members from the Africa Gospel Church, World Gospel Mission, the university, and the community.
The daily administration of the university is conducted under the leadership of the chancellor, vice-chancellor and the management board of the general faculty assembly, appointed by the university council.
Get Involved
For more information on how you can become a faculty member at Kenya Highlands Evangelical University as a volunteer or missionary, contact us at recruiting@wgm.org.
For financial donations to support WGM’s work at KHEU, checks should be made payable to World Gospel Mission and sent to the following address with an attached note stating your designation:
World Gospel Mission
P.O. Box 948
Marion, IN 46952-0948
Phone: 765.664.7331
E-mail: wgm@wgm.org
Prayer Requests
Pray that the Lord will touch the hearts of qualified personnel and faithful givers so the vital ministries at Kenya Highlands Evangelical University can continue for years to come. Training pastors, church leaders, and missionaries for Africa is a wonderful privilege!
Please keep the following needs in your thoughts and prayers:
1. That the Lord will provide more missionary faculty members to serve at KHEU.
2. For the financial success of the Faculty Endowment Fund, which is used to attract and retain qualified Kenyan teachers and administrators.
3. For financial gifts to be designated to the Student Scholarship Fund, which helps struggling students pay for their college fees. While the average Kenyan earns only $45 per month, a year’s tuition at KHEU is a little more than $1,000. Nearly all of the students who attend KHEU each year rely on sponsors to help pay for their education.
4. For the Lord’s guidance on the many construction projects being planned at KHEU. Qualified lecturers have had to be turned away because of inadequate faculty housing. Married student housing and a new women’s dorm are already in the planning stages. KHEU is also in the planning stages to build a new chapel.
5. For intentional discipling and mentoring of all students. With the Bible college becoming a university on March 23, 2011, and because of the addition of many liberal arts subjects, promoting spiritual formation both within and outside the classroom will be critical.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Kaboson Pastors Training School ministry update
Kaboson Pastors Training College in Kenya
World Gospel Mission and Africa Gospel Church joined forces in 1993 to open Kaboson Pastors Training College in Chebalungu district in southwest Kenya. The college was opened to meet the vital need of providing the national pastors with the formal education and theological training they were lacking. Many AGC pastors were untrained and unable to attend Kenya Highlands Evangelical University (Kericho) because of expense, distance, or family responsibilities or because they did not meet admission requirements.
The training program at Kaboson was designed to emphasize the practical skills every pastor needs for effective ministry: a good grasp of Bible knowledge and doctrine, the ability to speak and preach well, the capacity to lead people to Christ and disciple them, and the training to guide a church forward.
Programs
KPTC students receive different awards depending on their area of study, entry qualifications, and GPA. Awards include:
• Higher diploma in pastoral ministries
• Diploma in pastoral ministries
• Diploma in counseling psychology
• Diploma in Christian leadership
• Upgraded diploma in pastoral ministries
• Certificate of pastoral training
Diploma students take three and a quarter years to graduate while certificate students take two and a quarter years. Research is being done to offer a certificate in micro computer applications as soon as enough equipment and trained personnel become available.
The upgrade program was started to better equip certificate graduates for ministry. Graduates come in for one more year and upon graduation earn the upgraded diploma in pastoral ministries.
Kaboson also offers a practicum ministry and mentoring program. This three-month term is devoted to practical training in churches or other Christian ministries. During the regular college term, students are sent out to local churches, primary schools, and secondary schools where they put into practice what they learn in class and bring people to Christ. Each student’s practicum is supervised by two trained field mentors and a faculty mentor. Students are placed into small groups under the faculty mentors. These groups provide the students with a safe place to grow spiritually and personal counseling when necessary.
Students
KPTC currently accepts men and women who have finished high school and have been sent by their local churches. Candidates with a primary level of education may be accepted from mission fields and newly established areas.
The majority of a student’s expenses for tuition and room and board are raised by the sending church, district, and family. Students may also receive scholarships from Africa Gospel Church, WGM, or Immanuel General Mission (an indigenous denomination in Japan). Currently, 76 students are enrolled at KPTC: 49 in pastoral programs, 10 in counseling programs, and 17 in the upgrade program.
After graduation, more than 90 percent of Kaboson graduates go into full-time ministry. Currently, eight of the AGC areas are led by KPTC graduates while several other graduates serve as district leaders. There are also graduates serving as missionaries in South Sudan and Tanzania. These graduates are playing significant roles in increasing the number of people coming to Christ in rural and urban Kenya and in the establishment of many new churches. As churches see the results of having trained pastors, they are sending more and more students to KPTC.
