I (Ron) am a missionary kid from Guatemala. I helped my parents in their outreach work, and from an early age the Lord gave me the desire to be a missionary and spread His word and the knowledge of Him. I studied a Bible major at Asbury College, and during summers I went to Guatemala, Spain, and Italy to be involved in evangelistic outreaches. At Asbury College I met Brenda, a R.N. who was also studying Bible because she believed God was calling her into missions as well. We were married in 1977 and came to Spain in 1978 as 23 year old missionaries with European Christian Missions, International.

European Christian Mission, International is a 100 year old mission that is European in origin. It began in a prayer meeting in Estonia. ECMI has worked in Madrid for the past 35 years in the area of pioneer church planting. We began our personal ministry in Puente Genil, Cordoba of Andalusia, in the south of Spain. This town is 30,000 in population, and had a small group of believers, about 12, when we began working there. After 6 years, we began a work in another town, that of Montilla, about 30 km away. There were no known believers in this town. We had many outreaches in these towns and others, and the Church began to grow. We prayed for God to bring a team of missionaries together to help us in the work God had laid upon our hearts, and today there are 60 missionaries working in Spain with ECMI in church planting ministries. From 6 different hubs, we reach out into the surrounding towns in Cordoba and in Castellon provinces, as well as Madrid capital.

At the present we are in Madrid, where we have lived for the past 10 years. Ron’s main job description is that of being the Director for field ministries of 20 European countries, and being in charge of training and forming church planting teams. Apart from this responsibility, there is administration, vision casting, pastoral care, and representation in America. All of this involves quite a lot of travel. Brenda is coordinator for care giving to the missionaries in Spain, does counseling and mentoring/discipling, and hosts many visitors, does office work, etc. Ron is also deacon of missions for our local church, and we both teach Sunday School classes occasionally.

We have 3 children, 2 of which are married. Rachel is married to B.J. Whitaker, and they are at the E.C. Seminary in Myerstown, PA, and work in the Mt. Joy E.C. Church with the youth. Rachel is also a social worker therapist. They are preparing for mission work in the near future. Jenny is married to Philip Biddulph, and they are in Columbia, S.C. in a Hispanic church plant work. Phil is a translator, and Jenny is a R.N. in a newborn intensive care unit in Columbia. They are preparing for mission work in the near future, as well. Mark is still at home, beginning his junior year in high school. He is a basketball player, and teaches English classes, apart from being very busy with school and church activities.

Prayer Requests:

We are in spiritual warfare. Please pray for us to be effective in our work, and to live a life of faith and obedience and closeness with the Lord Jesus. Pray for Mark to grow spiritually, as well, and for the Lord’s protection and guidance over all of us as well as Rachel, B.J., Jenny, and Phil.

Pray for Ron as he travels, for the Lord to help in the work of forming church planting teams, training of leadership, representation in many meetings and all the administration that goes with the job. Pray for him to transmit encouragement, vision, and give help to the missionaries we are responsible for. Pray for the Lord’s help in the mission, for future growth and for the Church to be prosperous in Europe.

Pray for the missionaries in Europe. It is difficult and discouraging at times. There is only at most in Europe in any given country, 3% who confess a personal relationship with Christ. Most are agnostic and indifferent. Europe is not a 3rd world area, mostly, but the spiritual poverty is unbelievable. If only we could paint a proper picture of it so that others would be burdened for the spiritual needs! Please pray for workers to come to join us, and for those here to be effective.

Pray for Brenda as she disciples believers and reaches out to nonbelievers in the area where we live and move. Pray for her to continue learning in the counseling area, and to help others learn how to be effective in care giving, as well. Pray for her and Mark as Ron is away frequently. Pray for health and strength.

Would you like to help in our ministry? We have a current deficit of $900/month in our support fund account. We need a new car, as well. If you feel God is leading you to help in support and prayer, we invite you to contact us to be on our prayer letter list, or to email one another. You can reach us at
our field office, or our home, as well.

We need others to participate with us in forming part of a church planting team. This could be for as little as 6 months, or as a career missionary. If you know Spanish, you could be involved in a short-term missions opportunity, by contacting us. We look forward to hearing from you! Thank you for partnering with us in the way that God would have you to.

Stateside office contact:

Curtis Edwards, director ECMI/USA
161 Strasburg Pike
Lancaster, PA 17602-1323
U.S.A.

Telephone: 717 397 5455
Email: Curtis.Edwards@ecmi.org

European Christian Mission: www.ecmi.org

Birthdays:

Ron: March 17
Brenda: November 19
Mark: January 13, 1989

Anniversary: September 3, 1977