This is the personal testimony of a veteran missionary’s experiences on the road to the mission field.  There were many victories and seeming defeats on the way to fulfill God’s will.  At times the easiest thing would have been to give up and forget the call of God for missionary service.   

    In 1957, at the age of 9, I went to a tent meeting with my mother, grandmother and two of my brothers.  I remember the moment when the preacher gave the altar call and I responded.  I went forward and kneeled in the sawdust at an altar and gave my life to Christ.  This was the beginning of my spiritual journey.

    In 1960, while attending the Assembly of God Church in Medina, Ohio, I was baptized in the Holy Spirit.  During an extended time of prayer and experiencing the work of the Spirit in my life, I was called into full time ministry.  As a 12 year old boy, I really didn’t know exactly what that meant.  But I knew that it was real - that God had asked me to serve Him in ministry for the rest of my life.

    My family moved a couple of times until we eventually settled in Southern California.  Throughout my high school years my call to ministry was continuously reaffirmed.  When I graduated from high school I wanted to go to Bible College.  After one semester in Community College I transferred to Southern California College in Costa Mesa, California.  

    During my college years the Lord continuously reminded me of my call to ministry.  However, in the fall of 1969, during the Missions Convention at First Assembly of God in Santa Ana, Calif., the Lord spoke to me very clearly about becoming a missionary to Europe.  My initial response was, “Lord are you sure Europe needs missionaries?”   Then I said “If You want me to be a missionary to Europe, then I am willing.”

    I completed a B.A. at SCC with a double major in Religion and Psychology with a minor in Christian Education in  1972.  On July 7 Darlene Tyler and I were married.   In September we entered into full time ministry.  

    While working as the Assistant Pastor to E. Joseph Perna in Walnut Creek, California, the Lord began tugging at my heart once again concerning missions.  I shared my call with Pastor Perna over the next several months.  During our conversations he repeatedly told me about Continental Bible College in Belgium.  He suggested that it might be a place where my gifts would be needed.  This was the beginning of seed that began to grow.

    At the beginning of  1975 I was asked to join the staff of First Assembly of God in Bakersfield, Calif. where Rev. Fred Cottriel was the pastor.  After some time my conversations with Pastor Cottriel turned to missions.  I was unaware of the fact that the Cottriels had spent a term as missionaries at Continental Bible College.  Again I was encouraged to pursue this as a place of missions ministry.

    After leaving Bakersfield I began a journey over next few years of preparation in graduate school and in getting senior pastor experience.  

    Early in 1981 God began to stir my heart once again.  This time God spoke to me in a unique way.  On two occasions I had the same dream.  In my dreams I went to Belgium.  Upon arriving at the airport I was met by the President of the College, Bill Williams.  He took me to the campus of CBC.  As we drove onto the campus I noticed on the left side a beautiful little lake across a lush green lawn.  In front of us was a large old building.  We approached the building and entered a door on the left side of the building.   We then went through a room, then through some doors and up a spiral staircase.  We went down a long hallway past some offices and then down another spiral staircase to enter President Williams office.  

    At this point in time I only shared this with my wife, Darlene.  I wanted to be sure that it was God speaking to me before sharing this with anyone else.

    I began the process of applying for missions appointment with our District officials.  We went for a preliminary interview.  We were asked about our call to missions and our desire to go to Continental to teach.  I did not share my dreams at this time because I wanted some kind of confirmation that it was truly God who had spoken to me.

    After some deliberation, the committee said they felt I was deficient in one area - teaching experience.  I had almost 10 years of pastoral ministry experience but only a small amount of formal teaching at the high school level.  I was advised to get two years of college teaching experience and then re-apply.

    This was a very disappointing experience.  I thought surely this must be a mistake.

    I graduated with honors from Simpson College Graduate School in May, 1981 with an M.A. in Old Testament and Theology.   At this time I began to look for a teaching position.