Lecturers
Rev. Dr. Stephen Ng’enoh, a graduate of Kenya Highlands Evangelical University and the former business manager at Tenwek Hospital, leads the college. Most Kaboson lecturers are from Africa, and currently five Kenyans and a missionary couple are among the resident lecturers. Missionaries from WGM and IGM serve at different times, and visiting lecturers who serve in full-time Christian ministry in different places are also invited to the college. A staff development program has been started so KPTC staff can advance their spiritual, social, academic, and ministry skills.
Facilities
Current facilities at Kaboson include staff houses; two dormitories; a kitchen and dining hall, which also serves as the chapel; and a multipurpose building with administrative offices and classrooms. The steadily growing library is contained in a room while the college looks forward to constructing a building for the library.
While KPTC has adequate dormitory, housing, and classroom space for 80 students, WGM hopes to enlarge the facilities to allow more students to attend. In 2002, Men With Vision’s annual project raised funds for the construction of urgently needed staff housing. The housing was completed and dedicated in 2003, and now there are four staff houses on campus. Kaboson also envisions the construction of another staff duplex to house the rest of the seven trained faculty members.
With the help of WGM, IGM, AGC, and other ministry partners, a dormitory that can accommodate 60 students was completed in 2011 and now houses male students. The former men’s dorms are being upgraded to accommodate the women students. As KPTC grows, other dormitories will be needed.
Kaboson is supported through donations from churches and a monthly grant from WGM. Is the Lord calling you to join this ministry through a special gift? Specific needs at the college include:
• Student scholarships: Most students come from poorer areas and homes in Kenya. Student fees at Kaboson are approximately $550 per year.
• Building maintenance: The college needs to upgrade dorms and repair buildings at a cost of roughly $4,000.
• Cooking alternatives: Kaboson needs $2,000 to purchase new solar cooking pots to reduce the school’s use of firewood and electricity. Electricity first became available at KPTC in 2007. Prior to this, the college used lanterns and pressure lamps in the dorms and the faculty homes.
Make checks payable to World Gospel Mission and write Kaboson Pastors Training College on the memo line. Send donations to:
World Gospel Mission
P.O. Box 948
Marion, IN 46952-0948
World Gospel Mission and Africa Gospel Church joined forces in 1993 to open Kaboson Pastors Training College in Chebalungu district in southwest Kenya. The college was opened to meet the vital need of providing the national pastors with the formal education and theological training they were lacking. Many AGC pastors were untrained and unable to attend Kenya Highlands Evangelical University (Kericho) because of expense, distance, or family responsibilities or because they did not meet admission requirements.
The training program at Kaboson was designed to emphasize the practical skills every pastor needs for effective ministry: a good grasp of Bible knowledge and doctrine, the ability to speak and preach well, the capacity to lead people to Christ and disciple them, and the training to guide a church forward.
Programs
KPTC students receive different awards depending on their area of study, entry qualifications, and GPA. Awards include:
• Higher diploma in pastoral ministries
• Diploma in pastoral ministries
• Diploma in counseling psychology
• Diploma in Christian leadership
• Upgraded diploma in pastoral ministries
• Certificate of pastoral training
Diploma students take three and a quarter years to graduate while certificate students take two and a quarter years. Research is being done to offer a certificate in micro computer applications as soon as enough equipment and trained personnel become available.
The upgrade program was started to better equip certificate graduates for ministry. Graduates come in for one more year and upon graduation earn the upgraded diploma in pastoral ministries.
Kaboson also offers a practicum ministry and mentoring program. This three-month term is devoted to practical training in churches or other Christian ministries. During the regular college term, students are sent out to local churches, primary schools, and secondary schools where they put into practice what they learn in class and bring people to Christ. Each student’s practicum is supervised by two trained field mentors and a faculty mentor. Students are placed into small groups under the faculty mentors. These groups provide the students with a safe place to grow spiritually and personal counseling when necessary.
Students
KPTC currently accepts men and women who have finished high school and have been sent by their local churches. Candidates with a primary level of education may be accepted from mission fields and newly established areas.
The majority of a student’s expenses for tuition and room and board are raised by the sending church, district, and family. Students may also receive scholarships from Africa Gospel Church, WGM, or Immanuel General Mission (an indigenous denomination in Japan). Currently, 76 students are enrolled at KPTC: 49 in pastoral programs, 10 in counseling programs, and 17 in the upgrade program.
After graduation, more than 90 percent of Kaboson graduates go into full-time ministry. Currently, eight of the AGC areas are led by KPTC graduates while several other graduates serve as district leaders. There are also graduates serving as missionaries in South Sudan and Tanzania. These graduates are playing significant roles in increasing the number of people coming to Christ in rural and urban Kenya and in the establishment of many new churches. As churches see the results of having trained pastors, they are sending more and more students to KPTC.
