International Ministry Director Third-World Economic Development Aaron and Nancy served as church planters in Northern México during their first five years with Missions Door. They took part in starting three new churches in Tijuana, Baja California and one in Ciudad Obregon, Sonora. In 2000 Aaron’s ministry increased as he began to serve as the National Ministry Director for the country of México. This included giving oversight to the church planters, both foreign and national, as well as oversight of SEBANO, the Conservative Baptist Seminary in Nogales, Sonora. In 2003 Aaron’s ministry increased again as he was also assigned to oversee the ministries to the Native American Indians in the United States. Beginning January 1, 2007 Aaron began the transition to phase out his responsibilities as Ministry Director for México. He has begun a new ministry: Mid-Term Missions and Economic Development. At the same time he continues to oversee Cambodia and the Native American ministries and was named Asia Ministry Director in August 2007. The biggest area of need for all the foreign fields is financial support for the indigenous missionaries and national ministries. Aaron seeks to start economic projects in the poorest countries so that missionaries and ministries will not be dependent on foreign funds.
The Andrusyak family, David, Alesya, Emic, Edward, and Erik,
are serving with SEND International in the Central Black Soil Region. David and
Alesya grew up in the former Soviet Union in the Ukraine. Their purpose is to
serve the Russian church by evangelizing the lost, nurturing disciples,
developing leaders and planting new churches. David and Alesya's main focus is
to serve the local churches in the area of youth ministries. They are now
serving in Tambov Russia
The Sierra Law Enforcement Chaplaincy was formed by the
vision of Rev. Tim
Thompson who was serving at the time as the associate chaplain to
the Sacramento Police and Sheriffs Department and California State
Police. In addition, Tim was a reserve police officer and deputy with
these departments. He served these agencies as a law enforcement chaplain
for seven years. At the time Chaplain Thompson lived in El Dorado County
and often when he was responding to an officer emergency in the middle of the
night he would hear a voice inside his head as he drove in the darkness down
the hill to Sacramento, “Why do you export this ministry outside your
county? Why not do something for the officers right here in the county
where you live?” SLEC has been serving law enforcement in EDC since 1992.
Marcia and Daisuke met while attending The Master’s College in Santa Clarita, California. They graduated in 1994. Daisuke returned to Japan for two years working at Hamadera Bible Church and Marcia went on to teach 2nd and 3rd grade in Lancaster. Daisuke returned to the US and graduated from the Master’s Seminary. They were married in 1997. Their first child, Nicholas, was born in July of 1999. In August of 2000, Daisuke and Marcia Okada were sent to serve at Hamadera Bible Church. Since moving to Japan, Noah 9 yrs old, Nathan 5 yrs. old, and Sophia 2 ½ were born. Daisuke is currently an Associate Pastor at Hamadera and also directs the Seminary at the Church.
Emil (now deceased) and Phyllis Rilling were first affiliated with our church when it was a Community Church and was pastored by Rev. Leonard Smith in 1958. The church started to support them during the tenure of Rev. Duerksen. They visited the church every home assignment.
The Rillings served the Lord with The Evangelical Alliance Mission, (TEAM) for 36 years. They sailed for Southern Rhodesia in November of 1953. The name of the country has changed several times over the years. It is now called Zimbabwe.
The Rillings officially retired in 1990. In 1993 they moved into the Bradenton Missionary Village in Florida, a retirement community for missionaries from different churches. Medical facilities, schools, correctional institutions, etc call upon the Villagers from time to time. Those who are in good health go out to minister in convalescent homes and prisons, as well as having a ministry to the crews of ships that go in and out of Port Manatee.
Emil and Phyllis had three children. Bill and his wife Judy and two children were with Campus Crusade for Christ and lived and ministered in Zimbabwe. Bill suffered with Multiple Sclerosis and went home to be with the Lord. A second son and his wife live in a suburb of Dallas and work with Wycliffe Bible Translators. A daughter, Faye, is living in South Africa with her husband Fred. They are active lay Christians. Faye is a nurse, and Fred is a City & Regional Planner.
The Fisher's served
in Pakistan for 27 years where they ministered to hundreds of missionary
kids who attended Muree Christian School in northern Pakistan. They
were evacuated from Pakistan as a result of the September 11, 2001
terrorist attacks. The school was subsequently moved to Thailand.
The Fisher's daughters,
Genie and Bethany, are now out of college and living in the area
of Wheaton, IL.