    However, in June, 1981, I knew that I needed some kind of confirmation of my dream as a call from God to missionary service at Continental Bible College.  I boarded a plane for my first trip to Europe.  When I arrived in Brussels Belgium I was met at the airport by Bill Williams, the president of Continental.   Within a short time he took me to the campus.  As we drove onto the campus I looked to the left and saw a small lake across a lush green lawn.  In front of us was an old building.  (I learned later that it was a 17th century chateau).  We got out of the car and proceeded to the building and entered a door on the left side.  We entered into a room, turned right and went through some doors to a spiral staircase.  We went upstairs and proceeded down a hallway.  We then went down a different spiral staircase and made our way into the presidents office.
    At that moment I knew I had to tell President Williams what had happened.  He commented to me that the way we entered the building was not normal for him.  This must be God!!

    I returned to the States several days later with a fresh sense of God’s call on my life.  I knew that I had received a special call and confirmation of what the Lord wanted me to do, and where He wanted me to go.

    What about the college teaching experience?  In July, just a couple of weeks after I had returned from Belgium, I received a telephone call.  The Dean of the Graduate School at Simpson College called to offer me a part-time teaching position in their extension program in Sacramento.  He offered me the opportunity of teaching three classes per semester. It was an open ended deal where I could teach for as long as I wanted.  Again, only God could have opened this door at this time.  This was a great opportunity.

    However, there was one more obstacle to be overcome.  The salary for teaching part-time would not be enough to provide for my family needs.  Since I had a secondary teaching credential and had done some substitute teaching at the High School level, I thought that I might be able to teach in a Christian day school.

    I made an appointment with the director of a Christian school in Sacramento in late July, 1981.  After the interview I thought maybe I should go to another Christian school just to inquire if there might be any openings.  I entered into the offices to ask to see the Superintendent.  He was in and available!!  I was invited into his office.  It wasn’t long until we realized that we had met before at a Christian Education conference and had engaged in a conversation at that time.  I began to explain to him my situation and desire to become a missionary.  I told him about the need of teaching experience and the opportunity at Simpson College extension.  The more that I talked the bigger his smile got.  Finally he said, “I got a phone call not long ago from my High School/Jr. High Bible teacher.  He said he would not be back for this school year.  I need you to teach for us.  Can you start in two weeks?”  God open a door for me to teach at Capital Christian School for the school year of 1981/82.

    During that year I began to develop a relationship with two of the Pastoral staff members (Chris Howard and Bob Maddux)  of Capital Christian Center who were in charge of Capital Bible Institute (CBI - a two year ministerial training school).  Near the end of the school year (1981/82) I was asked me to become the Academic Dean and Professor of Old Testament for CBI and as such a member of the pastoral staff of Capital Christian Center.

    After the second year, with two years of teaching experience, I didn’t feel that it was time yet to pursue my missions call.  I remained another two years before I returned to the District Missions Board.  I thought since I was asked to get two years, if I had four there shouldn’t be any questions.  

    In 1984 we received the endorsement of the Northern California-Nevada District for missions appointment.  In January 1985 we went to Springfield for the final approval and interview.  In February we were approved to begin itineration.  On March 10, 1985 we had our first missions service where I shared my call and commitment to missions.  In August 1986 we departed for the field where we would spend our first year in Switzerland learning French.  In July 1987 we arrived in Belgium to begin fulfilling the call that God had placed in my heart almost 18 years before. 

    After serving in Belgium for almost 19 years we were invited to help Azusa Theological Seminary in Amsterdam, The Netherlands develop a Bachelor of Theology program in English.   In July 2004 we made the decision to move to Amsterdam to where we are currently serving as the Vice President of Azusa and the Senior Associate Pastor of Hilversum International Christian Center.
    
    Why am I a missionary?  It is because God called me.  All along the way He opened doors and provided for me.  I am a missionary because I cannot consider doing anything else but the work of training nationals for the harvest.