Lecturers
Rev. Dr. Stephen Ng’enoh, a graduate of Kenya Highlands Evangelical University and the former business manager at Tenwek Hospital, leads the college. Most Kaboson lecturers are from Africa, and currently five Kenyans and a missionary couple are among the resident lecturers. Missionaries from WGM and IGM serve at different times, and visiting lecturers who serve in full-time Christian ministry in different places are also invited to the college. A staff development program has been started so KPTC staff can advance their spiritual, social, academic, and ministry skills.
Facilities
Current facilities at Kaboson include staff houses; two dormitories; a kitchen and dining hall, which also serves as the chapel; and a multipurpose building with administrative offices and classrooms. The steadily growing library is contained in a room while the college looks forward to constructing a building for the library.
While KPTC has adequate dormitory, housing, and classroom space for 80 students, WGM hopes to enlarge the facilities to allow more students to attend. In 2002, Men With Vision’s annual project raised funds for the construction of urgently needed staff housing. The housing was completed and dedicated in 2003, and now there are four staff houses on campus. Kaboson also envisions the construction of another staff duplex to house the rest of the seven trained faculty members.
With the help of WGM, IGM, AGC, and other ministry partners, a dormitory that can accommodate 60 students was completed in 2011 and now houses male students. The former men’s dorms are being upgraded to accommodate the women students. As KPTC grows, other dormitories will be needed.
Kaboson is supported through donations from churches and a monthly grant from WGM. Is the Lord calling you to join this ministry through a special gift? Specific needs at the college include:
• Student scholarships: Most students come from poorer areas and homes in Kenya. Student fees at Kaboson are approximately $550 per year.
• Building maintenance: The college needs to upgrade dorms and repair buildings at a cost of roughly $4,000.
• Cooking alternatives: Kaboson needs $2,000 to purchase new solar cooking pots to reduce the school’s use of firewood and electricity. Electricity first became available at KPTC in 2007. Prior to this, the college used lanterns and pressure lamps in the dorms and the faculty homes.
Make checks payable to World Gospel Mission and write Kaboson Pastors Training College on the memo line. Send donations to:
World Gospel Mission
P.O. Box 948
Marion, IN 46952-0948
Taylor Community Center ministry update
Taylor Community Center on the Texas/Mexico Border
Ministry Info
Taylor Community Center is a ministry of World Gospel Mission in McAllen, Texas. It is a multi-use facility that consists of an indoor gymnasium, a weight room, a kitchen, a cafeteria, a sewing room, locker rooms with showers, a chapel, and classrooms. Eventually, a shop will be added. TCC is currently finishing a soccer field less than a block away to be used for evangelism through soccer ministry. TCC is connected to Taylor Christian School, which uses the facility during the academic school year. The facility offers a safe haven for children and youth to hear the gospel as they participate in after-school and summer activities. Workers at the center believe that if children and youth are reached, there is a greater likelihood of reaching the entire family for Christ, which is the ultimate goal.
While WGM missionaries have been ministering to the people of McAllen, Texas, and Mexico since 1946, the idea for a community center was first introduced in the 1980s. During the Mexico Field planning meeting in 2000, the field staff committed to building this center.
The center’s official groundbreaking ceremony was held in March 2001 with construction on the facility beginning in November 2001. Although construction on the center continues in different phases, at this point the gym, chapel, cafeteria, kitchen, locker rooms and bathrooms on the ground floor, and several classrooms upstairs are useable. Quite a bit of room upstairs still needs to be developed and completed.
In addition to the primary focus of evangelizing local children and youth, TCC hopes to provide practical programs such as sports leagues, after-school programs, tutoring, English and Spanish classes, sewing and craft classes, adult Bible study classes and kid’s Bible club, as well as music, cooking, and computer classes. By meeting the needs of this primarily Hispanic community, we will be building relationships that will help us lead them to Christ and give us the opportunity to disciple them.
Impact
The evangelism of children and youth is extremely important on the Texas/Mexico border. In this area, about 60 percent of crimes are gang related, so TCC strives to take kids out of the path of gang violence and membership.
“Even though our target is the youth, our ultimate goal is to reach entire families. We estimate that within a quarter-mile radius of the center 1,000 families and approximately 3,000 children can be reached for Christ,” said Field Director Bill Allshouse.
TCC missionary Betsy Tejeda stated, “This is a brand-new ministry; the interest in the community, however, is great. We look forward to providing programs and activities that will reach the community for Christ.”
Act
The possibilities for evangelism and discipleship through TCC are endless. However, to make these possible, many needs still need to be met. Do you have sporting equipment or other materials that you would like to donate to TCC? Are you in the area and interested in giving some of your time to this ministry? If so, contact Betsy Tejeda at betsy.tejeda@wgm.org.