Birthdays:
Linda, July 7; Gene, June 8; Genie Dec. 22 and Bethany, March 12. Anniversary: June 22.
The Houlette's have been on the
mission field for over 20 years. Transferring vision across cultures
has been a trademark of John and Eriko’s ministry in Japan.
Eriko grew up in northern Japan,
became a Christian in high school, and has seen her father accept
the Lord. John, who spent his teen years in Japan and Guam, accepted
the Lord in college at the age of 20. Returning to Japan three years
later as a Missionary Assistants Corps worker with CBI he heard
God’s call to church planting while interpreting a message into
Japanese. John and Eriko met at this time.
“My call to missions came amid
a selfish struggle of whether to pursue a career in business or
life transformation. God’s love for me and for the Japanese won
out, and my joy continues to be seeing people changed by the gospel,”
says John.
John and Eriko and their children
have visited our church when home on furlough. One of the Japanese
exchange students who was a part of our church for a time and came
to know the Lord here and was baptized here, is now a member of
John’s church in Japan.
The Houlette’s have four children,
Yutaka, Jasmine, Christine, and Jeweliann. Music, sports, and participating
in the church are a big part of each of their lives.
James and Mary both grew up in El Dorado County and attended
local schools. They met at camp, dated at camp, and had their former camp
director marry them. Most people are not surprised that they work as
missionaries at Camp Bighorn in Montana. They enjoy serving at camp and being involved in
their local church and community. James says, “In rural areas you get to know
most folks and they get to know you. These relationships are a great way to be
a light for Christ.” They have two dogs and enjoy being outside.
Christian Camping has been part of their lives since they
were kids going to Forward Bible Camp near Georgetown, CA. They both began
serving at camp during the summer when they were around 12 years old. It
changed their lives. It changed them because people took the opportunity to
invest their time, skills, and faith in each of them. That is the value they
see in camping and why they serve full-time. They desire to create and utilize
opportunities to build relationships with young people and challenge them to live
according to their faith. Camp is a great context to model what a disciple is
and help other along in their spiritual formation.
Camp Bighorn is an outdoor adventure camp located in Western
Montana near the town of Plains, MT. Their vision is to be a building block of
Godly character in the lives of the participants and staff. This is done
through their mission of creating environments where the Holy Spirit can work.
They take people out of their comfort zone and into their "adventure
zone". This allows them to facilitate growth through God's word and by
processing the experience. Camp Bighorn is all about challenge, adventure, and
meeting God with every aspect of their lives.
Jan and Debbie Gossner
Serving with Wycliffe
Jan’s family, John and Joyce Gossner, moved to the Camino area in 1967 and Debbie’s parents, Jack and Donna Hanna, moved to the Cedar Grove area in the fall of 1968. Both Jan and Debbie attended El Dorado High School, along with Mary Smith. Debbie was active in the youth group of Pollock Pines church during the time of the Christopher, Myers', Wetmore’s, Fritzemeier's and the Shamblin's. They were all her youth group leaders. Jan and Debbie were married in the “old sanctuary” in June 1975. It was after the birth of their daughter, Ruth, that the Gossner's felt the leading of the Lord to work with Bible Translation. After attending classes and taking linguistic courses they spent 1988-89 raising support. They also attended orientations in New Guinea. They served in the area of Bible translations for many years, and were based in Ukarumpa. Jan has been Principal and Vice Principal at the Primary School, the Education Division Administrator, and he had the position of Acting Associate Director for Support Affairs, all of these roles being administration. The translation work continues with people the Gossner’s trained. Jan is now in the Solomon Islands Translation Advisor Group (SITAG) new director A recent event; Two decades ago, a man in the Kuman language group in Simbu Province (Papua New Guinea) had a vision for having a Bible in his own language. He went to the head of the Lutheran church in the port town of Lae with a very rough draft of the New Testament in Kuman, which had been translated by an early missionary. He said, "I will finish this work if you will provide the money to get it printed." The church leader replied, "I do think it needs to be done, but I don't think you should do it by yourself. People in SIL* are trained to do this kind of work. We should ask them and wait and until they can send someone. After two decades and much work "On Friday, June 27, 2008, people lined the streets of Kundiawa to hear a lively band playing hymns as it marched through town. A truck carrying boxes of Kuman New Testaments took up the rear, behind the band and other walkers. The procession ended at Dickson Field, where the group gathered to celebrate the arrival of the completed New Testament in the Kuman language. During the ceremony, certificates were given to each of the Kuman men who had helped with the translation. One was also given to the family of Peter Gola, in rememberance and appreciation of his early involvement in the work. SIL director Jan Gossner read John 1:1 in Greek, Spanish, Indonesian and Edolo, none of which were understandable to the people. Next he read the verse in English and in Tok Pisin, the trade language of Papua New Guinea. Finally he said, "I am not a Kuman speaker, but I am going to try to read John 1:1 in your language." After they heard him read the words in Kuman, the people stood up, clapping and cheering. How beautiful are God's words in one's own heart language! At the end of the ceremony, the New Testaments were unloaded from the truck and placed on tables for the people to buy. The Kuman people crowded around the tables, waiting for a turn to buy a New Testament. Many people also bought a DVD of the Jesus Film in the Kuman langauge.