Ministry Info
Taylor Community Center is a ministry of World Gospel Mission in McAllen, Texas. It is a multi-use facility that consists of an indoor gymnasium, a weight room, a kitchen, a cafeteria, a sewing room, locker rooms with showers, a chapel, and classrooms. Eventually, a shop will be added. TCC is currently finishing a soccer field less than a block away to be used for evangelism through soccer ministry. TCC is connected to Taylor Christian School, which uses the facility during the academic school year. The facility offers a safe haven for children and youth to hear the gospel as they participate in after-school and summer activities. Workers at the center believe that if children and youth are reached, there is a greater likelihood of reaching the entire family for Christ, which is the ultimate goal.
While WGM missionaries have been ministering to the people of McAllen, Texas, and Mexico since 1946, the idea for a community center was first introduced in the 1980s. During the Mexico Field planning meeting in 2000, the field staff committed to building this center.
The center’s official groundbreaking ceremony was held in March 2001 with construction on the facility beginning in November 2001. Although construction on the center continues in different phases, at this point the gym, chapel, cafeteria, kitchen, locker rooms and bathrooms on the ground floor, and several classrooms upstairs are useable. Quite a bit of room upstairs still needs to be developed and completed.
In addition to the primary focus of evangelizing local children and youth, TCC hopes to provide practical programs such as sports leagues, after-school programs, tutoring, English and Spanish classes, sewing and craft classes, adult Bible study classes and kid’s Bible club, as well as music, cooking, and computer classes. By meeting the needs of this primarily Hispanic community, we will be building relationships that will help us lead them to Christ and give us the opportunity to disciple them.
Impact
The evangelism of children and youth is extremely important on the Texas/Mexico border. In this area, about 60 percent of crimes are gang related, so TCC strives to take kids out of the path of gang violence and membership.
“Even though our target is the youth, our ultimate goal is to reach entire families. We estimate that within a quarter-mile radius of the center 1,000 families and approximately 3,000 children can be reached for Christ,” said Field Director Bill Allshouse.
TCC missionary Betsy Tejeda stated, “This is a brand-new ministry; the interest in the community, however, is great. We look forward to providing programs and activities that will reach the community for Christ.”
Act
The possibilities for evangelism and discipleship through TCC are endless. However, to make these possible, many needs still need to be met. Do you have sporting equipment or other materials that you would like to donate to TCC? Are you in the area and interested in giving some of your time to this ministry? If so, contact Betsy Tejeda at betsy.tejeda@wgm.org.
dean and leta strong- heroes of the faith
Dean and Leta Strong
Retired Missionaries to Kenya
“The Simple Life”
By Stacy Hall, Writing Intern
July 2011
What preparation does serving the Lord in Kenya require? If you ask Dean and Leta Strong, retired missionaries with World Gospel Mission, the answer is to “live the simple life.” By committing to live the simple life, Dean and Leta have experienced God working in intricate ways.
Dean and Leta both came to know the Lord at young ages. Dean was born into a logging and farming family in northern Idaho. His family regularly attended the local one-room church, and he accepted Christ as his Savior at the age of 12. Miles away in Kansas, Leta and her family also attended a small country church where Leta was growing in her desire to please the Lord and do what was right.
Dean and Leta met while attending York College in Nebraska. Dean planned on studying mathematics, but during his freshman year he was called into ministry and completed his Bachelor of Arts in Bible instead. Leta graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology.
The two were married on June 7, 1950. During the first years of their marriage, they pastored two small rural churches. Dean completed his masters of divinity at Western Evangelical Seminary. After graduation, they began pastoring a church in Beaver, Oregon.
The Strongs invited Gerry and Bunny Fish, missionaries to Kenya with World Gospel Mission, to come speak to their congregation about missions. Gerry and Bunny spoke twice, and at the two events, Dean and Leta began to separately feel God leading them toward missions in Kenya. At one meeting, Gerry displayed a picture of a young African boy with sour milk and asked who would go share Jesus with children like him. Once Dean and Leta consulted each other, they confirmed the calling and began the process toward becoming WGM missionaries.
The couple applied to WGM in 1956, and finally arrived in Kenya in January of 1958 with three young children in tow. In those days, even essentials like electricity or clean water were scarce. However, having grown up in rural areas without electricity, Dean and Leta were used to the “simple life.” Leta accredits this attitude of “make-do” to preparing her most for life in Kenya.
Dean worked on construction and school supervision at Kaboson Pastors’ School (now Kaboson Pastors Training College). He also worked with the local church, supporting and training leaders. Eventually, he became the principal at Kenya Highlands Bible College (now Kenya Highlands Evangelical University) while Leta served as the school nurse. Ultimately, Dean was appointed as field director.
As the five Strong children (Larry, Connie, David, Marilyn, and Karen) got older, Dean decided to take a teaching position at Vennard College and moved the family back to the states. However, six years later, they were asked to return to Kenya. After much prayer, they left again for Kenya to assist rural churches, teach classes and Bible studies, and resume the role of field director.
“Even though there were hard times, our service in Kenya was rewarding,” said Leta. The family faced language barriers and feelings of being under-qualified for the position of field director. However, they built lasting relationships and were able to physically and spiritually help people. Leta said, “You just did what had to be done to the best of your know how…God is bigger than any need.”
God used Dean and Leta to spread the church to remote areas of Kenya and to begin building the church in Uganda. Once, on a surveying trip to the Pokot people, Dean and his companions detoured into an area populated by the Chepnyal tribe. Despite the language barrier, Dean was able to communicate with the chief who asked them, “Are you just coming to take pictures and ask questions, or are you coming back to help?” These words impacted Dean, and he and other missionaries began to make regular trips to the Chepnyal people to build relationships and share the gospel. Dean assisted one Kenyan in becoming a missionary to the Chepnyal people, and he was able to plant a church there.
After 36 years of faithful service as career missionaries in Kenya, Dean and Leta retired from the Kenyan field in 1995 and officially retired from WGM in 1996. Despite being retired, they have stayed active in ministry, including running the mission house in Bolivia for a year and volunteering at WGM’s headquarters in Marion, Indiana. The Strongs continue to live the simple life in Gas City, Indiana, visiting with family and friends and being active in their local church. Through everything, God has blessed the Strongs as He has used them to bless others. They have taken to heart David’s 37th Psalm by trusting and taking delight in the Lord, as he gives them safe pasture and the desires of their hearts.
Retired Missionaries to Kenya
“The Simple Life”
By Stacy Hall, Writing Intern
July 2011
What preparation does serving the Lord in Kenya require? If you ask Dean and Leta Strong, retired missionaries with World Gospel Mission, the answer is to “live the simple life.” By committing to live the simple life, Dean and Leta have experienced God working in intricate ways.
Dean and Leta both came to know the Lord at young ages. Dean was born into a logging and farming family in northern Idaho. His family regularly attended the local one-room church, and he accepted Christ as his Savior at the age of 12. Miles away in Kansas, Leta and her family also attended a small country church where Leta was growing in her desire to please the Lord and do what was right.
Dean and Leta met while attending York College in Nebraska. Dean planned on studying mathematics, but during his freshman year he was called into ministry and completed his Bachelor of Arts in Bible instead. Leta graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology.
The two were married on June 7, 1950. During the first years of their marriage, they pastored two small rural churches. Dean completed his masters of divinity at Western Evangelical Seminary. After graduation, they began pastoring a church in Beaver, Oregon.
The Strongs invited Gerry and Bunny Fish, missionaries to Kenya with World Gospel Mission, to come speak to their congregation about missions. Gerry and Bunny spoke twice, and at the two events, Dean and Leta began to separately feel God leading them toward missions in Kenya. At one meeting, Gerry displayed a picture of a young African boy with sour milk and asked who would go share Jesus with children like him. Once Dean and Leta consulted each other, they confirmed the calling and began the process toward becoming WGM missionaries.
The couple applied to WGM in 1956, and finally arrived in Kenya in January of 1958 with three young children in tow. In those days, even essentials like electricity or clean water were scarce. However, having grown up in rural areas without electricity, Dean and Leta were used to the “simple life.” Leta accredits this attitude of “make-do” to preparing her most for life in Kenya.
Dean worked on construction and school supervision at Kaboson Pastors’ School (now Kaboson Pastors Training College). He also worked with the local church, supporting and training leaders. Eventually, he became the principal at Kenya Highlands Bible College (now Kenya Highlands Evangelical University) while Leta served as the school nurse. Ultimately, Dean was appointed as field director.
As the five Strong children (Larry, Connie, David, Marilyn, and Karen) got older, Dean decided to take a teaching position at Vennard College and moved the family back to the states. However, six years later, they were asked to return to Kenya. After much prayer, they left again for Kenya to assist rural churches, teach classes and Bible studies, and resume the role of field director.
“Even though there were hard times, our service in Kenya was rewarding,” said Leta. The family faced language barriers and feelings of being under-qualified for the position of field director. However, they built lasting relationships and were able to physically and spiritually help people. Leta said, “You just did what had to be done to the best of your know how…God is bigger than any need.”
God used Dean and Leta to spread the church to remote areas of Kenya and to begin building the church in Uganda. Once, on a surveying trip to the Pokot people, Dean and his companions detoured into an area populated by the Chepnyal tribe. Despite the language barrier, Dean was able to communicate with the chief who asked them, “Are you just coming to take pictures and ask questions, or are you coming back to help?” These words impacted Dean, and he and other missionaries began to make regular trips to the Chepnyal people to build relationships and share the gospel. Dean assisted one Kenyan in becoming a missionary to the Chepnyal people, and he was able to plant a church there.