As people gathered in small groups around the field to look at their New Testaments, the band began to play again. One song they played several times that day was, "Onward Christian Soldiers." The last verse of that hymn was a fitting message for the Believers there to take out to the rest of the Kuman people as they departed with their New Testaments in hand:
Indigenous Ministries International was born from John’s pastor’s heart in 1994 and passion for seeing indigenous pastors trained and encouraged. Rev. John W. Cook and his wife, Dee have been in full-time ministry for over 31 years in a number of areas – each of which led the Cooks into where they are now, ministering full-time in IMI. Having been raised in the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Brazil and Hawaii as a 3rd generation missionary, cross-cultural life and ministry comes naturally to John and Dee. John’s family’s involvement in India and the surrounding Asian areas dates back to 1930 when Bill and Jennie Cook, his grandparents, came to India and began ministry in a remote part of North East India. Later, his parents, Dr. & Mrs. James Cook also ministered in the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Hawaii - this history and heart for multi-cultures continues on today stronger than ever through IMI. SInce 1979, John has ministered as a pastor, church planter and missionary with a passion and gifting for sharing God’s Word in partnership both in the US and overseas with indigenous ministry partners with a common goal. Dee is the director of Beautiful International Women’s Ministry which connects women both in the US and overseas focusing on the beauty and purpose God placed in each woman. John and Dee have been married for 33 years and have four adult children. The Cooks are based out of Colorado and enjoy family times, camping, traveling, riding their Honda Goldwing, scuba diving and special times together with friends.
AWANA is a ministry of which our church is fully aware, especially each Wednesday evening. Thanks to the work of Mike and Becky, our own youth as well as those of many area churches, are being trained in what it means to be a Christian. And not only young people, but also adults. The young teach the adults, often bringing unchurched parents into contact with a Christian witness that breaks down walls of misunderstanding.
Mike and Becky have five children, Daniel, Paul, Hannah, Mark and Rachel.
Rick Fritzemeier is a former member of our church. He first began
attending here when he and his family moved to Pollock Pines from
Southern California in 1967. Ron & Thais Fritzemeier are his
parents and John and Clarkie Wetmore are his uncle and aunt.
Rick
is currently the Executive Director of a growing YFC chapter, which
reaches about 15,000 youth in the Stanislaus, Tuolumne and Merced
counties. Prior to joining Youth For Christ, he was with Campus Crusade
for 8.5 years. Marian is a teacher at a local High School in Modesto.
She is also an adjunct Professor at Delta Community College. The
Fritzemeier’s have two adult daughters, Kristen and Michelle.
Shel (now deceased) and Ann Helsley were supported by our church from its early days. Ann remembers visiting the church while still a child. Shel was an evangelist and church planter and together, they pioneered planting evangelical churches in the Rockies, mostly in Wyoming and Montana. Their first church was in Cody, Wyoming. Ann’s father drew up the plans for the church, which is on the Yellowstone Highway on the Westside of Cody. Several of the families from that church later came to the Pollock Pines Baptist church when they came here to work with Clarence Eldridge.
Shel’s last stint of service lasted 10 years as Field Director of the Rocky Mountain CBA for Wyoming and Montana. Shel had to quit preaching at the age of 79 due to a collapsed vocal cord. The couple retired and lived in Billings where most of their children live. After 13 years they moved to Coldstrip, Montana. Shel went to be with the Lord March 11, 2001. Ann continues to live in Coldstrip.
Ministries 