After 36 years of faithful service as career missionaries in Kenya, Dean and Leta retired from the Kenyan field in 1995 and officially retired from WGM in 1996. Despite being retired, they have stayed active in ministry, including running the mission house in Bolivia for a year and volunteering at WGM’s headquarters in Marion, Indiana. The Strongs continue to live the simple life in Gas City, Indiana, visiting with family and friends and being active in their local church. Through everything, God has blessed the Strongs as He has used them to bless others. They have taken to heart David’s 37th Psalm by trusting and taking delight in the Lord, as he gives them safe pasture and the desires of their hearts.
carol wonch - a hero of the faith
Carol Wonch
Retired Missionary to Mexico
“Anticipating God’s promises”
By Stacy Hall, Writing Intern
July 2011
Whether teaching kids English, crocheting, or piano, or taking a casserole to a needy family, Carol Wonch’s life can be described as love in action. For 39 years, Carol served as a missionary with World Gospel Mission on the Texas-Mexico border.
Carol Elaine Wonch was born on October 14, 1928 in McBride, Michigan, the oldest child of Kline and Viva Wonch. Her early years were spent on the family’s Michigan farm house. At the age of 8, when asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, Carol answered, “a missionary,” even though she didn’t even fully know what that meant.
When Carol was in high school, the pastor of her church became ill, and WGM missionary Mary Gaillard filled in temporarily as pastor. Mary introduced the congregation to the Call to Prayer magazine and shared missionary stories. That summer, a group of Mexican Americans lived near Carol’s home and she began to feel a kinship with Spanish-speaking people. During that time, she heard the message of salvation and accepted Christ as her Savior.
After graduation, Carol spent a year in a teacher training school, and then transferred to Chicago Evangelistic Institute (later Vennard College). She received her bachelor’s degree in religious education and went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts from Elmhurst College in Illinois. At Elmhurst, she heard the message of entire sanctification, and after graduating, Carol’s desire became to please God with her life.
Carol applied for missionary service with World Gospel Mission in 1956 and was given a career appointment to the Texas-Mexico border to teach in one of the schools. By being appointed to minister to Spanish-speaking people, God truly gave her the desire of her heart. She attended language school in 1957, and arrived on the field that fall.
Carol spent her first 13 years on the border teaching at Taylor Christian School and working with local churches. She then spent six years in Mexico helping with Sunday school and teaching in churches. This was one of the most challenging times because her ministry partner, Treasure Berens, had to leave the field, so Carol had to find her own way in Mexico. Soon, the opportunity came for her to return to teaching at Taylor, so Carol returned to her true passion – teaching.
Carol impacted hundreds of students’ lives. Because of her kindness towards them and their families, many experienced Christ’s love through her. She continues to keep in contact with some of her former students. Many of them have become pastors, missionaries, or have been put in other leadership positions.
Carol has seen God continually work through the school. She enjoys telling the story of one female kindergarten student who did not return to Taylor for first grade. Years later that student met her old kindergarten teacher, and told her that she had recently lost a baby, and had it not been for memorizing the 23rd Psalm in kindergarten, which had always stuck with her, she would not have gotten through that loss. Carol experienced God moving through the school regularly as students came to Christ and made a difference in their families.
Although Carol retired in 1995, her love of teaching Spanish-speaking people kept her teaching at Taylor until 2003. She currently attends a local Spanish-speaking church where she was the educational director for four years. Currently, Carol helps with Vacation Bible School, visits shut-ins, and teaches piano lessons.
“I marvel at the wonderful faithfulness of God to me,” Carol said. “I thank Him for His leading which has included the joy of serving Him among the people of southern Texas and northern Mexico. It is exciting and humbling to have God’s continued hand on my life…He is so faithful and so loving. I think being a missionary has made me deepen much in my own Christian experience.”
Retired Missionary to Mexico
“Anticipating God’s promises”
By Stacy Hall, Writing Intern
July 2011
Whether teaching kids English, crocheting, or piano, or taking a casserole to a needy family, Carol Wonch’s life can be described as love in action. For 39 years, Carol served as a missionary with World Gospel Mission on the Texas-Mexico border.
Carol Elaine Wonch was born on October 14, 1928 in McBride, Michigan, the oldest child of Kline and Viva Wonch. Her early years were spent on the family’s Michigan farm house. At the age of 8, when asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, Carol answered, “a missionary,” even though she didn’t even fully know what that meant.
When Carol was in high school, the pastor of her church became ill, and WGM missionary Mary Gaillard filled in temporarily as pastor. Mary introduced the congregation to the Call to Prayer magazine and shared missionary stories. That summer, a group of Mexican Americans lived near Carol’s home and she began to feel a kinship with Spanish-speaking people. During that time, she heard the message of salvation and accepted Christ as her Savior.
After graduation, Carol spent a year in a teacher training school, and then transferred to Chicago Evangelistic Institute (later Vennard College). She received her bachelor’s degree in religious education and went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts from Elmhurst College in Illinois. At Elmhurst, she heard the message of entire sanctification, and after graduating, Carol’s desire became to please God with her life.
Carol applied for missionary service with World Gospel Mission in 1956 and was given a career appointment to the Texas-Mexico border to teach in one of the schools. By being appointed to minister to Spanish-speaking people, God truly gave her the desire of her heart. She attended language school in 1957, and arrived on the field that fall.
Carol spent her first 13 years on the border teaching at Taylor Christian School and working with local churches. She then spent six years in Mexico helping with Sunday school and teaching in churches. This was one of the most challenging times because her ministry partner, Treasure Berens, had to leave the field, so Carol had to find her own way in Mexico. Soon, the opportunity came for her to return to teaching at Taylor, so Carol returned to her true passion – teaching.
Carol impacted hundreds of students’ lives. Because of her kindness towards them and their families, many experienced Christ’s love through her. She continues to keep in contact with some of her former students. Many of them have become pastors, missionaries, or have been put in other leadership positions.
Carol has seen God continually work through the school. She enjoys telling the story of one female kindergarten student who did not return to Taylor for first grade. Years later that student met her old kindergarten teacher, and told her that she had recently lost a baby, and had it not been for memorizing the 23rd Psalm in kindergarten, which had always stuck with her, she would not have gotten through that loss. Carol experienced God moving through the school regularly as students came to Christ and made a difference in their families.
Although Carol retired in 1995, her love of teaching Spanish-speaking people kept her teaching at Taylor until 2003. She currently attends a local Spanish-speaking church where she was the educational director for four years. Currently, Carol helps with Vacation Bible School, visits shut-ins, and teaches piano lessons.
“I marvel at the wonderful faithfulness of God to me,” Carol said. “I thank Him for His leading which has included the joy of serving Him among the people of southern Texas and northern Mexico. It is exciting and humbling to have God’s continued hand on my life…He is so faithful and so loving. I think being a missionary has made me deepen much in my own Christian experience.”
story for the call oct/nov/dec 2011 issue
THE CALL—October/November/December 2011
Do You Believe…In Transformed Lives?
Stacy Hall, Volunteer
Page 13
Buckets of water sat like hats on top of the children’s heads as they made their way uphill to the orphanage cistern. After Bob Heineman witnessed this sight in Haiti in April of 2010 and saw the physical strain placed on the children, he thought there must be a better way to transport the water. After returning home, Bob talked to the chief of the Marion, Indiana, Fire Department, who donated a 100-foot fire hose. Bob took the hose to Haiti that October and gave it to the West Indies Self Help Foundation, and it has transformed the way they transport water.
Bob has made three trips to Haiti. He has worked on hospital maintenance and plumbing, mission house construction, and orphan ministry and assisted with installing a fire suppression system in a Haitian boat.
Although Bob knows he is impacting lives in Haiti, working in Haiti has transformed his own life back home. “Seeing them live without justifies how much you can go without,” he shared. Bob now donates regularly to needy families. “If I see someone who needs help, I try to assist them in any way I can. I try to take the frustrations out of people’s lives and tell them about church and see if they will show up,” Bob said. Inviting others to church is important to Bob because, although Haiti has changed his life, God transformed him first.
Bob didn’t grow up going to church. At the age of 13, he began using drugs and alcohol, which, despite getting married, having kids, and owning a successful construction business, defined his adult life.
In August 2006, when Bob was 40 years old, God used Bob’s wife to change his path. She told him to choose between his family and his addictions. Bob chose his family. A group of men from the church began an intensive accountability group with him, and he began to make progress. Realizing God desired to change his life, Bob walked away from his successful business and checked into a 130-day Salvation Army program in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he surrendered his life to Christ. His family moved to Marion, Indiana, and began attending Brookhaven Wesleyan Church, where Bob began serving in Haiti through the church.
ACT
Because of Christ, Bob’s life was transformed and now he is helping transform the lives of others. You, too, can transform lives by partnering with WGM to take a trip to Haiti or to financially or prayerfully support missions in Haiti.
Do You Believe…In Transformed Lives?
Stacy Hall, Volunteer
Page 13
Buckets of water sat like hats on top of the children’s heads as they made their way uphill to the orphanage cistern. After Bob Heineman witnessed this sight in Haiti in April of 2010 and saw the physical strain placed on the children, he thought there must be a better way to transport the water. After returning home, Bob talked to the chief of the Marion, Indiana, Fire Department, who donated a 100-foot fire hose. Bob took the hose to Haiti that October and gave it to the West Indies Self Help Foundation, and it has transformed the way they transport water.
Bob has made three trips to Haiti. He has worked on hospital maintenance and plumbing, mission house construction, and orphan ministry and assisted with installing a fire suppression system in a Haitian boat.
Although Bob knows he is impacting lives in Haiti, working in Haiti has transformed his own life back home. “Seeing them live without justifies how much you can go without,” he shared. Bob now donates regularly to needy families. “If I see someone who needs help, I try to assist them in any way I can. I try to take the frustrations out of people’s lives and tell them about church and see if they will show up,” Bob said. Inviting others to church is important to Bob because, although Haiti has changed his life, God transformed him first.
Bob didn’t grow up going to church. At the age of 13, he began using drugs and alcohol, which, despite getting married, having kids, and owning a successful construction business, defined his adult life.
In August 2006, when Bob was 40 years old, God used Bob’s wife to change his path. She told him to choose between his family and his addictions. Bob chose his family. A group of men from the church began an intensive accountability group with him, and he began to make progress. Realizing God desired to change his life, Bob walked away from his successful business and checked into a 130-day Salvation Army program in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he surrendered his life to Christ. His family moved to Marion, Indiana, and began attending Brookhaven Wesleyan Church, where Bob began serving in Haiti through the church.
ACT
Because of Christ, Bob’s life was transformed and now he is helping transform the lives of others. You, too, can transform lives by partnering with WGM to take a trip to Haiti or to financially or prayerfully support missions in Haiti.
week 10
My hours this week were:
Tuesday 9am-3pm
Wednesday 9am-2pm
Thursday 8:30am-2pm
Total for the week is 16.5 hours
Total hours is 145 hours.
I can’t believe the summer is winding down already! So much has happened but it has flown by! This week I wrapped up most of my assignments for WGM. I have many of the finished files, but not everything will get posted onto the internet this week just because there is lag time between my due dates and other peoples. I do have another story that has been posted online! The last one about the Robbery is no longer available online but I have done a new home page focus story which you can find by clicking here!
This week was hectic with trying to get last minute approvals and editing done. I finished up 4 ministry updates for online as well as 2 Heroes of the Faith articles. I also got to have a photoshoot. Those pictures will be used on the web at some point I am sure. Some of the pictures were for the internship promotional brochure that Adam Lorenze is designing (I did the copy for it). I am the picture for the writing internship page, me holding a fan of pencils….it is hard to be creative about depicting writing in a photograph! Anyway, now I am on that so it is kind of cool. I don’t know if that project will be completed before I leave.
I had my internship site meeting this week with Dr. Ferguson. It is going to be so so so weird at IWU without her. It was nice to catch up a bit and to get some time to reflect on this experience. It is amazing how much I have learned. I have learned a lot about finding the right voice when you write, about being concise, and about internal communication. But on a grander level I have learned so much about missions and am so thankful that this experience has helped mold my worldview!
So, now I have to get everything together to turn in for class. That will be a process in itself. All in all, this has been wonderful. I will still be back at WGM with the other intern in 2 weeks to do some final short projects and have a good bye lunch.
It has been great getting to read all of your posts and experiencing your internships along side you. I hope you have learned a little something about the non-profit communication world and maybe gained a little more appreciation for missions work along side me as well. Have a great rest of the summer everyone! See you soon!
Tuesday 9am-3pm
Wednesday 9am-2pm
Thursday 8:30am-2pm
Total for the week is 16.5 hours
Total hours is 145 hours.
I can’t believe the summer is winding down already! So much has happened but it has flown by! This week I wrapped up most of my assignments for WGM. I have many of the finished files, but not everything will get posted onto the internet this week just because there is lag time between my due dates and other peoples. I do have another story that has been posted online! The last one about the Robbery is no longer available online but I have done a new home page focus story which you can find by clicking here!
This week was hectic with trying to get last minute approvals and editing done. I finished up 4 ministry updates for online as well as 2 Heroes of the Faith articles. I also got to have a photoshoot. Those pictures will be used on the web at some point I am sure. Some of the pictures were for the internship promotional brochure that Adam Lorenze is designing (I did the copy for it). I am the picture for the writing internship page, me holding a fan of pencils….it is hard to be creative about depicting writing in a photograph! Anyway, now I am on that so it is kind of cool. I don’t know if that project will be completed before I leave.
I had my internship site meeting this week with Dr. Ferguson. It is going to be so so so weird at IWU without her. It was nice to catch up a bit and to get some time to reflect on this experience. It is amazing how much I have learned. I have learned a lot about finding the right voice when you write, about being concise, and about internal communication. But on a grander level I have learned so much about missions and am so thankful that this experience has helped mold my worldview!
So, now I have to get everything together to turn in for class. That will be a process in itself. All in all, this has been wonderful. I will still be back at WGM with the other intern in 2 weeks to do some final short projects and have a good bye lunch.
It has been great getting to read all of your posts and experiencing your internships along side you. I hope you have learned a little something about the non-profit communication world and maybe gained a little more appreciation for missions work along side me as well. Have a great rest of the summer everyone! See you soon!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)